His First and Last (Ardent Springs #1)

by Terri Osburn

  Ironic that second-guessing the mistakes he’d made with Carrie had pushed Spencer to do something about what was going on between him and Lorelei. He wasn’t about to lose another woman due to stupidity or pride or out-and-out pigheadedness. In fact, losing Lorelei was an experience he intended not to repeat.

  On Tuesday afternoon, Spencer had stopped by Snow’s shop on a mission. Lorelei liked sparkly things, and Snow had no shortage of items to fit that description. He’d asked the proprietor if she knew of any piece in particular that Lorelei had her eye on. After he’d convinced the store owner that his intentions were in the right place, she showed him a ring that Lorelei had been drooling over since her first time in the shop.

  There was a large stone in the center, with ten triangular rubies or garnets—Snow wasn’t sure which—set around it, giving the effect of a ten-point star. Surrounding the deep red stones were half circles of tiny diamonds, and the whole piece looked like an expensive flower planted atop a solid gold band.

  Snow explained that she was no antique dealer, but she guessed the ring had been made in the first half of the twentieth century. The owner, who had given the ring on consignment, wished to remain anonymous, but Snow had received explicit instructions regarding the minimum amount she could accept. That amount was three hundred dollars less than the little tag said, and Spencer walked out of the store with the token safely encased in a navy-blue velvet box tucked in the shirt pocket over his heart.

  Exactly where it belonged until he could slide it onto Lorelei’s left hand. Which he would do today.

  At exactly nine o’clock on Wednesday morning, Spencer walked into the office of Lowry Construction with his heart in his throat and sweat soaking his palms. But as he rounded the corner into the main area, Lorelei’s desk was empty while Mike sat behind his own reviewing a set of blueprints.

  “Where’s Lorelei?” Spencer asked.

  Mike looked up with raised brows, clearly surprised by the unexpected visitor. “She isn’t here.”

  Spencer could see that much for himself. “Then where is she?”

  Rising from his chair, Mike said, “She doesn’t want you to know that.”

  After Spencer had broken the news about Patch’s death, he’d left the women to handle details with the police and called Mike to request a meeting that afternoon. To his relief, Mike hadn’t been nearly as angry about his slip to Becky, and in fact completely understood how the busybody in question could push a man to his limits.

  This made the uncooperative response a surprise. “Mike, I need to find her.”

  “Well, you won’t find her here anymore.”

  “What?”

  “She quit,” Mike said. “She’s giving her job to Carrie Farmer, though I’m still not sure how she convinced me to agree to that.”

  The blood drained from Spencer’s brain. This couldn’t be happening. Not again. Her car wasn’t in the driveway at the house when he’d left. If she didn’t go to work, then where was she?

  “Why’d you let her do that?”

  Mike gave a humorless laugh. “If anyone knows that there is no letting Lorelei do anything, it should be you, Boyd.”

  That was true, but dammit, he didn’t have time for this. “You said she doesn’t want me to know where she is. That means you know.”

  Dropping back into the chair, Mike said, “I’ve never been good at subterfuge. I shouldn’t have said even that much.”

  Spencer was running out of patience, and the panic coursing through his gut was making it hard not to drag the older man over the desk. “Where is she?” he asked one more time.

  With resignation in his eyes, Mike said, “She went to the airport.”

  Lorelei had left Ardent Springs an hour earlier than necessary, afraid traffic might cause her to be late. As luck would have it, the drive had been free and clear, as if the commuter gods knew how important this was. Walking down the long, glass-encased walkway from the parking area, she rethought her choice not to tell Spencer about this.

  He was going to be furious when he found out. Maybe. After the horrible things she’d said to him, there was no way to be sure. Though there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that he wouldn’t approve of her decision, she had to hope he’d eventually see that this was the right thing to do.

  The flight was on Delta, and Lorelei found the monitors in the main area leading to the terminals to make sure it hadn’t been delayed. Flight 1772 was listed as on time. Thank goodness. Her nerves wouldn’t hold up to waiting any longer than she had to.

