The Merger

by Bernadette Marie

  Tiffany acted shocked. “Me? Why?”

  “You’re pretty. You’re sexy. And you were pawing all over Spencer.”

  “You ruined my sure thing that night,” Tiffany pointed out.

  “Sorry,” she said on a laugh. “When I saw you here and he was going to make me work with you I was sure he was torturing me back for those five long months.”

  “Maybe he was,” Tiffany said as her mouth curled into a smile.

  “Maybe. But I never thought we’d be lunching-shoe buying-friends.”

  “I have your back.”

  “I know you do.”

  “Spencer does too. His whole family will.”

  Julie knew that. She’d only met a few members of his family and she knew nothing was going to happen to her. Steven didn’t know just how un-alone Julie really was.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The fog was thick and rain slicked the runway. Spencer sat in the terminal of the small airport and glared out the window. There was no going back to Tennessee tonight and he needed to get back.

  His heart was racing and it drummed in his ears as he grew angrier. The day certainly hadn’t turned out the way he’d anticipated.

  Finding Libby perched on his desk had sickened him. Walking into the legal department only to find Steven McDaniels had been asked to leave the company by the Graysons—that didn’t make sense either. Where was he? It was that question that had Spencer waiting out a storm to get back to Nashville. What if McDaniels had gone after Julie. What if he hurt her?

  The thought only made him angrier.

  He had called her four times already, but she hadn’t answered. Finally, he’d called Tiffany, who had answered, but her voice was muffled and he couldn’t hear her. Hell, he’d even called Pete and asked him to stop by the house, but all he could do was leave a message. What was the use of having technology if you couldn’t get anyone on it?

  He plopped down into a seat and let his head fall back. If this wasn’t bad enough, he thought about the report that had been dropped on his desk before he left. Accounting seemed to have found a monetary leak that had been going on for nearly six months. Thousands in revenue was missing. It was no wonder things weren’t getting paid. Funds seemed to be funneling out through transportation, most recently. Interestingly enough none of this showed when they’d prospected the company.

  Spencer pressed his fingers to his eyes. To hell with the company. There were lots of lumber companies they could use or buy. If it all fell apart, that was monetary. The feelings he had for Julie—those were real.

  His phone buzzed in his hand and he looked down to see a text from Pete.

  I’M WITH HER. ALL OK

  That was supposed to be soothing? After Pete had asked to take Julie out, Spencer didn’t like the thought of them together either.

  He set his phone in the seat next to him and raked his fingers through his hair to calm himself—not that it ever worked. Pete was the least of his worries. What he needed to worry about was getting home to Julie. He had some very strong feelings for the woman. Damn, he never thought he’d think that, but he did and they weren’t new.

  For the past five months he’d convinced himself he didn’t like the woman, but he’d only been fooling his heart into not caring. When you disliked someone, you didn’t know how they took their coffee or how they wore their hair with each outfit. When someone disgusted you, you didn’t know how their eyes shimmered when they were in conversation and how they darkened when they were proving a point. You certainly didn’t let them kiss you, as Julie had, and then pull her into you so you could taste her.

  Spencer let out a breath. He thought of the look on her face in that elevator. The pain that resonated through her. No one ever deserved to be treated like her husband treated her. If a man married a woman, he should be true to her and vice versa. Marriage wasn’t just a word. It was a promise.

  His thoughts shifted from Julie to his mother and Darcy. In his chest, there was a heaviness. What had his mother really endured when she’d run from that man that tried to kill her? Had she been as broken as Julie was when she’d come to his office? More so, he thought. To him it was unimaginable—to his father it was probably something he suppressed.

  Why did men play with women like that? Why did they marry one and sleep with others?

  What he had with Tiffany might not be true love in the sense of marriage, but they knew going in what they were doing. And never—ever—would either of them make a play for the other when they were involved.

  He knew now his days with Tiffany were over.

  And the more he thought about Steven McDaniels and what he’d done to Julie the more he wanted to help her get that new start she’d been looking for. If she didn’t love him, that was okay. If her place wasn’t in Nashville with him, he’d deal with that. What he couldn’t deal with was a man pledging to one woman and making his rounds with others.

  Spencer’s fists balled on his hair and his teeth ground together as he thought of it.

  “Sir, we’re able to take off now,” the stewardess for the short, private flight had come near him.

  He did all he could to breathe in and out to appear calm.

  “Thank you.”

  He’d be there as soon as he could. All he wanted to do was wrap Julie in his arms.

  Spencer stood from his seat and carried his bag toward the jetway. Only a few more hours, he told himself as he walked toward the plane. A few more hours and he’d be with her. He’d decided he had a lot to tell her.

  ~*~

  One phone call and Julie had convinced Steven to meet her at a Village Inn not far from the site.

  One frantic hour later Tiffany had settled down and informed her that she’d be in a booth not far from her. If that ex-husband of hers tried anything Tiffany would stab him with the stiletto she was going to wear.

  Though they’d laughed about it, Julie was sure Tiffany would do just that.

