Losing Control Page 2

Maggie felt her face warm under Spencer’s gaze, and cleared her throat. “Speaking of, the final fitting for your dress is tomorrow.”

  “Well let’s just hope it fits still.” Her friend jokingly ran her hands down her sides. “Wouldn’t it just suck if it didn’t?”

  “It’ll fit,” Maggie assured. “If anything, they’ll have to take it in.”

  “You all grew up together, right?” Spencer asked between bites, gesturing between the other three with his spoon.

  “Oh, I’ve known the Monroes forever, it seems,” Kate said. “I met Maggie and Cal the first day of kindergarten. Maggie dragged me into the chaos, and I’ve been there ever since. They’re like family, really, though I wasn’t really close to Gabe then. He was old enough not to care too much about us.” Kate gave a little shrug.

  “Oh, but she had a crush to end all crushes on him,” Cal teased. “And look where it ended up. She’s marrying into the chaos, legally binding herself to it. Silly girl.”

  Maggie ate silently as conversation flowed. She took the opportunity to study Spencer. His hair, now dry, still stood every which way. Though, oddly, it suited him. He’d changed into jeans and had a gray hoodie over his T-shirt. Her gaze was drawn to his mouth as he ate. A crumb clung to his full lower lip until his tongue captured it. She wondered what he would taste like, what his mouth would feel like on hers then shook herself mentally at the direction her thoughts were taking. Not your type, remember?

  “Gabe.”

  Kate’s happy exclamation pulled Maggie’s attention from Spencer. Her oldest brother strolled across the room to their table, dressed in his typical suit and tie. Once next to his fiancé, he bent at the waist and pressed a kiss to her lips.

  “Hey there,” he murmured then straightened. When he saw Spencer, his mouth turned up into a quick grin. “Spence, good to see you! I didn’t realize you were already in town.”

  The other man stood and they shook hands. “Just got in yesterday.”

  “Glad you could make it. Damn, I wish we had some time to catch up, but Kate’s got an appointment.”

  Spencer sat again. “No worries. There’ll be plenty of time for that.”

  “Count on it.” Gabe looked down. “You ready, sweetheart?”

  Kate took a quick drink and rose. “Yep, I just need to grab my jacket and purse. I’ll see you tonight?” she asked Maggie.

  “Be there right after I close up.”

  Maggie watched as the couple walked to the stairs, her chest tight. It took her a moment to realize it was envy. Not the angry, deep-rooted kind. She was insanely happy for her friend and brother, but part of her wanted what they had. Wanted to look at a man the way Gabe looked at Kate and have that look returned readily.

  Unsure just how to react to that revelation, she turned to her brother and his friend. “I have some stuff I need to get to.” She stood and grabbed the box of programs. “See you later.”

  Quickly, she hurried to her office and sat heavily on the couch across from her desk. She did not like this unsettled feeling. Her life was orderly and planned out, and that was exactly how she preferred it. And, damn, it, that was how it would stay. She nodded emphatically and set the box down on the cushion beside her. Leaning forward, she snagged a legal pad and pen off the desk and sat back.

  Finding a suitable man was just like anything else—you had to be clear on exactly what you were looking. Relief filled her as she pondered the qualities she wanted in a husband and began to draft a list. Hell, she made lists of requirements when she bought an appliance, why would it be any different with a man? Particularly when she planned on spending the rest of her life with him? She was definitely on the right track here.

  Chapter Two

  Spence tilted the bottle of beer to his lips and took a long draw, studying the couple who sat on the sofa opposite him. Gabe was one helluva lucky man, and from the way he was looking down at his soon-to-be wife, he damn well knew it. Spence had readily accepted their invitation to dinner. He even admitted to himself that seeing Maggie was part of his motivation, though he was anxious to catch up with his friends and get to know the woman marrying one of them.

  “And where’s the honeymoon?” he asked.

  “Hawaii,” Kate answered. “We were thinking Europe, but after the cold Minnesota winter, I wanted somewhere warm. And, we can only manage a week away right now, so we’ll save Europe when we aren’t so rushed.”

  “Smart woman,” Spence said with a nod.

