Spencer sighed, as he continued with the paperwork. Paperwork was a fact of life no matter your profession and there was a lot of it when you had your own business. After he and his brothers had graduated college here in New York he had a begun his own business with his father's help. Dave was certainly more supportive than his birth father had ever been and did everything he could to help his adoptive sons succeed in life. He had even started dating, as he had mostly gotten over his birth father's words about how he'd never get mated with a lot of help from his family and also by telling himself over and over that he was worthy of love and that William Reid had never really loved him. He sincerely hoped William Reid, his birth father, burned in hell when he finally died. He doubted the man would ever realize his mistakes when it came to his children not that it mattered, as he for one, would never forgive his William Reid for what he had done and he doubted Julio or Kade would either.
Spencer only hoped that his father hadn't gotten mated again and had any other children, which would be his half siblings, because he doubted William Reid would treat them any better than he had him and his brothers. He would hate to think of any children in that situation that he and his brothers had escaped from.
At least he could read at triple speed, which was a lot faster than anybody else, so he could get the paperwork done faster. It was certainly a useful ability that was unique to him as far as he knew.
There finally! Spencer said in his thoughts as he finally signed the last piece of paperwork after having read it thoroughly at triple speed.
Time to get out of his office Spencer decided as he rose and made sure he turned off the lights before he left the building. All his employees had gone home long ago so it was only him left. It was more then time he went by the bookstore to see what new books they had in before he had himself some dinner
Spencer's love of the written word had never dimmed ever since he was a child. Like his mother he loved to read just about anything.
Spencer had a light snack at a nearby fast food restaurant and then walked into his favorite bookshop about an hour later. This store was everything that a shop with books should be. It was large, several floors and it had ladders that one could climb to get the book they were looking for off a high shelf. It was well lit, but dusty, as Spencer could see the dust particles in the air when the sunlight hit them.
Spencer pursued the shelves silently and worked several books free as the shelves was very full.
Spencer climbed down the ladder slowly using one hand to hold the ladder while the other arm held the books he had chosen. Once he was on the floor safely Spencer put the books on the table that was available for customers to look at what they had picked.
Spencer didn't notice as time passed since he was too deeply involved in reading the volumes. He read slowly instead of speeding through them like he did a lot of times.
As it began to get dark Spencer looked up and realize he'd been sitting for hours and it was probably time for him to go get dinner
"You sure can get absorbed can't you?" an amused female voice said and Spencer turned startled.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," said the female voice apologetically. There was laughter underneath the apologetic tone of voice.
"That's OK, I know I can get absorbed," Spencer said blushing before turning behind him where the voice was coming from. "I doubt I would've noticed if a herd of elephants had stampeded through the room."
Spencer tried not to blush at the beautiful lady behind him that looked around his age or maybe a few years older. She was definitely an alpha, as they carried a particular scent and was also very beautiful. "I'm Spencer Rossi. It's a pleasure to meet you Miss..."
"Lailah Leadbetter."
"It's nice to meet you Miss Leadbetter," Spencer said shaking the lady's hand. "I was just about to go to dinner if you would like to join me," Spencer offered.
"Are you offering to take me on a date Mister Rossi?" Lailah asked slyly.
"If you like," Spencer said blushing fiercely at Lailah's intense regard. "Or it can just be a dinner between acquaintances or friends if you want."
"I accept your offer of a date," Lailah told Spencer.
Lailah emphasized the word date and Spencer blushed again.
"Is Marco's OK with you?" Spencer asked. "That's where I was headed."
"Marcos' is fine," Lailah said.
Marco's was a Spanish place that had terrific food and large portions.
"We could drive over together or we can meet there whichever you prefer," Spencer offered. "We can always come pick up your car after dinner."
"I prefer to drive myself, but I'll meet you there," Lailah said.
"I drive the silver Mazda two seater," Spencer said.
"Well my car is a four-door blue Toyota," Lailah said.
Spencer and Lailah left together heading for their different vehicles.
Spencer felt very happy, as he got into his car and started the engine and drove out of the parking lot of the bookstore.

~~~Spencer and Lailah~~~

That dinner a couple of weeks ago had been pleasant Spencer thought as he whistled, as he drove to his father's house. They had multiple dates since and every single one of them had gone well.
Spencer used his old key to unlock the door and enter the house. Alex's car was in the garage and so was his dad's so they should be home. Spencer couldn't wait to tell them that he was actually dating, though he had kept it to himself at first, as he wasn't sure if Lailah would want to continue to date him. His old fear of no alpha ever accepting him because he was weird and strange and plain and too smart for his own good had surged up without warning multiple times since he had begun dating Lailah, but he had managed to beat his old fears back. Spencer know that these fears would always be a part of him, but he had managed to overcome them for the most part.
Spencer knew that both his parents were likely to be in the den at this time of day cuddling together and so that's where he headed.
"Spencer," Dave greeted his son in surprise, even as he cuddled Alex into his side. "It's good to see you son. Is there a reason for this surprise visit?"
"It's good to see you Spencer," Alex added, as she opened her eyes from where she had been resting them.
"Can't I just come to see you for no reason other then I wanted too?" Spencer asked his father.
"You can," Alex said, as she sat up still leaning slightly into Dave's side looking too comfortable to move much.
"You usually don't though," Dave added. "Not without calling first anyway."
