Page 47 of A Chance at Forever
“Help yourself to the appetizers while I check on the spaghetti.”
“You must have the fastest stove in the West,” he drawled. “When did you have time to rustle up spaghetti?”
Victoria chuckled. “I fixed it ahead of time. All I had to do was pop it in the microwave.”
“Ah, the wonders of modern technology.”
By the time Victoria returned to the library with the main course, Rusty had eaten all of the grapes, a banana, and most of the cheese and crackers.
He poured two glasses of wine, and she exclaimed, “I hope you have room for the spaghetti.”
“I hope you have enough.”
When Rusty finished two huge plates of the pasta and the rest of the cheese and crackers, they settled themselves in front of the fire. He stretched his long legs, bringing their bodies closer together. “I can’t thank you enough for driving to Yuba City tonight, Tori. You inspired me to lead the boys to an amazing win.” He clinked his wine glass against hers.
“Don’t be silly.” His nearness caused a pleasant warmth to seep into her.
“It’s true. You saw how badly the boys were losing. I watched my team fall apart right before my eyes. Poor Troy was sacked four times in the first quarter alone. They were afraid and so was I until you yelled out to me. When I heard you call the other team ‘chumps,’ I swear I nearly laughed aloud. I realized at that moment what I had to do. We never would have won without you.”
Heat flamed in Victoria’s face. “Please don’t flatter me.”
“Why not? You’re an incredibly beautiful and sensitive woman. Perhaps if I tell you that often enough, you’ll believe it.”
She shook her head, and he lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. “Tori, did I frighten you when I kissed you at the game?”
“No,” she murmured. “It was in the spur of the moment.”
“How about now? When it’s only you and me?”
“Rusty,” she began, but her voice trailed away. She couldn’t stop him when a liquid fire burned as it traveled through her.
Holding her enthralled with his dark green gaze, he whispered, “Trust me, Tori.” Tentatively, he pressed his lips against hers.
When she didn’t draw away, his mouth moved across hers. A sweet kiss, a tender kiss, earth-shattering in its simplicity, it left Victoria trembling and yearning for more.
“Tori,” Rusty muttered. The expression of awe on his face reflected in the firelight left no doubt he’d been as shaken as she by the kiss. “Thank you for tonight. I should get home.” He opened his mouth to say something else, changed his mind, and left.
Alone, Victoria leaned against the sofa and hugged a cushion to quell her quaking limbs.
*
Bud startled Victoriaout of a deep sleep on Saturday morning by licking her face. “Okay, okay, I’m up.” She yawned and reached for a robe at the edge of her bed.
After she let Bud out, she brewed a pot of coffee. As she savored her first cup, she tried to read a novel, but she couldn’t focus on the words. The honey-sweetness of Rusty’s kiss filled her mind. It reminded her of the soft caress of morning dew upon the delicate petal of a flower in bloom. He gently drew a response without demanding one and opened a whole new well of conflicting emotions.
Rising from the table, Victoria decided she needed a change of scenery. She hadn’t been horseback riding since her father and brothers visited in August. This morning she longed to feel the strength of a horse beneath her and the refreshing wind in her face. Upstairs, she took a shower and dressed in her heaviest pair of jeans, riding boots, and a bulky sweater.
Since Bud had enjoyed their last adventure at Riley’s ranch, she took him with her. Victoria followed the main road east out of town and headed into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Within thirty minutes, the ranch came into view. The Spanish-styled buildings sprawled over several acres of land. Colts frolicked with their mothers in the corrals as Victoria turned into the main entrance and traveled slowly up the dirt road that led to the massive house in the distance. When she parked, several ranch hands smiled and tipped their hats as they tended to their chores.
Riley Nelson spotted her and strode in her direction. Past fifty, he was still a vital, attractive man. His sandy hair was streaked with gray, but his deep brown eyes twinkled and his smile was as broad as ever on his ruddy face. He slapped his thigh and bellowed, “You’re back! I didn’t think you’d stay away for too long after catching the riding bug again a couple of months ago.”
“Nope. Not after you told me how much Lady Bug pined for me after I left three years ago.” They ambled toward the stable.
“I couldn’t get her to respond to anyone except that new football coach, Rusty Sinclair. You’ve met him, right? Teaching at the same high school?”
“We’re neighbors.” Her stomach churned in remembrance of that kiss shared in the dim glow of a fire.
