Though it was nice to think that if she did need him to come to her rescue, he would.
She looped back toward the outlet buildings and headed toward the food court, picking one of the few places still serving. Half a hoagie and a bag of chips later, she figured she’d waited long enough and went back out to the lot. The creepy guy in the big pickup was gone. Tori breathed a sigh of relief, climbed into her Jeep, and drove back to her place.
Chapter Fifteen
Brian stepped out of the shadows and got into his Jeep, following Tori at a safe distance from the outlets to Butler Street. Only once he saw her go into her apartment and close the door did he swing his Jeep around and head back to Jake’s.
He didn’t know why he felt so protective of Tori; he just did. Her unintentional phone call had flipped a switch. He’d heard the fear in her voice, regardless of what she’d said. Since Tori didn’t seem like the type of woman to worry unnecessarily, he’d felt compelled to make the drive out, just in case.
Tori’s Jeep wasn’t hard to find at that hour. The lot was less than half full, and her ride was easily recognizable. The big pick up was still there, just like she’d said, parked right next to her even though there were plenty of open spaces around. In it, a guy sitting in the driver’s seat, staring toward the nearest entrance.
Brian took a picture of his license plate. Then he pulled up alongside the vehicle, lifted his phone, and snapped a profile shot.
Tori was right. The guy was creepy looking. Middle aged, overweight, jean jacket, baseball cap. When the guy turned his way, Brian snapped a full-on face picture, too, then drove away. When he circled around again, the big pick-up was gone.
With some sense of satisfaction, he had parked a fair distance away from Tori’s Jeep, then had gone in search of her, needing to see for himself that she was all right. She’d been in the food court, sitting alone and keeping a watchful eye on everyone and everything around her. That made him feel slightly better. At least she was being alert and aware, unlike the half dozen or so others who had their face buried in their phones. Since none of them were his concern, however, they could do whatever they wanted.
And when did Tori become your concern? The demon whispered in his head.
He didn’t have an answer to that, at least not one he was comfortable with.
Brian remained in the shadows, out of Tori’s scanning gaze. She’d been clear in letting him know she didn’t want his help. Whether that was actually true or she just felt uncomfortable asking, he didn’t know, but it didn’t matter. He just knew he felt better being there, and from what he’d witnessed, she had every reason to be wary.
He was just pulling into Jake’s when his cell phone vibrated with an incoming text from Tori. “Home safe, no worries.”
He parked and typed out a simple, appropriate reply. “Thanks for letting me know.” He hit send, then sent another right away. “Looking forward to tomorrow.”
The reply was immediate. “Me, too.” And she included a smiley face emoticon, which for some reason, made him smile, too.
Brian was still grinning when he walked into the pub.
“Hey, man,” Ian greeted as he took his place behind the bar. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s all good.”
“Anyone I know?”
Shit. “I doubt it.”
Ian arched a brow and hummed. “Interesting.”
“What?”
“The stoic and steadfast Brian McCain disappears after receiving a mysterious phone call, then returns grinning and tight lipped. Must be someone special.”
“Just a friend.”
“Right.” Ian drew out the single word, adding a suggestive inflection. “Whatever you say. Hey, you want to keep your secrets, you don’t want me to know you’re seeing Tori Donovan on the sly, no skin off my nose.”
Brian exhaled heavily. “Seriously?”
“Hey, this is a small town, my friend. And croies talk.”
“She’s just a friend.” Brian gave him a brief rundown of Tori’s accidental phone call and the guy in the truck.
Ian’s grin faded swiftly. “Shit. You think it’s the sick fuck who’s been taking women?”
“I don’t know,” Brian said honestly.
“Send me those pics, let me see what I can find out.”
The remainder of the shift passed without incident, but Brian couldn’t stop thinking about what Ian had said. Could he have looked into the face of the same guy who had been abducting women from around the area? Might Tori have been the next target?
A chill ran the length of his spine. If there was anything there, Ian would find it. In the meantime, Brian knew he wouldn’t be getting to sleep anytime soon. He drove around for a while, then ended up parked down the street from Tori’s place.
When the sky first started to lighten, he drove back to his parents’ house to shower and get ready for the day.
Chapter Sixteen
Tori woke up early, refreshed and filled with anticipation. Plans to spend the day with Brian were ten times more effective than a good night’s sleep and a pot of strong coffee, she’d found.
The weather promised to be seasonably hot and sunny, perfect for a day at the lake. She showered and prepped, making sure her legs, underarms, and bikini line were swimsuit-ready. Afterward, she pulled her hair up into a hassle-free ponytail. She didn’t bother with make-up. A friend wouldn’t care and if they were going to spend time on the water, it would be washed off soon enough anyway.
After triple-checking she had everything she needed: sunscreen, towels, a change of clothes, flip-flops, and sunglasses, she filled a small cooler with a leak proof container of freshly-brewed peach iced tea and bottled water. Then she forced herself to have some breakfast, though she was too excited to eat much.
