Chapter 8

 

 

It took some effort, but Cat dragged herself from the bathtub. Besides Tony himself, the thing she liked most about living at his house was the bathtub. The bathroom in her apartment contained the smallest tub ever created. The one here, however, was designed for long relaxing bubble baths. In the week and a half since she’d moved in, she’d used it as much as she could, including this afternoon when she returned from the gym to find Tony still not back from the football game.

Cat grabbed the towel hanging on the back of the bathroom door and wrapped it around herself before switching off the radio. Mom and Pop were expecting them for dinner in a few hours. When her mom first called and invited them, her instinct had been to say no. For some reason, she doubted Tony regularly went to family dinners with the women he dated. Regardless, she’d told Mom she’d check with Tony and get back to her, fully expecting to tell her the next day they couldn’t make it.

Tony surprised her. He hadn’t so much as flinched before agreeing to go. Kelsey insisted that showed how committed he was to their relationship. Cat hadn’t agreed or disagreed with her, because, honestly, she didn’t know what to think. He didn’t behave like a guy prepared to walk away any time soon, and if not for knowing his reputation so well, she would’ve assumed she was a permanent part of his life.

Unfortunately, she did know his reputation, so rather than daydream about diamond rings and wedding dresses, she enjoyed each day and night they spent together.

Much cooler air seeped into the bathroom when she opened the door and goose bumps formed on her arms.

“I was about to come in and see if you needed rescuing, beautiful.” Tony reclined on the bed when she walked into the bedroom.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were home. How did the game go?” She couldn’t remember if he’d told her who they were playing or not that morning.

“Close one. We won by a field goal,” he said as he swung his legs off the bed. His eyes roamed down her body and her nipples hardened as thoughts of how he’d woken her up that morning formed.

“It’s still a win.”

He closed the gap between them, and her heart rate spiked.

“True.” He kissed the side of her neck and then her lips. “What time is your mom expecting us?” He whispered the words against her ear.

“Between five and five-thirty.”

Tony smiled and the dimple she loved so much appeared in his cheek. “That’s not a lot of time.” He pulled open the towel wrapped around her and once again gave her a thorough once-over. “I’ve been thinking about you since I left this morning.”

His gaze left every inch of her skin burning.

“And how much I wanted to touch you again.”

Cat swallowed as his hand cupped her breast. “I’ve missed you, too.”

He bent his head toward her other breast. “Let’s see how much.” His breath caressed her nipple and sent instant longing to the rest of her body.

Without a good come back, she buried her fingers in his hair as his mouth took possession of her nipple.

He teased one breast with his fingers while his lips and tongue lavished attention on the other. Her hands fell to his shoulders and pulled at his T-shirt.

“You’re not playing fairly,” she said, unable to keep the catch from her voice.

Tony released her nipple and met her eyes. “Why would I want to do that?” The hand that had been teasing one breast slipped between her legs and he fondled her. “I find it so much more fun this way.”

Her stomach muscles contracted as he continued his teasing. When he kissed her breast as he touched her, her knees shook. Then, just like that, he pulled his hand away.

Cat opened her mouth to protest, but Tony picked her up before she could.

“Don’t worry, beautiful.” He stretched her out on the bed. He didn’t say anything else before he kissed her, his tongue slipping into her mouth the way his fingers had slipped into her a moment ago. At the same time, he pulled her arms up and over her head, wrapping her fingers around the spindles of the headboard.

Pulling his mouth away, he looked down at her. “Don’t move.”

Anticipation flowed as he kissed his way down her neck and over her breasts. Already hypersensitive, she almost jumped from the bed when his tongue circled one nipple and then the other. Gradually, he kissed his way down her stomach, and when he passed her navel, the throbbing his teasing created earlier increased. The lower he went, the faster her heart raced.

“You’re so smooth,” he said before kissing her in the very spot that shouted for his attention.

At any moment, she was going to die. Her heart couldn’t possibly beat this fast and survive. If she did die, she’d die happy and with the man she loved.

