Page 63 of Spencer

Tabitha was blown away. It was all so tremendously tempting.

Still, she couldn’t just jump. She needed to take baby-steps with Sheila.

“How about this,” she offered. “We’ll take the skiff back into Searsport. We’ll grab a room at the motel I stayed at before, and we’ll make phone calls where you’ll introduce me to your family. We’ll do regular, new couple things until my sub is brought in, then I might have a clearer picture of how to proceed.”

Maybe by that time, whatever has started to burn bright between us will either burst into sustainable flames, or be extinguished,she added in her head.

“Okay,” Spencer agreed swiftly. “If that’s what will make those worry lines on your forehead smooth out, so be it. But be warned. Iwillbe calling my Mom and Dad as soon as we’re settled, because I have lots to share with them, including you. And if I know Ellen and Guy Sothard like I think I do, wewillbe having supper with them tonight.”

Tabitha could live with that.

CHAPTER 20

Spencer’s excitementcould barely be contained. This was the first time he’d set foot on Maine’s soil in over two years. When he left home, he’d been despondent, with a vague plan of what he was going to do. Knowing only that he wanted to ship out to sea, where he’d have the opportunity—away from his family—to figure himself out, he’d first thought about signing on to a fishing vessel, but had ended up taking the necessary classes to join the Merchant Marine, instead.

That had instigated his affiliation to the Atlaua.

He’d never regretted it, and never looked back.

But now… It was time to look forward. With unbridled optimism.

Spencer was not only pumped that he had a goal for his future, but thrilled because there was a brilliant, compelling woman at his side, whom he hoped to convince to stay. If she were feeling half of what he was, it would be a sure bet.

As Tabitha competently piloted their skiff into the harbor, Spencer’s eyes took in the familiar sights. Everything glinting in the bright, mid-morning sunshine was exactly the same. With the exception of some townhouse apartments that had gone up within sight of the harbor, and the coffee shop he liked to hit upbefore he and his brothers’ semi-annual fishing trips changing its name. Other than that, it was deja-vu, and the normalcy of it all settled his nerves.

Right. Nerves.On top of the elation. That was a lethal combination, as was his imminent arrival. Letting his family know he was back was going to be a mixed bag. His parents, with whom he’d kept in touch sporadically, would no doubt be thrilled he’d returned. The brothers who were currently serving in the military—and Seifer, who was still at school—would be but a small blip on the sourpuss-radar. But the two brothers he’d left behind without a word…

Right.Mason and Kyle were going to be pissed.

Mason’s mood might get tempered by his level-headed wife, Everlee, to whom Mace had now been married for a little more than two years, but Kyle… Well, Kyle would be a harder nut to crack, even with his new wife, Rowan by his side.

Spencer and Kyle had been the closest out of all the siblings, following in each other’s footsteps almost like twins.

Twins in mischief.

Yup, Spencer had orchestrated a huge prank on Kyle just before he’d skipped town; with the Duck of Justice at the center of it. Which had led to Kyle meeting Rowan. Shortly thereafter, Spencer had done the unthinkable. He’d disappeared off the map just after the two had gotten hitched.

He wondered if Kyle would ever speak to him again.

“Hey. You’re looking a little green,” Tabitha told him as she deftly guided the boat into the dock. “Seasick?” she smirked, knowing that couldn’t possibly be the case.

“Hah, hah,” Spencer replied, wondering if he should tell her of his concerns. He’d talked to her endlessly about his family and his love for them, but he’d never told her exactly how he’d left Bangor without so much as a “see-ya” to his two local sibs.

He sucked in a breath as he swung the bumpers over the sides and Tabitha brought the skiff to rest against the pier without even the tiniest of jolts.

Spencer leaped over the gunwales, dock-line in hand, tying the craft off on the nearest cleat.

Tabitha killed the power, then joined him on the pier holding the stern line which she swiftly secured, as well.

“You mean you’re not going to tell me why you’ve said approximately two words in the last ten minutes?” Tabitha prodded.

Spencer knew she wouldn’t push much more than that. She was a woman who valued her own privacy, and didn’t normally pry. Still, he felt her worry, and figured that maybe a sounding board would help.

“You, uh, already know that I left home without letting my brothers know where I was headed next, right?”

“I do,” she said, not prompting Spencer, but letting him unravel his brain at his own pace.

“Well, it’s a little bit more complicated than that,” he revealed.

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