Just before seven, there was a knock at the door. Tori jumped and ran over, flinging the door open wide. Brian looked good enough to eat in shades, board shorts, cotton tee, and some kind of sporty men’s sandals. He greeted her with a smile, but when he removed his sunglasses in the darker interior, Tori couldn’t help but notice he looked tired.
“Would you like a cup of coffee before we go?” she offered.
“That would be great, thanks.”
He waved off the cream and sugar, accepting the mug and taking a hefty swallow. As much as she was looking forward to the day, she knew she had to give him an out.
“We can reschedule.”
“Why would we do that?”
“You look tired.”
Half of his mouth turned up in a crooked smile. “I’m fine.”
She didn’t press. If he said he was fine, she would take his word for it, no matter how much her overanalyzing brain told her he wasn’t. Besides, she rationalized, this way she could make sure he had a fun, restful, and relaxing day.
The drive up into the mountains was lovely. Brian had removed the top from his Jeep and the cool, crisp morning air was invigorating. They didn’t speak much along the way, enjoying a comfortable silence. Tori had always liked scenic drives and with Brian behind the wheel, she was able to sit back and enjoy the stunning view.
They stopped at a small mom and pop store along the way, which Brian said had the best hoagies around. They also picked up enough snacks to last them the day, including a bag of marshmallows, a pack of candy bars, and graham crackers. “For s’mores,” he told her with a boyish grin that made her heart stutter.
After another hour or so, Tori saw the sign for the first of several public docks. Brian blew right past it, as he did the next three, working his way around the massive lake. When he did finally turn off the road, it was onto a road marked “private”.
Before long they came to a modest wood cabin. Brian told her to wait in the Jeep and disappeared inside. When he came back out, he swung into the driver’s seat and continued on a small road off to the right.
“What is this place?” she asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.
“Private c
ampground,” Brian said. “I rented us our own place for the day.” Her eyes widened.
“Why did you do that?”
His hands flexed on the steering wheel. It took him a moment to answer. “I don’t particularly like crowds,” he said finally, “and with the good weather and the fact that it’s a Saturday, the public beaches are going to be packed. This way, we’ll have our own bit of lakefront where we can hang out without having to deal with all that. But if it makes you uncomfortable...”
“It doesn’t,” she assured him quickly. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. I’m not much of a crowd person, either.”
He turned to her and smiled, looking relieved.
The cabin turned out to be a small, one-room wooden structure with a few amenities, including a bathroom and an outdoor shower similar to those seen at beach houses along the Jersey shore. The lot was primarily wooded, though there was a clearing where the property met the lake and a tiny dock jutted into the water. If she looked through the trees, she could just barely make out similar cabins to the left and right of them.
“This is perfect,” she said in awe as she took in the wooden lounge chairs arranged around a fire pit and the massive hammock suspended between two tall trees. “I didn’t even know places like this existed.”
“It’s a great place. Cabins for rent, plus some sites where people can bring their trailers or pitch tents. I used to work up here in the summer when I was a teenager.”
“That sounds like an amazing summer job.”
“Oh, it was,” he agreed. “Sun, water, and pretty girls in bathing suits from Memorial Day through Labor Day.”
She laughed, picturing a younger version of the man before her, without the heavy burdens he now carried on his shoulders. “I bet you broke a lot of hearts.”
“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”
“Good to know.”
She caught the flash of heat in his eyes, and quietly hoped there would be some kissing (and possibly more) in the day’s activities.
It didn’t take long to unpack the Jeep. They stored the beverages she’d brought in the cabin’s refrigerator along with the hoagies. Then Brian led her back out to the dirt road that connected the private sites and after a nice fifteen-minute walk, they emerged at a small rental shack near the water.
The older gentleman sitting behind the counter recognized Brian right away. He stood, his face lighting up in a wide smile. “Brian McCain! Long time no see, son. Heard you were back. Had a bit of a rough time of it, eh?”
Brian shook his hand and returned his friendly smile, but Tori saw the muscles along his neck and shoulders tighten. She instinctively moved closer and placed her hand on his forearm. Beneath her fingers, the muscles loosened slightly. She took that as a small victory.
“Yeah. Got some jet skis for us?”
“Aye, that I do. Who is this pretty young thing?”
Tori felt her face flush as Brian made introductions. “Tori, Tom Sullivan. Tom, this is my friend, Tori.”
“Call me Sully,” the older man said with a twinkle in his eye. “I reckon she’s more than just a friend if you brought her up here.”
Brian said nothing, reaching for his wallet. Tori averted her gaze, feeling awkward.
“Your money’s no good here.” Sully sounded offended. When Brian protested, the older man told him, “Consider it a small thank you for your service.”
Brian looked even more uncomfortable. Tori took his hand in hers and said brightly, “Thank you so much. That is very kind of you.”
Then, when Sully turned away to get them keys and life vests, Tori took Brian’s wallet and put her finger to her lips. She slipped out a couple of twenties, then added a few of her own, and sneakily slid them under the old-fashioned register for Sully to find later.
