“I know. But my dream changed,” Regina sputtered.
“It did. But even when it did, you still danced just for the hell of it. I remember the times we spent in your dance studio down the hall, you dancing for fun while I played my guitar and sang. Those were moments I loved. You even choreographed for Driscoll and Belle. And for Moments.” Spencer stared at her, his dark blue gaze serious. “When was the last time you danced, Reggie? The last time you even went into your studio? It’s just down the hall, Reggie. Let’s go to it now.”
She flinched and looked away, focusing on the pan and not him. The music played, but the easy feeling was gone.
Spencer sighed, a long sound, and Regina clenched her fist, hating it. At that moment, she hated him for pointing out what had been lacking in her life for years. Three years, to be exact. When everything had changed and that damn silence came. She finished the onions and he the steaks. Mechanically, she plated the potatoes then set small bowls with different toppings on the table. He brought the steaks and placed one on each plate. Regina got the pitcher of iced tea out of the fridge, snagged cups then brought them to table, setting the pitcher so they could both reach it. Finally, they sat and when he lowered his head, she quickly murmured grace. She lifted her head and met his gaze, her heart feeling like it was in her throat. She wondered if one wrong move would send him running again. Spencer’s expression softened, and he placed his hand on the table. Regina lifted a shaking hand and rested it over his.
“I’m not leaving so easily, Reggie.” He squeezed her hand. “Just like you’ll chase me down if I leave. I won’t let you retreat from me. Not this time. Okay?”
Regina let out a harsh breath and returned the squeeze. “Okay.”
“Now I know what you used in the marinade.”
“You haven’t even tasted it yet. There is no way you can know.” She shook her head.
“Told you my skills have gotten better.” He tapped his nose. “Used this. I smelt balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and garlic. And if I’m not mistaken, Dijon mustard.”
“How did you figure that?” Regina stared, stumped.
“Dris got me to actually like Dijon mustard. Can’t get enough of the stuff.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“Good.” He winked. “Now tell me how your break is going. And, oh yeah, I saw on the calendar”—he pointed to the calendar on the wall by the door—“you’re going next weekend for the pillows. Just so happens I’m off that day. What time do you want to go?”
Regina was pleased he wanted to go pillow shopping with her. On a yearly basis they changed the pillows on their beds and made a day of it, going to some of their other favourite shops. “About nine, we can get started.” She picked up her fork and knife. “The break is going well. We’re taking a month instead this time. We needed a break—we’ve been so busy.”
“I know. I’ve seen the new place—Moments Deuce. It turned out well.”
She lowered her fork, shocked. “How did you see it?”
“Dakota showed me.” Spencer lowered his head, smiling sheepishly. “He comes by Dris’ to hang out, and I can’t shut him up about what has been going on with you.”
Regina wasn’t sure if she was upset or pleased that one of her business partners, Dakota Campbell, had been seeing Spencer and hadn’t mentioned it to her. All this time, she’d thought he’d cut everyone off from his life who had anything to do with her.
“At least he tried to be subtle, unlike Rayne, who comes to cook and tells me I’m an ass. Or Paris. God, I never knew she could swear like she does. Get her around a sports game and she becomes a sailor. Bryon is…”
Regina listened, shocked, as he went through all her partners and many of the Locke family and their mutual friends, and how they all had been keeping him informed about her and trying to convince him he was an ass.
“All those people. None of them said a word.”
“At first I thought you’d sent them. But then I realised you hadn’t.” Spencer shook his head. “We have a set of interfering people in our life. But living with one is worse.”
“Dris? Why would he be trying to convince you of anything to do with me?” Regina winced as she heard how harsh her tone was.
Spencer looked at her sharply. “Why wouldn’t he? He loves you. You’re family, Regina.”
I almost killed him.
She shut down the thought before any memories could form. She didn’t say anything further on the subject of Spencer’s brother and focused on her food.
“Regina.”
“How’s work at the hospital?” she asked, cutting a piece of steak, then looking at him.
Spencer looked like he had a question, and when he opened his mouth, she clenched her fork. “It’s good. Crazy as usual. This p…”
Regina relaxed as he changed the subject. She listened as he filled her in on some of the funny things that happened at the hospital.
