Paying attention to the movie proved to be a challenge, though. She was in the corner of the sectional and, although he’d chosen the same sofa, he was on the far end. It was like being a million miles away from him and she didn’t like it.
About a half hour in, he hit the pause button. “You seem agitated.”
“The polite thing to do would be pretend you didn’t notice.”
“It would be hard not to. And I thought it would be polite to pause it in case you need to use the bathroom.”
“I don’t have to pee, Max. It’s mental agitation, not physical.”
“Oh.” He started the movie again, then almost immediately hit Pause again. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Not really, but she had to do something. “I’m sorry I was distant this morning.”
“You made it clear it was...a friends-with-benefits thing.”
“To be honest, I was a little thrown off. I guess I have more experience with acquaintances with benefits than good friends, because I felt awkward, too. And when I came out of the bathroom, you seemed so closed off. And I know—I know—you do that when you’re not sure how to act, but I wasn’t thinking about you. I guess I’m not so good at friends with benefits.”
“We could make flashcards.”
She laughed, relief coursing through her. His sense of humor was definitely intact. He set the remote on the table and moved down the couch so he was sitting next to her.
“After I woke up, I held you for a few minutes, but then I got up because I didn’t know if that would bother you. If it was too...intimate. I wish I’d stayed in bed.”
“I wish you had, too,” she said before common sense could stop the words from coming out of her mouth.
“We could try again. Practice this whole friends-with-benefits thing until we get it right. It might be a handy life skill to have.”
“Max, I—” She made the mistake of looking into his eyes, and she knew she was lost. “Just practicing friends with benefits.”
“Just practice.”
She might have given more thought to his verbal loophole of not specifying what he was practicing, but he leaned over her and pulled her face to his for a kiss. When she put her arms around his neck, he gripped her waist and pulled her over and onto his lap without taking his mouth from hers.
His hand fisted in her hair and she moaned against his lips. His tongue flicked over her bottom lip and she opened her mouth to him as he increased the pressure, becoming more demanding.
When his hand slid under her shirt to stroke her back, she shivered. His erection pressed between her thighs and she rocked slightly as his mouth left hers and moved to the hollow at her throat.
It took all of her willpower—which didn’t seem to amount to much where he was concerned—to put her hands on his shoulders and lean back.
“Before we get carried away, do you happen to have a condom in your pocket?”
The corners of his mouth tilted up. “I keep them in my bedroom. It seems logical.”
“I think we should move this to your bedroom, then. You know, the day I was rummaging through your closet, all I could think about was having sex in that bed.”
“Really? You should have said something. I would have been more than happy to oblige.” He kissed the side of her neck. “Assuming you were thinking about having sex in my bed with me.”
She laughed and stood, hauling him to his feet. “Yes, with you.”
“Oh, good. I’m very territorial about my bed.”
She laughed until he slid an arm under her knees and lifted her, then she squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “What are you doing?”
“I always wanted to do this,” he said, carrying her toward his bedroom. “I’ve just been waiting for a woman short and light enough to try it on.”
* * *
Max set Tori down on his bed and stood back to enjoy the view for a minute. He’d thought having Tori in her bed was the best night of his life, but seeing her on his bed triggered something primal in him. Something possessive.
She ran her hand over the comforter. “We need to mess up this bed.”
“I’ve seen your bed. Mine may never be the same again.”
“You know,” she said, sitting up and scooting to the edge of the mattress. “You wore pants for far too long last night. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
He unbuttoned his fly, then sucked in a breath when she pushed his hands away. She lowered his zipper and slowly worked his jeans down while he tried to remember how to breathe.
When she tapped the back of his calf, he lifted each foot in turn so she could pull the jeans free, then the socks. Then she tucked her fingers into the waistband of his boxer briefs and pulled them down so he could step out of them.
“Luckily for you,” she said, “I don’t read passages over and over, savoring the words. I skip straight to the good parts.”
When her lips closed over him, he buried his fingers in her hair and tried not to move. Her mouth was hot and wet and when she sucked gently, her fist following the path of her mouth up his shaft, his knees almost buckled.
“Tori.” He needed her to stop because he wanted her in his arms. She flicked her tongue over the sensitive tip and he shuddered. “Get on the bed.”
Her smile suggested she knew just how close he was as he took a condom out of his dresser drawer and ripped open the packet. Before she got on the bed, she pulled back the comforter and sheets, sending pillows flying.
He didn’t waste any time today. He was barely hanging on as it was, so he lifted her ankles onto his shoulders and, after sliding in just enough to tease her, he thrust hard.
She gasped and the feel of her body and the sight of her fists clenching his sheets almost blew him apart. Fast and hard, he drove into her until she climaxed, her back arching off the bed. He dug his fingers into her hips, holding her as he thrust faster.
