Cass stayed to explain the situation to the other deputy on duty, and urged Tori to go home with Cole. It wasn’t the first time Brooks had ruined her day, but she swore it would be the last.
“You really don’t have to take me,” Tori told Cole as they reached his car in the lot behind the bar. The street had filled, most of the night crowd heading in for pizza or a drink. “I can call Grams.”
Cole opened the door for her, eyes full of questions she was grateful he wasn’t asking. “Please get in the car. If you want to go straight home, I can drop you off before I get Morgan.”
“No. It’s just a few blocks away.”
He shut the door and she buckled, feeling like a little kid. Like he’d chided her somehow. Because he was being patient. Because he was being understanding. He’d almost gotten into a fight in there because of her and now Cass was picking up the pieces. On her night off.
Cole got in the driver’s seat, shoved the keys in the ignition, and sighed. He turned to her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.”
He frowned, reaching out to brush her arm. “He hurt you.”
“Knocked the wind out of me is all.”
“You can talk to me, you know.”
Her heart almost melted at the compassion she saw in his eyes. She gripped his hand. “I know. But this isn’t your problem.”
His jaw clenched, fingers tightening on hers. He shook his head. “Sorry, I’m a human being. I care if you’re hurting or if some asshole puts his hands on you.”
Tori’s lips quirked. “He is an asshole.”
Cole cupped his hand behind her neck and pulled her close, breath tickling her lips. His mouth brushed hers once, twice, and she let herself sink into the kiss. Her eyes closed on a sigh, body melting against his. His heart beat fast against her palm, not as calm as he appeared on the outside.
Someone outside the car whistled, and then shouted, “Get a room!”
He tipped his forehead against hers with a smile. “You think the deputy will come out here and fine us if he sees what we’re doing?”
“No indecent exposure. I think we’re okay.”
“Ah…does that mean I can look forward to indecent exposure in the future?”
A flare of heat raced through her body. “That was smooth,” she murmured.
He chuckled softly and started the car. “Glad you thought so. In my head, it sounded more like begging.”
She joined in his laughter, feeling some of the tension drain from her shoulders. She couldn’t blame Cole for the thought. Right now she wanted to lose herself in his kiss. His touch. She wanted his body pressed against hers. No thinking, just feeling. Hands, bodies, mouths.
Her throat dried. Cole reached out to curl his fingers around hers.
And then her happy bubble burst at his next question.
“Did you used to date?”
She blinked, looked over. “What?”
He stopped for a few pedestrians. “You and that guy back there. Is that why he was harassing you?”
“Brooks?” She gave a short laugh. “Hell no. He keeps asking me out. Last week I told him no. Bluntly, and in front of a few people because he wouldn’t leave me alone at work. I guess he didn’t like it.”
Cole kept his eyes on the road, but squeezed her hand. “You think he spray painted your driveway?”
“I don’t…” She shifted in her seat. “I don’t know. I thought maybe it was him since he seemed angry.”
“Angry.”
“No. I mean—well, at the time, he was upset.” And in her vision as well. He’d been angry just like tonight. But angry enough to do anything more than harass her? Have some fun with spray paint?
No, that wasn’t Brooks.
“He got his ego bruised. He’ll get over it.”
Cole pulled in front of the community center and glanced over. “Having his ego bruised doesn’t mean he should be cornering you in a dark hallway. Forcing himself on you.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
His eyes flashed. “Looked like that to me. I’ll be right back.”
She opened her mouth to answer, but he was out of the car before she could say anything. She huffed out a breath. Men. What? Did he think she couldn’t handle herself?
She almost pulled out her phone and called Grams. Grams would know what to do. Or at least talk rationally. Cole barely knew her. He was…what? Not her boyfriend. Not even her lover.
But he cared. And she couldn’t discount that. If that was how he operated, she should count herself lucky, shouldn’t she?