Brian grinned and she felt it all the way down to her toes.
It had been a while since she’d been on a jet ski, but it was a lot like riding a bike. Before long, they were zipping along the lake. She followed Brian’s lead. Talking wasn’t possible, but words weren’t necessary, not when Brian turned back and smiled at her (which he did quite often). The water was cold, the perfect complement to the hot summer sun beating down on them.
After a while, Brian signaled and led them back toward their cabin. He knew exactly where it was, which was a good thing because from the water, all the sites looked alike to her.
“Having fun?” he asked as they secured the machines to the small dock.
“So much fun,” she confirmed. “And the scenery is spectacular.”
“It is beautiful up here.”
It was, but that wasn’t the scenery she found most impressive. Watching a strong, confident, athletic man having fun—watching Brian—was more appealing.
“Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
They ate the hoagies, which she admitted were pretty great, munched on chips and sipped iced tea while dangling their toes in the water. After lunch, he asked her what she wanted to do. Remembering how weary he had looked that morning, she asked if it would be okay if they just lounged around the site during the hottest part of the day.
He agreed and stretched out in the hammock; she sat in one of the deck chairs by the water. When she checked on him a short while later, he was sound asleep. He looked so much younger, his face completely relaxed in slumber.
What would it be like to wake up to a face like that every morning? Her inner voice wondered.
Tori shut those thoughts down and turned away before they inevitably led to others that involved Brian McCain, a bed, and mornings.
Glad that she’d packed her Kindle, she moved to the shade and spent a relaxing afternoon reading. For as crowded as the open public areas of the lake were, the private side was quieter and more serene.
It was nearly dinner time when Brian sat up and rubbed his eyes. “What time is it?”
“Nearly five. Did you have a nice nap?”
“Five! Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You looked like you needed the sleep, and I wanted to read a new book that’s been burning a hole in my Kindle.”
He shot her a disbelieving look. “You can read anytime.”
“I could, but I rarely do. There’s always something else that needs to be done, but here, I can just be. After the crazy week I’ve had, lounging around like a lazy lizard was exactly what I needed.”
“It was, huh?”
“Absolutely. Besides, I figure now that you’re all rested up, you’ll have more energy for tonight.”
He cocked an eyebrow, and she realized what she said and how it must have sounded. “I mean... you said something about watching the sunset and making s’mores.”
His grin widened. “That I did. Let’s get the jet skis back to Sully, then we’ll see about making that happen.”
There were still a lot of people in and around the lake, even more than there had been earlier. Opening up the throttles wasn’t an option. They’d had to go slowly and be especially mindful of the boaters and swimmers and wake effects. When they arrived at the rental shack, Sully was busy helping other customers, so they just left the keys and life vests on the counter and waved.
The walk back to their site was made extra nice when Brian reached out unexpectedly and linked his fingers through hers. Warmth spread up from the contact, the feeling of rightness too strong to even think about fighting it. She didn’t say anything and neither did he, answering instead by closing her fingers around his larger, stronger ones.
She took a few moments to change out of her damp swimsuit and into dry, comfortable shorts and a top. As promised, they sat on the dock and watched the sun set in a spectacular show of gold, orange, and red. Then Brian got a fire going in the fire pit and whittled points on a few thin sticks so they could make s’mores. It turned out that she was much better at toasting marshmallows than he was; his kept catching fire.
She couldn’t help teasing him about it. He took the ribbing good-naturedly, ac
knowledged her superior skills, and suggested she do the roasting while he assembled the graham and chocolate pieces.
“I wish this day didn’t have to end,” she said later, leaning back. Darkness had fallen, the sky shifting into a deep midnight blue. Her skin still felt the glow of the sun and water; her belly was pleasantly full.
He cleared his throat. “Technically, we have the cabin until tomorrow.”
She sat up. “Does that mean we could stay?”
“We could,” he said, slowly drawing out the words.
But it probably wouldn’t be a good idea, her inner voice finished for him, hearing what he didn’t say. She was disappointed, but she understood. They’d had a good day. A great day, really. Wanting more would be selfish and greedy.
“I should probably get home anyway. I’ve got a lot to do.” She pulled herself to her feet and stretched.
“Like what?”
“Laundry. Cleaning. Grocery shopping. Bill paying. The usual stuff.” She started to walk toward the cabin to gather her things. Brian’s hand reached out to stop her.
“That stuff can wait. Stay.” She looked into his eyes, seeing the glowing embers of the fire reflected there. “Please.”
Chapter Seventeen
“Please.”
The quiet plea came out without conscious effort. Spending the night at the lake with Tori was a bad idea. He knew it was a bad idea. He’d been telling himself that after spending the day with her, he could take her home and drive away, just like he had every other time they’d spent the day together.
That was complete, utter bullshit.
Under the stars and in the light of the glowing campfire, he didn’t want the day to end. He’d sabotaged himself, pushing the limits of what he could handle, believing himself to be a stronger man than he was.
Not Quite Broken: A Callaghan Family & Friends Romance Page 10
