Better Than Before (RightMatch.com Trilogy) (30 page)

Spence had no woman here with him. His was probably online, chatting up some sucker who really did want the same kind of life she did. They’d meet in person, he’d fall for those wide innocent eyes and soon have his fist wrapped around locks of that beautiful hair. Maybe she’d tell that guy she loved him. When Spence finally let in that she’d never said the words to him again, he viewed it as further proof that their relationship was over for good. Over. Dead.
Fini.

The beer can crumpled in his hand.

“Hey, buddy, you’re supposed to be relaxing out here.” He didn’t realize Harold was near until his friend spoke.

“You bring your problems wherever you go, I guess.” He studied Harold. “Are you happy about retiring?”

“Why would I retire if I wasn’t happy about it?”

Spence nodded at Patty, who wore a sleek red bikini with a see-through, red cover-up. “I thought maybe your wife talked you into it.”

“Sure, she wants me to retire to spend more time with her, but I want it now, too. Work’s not the end-all and be-all to me anymore, Spence. I like it that way.”

Spence gave him a weak smile.

“I know you can’t see that now, but you will. Great job on AllGreen, by the way. I couldn’t pull it off, but you did.”

“You laid the groundwork.”

“I suppose. But you seem to be as good at rebuilding as you are at razing companies. You should think about that.”

Patty called out. “Harold, honey, come here. I want to show you this.”

“Gotta go. Is she ever cute! And a fireball too.” He socked Spence on the arm. “You ought to find one of your own, Spence. Do you wonders.”

As Harold walked away, Spence thought, I found my little fireball and all I got was burned.

By Tuesday afternoon, Spence couldn’t find solace anywhere—in his own house, at the office, in the company of friends or alone. All the facts he hadn’t admitted about his relationship with Annie came rushing through him as if a dam had burst. He couldn’t keep the flood back anymore.

He missed her. And he was terrified some other guy on the internet was going to scoop her up. He dreamed about her, erotic dreams of how she’d loved him in bed. He even had daytime fantasies of him, her and the kids and Jake as a happy family.

Swearing at himself, he decided to go to Nemo’s, though it was only late afternoon. The place would probably bring back memories of Alex, but Spence had to punch
something
or he’d lose it completely.

He kept his equipment in his office closet, so he didn’t have to go home to change and arrived at Nemo’s ready for a fight. Walking into the gym proper, he stopped, stunned, when he got to the first ring.

A young boxer—Spence recognized him immediately—was doing some fancy footwork out there. He had a sharp left hook. And he could take the jab on the chin without falling. Spence watched until the sparring partner said, “Enough, Alex.”

The boy whipped off his helmet and the other person removed his. Spence swallowed hard at the scenario. Father and son, out for a day of boxing. Spence was so incredibly jealous of Keith Kennedy he could barely tolerate the emotion inside himself.

Alex noticed him first. “Spence, hey, Spence.” The kid’s tone was excited. “Did you see me? I’m good.”

“Yes you are, buddy. I’m…” What was the phrase Alex used? “Totally awed.”

Keith gave Spence a onceover. “Wickham.”

“Kennedy.”

“Dad and I come here twice a week, at least. Isn’t that cool?”

That fact hit Spence square on the heart. Had Annie gotten back with her ex? Spence had even told her he thought that’s what Kennedy wanted. The notion practically leveled him.

“Alex,” Kennedy said. “I’d like to speak to Spence alone. Set some things straight with him.”

Shit, then it was true? Spence prepared himself for the worst as Alex moved over to the bag Spence had bought him. Kennedy ducked under the ropes and stepped out of the ring.

“Don’t worry,” the man said when he caught a glimpse of Spence up close. “I’m not going to ask you to fight me.”

“No?”

After Kennedy removed his gloves, he said, “Thanks for what you did for Alex.”

“Huh?”

The guy flushed and Spence knew whatever he had to say would be hard for a powerful man to admit. “I let the self-defense slide. Maybe I didn’t want to believe my son was being bullied.” He told Spence the black-eye story. After he finished, Kennedy gazed over at Alex. “He wouldn’t report the bullying until the kids targeted somebody else who couldn’t take care of himself.”

They shared a common joy over Alex with a smile. It was a fatherly joy that Spence had lost the right to because of his impatience and insistence on his own way.

“He’s a lot like Annie.”

Spence’s pulse sped up. “H-how is she?”

Kennedy stared at him for a long while. Then he said, “Miserable, absolutely miserable.”

o0o

On her knees, in the late afternoon sun, Annie jabbed the trowel into the ground and shoveled up the dirt as if she had a grudge against it. These days, she attacked whatever she could get her hands on—she’d broken a few dishes, kicked her bedpost until her foot hurt, and thrown a load of laundry
at
the washer instead of in it.

On another vicious scoop, the dirt—wet from last night’s rain—rebelled and spattered all over her—shorts and tank top, hair and in her mouth. She swore nastily and even Jake roused.

Annie glared at the dog, who’d been much more active and aggressive since they’d been taking him to PetPlay. He’d even started chasing rabbits and squirrels. “You got something to say?” she asked Jake.

