Better Than Before (RightMatch.com Trilogy) (25 page)

“Nope. Mommy keeps a glove in the plastic chest over there.”

Spence and Alex played catch for a while. “You’ve got a strong arm,” he said to the boy. Thinking about the bullying, Spence wondered how the self-defense class was going. The kid should be in boxing. His strong arm would be an asset.

Annie called them to lunch, and when they assembled at the table, the thick, open-face ham sandwiches were covered with melted cheese, the fruit salad was crisp, and she served homemade lemonade again. He’d eaten in the best restaurants in the world, but damned how this simple fare filled him with pleasure. “Bow your heads, please,” Annie said softly, “and thank God or whatever deity you believe in for this meal.”

The kids chattered through lunch: Hope was excited about her dance recital coming up in June, Alex talked about trying out for the middle-school baseball team next year, and Annie seemed to enjoy the simple pleasure of sitting outside with her family.

When the dishes had been cleared, once again by the kids, Hope asked, “Want to read more
HighPoints
with me, Spence?”

“The magazine for babies,” Alex pronounced.

“Is not.”

“Is, too.”

Annie intervened. “If you’re going to squabble, which you know I hate, I guess I won’t tell you what Spence and I decided about PetPlay.”

There were all kinds of shouts and promises to behave. He and Annie exchanged an amused glance, then she said, “We can take Jake there again. Spence is going to sign us up.”

“When, Mommy?”

Jake had been snoozing at Spence’s feet but had bolted up when she said
PetPlay
and wagged his tail. Now he put his paws on Spence’s knees and stared at him.

Spence chuckled. “The sooner the better, I guess.”

o0o

Annie stood in front of her full-length mirror and tried to quell her resentment. The black dress she wore, a strapless silk that hit every curve in exactly the right places, looked good on her. Sapphires sparkled at her ears, throat and wrist. Too-high open-toed pumps graced her feet.

These were remnants from her life with Keith, which she’d had to dig out for tonight’s gala. Annie hated galas. She had to primp to be like everybody else in the room—which in the long run never happened. She always stuck out. Even when she put her hair in a chignon, which weighed heavily at her neck, she never was part of the clique.

She hadn’t wanted to go to tonight’s black-tie gala with Spence, and they’d fought about it…

Oh, Spence, I hate those things. Everything’s so superficial.

An insult to me, I guess,
he’d said curtly
.

No, I didn’t mean it that way. I don’t hold anything against people who want to enjoy these kinds of parties. Lauren and Julia go to them all the time. They’re simply not for me.

I know. But this is the ALS event I mentioned before, and I’m MC. It means a lot to me. And my family. Joey especially.

Obviously, he’d taken her words as a personal criticism, but he was unable to change her mind until he told her the event was his corporation’s annual fundraiser for ALS, the disease Joey’s father had died from, and she felt childish refusing to go. She also wanted to make Spence happy. So like she had with PetPlay, she’d agreed in the end. Because giving in unnerved her, she insisted on paying her own one-hundred-dollar-a-plate donation.

Her mother came to the door of the bedroom. Norma planned to stay with the kids all night, as was her custom when she babysat on weekends. “You’re beautiful, Annie.”

“Spoken like a true mother. Thanks for watching the kids. You help us out too much, though.”

“Nonsense. I love being here.”

Annie brushed her hair—that was one thing she wouldn’t compromise on tonight. She left it long and flowing. “I hate these kinds of things.”

“I know. I’m surprised you’re going.”

Annie sighed again. “Keith says I have trouble compromising and he’s right. This is a compromise.”

“Hmm.” She was glad her mother didn’t press her. They’d already talked about this, and contrary to most moms, Norma knew when to let go. Since Annie didn’t, she envied her mother’s flexibility.

The doorbell rang. Her mother said, “I’m nervous about meeting him. You go first. Say hello. Then I’ll come down.”

Norma’s insecurities made Annie feel bad. She’d always been nervous around Keith, too.

Alex, Jake and Hope already had the door open when Annie reached the landing. Spence stepped inside and she practically lost her breath. He was dressed in a raven tux, snowy white shirt and dark cummerbund. His hair, longer now, was expertly styled. When he looked up to where she stood on the stairs, the expression on his face was so profound, so full of emotion, she forgot her earlier pique and went all soft inside.

