by Savanna Grey
Tori handed Kevin a steaming cup of black coffee and doctored hers up with French Vanilla creamer and two spoons of sugar. Mmmm…she loved that smell. No better medicine than a good cup of coffee.
“Let’s go sit on the front porch.” Tori led the way and took a seat in one of the cushioned wicker chairs.
Kevin sat next to her.
“I’m sorry you had to put up with Drue at the doctor’s office.” Kevin said. “I’m sure he was a real peach to deal with.”
“Actually he was great through the entire thing.” Tori smiled, reflecting on the morning.
“Seriously?” Kevin joked. “We are talking about my stoic no-nonsense brother, right?”
“Yes, we are. He was very compassionate and kind.” Tori shared. “He cleaned me up, got me to the doctor and even rewarded me with a sucker for being a big girl.” Tori laughed.
Kevin stared at Tori as she told him some of the details of the morning. He watched her animated face and saw something hidden behind what she wasn’t saying.
Hmmm…thought Kevin. Interesting. Very interesting.
It would seem that maybe fate was finally stepping in to help this situation along between his best friend and his brother that had been there for years. Maybe, just maybe he could play a hand in it as well.
“I know you only just arrived yesterday, Tori, but what’s the plan?” Kevin asked. “It’s mid-October. You said you are here for four weeks. Does that mean you are going to be here for Thanksgiving?”
“Yes. I am scheduled to go back to work the Monday after Thanksgiving. Sooner if I get everything worked out.” Tori answered.
“What does ‘everything’ consist of?”
“Well, the biggest decision I have to make is what to do with the house, Kev.” Tori sighed.
“I live in Chicago. Even though it’s only two hours away, this place is a lot to take care of. I can’t imagine not having it to come home to, but at the same time, I’m not sure I am prepared to take care of it right now either.”
Kevin took her hands into his and squeezed as a show of support.
“Listen, Sprite. You know my family and I are here for you. If there is any way we can help you, you know we will.”
“I know that. I just have to figure this out. I’ve got some thinking to do. It’s a little complicated, but life is, isn’t it?”
“I miss them both so much that sometimes I feel like it will consume me.” Tori said sadly. “Then I hear grandma tell me that having a pity party never helped solve anything.” Tori smiled again. “Something to be said for all the wisdom she shared. She was usually right.”
“You will figure it out, Tori. Sometimes you just have to listen to your heart.”
“What? Is this my let whatever happens, happen best friend going soft on me?” Tori teased.
“Just don’t be in a rush to make a decision. Take the month and enjoy your time back home.” Kevin said. “I, for one, am glad to have you here, and I know I’m not the only one.”
Tori wasn’t about to ask who else he was referring to. Kevin knew her inside out, and she was pretty sure he knew she felt “something” for Drue. He knew her too well not to know, but they had never once broached that subject. She wasn’t quite ready to now. Maybe soon. Once she understood herself what those feelings were and what she was going to do about them.
Kevin jumped up from the chair.
“Enough of this serious talk. It will ruin my carefree reputation!” he mocked.
“Need to finish up a few things.” Kevin stood and hugged her. “Call me if you need anything, otherwise, I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Thanks, Kev.” Tori hugged him good-bye and took their coffee mugs into the kitchen and washed them up.
It was four o’clock. She had two hours until dinner. She had enough time for a quick nap to refresh herself until then.
She went upstairs to her bedroom and set her phone alarm for five just in case. She didn’t want to be late. Mrs. Morgan would tan her hide. She drifted off smiling as she remembered how many times Mrs. Morgan had threatened to do just that.
Drue saw Kevin coming across the yard from Victoria’s as he tinkered in the garage needlessly reorganizing tools and parts that were already organized. One thing that Dad had instilled in his boys at an early age was to respect your belongings and take care of them. He didn’t tolerate using something and not putting it back where you found it.
Well he guessed now was as good a time as any to have that talk with Kevin. He really wasn’t looking forward to it.
He’d rather sign up for a root canal than discuss his feelings with his little brother.
“Hey, man, what are you up to?” Kevin asked as he came into the garage.
The smell of gasoline, oil and dirt penetrated the air where tractors, lawnmowers, gas cans, tools and parts were housed.
“Just straightening up.” Drue wiped his hands on a shop rag and cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you have a few minutes?” Drue asked his brother. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
Kevin studied his brother. Whoa. He could count the times on one hand that his brother had wanted to talk about anything other than farming. He didn’t think this had anything to do with the farm by the looks of how uncomfortable his brother was. Drue’s forehead was creased and his eyebrows drawn together as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“Sure. What’s on your mind?”
“Are there any romantic intentions on your part regarding Victoria?” Drue pushed out. He wasn’t one for beating around the bush.
Kevin almost choked on his own saliva. He hadn’t expected his brother to start the conversation there.
“What?” he almost hollered. “Tori is like a sister to me.” Kevin said. “That would be like incest or something. Gross!”
“So, I take that to mean you do not.” Drue stared at his feet as he talked.