  With time to kill, Lorelei grabbed a coffee and a brownie at Starbucks. The caffeine was needed since she’d barely slept since Saturday. Every time she closed her eyes, Spencer’s face loomed in the night, torturing her with the stricken look he’d worn when she’d heartlessly thrown out that conceived-in-love bullcrap. She’d been so angry with him for sharing her secret with Becky Winkle that Lorelei had lashed out without thinking.

  Which was further proof that Spencer was better off without her. At least now he’d probably agree with her.

  When it was time, she disposed of her garbage and headed for concourse B, but before she approached the entrance, a voice called from behind her.

  “Stop right there, Lorelei.” She spun to find the source and was shocked to see Spencer running her way. “I can’t believe you were going to do this without telling me.”

  For crying out loud. Could no one of her acquaintance keep a secret?

  “You would have found out,” she said.

  “I shouldn’t have to find out,” he answered. “You can’t make decisions like this without me. Whether you like it or not, this affects me, too.”

  Lorelei tried to defend herself. “Of course this affects you—” she said, but Spencer cut her off.

  “I’m not letting you do this.”

  She bristled at his tone. “It’s a little late for that now.”

  “No, it isn’t,” he said, taking her by the elbow. “You’re not on a plane yet, and you won’t be getting on one anytime soon.”

  That didn’t make any sense at all. Lorelei wasn’t . . . then the truth dawned. He thought she was leaving. And he’d driven all the way from Ardent Springs, likely committing numerous traffic violations, to stop her. Lorelei’s heart melted as renewed hope soared through her system.

  “Why won’t you let me get on a plane, Spencer?” she asked, struggling to keep the smile from her lips.

  “Because I love you, you crazy woman, and I’m not letting you walk out of my life for a second time. Not without a fight.”

  “Oh, Spencer,” she said, cradling his face in her hands. “I love you, too.”

  Suspicion crossed his handsome features. “You do? Then why were you leaving?”

  “I wasn’t leaving.”

  “You weren’t?”

  Lorelei shook her head. “Nope.”

  Taking in their surroundings, Spencer said, “Then why are we at the airport?”

  “I’ve come to pick someone up, not fly out.” Though she knew the answer, she asked, “Why are you at the airport?”

  “I’m here because I thought you were leaving me again. Mike said you quit your job and had gone to the airport.”

  So Mike was the blabbermouth this time. From now on, anything Lorelei wanted to keep to herself would not be shared with the men in her life. Not that she planned to keep any more secrets.

  “I have no intention of leaving you ever again,” she said, meaning every word with all her heart. “But I wasn’t sure you’d ever want me back after the things I said. I’m so sorry. That was unforgivable, and I wouldn’t blame you at all if you never talked to me again.”

  Spencer slid one hand around her back while brushing the hair off her face with the other. “I told you once that you could never stay mad at me, Lorelei. That goes both ways. Cutting you out of my life would be like cutting off my own arm. I let you go once, and it damn near killed me. I don’t ever want to do that again.”

  Pure, un
mitigated happiness lifted Lorelei onto her toes so she could kiss the man she would never deserve or ever give up. As his arms tightened around her, she was lifted off the ground and swept into a kiss that showed her exactly how Spencer felt. When her feet returned to the ground, she knew she must be grinning like a fool.

  As he trailed a thumb along her jawline, Spencer’s brown eyes danced over her face as if they’d never seen her before. And truth be told, they had never seen her quite like this. Lorelei didn’t need a mirror to know that she was glowing with something makeup couldn’t create or hide.

  Spencer asked, “So who are you here to pick up?”

  “Oh, my gosh,” Lorelei exclaimed, turning around to scan the crowd exiting the terminal. A dark-haired woman who looked to be about Mike’s age was also scanning the area. She matched the description from the e-mail perfectly, wearing jeans and a red shirt as the message said she would be, and once her eyes caught Lorelei’s, the truth was evident.

  The woman approached them, stopping a few feet away. “Lorelei?” she asked shyly.