“Wow,” he said simply.

“Wow, yourself.”

Jake, of course, was circling Spence’s feet, and Hope was tugging on his jacket. “Thanks for taking us to PetPlay Sunday.”

The dog barked loudly.

“When are you coming back to see me and Alex again?”

“I wanted to talk to you about that.” Bending down he whispered in Hope’s ear. Annie caught the word
HighPoints,
the magazine he’d read with Hope on Sunday, and whatever he said made her light up like a Christmas tree. She threw her arms around him and hugged him.

“What’s going on?” Alex asked.

Her daughter went for a haughty tone. “A surprise for Mommy.”

Annie descended the stairs, trying not to seem concerned, hoping that whatever they were planning wouldn’t cause friction again. Though he was compromising on a lot of things, she didn’t think he respected her wishes enough where the kids were concerned.

Her mother joined them. “Spence, I want you to meet my mother. Norma Hopkins, Spence B…, ah, Wickham.”

“Nice to meet you,” Norma said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Some of it positive, I hope.”

“Some of it.”

“We should go,” Annie said, grabbing her purse and Pashmina shawl. She kissed the kids, then took Spence’s hand. As they walked to the car, Annie promised herself she would enjoy tonight if it killed her.

o0o

The biannual ALS Gala that Spence spearheaded was held at Oak Crest, a swank country club in Rockland. Its clubhouse perched on a hill like a stately mansion, designed to impress people, but the wood-paneled interior, Persian-carpeted rugs and crystal chandeliers would mean little to the beauty beside Spence.

And damned if that didn’t annoy him. There were parts of his life he enjoyed, and playing golf at this club and attending formal events here were some of them.

“This is lovely,” she said as they left the car with the valet and went inside the impressive entrance. “I’ve been here a time or two with Keith.”

“Does he belong to Oak Crest?”

“No, he couldn’t afford this. He’s at Logan Hill. Are you a member?”

“Yes,” he said warily. “But the firm pays for it because I entertain clients here.” Before they headed to the ballroom, he drew her off to the side. “Annie, I know that this”—he waved his hand to encompass the foyer— “isn’t the lifestyle you want, but some of it is integral to who I am. Like this fundraiser. Like this place. Please, try to enjoy yourself.”

“I will.” She kissed his cheek. “I promise.”

They entered the ballroom. Tables covered in white cloths and decorated with candles and flower arrangements were scattered throughout the huge room, along with food stations and bars lining the perimeter. Spence caught sight of Keith Kennedy, not twenty feet away at one of the hors d’oeuvres tables.

When Annie noticed her ex, she gripped his hand tighter.

Spence said, “I didn’t know he’d be here. He hasn’t attended before. But he has nothing to do with us, sweetheart.”

“Do you think he came because he thought I might be here?”

He felt the slippery edges of jealousy. “Do you?”

“I don’t, no. Except he’s been acting strangely.”

Irritated with himself, Spence studied Kennedy’s girlfriend and shook his head. “She’s not half as pretty as you.” He panned the room. “And she’s like all the other women here.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw Annie touch her hair.

“Don’t even think about that. You know how much I love your hair.” He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Especially when I see it spread out on my bare chest. Which I hope to do later.”

“Maybe you will.”

Since Spence knew he wouldn’t be staying overnight at Annie’s when the kids were home, he’d invited her to his condo after the gala. He hadn’t expected to spring the place on her so soon, but he wanted to make love to her tonight. So focused on Annie, he didn’t see the couple who approached them.

“Hello, Spencer.”

Spence recognized the woman’s voice and turned. “Marlena.” She kissed his cheek and introduced her date, a lawyer in town, who Spence knew socially. “Marlena, Dick, this is Annie Hopkins.”

Marlena leveled a piercing gaze on Annie. “Yes, we know. Hello, Annie.”

“Hi.” Annie cocked her head. “How did you know who I was?”

“You’re Keith Kennedy’s ex.”

“If you’ll excuse us,” Spence told them, even though it was rude, “I have to find my family and check on the program.”

As they wound their way through the tables, she asked, “Spence, how would that woman know I was Keith’s wife? I’m certain I’ve never met her.”

“I used to date her. I’m sure she made it her business to find out who you are. She might know Kennedy or Belinda.”