When she cried his name, he came, his body pulsing as the orgasm shook him. Once it faded, he reluctantly pulled free and slid down so he could bury his face against her neck.
“That was way better than Thor,” she said, still slightly out of breath.
Chuckling, he remembered they’d left the movie paused downstairs. It didn’t matter. The DVD player would turn off eventually or it wouldn’t. And she was right. This was way better. “I like being friends with benefits.”
“Me, too.”
Once he’d caught his breath, he rolled away and went into the bathroom. After disposing of the condom, he looked at his reflection in the mirror. Colin had told him the most important thing was to get their friendship back on solid footing and, getting her into his bed so soon might have been a mistake, but he’d learned the hard way how they behaved now was important. He splashed some cold water on his face and then took his robe off the hook and slipped it on. Getting to the bathroom was one thing, but walking back out naked would make him feel awkward.
He was glad he did it. When he walked back into the bedroom, Tori was almost fully dressed. She pulled the shirt over her head and smiled when she saw him. “Do we have time to watch the end of the movie?”
It wasn’t as if he’d made big plans for the night. “Sure.”
She started toward him, or the door that was right behind him. “I’ll make coffee.”
“Decaf.”
“Because it’s after five.” She stopped and reached her hand around his neck to pull him down for a kiss. “I know.”
She kissed him like that again when the movie was over and it was time for her to leave. It was hard not to ask her to stay, but he had to be careful not to overstep the friends-with-benefits line. Casual, he told himself, like her good-night kiss.
Not yet ready to sleep, he picked up the remote and cycled through television channels, not landing on anything for longer than a minute. The action mimicked his thoughts, flipping through his mind without settling enough to let him focus.
It was hard enough to navigate relati
onships when they were clearly defined. Parents. Siblings. Girlfriend. Wife. But friends with benefits wasn’t something he had any experience with and trying to take cues from her would wear on him eventually.
Tori wouldn’t be asleep yet. Knowing her, she was probably at her computer, so he pulled her up on his phone before he could overthink it. I have a question. Still awake?
For a little while. Early morning, though.
That sounded like a hint. It can wait.
I’m not ready to sleep yet. What’s your question?
So friends with benefits. Is this like insurance benefits? Maximum number of visits? Pre-approval? He smiled and hit Send.
There are forms that have to be filled out. In triplicate.
That made him laugh out loud. I’m already behind on paperwork?
We can fill it out together. When the mood strikes.
He pondered her words for a while, letting the subtext sink in. Casual and spontaneous. I’ll make sure to have a pen handy.
As soon as he sent it, he realized that subtext might be too obscure, so he sent a follow-up text. By pen, I mean condom.
It felt like forever before she responded. You almost made me choke on my water.
I should let you go to bed. You have an early day tomorrow.
And a staff meeting. Whee.
He heard the sarcasm as clearly as if she’d said the words out loud. Good luck. And good night.
Good night, Max. xox
Kisses and hugs. It was a good start, and Max was smiling as he checked the locks on the doors, set the alarm system and went to bed. A very good start.
Chapter Nineteen
The staff meeting was scheduled for ten, since it was squarely between breakfast and lunch. Tori had gone in for the early shift and was done, so she took off her apron and made herself a coffee before sitting at the counter with Liz, Ava, Carl and Gavin. Paige had Sarah on her hip, no doubt because Rose had shown up for the meeting, as well.
“I know you’ve all heard the great news. In a couple of weeks, Gavin’s heading to Kennebunkport to wow the upper class with some of the Trailside Diner’s best dinner specials.” She paused while they all cheered, which made Gavin blush. “I’m so proud of you, Gavin, and I hope...”
Paige choked up and then they all got a little teary when Gavin walked around the counter to wrap his arms around her, baby and all. “I wouldn’t have this chance without you.”
“And you’d better make the most of it.” She patted his back, and then laughed when Sarah gave him a good shove.
“To add to our joy,” she continued once Gavin was seated again, “Liz’s pregnancy has the distinction of being the worst-kept secret in the history of Whitford.”
Tori caught Liz’s smile through the corner of her eye, and the way she slid her hand over her belly. “I wonder who got the coupons for being the first to tell Fran.”
“I told her myself,” Rose said. “And, yes, I made her give me the coupons.”
They all laughed, but then Paige’s expression turned serious. “I’ve put an ad in some of the bigger newspapers and online. Needless to say, I’m hoping to hire a cook as soon as possible. Until then, we’re going to try to make do by cutting back on the menu temporarily and keeping it simple.”
“I think the worst of the morning sickness is behind me,” Liz said. “I felt fine this morning, but it does kind of come and go.”
“For now, I’m going to open. Then, ideally, I’d like Tori to come in midmorning and stay until Ava comes in at two. I’ll come back in and cook for the dinner crowd, with Rose and Liz both stepping in when we need more hands on deck.” She stopped and looked at Tori. “I know you’re supposed to be really part-time, but if you could do the regular hours until we get a cook or Liz is over the hump, I’d really appreciate it.”
