Page 30 of Reunion With Benefits

Jackson nodded. “Subtle.”

“You’d be less annoying if you didn’t smile so big right now.” Abby shot Carter her best watch-it look as she talked.

“Sorry.” Carter had the grace to wince as he looked at Abby. Then he turned to Spence. “So, is she why you came back home so fast when Derrick called for help?”

This discussion just got worse and worse. It was as if Carter didn’t have a filter. Spence wanted the talk before Abby unleashed and kicked them all. “Hey, Carter? Shut up.”

The noise from the hallway grew louder right before the door pushed open. Spence’s vision refused to focus...but then it did. He saw a couple—him in his sixties, tall with a regal look to him. Her in her forties with shoulder-length auburn hair and a smile that looked like it was plastered on her face against her will.

Eldrick and the newest missus. All dressed up with her in flowing off-white pants and a matching shirt, and him in navy pants and a blazer. The type of outfit that suggested he’d rather be on a boat.

The only thing that made the unwanted meeting tolerable was that Eldrick’s newest wife looked even less excited to be there than any of his children. Spence almost felt sorry for her. Officially meeting the family for the first time like this couldn’t be easy. Especially this family.

“I see your behavior has not improved since we last saw each other, Spencer.” That familiar stern Dad voice floated through the room.

All of the amusement drained from Carter’s face. “Dad.”

“When did you get here?” Spence didn’t mean for it to come out like an accusation but even he heard the edge to his tone.

“I just arrived. You remember Beth.” Eldrick gestured toward his wife.

For a second, Spence thought he missed a marriage. They’d eloped and Derrick and Spence had only seen her once, even then only briefly and as she stepped on a private plane at the airport. Carter never had. But that wasn’t the name Spence remembered. “I thought your name was Jackie.”

She nodded. “Jacqueline Annabeth Winslow Jameson.”

That was quite something. Spence felt a headache coming on.

“She prefers...” Eldrick smiled as he looked around the room, and then his mouth fell into a flat line. “Abigail.”

Without a word, Abby picked up Jackson’s glass and threw the contents in Eldrick’s face. They all jumped back, and Beth or Jackie or whatever her name was this week gasped.

Abby didn’t even blink. “Welcome home.”

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