Perfect Fit (21 page)

“Since you asked so nicely, I will come.”

“Then you can meet the woman I want you to,” Regina said.

“What? We already established Jenn and I are a no go.”

“It’s not Jenn.” Regina pictured Driscoll and Lila meeting. It should be interesting.

“Humph, then I’m not coming.” Driscoll headed out of the room.

“Since Irene and Aida are coming too, you’ll be there,” Regina warned.

Driscoll stopped in the entrance and glared out. “What have I told you about plotting behind my back? Why didn’t you tell me you were going to Reggie’s and Spence’s for Thanksgiving? I was here planning a menu for you, me, Aida and Stuart when you and Aida aren’t even going to be here.”

“I wasn’t going anywhere, you lunkhead,” Irene returned. “I was going to stay here and let you cook for Aida and I. You know we wouldn’t leave you alone for the holidays. You’re our family. I'm going to my office and when you are ready to apologise, come find me.”

The bite of coldness in Irene’s tone made Regina eyes widen. She couldn’t see Irene from where she stood behind Driscoll. Driscoll sighed then cursed fluently in a few languages. Regina didn’t recognise which ones, but she could tell they were different.

“This is your fault.” Driscoll turned and pointed at her. “You’re barely here ten minutes and already have me in trouble.”

“What can I say, it’s a gift.” She bit back a laugh. “You can integrate your menu with mine. We’ll work on it. But first, I have a favour to ask.”

“Now you want a favour.” Driscoll studied her. “What is it? And how much trouble am I going to get in?”

Regina smiled. “No trouble for you. I want to tell Spence something I don’t know if I can say out loud.”

Driscoll looked intrigued. “Go ahead.”

“Let’s go to the studio. I need Stuart’s help too. Hmm…and a few other people. Let me make some calls. I’ll call Dakota first.”

“Oh, boy, now I know we’re going to get in trouble. Let me go tell Irene to get some bail money ready.” Driscoll strode in the direction Irene went.

“There is no bail money needed,” Regina called after his retreating back.

“Yeah, I believe that.” Driscoll lifted his hand. “You misbehave, Reggie, and that gets others in trouble.”

She chuckled knowing he wasn’t altogether wrong. But this time there wasn’t any trouble involved.

* * * *

Spencer lifted his suitcase out of the trunk. Lila closed it and smiled at him tiredly.

“See you soon.”

He nodded. The conference had seemed so long—Spencer was glad to be home. It wasn’t until he’d been on the plane heading home that he’d found out from Lila that Regina had texted her about giving him a ride from the airport. He figured Regina had something go wrong with one of her events or she’d have come to get him as she’d said she would. He waited by the base of the steps as Lila drove away and her lights disappeared from view. Spencer turned then trudged up the steps. He yawned, looking forward to spending the night in his own bed and cuddled up with Regina. On the porch, he went to the door and when he lifted his head he spotted the note pinned to it. Spencer tugged it off and read it.

Come in. Put down you bag then follow the signs—Reggie.

He went inside and noted the alarm was off. Spencer put down his luggage and saw the arrow on the floor. He followed it past the living room and down the hall towards the office. The next arrow turned left, away from the office. Confused, Spencer followed the directions and went down the hall. He stopped when he saw the open door to the darkened dance studio. Hope welled inside him. Although they had reconnected, he still felt there was something missing between them.

Relief that she was opening this door to them again rushed through him. He moved rapidly to the room and stepped in, frowning as he didn’t see her anywhere—it was too dark. A light flashed and illuminated a single chair a few steps from him. On the back it was a sign that read ‘sit’. He walked to it and sat. He glanced around, waiting. A haunting melody flooded the room and Spencer stiffened. He recognised it as
Embrace the Love
, the same song Bella had sung that night at Bella’s. The song always created vastly different emotions in him—the wrenching feeling of loss, then by the end, the fullness of hope and love.