Cat’s fingers tightened on the spindles of the headboard as her body exploded with pleasure. As she enjoyed the sensations crashing through her body, she felt the mattress shift. Opening her eyes, she watched Tony stand and pull of his clothes. The sight of him naked and gazing down at her sent a thrill of excitement straight to her core, and she started to sit up, intent on touching him.

“I don’t remember saying you could move.” He came down on top of her.

Running her hand over his shoulder and back, she wrapped her legs around his lean waist. “And what if I want to?”

“Trust me, you don’t,” he assured her as he began to show her just why she didn’t want to move.

 

***

 

Cat glanced at the alarm clock. “We really should get up and get ready. It’s almost four.”

“It doesn’t take me that long to get dressed.” Tony continued stroking her arm and she figured she’d be happy to stay right there in his bed for the rest of the day.

“Well, I need to do something with my hair. It’s a mess,” she said as she lifted her head off his chest.

“Five more minutes.” He kissed her. “I like holding you like this.”

Her heart melted a tiny bit more at his statement, and she nodded. She did love it when they cuddled like this. “But then we both need to get ready. I really don’t want to be late tonight.”

True to his word, he held her for five more minutes and then climbed out of bed. “Be right back.”

She watched for a moment as he headed into the bathroom for a quick shower. Once the bathroom door closed behind him, she tossed back the covers. She’d already picked out an outfit for the night, so getting dressed was the easy party. The not so fun part involved her hair. Most days, she combed it right after she washed it. She’d found that doing so made it more manageable. Their afternoon activities had prevented her from doing that, and now it was a tangled mess of almost dry hair.

She slipped on her clothes and then faced the mirror. Dragging her brush through her hair, she considered several different options before pulling it back into a loose bun. Tony preferred when she wore her hair down; he’d mentioned that to her several times. Tonight, considering the state of her hair and the amount of time she had to play with, a bun was her best option.

She heard the shower turn off as she applied her makeup, something she normally wouldn’t do before visiting her parents. However, while much lighter, the bruise on her face was still visible without makeup and she didn’t want Mom and Pop asking questions. Of course Mom might still when she saw Tony. His bruises remained visible as well. Or maybe she wouldn’t. She suspected Pop had questioned Striker already. Perhaps Pop filled Mom in on everything already. Either way, she didn’t want any mention of Tony and Striker’s fight tonight. Nope, she wanted to enjoy the evening. Although she’d spoken to Mom, she hadn’t spent any time with her parents in several weeks, and she was looking forward to doing that tonight.

Thirty minutes later, Tony pulled into her parents’ driveway, and Cat closed her eyes and groaned.

“What’s the matter?”

“That’s Zack’s car.”

She considered the possibilities. Maybe Zack had just stopped by for a quick chat with Pop. He did it all the time. Then again, it was very possible that he’d come by for a visit and then Mom being Mom had invited him to stay for dinner. The thought of having a meal with her ex-boyfriend seated across the table from her current boyfriend gave her indigestion even though she hadn’t eaten anything yet.

What were the chances that someone inside hadn’t noticed them yet? Could they leave and go back to Tony’s. She could call her mom and tell her she wasn’t feeling well. She hated lying like that, but she hated the idea of spending several hours with her parents and Zack even more.

“You didn’t say he’d be here.”

“I didn’t know, Tony. No one has opened the door yet; let’s go home and I’ll call Mom. I’ll tell her I’m not feeling well.” At the moment, she didn’t feel well, so it wouldn’t really be a lie.

She heard the car pull in behind them even before Tony answered.

“Too late. Striker just pulled in behind us.”

Talk about a pleasant evening going down the drain. Zack’s presences might be a coincidence, but not her brother’s. “Mom didn’t tell me he’d be here either.” But she should’ve.

Tony remained silent as they walked into the house, Striker right behind them. Cat didn’t mind. At least it meant Striker and Tony weren’t arguing. She just hoped it stayed that way for the next few hours.

She followed the sound of voices through the house and out onto the large screened porch attached to the back of the house.

“You’re all here.” Her mom stood and came around to give Cat a hug.

Outside on the patio, Pop stood in front of the grill, but he turned and waved in their direction.

“Tony, it’s so good to see you again.” Her mom hugged Tony before she turned and hugged Striker as well.