  Threading her arm through Spencer’s, Lorelei said, “Yes, ma’am. And this is your nephew, Spencer.”

  Spencer sat transfixed while his father’s sister spoke with Lorelei as if they’d known each other all their lives. When a question or statement was directed his way, he nodded or gave a brief one- or two-word answer. It was the best he could manage under the circumstances. His aunt was sitting across from him in an airport coffee shop. A blood relative with eyes much like his own.

  “I haven’t told your little sister about you,” she was saying, as she toyed with the cardboard wrapper on her cup. “She’s still dealing with your father’s death, and Gabby isn’t the easiest child to handle even on a good day. I thought it best to give her a little more time.”

  “Of course,” Spencer found himself saying.

  “How old is Gabby?” Lorelei asked.

  “Eighteen going on thirty-six,” Annie replied. “Doug doted on her, I think because he was so much older when she was born and thought he’d never have children.” The dark-haired woman paused. “I’m sorry, I mean any more children.”

  Spencer pushed the surreal nature of the situation out of his mind. I have a sister. “That’s okay. I know what you meant. So she’s spoiled?”

  “And then some. Her mother and Doug divorced when she was ten, but he took her every chance he got. They did rodeos and shopping sprees.” Annie shook her head. “He even bought her a horse, which she adored for all of a month before her attention strayed somewhere else. Doug had to sell the poor thing so it wouldn’t go on being neglected.”

  “Are there any cousins?” Lorelei ventured. “Aunts or uncles?”

  “Doug and I were it, so I’m your only aunt. At least on this side of the family.” Annie leaned forward on the table. “I have three kids of my own: one in college, one in high school, and the youngest in middle school. My husband isn’t used to taking care of them alone, which is why I can only stay until Sunday.”

  Even if she’d had to get back on a plane in an hour, this was more than Spencer had ever hoped for.

  “What about grandparents?” Spencer asked.

  Annie’s mouth turned up in a sad smile. “You look a lot like Doug, but you’re the spitting image of our father. Marshall Crawford was wiry like you, but no one messed with Daddy. He had a presence about him. Men listened when he talked. If he hadn’t been so devoted to his cattle, I have no doubt he would have gone into politics.”

  “That sounds a lot like you,” Lorelei said, nudging him with her shoulder.

  “Yeah, it does.” Since the description had been in the past tense, learning about yet another male relative he would never meet was bittersweet. “And your mom?”

  “Mom died of cancer back in the seventies. I sometimes wonder if Doug might have made different choices had she still been around.” Annie twirled her drink. “Doug and Mom were close, and he was never the same after she died. She’d kept him on the straight and narrow, but once her influence was gone, Doug’s wild side took over.”

  Odd how Spencer had been raised with the complete opposite—no father and a mother who could best be described as a bad example—yet he’d never developed a “wild side,” as Annie had called it.

  His aunt drained her cup, and Lorelei said, “I suppose we should go. You didn’t fly all this way to spend your visit in the Nashville airport.”

  “Are you sure I shouldn’t get a hotel room?” Annie asked as Lorelei threw their trash away. “I couldn’t resist the invitation to come meet Doug’s boy, but I don’t want to be a burden to anyone.”

  “Of course you’ll stay with us,” Lorelei said. “Right, Spencer?” For the first time since he’d caught her in the main area, Lorelei looked worried.

  “Yes, she’ll stay with us,” he agreed, not sure how Lorelei planned to explain that “us” didn’t live in the same house. At least not technically.

  As they walked the long glass corridor toward the garage, a million questions churned through Spencer’s mind. He wanted more than the number of cousins and a list of deceased relatives. He wanted to know about his dad. To hear stories, learn how he saw the world, and what he’d told his sister about the son he never met. If he told her anything at all.

  “We had a bit of a mix-up,” Lorelei said. “Spencer and I are here in separate vehicles, so you can ride with him and I’ll follow.”

  An hour alone with his newfound relation sounded nerve-racking. But it also felt like a gift.

  Spencer was happy to see a smile finally reach Annie’s eyes. “I’d like that very much,” she said. “It’ll give me a chance to get to know you.”