  “Obviously,” she quipped and pushed to her feet. “So which of you manly men is going to put the meat on the grill?” She burst out laughing when all three men followed suit and stood. “Okay, then. You can all stand around the grill, drinking your beer. I’ll go check on the baked potatoes. Oh good, there’s Maggie.”

  The sound of the front door shutting was followed by the click of heels on the hardwood floor. “Sorry I’m late. Had a few stragglers. Get the glasses; I’ve got the wine, baby.”

  Maggie held up the bottle as she entered the room, and stopped short when her gaze collided with Spence’s. Her lips parted slightly, trembled as they stared at each other a moment.

  “Bring it in here,” Kate said, walking into the kitchen. “The guys were just going to get to grilling.”

  “Oh.” She shook her head once then followed her friend. “Great. I’m starved.”

  Spence watched the sway of her hips when she passed him and bit back a groan. He turned to find Cal watching him curiously. Without a word, they headed through the kitchen out onto the deck, where Gabe was already placing steaks on the heated grill.

  “So…” Cal drawled. “You seeing anyone, Spence?”

  “Nope,” he answered simply.

  “Got your eye on anyone?” Laughter laced Cal’s voice.

  “And if I did?” Spence knew full well Cal had noticed him checking out his sister. He supposed now was as good a time as any to figure out how it’d go over if he wandered in that direction.

  “That would be your call, man. Just have a care,” he said quietly.

  “Of course,” Spence nodded.

  Gabe’s head jerked up. “What? What’s going on?”

  Cal burst out laughing and slapped his brother on the shoulder. “I’ve never seen you so distracted. You nervous about the wedding?”

  Gabe snorted. “No. Never been more certain about anything in my life.”

  “Yeah, yeah. So is Sean coming to dinner?” Cal asked, nudging Gabe aside to poke at one of the filets.

  “It’s still mooing, dumbass.” Gabe slapped his hand aside. “He has guests so probably not.”

  “You are quite the entrepreneurial family,” Spence observed. “You’re running hotels and a resort, your brother has a bed and breakfast. Your sister and Kate own a bookstore, and now, you,” he nodded at Cal, “are looking at opening a gallery. What’s it run in the blood or something?”

  “Apparently so. I mean, I could work with the hotels but it’s not my thing. No offense,” Cal said to Gabe, who shrugged. “And hell this town needs a place to showcase some local talent.”

  “Like yours?” Maggie stepped out onto the deck, glass of wine in hand.

  “Exactly. Just because you don’t acknowledge the sheer genius of—”

  “Blah blah blah. Don’t start with the genius business again. It’s getting old, and I lived with you long enough that I don’t buy it for a second.” Even though her tone was brusque, the corners of her mouth tilted upward.

  “Go away, Mags.” Cal scowled.

  Her laugh floated on the air, and Spence shifted his stance as his cock responded to the sound.

  “Just wanted to make sure you remember to pick up your tux. That was on your list, ya know?”

  “You and your freaking lists,” he muttered. “Yes, rest easy, I remembered to get it.”

  “Good.” She turned on her heel and walked back into the house.

  “Nag,” Cal called after her.

  Spence shook his head in amusement. As an
only child, watching siblings interact had always fascinated him, and the Monroes were no different. The love was there, that much was clear as day even with the bickering and sometimes harsh words.

  “How long are you planning on staying? Going to be around when I get back?” Gabe asked, the grill sizzling as he turned the steaks.

  “Absolutely,” he replied. “I’m not going anywhere.” He was tired as hell of bouncing around. It’d suited him for a while, and he loved every minute of it, but now, he was looking to put down roots. Since his only family was gone, and nowhere else was calling to him, Angel Lake, Minnesota seemed to be a good spot. Add in a new venture with a great friend, good morphed into close to perfect.

  “So you’re really thinking about settling here?”

  “He didn’t even balk when the contractors started talking money this afternoon,” Cal interjected. “I’d say he’s in for the long haul.”

  “I told you I was. You just didn’t listen,” Spence pointed out.