"Or being invited beforehand to share a meal," Alex continued.
"True," Spencer admitted, even as he sat down in the chair across from his father and stepmother. He didn't think of Alex, as his mother but more of a sister, as she was certainly young enough to be his sister.
"So?" Dave inquired.
"I just want to tell you my news," Spencer started out slowly. "I'm dating an alpha and I really like her a lot."
"This is wonderful news," Dave said in a proud voice. "I had no idea you'd started dating at all, ever since we had that conversation about seeing a psychologist years ago now. Something that never happened."
"I promised myself that I would get over my shyness when it came to asking out a woman and I have succeeded for the most part," Spencer said. "While I haven't dated as much as you did before you met your first wife I have dated some. Those past relationships though didn't work out for one reason or another, but this one I'm actually hoping it does."
"So what's her name?" Alex asked very happy for her adopted son.
"Lailah, Lailah Leadbetter," Spencer answered his voice rather reverent.
"How long have you two been dating," Dave asked his son next. "I'm assuming you're dating, not courting because if you are courting you should have informed me and Alex long before now."
"We're still dating," Spencer promised his father who nodded. "As for how long it's only been a couple weeks. We've gotten quite close in those weeks though, which is why I am hoping we'll start to court soon and then mate but we'll see how it goes."
"I'm glad you met someone you really like son," Dave said. "I'm glad to know you've at least mostly gotten over your fear of asking out any woman whether our kind or human."
"So is she an alpha or a beta or just a human?" Alex asked Spencer.
"An alpha," Spencer said.
"Where did you run into her?" Dave asked his son.
"Where else dad, but a bookstore," Spencer said with a smile, as Dave snorted in amusement.
"We should've known. We both know how Spencer is about his books, so that he met Lailah in a bookstore is not surprising," Alex told Dave her tone amused.
"Yes, we should have," Dave agreed, shooting an amused look at his son. "Make sure you introduce her to us if it turns serious son."
"So what does she do for a living?" Alex asked.
"She's a doctor actually," Spencer said. "An orthopaedic surgeon. She's doing her residency at the nearby hospital."
"So she's not fully certified yet," Alex said and Spencer nodded.
"She still have several years to go on her residency as she's only 28," Spencer said. "Residencies can last 4 to 7 years depending on what specialty you choose."
"That's a long time for extra study so she must be really intelligent and have a good work ethic," Dave said impressed. Most kids nowadays didn't choose professions that required extra training outside of college as they wanted to start earning money right away for a lot of different reasons.
"She's very intelligent," Spencer said. "That's one of the reasons I like her so much, as I don't have to put things into simple terms in order to get her to understand. It's actually nice to be able to talk to someone without me having to explain complicated concepts to them. Things I understand, but others don't not without it being explained in more detail using smaller words."
"She sounds perfect for you Spencer," Alex said.
"She does," Dave agreed. "I would like to meet her for myself of course, to judge her intentions, but I won't insist unless it turns more serious than it is at the moment."
"She actually reminds me a lot of you dad personalitywise, which is likely one of the reasons I like her so much," Spencer said. "She's very easygoing and isn't intense or intimidating unless she needs to be."
"That's good son," Dave said. "I'm happy for you."
"You let us know how it goes," Alex requested and Spencer nodded.
"I will," Spencer promised.
"Why don't you go see your siblings while you're here," Dave suggested. "They should be in the playroom at this time of day. They miss you. You really don't visit much though I do understand that you have a business to run."
Three rooms had been combined into a playroom for Spencer's six siblings, two sets of triplets. Once the second set of triplets had been born Alex had immediately had herself fixed, so she wouldn't go into heat anymore with Dave's full approval. Dave and Alex had agreed for Alex to get pregnant twice. They hadn't totally nixed the idea getting pregnant a third time, but decided after the second time, since it had triplets both times that was enough. They had gotten an even number sexes which had pleased both Rossis immensely. The youngest Rossis were only three years old, so they were past the baby food stage and were also potty trained.
Nonsupporting walls had been knocked out to make a playroom for the triplets and their friends. Unfortunately, the playroom wasn't really that big, as it was only three bedrooms that had been combined so it was mostly just the six Rossi children that used it.
"I will," Spencer promised. "I'll be glad to spend some time with them, before I head home. They aren't going to be children forever."
"No, they're not," Dave agreed. "Still, I finally have the family I always wanted, so I'll take what I can get. I know they'll grow up way too fast on me, as the oldest are already seven, but that's just what children do."
"Yes, it is. It is hard to believe that any of them are that old," Alex agreed soberly.
Spencer said goodbye to his parents and headed upstairs to see his six siblings. It was late enough in the afternoon that the oldest were home from school and at their age they didn't have much homework. There was excited yelling and all six of his siblings tried to knock him down at the same time they were so happy to see him, as soon as he entered the playroom.
"Spence!" all six shouted gleefully, though from the youngest three it sounded more like Spe'ce.
"Hello to you too," Spencer laughed, even as he picked up one of his younger siblings and kissed his cheek, then did the same to the other five, though the oldest were getting a bit heavy for him to pick up and soon he wouldn't be able too, not without hurting his back anyway.
This was what he wanted some day, a family to shower his affections on and if things with Lailah continued to go well hopefully, it wouldn't be long before he had one.

~~~Spencer and Lailah~~~