“It’s not that at all,” the driver shouted.
If he’d needed confirmation that the man was guilty, he had it now. “Then why?”
The driver started sobbing.
Heath let go of him, and he crumpled to the floor. “I was in love with Suzette Harper.” He buried his head in his hands. “But you went and matched her up with Flynn Bell.”
What was he talking about? The man was crazy.
Tori knelt beside him. “Suzette? She…people have lists of what they want. Suzette asked for someone successful, someone who enjoyed sports and the outdoors.”
“I like…video games. Some could be considered a sport.”
Tori shook her head. “I’m sorry, Mr.…”
“The name is Kermit Wenslow,” the man said. “I called you and asked you specifically to make Suzette fall in love with me.”
She hung her head. “You’re the goblin, right?”
The goblin?
Wenslow shrugged. “Goblins need love, too.”
Tori nodded. “Of course they do—you do. But if you’d have given me a chance to find you someone, I would have, eventually.”
The man’s sniveling ramped up. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you. I shouldn’t have done those things.”
Tori stood up. “Locking me in the bathroom was mean.” Her lips bunched to one side. “Wait, what else did you do?”
He blew his nose. “All of it—the catering mix-ups at the bar mitzvah, the baby shower chair thing, the decorations delay in Taiwan, the tent collapsing yesterday. And more.”
“The food poisoning?” she prompted.
He nodded. “I zapped the power here tonight, but there was a failsafe that restarted them. And your mother’s necklace breaking. Sorry about her fall.”
“My mother fell?” She widened her eyes at Heath. “Is she all right?”
“They took her to the hospital,” Heath said. “She might have a sprained ankle.”
Tori groaned. “Mama will want me there with her.” She poked her finger at the driver. “I’m not finished with you, Mr. Goblin. I’ll be speaking to Sheriff Higgins about your menacing.”
Wenslow drew himself into a ball on the floor. Pathetic.
“I can drop you at the hospital,” Jordan offered Tori.
“Sure, thanks.” She took Heath’s hand. “Mind coming with me?”
“Of course.” After everything she’d been through tonight, her first priority was taking care of her mother, not herself. Would her mother always come first? Even if he and Tori had a serious relationship?
The sobering thought jarred him as he walked Tori to Jordan’s car.
Thankfully, Jordan was a better driver than Tori. When they arrived at County Medical Center—which was just the same dinky hospital it had always been—they found Charlotte on a bed in the emergency department with her left foot up on a pillow.
“I’m sure it’s broken,” she said. “But the doctor’s insisting that it’s only a sprain. The nurse disappeared fifteen minutes ago. She was supposed to be wrapping my ankle. I need a second opinion.”
Tori squeezed her eyes shut for a second before she sat on a metal chair next to her mother. “You can do that tomorrow. It’s been a long day.”
“And where were you when that pandemonium broke out at the gala?” Charlotte asked her.
“It’s a long story, Mama.” She glanced at Heath. “Let’s go find a vending machine while we wait. I’m starving.”
He and Tori went to the waiting room, and he got Tori a candy bar from a machine and a coffee from the complimentary drink station. Sitting next to her, he handed over the food. “There’s a lot going on in Cat’s Paw Cove that’s a mystery to me. Want to tell me why you think your friend Jordan can communicate with dogs, and what the heck a goblin is?”
Tori sipped her coffee. “Okay, but you’re probably not going to believe it.”
Minutes later, his head was spinning. He’d always thought that strange things happened in the town, but Tori had said some pretty unbelievable stuff. Tori professed to be an earthly Cupid and insisted that Jordan really could understand what animals said. The local psychics were for real, and so were the witches. Supernatural beings were everywhere, like a secret subculture. But in truth, he couldn’t rationally explain how certain things had happened. How could a dumpy limousine driver have caused all the mischief he had, unless he really was a goblin? And how could Jordan have known who’d been responsible for locking Tori in the bathroom unless the dog had actually spoken to her?
He rubbed his forehead. “This is a lot to take in, Tori.”
“I know it is.” She patted his knee. “Give yourself some time to digest it.”
His phone buzzed with a message. “Seeing his agent’s name on the caller ID, he excused himself to check it.
“Hey, Heath. Sorry to call so late, but I just got off the phone with the team’s lawyer. They’re dropping your contract. Try not to worry. We’ll think of something. Maybe more endorsements.”
Heath’s stomach clenched. People would forget who Heath was the longer he was out of the game. Endorsements would dry up.
“Everything all right?” Tori asked.
No, nothing was all right. The world didn’t work the way he’d always believed it did. And worse still, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be as important to Tori as her mother was. He’d never live in Cat’s Paw Cove again, and his instincts told him that Tori would never leave.
He’d worried so much about hurting Tori, never even considering that if they started a relationship, he’d be just as devastated if it didn’t work out.
Chapter Eleven
It was four am by the time Tori finally got her mother home. Mama had begged and pleaded with Tori to stay at the house with her, and since she felt sorry for her, Tori had camped out on the sofa for a few hours—tossing and turning, but not sleeping. How was she supposed to shut off her mind after everything that had happened?
