Home Run

by Bernadette Marie

  Scott backed out of the parking lot and headed toward the Opryland Hotel. “You’re pretty close with the Kellers, huh?”

  “Yeah,” she said on a sigh.

  “Christian Keller? He was a ball player with your brother-in-law, right?”

  Victoria licked her lips to moisten her mouth. “Uh-huh.”

  Scott reached for her hand and interlaced their fingers. He ran his thumb over hers in the most intimate of gestures and Victoria thought of how sweet they must look—this family dressed in their best, very cozy in Scott’s Lexus.

  She let the tension roll out of her shoulders.

  Scott gave her a glance and then turned his eyes back to the road. “So how long did you and Christian Keller date?”

  The tension was back, but this time it stiffened every muscle in her body. The weight in her stomach was back too and it literally made her sick. She knew she’d tightened the grip she had on Scott’s hand.

  “What makes you think we dated?”

  He chuckled and continued to stroke her hand with his thumb. “The way he complimented your dress without looking at it. The grip he used when shaking my hand. The awkwardness you didn’t have with anyone else. Should I go on?”

  “Please don’t.” She rolled her head to the side to look at him. He was handsome—more rugged than Christian with strong features and a dark completion. He was a natural in a suit—where she’d seen Christian squirm. There was an athletic build under that Armani and she’d seen it. They’d taken the kids swimming at his condo building last week. It had been the first time she’d been in a swim suit in over a year, but he hadn’t looked at the scars that riddled her body. He’d made her feel secure in her own skin.

  Victoria took a breath. “We dated up until about eight months ago.”

  He nodded and guilt plagued her.

  “Okay, we didn’t just date. We were engaged.”

  His thumb stopped moving against hers for a moment “It would have been nice to know I was being thrown into the lion’s den.”

  “I know.” She slouched in her seat. “I’m so sorry.”

  He smiled. “It’s okay. I’m a lawyer, remember. I’m used to the den.”

  “But it wasn’t fair of me to do that to you.”

  “So why aren’t you and the awkward groomsman married?”

  It would be easy to throw Christian under the bus and make Scott hate him, but she didn’t even hate him—though she wanted to.

  “After the accident he just couldn’t wrap his head around the loss and the injuries,” she sighed. “And the kids.”

  “Your injuries?” His voice rose.

  “His.”

  The light turned red and Scott stopped and looked at her. “His injuries? He was in the car with you?”

  She nodded. “He was pinned behind Dave. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t save him.”

  Scott let out a long breath. “I didn’t know.”

  “He’d already had injuries that had threatened his career, but the accident solidified that. In one moment he lost his best friend, his career, and the quiet life he thought we’d have. He just couldn’t take on being a father.”

  When the light turned green Scott began to drive. “That family doesn’t seem like the kind that wouldn’t accept kids into it.”

  “It’s not. It’s a very eclectic family. Chris’s dad is adopted as well as two of his aunts. Darcy is actually the daughter of his Aunt Regan, whom she gave up for adoption when she was born. She fell in love with Ed before they knew who she really was.”

  Scott’s mouth pursed. “They’re cousins?”

  Victoria laughed. “On paper only I suppose. Regan was adopted and so was Carlos. And Darcy has a different father than Spencer and Tyler. So in blood they aren’t related at all.”

  “It’s a tad confusing.”

  She let out a little laugh. “I think it’s beautiful.”

  He was silent until they saw the hotel come into view. “If you’d like to go back to the reception alone, I can take the kids out to a movie or something.”

  Victoria shot open her eyes and turned to him. “No.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Very.”

  Scott pulled into the lot and parked the car. As he turned off the engine she looked into the backseat. Both kids had fallen asleep. Their heads both leaned into the center toward each other.

  “They are my life now,” she said softly.

  Scott turned and looked at them. A grin formed on his lips. “They’re beautiful.”

  “I may never have any of my own.”

  “Why?” He turned to her and removed his dark sunglasses so she could see his dark eyes gazing at her.

  Victoria shrugged. “No one wants a premade family.”

  Scott lifted his hand to her cheek. “That’s not true.”

  She could feel her lips begin to quiver.

  Scott moved in closer to her. “Some of us think that what you’re doing is heroic. Unselfish. Sexy.”

  She nearly let out a snort. “Sexy.”

  “Mmm-hmm,” he let it roll from his throat as he moved in closer, pressing his lips to hers.

  The heat in the car rose a good ten degrees as he worked his lips against hers. The weight of the guilt had given into a million sputtering butterflies in her stomach.

  When he pulled back, his dark eyes fixed on hers. “Offer still stands. I can give you some room and you can go do some flaunting in front of Christian Keller in that dress.”

  Victoria licked her lips, trying to savor the kiss. “I think I’d rather go in as a family.”

  The subtle smile that now played on his pinked lips gave her hope. Christian Keller needed to be replaced in her heart and in her life. Scott Foster seemed to be the man to make that happen.

  She looked back as Ali opened her eyes. A few more hours and she’d step away from the Kellers and start a life without looking back.

