Someone to Love (7 page)

Chapter Twelve

Lexi

W
hen we leave
Brenna and Tucker’s, Spencer doesn’t drive toward his house, but away from it.

“Did you forget how to get to your house?”

Spencer laughs, “No, smartass I didn’t. I thought we’d go for a little ride.”

I laugh at his reply, I love that he had called me a smartass. Yes, I know I’m weird, but it means he’s comfortable with me and that’s exactly what I want.

We ride in silence for a few minutes, before he makes a right, turning on a very dark secluded road that leads deeper into the woods. I grow nervous as I notice that there isn’t a house in sight. Suddenly, Spencer stops the truck and puts it into park. After he kills the engine, he turns the lights out, leaving us sitting in the pitch black darkness.

I don’t get it. Does he want to make out or something?
For a few minutes, I sit and wait for something, but he doesn’t speak or move a bit. I am now seriously about to lose my shit.

“Spencer?” I ask, but he doesn’t respond. Now that my eyes have adjusted to the dark a bit, I can see the outline of his face, as he sits staring out the windshield.

This is getting really creepy.

What the fuck is going on? We’re in the middle of bum fuck Egypt. Spencer’s seriously freaking me the hell out. “Spencer, what the hell are we doing?” I can’t help the tremor in my voice.

“Ya know, Lexi, no one travels this road much at night. It’s a bit scary out here, isn’t it? No houses, no cars, no police,” He takes his phone out of his pocket and looks at the screen, “there’s not even any cell phone service.”

Okay, this is the part where I probably should be reaching for the door handle to try and get the hell out of here, but instead I turn to face him.

“You know, Spencer, I’m about three seconds away from punching you in the throat. This is really not funny.”

“Are you scared?” Spencer asks in a low deep voice.

“Stop it, Spencer. This shit is so not funny.”

Spencer unlatches my seatbelt and pulls me towards him by yanking on my belt loop. He brings his face close to mine. This close I can see his face, it’s expressionless.

“Boo!” He yells, turning on the interior light at the same time.

I jumped, hitting my head on the hard truck roof. I swear I about pissed on myself. Spencer begins laughing his ass off at me. My heart is still racing. This asshole just scared the piss out of me, almost literally, and he’s laughing. Anger build inside me and before I can stop myself I rare back and punch him, as hard as I can, in the arm.

“Ouch!” He exclaims, rubbing the spot that I just hit. The stunned look on his face makes the anger seep out of me a little at a time.

“I can’t believe you just hit me,” Spencer says, while staring at me in disbelief. “Damn! You hit hard too.”

I can’t control the laughter, as it bursts through me. “What did you expect me to do? You scared the crap out of me,” I reply still giggling.

“Well, for starters. I didn’t expect you to hit me. You know, for a little thing you sure can put some power behind those tiny fists. You are a feisty one!”

I scoot back over close to him and rub the spot I’d hit, before placing a kiss on it. “There, it’s all better now.”

Spencer gazes down at me a moment, before he turns in his seat and pulls me onto his lap. There is nothing for me to do but straddle his waist. Right now, I’m happy we’re on this dark deserted road.

“You gonna kiss my pride and make it better too?” He jokes, right before his lips brush across mine.

I open my mouth, and passionately begin kissing him.

When we finally pull apart, I touch my forehead to his. “Is it better now?”

Spencer grins up at me. “That wasn’t the pride I was referring to.”

My grin now matches his. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Spencer picks me up and places me back on the seat beside him before starting the truck and continuing down the road. He reaches over and turns the radio on low.

“Oh my God, I love Luke Bryan. Can I turn it up?”

Spencer rolls his eyes at me, but nods his okay. I hear him mutter something about damn country music lovers under his breath.

I ignore his mumbling and sing along to
Drunk On You.
When the song is over, I turn the radio back down some and look back over at Spencer.

“Now, was that really so bad? How can you not like Luke Bryan?”

“Naw, that wasn’t bad. I kinda like that song actually. I’m not a huge country fan, but it seems to be all I get to listen to these days. I can say though that song is pretty accurate,” He says glancing at me.

“Is that right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I think I’m definitely a little drunk on you.”

“Oh? And here I thought I made your speakers go boom boom.” I tease him back, earning a huge smile from his handsome face.

* * *

Spencer

Playing that little trick on Lexi probably wasn’t the best idea, but after her morning stunt and my whole payback backfiring on me, I had to do something. The thing is, Lexi’s a feisty one and there is no telling what may be in store for me. Either way, I look forward to finding out,
especially
if it ends like this morning.

“What’s going through that handsome head of yours?” Lexi questions me with a slight smile on her face.

After her last comment, I’m sure she thinks I’m thinking about sex, and she wouldn’t be wrong.

“I was just wondering how you’re going to get back at me. I know you aren’t going to just let that slide now, are ya?” I glance over at her and raise a brow even though I know she can’t see me in the darkness.

“Hmm… I don’t know, but rest assured I shall think of something,” she says.

