Page 64 of One Hot Moment

"No, I can't believe that." Spencer peers out the window. "Kendall is the oldest of us, and he never seemed to need anyone's help. Yet here I am, on a private jet heading for England, preparing to save my brother from...whatever it is he needs saving from. One drunken mistake hardly qualifies as a disaster. This is, at least partly, a ploy to make sure I'm there for whatever barmy nonsense the gang has planned."

"Hmm, I'm beginning to like these people. And I haven't even met them yet."

Spencer glances at me out of the corner of his eye. "You have no idea what the American Wives Club and their mates will do for love. Things usually get outrageously wild when they're meddling."

The pilot announces via the intercom that we've leveled off at cruising altitude.

Spencer and I join my parents and take the seats opposite Mom and Dad. Sabrina opts for a chair across the aisle from us. She kicks her feet up, resting them on the seat opposite the one she reclines on, and shuts her eyes. Then she stretches her arms above her head. Leave it to Bree to act like she's sunning herself on a tropical island when she's actually on a private jet.

The second the jet levels off, I want to drag Spencer into the bedroom to kiss him for six and a half hours. But my parents invite us to play card games. Since I want my family to get to know Spence better, I agree to their idea. Turns out my boyfriend enjoys those kind of games. Even Bree decides to join in, and she conspicuously sits beside Spencer. He's now sandwiched between two women, and he seems to relish the attention, based on his self-satisfied smile.

When Bree tries to cheat at gin rummy, Mom snaps her spine straight and aims a squinty-eyed stare at my sister. "Sabrina Bluebell Remington, you should be ashamed of yourself. What will Spencer think of us when our daughter is a cheater?"

She's being sarcastic, naturally. That's a family trait.

My sister makes an overly dramatic huffing sound. Then she whines, "But Mom, Tabby's hogging the hottie."

I scoot over to squeeze between Spencer and Sabrina, flinging my arms around him. "You can't have him, Bree. Find your own hot Brit."

Mom clucks her tongue at me. "Tabitha Primrose Remington, you're just as bad as your sister."

Spencer contorts his mouth into a cross between a grin and a smirk. "I've never had women fighting over me. I rather enjoy it." Then his brows draw together over his nose. "Did your mum just call you Primrose?"

"Yep. Mom gave us middle names that are flowers. She loves all the wildflowers in the spring."

"Hmm, I see. Are we done with the ridiculous play acting? I could go for tea and cakes right about now."

"I doubt they have those on board."

"This is a jet owned by a British bloke."

"Good point." I elbow Bree in the side. "Go check with the pilots or somebody. Maybe they can hunt up some tea and cakes."

As it turns out, this jet not only has a galley but also comes well stocked with British favorites. That means we can have tea and cakes. My parents have never done teatime the British way, and they're excited to find out what's involved.

Once teatime has ended, we all find a comfy place to rest until we reach London. It's four hours later in the UK. Since we left the continental US this morning, we should arrive at Sommerleigh around eight in the evening. Time zones really screw me up, but I'm so excited to meet Spencer's family that I'll stay up until one o'clock in the morning if necessary.

When we land at London City Airport, a car is already waiting for us. A car? No, that doesn't accurately describe the vehicle. It's a stretch limo. But I don't see anyone waiting on the tarmac to greet us.

"No, you wouldn't see that," Spencer tells me. "Everyone wanted my arrival to be a surprise for Kendall. Now I'm bringing a few more surprises with me."

Just as our gang sets foot on the tarmac, an older man climbs out of the limo on the driver's side. He jogs over to the back door, pulls it open, and waves energetically. "Come on, gents and ladies, we've got a long drive to Sommerleigh."

Just as we reach the limo, Spencer grins at the driver and announces to us, "Everyone, please say hello to a very important man at Sommerleigh House, our gracious escort on this journey---Mr. Arthur Holland."

I shake Arthur's hand. "So nice to meet you. Are you strictly a driver or do you have other duties?"

"Oh, I do whatever the women in the house ask of me. Never could say no to a woman." He winks. "But I'm mostly the bloke who drives the Parrishes wherever they want to go."

Arthur opens the door and holds my hand to help me climb inside the limo. He does the same for Bree and Mom too. I already love this guy after meeting him a few minutes ago. England is making a great first impression on me so far.

Once we're all in the limo, Arthur glances back at us. "It's about three and a half hours to the estate. You'll find a basket of snacks and soft drinks in the compartment under the seat behind me. His Nibs and Mrs. Nibs never let their guests go hungry."

"Who are His Nibs and Mrs. Nibs?" I ask.

Arthur chuckles. "That's what I call Lord and Lady Sommerleigh. It's a nickname."

"Oh, I see."

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