Page 24 of Reunion With Benefits

“She’s off-limits to you.” Jackson grumbled something about the Jameson men being nothing but trouble.

“You’ve been saying that for years.” Carter slapped Jackson on the back and took off. “I’ll be back. Try not to burn down the house while I’m gone.”

Spence watched as Carter stopped in front of Ellie and Zoe, Jackson’s sister. He picked Zoe up and spun her around. After some whispering with Ellie, he pulled her to her feet and hugged her, too.

Spence shook his head. “The charmer.”

“In case you were wondering, I saw Abby go into the house.” Jackson peered over the top of his glass at Spence. “Just helping.”

“She’s free to move around.”

“How very open-minded of you.”

“I mean...” Yes, he wanted to talk with her. Spence could at least admit that to himself. Seeing Derrick happy and Carter at home had Spence longing for something he couldn’t quite name or describe. The sensation hit him in waves and each time it crashed in, her name formed in his mind. “Fine.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Spence reached over and polished off the rest of Jackson’s drink. “You’re not as smart as you think you are.”

Jackson laughed. “Yes, I am.”

* * *

Abby was now very clear on what the phrase “made my skin crawl” meant. Ten minutes ago, she’d turned to leave the balcony and go down and check on Ellie. Got two steps before Jeff Berger slipped in front of her. She hadn’t known he was invited but she guessed she should have assumed. His company often went up against Jameson Industries on bids. Management from both companies joked about a friendly competition between the companies. She now knew that carried with it a seedy underbelly.

“It’s been a long time. I’ve called and haven’t heard back from you.” Jeff swirled the liquor in his glass. “I’m beginning to think you’re ignoring me.”

“Weird, right?”

“Honestly, I’m not used to that type of response.”

She guessed it would cause a scene if she tossed his sorry butt off the balcony of this sweet house, so she refrained. “From women?”

“From anyone.”

Lovely.But she was not surprised to hear it. Jeff had that look. The typical DC dude-with-money-and-connections look. He was older than Derrick by about ten ears, maybe forty-five or so. He had twin boys in private school. They played lacrosse because Jeff had. They’d probably go to some Ivy League school because Jeff did. Grow up to take over Daddy’s company like Jeff intended to do.

He walked around in a fog of privilege, once commenting that it was amazing how far the Jameson family had gotten, what with having a Japanese grandmother and all. As if their background should have discounted them from making money or fitting in with the old-money boys who liked to drink their lunches on Capitol Hill restaurants.

Jeff wasn’t old. There was nothing infirm about him. The receding hairline did nothing to dim what Abby supposed were his objective good looks. At least that’s what other people said. He did nothing for her.

He played golf and belonged to a country club because he was supposed to, but he stayed fit. Every time there was a charity run in town, he was there with his sneakers on...making sure to get his photo taken for the newspaper. He put on a hell of a show. Abby had to give him that.

She sensed he also secretly despised Derrick and his success. “I’m surprised you’re here.”

Jeff’s phony smile faltered a bit. “Derrick and I are business acquaintances.”

“Not friends.”

He made an annoying tsk-tsk sound. “What does that word even mean?”

No surprise he wouldn’t be familiar with the definition. She decided to cut through the garbage and get straight to the only issue between them. “Despite the covert agent thing you did with the note—and I will be talking with Rylan about that, by the way—I won’t be showing up to the meeting as ordered.”

“Of course you will.” Jeff took another swallow as he watched the activity on the grass below. “And do you know why, Abby? Because you are a very smart woman. You also have a lot to lose.”

The anxiety churning in her stomach took off now. She’d gone from wanting to see Spence and hating how much she wanted to see him, to dreading this conversation. Life kept whizzing by her and she could not grab on and slow it down.

But she wasn’t about to buy into whatever nonsense Jeff had planned. “Threats?”

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