Oh hell, I can hear the mischievousness in her voice and there is absolutely no telling what she will come up with. I don’t get to ponder this thought long before we reach my house. I park my truck and open the door to get out, then I wait for Lexi to scoot to the edge of the seat before I scoop her up in my arms. Using my hip to slam the door shut I start walking toward the back door with Lexi still in my arms.

Right where she should be.

Where did that come from? The thought causes me to stumble over my feet a bit, but I manage to compose myself well.

“You been walking long?” Lexi laughs.

I should’ve known she wouldn’t let me get away with almost tripping without making fun of it. I don’t reply to her, instead, I laugh too. What can I say really? One minute I want to take things slow, and the next minute I find myself wanting to run away.
What the fuck is wrong with me? I need to make up my mind already.

“Unlock the door, woman, and stop laughing at me.” I try for a stern voice as she takes the keys from my hand.

“Now, put me down Spencer,” Lexi says softly after she unlocks the door.

“Why?”

“Because.” What’s wrong with her? I study her face now that I can see it under the porch light. She is trying to avoid my eyes and biting her bottom lip. “What is it, Lexi? Just tell me.”

“You can’t carry me through the door, Spencer,” she blurts.

“Why not?”

She looks me right in the eye before she replies. “Because I’m not your wife and you’re only supposed to carry her over the threshold.”

Point well taken. I release her legs and let her feet touch the wooden porch, but I can’t make myself release her. Pressing her against the door, I hold her in place with my lower body against hers, and begin peppering kisses across her face, avoiding her lips every time she turns them toward mine. I don’t want to kiss her just yet because once I do there will be no stopping.

Lexi affects me like no one before her and I can’t even think past her. I have a gut feeling that she is it for me. If I take the chance on loving her and she rips my heart to shreds in the process, there won’t be anything left for anyone else. I’ll just go back to being the closed off man I was before, looking for release when I need it and giving nothing back in the process.

But the more time I spend with Lexi, the more I want to give her everything.

Taking a step back, I gaze down at Lexi. When I look into her eyes, I don’t see anything there except openness. I think she is just as scared as I am, but we are on the same page, we want the same thing. We both want someone to love us with that all-consuming, earth shattering, and no holds barred kinda love.

“Come on, let’s get some sleep,” I tell her as I turn the knob to open the door.

“Sleep? Really?” Lexi smirks as she turns and walks through the door into my home.

I have every intention of just holding her in my arms tonight. If this is going to go forward, we can’t keep setting the sheets, or the table, or anywhere else on fire.

Watching her walk down the hall to my bedroom I find myself adjusting myself before walking through the door. By the way her hips are swaying she isn’t going to make this easy on me.

Maybe I can start the ‘just holding her’ idea tomorrow. I think my sheets need some warming up tonight.

Chapter Thirteen

Lexi

I
t’s funny how
you can feel so comfortable with someone that you, in all reality, barely know. Lying in Spencer’s arms is the most peaceful place I’ve ever been. There’s no pretending to be anyone other than who I am. There is comfort, security, and being wrapped in his arms feels a lot like home to me.

So much for our plan not to burn up the sheets. That only lasted about ten minutes. I swear there was smoke coming from this bed by the time we were through. I should play a little hard to get more often.

I love to push him to the point that he loses all control. It’s like seeing a completely different side of him.

In that moment Spencer is free. The walls are down and I can tell that this man is someone who has been badly betrayed. Yet there is this look in his eyes that tells me he wants someone to heal him and take away all that built up pain. He needs someone to love him and only him. I plan to be that person.

I’ve been watching him sleep for a good half hour, studying all the lines and angles of his face in slumber. He looks absolutely peaceful. I want to be the one that makes him feel peace and comfort when he’s awake.

I know it’s absolutely crazy to feel this way so soon, but something about Spencer Jacobs is completely different. I’m determined to show this man that no matter what happened in his past, that his future holds a different reality. Me.

I’m going to be the one that knocks down those walls, the one that teaches him to trust again, and the one that shows him that true love is possible when you’re with the right person.

Tracing his features with my eyes is no longer enough. I have to touch him. Raising my arm, I place my fingertips on his cheek and lightly trace his morning stubble. Closing my eyes, I let my fingers see for me. By the time I’m done I’ll be able to recognize his face by touch alone. Once I’m satisfied, I slowly open my eyes and look right back into his open eyes.

“Morning,” I whisper.

“Morning,” Spencer replies. He brings my fingertips to his lips and kisses them, one by one, his eyes never leaving mine.

This is a memory in the making, and then the rudest most annoying sound ever begins.

“Seriously, who invented the damn alarm clock? They should have been strung up by their balls!” I grumble.

Spencer laughs as he reaches over to turn it off. “You know that without an alarm clock I’d be late for work every day? I don’t think Tucker would appreciate that.”

“Oh, don’t you worry about Tucker, I can handle him. In case you forgot his soon to be wife and baby momma is my best friend.”