She smiled when she saw Morgan racing to the car with Cole calling after her not to go in the street. Morgan threw open the back door and hopped in her booster seat.
“Tori, I danced! And Mandy and I are doing a du—a du…”
“A duet?”
“Yeah!” She sat back when Cole leaned in to buckle her. “And Mandy bumped into me and we both fell down and it was soooo funny!”
She shared a smile with Cole, and all was right with the world for a moment. Morgan chatted the entire way home, but Cole kept quiet, worry etched on his features. It was nearly dark when they pulled up to Cole’s house.
Tori’s wind chimes tinkled on her porch when she stepped out. Morgan was right on her heels.
“You look so pretty!” Morgan leaned against Tori, blinking up at Cole. “Daddy, did you see Tori’s skirt?”
He nodded, eyes dipping down to her legs and back up. “I saw.”
Warmth slithered into her cheeks.
“And your shoes!” Morgan practically collapsed on her belly on the sidewalk to get a closer look at Tori’s heels. “Can I try them on?”
“Morgan.” Cole reached for her. “It’s been a long day. We should get you to bed.” He passed her the keys. “Why don’t you head in and pick out your pajamas?”
“But I want to stay out here with you.”
Tori gave her a quick hug. “I’ll see you soon. Maybe your daddy will let you come over and help me weed the garden.”
“Weed it? Why would you want weeds in your garden?”
She laughed. “I mean you get to dig out the weeds. Get dirty in the dirt.”
“Oooohhh! Yes, Daddy, please! Let’s weed.”
“Soon.” He set his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Morgan darted to the porch and fumbled with the keys a minute before she got the door open.
“She likes to do it herself,” Cole explained, his hands already reaching out for hers. “Be careful, okay?”
“Careful of what?”
Cole angled his head, taking on that patient expression he used with Morgan all the time. “Brooks.”
She laughed. “Cole. It’s fine. He’s…I’m not worried.”
He stepped back. “Sure. Okay. Well, it’s late.”
Which was something a parent would say, sure. But also something someone would say when they didn’t know what else to say. When they were trying to end the conversation because they were done with it.
Guilt reached up and bit her. Tori squeezed Cole’s hand. “I’m sorry.”
“What for? None of this was your fault.”
“Not for tonight. For having a hard time opening up.”
He leaned in and brushed his lips across hers in a kiss that wasn’t nearly enough for what she wanted. “I thought I’d have a hard time opening up, too. But not with you.” He flashed a quick smile. “I guess you know where to find me when you’re ready.”
And with that, he turned back to the house, leaving her standing on the sidewalk wondering how she’d managed to screw up this relationship before it even started.
#
With Mandy and Miss Amy at the community center, he found Morgan more than willing to spend time there for several hours a day. The fee was even more reasonable, and he liked the set up better than daycare.
Cole spent most of the week at home in his office creating, which suited him fine. By the time he’d done a few projects and just started to miss the exercise and sunshine, it was time to get Morgan.
Today, with the sky clouding over, he stopped outside the community center and saw Natalie walking with a friend he’d seen around town. Bree?
Shit. Couldn’t avoid them now, they’d already seen him. So he put on a polite smile.
“Afternoon.” That sounded small town enough for him.
Bree grinned. Natalie copied his polite smile. “Picking up your daughter?”
“Yep. She’d live here if I let her.”
Natalie’s smile grew a little friendlier. “Lets you get a lot of work done, though, right? You work at home, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen your car out there most days. Keeping busy.”
He nodded, curious why it mattered. Of course, Mrs. Chutney seemed to care what he was or wasn’t doing at home most days as well. She’d stop by or stop him in the street almost every day to make sure there weren’t any problems. To make sure when he left that someone hadn’t stolen his car. To make sure the noise in his backyard was his lawn mower and not a burglar.
“Don’t forget,” Natalie told him. “Neighborhood picnic this weekend. Barbecue and potato salad and apple pie.”