While her mom engaged Tony in conversation, Cat shot a look over at Zack. So far, he remained silent, and from all appearances, it looked as though he didn’t intend to leave any time soon.

“Why doesn’t everyone have a seat? I need to grab a few more things from the kitchen,” her mom said as she started toward the door.

Leaving the three men all together might not be the best of ideas, however, she had some questions for Mom that couldn’t be asked on the porch. “I’ll help you.”

The entire kitchen smelled like fall. She didn’t know how else to describe it. The scent of cinnamon and nutmeg mixed with apples and pumpkin made Cat’s stomach rumble.

“Do you mind grabbing the salad and the tea from the refrigerator?” Mom asked as she took a pumpkin pie from the oven and placed it on the counter next to what looked like an apple pie.

Cat didn’t move from her spot near the table. “Mom, you never said Zack and Striker were going to be here tonight. Didn’t Pop tell you Tony and Striker aren’t getting along?”

“Of course. That’s why I invited your brother too. They’re friends and your brother needs to come to terms with the fact you’re with Tony. I thought this was a good way for him to do that.”

Cat rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine whatever. But what is Zack doing here?” Why couldn’t Mom mind her own business? One dinner wasn’t going to fix the problem between Tony and Striker.

“He stopped by to talk to your father, and I sort of asked him to stay,” her mom explained, sounding a little embarrassed. “I’m still so used to him being around, that I didn’t think. Once I asked him, I couldn’t tell him to leave.”

Well, at least that had been an accident.

“Don’t worry, everything will be fine. You’ll see.” Her mom picked up the platter of cheese and crackers and once again opened the door onto the porch.

Please let her be right. Cat grabbed the salad as well as the pitcher of iced tea from the refrigerator and carried everything back to the screened porch.

Smoke from the grill drifted inside. Pop didn’t know the difference between a saucepan and a skillet in the kitchen, but give the man a grill and wow. If nothing else, at least she’d get a delicious meal tonight. Assuming they made it that far.

For the last ten minutes, Striker and Zack had talked about football while they both sent Tony dirty looks. So far, Tony had ignored them both and kept up a steady conversation with Mom. While Tony might be able to ignore Zack and Striker’s behavior, she couldn’t, but other than calling both men on it, there remained little she could do about it. Hopefully, when Pop joined them Zack and Striker would get their heads out of their butts and act like adults rather than immature eight-year-olds.

“Zack told me you’re up for a promotion,” Striker said, ending his discussion of which NFL team had the best defense that year.

Cat looked at Zack before she could stop herself.

“Sorry, I figured he already knew about it.”

If her brother hadn’t been acting like such a jerk, he would’ve known about it. “It’s just an interview and there are several candidates.”

“You’ll do great. And when you get the job, I’ll be the first to visit you in California,” Striker said with extra enthusiasm.

Next to her, Tony paused in mid-sentence, and she felt his gaze on her.

“That’s a big if, Striker, so don’t start planning any vacations yet.”

“Where are you heading?” Pop asked as he walked inside the screened porch, carrying two platters of food.

“California when Cat gets that promotion,” Striker answered, smiling in her direction.

Looking away from her brother, she stabbed a piece of chicken and added it to her plate. Just as she suspected, the chicken Pop grilled was to die for. Going by the compliments everyone gave Pop, she assumed the same was true about the steaks. With the compliments out of the way though, the men including, Tony this time, went back to discussing football and, specifically, the match up for that Sunday’s games. While Cat would’ve rather discussed something else, it did at least mean that no one was arguing, and she hadn’t seen Striker give Tony a dirty look since Pop joined them. Unfortunately, she had caught Zack staring at her numerous times, but at least he’d kept whatever thoughts he had to himself.

If they managed to get through the rest of dinner that way, she’d consider the evening a success.

Cat poured herself more iced tea and then reached for her mom’s glass. “Do you want more?”

“Please,” she answered, patting Cat’s hand. Then she leaned closer. “You’re worrying about nothing. Everything is going fine.”

She nodded. She’d stop worrying once they were back in Tony’s car headed for his house.

“Cat, did you notice the holiday party is being held at The Harbor House this year?” Zack asked, speaking directly to her for the first time in a while.