“Oh, dear Lord. This is the kind of gossip I hate.”

He stiffened and wondered why he was taking so personally what she said tonight. “Here’s our table.”

Around which was seated his family. Annie perked up immediately and even Spence felt better in their presence. Rick, Cole and Joey stood.

“Nice to see you all again.” She smiled genuinely as they all sat down.

Spence circled the table and kissed his mother. “Hey, beautiful.”

“Spence, darling. I…” She dabbed at her eyes. “I love that you do this in Joe’s memory.”

“Me, too, bro,” Joey barely got out.

Spence knew the event was hard for his brother. His dad’s death had been excruciating on him, and in some ways, Joey had been as affected by his father as Spence had by his. He gripped Joey’s shoulder and left his hand there a moment.

Feeling better now that he was with his family, Spence vowed not to be so prickly about Annie’s reactions tonight. She was entitled to her feelings.

But so was he. He just hoped they could mesh both of them. In a way, this fundraiser was a mutual test.

o0o

Spence took his place behind the podium with the aplomb of a millionaire which, Annie knew, he was. “Thank you for coming tonight. As many of you know, this is a special evening for me and my family. My stepfather, Sergeant Joe Moretti, died of ALS, and we all suffered from his loss.” He went on to describe Joe Sr.’s personality, how much he’d contributed to society as a cop and how his family was central to his life. “He was especially kind to me,” Spence ended with. “He treated me like his own son.”

Along with everyone else, Annie was touched by Spence’s remarks. He was so charming, so easy with himself, this other side of Spence, the one that she wasn’t so sure she liked all the time. But she enjoyed seeing him up there right now. And his sentiments toward Joe’s dad were very real.

She clapped when he revealed how much money they’d raised. Then he told everyone to enjoy themselves and announced all the dinner stations were open and dancing would begin in two hours.

When he returned to the table, Joe stood and hugged him. Spence held on to his brother, and Annie realized Joe was so moved he couldn’t talk. Now
this
Spence she knew.

He put a hand on back of her seat. “Ready to eat? I should go first to kick off dinner.”

“I’m starved, as usual.”

Leading her through the aisles, he stopped to chat with several people. But it was Annie who halted abruptly as they came upon a table of three couples: the Camps, the Lanahans and Keith and Belinda.

For a moment, she froze. She felt her face flush and her body tighten. Then she recovered, said, “Well, hi, everybody,” and introduced Spence. Keith scowled at him, the other guys mumbled their greetings, and Julia stared wide-eyed at Annie. Lauren got up and hugged her. “Mind if I borrow Annie a minute, Spence?”

“No, of course not. I’ll get some food and meet you back at the table.”

She and Lauren stepped out onto a terrace off the hallway.

“Lauren, I’m fine.”

“You are not. You looked devastated.”

“Oh, all right, I’m not fine, but I’m not devastated, either.” God, she hoped Spence didn’t think that. Now she began to worry about his reaction. He was so intent on her liking the evening, having a good time, she hoped her reaction didn’t set him off.

“I’m so sorry you had to see us together.”

“I-I know you all go out as couples. It…hurt to see him with Belinda and not me. I mean, I don’t want to be with him, but it was a shock to…witness it, I guess.”

“I’ll bet. I didn’t want to come tonight.”

“It’s not going well with Nick?”

“No, we’re making progress. He didn’t want to come, either. We try to avoid situations like this, where he used to drink.”

“Why did you, then?”

“Keith pushed. He bought all the tickets and coerced the guys into agreeing to attend. We’ve never been to this event before, but I couldn’t imagine you’d be here with Spence, so I didn’t see the harm. Truthfully, I’m shocked to see you.”

“It’s an important night to Spence and his family.”

Julia appeared at the doorway. “Are you okay, Annie?”

“Yes, of course. Don’t worry about me.”

“That’s not what your face said when you saw us.”

She smiled. “Happy face now.” She reiterated what she’d told Lauren.

But Julia wasn’t convinced. “I can’t believe you let that jerk drag you here.”

Lauren gave Julia a warning glare. “Time to change the subject, ladies.”

Julia sighed. “I guess. Belinda’s like a mannequin next to you. I love the strapless look.”

In no time, the girls had her chuckling with their gossip and compliments. She almost forgot her worry over how Spence would handle what had just happened.