  Conversation flowed as the food finished cooking, and they moved indoors to eat. For the most part, Spence remained silent, just listening as the siblings chatted about everyday things and the upcoming nuptials. Plenty of laughter filled the air, and he couldn’t help but relax. Then, as food was quickly disappearing, Kate turned toward him with a wide smile.

  “So,” she said slowly, “tell us about yourself, Spencer.”

  He speared the last piece of steak and popped it in his mouth. Chewing, he looked around the table to find all eyes on him. “What would you like to know?”

  “Well, I noticed your accent? Where are you from?”

  “Beggin’ your pardon, ma’am, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He winked, laying it on extra thick. “Y’all are the ones with accents.”

  Kate threw her head back and laughed. “Okay, we won’t talk about accents. Where are you from, though?”

  “Spent much of my childhood in Atlanta. Dad was Army, and was stationed there for some time. But since then, I didn’t really have a hometown, I guess. I’ve traveled a lot lately.”

  “Traveled where?” she asked.

  “Around the country, mostly. I did spend a summer in Europe, and that was amazing.”

  “And did you always want to be an artist?” She propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hand.

  “Kate,” Maggie said softly.

  “What?” She turned wide eyes toward her friend. “I’m curious, okay? Unless you don’t want to answer questions.”

  Spence chuckled when Kate looked at him with pouty mouth. “Not at all.” He leaned back, resting his clasped hands on his stomach. “Yes, I always wanted to be an artist. That was the goal for as long as I can remember, though I kept it to myself. My dad sure as hell didn’t get it, and my mom… Well, she was proud, but she didn’t understand why I couldn’t do something more ‘stable’, like engineering or law or something. She always said art was wonderful…a hobby.” He shrugged then saw Maggie nodding. “And you agree with that?”

  She froze a moment then said, “Well, I can understand a parent wanting their child to have a stable profession, to be able to pay the bills and be self-sufficient.”

  “And you don’t think you can do that as an artist?” Cal chimed in.

  She glanced at her brother. “Not everyone is as lucky as we are as far as money is concerned. You can afford to indulge in your art, most people can’t.”

  “Indulge?” Cal said loudly. “Christ, Maggie. It’s perfectly plausible for someone to make a living doing what they love. You do. I know countless artists who work for ad agencies, with graphic design…” He shook his head. “God, how can you be so closed minded? I mean, Spence has made—”

  “She’s entitled to her opinion,” Spence interrupted, more amused than annoyed by Maggie’s presumptions. Maybe because he’d heard it more times than he cared to remember.

  “I didn’t mean to offend you,” she said stiffly.

  “No offense.” He smiled.

  “Okay then,” Kate stood and started clearing the table. “Anyone have room for dessert? Apple pie and ice cream.”

  “Let me help,” Gabe rose and carried some dishes into the kitchen.

  When Spencer moved to follow suit, Kate waved her hands at him. “No, no. Sit and relax, we’ve got this.”

  He nodded and sat back down, then turned to Maggie beside him. “Have you always wanted to own a bookstore?”

  “Ah, it’s my turn now,” she murmured. “No, not really. I had every intention of working at the resort. Had worked there, in fact, until Kate had this wild idea to open a bookstore. And bless her, she doesn’t have an ounce of business sense.”

  “That’s true,” Kate chimed in from the kitchen.

  “So we sat down and worked up a business plan. At first, I was just helping her get things in order, seeing if it could work, and so on. After a while, I was sucked in. I wanted a piece of it.” She looked into the other room at her friend. “‘Cause damned if Kate was going to have an adventure, businesswise or not, without me. And—oh my God.” Her lips trembled around the whispered words. She covered her mouth quickly with her hand.

  “What is it? Are you okay?” He leaned forward. God, was she ill? Her eyes were glassy, tear-filled. He followed her gaze and saw Gabe embracing Kate, her back against his front, next to the open dishwasher. “Maggie, what’s wrong?”

  “How could I have missed it?” Her voice was muffled then she dropped her hand and glanced at him.

  “Missed what?”

  “Her stomach has been acting up, she joked about hoping her dress would still fit her… Gabe came to drive her to her doctor’s appointment today; I should have realized it then.” She kept her voice hushed as she spoke. “She drank water with dinner, not wine. And look, just look at them.”