Another light flashed and Spencer sat forward as Regina was bathed in the glow. She posed, arms up, body arched, then started to move. He blinked as he was immediately caught by her sorrow as she danced. Spencer’s breath caught as he watched her. No one could move like Regina and portray so much with such minimal movements. Although there were no words to the song, like when it had been sung before, Spencer could feel each emotion as Regina moved just in the notes, her black dress flowing along with her full-figured body as it helped tell a story. She pivoted, then fell to the ground and rolled, arching her back and sliding her legs, bending over them, her pose so heartbreaking he fought the tears filling his eyes.

Regina lifted her head, her green gaze meeting his then she held out her hand. He rose but sat again when a hand appeared out of the dark, then grabbed hers and wrenched her off the floor and into the dark. Most of the lights came up and Spencer stared as Dakota lifted and twirled Regina, holding her close as he moved. His white clothing was a stark contrast to her dark dress. The light for her dark, or the hope for her despair. Spencer was surprised to see him, although he shouldn’t have been. Spencer glanced at the others dancing along with the two in the middle. He should have expected them all. Regina’s old dance troupe, when they performed. It had been so long since he had seen them. They moved around Dakota and Regina as they continued to tell the story of the music, shifting from heartbreak to hope. Spencer laughed as the joy of it filled him. The couples twirled, their brightly coloured clothing contrasting with the white and black on the central couple. The last notes of the song rose, and Dakota twirled Regina fast, spinning her towards him, and she reached for Spencer. He held out his hand, but Dakota pulled her back, moving her into him then whirled before letting her go. She slid across the floor and out of sight into the still-darkened part of the studio. The melody cut off.

“In my life there has only been one for me.”

Spencer sat forward as Bella’s voice rose from the dark. The song seemed to hit him hard in the chest.

“You are the other half of my soul. Into my keeping I take.”

Shock filled him as Driscoll’s growly voice rang out. The light flashed, and Spencer stared at his brother and Bella as they sang his and Regina’s song—
Perfect Fit
. He’d written it with Driscoll especially for Regina for their wedding. Bella and Driscoll had performed it at the reception as his gift to her. Later, he and Regina had allowed Driscoll and Bella to record it and release it to share the joy of love and finding your heart. It had been a hit, and to this day was still talked about.

“The breath that I breathe is because of you.”
Bella moved closer to Driscoll.

Driscoll stalked towards her. “
My body must be near yours.”

They met
in the middle, and Driscoll pulled Bella against his frame. She cupped his cheek, singing into his face,
“Take me. I am yours. Only yours. You are the one for me.”

Driscoll lowered his head,
singing,
“With you I’m alive and on fire.”

They swayed together, moving in a sinuous dance that Spencer wasn’t sure he should be watching. He’d seen the video of this song before, but seeing them perform it live made him wonder… They hadn’t done that at their wedding.

Spencer saw something beyond them and he sat forward, staring in disbelief. The little boy in the mirror was a perfect mix of him and Regina.

“Mommy had that same look,”
a sweet voice spoke in his mind.

“Oh, my God. I’m losing it,” Spencer said.

“
No you’re not.”
There was a giggle.

“Son?” he said cautiously.

“
Yes, Daddy.”
The boy blew him a kiss and Spencer touched his cheek, swearing it was real.
“I came to see you, since I saw Mommy. She wants to adopt a child. I convinced her to. A little girl at first.”

“A girl.” He fought to not cry. “I love you, Son.”

“Love you, Daddy. Uncle Charles says hi.”
The boy waved
. “I’ve got to go.”

“Am I going to see you again?” Spencer whispered.

“
Only this once. But I will always be in your heart
.” The boy put out his hand.

Spencer jerked, thinking he felt him touch him over the heart.

“I love you, Son,” he whispered.

“They look like they want each other,” Regina spoke beside him, and he jumped, looking at her.

He hadn’t heard her approach. When he looked back at the mirror the boy was gone. Spencer focused on Regina. She laughed then stepped in front of him and between his legs. Spencer pulled her into his lap, holding her.