  Her nerves were a little more rattled when Pete showed up in her office and said he’d be there too. Really, did no one trust her?

  She’d been calling Spencer for nearly an hour, but his phone went right to voice mail. He’d have to hear about her estranged husband’s visit when she talked to him again.

  Now she sat and waited in a corner booth at Village Inn hoping that the man she’d once married would be decent.

  Julie knew the moment he’d strolled in. The waitress had looked toward someone walking their way and a very satisfied smile formed on her lips.

  “Hey, doll,” his voice pierced through the sounds of the restaurant.

  Julie was surprised when she looked up he was actually speaking to her and not the waitress.

  He ordered a cup of coffee and sat down across from her.

  “Why are you here? How did you find me?” She dove right into the conversation.

  His expression changed and now he looked scared. No matter what he’d done to her, she didn’t like to see him look like that.

  “Libby told me where you were.”

  “Libby? I didn’t tell anyone.”

  He nodded as if he’d known that. “She says you’re sleeping with Spencer Benson.” His voice matched his expression.

  She shook her head. In all honesty, she could answer him. “I’m not.”

  He nodded again. “I was sure you weren’t. I figured you were just trying to get your job back.”

  “I don’t want it back. I can’t go back there. I can’t work with you. I…”

  “I was let go.”

  The muscles in her body stiffened. “Spencer fired you?”

  He shook his head. “The Grayson family asked me to leave.”

  “Steven…”

  He held up his hand. “I screwed up. I lost you. I lost my job.” He ran his hand over his chin, which was unshaven and that was uncharacteristic of him. “How involved are you in BBH?” He lifted his eyes to her.

  “I work for them.”

  He nodded. “I know that. Why?�
��

  Julie clasped her hands in her lap and pushed back her shoulders. “I needed a job. I needed a new start. I took a chance.”

  “Lots of places to go. Lots of other companies to work for that hadn’t bought out a company you negotiated the deal on.”

  “Sure. So.”

  “So what do you gain?”

  Her fingers tightened around each other. “Gain? Some self worth. Something for myself. Something…”

  “How much did you steal from PLL before you left?”

  She felt the air rush from her lungs as he asked it. It felt as though a hand had jabbed into her chest and squeezed at her heart. Every muscle ached and when she did breathe it came as a gasp of air. “What did you say?”

  “I know what you did. Is that what you’re doing here too?”

  Julie placed her hands atop the table to keep them still. “Are you accusing me of embezzling?”

  “They’ll find out. Whatever you have going on with Spencer Benson is going to crash down around you.”

  He scooted out of his side of the booth.

  Julie moved from the booth and stood. “Steven, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I never…”

  “There’s a trail, Julie. And it leads to you.” He took an envelope out of his back pocket and placed it on the table. “Here, this is yours. I can’t be part of anything you’re part of.” He rested his hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “Goodbye.”

  All she could do was stand there and watch him walk away. A moment later both Tiffany and Pete were standing next to her.

  “Did he hurt you?” Tiffany looked her over from head to toe? “Why was he here? What did he want?”

  “God,” Pete interrupted. “Give her a chance to talk. Let’s all sit down.”

  Julie shook her head. “I don’t want to sit. I want to go. I just want to go.”

  Tiffany took Julie’s hands in her own. “I want to take you back to Spencer’s. I don’t trust your ex-husband.”

  Julie picked up the envelope and opened it.

  “What is it?” Tiffany looked over her shoulder.

  “The house. He gave me the house.” She shook her head. “I’m the one that paid for it. I guess his sense of decency kicked in to sign over his half.”

  “This is good, right? This is all he wanted to talk about?”

  “No.” Julie forced a smile.

  “What else.” She studied her. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I just have a lot on my mind. That’s all.” She wasn’t about to tell them what Steven had said. She had no idea what he was talking about and until she did she wasn’t saying anything.

  “Let’s go.”

  Pete threw a few dollars on the table and escorted them both out. “Where are you headed?”

  Tiffany gave Julie a stern look. “I want her at Spencer’s. There’s security there.”

  Pete nodded. “That’s a good idea. I’ll follow you downtown. Let me know when you’re in the building.”

  Julie unlocked her car and Tiffany opened the passenger door. “You’re riding with me?”

  “Pete brought me and you’re not leaving my sight.”

  Julie slid in behind the steering wheel and closed the door as Tiffany climbed in the other side. She didn’t need to be protected from Steven, though she had to admit, having people look out for her was nice.

  “He’s not dangerous,” she said as she backed out of the parking space.”

  “He seemed genuine enough when he looked me over today and when he did the same thing to the waitress.”

  Julie shrugged. “It’s just how he is.”

  “And how did you end up with him?”

  The very thought stuck in Julie’s chest. She’d been lonely.

  Friends had come and gone over the years. Never had she really bonded with anyone. Then her parents passed on and she was alone. What young woman wouldn’t buy into an older, successful man telling them what they needed to hear?