  Spence studied the couple, wondering what exactly she was seeing. What was he missing here? And then he saw it. Gabe’s hand resting on Kate’s stomach as he held her.

  “What are you two whispering about?” Cal asked loudly.

  At his outburst, Kate pulled away from Gabe and walked toward the table. She smiled at Maggie, who lifted a brow slightly. How the hell Kate knew what her friend was asking by that gesture alone, Spence didn’t know, but apparently there was some kind of unspoken conversation happening between the women. Kate nodded shakily, and Maggie jumped out of her chair and rounded the table. Still, not a single word spoken and the friends were hugging and crying.

  “Does someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?” Cal asked as his brother came back to the table, pie in hand.

  “She’s pregnant, you idiot,” Maggie said through tears. “It’s so obvious. I can’t believe I didn’t see it. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.” She pulled back and frowned.

  “We wanted to be sure. That’s what today’s appointment was for. Now it’s official.” She stepped back and did a little spin. “We’re having a baby.”

  Maggie blinked back even more tears. “Oh wow.”

  “Holy shit,” Cal said, standing quickly and giving Gabe a quick hug. “That’s awesome. Damn, that was quick.”

  Kate burst out laughing. “Yeah, it was a bit of a surprise. Not that we didn’t want kids right away,” she rushed to say. “I just didn’t think it would happen so quickly.”

  Spence stood and lifted his beer in salute. “Congratulations. When is the little one joining us?”

  “November.” Kate said. “Around the fifteenth.”

  “Right by Dad’s birthday,” Maggie murmured.

  “I know,” Gabe said with a smile. “Weird, huh?”

  “Weird?” Cal exclaimed. “Nah, freaking perfect. He’d love it.”

  Spence stepped back, feeling like an intruder in the moment. He knew their father had passed away about a year before. Setting the beer on the table, he thought to head out, leave the family to reminisce and celebrate the special moment.

  “Congratulations, again. I’m going to call it
a night. Thanks for dinner and—”

  “What? You can’t go now!” Kate protested. “You haven’t even had pie.”

  “That’s all right,” he assured her. “You need time with your family now, right? So I’ll just—”

  “I don’t think so,” she interrupted again. “This is a celebration, and you are a part of that, because I said so. And I’m the pregnant woman, so what I say goes.”

  “Didn’t know that’s how it worked,” Cal said with a laugh. “Good luck with that rule, bro.” He nudged Gabe, who just grinned.

  “We are going to eat pie and talk, and you’re going to like it.” She jabbed a finger in Spence’s direction.

  Biting back a smile, he inclined his head. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Now, that is what I like to hear.”

  * * * *

  Maggie rested her head back against the cushion of the couch, vaguely aware of the conversation around her. Maybe she shouldn’t have drunk that last glass of wine. She giggled. Or the one before that. Damn Cal and his constant toasting. She turned her head slowly and giggled again when she saw her twin sleeping on the armchair, his feet propped on the ottoman and mouth hanging open. Never could hold his drink. Wuss.

  Curious, she glanced at Spence, who sat in the chair opposite her brother, and found his gaze on her. He twisted the glass of water he held as he watched her. His long fingers held her attention as he turned it around and around. He had great hands. She snorted at the thought. Had she ever seen anyone with bad hands?

  “You okay there, Mags?” Gabe asked.

  “Hmmm.” She shifted to look where he and Kate sat on the loveseat. “I’m doing great, thanks.”

  Kate dropped her head to rest on Gabe’s shoulder. When he pressed a kiss to the top of her head, Maggie sighed.

  “You guys are too damned cute. Why did I used to think you wouldn’t be good together? Because you are,” she said without giving them a chance to respond. “Ain’t that just a kick in the pants?”

  “Okay, you are officially cut off,” her friend said. “And you are so not driving home. You can stay here.”

  Maggie shook her head. “I need to go home. I have a lot to do tomorrow, and all my things are there. Cal can drive me.” Even as she said it, she knew her brother was in no condition to drive.