A Reason to Love

by Alexis Morgan

  In a sudden outpouring of sympathy laced with a goodly amount of shock, the other wedding guests surrounded Nick and Callie. No one seemed to know what to do exactly, but finally the pastor took charge and started shepherding everyone toward their cars with instructions to head for the hall where the reception was to be held.

  He asked for everyone’s patience while the bridal couple took a few minutes to recover and regroup.

  Good. Maybe with his help, some of the evening’s celebration could be salvaged. For Callie’s sake, she hoped so, but they’d have to do it without her. Someone needed to keep an eye on Spence. She wasn’t sure why she felt such a powerful need to volunteer for the job, but it was obvious no one else was going after him.

  Melanie ran for her car. Spence had gotten enough of a head start that he was out of sight by the time she pulled out of the parking lot in hot pursuit. Where would he go? It was doubtful that he was headed for his family home if for no other reason than that it was in the opposite direction.

  No, Spence had looked more like a man in need of a stiff drink. She’d start by checking the closest bars in the area to see if she could spot his motorcycle in the parking lot. If that didn’t work, she’d go to plan B. She wasn’t sure what that would entail; all she knew for sure was that she wouldn’t rest easily until she made sure he was all right.

  Luck was with her. She’d almost given up when she remembered there was one more bar out past the city limits. Sure enough, there was a Harley that looked like Spence’s parked at the end of the graveled lot alongside five or six other motorcycles. She pulled up behind it to get a better look and decided it was his.

  Melanie left the engine running, contemplating her options while staring at the blinking neon sign in the window that simply said BEER. Dare she go in? She wasn’t in the habit of hanging out in any kind of bar, especially not on her own.

  As she tried to make up her mind how to proceed, a pickup truck pulled into the parking lot in a spray of gravel. Two guys got out and headed inside. They both wore jeans, heavy work boots, and hoodies. Okay, they didn’t look so tough. More like a couple of construction workers stopping for a cold beer on the way home from the job.

  “Come on, Melanie. Either get out of the car or go home. Dithering isn’t doing anyone any good.”

  Neither was talking to herself. After parking the car, she headed for the entrance to the bar. There was nothing saying she had to stay any longer than it took her to find Spence. Once she knew he was all right, she could march right back out of the bar and head home.

  “Right. So here goes.”

  She drew one last deep breath and opened the door. Once inside, she stayed within easy reach of the door and kept her back to the wall while she studied her surroundings. Where the heck was Spence? It was hard to see anything clearly in the dim interior of the bar. The few bright circles of light were centered over the line of pool tables. But unless one of the players was taking a shot, they all stood back in the shadows.

  A few people sat at the bar, but no one in a uniform. That left the row of booths across the back wall, but she couldn’t see those clearly from where she stood. Pushing off the wall, she took her first shaky step toward the other side of the room.

  The bartender came out of the back room carrying a case of beer. Thinking he might know something, she veered in his direction. “Can you help me? I’m looking for someone.”

  “Maybe.” He set the heavy box on the counter and gave her a narrow-eyed look. “Maybe not. Most people come in here wanting to be left alone.”

  Yeah, she believed that, but she had to try. “I think my friend Spence came in here. He’s in an army uniform.”

  When he didn’t immediately respond, she stepped closer to the bar and dropped her voice. “I’m worried about him. He just got back from being deployed and is having a tough time. I just want to make sure he’s all right, and then I’ll leave if you want me to. I promise I’m not here to cause trouble.”

  For some reason, he seemed to find that amusing. “Lady, in a place like this, you’re the very definition of trouble.”

  He stared at her for several seconds and then jerked his head in the direction of the booths. “Your soldier is in the back corner booth.”

  He popped the top on a pair of beers. “He’s probably ready for another one of these. The second one is for you.”

  She reached for her wallet in her purse, but he shook his head. “This round is on me.”

  Melanie reached for the beers. “Thank you.”

