“Wow, you are serious.” Allison clicked her tongue. “I’ll have to help you. You’re bad at choosing men.”
“I beg your pardon,” Tori pretended to be offended. “Need I reminder you of Icky Ted? That guy you dated was so gross.”
“He had kind eyes.”
“And dirty hair, stinky breath and long fingernails.”
“Eww, yes, he was gross,” Allison said then gasped. “Oh, I have to go, Taylor’s here.”
The call ended and Tori stared back to the now empty window. “Good night, Allison.”
Leah lifted her wine glass and took a tentative sip. She’d not tried that particular brand before and, although the aroma was good, she hated when wine turned out to be bitter. She was pleasantly surprised to find it was well rounded and substantial in flavor.
“Yum.”
“Thanks.” Luke, her hunky man, walked into the kitchen from the hallway wearing only sweatpants and carrying his little dog, who looked over to Leah as if she were an interloper in the relationship. Leah wanted to laugh.
“I was referring to my wine. Although I have to admit, you are a yummy sight.” Truth. His muscular build never ceased to amaze her. The man had an amazing body and being he was drop dead gorgeous didn’t hurt one bit. It still boggled her mind that he was all hers.
She scowled and met his gaze. “I have a problem. You need to help me.”
“I’ll get you a snack,” he told the dog, placing the little runt down on the couch. He gave her his full attention while digging in a cookie jar for a dog biscuit. “What’s wrong?”
Leah took another sip of wine. “Mimi wants me to throw her a bachelorette party. Me, the woman who has only two close friends, is supposed to plan a party. And need I mention that both of my friends don’t like her?”
True to form, Luke just lifted his eyebrows and slid a look to his dog that’d been joined by hers. The dogs watched him with expectation and he went over and gave them their treats. “You can always go with her and do one of those woman things…nails or whatever.” He walked back to her and hugged her.
“Nails?” Leah laughed and pressed a kiss to the center of his chest. “Thanks, Babe.”
She let out a sigh. “I suppose I can plan a girls’ night out and invite Allison and Mindy. Allison has to come since she’s family and Mindy is sort of dating Eric, so she’ll also feel obligated.”
Luke was content to nod.
“But then I feel bad not including Tori. Not that she’d come anyway, but still. This is such a huge mistake. You really need to talk to your brother.”
“Tried. He didn’t want to hear it.” He pressed his lips to the side of her neck and began licking at the sensitive spot. Leah squirmed and tried to get out of his embrace. But when he nipped at the skin, she couldn’t help but moan. “My brother is as stubborn as I am and he doesn’t want to hear it. Made up his mind.”
“That is so crazy. Why is he getting married?”
Instead of a reply, he lifted her up into his arms. “Let’s finish this conversation in the bedroom.”
“You know darned well we won’t be talking in there.”
“But you may come up with a good idea of what to do.”
“No, I won’t. My brain is already fuzzy.”
Chapter Five
The raffle stand was just outside Victoria’s. Tori, joined by Helen, one of the festival planning committee members, stood beside it selling tickets and enjoying the festivities. Tori wore her usual dark pants and green polo shirt with “Victoria’s” embroidered on the left side of her chest. She felt frumpy next to Helen who wore a crisp white blouse, red floral skirt, perfect makeup and, of course, she had bright red nails that matched her skirt. Helen always looked ready to attend a soiree of some sort.
“We are doing brisk business,” Helen announced. “Today is the relay race. I love watching the teams come together and participate in this. Did you hear the Hamiltons are competing? Brothers and cousins.”
She hadn’t. “No, I didn’t know but, then again, they compete every year.”
The wind blew Helen’s perfectly coiffed bob and she patted it into place. “Tobias, Luke, Ernest and Eric are running. Taylor is the coach.” Helen giggled. “Eye candy day.”
“Should be interesting.” She looked to the start line where people were congregating. It would also be the finish line. “Looks like most of the town are beginning to show up.”