This almost feels like old times. We can do this, find each other again.
Throughout dinner, they talked with the old camaraderie of before. Slowly, she felt relief, and more importantly, hope seeped in. Later, after they’d finished eating, he shooed her out of the kitchen while he cleaned. In the living room, Regina sat on the couch. She spotted the divorce papers that were still on the centre table then grabbed them and hurried to her home office just off the living room. She tucked them away in her desk drawer, then went back and sat on the couch. She reclined, smiling as she heard Spencer singing along with the CD as he cleaned the kitchen. Soon, the music cut off and he entered the living room. Regina grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. Leaning back, she selected a station.
“For the love of God. I can’t escape from
Bones
.”
“What? It’s a new episode. You like this show.” She stared at him, confused.
“I do, but Dris is even more in love with it than you are.” Spencer grinned. “I remember the marathon weekends you all made me sit through of all the seasons.”
“I like the show.” Regina smiled tightly and shrugged. “If you don’t want to watch you can go to bed.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want to watch.” Spencer frowned. He came towards her and sat at the other end of the couch.
Damn it. Way to go, Regina.
Regina looked at the distance between them and wondered how they would ever bridge it. There was so much between them.
* * * *
Days later, Regina leant back against her chair in her office at Moments and wondered what had happened to no silence. After that first night, it had started to feel like it had just before Spencer had left for over a year. In the last few days when she’d got home, Spencer was already there, but getting ready to leave to go to work. He’d had enough time to have dinner with her, then watch a little TV before leaving. The comfort that they had experienced in the first part of his return home had been absent. They were like two strangers in a house—it wasn’t a feeling she enjoyed at all. It had led to his leaving, and she feared it would happen again.
“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, Reggie,” someone with a masculine voice spoke close to her ear.
She jumped then glanced guiltily at Blake Reynolds, the vendor they used for linens. “Sorry. I’m distracted.”
“I can see that. Usually, you’re the one who is going so fast I have trouble keeping up.”
“I’m”—Regina rubbed her fingers down the bridge of her nose—“out of sorts.”
“Reggie.” He placed his hand on her shoulder. “If you need to talk, I’m here.”
She patted his hand. “Thanks, Blake. I appreciate it. I’ll figure it out.”
“I’m here for you anytime, Reggie,” he said in a low voice.
Regina’s eyes widened as she realised what he meant. “Blake, I’m married.” She showed him her hand with her ring.
“I know. And from what I have gleaned, he left you. He’s a fool.” Blake shook his head. “A damn fool.”
“Well, this damn fool is here to have lunch with his wife.” Spencer’s tone was cheerful.
Regina recognised it was false and heard the fury in it. She stood, moving away from Blake. “Spencer. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Obviously.” Spencer was staring at Blake.
She glanced at Blake and saw him grin. Regina blinked when she realised he was deliberately baiting Spencer. She approached the very handsome man and smacked him on the arm.
“Quit it. Be nice to Spencer. Don’t act all pompous.”
“Ah, the wayward husband.” Blake winked at her then strode over to Spencer, putting out his hand. “Blake Reynolds.”
“Spencer Jacobs. Reggie’s husband. I see you know
my wife
.” Spencer looked at her, then back to Blake. “Are you pompous?”
Regina relaxed as Spencer’s tone became his normal one.
“Sometimes. Are you done being wayward?” Blake replied.
“
Blake
!” She pointed at the door. “Go bother Dakota.”
“Sure.” Blake left, whistling.
“Who is he?”
“I don’t think I like your tone.” Regina crossed her arms over her chest. “Or the insinuation. Where the hell did you pop in from, anyway?”
“You were too focused on the joker.” He jerked his thumb behind him where Blake had exited. “You didn’t notice when I came up the side porch to your office…my usual way I enter Moments.”
“Usual, but it’s been so long since you have.” Regina tapped her foot. “When you see I’m busy, you don’t come in until I’m done.”
“You didn’t look busy.” Spencer walked towards her.
Regina shivered as he moved closer, all sexy and possessive. “I was working. He’s one of our vendors.”
“What does he sell? Beds?” Spencer paused before her. “Seems like he wanted to get you into one.”