  He winked at her. Then as she walked away, he called after her, “If you need any help with your friend, come get me.”

  She nodded and kept going. Sure enough, there was Spence. He had his back to her as he stared down at a bottle identical to the ones the bartender had given her. There were also three more empty ones just like it lined up in a neat row on the table in front of him.

  Wow, Spence had been a busy boy in the short time since leaving the church. He didn’t say a word as she slid into the opposite side of the booth. Rather than break the silence herself, she set the new beer down in front of him and settled back to sip her own. She would’ve preferred a soft drink, but maybe this night called for stronger stuff. Judging by the number of beers Spence had already consumed, he thought so, too.

  He finally looked up. “Mel, you shouldn’t have followed me here. You were never one for pool halls and beer.”

  “And how would you know that? Before today, we hadn’t seen each other, much less spoken, since high school. As far as you know, I come here all the time.”

  Although he didn’t smile, she suspected that he found that idea humorous. “Well, as I recall, we didn’t talk much back then, either.”

  She couldn’t argue with that point. “So talk now. What was all of that about at the church?”

  His face turned rock hard. “Don’t go there, Melanie. In fact, finish your beer and leave. Better yet, I’ll finish it for you. We’ll both be happier that way.”

  “Sorry, but you’re not in charge here, Spencer Lang.” She took a long drink of her beer to prove her point. “Talk or don’t talk. It’s up to you, but I’m not going anywhere.”

  The nameless bartender wandered by and plunked down two plastic baskets, each containing a cheeseburger and a huge pile of sweet potato fries. He pulled a couple of forks and knives out of the pocket in the stained apron he wore tied around his waist. “Here.”

  Spence leaned back in the seat to glare up at their host. But when he didn’t say anything, Melanie spoke up. “I’m sorry, but we didn’t order those.”

  The bartender didn’t even glance in her direction as he concentrated all of his attention on Spence. “Eat them anyway.”

  Spence finally joined the conversation. “I’m not hungry.”

  Their host put his hands on the end of the table and leaned in close. “I didn’t ask if you were, but you’re eating them. I’m cutting you off until you do. Got that, soldier?”

  Finally, Spence nodded and pulled one of the burger baskets closer to him and ate some fries. Melanie did the same in the hope that would encourage Spence to continue eating.

  The bartender nodded in approval. “The nice lady is worried about you, so try not to be too much of an asshole. Let me know when you’re ready for another round.”

  When he finally met Melanie’s gaze, his stern expression softened just a bit. “Like I said before, if you need anything, come get me. The name’s Liam Grainger.”

  She smiled, grateful for his support. “Thank you, Liam Grainger, I’ll do that. I’m Melanie Wolfe, and he’s Spence Lang.”

  Liam’s eyebrows shot up, but she didn’t know which name had surprised him. He didn’t explain and she didn’t ask. When someone across the room hollered his name, Liam gave the burgers one more pointed look and walked away.

  Spence ate another fry and then picked up
his burger with both hands and took a huge bite. Melanie cut her own hamburger in half before trying it. She’d been expecting it to be barely edible, but it was one of the best burgers she’d had in ages. “This is delicious!”

  Spence merely grunted but kept eating, alternating bites with sips of his drink. Obviously he’d believed Liam when he said eating something was the price of getting more to drink. At the rate Spence was downing the beer, she doubted the food would do much to slow down his determined efforts to get drunk.

  Maybe if she knew him better it would have been possible to talk him into taking it easy. But somewhere along the way, the boy she’d known had morphed into the angry man sitting across from her. Earlier in the cemetery, there had been a few recognizable flashes of the old Spence. Something in the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.

  But there was a hardness about him now that hadn’t been there before. Yeah, he’d acted out as a teen, especially after he lost both his parents, yet he’d never been known for getting into fights. But back at the wedding, the sense of barely controlled violence simmering just below the surface had been all too clear.