  The butterflies in her stomach must have all died, she thought as the weight of them plunged to the bottom and she felt ill.

  Chapter Six

  Christian wondered how a person could unsee something. There had to be a drug or a drink or an operation that could take away pain in your heart and make you forget that you’d seen the woman you loved, and had turned away, kissing another man in the parking lot.

  He didn’t like this Scott guy. She didn’t go for the business man type. She was more of an athletic man’s girl.

  Christian clenched his fists tightly to his side. Well, she’d been his girl.

  He watched from the front door of the hotel as she and Scott got out of the Lexus and each of them pulled a sleepy child out of the backseat. Ali rested her head on Scott’s shoulder and Sam was still asleep as Tori pulled him to her.

  They began to walk his way—he with a swagger—she with a limp. Every step she took looked as though it caused her pain. And yet she did it while carrying a child—her child now.

  “Party is inside, pretty boy,” Tyler slapped Chris on the back.

  “I’m coming.”

  Tyler looked in the direction which Christian was looking. “Looks like she’s moved on.”

  He’d never hit family before, but Tyler might have it coming. “He’s temporary.”

  They both watched as Scott slid his arm around her waist and dipped down to give her a small kiss on the lips as they carried the kids toward the hotel.

  “Hmmm,” Tyler groaned. “It doesn’t look temporary.”

  Christian turned and headed into the hotel with only one thing on his mind. Open bar.

  The music was nice, he thought. The food was okay. The corner of the banquet hall he’d holed up in was dark enough to get lost in. He didn’t know how many Jack and Cokes he had, but he knew he wasn’t done.

  He sipped his drink and watched as Scott held Tori tight on the dance floor as they looked down lovingly at the kids who danced beside them.

  Tyler walked toward him and handed him a glass of water. “Maybe you’d better tr
y one of these.”

  “I did that you know. I pushed her to him.”

  “Can I tell you from the perspective of someone who has taken a two year sabbatical from all of this to have a pity party—it’s not worth what you’re doing right now.”

  Christian looked up at him, taking a moment to focus through the haze. “I think I deserve a pity party. My leg hurts. My shoulder aches. This freaking scar on my head burns.” He sipped the water. “And I gave that man a family.”

  “He looks happy.”

  That’s what had been pissing him off the most. They did look happy.

  He watched as Clara ran out onto the dance floor with Tori’s cell phone and she put it to her ear. There was nodding and then she’d asked the kids something, to which they nodded and clapped. A moment later the four of them left the dance floor.

  Clara, with her innate sense of his misery, found her way to the corner.

  “Did you get him some water?” she asked Tyler.

  “I did.”

  “Good.” She turned and looked at the guests then pointed. “See that woman over there. The red head?”

  “Who hasn’t seen her?” Tyler asked.

  Christian strained to see. He hadn’t seen her, but by his cousin’s dripping voice he must have been missing something good.

  “She wants to meet Chris.”

  “Me?” He refocused on his sister.

  “Yeah. But you’re over here swaying to your own music.”

  He chuckled. He was swaying.

  “Where did Tori go?”

  Clara dropped her shoulders and gave him a grunt. “Sonia offered to take the kids so she and Scott could have a nice night together.”

  He grit his teeth and finished off the Jack and Coke in his other hand.

  “So where is this red head?”

  Victoria kissed Sonia on the cheek as Scott shut the door to the minivan.

  “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure,” Sonia smiled. “You think I’m doing you a favor. But your two keep my three occupied so I can get some housework done.” She opened the door and slid into the van. “Listen, they are staying the night. I don’t want to see your face on my step before ten in the morning. Understand me? This is some adult time.” She gave her eyebrows a rise. “If you know what I mean.”

  Victoria already felt her hands begin to shake. “I’m not sure about that.”

  “You’re too straight laced. Have some fun.” Sonia looked toward Scott who waited patiently on the other side of the van. “He’s easy on the eyes and very sweet on you.”

  Victoria hugged her dearest friend again. “I love you.”

  “I know. If Craig and I ever get a night alone you can take my kids.” She winked at her and closed the door.

  Scott waved as the minivan drove away. Victoria clasped her hands behind her back to keep them from visibly shaking in front of him.

  “I have you all to myself, huh?” Scott wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “I guess you do,” her voice was much too airy.

  “I won’t make you uncomfortable. I promise.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “All at your speed, okay?”

  She nodded.

  “C’mon,” he said offering her his arm. “Let’s go back inside and dance.”

  When they got to the base of the staircase Scott’s cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and grimaced when he saw the ID screen.

  “I have to take this,” he said apologetically.

  “Go ahead. I’ll wait for you on the veranda.”

  Victoria climbed the stairs alone, ducked into the reception and retrieved two glasses of champagne. She then went back out on the veranda which overlooked the atrium and waited for Scott.

  It was nearly ten minutes before he joined her and she’d drank down half her flute of champagne.

  As he walked toward her she noted the perplexed look on his face.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked handing him the other flute.

  “Josh Mason.”

  “The country singer?”

  “Yeah, him.”