“I was surprised when I read that in the email.” She’d opened the email and then dismissed it. The party was still a few weeks away.

“We should go together. We always do. It’ll be fun.”

Everyone at the table stopped eating.

“I’m––”

“She’s already asked me to go,” Tony said. “Looks like you’ll need to find someone else.”

She heard the anger in Tony’s voice. Reaching over, she squeezed his hand, which drew the attention of both Zack and Striker.

“And before you ask, she’ll be joining me for Thanksgiving.”

Cat didn’t correct Tony. She’d thought Zack had gotten the message that she wasn’t interested, but judging by his behavior today, he hadn’t. Maybe Tony’s interference tonight would do the trick.

Zack cleared his throat before giving her a look she couldn’t decipher and starting up a new conversation with her father.

 

He’d had enough. Since the moment they’d arrived, he’d either been getting dirty looks from Striker and Zack or he’d caught Zack staring at Cat as if he were prepared to jump her right there at the table. If that hadn’t been bad enough, the guy had known more about what was going on in her life than he did. Tony didn’t care if they did work together. He shouldn’t have learned that Cat might be moving across the country from her ex-boyfriend. She should’ve told him when she’d mentioned the interview. The same was true for the holiday party. He still couldn’t believe Zack had asked Cat to go with him. The guy knew they were together. Everyone in town knew at this point. Even if he hadn’t known before dinner tonight, he knew when he asked Cat to the party.

Tony had done some crazy things in the past, but he’d never asked out another guy’s girlfriend.

Mrs. Striker set two pies down on the table along with a container of vanilla ice cream. Most days, the sight would have his mouth watering. Tonight, the sight only meant they needed to stick around longer. He had a lot of faults, but he tried not to be rude.

“Those look and smell amazing, Mrs. Striker,” Tony said.

“I’m glad. Cat mentioned apple pie is one of your favorites.”

The little door he’d stuffed his feelings for Cat behind slipped open a little more.

“I missed your pumpkin pie this year. You always used to bring one by our apartment right before Halloween,” Zack said as he cut into the pumpkin pie on the table. “Cat used to eat more than half of it herself. Last year, I think you brought by two, didn’t you?”

Was Zack trying to piss him off or was the guy just stupid?

Mrs. Striker met Tony’s eyes as she handed him a slice of apple pie. “I don’t remember, but you can have some of this one to take home. I made another for Cat to take with her tonight. Tony, I made another apple pie for you too.”

That answered that question. He’d wondered if Mrs. Striker intentionally invited Zack tonight or not. She’d never struck him as a mean woman, but Cat had mentioned her parents hoped she got back together with Zack. Putting Cat and Zack in the same room together could’ve been an attempt at getting that to happen. Someone who made an extra apple pie for him wasn’t manipulative enough to invite her daughter over for dinner just to get her around an ex-boyfriend.

“What, nothing for me?” Striker asked.

“I would never forget you. I baked an apple crisp for you. It’s in the kitchen.”

“You can share it with Ella. She loves apple crisp.” Cat’s tone contained a sarcastic bite.

“It’s too bad she couldn’t join us tonight. I haven’t spoken to Ella since the summer,” Mrs. Striker said.

Tony saw Ella and Striker together at Maureen O’Brien’s wedding, but he’d assumed it was a one-time date. He’d never heard Striker mention Ella.

“She had other plans tonight.” Striker spoke to his pie rather than the other people around the table.

Did the guy suffer from a guilty conscience? While he complained who is sister dated, he fooled around with one of Cat’s closest friends. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

“Hopefully, she’ll be able to come for Thanksgiving.” Mrs. Striker said, finally cutting herself a piece of pie. “I expect to see you two as well that day.” She pointed her fork in his and Cat’s direction.

Not once since Isabella had he taken someone to his parents’ house for Thanksgiving. He’d not decided what he planned to do about it this year, even though it wasn’t far off. Then Zack opened his big trap and asked Cat to the company holiday party. His heart made the decision for him before he could think about the matter anymore. Oddly, the idea of sitting down with most of his family and Cat pleased him.

“We’ll make sure we get here too that day.”