  When he finished off the last of his fries, he lurched up out of the booth and started toward the bar. After going only a few steps, he turned back. “You ready for another one?”

  One of them needed a clear head. “I’d prefer coffee with cream and sugar.”

  He was already on his way. She watched as he tossed his empty basket on the bar. Liam looked past Spence toward Melanie. She wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to know, but she nodded anyway. As soon as she did, he popped the top on two more beers and set them on the bar. Spence pulled out his wallet and dropped a credit card on the counter before snagging the two beers and heading back to their booth. Maybe they didn’t serve coffee here.

  Spence set both beers on his side of the table. “Your bartender friend said he was brewing a fresh pot. He’ll bring your coffee when it’s done.”

  Liam wasn’t her friend, but she wasn’t going to argue the point. “Thanks.”

  “Why aren’t you leaving, Mel? I don’t need a babysitter. And besides, won’t Callie be hurt if you don’t show up at the reception?”

  “I doubt that she’ll even notice.” Although that same thought had crossed her mind more than once. Glancing at her watch, she decided it was too late now anyway. If she did show up at the reception now, she’d have to explain where she’d been and why. It was that last part that she had no easy answer for, so she stayed right where she was.

  Besides, right now Callie and her new husband were surrounded by friends and family.

  In contrast, Spence was painfully alone. Even if he preferred it that way, she wasn’t in the mood for a big party, either. She’d rather sit here in this dingy bar with an angry Spence than hang out with her friends, the odd girl out.

  “Believe me, she’ll notice, Mel. You’re one of her best friends, or at least you used to be.” Spence was like a dog with an old bone.

  “The same could be said about you.” She stopped and looked at their surroundings. “And yet here we are.”

  Her coffee arrived. Liam set it down in front of her along with a carafe in case she wanted more. He walked away without a word.

  Spence winced as if her words had hurt him.

  “Sorry, Spence. I know all of this has to be hard for you. Them, too.”

  “Fuck that and fuck them.” His fist came down on the table hard enough to cause her coffee to splash over the rim of her cup.

  Okay, so maybe they’d both be better off if she just kept her mouth shut. Spence lapsed into a sullen silence as he made steady inroads into his beer. When he started on the last bottle, Melanie went up to the bar and ordered two more. Liam didn’t say a word, but there was a wealth of opinion in the look he gave her.

  “After these, I’ll try to get him out of here,” she said.

  Liam looked past her and laughed. “Yeah, good luck with that.”

  If he said anything else, it was drowned out by a sudden blast of music. She headed back to their booth; it was empty. After setting down the beers, she turned around to look for Spence, only to find him standing right behind her. He took her hand in his and towed her over to the opposite side of the bar where a couple of spotlights were focused on a small open area.

  She tried to drag her heels, but she was no match for her determined companion. “Spence, what are you doing?”

  “I want to dance.”

  His grip on her hand was gentle but firm. Even so, she suspected if she really wanted to break free, he’d let her. She couldn’t find it in her to even try, which scared her enough to at least make a token protest. “I don’t think this is a good idea, Spence.”

  He gave her one last tug right into his waiting arms. “Too bad. I do.”

  Before she could even sputter a response, he gave her a quick twirl, and the battle was lost.

  Chapter 4

  Earlier in the church parking lot, Spence would’ve sworn his conscience was dead, lost that day in the streets of Afghanistan when his whole life went off the rails. But like him, it had somehow survived, battered and bruised perhaps, but definitely alive. He knew that for a fact because right now the damn thing was shoving its way through the pleasant fog of beer to point out that he shouldn’t be forcing Melanie to dance with him.

  In his own defense, he hadn’t asked her to follow him to this hole-in-the-wall bar, not to mention he’d repeatedly told her to leave as soon as she found him. Obviously Melanie was still there because she wanted to be. God knows why, but it was her choice, her problem.

