Page 23 of Reunion With Benefits

“Ellie’s brother is here. He seems to be behaving,” Jackson said as he gestured toward a nearby table.

Noah had a history of issues, just two of which centered on decision-making and controlling his anger. He had been a huge issue in Derrick and Ellie’s relationship at the start. But the twenty-year-old was brilliant and Derrick had become a mentor to him. Things were smoothing out on that front. “He’s doing better. Fitting in at work and is opening up a bit to Derrick, which is kind of funny to watch.”

Jackson nodded. “I love sitting in on meetings between the two of them, even though I rarely understand what Noah is saying.”

Spence cleared his throat as he searched for the right words. “About me leaving—”

“She’s been nervous lately, and that’s not her style. I’m not sure if it’s because of you or—”

“Wait a second.” The conversation kept rolling and Spence had yet to catch up, but he couldn’t let this part pass. “I have no intention of hurting her.”

Jackson lifted his glass and took another sip. “Because you love her.”

The words skidded across Spence’s brain. He wanted to deny but that’s not what came out. “Stop saying that.”

Jackson slowly lowered his glass again. “I notice you haven’t told me I’m wrong about the love thing. Not even a ‘get out of here.’”

“And I notice you waited to ambush me with this topic at a very public event.”

Jackson took a sip of his beer. “I’m a pretty smart guy.”

“You are.” Carter stepped up to the table out of nowhere. “And trouble. Six-foot-something of pure trouble.”

Seeing his baby brother, hearing that familiar amused voice, stunned Spence for a second. Carter looked the same except for the short scruff of a beard. He’d always possessed the clean-shaven baby face look. Not now. The straight black hair and black eyes were the same. He loomed tall and strong. None of that had changed.

“Carter,” Spence greeted his brother then stepped back for Jackson to take a turn.

More than one head turned as the three men shook hands and hugged. Spence saw a few people point. He glanced up to the second-story deck and saw Abby watching rather than paying attention to the man talking to her.

“Who takes more than four weeks to drive across the country? How lazy are you?” Jackson asked as he flagged down a server and grabbed a glass of water for Carter.

He downed it in one sip. “I was hoping Dad would come and go before I got here.”

Jackson shook his head. “You’re not that lucky.”

“None of us are,” Spence said.

Carter reached for another glass of water from a passing tray and scanned the area. “There are a lot of people here. Do we even know this many people? I sure don’t like this many people.”

None of them were that great with crowds, but Carter had “it”—the charm that allowed him to talk to anyone about anything for a good twenty minutes. The sunny smile and ability to chime in at the right times. After all that interested listening, he could slip away without crushing feelings.

Most people who met him described him as the kind of guy who really listened. Spence doubted that was actually true. Carter had perfected the art of faking it. A good skill to have if you wanted to survive in the Jameson family.

“Ellie insisted if this was going to be a big party, it had to include friends, family and work people.” Jackson shook his head as he spoke.

“She also demanded cupcakes,” Spence said.

Carter’s gaze traveled over the crowd, hesitating a few times before he spied Derrick and smiled. “Where exactly is my cupcake-eating future sister-in-law? I’m dying to meet the woman who managed to tame Derrick. She’s like a miracle worker.”

“You’ll like her.” Spence did. He couldn’t imagine anyone not liking her.

“She’s there.” Jackson pointed at the same table Ellie had been sitting at for an hour. Derrick had moved back, but not far. “The pretty brunette talking with my sister. The other woman at the table is Ellie’s best friend, Vanessa.”

“Who Jackson finds very attractive.” Spence had heard Jackson talk about Vanessa a few times, which was a few times more than he usually spoke about any woman in his life.

He shrugged. “I do have eyes.”

“Wait a second.” Carter’s smile widened. “Your sister is here?”

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