  The threat of tears stung her throat, but she swallowed that back. She was woman enough to admit she’d made a mistake.

  “I’m not the first lonely woman to fall for a man who dressed nice or said nice things.”

  Tiffany quickly turned her head to look at her and Julie could feel the stare burn through her. “Tell me that’s not what’s going on with you and Spencer.”

  “Don’t accuse me of using him,” she said, her tone resonating her irritation at the accusation.

  “Tell me you’re not.”

  “I’m not.”

  “What is this then? What is it between the two of you?”

  Julie gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I don’t know what it is or what it’ll become, but I care deeply for him. I think I always have.” Those tears she’d swallowed down forced themselves back up. “I know he hated me. I don’t blame him. But for being a stranger that I put through the wringer he still is one of the only people—men,” she corrected, “that was ever decent to me.”

  Tiffany laced her fingers in her lap. “I hate that I’m going to tell you this.” She let out a grunt. “About three months ago when he took me out to dinner I called him out because he was preoccupied. He wouldn’t pay attention to me and it was pissing me off.”

  “Spencer always has something on his mind,” she said.

  “Yes, well that night it was you.”

  Julie slowed the car at a stoplight and turned to look at Tiffany. “Me?”

  She nodded. “The words I hate that bitch slipped through when I quizzed him about what was consuming him, but it didn’t hold.”

  “Well,” she coughed back those tears again. “Doesn’t that sound charming?”

  “Let me finish.”

  Julie eased through the green light and headed toward Spencer’s building.

  Tiffany tossed her hair over her shoulder. “The reason he hated you was because he couldn’t identify the cause of his frustration. Mergers take time. And no one appreciates a thorough agenda more than Spencer. He never questioned the things you brought up. He might have been irritated, but he never questioned them.”

  “Then why hate me?”

  “Because you brought something out in him that he couldn’t lasso. I didn’t satisfy his need anymore. I have no intention of marrying him and he has no intention of marrying me. Spencer needs someone who can meld into his family and become his family. He needs someone who will love unconditionally and without fail. He needs you.”

  Julie pulled into the visitor parking at Spencer’s building and threw the car into park.

  “Are you kidding me? You tell me he hates me. Then you tell me he’s just looking for some wife?”

  “No. That’s not what I’m saying.” She tossed her hair again. “His problem is he’s been attracted to you since the day he met you. You go after what you want—so does he. You were standing up for the Graysons because you believed in them. He stands up for his family in the same way. You were already married.”

  “He hates me because I wasn’t single.”

  “He hated that he never got the chance.”

  Julie opened the door and got out of the car. “This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “Why?” Tiffany argued as she climbed out of the car and they both slammed the doors. “You can’t believe he’s been attracted to you that long?”

  “No. I can’t believe it.”

  “I knew who you were the second I laid eyes on you. I would have known you in a crowd.”

  “How?”

  “Because he’d described you to me a million times. I knew the shade of your hair and the color of your eyes. I know that when you smile you have a dimple and when you’re mad your cheeks turn just a certain shade of crimson, like they are now.”

  “You’re making this up.”

  “I’m not. He watched you for five months. He obsessed about you for five months. Now you’re here and he’s still obsessing.”

  Julie stood there and stared at the woman in front of he
r with her perfect body and wavy red hair. Why would she make it all up if she could have Spencer at any time?

  “I think I’m falling in love with him,” Julie said, the words just falling out of her mouth as if someone else had put them there.

  “You seem shocked by that.”

  She was. She felt it in her chest and it resonated through her entire body. “I’ve never had anyone treat me like he does.”

  Tiffany moved toward her. “I’m very sure he feels the same way. Now, tell me what Steven said to you.”

  “He was let go from PLL.”

  “Spencer fired him?”

  “No. I just don’t know what’s going on.”

  There was more, but she didn’t want to share that. She didn’t really understand the rest of what Steven had said to her. Until she knew what was going on that was going to remain her secret.

  Tiffany laced her arm around Julie’s waist and they walked toward the building.

  Julie followed Tiffany into Spencer’s penthouse while she spoke to Pete on the phone.

  When they entered, Tiffany found a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt for Julie to change into as she poured them each a glass of wine.

  Curled up on the couch, as if they were old friends, Julie and Tiffany laughed over glasses of wine and pizza rolls they’d found in the freezer.

  As the wine crept through Julie, she felt her eyes grow heavy and she couldn’t be sure if Tiffany was actually still talking to her.

  The couch beneath her was so comfortable. Wouldn’t it be nice to relax right there in Spencer’s arms?

  Spencer.

  She smiled. She knew she loved him. Was there any one reason? No—she just knew she did.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Spencer looked down at Julie asleep on his couch. Her eyes moved behind her eyelids and a smile stayed on her lips.

  “How much did she drink?” Spencer asked.

  Tiffany held up the glass she picked up from the table. “I’d say four sips.”

  “She’s just worn out,” he said wanting to touch her.

  “Your ex-husband coming for you will do that.”