“Sounds good.”
Which meant he’d just committed to going. Probably better show his face in the community a little more often just to keep the peace.
He nodded as they started down the sidewalk again then walked into the community center and had to pry Morgan from the dress-up box to get her to go.
“I don’t want to go home and work!”
He stopped outside the car. “I don’t want to go home and work either.”
“Let’s go see Tori and Grams! I want to play in the zoo. We should—”
“Hold on.” He rubbed a hand over his eyes. “How do you even have energy after spending four hours dancing and dressing up?”
“Ice cream!”
He let out a reluctant chuckle. “You mean Miss Amy gave you ice cream?”
Morgan made a face. “No, she made us eat apples. Said they’re good for more energy.”
“I guess it worked.”
She smiled and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go to the tea shop.”
He couldn’t say no. He’d been telling her no all week, trying to avoid getting distracted by Tori. She’d been polite every time she saw them, but hadn’t made any effort to come visit. To help him understand more about her life.
He wasn’t asking for much. But he needed background. He needed communication. Another thing his mother would be proud of. A relationship built on a better foundation than just attraction. Though that part was killing him, too.
Every time he saw her out on her patio in her shorts, watering the flowers or the lawn, his mouth dried. Every time she leaned up just high enough for her shirt to rise and expose her belly, he had to head back inside and distract himself with work. Or Morgan. Anything to get his mind off of Tori.
The tea shop was busy, patrons inside shopping or enjoying scones. He waved at Grams as they walked through to the back patio where there were a few open tables, the umbrellas tucked away with the absence of the sun.
Tori stood at the farthest table, her laughter hitting him right in the gut. Damn it. Coming here hadn’t been a good idea after all. She wore a skirt today, long legs toned and tan with the summer sun. When she turned, long earrings brushed her jawbone, and he gripped Morgan’s shoulder.
“It’s kind of busy. We should—”
“Tori!” Morgan raced away, tackling Tori’s legs and making her laugh again. “We came!”
Tori’s eyes met his. She smiled.
Shit. He couldn’t leave now. And what the hell was wrong with him anyway? Since when did he need more in his relationships? Right. Since Deirdre had screwed him over. Since he’d followed that attraction instead of common sense and had a physical relationship with her first instead of establishing something more solid.
Tori joined them at an empty table, her smile still bright enough to distract him. “I’m glad you’re here. The zoo animals have been getting lonely.”
Morgan laughed. “They’re not real.”
“You sure? Because sometimes when I come in the morning, they’re not in the same place they were last night.”
Morgan’s mouth dropped open and she looked over at the pig. “Really?”
Tori laughed. “Maybe they have parties at night when we’re not here. Or go looking for food.”
“Or go swimming in the creek!” Morgan’s eyes whipped to his, enough wonder on her face, he had to grin. “We should sneak here at night, when it’s dark, and watch them.”
“Sounds like an adventure.”
Morgan nodded before asking to go play on the animals. Once she was gone, Tori cocked her hip against the table. “Come for more scones?”
“Can’t stay away.”
Her smile faded a little at his words. “I understand though, if you feel like you’ve needed to stay away.”
“It’s not that,” he began, though it was exactly that. He needed space. Or she did. Or the whole situation did.
“I thought maybe you and Morgan could come over tomorrow afternoon. We could weed the garden like I promised her, and then have dinner.” She shrugged. “Then we could talk a little.”
He let the words sink in. She was trying to open up. In her own way.
“I think that’s a good idea.”
“Good. I’ll get you those scones.”
“And iced tea for Morgan.”
She smiled. “Coming right up.”
#
When her shift was over and the tea shop closed, customers left for home or to start dinner and meet their spouses. Tori had no one to go home to.
It hadn’t bothered her in the past, but she was beginning to wish she’d asked Cole and Morgan over for dinner tonight instead of tomorrow.
“That’s loneliness,” Grams called from the kitchen.