  “What about him?”

  “He’s my client. He’s also a womanizing, party boy. Seems as though after a concert in South Carolina, he got a little drunk, took a drive, hit a car, and might have made a few moves on the wrong police woman.”

  “Oh.” She tucked in her lips and studied him a moment longer. “What does this mean for you?”

  “It means I have a flight in three hours.”

  Her eyes shot open. That wasn’t what she was expecting. “You have to leave?”

  He nodded and handed back the flute of champagne. “I have to go. I can take you home or…”

  She looked into the room where music played. She didn’t want to go home yet. “I’ll ask Avery or Clara to drop me off. I’d like to stay if that’s okay.”

  “It’s more than okay.” He pulled her to him and she splayed out her arms to avoid spilling the champagne. “I really had a nice time and I hope when I get back we can pick up where we left off.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Scott tilted his head and kissed her. It wasn’t the calm and soft kisses he’d been giving her all day, this one had meaning and it said he wanted more. His tongue slipped between her lips and she inhaled through her nose sharply, and then relaxed against him, her arms still held out to the side.

  When he pulled away his eyes were darker. “This sucks,” he said with a grin before the chime on his phone directed his attention to a text message. “And here we go.” He looked at his phone quickly. “I’ll call you.”

  Victoria nodded and watched as Scott quickly descended down the stairs. She stood there alone with two flutes of champagne and a party within a few feet of her, but she didn’t move. Instead she stood there looking out over the people that moved about in the atrium.

  “Aren’t you and your date going into the party?” The slurred speech was still too familiar.

  Victoria turned around to see Christian behind her with a bottle of water in his hands. His tux coat had been discarded and his bow tie hung untied around his neck. He must have run his fingers through that dark mass of wavy hair enough times to create tunnels.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat and took a breath to speak. “He had to leave.”

  “Stranded you at the prom?”

  She nodded. “Something like that. But I can get a cab or call Sonia.”

  He took a few crooked steps toward her. “I’ll get you home,” he offered very sincerely.

  She coughed. “You? Please tell me you have a ride home.”

  Christian dropped his shoulders. “Clara has my keys.”

  “Good. She’s brilliant.”

  “She’s a pain in my ass.”

  Victoria had to laugh at that, because she knew the Kellers too well. There wasn’t anything that one wouldn’t do for another.

  He moved toward the railing where she stood. “You gonna drink both of those?”

  She lifted the untouched glass and handed it to him, but he took the glass she’d been drinking from. “I’ll take this one. You’re far behind me on drinks.”

  He tapped the glass to hers and drank down what was left. Victoria took a long sip of hers and it went straight to her head.

  She batted her eyes and Christian grinned. “You never were a big drinker.”

  “Neither were you.”

  “It’s my crutch tonight.” He balanced his hand on the railing. “Was kinda having a hard time.”

  “Because of Darcy?”

  He crinkled up his expression. “Darcy? Why would I have a hard time with that?”

  “Because you liked her.”

  “Oh, pftttt.” He waved his hand through the air. “I liked that I lived in the same house with her and it pissed off my brother because he was in love with her. She took care of me when I needed it.” His face became more somber. “It had nothing to do with Darcy.”

  As a waiter walked past with another
tray of glasses, Christian exchanged the empty ones for full ones and handed Victoria a glass.

  This time she drank down half of it in one drink.

  “A little more relaxed?” he asked.

  “Yeah.” She needed to be. She didn’t like being nervous around Chris.

  They’d parted on terms that they’d remain friends. That’s what she still wanted. This was the perfect opportunity to prove that she could just be his friend.

  Christian moved in closer to her. “There are a lot of people in there having a good time.”

  “I see that.”

  “It seems silly for us to just stand in the hall and drink alone. Let’s dance.”

  “Oh, Chris, I don’t think…”

  He brushed his fingers down the scar on her arm and it sent a shiver through her that had her gasping. “It’s just a dance. Among friends.”

  She should have left with Scott. She should have never stayed alone at the wedding. What did she think? That she’d be okay with him there and her alone?

  “Just friends,” she reiterated and took Christian’s offered arm.

  They were a pair limping along side of each other into the room full of people. The lights were low, music played, people mingled.

  They set their glasses on a table and Christian led her to the dance floor. He’d seen his mother elbow his father and point in their direction, but he pretended not to.

  The rest of the Kellers would be vital in him making a move on her. They liked her—he still loved her. He didn’t think he could be a father, but he sure as hell didn’t want that Scott guy taking the job either.

  As they stepped onto the dance floor the music changed, slowed, and the lights dimmed more. Christian wrapped his arm around Tori’s waist and pulled her as close as he possibly could to him. She rested her hand on his shoulder and clasped her hand into his other.

  They’d never danced well, but they were a pair with their limping and their scars. Still, they swayed together and he managed to get her even closer, until they were cheek to cheek.

  “Did you pay the DJ to play this?” She said softly in his ear.

  He finally listened to the song. Unchained Melody played and the verse, “Are you still mine? I need your love,” rang in his ears.