“Yes, I know. Still won’t help me if work gets backed up because I lay in bed all day, no matter how much I would like to do just that.”

“Yeah, me too. Guess we gotta get up now, huh? I need to be heading home so I can work on my sketches for the art show and you have to go to work,” I reply while getting out of bed.

“What kind of sketches are you working on?” Spencer questions removing himself from the bed as well.

“I have a few different ones to choose from, but I’m not really happy with any of them yet.” I shrug.

“I’d like to see what you chose.”

“Well then I guess you’ll just have to come to the show then, won’t ya?” I turn to look at Spencer and find him staring at the floor. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Lexi, it’s all good, but I have to tell you now that I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it to your show.”

Disappointment rolls over me like a tidal wave. I want Spencer there with me. I know he’s not fully ready to commit to me, but damn, it’s just an art show. “It’s okay, Spencer, don’t worry about it. You can see them after the show.”

Nothing more is said between us as we both begin getting ready for the day. I really hate the silence, yet I know that he has so many barriers and safe guards in place that I can’t push too hard. I’ve already gotten more from him that I thought I would in such a short amount of time. There’s no need to push him and risk him running scared.

When I finish dressing, I gather my other belongings and head toward the door.

“Hey, where you going?” Spencer calls from the bathroom.

“I’m heading home,” I reply as he strides toward me with a frown on his face.

“You were just going to leave without so much as a goodbye?”

I nod because I don’t know what else to do. He shakes his head slowly as he gets closer to me. I take a step back, not because I’m scared, oh no, I need the door to brace myself. This man has no idea how weak in the knees he makes me.

Spencer stops a breath away from me, placing a hand on each side of my head against the door. “It’s doesn’t work that way, Lexi,” He whispers in my ear. He leans his body against mine, pressing me into the door.

“How does it work then?” My voice is shaky. The affect he has on me is insane.

“Like this.” He says softly before rubbing his whiskered cheek against mine. His lips meet mine, the innocent kiss goodbye turning into a toe curling, knee buckling, thank God this door is holding me up kind of kiss. Ending the sinful kiss, his lips flutter against mine as he whispers; “Now that is how I expect you to say see ya later.”

No words need to be spoken, which is a good thing since I’m pretty speechless right now. I can’t wipe the huge smile off my face as I get into my car and begin heading home.

* * *

Spencer

Letting Lexi leave this morning was a lot harder than it should have been. I’ve only known her a couple of weeks. She’s getting under my skin and ingraining herself into my life faster than I ever thought possible. When I’m in her presence, my heart soars and I feel comfort, but I’m still scared shitless. What if it’s all too good to be true?

No time to dwell on it right now, I have to get my ass to work. Since Tucker and Brenna are getting married this coming weekend we have a lot of work to do. We still have to finish that old Chevy we’ve been restoring for a couple of weeks now.

Pulling into Wade’s Garage, I notice Tucker hasn’t made it in yet. It’s an almost every day occurrence since Brenna moved in with him. Can’t say I blame him though. If I had a woman in my bed every morning I wouldn’t want to leave for work either.

Opening up the garage isn’t a big ordeal and doesn’t take me but about fifteen minutes. I’m setting out all the tools we will need to finish up the Chevy when I hear Tucker’s truck pull into the lot. He strolls through the door whistling. I smile because I know he had a good morning too.

“Bout time you brought your ass to work,” I tell him, trying to keep a stern look on my face.

“I’m not that late,” Tucker replies, pulling out his pocket watch and looking at the time.

He gets the goofiest grin on his face every time he looks at that damn watch. Two weeks ago I would have made fun of him for it, but now I’m starting to understand. I have a feeling if I was in his shoes, I’d smile like an idiot too.

“So when did Lexi leave?” Leave it to Tucker to just come on out and ask a personal question.

“About an hour ago…” I reply while grinning.

“Hmmm.” Tucker hums while lifting the hood to the Chevy.

“What does ‘hmmm’ mean?” I question him.

“Y’all seem to be getting awfully close.”

“What’s your point?”

“Well, Spencer, it’s like this. I’ve known you for a little over two years now and I’ve never known of you to let a woman spend the night with you. In the past two weekends, you and Lexi have been pretty inseparable. What’s up with that?”

“We are just taking things slow, man. She is definitely getting under my skin. Quickly.” What else can I tell him besides the truth? There is no sense beating around the bush.

“Slow is good. You know the only thing I ask is that you don’t hurt her. I don’t want Brenna upset, and if Lexi is hurt, so is Brenna.”

I nod to let him know that I understand. I really have no intention of hurting Lexi purposely. There are still things I need to tell her, I just don’t feel like two weeks is enough time for me to trust her and open myself up so completely.

Tucker and I get to work , but the day seems to go by slowly, even though we are making great progress. I reckon it’s going to be a long ass five days till I see Lexi again. Tucker and Brenna’s wedding can’t get here soon enough. I can’t wait to see that little spunky redhead again.