Tori peeked at the program. The race was to take place in an hour. She would find busy work in the restaurant so she wouldn’t have to deal with Tobias. No doubt, Mimi would be around bouncing and ensuring everyone knew they were engaged. As if the whole town didn’t already know.
“Oh, here comes Tobias now,” Helen announced. Sure enough, her nightmare swaggered across the street toward them. Why the hell was he coming to where she stood? He’d been giving her a wide berth lately. But then again, he did enjoy antagonizing her. He wore a loose, unzipped sweatshirt over a tank top and running shorts that showed off his well-sculpted legs. She’d always liked his legs.
“Ladies,” he greeted. “I’ve been sent to fetch Miss Romano.”
“What for?” Tori scowled. “You planning to get me run over as I cross the street?”
He studied her with the lazy look of a man too bored to speak. “Good idea.” He shrugged. “Maybe later, right now I imagine Allison would kill me if I let you get hit by a car. Besides, you may not have noticed but…” he looked up and down the street. “Traffic is blocked on Main Street.”
Of course, she’d not thought before speaking. Damn him for pointing out the obvious. “Who sent you?”
“Allison, I just told you. When you go get a personality transplant, ask them to throw in a hearing aid.”
She almost laughed at his quip, but somehow managed to glare at him. “I’ll have to remember not to ask you for a referral, because yours didn’t work.”
“Allison needs to talk to you pronto.” He made a shooing motion and then went to stand next to Helen. “You look lovely today, Mrs. Sanders.”
Helen blushed prettily. “Thank you, Tobias.”
Tori hurried to where Allison stood holding a basket of items. Her friend looked overwhelmed and gave her a concerned look. “I need your help, I’m desperate.” She shoved the basket, which held numbers and pins, into Tori’s hands.
“What’s the matter?” Tori asked.
“I just got a call from a customer. She’s on her way to pick up a bridal party flower order. I thought she wasn’t coming until the morning. I have to finish packing it up. Can you please go pin numbers on the runners?”
She gave Allison a droll look. “Sure go ahead. Although I am not sure why the runners need stupid numbers.”
Allison giggled. “It’s so they feel more athletic, I guess. Remember that whole conversation? You were there at the committee meeting when it was decided and, if I remember correctly, you thought it was a splendid idea at the time.”
“That was before I realized the dumbass was going to be one of the runners,” Tori mumbled, walking to the start line.
Each team had a different color patch and they were numbered one through four for the relay. There were to be two runs and then the best of the two would run for first place the following day.
The mayor was in the center of the square talking into the microphone. He was rambling on about one of the raffle prizes and encouraging people to buy tickets. One prize was a weekend at his hunting lodge. Tori wondered if whoever won would be more interested in a getaway by the lake than actually hunting.
She began sorting the team members, finding out the order and then helped pin a number on the front and back of each shirt.
When it was the Hamilton Team’s turn, she fortified herself. “Keep it together, Tori. Don’t stab him.”
Luke was first. The ever-present scowl softened somewhat when she approached. He’d be first. She pinned a blue number one on his shirt. Leah stood by chatting about something or other. Tor
i looked around her to see if Mimi was there. But surprisingly, the only woman present was Leah.
Next she pinned Ernest, who would be the second runner. Eric was third and Tobias was missing.
Taylor turned to her. “Have you seen my cousin?”
“He was over talking to Helen last time I saw him.”
Taylor didn’t respond. Instead, he called the other three over to talk. Tori shrugged. Tobias could run without a number, she really didn’t care. She went to the next team and pinned their numbers on and then headed back toward her restaurant and ticket table. She’d have a good view of the race from there.
“I need my number,” Tobias snapped, cutting off her progress. “Number four. The one who’s gonna cross the finish line first.”
She couldn’t think of a retort. “Stand still.” She handed him the numbers and put the basket down. “Take your sweatshirt off.”
