CHAPTER THREE

Chris stepped off the treadmill drenched in sweat. He had been pushing himself hard in the gym for the last couple months, but today had been a special kind of torture. The kind that could only be induced by the adrenaline of a near-death experience. Although in this case, it wasn’t he who had nearly died. His chest still ached at the thought of what could have happened to Tori. The whole damn building could have gone up in flames while she slept none the wiser. Since he couldn’t talk to her about it, or anyone else for that matter, he’d spent this morning exercising until the ache in his muscles matched the ache in his chest. An hour boxing with Ryan, another hour lifting weights and running, and he still felt completely helpless. He hadn’t worked out this hard since he was a kid trying to make it to the Junior World Boxing Championships.

Ambling over to the water fountain near the group training classrooms, he watched as Tori finished up a spin class. Between clients and classes, she’d been surrounded by people all morning, and he hadn’t been able to find a moment to catch her alone. A great instructor — tough and likable — she was in demand. Blond hair pulled into a high ponytail, Tori basically sparkled with exertion and excitement.

Chris grinned at her music selection as he caught the end of the same AC/DC track he had on his early morning workout playlist.

The class began filtering out of the room, and he hung around until the only person left was Tori.

“Good turnout for a Monday morning class.”

He stayed in the doorway, giving her space. She continued working around the room, cleaning bikes, turning off the stereo equipment, and ignoring his presence. She only met his gaze when she had finished and walked toward him. Although taller than the average girl, she still had to tip her chin up to look him in the eye.

“Excuse me.”

Chris didn’t budge. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest and stepped forward, causing her to gasp as she backed away. She narrowed her eyes, clearly waiting for an explanation for being cornered. Searching for any reason to be there other than the burning desire to make sure she was okay, he settled on a plan — the first thing that came to mind.

“We need to talk.” Chris closed the door behind them.

“No, we don’t.” Tori stepped around him, but he reached out and grabbed her elbow gently — halting her instantly. His fingers tingled at the touch of her soft and warm skin, but the contact was gone too quickly as she ripped her arm from his grasp.

“Don’t touch me,” she whispered.

Chris held his hands up in surrender. “Fine, but we’re having this conversation.” Christ, he was starting to believe he really did have something to talk with her about other than her nearly dying.

“What do you want, Chris?”

She said his name like it was painful to do so. He remembered a time when his name rolled off her tongue in a way that made his whole body come alive.

“Did you tell anyone about Saturday night?” He hated that he had been reduced to playing it out this way. While he wasn’t keen on everyone knowing he was boxing again, he’d had no intention of asking her to keep his secret until just now.

Tori smiled for the first time since he had entered the room. “Which part? The part where I saw you boxing at Benny’s or the part where you were all over some old lady?”

Chris gritted his teeth. She knew how to push his buttons. Fine. He could play this game. They’d been playing it for years.

“Jealous, honey?” Chris reached out, grasped her hand, and rubbed his thumb over her long, lean fingers.

She let his hand linger there a moment before pulling away. “I said don’t touch me.”

“It’s a yes or no question, Tori. Did you tell anyone or not?”

She pulled her shoulders back. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me,” she said icily, pushing past him and leaving him alone with only the longing burn of her skin etched on his fingertips.

“Thanks for letting me stay here.” Tori yelled out from Claire’s spare bedroom as she threw her bag on the bed. Pulling her hair from its ponytail and letting it fall down past her shoulders, she walked back out to the living room where Claire was pouring wine into two goblets.

Thankful for a warm bed and a friend who knew just what she needed, Tori’s mind drifted to the many disasters of the day. None stung as badly as Autumn being kept from therapy.

Claire handed her a glass as Tori sank into the couch, exhausted. She had been keeping herself busy all day trying to figure out what to do about Autumn, worrying about being homeless, and getting Chris and his mocking touch out of her head. She refused to let him get under her skin again.

Claire sat down next to her on the couch. “Any word on your apartment?”

“Jake said my place wasn’t impacted, but the other side of the building has some structural damage, so they aren’t letting anyone back in until all the repairs are done.”

“You’re welcome to stay here as long as you want.” Claire smiled. “It’ll be just like the old days when we lived in that ancient house downtown.”

Tori wrinkled her nose. “The house with the roaches!”

“We’ve come a long way, my friend.” Claire raised her glass and clinked it against Tori’s. “Where’s Jake staying?” she asked, staring down at her wine.

It was no secret there was something between Claire and Jake, but so far neither one of them had been forthcoming with their feelings. Tori felt bad she hadn’t bothered to check that Jake had a place to stay. He wouldn’t be able to get in his apartment either, and as far as she knew, he didn’t have any family in Sweetbriar.

“I’m not sure. Should I call and invite him to stay here?” Tori asked sweetly and batted her eyelashes at her friend who was retreating to the kitchen.

“Ha, ha, very funny,” Claire said, picking up and throwing a piece of salt-water taffy at Tori.

