The Best Man (Alpha Men 2)

When Mrs. McGregor and Charlie were out of earshot, everybody left in the kitchen seemed to exhale collectively.

Mason ran his hands through his hair and looked at Spencer with a helpless shake of his head.

“Now what?”

“We have to get her papers, start looking into legal guardianship.”

“You sure that’s the right course of action?”

“I don’t see what other options we have.”

“She may have other family, on her mother’s side.”

“Yeah. No. I’m not down with that. Where were they when her mother died? They left her with Malcolm for four years. Even if they are out there, they’re not getting her. Now that we know she exists, are you really cool with someone else taking care of her?”

“Of course not, but it’s a lot to put on you, Spence. Daisy and I are leaving in a few short months, and you’d be left shouldering the bulk of the responsibility on your own.”

“We could always take her with us,” Daisy suggested softly. Her arm was hooked through Mason’s and he seemed to be hanging on to her for support.

“No.” Spencer was aware that he’d barked the word, but he couldn’t help himself. “She’ll stay with me. I have the space. And you guys will be newlyweds—you need your privacy.”

“You can make these decisions later,” Dr. McGregor intervened quietly. “Charlie is safe for now, and Millicent and I will be happy to take care of her until you’ve figured out your next step.”

“With all due respect, sir, I can take care of my own family.”

“I know that, son, and you’ve done an admirable job over the years. But you’re a part of our family now, and it always helps to share the burden.”

Why did they all refer to him as “family”? It made him uncomfortable. He’d done nothing to earn his way into this family. Mason was marrying into it, Spencer wasn’t. And while everything in him yearned to belong, it just seemed too easy and completely undeserved.

“Just until we get the legalities sorted out,” he grudgingly relented, ignoring the whole “family” thing.

“I think our immediate concern is preventing her from bolting. The kid looks skittish,” Mason said, and Spencer sighed. How had things suddenly become so complicated? Just a week ago, his biggest concern had been his store expansion. Seven days later, he was entangled in the most confusing relationship he’d ever been in, with the world’s most complicated woman. His brother was leaving again, and he had a stag party to plan, a best man’s speech to write, and a frickin’ baby sister who’d popped up out of nowhere.

Millicent McGregor came back downstairs, the smile gone from her face, replaced by a troubled frown.

“That poor child is way too thin and so guarded. Gaining her trust is going to take some doing. Such a pretty little thing, even if she does try to hide it under that gruff exterior. I suppose it comes from pretending to be a boy. I’m so happy she found her way home to you boys,” she said, reaching over to squeeze Spencer’s hand. “She has no idea how lucky she is to have you two.”

Did she really think that? The sincerity shining from her eyes certainly seemed to confirm that she believed what she was saying, and everybody else in the kitchen was nodding in agreement.

“Anyway, I’ve put her in Daff’s old room for now. And I gave her some of you girls’ clothes. I hope you don’t mind?” she asked but didn’t seem too concerned over the reply. “She’s just having a shower now.”

“Do you think she’ll run away?” Lia asked quietly.

“She’s too tired for that tonight. And if she means to sneak out first thing in the morning, she’ll have a tough time of it, what with your father’s tendency to rise with the birds. I think she’ll stay put for now.”

“It’s been an exhausting and eventful evening; I think we’ll head home. Get some rest,” Mason said, casting his eyes around the room for affirmation. Daisy and Daff nodded, but Spencer hesitated, reluctant to let the girl out of his radius.

“She’ll be fine, Spence,” Mason murmured, and Spencer nodded. As long as she didn’t think they’d abandoned her.

“Can you tell her we’ll be back in the morning? To talk?” he asked Mrs. McGregor gruffly, and she smiled reassuringly.

“Of course I will.”

“Rough week, huh?” Daff muttered in the car, en route to Mason and Daisy’s place.

“Hmm.” Rough was understating it.

“I want you to know I’m here for you if you need someone to talk to. I have younger sisters, too, and they can be a total pain.” She raised her voice so that Daisy could hear the last bit, and the younger woman—whose curly head was resting on Mason’s shoulder—casually stuck up a middle finger in response.

“See what I’m dealing with? No respect.” Spencer peered at her smiling face, clearly visible only when they passed a streetlamp. She was smiling, looking so fucking approachable and beautiful.