“You’re not, and it is. And…I’m hoping it might be one for you, too.”
Now she quirked a brow. “Me?”
“Yeah. It seems that Buck, like me, hasn’t been exactly in love with his job for a while.” He backtracked a little. “Don’t get me wrong. We both enjoy what we’re doing, but we’ve come to realize it isn’t the be-all and end-all of careers.”
Tabitha was listening, avidly.
“What you don’t know,” Spencer continued, “is that my contract with the Merchant Marine is complete in a couple days, and I’ve seriously been considering not re-upping. The only thing between me and separation is that I didn’t want to get out without having a plausible platform on which to land.”
“And talking to your brother, you finally found one?” she posited.
“Actually, you had a lot to do with it, too.”
“Me?”
“Uh, huh. Getting you out of jeopardy today was the first building block in some mental construction I’d been messing with. Having Buck available for some brainstorming simply added to that to complete the framework.”
Tabitha raised a brow, but didn’t interrupt.
Spencer went for broke. “I’m going to separate from the Merchant Marine and start a diving company. One that will perform everything from rescue and recovery operations to surveying; from demolition to underwater construction.”
“Kind of like what I do, but with more agility,” she offered up astutely.
“Right,” Spencer’s excitement grew again. “And since you no longer have the use of your sub for an undetermined period of time, I?—”
“—want me to hand over any contracts I have that I won’t be able to fulfill?” Tabitha cut him off, giving him a frown. “That’skind of…predatory, don’t you think?” she asked a bit snarkily. “I actually thought better of you, Spencer.”
It almost looked like she was ready to get up and walk away.
“No. Wait. That’s not it at all,” Spencer assured her, reaching over to keep one of her hands anchored to the table. “Although with full disclosure, Buck did suggest that. But,” he continued rapidly so she wouldn’t jump to any additional conclusions, “what’s more to the point, is that we, Buck and I, would love to have you join us in starting this new venture. An equal partner.”
Tabitha’s eyes widened, and Spencer kept talking.
“That way you can complete any jobs you currently have on your books, but as a diver with help, not a solo submarine operator. It’s obvious you know your stuff, deep sea and engineering wise, so we’ll all be bringing different expertise to the table. Most importantly, though, you’ve proven that you’re good under pressure. I can’t think of a better person to partner with, other than my brother, to get a new business off the ground.”
“This is…a lot.” Tabitha swallowed a mouthful, contemplatively. “I…live in Florida, you know.”
Spencer nodded his understanding. “I haven’t heard anything much more than that regarding your personal situation, since we didn’t get into it.”
They’d spent their first night doing the whole “what do you like and not like” thing, but hadn’t discussed any familial details.
“But I’m hoping there’s some leeway with your living situation that will allow you to move north. Even if it’s just temporarily, to try things out and see how it feels.”
Tabitha’s face scrunched up. In a good way, Spencer hoped.
“I—”
“Wait. Let me tell you the rest before you shoot me down.” Did that sound desperate?Maybe. But he needed to put all his cards on the table. “Logistics first. The company could purchaseyou a new sub.” Her eyes grew wide, but she let him continue. “I also think we’re pretty much a shoo-in to get jobs from at least a couple of local PDs in my neck of the woods. I worked for the Bangor Police Department for a number of years, and my brother Mason is the captain of the Orono PD. He’s also commander of a SWAT team that covers a lot of square miles. They’ll certainly send work our way.”
Tabitha nodded slowly. “But the piece of the puzzle you don’t have yet, is the surveying connections, which I would bring to the table.”
“Truth,” Spencer admitted. “But… Is it selfish of me to say that I have other motives for wanting you to stay local?”
Here it was. He was going to lay his heart on the line.
Tabitha sat back in her seat and pinned him with her emerald stare. “Would you care to elaborate?” she asked.
Spencer knew he’d opened this can of worms, so he was going to have to eat them up.
