CHAPTER SEVEN

Chris only felt a little guilty for not mentioning that he would also be staying at the house. He knew if she’d been privy to that little detail, there would have been no getting her here.

An angry crimson flush stained Tori’s face as she hobbled forward, holding onto furniture and heading for the kitchen.

“You’re staying in this house?” she said through clenched teeth.

“It is my house.” Chris continued emptying the grocery bags.

“No way! I’m not staying here with you,” Tori said, waving a hand in front of him as she said the last word, as if you was equivalent to monster or asshole.

A grin tugged at his mouth.

Hell, maybe it was.

“I’m gonna get out of here. Don’t kill each other. And, Tori, think about what I said.” Claire shot her friend a sharp look before slipping out the front door.

Chris waited for the sound of the door clicking shut to respond. “It’s a big house. You won’t even know I’m here.” Though he was certainly going to be aware that she was here. He could feel her presence in every bone of his body.

“Can’t you stay at one of your other houses?” she asked, a hint of desperation in her voice.

Chris fought a smile as he watched her spiral into full-on panic-mode. “You’d kick a man out of his own home?” He couldn’t help taunting her; she made it too easy for him.

Tori placed her hands on her hips and gave him her best I’m-not-kidding face. “I’m serious. This isn’t a good idea.”

He approached cautiously and leveled with her. “Charlie is staying at the house downtown, and Jake is at the other house. Those houses are much smaller, and besides, you smell better.” He leaned in closer, breathing in her sweet scent.

She pulled back as best she could on her hurt foot. “It’s not funny. Why are you acting like this is nothing? If you want to pretend in front of everyone else, that’s fine, but it is a big deal. I despise you. You despise me.”

“Don’t go putting words in my mouth. I find you perfectly delectable.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Is that what this is? Some pathetic excuse to tease me? Didn’t humiliate me enough the first time?”

Chris stared hard at her face. In what world had he humiliated her? He’d been the one to have to walk away knowing he couldn’t be what she wanted or needed at the time. It had nearly killed him. He was ready now, and he wasn’t going to let her push him away so easily.

When he opened his mouth to speak, she held up a hand. “Forget it. It doesn’t matter. Stay away from me.”

He watched her make her way to the stairway, limping on her ankle but holding her head high. Stubborn woman. Chris held himself back from helping her up the long climb. Patience. He had to give her time and space to come around. For the millionth time, he mentally kicked his twenty-six-year-old self for screwing things up the first time.

Tori fumbled her way up the stairs, her ankle throbbing with each step, determined to find a room and shut herself away from Chris. At the top landing stretched a long hallway leading to a set of closed double-doors. Tori could only assume that room was the master.

She entered the first bedroom she came to, situating herself as far away from Chris’ room as possible. The room was decorated in blue and white with a nautical feel. Ah, a private bathroom. That would help her avoid Chris in any awkward situations.

Tori collapsed onto the large bed, tossing the throw pillows onto the floor. The black duffle in the corner of the room reminded her she’d left her own bags downstairs. She slid off the bed, grabbed the black tote, and took it with her to the bathroom. As she had suspected, it had a few of Chris’ things in it. It looked like his gym bag, containing a pair of long basketball shorts and a t-shirt with the arms cut off.

She brought the shirt up to her face, breathed in his scent, and allowed herself this one small weak moment. What Chris didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. Hopefully.

Chris racked the barbell and glanced at the clock. It had been nearly eight hours since Tori had stormed — or rather, haughtily limped — upstairs. If she was determined to hide out, he wasn’t going to go banging down the door. This was his house, and he wasn’t tiptoeing around to spare her feelings. As he skipped up the dark stairway, he peeled off his sweaty shirt and shorts. A hot shower before bed sounded great.

No light peered out from the master bedroom. Tori was either sleeping or pretending to sleep. Either way it was a pretty clear signal she wanted to be left alone. Chris turned the door handle to the room he’d claimed for himself. Inside, he closed the door quietly and stepped out of his boxers. He fumbled for the light switch, cursing as he tripped over a pillow lying on the floor. What the hell?

“Oh my God, what are you doing!?” A female voice screamed as the light flicked on, revealing a shocked Tori in his bed, pulling the covers up to her chin like a child.

Chris froze, momentarily taken aback by the woman in his room. Recovering quickly, he let her stare at his naked form. That’s right, sweetheart. Look all you want. A faint pink crept up her neck and into her cheeks, confirming that she liked what she saw.

Tori covered her head with the blanket, screaming incoherently.

Chris headed to the bathroom, smiling at the sight of her hiding under the covers.

“This is my room. I had planned on taking a shower and going to bed alone, but this is a nice surprise. Care to join me in the shower, or do you want to wait for me here?”

Tori flung the covers off and hobble-stalked after him.

“Shower it is, then?” Chris said as his eyes wandered down to her bare legs and back up to her chest, which was covered with his gym shirt. The cut-off sleeves showed just a hint of side-boob, making it next to impossible to look away.

She crossed her arms as she apparently recognized him openly appreciating her choice of clothing. The weight of her arms pressed against her chest pushed her breasts up higher. He’d never be able to wear that shirt again without picturing her in it.

“So where am I supposed to sleep?” she demanded, not looking at him.

“You’re more than welcome to sleep in my bed, but I made up the master for you. End of the hallway,” he said as he stepped into the spray of warm water.

She either needed to get her ass in the shower now, or he was gonna need a hell of a lot more than water to keep his feelings and something else from springing up.