Glancing at Heath, fast asleep on the recliner, all her worry dissolved. He’d always had that effect on her. And with good reason. He’d been her knight in shining armor last night—or rather, her Prince Charming. Not only had he rescued her from the ladies’ room, but he’d also stayed with her all night, and had blown off her mother’s ungracious comments.
Hearing the back door open, she peeled back the Afghan and headed to the kitchen.
“Well, good morning.” Gladys, her mother’s housekeeper, greeted Tori with a sunny smile. “I heard there was some commotion at the party last night.”
Tori wasn’t surprised that word had spread about the disastrous last half hour of the gala. So much of the town had been there, and those who hadn’t attended surely knew people who had.
She told Gladys about Mama’s fall and being locked in the restroom, although she left out the part about the goblin.
“You’ve really been through it, child.” Gladys turned on the coffee maker. “I’ll take care of your mother. You go on and get home. I know you have lots to do today.”
Pulling the older woman into a hug, she thanked her. “You’re the best, Gladys. Oh, and I’m borrowing Mama’s car. She can’t drive anyway with that sprained ankle.”
Gladys grabbed Tori’s mother’s keys from the hook by the back door and dropped them into Tori’s palm. “Good luck today.”
When Tori returned to the living room, Heath was talking on his cell, pacing the floor. And he didn’t look happy.
“Where does that leave my career, Jim?” he said into the phone. “Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. What’ll that cost me?”
Tori folded the blanket and cleared her throat.
Heath nodded at her. “One minute,” he mouthed. “Let me know how much they want, would you? Right. Okay, talk to you later, Jim.” He hung up. New lines fanned out from the corners of his eyes.
“Are you okay?”
He waved off her concern. “Sure, fine. What’s the plan?”
She doubted everything was fine. “I need to run home, take a shower, feed the cats then head over to Boardwalk Park.”
Motioning toward the foyer, he said, “Let’s go.”
Before they’d reached the Cadillac, Robert Quincy pulled into the circular drive. “How’s Charlotte doing?”
Tori spied a big bouquet of pink roses on the seat beside him. “I’m sure a visit will perk her right up.” She threw him a wink as she walked away.
Heath insisted on driving. “Tell me what I can do to help.”
Covering her yawn, she shrugged. “Maybe feed the cats when we get to my place.”
“I can do that.”
As they left her mother’s neighborhood, she eyed Heath. His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, and that furrow in his brow persisted.
“You might as well tell me why you’re stressed,” she teased. “I’ll get it out of you, one way or another. Don’t make me resort to drastic measures.”
That earned her a smile. “And what would that entail?”
“I know all your secrets, even where you’re ticklish.”
Heath waggled his eyebrows at her. “It’s been a long time since you tickled me. Maybe we should revisit that.”
She took his hand. “Seriously, what’s going on?”
After a low groan, he exhaled loudly. “You win. I have a decision to make about my career, and both of my choices suck.”
Tori waited for him to elaborate.
He stopped for a red light on Sherwood Boulevard. “I can either buy out my contract from the team or take my chances on them suing me. And my agent assured me that they will indeed sue me.”
“So you should buy out the contract.”
Tiny muscles around his jaw ticked. “It’s millions of dollars, Tori. I’d have to sell my house in California.”
“Would that be so bad?” As soon as the words had left her lips, she wished she could take them back.
Heath glared at her. “Would it be so bad if you lost your business?” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Tori. I don’t mean to take it out on you.”
“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m tired. And I thought…” No, she wouldn’t suggest that they try something longer term than just a week. Long distance would never work for her.
“What?” He turned left into Tori’s neighborhood.
“Nothing.” Her phone buzzed. She answered immediately, thankful for the distraction. “Hello?”
“Tori? This is Vivi.”
Tori gulped. How did Vivi even get her number? “Um, hi.”
“I called your office, and they gave me this number. I hope it’s okay.”
She clenched her jaw. “Sure, fine. What can I do for you?”
“Listen, I know we haven’t always been on the best terms.”
The best terms? How about not even frenemies?
“I feel really bad about how the gala ended last night,” Vivi continued. “You did a fabulous job with it, and it was pretty clear that everything that happened wasn’t your fault.”
Tori shut her eyes. She was way too tired for a pointless conversation with Vivi Craig.
“…So I thought if you needed some help today with the picnic, I could do whatever.”
Was Vivi trying to steal the job from her? “Why would you do that?”
There was a long pause. Finally, Vivi spoke. “My cousin works at Kitty’s Cantina. I heard what you did for Henry. Then this morning I was at Claws-N-Coifs, and the blonde manicurist who does tarot readings was telling me about all the cats you foster. I guess her twin works at the cat café.”
“Yes, Jordan.”
“Mm-hmm. So I know I’ve not been very nice to you. I’m sorry about that.”
“Okay.” Tori’s heartbeat raced. She couldn’t believe that Vivi was being so nice. But was it genuine?
“Look,” Vivi continued. “I want to make it up to you. I’ve helped my fiancé with parties, so I know a little something about what it takes. I’d like to volunteer to help. What can I do?”