Tori shut the register drawer and sighed, choosing not to respond. It was loneliness. The kind she’d felt after her mom had died. The kind that meant she was alone in a world that didn’t always make sense to her.
She heard Grams’ footsteps, and then felt an arm come around her waist. “Ah, honey…I think it’s about time you do something about this.”
Tori blinked away moisture in her eyes. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Ha. You’re just as bad a liar as your mother was. And my powers of perception were a lot stronger back then.”
Tori snorted. “Powers of perception. Is that what you’re calling them now?”
“At least I’m callin’ them something, sweetheart. You’ve got evidence.”
Tori pulled away and grabbed a rag to wipe the counter. “You’re not making any sense.”
“I’ll put it more bluntly then. You can’t stop something that’s a part of you.”
The visions. Tori shrugged, continuing to wipe the counter in slow circles. “I’ve been doing a pretty good job these last several years.”
“And it’s cost you.” Grams reached out and pulled the rag from her. “Come on. We need to do this over tea. Hannah left us some scones, too, because I knew we were going to need them.”
Tori pressed her hands to her face when Grams shuffled from the room for the provisions. An ambush, that’s what it was. Damn Grams and her powers of perception. Sometimes Tori thought she was lying about losing her Sight because she always seemed to know what was going on in Tori’s mind. But a lot of that came from living together when she was younger. From Grams being a mother to her when her own had died.
For that, and more, Tori understood where Grams was coming from. She’d been off lately, and Grams knew it. When Tori was confused or hurting, Grams felt some of that pain as well.
The same as Tori could feel the creak in her knees that meant Grams’ arthritis was acting up.
“Sit,” Grams said, shuffling back to the shop and gesturing to the closest table. She held a plate of scones with cream and a pitcher of tea in the other. “And bring those glasses with you.”
Tori carried two glasses to the table. “You’re going to be late for your Canasta game.”
“Already told them I’d be along a half hour late.”
“Because you knew we were going to have this talk.”
“Because I knew you’d want to hear what I have to say.”
Tori couldn’t help but smile. “You’re pretty sure about yourself.”
“I usually am when I’m right.”
Despite her tender look, Tori could see the tiredness in her eyes. The worry at the corners of her mouth. “What’s wrong, Grams?”
“I want you to be happy.”
“I am happy.”
“I want you to be happy with someone. I want you to open up. I want so much for you, Victoria.”
“Grams.”
“I heard about Stonewalls,” she said.
Tori folded her hands in her lap instead of eating the scone Grams put on her plate. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“There was a time you’d tell me about these things.”
“No, I’d keep them to myself, but you’d already know and you’d ask me about them.”
“And you’d open up to me. But I can’t see everything like I used to, and I expect you to tell me.” She took a scone for her own plate. “And you don’t. Which makes me think you don’t share these things with Cass either. And maybe not that neighbor of yours.”
“You know his name.”
Grams smiled a little. “Yeah. If I were thirty years younger.”
Tori chuckled. “He’d snatch you up in a heartbeat.”
“I had my love story. It’s time for you to have yours.”
“He told me he was having dreams about me.”
Grams’ gaze flickered with something, but she only nodded. “Sounds about right.”
“He has no idea what that means.”
“Then tell him.”
“Right. He’s barely gotten settled here and I’m going to throw that at him, too? It’s more complicated than that.”
“Sure it is. But opening up to him about anything is a start.”
Tori sighed, ripping a corner off her scone. “What about the visions? You have something to say about those, too.”
“Let them come.”
“What?”
“I know it’s hard. I know it’s what you’ve been trying to avoid. But it’s a part of you. Just like wanting to love and be loved is a part of you. You’ll feel better because of it.”
Tori didn’t know about that, but she had to admit, not fighting so hard against the visions the last several weeks had been easier. Less stressful.
“Give it a try,” Grams suggested. “And eat your scone.”