Losing Control (2 page)

“Painting.” Cal walked over, pulled open the fridge and withdrew a water. After taking a long pull from the bottle, he said, “Have some contractors coming in this afternoon to give some estimates if you want to…” he gestured vaguely, “see what I’m in for. See if you’re still up for all this.”

“I already told you I was.” Spence leaned back and stretched his legs out in front of him.

“You might change your mind after hearing the figures, man. And I won’t hold you to anything.” Cal leaned a hip against the counter and nodded toward the sketch pad. “Working on a new piece?”

Spence hesitated a moment, then lifted and held the drawing up for his friend to see. Cal tilted his head to the side then gave him a questioning look.

“She stopped by. Looking for some programs,” he said pointedly. “Seemed quite urgent.”

Cal snorted. “With Mags, everything is urgent. You captured her perfectly, right down to the little wrinkle between her brows when she frowns.”

Spence shrugged and set the pad aside. “If I’d known you were right downstairs, I’d have sent her down.” He stood and stretched his arms over his head. “Now, since you don’t have a damned thing to eat, tell me the best place in this town to get a meal.”

“Depends on what you’re in the mood for. I suppose I should drop the programs off then we can hit the diner downtown. Or if you’re looking for a simple soup and sandwich, along with some killer coffee, we can eat at the bookstore’s café.”

Ah, Maggie owned the local bookstore with her friend—the one marrying Gabe. Could be interesting. “I could do soup and sandwich.”

Cal shook his head. “Yeah, I thought you might.”

* * * *

Maggie closed the folder on her desk and reached for her coffee mug. She grimaced as she swallowed the lukewarm liquid. She glanced at the clock. No wonder—she’d been buried in paperwork for the last two hours. As she stood, a knock sounded before the door eased open.

Kate Pearson, her best friend and partner, popped her head in. “Ready for a break?”

“Read my mind,” Maggie quipped and crossed the room. She slung an arm around the other woman’s shoulders. “I thought you were taking off early.”

“My appointment isn’t for another hour, so I have time.”

Appointment? Maggie sifted through the schedules and tasks in her brain, wondering if she’d forgotten a dress fitting or appointment with the florist or something. “Wedding related?” she finally asked when she came up empty.

Kate laughed as they headed toward the café on the second floor. “Breathe easy, hon. You haven’t forgotten anything. Doctor appointment.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just a checkup. Figured I should take care of it before the wedding and honeymoon.”

“Ah, good thinking.” Maggie stepped around the counter in the café, popped the lid off her mug and poured the cold coffee in the sink. As she refilled with fresh brew, she looked at Kate. “You want tea?”

“Hey, get out from behind my counter.” Sally, the woman they’d hired to run the café, came out of the kitchen. Large grin in place, she bumped her hip against Maggie’s. “What can I get you ladies?”

“I’ll just do a cup of the chicken soup and a water,” Kate requested.

“That’s it?” Maggie frowned as she came to stand next to her friend. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. My stomach’s just been a bit ookie lately” Kate pressed a hand to her middle and scrunched up her face.

“Pre-wedding jitters,” Sally said knowingly. “Big day’s coming up fast.”

“Yup, last chance to ditch him and hook up with the cool brother.”

At the sound of Cal’s voice, Maggie rolled her eyes. “You better have the damned progr—” A box landed on the counter with a thud.

“There ya go, impatient one.” Cal gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “Quit bitching.” He turned to Kate. “What do ya say, Katie girl? We’ll run away to Fiji, and I’ll treat you like the queen you are.”

Kate took her cup of soup and water from Sally and nudged Cal aside to walk to a table. “Sorry, you had years to woo me and failed miserably.”

Maggie shook her head at Sally as Cal followed Kate, teasing her. “Could I get a turkey club and a bowl of soup?” she asked. “Thanks.”

She picked up the box and turned. Her breath whooshed out when she came face to face with Spencer.

“Uh, hi,” she stammered.