When he lifted a brow, she grabbed the numbers back. “Hurry up, the race is about to start.”
He shrugged off the sweatshirt revealing a tight blue tank top.
When she rounded him to pin the number on his back, immediately the thought of his bare, wide back made her hands tremble just a bit. She’d loved running her hand down the wide expanse of skin. The taut muscles bunched when she touched him.
After hurriedly pinning the number, she went to his front. “Don’t move, it’s too tempting to stab you.”
His lips curved, but he remained quiet and very still.
Under his close perusal, not only did her hands shake but also it became hard to breathe. Damn her stupid body that would always be affected by the idiot. Finally, the job was done.
“There, all done. You best hurry on over to the start line.”
He took one of her hands, not letting her move away, and looked into her eyes as if searching for something.
“You will always be the one that I can’t let go. For that, I hate you.”
With those words, he pressed a kiss to her palm and then stalked away.
Tori remained rooted to the spot, a sensation like that of a boulder on her chest wouldn’t let her take a full breath.
“I hate you, too, Tobias. I hate you so very much,” she whispered.
“We still on for lunch?” George shook her from her thoughts. “I’m looking forward to Italian.”
“Sure.” Tori was glad for the distraction. “Come on, let’s watch the race from over here.” They went to the ticket stand. The few people gathered there were all looking to the gazebo where the mayor was now introducing the teams.
When he mentioned the Hamiltons, what seemed like a chorus of women shrieked. The Hamiltons all lifted their arms in greeting. The next team was introduced, which included several local horse trainers. They would be the strongest contenders against the Hamiltons. Each team was then told they had to have a woman when it was discovered the third team, a group from the pool hall, had one woman running.
Tori laughed as the teams scrambled. Leah was recruited for the Hamiltons’ team and poor Mindy was dragged from in front of the coffee shop to run for the horse trainers.
“I’m surprised you didn’t get recruited,” George told her with a chuckle.
“I’m short and they probably figure I’ll get overtaken easily.”
Soon, a horn blew and the runners took off. Luke was just ahead of Frank, one of the horse trainers, when rounding the corner and handing off to Ernest. Before long, Tori was cheering just as loudly as everyone else when Mindy and Leah raced. Leah had long legs and had always been quick. She reached Tobias ahead of Mindy who lost speed at the end. Tobias exploded out of the start line, everyone let out a collective cheer. He ran so fast that it was obvious the horse trainers’ team member would not be able to catch up.
When Tobias rounded the corner and broke through the finish line, it was a full minute before the next competitor came through.
As the racers all began high-fiving and celebrating, the mayor began announcements for the second race.
“I see your ex just won,” Helen commented, not seeming to notice George was with her. “He’s such a great guy.”
Tori cleared her throat and looked at Helen. “The team won Helen, not just Tobias.”
“It was pretty close until he got the baton,” Helen insisted.
Great, now they were going to have a conversation about her ex-fiancé in front of George. Not that it mattered. She wasn’t planning a relationship. But what if she was? Small towns were annoying.
George laughed at something Helen said. Tori had been too busy being annoyed to hear what she’d said.
“What did you say?” Tori asked the woman whose eyes twinkled with mirth.
Helen looked to George. “I was telling George about how the constant banter between you and Tobias is always rather entertaining. Everyone knows you really don’t hate each other.”
“Oh, I definitely do not like the man,” Tori said with emphasis. Just then, runners rushed past and both George and Helen stopped paying her any mind. Tori let out a breath.
The ending to the second race was a lot closer.
Allison hurried over and hugged Tori. “My client just left with the bridal order. I’m so bummed to have missed the relay races. Thankfully, I don’t have any clients expected to stop by tomorrow, so I shouldn’t miss anything else today.”
She stopped talking and looked up to George. “I’m sorry, here I am babbling on and on. How are you, George? Long time.” George beamed at Allison and accepted her hug. She pulled back and studied him. “What have you been up to? Married yet?”
