appealing masculine smell and the way he wore that three-piece suit and she was smitten.
“Is it a celebrity?” Summer looked over her shoulder. Although she couldn’t ask for autographs, she could definitely write about it on their catering blog.
“No,” Raina whispered. “It’s Spencer Davis.”
“Shut the front door!”
Raina shook her head. “I can’t believe he’s here. Over there.” She inclined her head toward the trio standing nearby, munching on food and sipping champagne.
“Oh my Lord!” Summer touched her chest. “Does he know who you are?”
Raina shook her head. “No. I don’t think he’s been served yet by my attorney, but...I never expected this, to meet him in person. Do you see how fine he is?”
Summer leaned back and did a double take. “Mmm...I see your point. He is mighty fine, but what can you do? It’s not like you planned this. We had no idea he’d be here tonight.”
“Like he’s going to believe that when he finds out who I am.” Raina sighed. She couldn’t believe her luck. “He’ll think I was scoping him out.”
“And he’d be wrong,” Summer scolded. “The only reason you’re pursuing this is to find out the truth. Who’s to say he’s even Zoe’s father?”
“But why else would Alexa have a photo of her and Spencer together?”
Summer shrugged. “I don’t know, and we don’t have time to speculate. We have to finish this party. He probably won’t even come this way again. Come on—we have more tables to serve.”
Summer couldn’t have been more wrong, because as the next course was served, Spencer Davis kept coming back to Raina’s table for a taste. And each time Raina became more and more flustered by the attention Spencer was bestowing on her.
If she was serving another person, he would wait patiently until the line dissolved and he could speak with her for a few moments about each course. Any other time, it would have been harmless enough, a little flirtation between adults. But this time was different. This man could potentially be her niece’s father and her attorney was about to serve him with legal documents requesting he submit to a paternity test. Raina highly doubted Spencer Davis would be so enamored with her if he knew what a royal pain she was about to become in his life.
* * *
When Spencer saw a lull at the beautiful woman’s table he decided to make his move. “That pecan bread pudding with whiskey sauce was divine,” he said when he returned to the table.
“Thank you.” The woman smiled at him.
“You’re welcome.” Spencer extended his hand. “Spencer Davis.”
Raina shook Spencer’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Davis. Now, er, if you’ll excuse me, I have to start to clean up.”
Spencer blinked with bafflement. “Are you honestly not going to tell me your name?”
“I don’t mix with patrons,” Raina said. Her answer sounded logical.
Spencer looked around. “The party is wrapping up and after that I won’t be your patron.” He looked into her warm eyes. “I was hoping we could maybe grab a drink later, you know, get to know each other.”
Raina swallowed. “I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible.”
“Why not?”
“There’s lots to do, Mr. Davis. Some of us have to work hard for a living rather than throw a basketball around.”
A smile ruffled Spencer’s mouth. “So you know who I am?”
“I’m a native of Miami,” Raina replied, her smile mirroring his larger one. “Of course I would know the great Spencer Davis. You’re a legend in this town.”
“I was hoping I was incognito and you would...” His voice trailed off and he turned to walk away, but the woman called out to him.
“Hoped what?”
“Want to get to know me for me,” Spencer responded, turning back around to face her. “I guess that would be too much to ask.”
The woman seemed to be surprised by his honesty and cocked her head to one side. “Sincerity is not too much to ask. And any other time, I would—” Raina cut herself off. “I have too much going on in my life right now.”
Spencer stared at her, his eyes clinging to hers, analyzing her, inwardly pleading for friendship. Her eyes were wary and he wasn’t sure why. “I understand. Another time?” he said and reluctantly walked away. He’d decided not to push, but somehow he would find out who the woman was.
* * *
“I’m so glad this night is over,” Raina said as she and Summer packed up the company van with all their supplies.
“Yeah, that was a close call with you and Spencer Davis. He was really into you and kept coming back to our table all night.”
“You’re telling me,” Raina replied. “Worse yet, he asked me out on a date.”
“Really? When?” Summer stopped putting boxes in the van and turned to Raina.
“After you’d gone inside after dessert.”
“And what did you say?” Summer helped Raina put the last few boxes in the van before shutting the door. She fished the keys out of her jeans pocket, unlocked the doors and she and Raina jumped inside.
“I turned him down of course. Refused to give him my name,” Raina said, buckling herself into the passenger seat. “I can’t go out with him, Summer. It’s just a matter of time before he finds out who I am, and then all hell will break loose.”
“At least you could have had a little fun before it did.”
“No.” Raina shook her head fervently. “I just courted disaster tonight and narrowly avoided it. I need to stay clear of Spencer Davis until the dust settles. Let our attorneys duke it out.”
“Do you honestly think that’s possible? This isn’t about business. This is personal.”
“I know, and meeting Spencer Davis tonight just made it more so.”
* * *
Spencer woke up with a start. He was bathed in sweat. He dragged his hands over his short curly Afro. He’d had the same nightmare he’d been having on and off for the past four years. It was the same nightmare that, even after years of therapy, he just couldn’t shake.
It was the helplessness, the regret, the guilt, that always greeted him the morning after one of his episodes. He could see himself pinned in Cameron’s car while he stared at his brother, cut and bleeding on the hood. He’d been unable to help him because he’d been trapped by the steering wheel. By the time the ambulance had arrived, it was too late. Cameron had sustained massive internal injuries and hadn’t survived.
Why hadn’t he made Cameron wear his seat belt? Spencer should have insisted, but Cameron had been belligerent that night. Knowing Cameron could have survived if he’d been belted in had caused Spencer to retreat into himself the past few years.
Ty was right; he would have to let go of the past and start to live again. Up until yesterday, he hadn’t been sure he was ready. The woman he’d met last night had him seeing the possibilities.
She hadn’t just been beautiful, either. He’d seen her interacting with the guests and she’d been kind and patient. When an older woman had dropped her cane, she’d rushed over to help her from behind the table. It was that kind of simple action that told him she was someone special.
Which was why he’d made sure he’d found Allyson Peters to thank her for the invite and to ask for the name of the caterer who’d made the excellent food. Raina