  It had somehow never occurred to Spencer that she might have questions for him as well. But then, she hadn’t flown all this way to fill in the blanks that could have been easily answered in a call or e-mail. She’d come to see him. To meet her brother’s boy, as she’d called him.

  Dragging his aunt’s small carry-on behind him, Spencer sent up a prayer of thanks to whatever entity had brought him this new fortune. Then he squeezed Lorelei’s hand, grateful that she’d been the angel to make it happen. And that she wasn’t leaving him after all.

  Chapter 30

  Lorelei was ready to puke.

  The restoration meeting would start in less than ten minutes. Enough time for her to cut and run. Spencer knew the proposal as well as she did. He could present the plan and probably convince them to agree much better than she ever could.

  The thought must have shown on her face as she stared at the exit.

  “Don’t even think about it, Pratchett,” Spencer said, stepping up beside her. “You are not getting out of this.”

  “My throat is swelling shut and I can feel my heart pumping in my ears.” Shaking her hands at her sides, she asked, “What are the signs of a stroke? There’s a word to remember them, but I can’t remember what that word is. Wait, is forgetting a simple word a sign? I’m having a stroke.”

  “You are not having a stroke,” he said, waving at an older couple who’d just entered the room. “We’ve been over this proposal with a fine-tooth comb. Every detail has been planned out and every possible objection has a counterargument. Now breathe and smile. You’re the epitome of confidence.”

  Spencer had made it clear that if Jebediah saw even the slightest weakness, he’d go in for the kill. It was of the utmost importance that Lorelei not give him that chance. And he was right about the details. They’d gone over the plan forward and back, nailing down specifics that wouldn’t even need to be addressed until the proposal was approved and an event committee formed.

  “You’re right,” she said, letting his words buoy her. “I can do this. It’s an excellent idea, and if they vote it down, they’re idiots.”

  “True,” Spencer agreed. “But don’t actually call them idiots. Insulting your audience is not the way to win votes.”

  Now he was being a brat. “I’m not going to insult anyone but you
, if you keep that up. How is Annie?”

  “Good, I think. Carrie and Snow are entertaining her out in the restaurant.”

  Lorelei giggled. “Does she know she’s having dinner with your ex-wife?”

  “I explained on the way over. She was surprised that we were still friends. I guess Dad didn’t manage to remain civil with any of his exes.”

  It made Lorelei smile every time Spencer referred to Doug as Dad. At first he’d called him “my father” or by his given name, but after the trip from the airport with his aunt, the more personal title had become the norm. He would never get the chance to shake hands with the man who’d help create him, but there was a real person filling what had been an empty void for way too long.

  For once, Lorelei’s impetuous nature and refusal to take no for an answer had paid off. She could only hope that her presentation would go half as well as Spencer’s family reunion.

  Spencer would never admit it, but he was as nervous as Lorelei. She’d come so far in the short time she’d been home. Moved beyond the public tantrums and screw-you attitude. But putting herself out there, taking the lead on something so important, was Lorelei’s chance to be seen as an important part of the community, instead of the rebellious teen who couldn’t wait to get out, or the cowed woman who’d returned with her tail between her legs.

  After tonight, she would be taken seriously as a citizen who cared about her community and was willing to give her time and energy to make it better. And Spencer couldn’t be more proud.

  When Buford stepped to the podium to call the meeting to order, Lorelei gave Spencer’s hand one last squeeze and took the seat he pulled out for her. Five minutes later, she walked to the front of the room with her head high as he passed out the printed proposal copies they’d made for everyone to follow along.

  Mike had suggested they create a PowerPoint presentation, but Lancelot’s banquet room wasn’t equipped for A/V.

  “Good evening,” Lorelei said, her voice wobbly. She glanced his way, cleared her throat, and began again. “Good evening, everyone. As you know, I’m here to present a plan for holding a fall festival as a fund-raiser for the theater. The handout Spencer is passing around is the full proposal, so you can follow along. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.”