“No, big brother. I have feelings for Tori. I love her, but just like I love you, Mom and Dad. She’s part of the family.”
Kevin had a feeling he knew where this was headed, but he had no intention of making it easy for Drue. He knew Tori had been drawn to Drue since they were little kids. He also knew Drue had been drawn to Tori, but he always refused to give in. He didn’t understand why. Tori was an amazing woman. He always wondered why something hadn’t developed between them, but it never had. They had always been two peas in a pod or more like two partners in crime but nothing more than best friends.
“Kind of a strange line of questioning coming from you, big brother. What gives?”
Drue cleared his throat yet again and looked up at Kevin.
“What would you say if I told you that I do have feelings for Victoria, and they aren’t exactly brotherly.”
Drue waited for his brother’s response, holding his breath.
“Hot Damn!” Kevin erupted. He jumped off the green and yellow riding lawnmower seat he’d been sitting on. He smacked Drue on the back and said “It’s about time you admitted that.”
Drue was stunned. What did Kevin mean it was about time? Had he known all along the struggle Drue had fought to keep Tori at bay?
“You’re not angry?” Drue questioned. “It doesn’t bother you that I have feelings for her?”
“Of course I’m not angry.” Kevin told Drue. “I’ve wondered what’s been holding you back all these years. It was obvious the two of you were drawn to each other, but you never pursued her.” Kevin stared at his brother.
“Why is that exactly, Drue? And why now? What’s changed?” Kevin waited for Drue’s answer.
“You were the reason I never pursued Victoria. I always thought the two of you belonged together and would eventually end up together.” Drue took in a deep breath.
“It didn’t matter how I felt if you had feelings for Victoria. I just kept brushing them off and telling myself it was nothing, just an annoyance that would eventually go away.”
“And…” Kevin prompted fo
r Drue to continue.
“The feelings haven’t gone away, Kev.” Drue said and chuckled. “She drives me crazy. Having her home for just two days and it’s cracked that wall wide open and…” Drue shook his head. “and I can’t believe I am telling you all this.”
Kevin smiled at his brother. It was rare to see Drue so flabbergasted and not in control. He liked it- a lot.
“Drue, sparks fly off you and Tori when you’re together. Most people think its tension because you are at odds, but it’s really because you guys gravitate to one another.” Kevin continued.
“I think it’s great. Tori’s an amazing person, and you’re not such a bad guy either.” Kevin joked to lighten the situation.
“So if you’re asking if I am okay with you pursuing whatever it is between you and Tori, then yes, I am okay with it on one condition.” Kevin said with all seriousness.
Drue raised his eyes again at Kevin’s serious tone.
“Condition?” Drue asked.
“Don’t hurt her.” Kevin finished.
“I don’t know what this is or where it will lead between Victoria and me, but I will not intentionally hurt her.” Drue told Kevin. “It’s the last thing I’d want to do. It’s the other reason I never entertained the idea of a relationship with Victoria. I don’t want to create any friction within our family.” Drue continued.
“I don’t know how Victoria feels, but I know she isn’t immune to me.” Drue stated with a smile.
“How do you – ’’ Drue stopped him.
“I’m not telling you how I know. I just do, and we will leave it at that.” Drue smirked at his brother. He wasn’t going to kiss and tell.
“Well, I’m in both your corners, so I hope things work out. Then maybe she’ll really be my sister.” Kevin said to Drue.
“Whoa! Let’s not rush into anything.” Drue said with all seriousness. “We’ll have to see where this leads one day at a time. I don’t even know if it will lead anywhere at all.”
Kevin hoped his brother was wrong. He hoped it led right to the church. He loved them both and knew in his heart that their destinies lay entwined. God. He sounded like a romance novel.
“You know anything I can do to help I will, big brother.” Kevin said.
“For starters you could keep your hands off her a little more.” Drue grudgingly admitted.
Kevin laughed heartily. “Oh, Dude. You got it bad.”
“Yeah. That’s what I’m afraid of.” Drue admitted. “Not a word to Mom and Dad, big mouth.”
“Hey, they won’t hear it from me, but you know mom’s radar.” Kevin reminded Drue. “It won’t take her long to figure it out, so you better figure it out before she does.”
Kevin headed toward the house on that last comment. Drue shook his head. He couldn’t believe he had just had this conversation with his brother about Victoria, but he felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Now the only thing holding him back from Victoria was himself.
Chapter Eight
She was having the most delicious dream.
Drue was holding her, stroking her hair and pressing feather-light kisses to her forehead, her cheek, her lips. Mmmm. So good. She turned into him and felt a solid wall against her hand.
Wait. What? That felt too real. Slowly Tori’s sleep-softened blue eyes drifted open and looked straight into Drue’s vibrant green ones.
A slow smile spread across his face. “Time to wake up, sleepy-head.” Drue said softly as he tucked a strand of unruly hair out of her face and behind her ear.
She smiled automatically back at him, stretching languorously.
“Drue?” she questioned. “What are you doing here?”
She sat halfway up in bed awaiting his reply.