Claire brought several bags of candy and mini bottles of various liquors over to the couch with a large, red, heart-shaped piñata.

“Help me fill this for the party tomorrow.” She handed Tori a bag of goodies.

“This is for Ryan and Elle’s party?” Tori eyed the piñata.

Claire held it up high, admiring it. “Yeah, isn’t it great? I’m posting it all on the blog.”

Claire was a blogger, and they often benefited from her extravagant party ideas that she turned into a reality and posted on her blog.

Tori nodded, impressed with her friend’s creativity. “That’s so cool. You’re really good at this.”

“Thanks. I’m excited to see his new house. Elle says it’s beautiful.”

Ryan’s home overlooking Sweetbriar Lake was breathtaking. He and Chris had both built houses up on a remote stretch of land that provided a great view of the lake below. Chris rented his place out and lived in one of his other properties in town, but Ryan had moved in only a month ago. Ryan was settling down and showing all the signs of being a well-kept man. Ever since he had met Elle last year, they’d become inseparable. Tori knew it wouldn’t be long before Elle moved in, and they started talking about marriage.

“Have you heard from Luke?” Claire asked as they filled the large heart.

“Funny, I haven’t thought about him all day,” she admitted. “No. I don’t imagine I will either. He knew as well as I did that it wasn’t working anymore,” she said, shrugging. “It’s been a sinking ship since Ryan made me a partner at Fit Club. I want to be here, and Luke wants to be in Carroll.”

“Well, there will be plenty of guys to choose from tomorrow at the party. I heard Chris’ brother, Charlie, is coming, too.”

“Really? I wonder why he’s in town.”

Claire held up the filled piñata and admired it with a grin. “Rumor has it he’s thinking of moving back from Chicago.”

“Look out, ladies!”

Exchanging knowing looks, they both grinned, and then their laughter filled the room as Tori’s troubles eased.

“Thanks for letting me stay here. I really appreciate it.” Jake turned awkwardly, the large box in his arms threatening to spill over. “Are you sure it’s no imposition? Ryan offered to let me stay with him.”

“Hmpf.” Chris smiled. “Wouldn’t that be fun, shacking up with the two lovebirds?”

“Better than being homeless.”

“It’s no problem. It’s high time for me to move into the house out over the lake.” Chris nodded his head to the left. “Bedroom is that way.”

Following behind with another large box, Chris glanced around the place, taking in the gleam of the hardwood floors and the custom built-ins with a swell of pride. He’d touched every beam in this house after taking it down to the studs. The time he’d spent on renovating the home had been almost therapeutic. Taking something as big as a house down to the bare bones and rebuilding it into something spectacular had given him hope. He couldn’t change the past, but perhaps he could be stripped down and made whole again.

“The place looks great.” Jake surveyed the room after flipping the light switch on with an elbow. “I can’t wait to get started on my house out there. It feels like I’ve been waiting forever for the divorce to be finalized so I could move on with my life.”

“Sorry, man. Getting any closer to a settlement?”

“I dunno. It’s a lot of back and forth.”

“Well, you let me know the minute you want to break ground. My guys will get started as soon as you say the word.”

The three of them, Jake, Chris, and Ryan had bought land overlooking Sweetbriar Lake with the dream that they’d all live close and raise future families near each other. Ryan was the only one there now. Jake’s house was set to break ground as soon as his divorce was finalized, and Chris had been renting his home out during the summer months and staying in whatever house he happened to be fixing up at the time. Soon all three of them would be lakeside just like they’d planned.

“Is Tori staying at Ryan’s house?” Chris asked hesitantly. He’d wanted to ask her today, but she hadn’t seemed to be in any mood to chat with him.

“No, she said she was staying with Claire.”

Chris had been by the apartment complex with his guys earlier in the day to survey the damage and make plans for the repairs. When he had seen how bad the place looked, he had wanted to pack up all of Tori’s things and move her into his house but knew she would never dream of letting him help her. Besides, she had Luke, and he didn’t want to step on his toes, even if he did think the guy was useless.

Chris looked around the house, making sure everything was good to go. “Charlie is headed into town tomorrow, so I’m going to check my rental downtown and get it ready for him. I’ll be at the lake house if you need me.”

Jake extended a hand to Chris. “You’ve done more than enough already. See you tomorrow.” He extended a hand and slapped Chris on the back.

Chris ran by the downtown house, turned up the heat in the old home, and grabbed the few items he’d left in the closet for when he stayed there. He didn’t think he’d be coming back. Or that was the plan if he could convince Charlie to stay in Sweetbriar.

He jumped back in his truck and started up the winding, hilly road that led to his house, tapping on the steering wheel with excited energy. He was going home. It wasn’t under the circumstances he’d hoped — no wife and kids, or plans for either — but it was time to move forward and start living the life he’d always imagined for himself. Or as close to that as possible without the woman he’d hoped he’d be sharing it with.