“He provides us with linens,” she countered, then put up her hand. “I can’t believe you, walking in here acting like I did something wrong. I didn’t.”
“I know you’d never cheat on me, Reggie.” His tone was sure.
“Then what was all that? You almost pounded your chest when you said ‘my wife’, and I expected to be dragged off by my hair to your lair or something.” She narrowed her eyes. “Then you calmed so fast. Why?”
“He wasn’t a threat. You belong to me. It was just a reminder to him…Blake, I think you said…of who has the right to touch you like this.” He leaned close and spoke by her ear. “I’m here for us to have lunch together and to ask
my wife
on a date.”
“Huh. A date?” Regina blinked, shivering as she inhaled his woodsy scent. It was from his bath gel and lotion. God, the things it did to her.
“Don’t sound so shocked. We used to take date nights all the time.”
“Yeah that was before—” She bit her lip.
“Exactly.” Spencer ran his thumb over her lip, removing it from between her teeth. “Dating so we can get comfortable again. That’s a new rule.”
“I’m getting tired of you and these rules.” Regina touched his chest, feeling the muscles beneath his shirt.
“Rules are good. You only like them when you make them.” Spencer rubbed his thumb along her lip. Regina followed it with her tongue.
He lowered his hand, taking a step back. “Behave, Reggie.”
“Hey, I’m not the one who was touching my lip. You are.” She smiled.
“Put the lunch on the table—I’m going to the bathroom for a moment.” Spencer held up a bag.
“Where the heck did that come from?” Regina frowned. “You’re acting like Houdini today.”
“You just didn’t notice me bringing it in. Maybe we can chat about how Blake distracted you.” Spencer looked at her pointedly as he handed her the bag.
“I thought you trusted me.”
“I do.” Spencer glanced at the door. “It’s him I don’t trust.”
He went into the little kitchen area she had in her office and placed his cell on the table, then continued across the room to the adjoining full bath off her office.
Regina moved to the table and opened the Braxton’s restaurant bag. She took out the food, checked the containers then placed what she knew would be his next to his cell on the table, then arranged hers. She got the drinks he had bought and set them down. Regina looked to the bathroom and, seeing Spencer was washing up, she turned and reached for his cell. She quickly scrolled through and did what she needed to do, replaced the cell then sat. Soon, Spencer joined her. He picked up his cell and typed something.
“Who are you texting?”
“Dakota, to let him know lunch is here.”
She stared at him.
“I picked up lunch for those at the office who wanted it. It’s at the front desk.”
Regina recalled the times he’d come to the office to have lunch with her. He had always checked before to see who wanted something from Braxton’s, the restaurant that they often ordered from.
“You didn’t call me.”
“Because I knew what you would say—‘just bring me something. You know what I like’. That’s what you would have said.” Spencer opened his container then held out a wrapped set of utensils to her.
Regina took them and glared. “Mister Know-It-All.” She couldn’t dispute him since he was right.
“Nope. That’s Dris.” He smiled.
Regina flinched before she controlled it.
Spencer stared. “What is with you? Do you have a problem with Dris?”
“No. It’s nothing. Just a cramp in my leg.” She lied and didn’t regret it—she couldn’t tell him what was wrong. To admit it would open wounds she didn’t want to. Not now. Maybe never.
You promised to talk about things.
She pushed that thought away.
“Let me take a look.” Spencer went to stand.
“Only if you go north of my leg right in the centre.” Regina smiled innocently.
“Behave, Regina.” Spencer settled back in his chair.
“What? There’s aching too.” Regina blinked. “Aren’t you a doctor who is supposed to treat people? I need treatment, Doctor.”
“Stop.” He laughed and picked up his fork. “Now, about our date. If nothing comes up tomorrow night, we can go out.”
“Aren’t you working the night shift?” Regina opened her own container.
“Not after today. I switched back to days,” he stated.
Regina stopped, staring at him. “Why?”
“You know, before a year ago, I used to work day shift.” He shrugged. “Time to go back to it.”
Regina realised it was because of her. He’d been working day shift since he’d taken over the ER so they could spend time together, which had been difficult with them working opposing hours. That he’d done so again now it made her know, more than ever, he was serious about giving them a chance. She took a breath and vowed to meet him halfway.