“Hi,” he said softly then plucked the box from her hands. “Where do you want these?”

She fought the urge to close her eyes as his quiet voice whispered past her ear. “I can get them,” she protested.

He shook his head then winked at her. “I know you can, but my mama taught me better than that.”

“Well, our mom tried with that one,” she tilted her head in Cal’s direction, “but it didn’t stick.”

Spencer chuckled. “So where to?”

“Just bring them to the table for now.” She led him to where Kate sat. “Do you two want something to eat? Thank you,” she murmured when Spencer set the programs in the center of the table.

“That’s what we came for,” Cal said.

The men followed her as she got her lunch from Sally. When she returned to the table, Kate leaned over.

“Okay, who is the hottie with Cal?”

Maggie glanced at the pair then back to her friend. “His friend, Spencer. He’s here for your wedding.”

“Oh, I remember Gabe or Cal mentioning him. A painter or photographer or something. Again, hottie,” she said under her breath as the guys joined them. When they were seated, she stuck her hand out. “Hi, I’m Kate.”

“Spencer Reed. Nice to meet you.” He shook her hand then sat back, the complete picture of comfort and ease. “So are you getting nervous about the big day?”

“Nope. I’m letting Maggie do all my worrying for me. She’s better at it.” Kate smiled broadly. “And she has everything running smoothly, with lists and schedules that make my eyes glaze over.”

Maggie felt her face warm under Spencer’s gaze, and cleared her throat. “Speaking of, the final fitting for your dress is tomorrow.”

“Well let’s just hope it fits still.” Her friend jokingly ran her hands down her sides. “Wouldn’t it just suck if it didn’t?”

“It’ll fit,” Maggie assured. “If anything, they’ll have to take it in.”

“You all grew up together, right?” Spencer asked between bites, gesturing between the other three with his spoon.

“Oh, I’ve known the Monroes forever, it seems,” Kate said. “I met Maggie and Cal the first day of kindergarten. Maggie dragged me into the chaos, and I’ve been there ever since. They’re like family, really, though I wasn’t really close to Gabe then. He was old enough not to care too much about us.” Kate gave a little shrug.

“Oh, but she had a crush to end all crushes on him,” Cal teased. “And look where it ended up. She’s marrying into the chaos, legally binding herself to it. Silly girl.”

Maggie ate silently as conversation flowed. She took the opportunity to study Spencer. His hair, now dry, still stood every which way. Though, oddly, it suited him. He’d changed into jeans and had a gray hoodie over his T-shirt. Her gaze was drawn to his mouth as he ate. A crumb clung to his full lower lip until his tongue captured it. She wondered what he would taste like, what his mouth would feel like on hers then shook herself mentally at the direction her thoughts were taking.
Not your type, remember?

“Gabe.”

Kate’s happy exclamation pulled Maggie’s attention from Spencer. Her oldest brother strolled across the room to their table, dressed in his typical suit and tie. Once next to his fiancé, he bent at the waist and pressed a kiss to her lips.

“Hey there,” he murmured then straightened. When he saw Spencer, his mouth turned up into a quick grin. “Spence, good to see you! I didn’t realize you were already in town.”

The other man stood and they shook hands. “Just got in yesterday.”

“Glad you could make it. Damn, I wish we had some time to catch up, but Kate’s got an appointment.”

Spencer sat again. “No worries. There’ll be plenty of time for that.”

“Count on it.” Gabe looked down. “You ready, sweetheart?”

Kate took a quick drink and rose. “Yep, I just need to grab my jacket and purse. I’ll see you tonight?” she asked Maggie.

“Be there right after I close up.”

Maggie watched as the couple walked to the stairs, her chest tight. It took her a moment to realize it was envy. Not the angry, deep-rooted kind. She was insanely happy for her friend and brother, but part of her wanted what they had. Wanted to look at a man the way Gabe looked at Kate and have that look returned readily.

