9
SPENCER SHIFTED THE large Crock-Pot he’d picked up for the happy couple and opened the door of Tucker House.
“You look wiped,” Zach said, giving him a one-armed hug.
“Skeleton crew means extra hours,” he said, hugging Bianca. “You look pretty.”
Bianca smiled. “Thank you, Spencer.”
“Where’s the happy couple?” he asked, assessing the crowd. Chances were he could put in an appearance and sneak out. He needed sleep. He’d been called in to work and left Tatum sleeping, warm and soft in his bed. Leaving her was that much harder knowing he had five days before their twelve days were up.
Hell, he could sleep later.
“Library, I think,” Bianca said.
He nodded, shifting the box again, and headed toward the library. The last year had been all about weddings and everything leading up to it. He was getting pretty damn comfortable with the B and B that housed many of their events.
The first person he saw was Patton. And he looked like he could use a drink. Spencer deposited his gift on a table already stacked high with presents and went to the bar. But bumping into Tatum, having her fall into him, almost made him drop the two longnecks he was carrying.
“Sorry,” she said, her hands resting on his chest.
His arms had wrapped around her, to stop her from falling to the floor. “Nice catching up with you.”
She rolled her eyes, smiling broadly. “Was that a pun?”
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
“It was pretty bad.” She looked at his arms, still anchored around her waist. “I’m good.”
He leaned forward. “The best,” he whispered in her ear. He let go of her, but not before he’d felt the shiver that racked her.
Her eyes fastened on his, then on his mouth. Good.
He winked at her and headed toward his brother, hoping he looked cool, calm and unaffected by the brush of her curves and sweetness of her scent.
“Beer?” he asked Patton, offering him the bottle.
“Way to make an entrance.” Patton took the beer and drank deeply.
“You look like you’re having a great time, bro,” Spencer retorted.
Cady looked at Patton and laughed. “You want to cut and run?”
“Only if you’re coming with me,” Patton said.
She took his hand in hers. “Nope. You’re stuck right here. But I promise I’ll make it up to you later.”
“Hey, hey.” Spencer made a show of covering his ears. “Little brother here.”
Patton laughed.
Cady was looking at him, curiously. “So, little brother, I have a question for you.”
“Here we go.” Patton took another sip of his beer.
“Shoot,” Spencer said, searching the crowd for any sign of Tatum.
“You love her?” Cady asked.