Soulful eyes chided her, then the dog pranced into the house through the door she’d left ajar for him.

She deserved chiding of the canine and human kind. Both she and Spence were to blame for the dissolution of their relationship. He’d lied to her for weeks, then Annie blew their chance at reconciliation. Even her feeble attempt to make it right hadn’t helped. Late last night, she’d written him a one-line email.
I love you.

No response came back. It hadn’t been enough. So this was it. Yanking a geranium out of its pot, she pushed the roots into the ground with so much force that two stems and their blossoms snapped. Weary, Annie sat back on the on the grass and wiped her cheek with dirt-smudged fingers. When she realized all she’d done was get dirtier, she laid her forehead on her knees and began to cry. Hot and heavy tears flooded her cheeks. Along with them, or causing them, the images came—of Spence playing ball with Alex and tying the ribbons on Hope’s dance shoes. Of his face when he asked for forgiveness.

“Annie?”

Great, now she was hearing voices.

“Annie, are you all right?”

Her head snapped up. It took her a minute to realize he wasn’t a mirage. “Oh, my God.”

Crossing to her, he crouched down and tipped her chin. “You’re crying.”

“Of course I’m crying. I’m a mess, physically and emotionally.”

He said softly, “I’m a mess, too.”

“You are?”

“Uh-huh. I miss you so much.”

“Me, too.”

His gaze was dark, turbulent. “Really? You went back online.”

“I what?”

“Joey said you’re on the RightMatch site again.”

“I am not! I’d never do that.”

Spence’s jaw clenched, then he quipped, “I’m gonna kill him.” He cleared his throat. “Do you not want to date because it worked out so badly with me?”

“No, I don’t want anybody else but you. Why would you even ask that after the email I sent you last night?”

“You sent me an email?”

“Um, yeah.”

“I haven’t checked my personal account lately.”

She swallowed hard and tried to piece together his mood, what he was implying.

“What did the email say?”

“I’ll tell you later. Why are you here?”

“I went to the gym and bumped into Alex and Keith.”

“Did he tell you about the bullying?”

“Yes. It was quite a story.”

“You were right about the boxing. It gave him the confidence he needed. And you were right about Jake. He’s eating real dog food and is active again.”

“You
were right about AllGreen.”

“I know. Lauren showed me the articles online.”

“Is that why you emailed me?”

“No. I emailed you because I love you, I screwed up and I’m miserable. I want to try again. I want you to give us another chance, like the one I gave you.”

He brushed a hand down her hair. “I love you, too, I’m miserable and I want to try again.”

Coming to her knees, Anne threw herself at him. The force knocked him off his squat and she ended up sprawled over him on the grass. She laughed, and he laughed, and then he kissed her. When he drew back, she started to speak, but suddenly they were attacked by Jake, who came flying out of the house.

They heard, “Hey, Spence.” Alex soon stood over them.

Hope was behind her brother and screeched, “Spence, I
missed
you.”

Annie let her daughter usurp her position, then sat on the ground as Alex dropped down next to Spence. “This mean you’re gonna be coming around again, Spence?” the boy asked hopefully.

“I definitely am.” Spence hugged Hope, gave Alex a sock on the arm, then looked over at Annie with traces of the earlier desire still evident in his expression.

She said, “This is what it’s like. Get used to it.”

Laughing aloud, he grasped her hand. “Gladly.”

And just like that, with the sun peeking out through the clouds, the kids and dog surrounding them, Annie knew that no matter how different they were, she and Spence would have a life so much better than before they’d met and fallen in love. And she almost couldn’t believe it. Almost!

-o0o-

Author’s Note

I’ve truly enjoyed writing the RightMatch.com trilogy. A major project, it turned out to be one of revelation and investigation, both about the online dating concept and more so, about the characters. Three half-brothers, with wonderful traits, and some serious flaws find their way to women who can handle them and love them for who they are. They grew and changed, changed some more until they finally fleshed out for me.

None was so tricky as Spence. (Don’t you love the picture on the cover?) He’s a complicated man, used to having his way, scarred by his past and does not believe in happily-ever-after. Consequently, he was a difficult hero—one who probably angered you enough to want to shake him. Actually, all three half-brothers fit this category.) But Annie brings something very different and very special out in Spence. He doesn’t like it at first, but is powerless in its grip. I have to admit, I liked watching him grovel, and you probably did too. And wait till you see him in the next two books…

Annie was difficult to draw after the compelling nature of Spence. She had to be strong, interesting and yes, flawed too. I got mad at her in places for her behavior, but she sees how she needs to give up on certain beliefs mostly through her relationship with Spence. I’m not sure what other kind of woman would have worked in this story.

In WAITING FOR YOU, watch for Joey’s story with…yep, the dancer, Dana. And in MEANT TO BE, Cole acts on an impulse nearing fruition in each of the books. I love the four characters in those stories as much as I do Spence and Annie. I hope you do, too.

Kathryn Shay

o0o

Contact Kathryn Shay at
www.kathrynshay.com
(contact Kathryn);
www.facebook.com/kathrynshay
;
www.twitter.com/KShayAuthor

o0o

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