This Time(15)

"Good, I'll look forward to hearing from you."





Chapter Six





Duke pushed his chair away from the table and patted his stomach. "Good dinner, Belle. Hit the spot."

Belle tossed her napkin on the table and reached for the empty plates. "Thanks, Daddy."

"Fine company," he added, turning to Spencer, offering him a toothpick from a thin wooden box.

"I always get good conversation at the Jamison household," Spencer said, winking at Belle, declining the offer for a toothpick.

"You're an antagonist," she said, furrowing her eyebrows with mock disdain, but unable to hide a wry smile.

"He's a lawyer, Belle. Argues for a livin'," Duke said, defending the Jamison's guest.

"That's no excuse to argue for argue sake."

"Sure it is," Spencer said. "Got to keep my wit sharp."

"If it were any sharper, you'd cut yourself," Belle said drolly over her shoulder as she set dishes in the sink.

Duke and Spencer laughed.

"Why don't ya two kids go relax? I'll do the cleanin' up," Duke suggested as he got up from the table and tried to ease Belle away from the sink.

"It'll only take a minute," she argued, squirting soap into the sink and turning on the hot water.

"Now don't go learnin' to argue from ole' Spence, there. Obey your Pop and do as you're told. I'll bring ya some ice cream out to the porch when I'm done."

"Sounds good to me," Spencer said, his hand reaching for Belle.

She tossed her dishtowel on the counter and feigned a scowl. "Oh, fine. You contradict Daddy all through dinner and now you decide to side with him."

"Go on, Girl. I need some time to myself," Duke said, giving her a gentle nudge on the back.

Outside, the evening breeze blew softly, perfumed with the sweet scent of prairie grass. Belle sat on the porch swing next to Spencer, and he gently set it to rocking.

She faced the breeze and took a deep breath. "Hmm, it smells good."

Spencer snorted, taking an over exaggerated sniff. "Burnt grass and manure. Marvelous."

She laughed and tapped him lightly on the arm. "City boy."

Spencer dropped his jaw and stared at her wide-eyed, his hand over his heart. "I believe that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

Belle just shook her head and rolled her eyes. "What am I going to do with you?"

"I thought you'd never ask." He scooted closer, slipping his arm across the back of the swing and around her shoulders.

She stiffened and slumped forward a bit. She loved Spencer's company and friendship, but his efforts to take their relationship to a deeper level made her nervous.

He pressed her. "When are we going to get serious?" The swing stopped its gentle motion.

"I like the way things are now," she answered honestly, staring at him for a moment, thinking how handsome he was with a lock of his thick black hair falling over his forehead and his brown eyes sparkling as if he knew a joke no one else knew. But in all the years they'd been friends, Spencer had never captured her heart.

He repositioned himself and leaned against the arm of the swing. "Have I been wasting my time with you?"

She shot him an inquiring glance. "Wasting your time, counselor?"

"You know I've always wanted more than friendship. Maybe marriage."

She slid off the swing and leaned against the porch rail. "You never said that."

Spencer moved to stand beside her. "So, I'm saying it now."

The meaning of his words hit her heart like a sledgehammer. "Are you asking me to marry you?" Her breathing became shallow, and her face reddened.

"Maybe," Spencer started, drawing out his words if he were about to plea-bargain a case.

Belle ran her hands through her hair, causing her short strands to stand on end. "Sometimes I wonder if you just want what you can't have."

Spencer let out a low, cynical laugh. "You think I'm playing a game?"

Belle faced him, arms crossed. "I don't think you've thought this through. Marriage. Family. Diaper changes, crying babies, and a mini-van with sticky seats. Is that what you want?"

"Sure. Why not?" Spencer answered quickly.

Belle studied him a moment. His attitude confirmed her suspicion that he hadn't truly considered all the ramifications of married life.

Just then the front door screen squeaked open and Duke hollered, "Ice cream, ice cream. Get your ice cream-" He stopped mid-sentence after one look at Belle's face. He handed them their bowls and left without a word.

"Intuitive man, your father," Spencer said, swirling his vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup with his spoon.

"Perceptive." Belle took a small spoonful, but it went down cold and tasteless. With a heavy sigh, she decided to pour out her heart. "After Burke and I broke up-"

"You call that a break up?" Spencer asked, a snide laugh punctuating his question.

She cut her gaze to him, warning him that she had something to say. "You showed up at every turn, making me laugh when I never thought I'd laugh again. You helped me through the toughest time of my life."