  His conscience wasn’t buying it. Yeah, and you’re being a complete asshole. She’s still there because little Melanie Wolfe has grown up to be some kind of misguided do-gooder out to save the world. Or, in this case, one Spencer Lang.

  Okay, fine. He’d paid for two songs, which were almost over. They’d finish this dance, he’d thank Melanie for her concern, and then he would send her on her way. If necessary, he’d shove her out the fucking door. He gave Melanie another twirl as the final strains of the song faded away.

  Unfortunately, someone else must have fed quarters into the antique jukebox, because the opening strains of a slow song about lost loves and roads not taken filled the room. Three notes in and all of Spence’s good intentions shattered. He’d already dropped Melanie’s hand when the previous song ended. Now all he could do was stare down at her. She studied him for what felt like an eternity even if it was only a few seconds.

  He wasn’t sure which one of them moved first, but between one second and the next she was back in his arms and slowly swaying to the music. Melanie was a bit shorter than Callie, making her about five-seven, and so more than half a foot shorter than his six-three. The heels she wore made up enough of that difference to put her head right at his shoulder, the soft silk of her hair against his cheek.

  He breathed in her scent, an intoxicating mix of warm skin combined with a hint of perfume. He knew he should be shot for the thoughts he was having, because this was Melanie Wolfe, not some random woman he’d picked up in a bar. He shifted so there was a little more room between them, praying the song would end before he did something stupid like kiss her.

  She might forgive him for it; he wouldn’t.

  For the moment, all he could do was enjoy the sweet hell of simple human contact as the music cocooned them with bluesy guitar notes and sad lyrics. The song suited his mood perfectly, but he’d be glad when it was over.

  When it ended, Melanie walked away, heading right toward their booth in the back corner. He followed after her, promising himself he’d make her leave now. It was getting late, and he had some serious drinking left to do. He didn’t need or want those big, worried eyes of hers watching every time he lifted a bottle to his mouth.

  He’d earned the right to get drunk on his first night in town; he
’d paid for the privilege with both blood and pain. Nothing and no one was going to stop him. Before Melanie could sit down, Spence blocked her way. “It’s getting late. You should go home.”

  Despite his best efforts to sound like Sarge making it clear to a new recruit that his orders were not to be questioned, Melanie stood her ground. “I told you earlier, Spence, I don’t take well to being bossed around. This is a public place, and I can stay here as long as I want to.”

  Okay, she was starting to piss him off. “But I don’t want you here.”

  She flinched as if his words hurt her, but she stood her ground. “Tough. I’m staying. Deal with it.”

  “Is there a problem?”

  They both jumped. That the bartender could sneak up on them like that showed just how rusty Spence’s survival skills had gotten. “No problem. I just asked her to leave.”

  “And I said no,” Melanie said as she used the distraction to sneak past him to reclaim her side of the booth. Once she was seated, she poured herself another cup of coffee, clearly settling in for the duration.

  Fine. He’d tried. “I’ll have two more beers.”

  Liam nodded. “If either one of you wants something else to eat, now’s the time. My short-order cook leaves at midnight.”

  “I’d love another order of fries,” she said.

  Spence mumbled, “Nothing for me.”

  He couldn’t help but notice the bright smile Melanie had given Liam along with her order. If she liked that guy so much, why was she sitting with him instead of parking her backside up at the bar? Rather than ask, he finished off his last beer even though it had gone warm and flat. He didn’t care. It would hold him until the fresh ones arrived.

  By the time Liam delivered his drinks and Melanie’s fries, Spence’s nerves were stretched to the breaking point. He jerked his head in Liam’s direction to show his appreciation. “Thanks. Put it all on my tab.”

  “Will do.”

  After he left, Spence watched Melanie pouring a puddle of ketchup next to the heaping pile of fries. He snagged one for himself and washed it down with a big swig of beer. The combination tasted good to him, so he did it again. Melanie didn’t complain about him pilfering her snack, probably glad that he was tempering the effects of the alcohol with food.