Tori had been prepared for this and given it a lot of thought. On the one hand, she couldn’t cut corners on her design work. It took years to build a reputation and no time flat to lose it. But these were her friends and, most importantly, Gavin wouldn’t have this opportunity if not for Paige.
“I can do it,” she said. “Honestly, it’s easier for me to manage my work schedule if I know up front when I’m working rather than being called in at random times.”
“Thank you, Tori.”
She sipped her coffee while Paige went down the line, speaking to each of them about the schedule change and making sure everybody was on board. Not surprisingly, they were all willing to do whatever it took to keep the place going.
“I can still work for the two weeks,” Gavin pointed out.
Paige shook her head. “You can help us streamline the menu so it’s manageable and if we get in a bind, we might call you, but you have planning and packing to do. And you need a haircut, too, before you go.”
They all laughed again, and the meeting was over. Liz was staying, so Tori was free to walk down to the market for some groceries and then head home.
When she unlocked her door, she almost tripped over a bag in the middle of the hallway. There was a book poking out the top and Hailey had a spare key, so she assumed it was a surprise visit from the library fairy.
Shifting both bags of groceries she’d picked up at the market after work to one hand, she picked up the bag and went upstairs. Since she wasn’t on the waiting list for anything she could think of, curiosity got the better of her and she stuck the milk in the fridge, then dug into the bag of books.
The paperback on top looked like some kind of self-help book, and she frowned. There was a typical ILL slip stuck inside, with Hailey’s lighthearted but serious warning of increased fines if the book was late. Hailey said it caused her professional embarrassment but Tori suspected she exaggerated how much in an effort to avoid the work of renewing through the lending library. And there was a sticky note on the front.
Even though I’m not single anymore, I’m still your best friend. I love you and I want you to be happy. Please don’t be mad.
There were four books in the bag and they were all self-help books for dealing with divorce and toxic family relationships. Tori’s hands shook and she dropped the books on her desk, glaring at them since the woman who’d left them in her hallway wasn’t available to be glared at. She wasn’t, however, out of reach.
Hailey answered on the second ring. “Please don’t be mad.”
“I feel like you’re trying to tell me something.”
“I’m trying to tell you what I wrote in the note. You’re my best friend, I love you and I want you to be happy.”
“I am happy.”
There was a long pause. “I think you hope if you pretend you’re happy long enough, it’ll become the truth.”
It sounded like Whitford’s do-gooder librarian had been spending too much time in the self-help section. “If this is about Max—”
“It has nothing to do with Max. It’s about you, I swear.”
Tori wanted to be mad, but she knew Hailey’s heart was in the right place. And she had to admit her current method of dealing with her parents—namely dodging their calls and avoiding going home—wasn’t working. “Did you pick them by their titles?”
“No, I researched recommended books and then I researched the authors and I read a gazillion reviews.” She heard Hailey sigh. “I wish we had a decent therapist nearby, but I know you’ll come up with a million excuses not to make the minimum of a two-hour round trip to talk to somebody.”
She couldn’t deny it. “Did you highlight the important passages for me?”
“No! Bad things happen to people who write in library books, Tori. Very bad things. And the important passages will be the ones that speak to you, not to me.”
Tori sighed and started putting away the rest of her groceries one-handed. “I thought putting some distance between me and my parents would help. It might have if that guy hadn’t invented the telephone.”
“It might have worked very short-term, but it’s been two years. This crap show has become the no
rmal and it’s not going to change on its own.”
She laughed. “I think you snuck a few peeks before you dropped these books off.”
“I read some articles online. Like I said, I want you to be happy. And I don’t even care if you’re happy with a guy. I want you to be happy for you.”
“Fine, I won’t be mad.”
“Good. And since I know you’re not mad, I have patrons and have to get back to work.”
Since she’d grabbed a sandwich at the diner, Tori was free to get right to work. But first, bra off and yoga pants on. Then, as she waited for her computer to wake up, her cell phone rang. Her mother’s number showed on the screen and Tori silenced it. She waited, but she didn’t get a new voice mail notification, which meant her mom would try again.
Then, just as her email client coughed up her new messages, she heard the text chime. For a second, she was terrified her mom finally got a smart phone and learned to text, but it was Max.
Are you home?
Yes. Home from work and just sat down to work.
You know what they say about all work and no play.
She laughed. Are you trying to lure me out to play?
I wish. I’m working, too. Making steak & mushroom kebobs again tonight. Should I make enough for you?
Sighing, she considered her workload. She should eat at her desk, but those kebobs were so good. A couple of hours wouldn’t hurt. Yes, but I can’t stay for a movie.
A long time passed before his return message. Can you stay for a quarter of a movie?
Falling for Max: Book Nine of The Kowalskis Page 19