“Do you think there is something going on?” He inclined his head towards the singing pair.

“Nope. They’re just good friends. They’re not right for each other. They have their fit out there and will find it someday.” Regina stared at him and he barely registered them singing. “I know a little something about finding the person that is for you.”

“I know. We were fourteen, and although there have been rough patches, we always found a way.” Spencer hugged her tight. “I love you, Reggie.”

“I love you, Spence,” she crooned softly. “You’re the perfect fit for me.”

Spencer’s heart filled as she sang the line of their song. “You’re my soul and life forever. I give myself into your keeping,” he sang to her softly.

They sang together, “The perfect fit.”

He kissed her and she snuggled into him as they finished watching the performance. The others who had danced were sitting on the floor on either side of them as they watched Bella and Driscoll burn up the stage with their chemistry.

“The perfect fit.”
Bella and Driscoll swayed as they sung the line over and over.

Spencer held the woman who was the perfect fit for him, and was thankful he hadn’t let her go.

Also available from Total-E-Bound Publishing:

Singleton: Hurricane

Taige Crenshaw

Excerpt

Chapter One

Julianne Locke shrugged her shoulders, trying to ease the tension in her muscles. It didn’t work. The trip that should have lasted two weeks had dragged on for over a month. It was a rarity for her company to take an event outside of Singleton but they had as a special request from one of their most frequent clients. The stressful combination of dealing with a hyperactive bride and working remotely had worn on her. Earlier today, when she’d finally got everything under control and the wedding planning on track, she had booked her flight back home to Singleton. Of course, there were flight delays too, which meant she’d got in much later than planned. She was supposed to have been in by three o’clock, which would have left enough time for her to stop in at the office and make it home at a decent hour. At least that had been the plan. Instead, night had already fallen by the time she’d left the airport.

Blowing out a breath, Julianne made the turn from Woodbury Avenue, past the sign that read ‘Kindred Place’, onto the road leading to Moments, the event planning company she co-owned. As usual, her breath caught at the first sight of the open stretch of two-lane road that made up the area they had named Kindred Place.

Since it was night, the recessed lighting along the area lit everything so visitors could see clearly. It created an almost surreal atmosphere.

In the middle of the two lanes, a profusion of flowers circled the beautiful trees. Periodically, there were breaks that enabled a driver to turn into one of the businesses that shared the roadway. Along her side, there were also trees and flowers, and additional driveways led to more businesses.

“One brief stop for the Gary file and then home.” Julianne picked up her cell and entered her code to alert security that she was on the premises.

Replacing the cell in the drinks holder, she drummed her fingers on the wheel of her SUV. She really wanted to head home, but needed the paperwork to make sure she was ready for her meeting tomorrow.

Absently, she glanced out of the window at the various signs directing drivers as to the location of surrounding businesses. At the head of several roadways stood even more elaborate signs, showcasing the logos of several places.

Within moments she was at the last turn-off before her destination, which was over the slight incline. Although there was no sign yet to announce their business, it had already been custom ordered. Once the sign was in place, it would say ‘Moments Deuce’ with the address—number eight-one-seven-nine Kindred Place. Since it had been built last, the numbering would be inconsistent with the rest of the businesses. Julianne debated between continuing on or checking out the almost complete, more modern building she and her partners were having constructed.

“A quick look.” Julianne made the turn.

Although the land belonged to them, getting the permits and approvals to build had taken a lot of time. Clearing the area then paving it for their needs had taken even more manoeuvring. After almost two years of getting everything worked out, the construction was almost finished. In approximately three weeks, around the beginning of May, they would be able to get in their interior decorator to put their plans in place. It should take no more than two months to get everything finished. Then they would have their staff—that had been hired specifically to handle any events for the building—set up their own offices and various other things, giving them about two weeks of intense readying.

Once complete, Moments Deuce would be a place to hold events for their clients who wanted a more modern feel to their celebrations. They already had lots of events booked, starting in mid-July. They would be cutting it close, but she expected everything would be finished in time.