Spencer Cox: I might have done…
Me: How come?
Spencer Cox: I’m trying to buy your love *wink emoji*
Me: *laugh emoji*
Me: It’s working *wink emoji*
Me: Thank you, btw. It was very sweet of you. Now I just need to get her to use it!
Spencer Cox: You’re welcome *kiss emoji*
I feel my heart swell at the exchange of texts. I honestly don’t know why people use words like ‘arrogant,’ or ‘entitled’ to describe this man, because he’s seriously one of the most generous, warm-hearted people I’ve ever met.
Spencer Cox: So, my place tomorrow night?
Me: Absolutely. Have to make an appearance at a karaoke birthday thing first so it might be a little late
Spencer Cox: Karaoke huh? You going to sing?
Me: God I hope not! My best friend is trying to rope me into performing a spice girls song *scared emoji*
Spencer Cox: LOL please do it and make sure someone has video *wink emoji*
Me: THAT’S your idea of moral support? I’m scared for my life here!
Spencer Cox: How is your life in danger?
Me: If I have to go on stage in front of people and sing the spice girls I will LITERALLY die!
Spencer Cox: Babe, putting the word in caps doesn’t actually change its meaning—you know that, don’t you?
I shake my head, a wry chuckle falling from my lips. Smartass.
13
Spencer
* * *
“Hey, Spence?”
I glance up from my computer to see Will has stepped into my office. I motion him farther inside, reminding myself it’s work time and I shouldn’t be fantasizing about pinning him against the closed door, tugging his dress pants down and swallowing his cock.
“What’s up?” I ask in what I hope is a casual tone.
“I’ve got Ray Lanter on the phone. He wants to set up a meeting with you for Thursday night about the Hudson Valley property but the calendar’s blocked out for RGLB?”
“Oh, yeah, that’s rugby practice.”
His brows draw together in confusion. “RGLB is rugby practice?”
I nod. “Yep. Real Good Looking Boys. That’s our team name.”
His face splits into an expression of wry amusement. “You named your rugby team the Real Good Looking Boys?”
I nod. “It’s a true fact.”
“I’m sure it is,” he says with a fleeting glint of flirtation in his eyes. “You know that song’s kind of sad, though, right?”
I blink at him a few times in surprise. “You know The Who?”
He rolls his eyes. “They’re a pretty well-known band, Spence. And they’re one of my favorites.” I must still look pretty skeptical because he throws his hands up in frustration. “Why does everyone assume millenials can’t like music from way before they were born?”
“Hey, I’m a millennial,” I point out.
He lets out a choked little laugh. “Barely.”
My mouth drops in indignation. “Hey, I’m thirty-four. Right bang in the middle of Generation-Y, thank you very much.”
“Okay, okay, I believe you. No need to get your birth certificate out to convince me of your youth and virility.”
I offer a sly smirk. “Oh, I think we both know I have other ways of convincing you of my youth and virility…”
We stare at each other for a long, charged moment; it’s dangerous to be talking like this during work time and I know all it’s going to lead to is a serious case of blue balls, because I’m dedicated to my mission of keeping this affair to strictly non-business hours. But right now I’m just enjoying the tension, the temptation, the knowledge that his mind is going to the exact same place mine is.
Will’s the first one to come to his senses, breaking eye contact and clearing his throat. “So…Thursday’s meeting. Should I tell him you can’t make it, or are you able to skip practice this once?”
“No, this is an important meeting, I can skip practice.” It’d hardly be the first time one of us had to miss because of a work commitment. We take our team pretty seriously but it is still an amateur competition.
As Will turns to leave, I call after him, “Speaking of rugby, don’t forget Saturday’s the scrimmage with the Kellys.”
It seems despite having about fifty brothers who all grew up playing rugby, Shay hasn’t been able to field a full team, which means my boyfriend will be playing for the opposition after all.
Will’s eyes glitter with anticipation. “Definitely haven’t forgotten. And I’ve been reading up—get ready ‘cause I’m going to own you.”
I grin at him and can’t seem to stop myself from saying, “Not during the game, you won’t. But Saturday night will be a different story.”
“I thought you were going to own me?” I tease Will as I approach him at the crowded bar after the scrimmage. It seems the Kelly brothers will use any excuse for a drink, and with my boys in good spirits after winning the match we decided to let bygones be bygones for the moment and all head out to a nearby bar.
Will’s lips form an adorable pout. “I didn’t know you had to keep a hold of the ball when you crossed the line for it to count.”
I chuckle, remembering how Will had taken possession of the ball, streaming down the field and over the try line before any of my guys could tackle him…only to toss the ball down into the grass like he would for a touchdown. The chorus of groans from all the Kellys on the field was priceless.
“If you’d been on my team I would have made sure you knew that,” I tell him, smiling around my beer as I bring it to my lips for a long sip.
“Hey, Spence.” I feel Deacon’s firm hand slapping my back as he approaches us. As he spots Will, he offers him a bright smile. “Hey, thanks for the win, man.”
Will visibly cringes, letting out a soft groan that I try not to focus on too much because I really don’t need to be springing a boner right now.
“Hey, leave him alone, Deac. Today was his first time,” I say with a chuckle.
“Oh, a rugby virgin?” Deacon asks with a grin. “I’m honored you let us pop your cherry.”
My eyes flash toward Deacon with a healthy glare that is definitely uncalled for, but I can’t seem to control. And as Deacon and Will continue to chat with each other, I can’t seem to stop thinking of ways I could potentially murder Deacon and get away with it.
This is definitely getting out of hand…
Once again Will came back to my place last night, and once again he left in the early hours rather than sleeping over like I really wanted. I understand why he can’t do that right now but it doesn’t make me want it any less.
I decide to let myself sleep in for a bit because I don’t have much on for the day and end up waking at around nine when my phone chirps with a notification from the WhatsApp chat I have going with the rugby guys.
I grab my phone from the nightstand and read the message, rolling my eyes as I see Sully’s words.
Sullivan Stapleton: Can we please talk about the fact that if Spence had actual laser vision my brother would be a pile of dust right now?