Perhaps she was on the level. She sounded genuinely repentant. “I am running late. If you could pick up the paper plates and cups from Bell’s Market, that would be great. Flynn Bell has them in the office.”
“Sure, anything else?”
Tori didn’t dare trust the newly reformed mean girl enough to count on her to do more. “I’ll let you know. Would you mind texting me when you drop the paper goods at Boardwalk Park?”
“No problem.” She disconnected.
Heath parked at her house. “You look exhausted, Tori. Maybe you should ask Vivi to do more today so you can grab a nap.”
She shook her head. “I can handle it.” She unlocked her door and took a step inside. Her shoes squished on the rug. One look at the living room, and she gasped.
This was all Heath’s fault. He must not have tightened the shut-off valve enough. Either that or Wenslow had left Tori a parting gift last night. Didn’t really matter who was to blame. Now Tori’s entire house was flooded, and Heath had to fix this for her. Taking Tori’s shoulders, he tried to reassure her. “I’m going to make this right, I promise.”
Tori’s eyes filled. Her lower lip quivered. Tears spilled over her cheeks, rendering Heath a complete wreck.
He handed her the car keys. “Is there somewhere else you can shower?”
Nodding, she wiped her face. “Jordan lives close by.”
“Good. I’ll take care of this, and the cats. You grab your clothes and go. I’ll meet you at the park as soon as I can.”
Eyes wide, she stared up at him. “But…but I’m always the one who takes care of disasters. I’m the fixer.”
“Not today. Today you only have to be the event planner. Leave this to me.”
“Really?”
“You’ve always been here for me, Tori. Today I’m here for you.” He hoped he could continue showing her that she’d always be able to lean on him.
Ten minutes later, Tori left, and Heath got to work. He called a plumber and a flooring company. Then he wrangled the cats and put them all in the laundry room with plenty of food and water.
After a quick shower, he dressed for the picnic. When the workmen showed up, he explained what he needed them to do. Next, he phoned an interior decorator and told the woman he’d be texting her photos of each room in Tori’s house. “That’ll give you a good idea of her style,” he said. “I don’t care what it costs as long as you can get it done this week, as soon as possible.”
As soon as he’d paid the workmen, he drove Tori’s van to Boardwalk Park, which had hardly changed since his high school days. The aquarium appeared to have had a facelift, but the ice cream shop, shell boutique, and the arcade were just as quaint and homey as always.
He found Tori near the hot dog stand, speaking to a young couple. When Heath approached, the couple moved on. Good. Maybe now was the right time to talk to her about their future.
He cleared his throat. “I’ve been thinking,” he said. “About you and me.”
Tori moved her sunglasses to the top of her head. “Sounds serious.”
“It is. Or it could be. That depends on you.” He tipped his chin at a bench.
“Okay.” Tori sat with him.
“When I first got here, I was terrified, mostly of seeing you.”
“Me? Why?”
He nodded. “Mostly, I was afraid of my own feelings. I’ve got an awful track record with women.”
She grinned. “That’s what my mother keeps telling me.”
He dropped her gaze. “Well, your mother has her own agenda. Your parents never saw me as anything more than their housekeeper’s kid, a boy from the wrong side of the proverbial tracks.”
She started to protest, then sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. They did.”
Taking her hand, he lifted it to his lips and kissed her palms. “The past few days have opened my eyes to the truth,
Tori. I fought it with everything I had, which didn’t work. The truth is, I’m in love with you. And I want more than this week. I want you with me all the time.”
Easing her hand out of his, she met his eyes, and her smile faded, not the reaction he’d hoped. “I care about you, Heath. Maybe it’s more than that. I thought about how we could be together, but I need a guy who can be here, not one who travels all over the place.”
His gut clenched. “You could join me.”
She pursed her lips. “I have a business here, and Mama needs me.”
He had to convince her to give them a chance. “Your mother is a lot stronger than you give her credit for. Charlotte manipulates you, and you know it.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that she needs me.”
“I need you, too.”
“Perhaps, it just isn’t in the cards for us.” She shook her head. “I see couples in love all the time in my line of work. And to be honest, I’m envious. Sure, I’d give my right arm for a great relationship, a beautiful house, a gigantic diamond ring. But I have to be realistic. That’s for other people, not me.” Abruptly standing, she wrapped her arms around her body. “As much as I wanted this to work, it isn’t in the cards for us, Heath. Not as long as you’re living anywhere else.”
His chest constricted. He was willing to relocate for her, but he could never move back to Cat’s Paw Cove. Not the place where everyone had looked down upon him, treated him as less.
“I’ve got to go. I’m working.” Without another word, she walked away, leaving him alone with his broken heart.
Chapter Twelve
Tori strode along the boardwalk, her head in a daze. Heath was in love with her. She’d never thought a man like him would be interested in someone like her. How had she missed all the signs? For heaven’s sake, she wasn’t some amateur at love and matchmaking—she was a Cupid! She had a supernatural gift for bringing people together, yet she hadn’t had a clue what had been going on in her own love life.
Her Homerun Hottie Page 13