Tori hadn’t thought to ask if he was married. Of course it made sense, most of the people she’d been to high school with were either married or divorced. There were few like her that had never married.
“I am married and have three kids. My family is still in Helena. My wife is a physician and is reluctant to relocate. So I’ll probably end up living there forever. I’m going back as soon as I get all this work done at my parents’ place.” He motioned to Tori. “Hey, Tori and I are about to have lunch and catch up. Why don’t you join us?”
Feeling like an idiot, Tori met Allison’s gaze. “Come on, Allison, let’s catch up.”
Together, they went inside. The dim interior was not only cool compared to the sunny day, but also the aroma of herbs and cheese was always welcoming.
“I can’t believe it. The smell of good cooking brings back all kinds of memories.” George walked in a circle sniffing the air.
Tori nudged Allison. “Married,” she whispered.
“Sorry,” Allison replied softly.
“Don’t be,” Tori insisted. “I didn’t have any expectations.”
“Good.” Allison nudged her back and spoke in a louder tone. “Why don’t we sit in a booth by the window so we can keep an eye on the goings-on?”
They had a perfect view of the town square where the race participants and spectators mingled. Tobias leaned on this truck, talking to the horse trainers’ team when Mimi came into view.
Allison rolled her eyes and quickly picked up her drink when George gave her a curious look. Of course, they were in the perfect position to watch the blonde wrap herself around Tobias and kiss him as if she were auditioning for a porn flick.
It took monumental effort not to gag. Instead, Tori touched her foot to Allison’s then motioned to George with her head. The man was practically drooling at the view of Mimi’s ass pointed in their direction.
“So, George, what does your wife look like?” Allison asked and Tori choked on her breadstick.
Boom. Boom.
Tori narrowed her eyes toward the front of the restaurant. She was almost done closing up. This was not the time for “one last meal” request.
“We’re closed!” she called out from behind the bar where she was finishing putting up clean glasses.
Boom. Boom.
“Damn it,” she mumbled. Since there was always the possibility it was an emergency, she went to the door and
yanked the door open only to become more annoyed. Why didn’t she check before opening?
Tobias walked in. “We’ve been calling you and you didn’t answer your phone.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Who’s been calling me? I usually have my phone on silent while I’m working.”
“Allison, Taylor…we’re all at their house.”
This time, she glared at him. “So why are you the one here to fetch me? They really don’t want me to come otherwise they would have sent someone I like.”
He looked up at the ceiling and let out a breath. “Come or don’t. I really don’t give a shit.”
Dressed in lose sweats, no doubt over the running outfit, he reminded her of how he used to dress after a track meet in high school.
It was hard to keep from laughing, so Tori gave up. “Wow, you are the perfect example of a welcome party.”
Tori walked behind the bar. “I’ll stop by for a moment.” When he didn’t move, she pinned him with a raised eyebrow look. “Don’t wait. I can make it the short way from here.”
“Who was that guy you were with earlier?”
Before she could stop herself, Tori rushed closer and shoved him. Unfortunately, he was too big and didn’t budge an inch. “None of your business. Why would you even ask?”
“I can ask. You don’t have to answer.” He shrugged. “Just curious, making sure you’re okay.”
“Okay?” She hated that her voice pitched into a strange squeak. “It’s not your place, Tobias.”
He took her arm and brought her closer. “It could’ve been, but you messed it up.”
“For fuck’s sake. It’s been twenty years. When are you going to let it drop? I broke up with you. It’s been well established I was a bitch. Let’s move on.”
And, of course, her throat seized up and her eyes welled. Why in the hell was she so emotional all of a sudden? He’d moved on. Tobias was engaged. It was her who hadn’t moved on, could barely keep a relationship.
“I’m sorry.” He released her. “You’re right. I need to stop bringing it up.” When he noticed her shiny eyes, his widened. “Ah shit, did I make you cry?”
Ruined: Tobias Page 4
