Page 50 of Spar
Tori got to work unpacking the box. Keeping herself busy seemed to be the best way to stop obsessing over the whole situation and move forward. This was her home. It didn’t mean that she and Chris couldn’t still see one another. It didn’t change anything, really, except where she’d sleep at night. They hadn’t discussed the future or even labeled what they were now, but she knew he cared about her. That wouldn’t go away just because they weren’t under the same roof, would it? She shook her head free of the negative possibilities. She managed to keep this positive outlook going until later when she pulled up to Chris’ house.
Chris met Tori’sstare through the windshield of her car. She sat in the driveway staring at him as if she couldn’t believe he was really here. Maybe he should have called first, but the day had been chaotic, and he was eager to get home. He yearned for his own bed and the fiery woman who’d been sleeping in it.
He was glad she was here. The daily updates on the worksites had let him know that her apartment was ready even before she had known. The thought of her moving out did something funny to his chest. Shit. It’d barely been any time since she’d moved in, but she’d brought life to the place. Without her, it wouldn’t be the same. He’d racked his brain trying to figure out how to get her to stay, but nothing felt right.
With Travis living there and needing him, it just didn’t feel fair to ask her to stay, knowing he couldn’t give her everything she needed from him. He’d known from the start that things with Tori only worked one way — all in. With any luck, Travis would be back on his feet soon, and then Chris could concentrate on his own life again.
She got out of the car and approached them slowly without taking her eyes off him. The exhaustion he’d been feeling all week started to slip away as he drank her in — cutoff jean shorts, white t-shirt, hair pulled up into a high ponytail. She’d refer to this look as sloppy or casual, but holy hell…
“You’re back,” Tori said, stopping a few feet in front of him. She finally pried her eyes away and watched Travis and Charlie getting out of the truck. Travis was muttering and cursing as Charlie all but lifted him from the back seat.
Chris took a step forward, and he tried to string together a sentence that answered the question she hadn’t asked. “We didn’t find out he was getting released until this morning, or I would have called.”
She nodded, and they walked up the driveway in silence.
Their pace was slow, eyes downcast as he watched their feet shuffle along. Chris felt at odds with himself. What he wanted to do was sweep her up into his arms and kiss her stupid. Yet, he didn’t, and she didn’t throw herself at him or give any indication that was what she wanted.
“Tori! You’re an angel.” Charlie yelled from the kitchen as they made their way into the house. “I may move in, too, just for the food,” he said, scooping a large portion of meatloaf onto a plate.
“There’s salad on the top shelf.”
Charlie placed his hands over his heart and smiled at her. “Marry me?”
“You couldn’t handle me,” she said, her teasing voice back.
Chris felt his mouth pull into a half smile as she pulled out the salad and extra plates.
“Are you hungry, Travis? Chris?”
Travis grunted from the couch, threw a blanket over his legs, and reclined back. He wouldn’t admit as much, but the pain medicine was making him drowsy and nauseated. He’d even passed on stopping for a burger on the way home — something he’d been asking for since his first taste of hospital food.
“Looks great,” Chris said, meeting Tori’s eyes. In truth, all he wanted was a shower and to pass out in his own bed, but he wasn’t about to turn down anything she offered.
“I hear the apartment’s opened back up,” Charlie mentioned as the three of them sat down at the dining table with their food.
She looked from Charlie to Chris and then down at her plate as she nodded. “I, uh, started moving a few things back in today.”
Chris dropped his fork, and the metal met the china plate with a loud clang.
“The place looks great. The enhanced security might have been a little much, but everything is wonderful.”
Charlie spoke, looking between them with a confused look. “Enhanced security?”
Tori lifted an eyebrow at Chris. Charlie would give him hell if he knew the extra precautions he’d taken at Tori’s apartment. Charlie didn’t understand. He couldn’t. He loved women, all women, but he’d never been in love. The women in Charlie’s life came and went. They were long gone before feelings or emotions ever came into play.
Chris spoke to his brother, well aware that Tori was hanging on his every word. “We strengthened the security at the apartment. Those doors were so flimsy a strong breeze would have busted the locks.”
“Matt Letch still own the place?”
Chris nodded. “Yeah, cheap old drunk.”
Charlie twirled his fork around in the air. “Think he might sell?”
“What? You want to buy the apartment building?”
Charlie shrugged. “Maybe. With the work you’ve done and the proper upkeep, it might be a good investment. There aren’t many rentals in Sweetbriar.”
“You’re serious?” Chris studied Charlie. He could tell the wheels were spinning, and as far as he could tell, Charlie thought the idea had merit.