“Firstly, I came to check on you and to make sure you aren’t going to be late for dinner.” he stated as he continued to gently caress her face.
“Secondly, I came to tell you that I can’t stop thinking about you, Victoria.”
With that statement Tori looked deeply into Drue’s eyes. She saw the longing and heard the rawness in his voice as he waited for her response.
“You can’t?” she whispered breathlessly as her throat constricted with emotion.
“You asked me last night what I was sorry for after I pulled back in the kitchen.” Drue continued. “You were right. I am not sorry that I kissed you. I’m sorry that I stopped, because I didn’t want to, and I don’t want to stop now.”
He pressed another gentle kiss to her lips.
“There’s nothing I want more at this moment.” Drue studied Victoria’s face. He could see her surprise, but he also thought he saw hope.
“The question is do you feel the same way?” Drue couldn’t stop his hands from caressing up and down her side as he talked.
“Do you …” Tori interrupted Drue.
“Shut up and kiss me.”
Drue needed no further encouragement. Their mouths met halfway as they leaned into one another. Instant fire shot through Tori as Drue’s lips lit a flame that blazed inside her. What started as gentle probing quickly changed to an all out assault to her mouth and her senses.
Their tongues tangled as he sucked hers into his mouth. Tori gave as good as she got and she nipped his lower lip and soothed it with her tongue.
Panting they broke apart to gather some much needed air into their lungs. Drue pulled away only inches from her face. He rested his forehead on hers as they caught their breath.
Tori’s legs were now entwined with Drue’s and his chest pinned her beneath him on the bed.
All that could be heard in the bedroom was their panting.
She couldn’t help but chuckle.
Drue raised his head and looked at her questioningly.
“Pinch me, because I must be dreaming.”
Drue hand slipped to her behind and gave her a sharp pinch.
“Ouch!” she shrieked. “I was speaking metaphorically.”
His hand began to massage the spot where he had just pinched.
Oh, did that create a delicious sensation. Tori’s leg rubbed up and down Drue’s as he massaged her.
“Does that feel better?” Drue asked teasingly.
Tori stared at Drue not sure she could believe nor understand this change in his behavior. She’d seen glimpses but never been front and center as a recipient to this charming, playful individual lying in her bed.
“Who are you, and what have you done with Drue Morgan?” Tori asked somewhat seriously.
She loved the feel of him against her. It was doing crazy things to her libido. If she were to lay here much longer with Drue she wasn’t sure what she might do.
“This is me, Victoria, wanting you.” He stroked her hair as he talked. “I’ve wanted you for a very, very long time, but I was never able to admit it.”
Her world turned upside down. He’d wanted her for a long time? Seriously?
“And now you can?” Tori managed to whisper. “What’s changed in two days?”
He was continuing to rain tender kisses on her cheeks, her neck and her lips, causing her to lose focus on what they were even talking about.
She untangled her legs from his and pushed herself up to a complete sitting position beside him.
She shook her head to clear it from the passion-filled cloud she was in.”I can’t concentrate when you are kissing me.”
Drue’s smile spread across his face like a cat that had stolen the cream. He liked the idea that he had the same effect on her that she had on him.
“What’s changed, Drue?” Tori asked again more seriously this time.
She didn’t want this to be some hormone rush he was experiencing, and in the end he would back away again when he changed his mind or decided this wasn’t a good idea, leaving her heart tattered and possibly broken this time.
He couldn’t stop touching her. He knew they needed to finish this conversation before they could move forward, but being this close to her, having held her and tasted he
r he wanted more.
He continued to stroke her hair as he spoke.
“I have, Victoria.” Drue simply said. “I’m tired of fighting what I feel for you. I can’t and don’t want to any longer.” Drue sighed. “For years I fought the feelings I had for you because I thought you and Kevin were meant to be together.”
“Ugh! That’s like being with my brother. I-’’Tori was interrupted by Drue laughing.
“That’s exactly what Kevin said…well…sister anyway.”
“Wait. You talked to Kevin about us or whatever this is?” Tori asked surprised.
“Yes, I did. I didn’t want there to be any misunderstanding between Kevin and I if I were to have this discussion with you.” Drue explained to Tori. “I hope you understand why I had to do that.”
And that was part of what attracted her to Drue in the first place, his loyalty to his family.
“Of course I understand, but I don’t understand why you let that be an obstacle when there has never been anything between Kevin and I but true friendship, Drue.”
“I believe that now, Victoria. I thought that maybe it was just an adolescent crush and once you were gone away to college the feelings would diminish and it would be as if they never existed.” Drue chuckled and shook his head.
“God was I wrong.” He lifted and held her chin so he could look directly and pointedly into her eyes as he said, “Victoria, I’ve never wanted anyone more than I do you. You got under my skin in 30 seconds flat two days ago when you came home, and I can’t get you out.” Drue explained. “I don’t want to. I want to find out what this is between us and get to know the adult you, because there is nothing childish about what I feel for you right now.” He watched her expression change as she listened to him explain his feelings.