Unsure just how to react to that revelation, she turned to her brother and his friend. “I have some stuff I need to get to.” She stood and grabbed the box of programs. “See you later.”

Quickly, she hurried to her office and sat heavily on the couch across from her desk. She did not like this unsettled feeling. Her life was orderly and planned out, and that was exactly how she preferred it. And, damn, it, that was how it would stay. She nodded emphatically and set the box down on the cushion beside her. Leaning forward, she snagged a legal pad and pen off the desk and sat back.

Finding a suitable man was just like anything else—you had to be clear on exactly what you were looking. Relief filled her as she pondered the qualities she wanted in a husband and began to draft a list. Hell, she made lists of requirements when she bought an appliance, why would it be any different with a man? Particularly when she planned on spending the rest of her life with him? She was definitely on the right track here.

Chapter Two

Spence tilted the bottle of beer to his lips and took a long draw, studying the couple who sat on the sofa opposite him. Gabe was one helluva lucky man, and from the way he was looking down at his soon-to-be wife, he damn well knew it. Spence had readily accepted their invitation to dinner. He even admitted to himself that seeing Maggie was part of his motivation, though he was anxious to catch up with his friends and get to know the woman marrying one of them.

“And where’s the honeymoon?” he asked.

“Hawaii,” Kate answered. “We were thinking Europe, but after the cold Minnesota winter, I wanted somewhere warm. And, we can only manage a week away right now, so we’ll save Europe when we aren’t so rushed.”

“Smart woman,” Spence said with a nod.

“Obviously,” she quipped and pushed to her feet. “So which of you manly men is going to put the meat on the grill?” She burst out laughing when all three men followed suit and stood. “Okay, then. You can all stand around the grill, drinking your beer. I’ll go check on the baked potatoes. Oh good, there’s Maggie.”

The sound of the front door shutting was followed by the click of heels on the hardwood floor. “Sorry I’m late. Had a few stragglers. Get the glasses; I’ve got the wine, baby.”

Maggie held up the bottle as she entered the room, and stopped short when her gaze collided with Spence’s. Her lips parted slightly, trembled as they stared at each other a moment.

“Bring it in here,” Kate said, walking into the kitchen. “The guys were just going to get to grilling.”

“Oh.” She shook her head once then followed her friend. “Great. I’m starved.”

Spence watched the sway of her hips when she passed him and bit back a groan. He turned to find Cal watching him curiously. Without a word, they headed through the kitchen out onto the deck, where Gabe was already placing steaks on the heated grill.

“So…” Cal drawled. “You seeing anyone, Spence?”

“Nope,” he answered simply.

“Got your eye on anyone?” Laughter laced Cal’s voice.

“And if I did?” Spence knew full well Cal had noticed him checking out his sister. He supposed now was as good a time as any to figure out how it’d go over if he wandered in that direction.

“That would be your call, man. Just have a care,” he said quietly.

“Of course,” Spence nodded.

Gabe’s head jerked up. “What? What’s going on?”

Cal burst out laughing and slapped his brother on the shoulder. “I’ve never seen you so distracted. You nervous about the wedding?”

Gabe snorted. “No. Never been more certain about anything in my life.”

“Yeah, yeah. So is Sean coming to dinner?” Cal asked, nudging Gabe aside to poke at one of the filets.

“It’s still mooing, dumbass.” Gabe slapped his hand aside. “He has guests so probably not.”

“You are quite the entrepreneurial family,” Spence observed. “You’re running hotels and a resort, your brother has a bed and breakfast. Your sister and Kate own a bookstore, and now, you,” he nodded at Cal, “are looking at opening a gallery. What’s it run in the blood or something?”

“Apparently so. I mean, I could work with the hotels but it’s not my thing. No offense,” Cal said to Gabe, who shrugged. “And hell this town needs a place to showcase some local talent.”

“Like yours?” Maggie stepped out onto the deck, glass of wine in hand.

“Exactly. Just because you don’t acknowledge the sheer genius of—”