Mrs. Striker’s apple pie turned out to be one of the best he’d ever tasted. The only person who made a better pie was Sean’s mom. Tony ate two large slices of pie and was grateful she’d baked him another to take with him.

Anxious to get home, he backed out of the driveway as Cat buckled her seatbelt. While he’d enjoyed spending time with Cat’s parents, he couldn’t say the same about the other people there. Although he didn’t like it, he understood Striker’s behavior. Zack on the other hand, he refused to give any leeway too. The guy had left Cat, not the other way around.

Zack’s insistence on getting back into Cat’s life wasn’t Tony’s only complaint with the guy. Tonight had been the first time he’d ever spent any real time around the guy, and he found that he simply didn’t like him. He didn’t understand how Cat stayed with him for so long. Zack seemed like a self-absorbed jerk, not at all the type of guy she belonged with.

And who does she belong with? Now that was one question he didn’t have an answer too. She deserved someone whose plans involved more than just a few months of sex. Cat needed someone who was just the opposite of him. Even knowing this, he didn’t plan on letting her go anytime soon.

I might not have much of a choice. Tony gritted his teeth as he thought of how Zack and Striker knew about her possible move and he hadn’t. She should have told him, even if it was only a possibility.

“Tonight was pretty painful, wasn’t it?” Cat asked as he turned the corner. “I’m sorry. I would’ve declined if I knew Mom invited Striker too.”

“Don’t worry about it. We both survived.” He pulled into his driveway and waited for the garage door to open.

“Yeah, I guess.”

He heard the uncertainty in Cat’s voice and assumed it had something to do with his own annoyed tone. He couldn’t help it. The more he thought about the evening, the more agitated he got. Why hadn’t Cat mentioned the party to him? Had she planned on going solo?

“Just so you know, she didn’t intend to invite Zack. Mom’s used to him being around, and it slipped out when he stopped by today.”

“I’m sure it did.” The words came out before he had a chance to consider them. With them out there though, he couldn’t take them back even if he wanted to.

Cat opened the door and entered the house in silence, and when she turned to look at him, her frown told him everything he needed to know. “Out with it. You’re mad about something, so just tell me.” She leaned against the counter and waited. “Did my brother say something to you while I helped Mom?”

“Your brother didn’t say anything, Cat.” He tossed his coat on the back of a chair.

“That’s a first,” she said with a little laugh. “Then what’s the problem?”

He raked a hand through his hair, not sure who he was more annoyed with at the moment, Cat or himself.

“Why didn’t you tell me about moving to California?”

“You’re mad about that?” Cat pushed off the counter and came toward him. “I didn’t mention it because it’s unlikely I’ll get the position. I probably won’t even make it past the first round of interviews.”

Tony didn’t share Cat’s opinion. In his opinion, they wouldn’t waste their time interviewing her if she wasn’t qualified. However, it sounded like she believed what she said. “You still should’ve told me.”

“Next time, I will.” She put her arms around him. “Is that the only thing wrong?”

Complaining about the things she didn’t tell him made him feel like a little kid whining because his parents forgot to tell him they planned to visit his great aunt Dorothy and he’d have to skip his best friend’s birthday party, which was something that had happened to him more than once. Still, the fact that Cat didn’t share information annoyed him.

“So when is the holiday party?”

“In two weeks, but we really don’t have to go. I haven’t bothered to RSVP yet.”

“Zack said you always go, so we’ll go.”

Cat took a step back and looked at him. “You’re mad because I didn’t invite you. Admit it.” She waited a few seconds for an answer, but when he remained silent, she shook her head. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to go this year. Once I made up my mind, I would’ve asked you.”

She didn’t quite meet his eyes when she spoke, which made Tony wonder if she was telling the complete truth.

“Whatever you want to do is fine with me.” As long as it doesn’t involve you going with— Tony forced his thoughts to stop. They weren’t married or engaged. Cat could move on whenever she wanted, just like him. If tomorrow she woke and decided she wanted Zack back in her life, then that was fine. He had no hold on her. The same held true for him. Who knew, maybe next week he would meet someone at work and decide he was ready for a change. He needed to remember that.