Home Run (7 page)

“Is there anything I can do to help clean up?” Tori offered.

“The best reason to have one of these things at a hotel like this. We get to walk away when it’s all over. The staff is getting a luggage cart right now for all the gifts and Ed and Darcy just headed upstairs.”

“What about food? Is there any food left?” Christian was looking around his sister trying to see.

His mother walked through the door. “Go make you each a plate and then find somewhere to eat it. There is plenty of food left and they’re just going to throw it all away.”

Christian nodded, took Tori’s hand, and headed into the room as his mother and sister watched.

The guests had eaten much more than his mother must have thought because there wasn’t much left at all.

Tyler walked up next to him with a bottle of champagne and two empty flutes. “Here this one is open so you might as well drink it. They’re charging it to them anyway.”

Christian managed the bottle, glasses, and his plate.

“Oh, and one more thing.” Tyler took a card out of his pocket and placed it into the front pocket of Christian’s tux pants. “Room 430. I’m going to head out again and you shouldn’t be driving anywhere tonight so you take my room.”

Tyler rested his hand on Christian’s shoulder as though it were in lieu of a hug, then he turned and left the room.

Christian turned to see Tori walking toward him with a full plate. “You didn’t eat either?”

“Like I said I need a real meal. What’s with the champagne?”

“Left overs I guess. What else do we have to do tonight but to finish getting drunk and eat free food?”

She laughed and they walked toward a dark corner where there was a smaller table. He figured no one would see them there or worry that they were in the way of cleaning up. They only needed enough time to eat their food and drink their champagne before Tori loaded herself into a cab and drove away from him, again.

It surprised Victoria very much that she was enjoying her evening. Those kisses shared with Scott had almost—
almost—
been erased from her memory.

Christian, though growing drunker with every glass of champagne they toasted with—as she was as well—had become much funnier as they talked and shoved thick slices of ham in their mouths.

“I really suck at this construction stuff,” he said slurring his words and leaning in toward her.

“Nah. I’ll bet you’re great.” She tried to focus on him.

He shook his head. “I don’t understand it. Really. I’m going to have to find something else to do.” He rubbed his hand over his face, which made hers itch. “I’m not good at anything.”

Suddenly she could think of many things he’d been good at. And though she didn’t want to share them with him, nor did she think they’d earn him a living, they did make her body heat rise. She licked her lips trying to restore moisture to her mouth.

Christian picked up the bottle to refill their glasses to only manage a few drops into each of their glasses. “Ooops. I think we drank the whole thing.”

“I see that.” They clinked their glasses together and then she was sure she could hear her cell phone chiming.

The noise caused them to both look up and look around the room. It was empty. His family hadn’t even said goodbye. They’d left them alone to have their little party in the corner. But where had she put her stuff?

They both stood, slowly and wobbly, and followed the sound of her cell phone alerting her that she had a slew of text messages.

By the main door they found a chair with his tux jacket draped over it, her purse, another bottle of champagne, and a fifty dollar bill with a torn piece of paper attached that read
Don’t let her drive. Get a cab. Dad.

She watched Chris tuck it into his pocket as she pulled her cell phone from her purse.

She scrolled through the messages.

“Is everything okay?” Christian asked moving closer to her.

“Uh-huh.” She was able to mumble as she looked at the many messages from Scott.

He wanted her to call him, but she didn’t want to. Doing that would alter the moment. It would take her out of this tiny little fantasy she was having and force her back to reality—where Christian wasn’t a willing participant.

She simply texted back WILL CALL TOMORROW. GOOD NIGHT. Then she slid the phone back into her purse.

She’d nearly had a moment of clarity to ask for the fifty dollars so she could go ask for a cab when Christian was before her, his mouth on hers, his hands pulling her to him, and her spinning head pushing aside all common sense.

One of his hands slid over her bottom and the other skimmed her back until it was at the base of her neck. Fighting the whirling sensation buzzing through her, she wrapped her arms around Christian’s neck and tucked her fingers into his hair.

She wasn’t sure how long they’d kissed—how long his hands had roamed her body—how long she’d gone without breathing properly. All she knew was nothing, sober or drunk, ever made her feel as alive as Christian Keller’s touches and kisses.

“I need to get a cab,” she mumbled against his lips.

“Stay. Stay with me.”

She shook her head as he brushed kisses over her temple. “I can’t go home with you. I…”

He produced a card key from his pocket. “Here.” He pulled back just far enough to look her in the eyes. “One night. Just one night with me. Please.”

That sentence said so many things, did he even know that? He wanted to keep her alone, in a hotel. There wasn’t an invitation to his home. Had he planned this all along? And he’d been very specific with the one night thing. It was just like him. Promise her forever, take it all back, and then want only one night.

His mouth was back on hers and she couldn’t think anymore. No, he couldn’t have one night. He couldn’t have any, but when his hand grazed her back again, she felt defenseless against herself. She wanted him. She loved him. He wanted her for one more night. Couldn’t she give him that?”

“You planned this?” Her voice was weak.

“Tyler gave it to me.”

Okay, she’d give him the spontaneity.

Victoria pulled away from his lips and his body. She picked up her purse and walked out of the banquet hall. In her head she repeated the phrase
you only live once.

She could hear Chris scrambling behind her. As she walked down the hall toward the elevator banks she heard the door push open.

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know,” she called back. “Which room?”

Christian stood there. His feet seemed to melt into the ground. Was she kidding? He’d planned to wallow in his own sorrows by drowning them and then staying in bed all week. He didn’t anticipate this.

Finally his body caught up with his brain and he followed her to the elevator.

She’d already pushed the up button and was waiting for him.

Christian stood next to her, not touching her, but looking up at the numbers on the elevator. “Are you sure about this?”

“Chris,” she said without looking at him. “One thing that differs between you and me is when I commit to something I don’t back away. You asked me to stay—one night.” Finally she turned to him. “I want to stay.”

The elevator door opened.

They walked inside and he pushed the number four. More than once he tried to replay the conversation with Tyler about what room, but he was sure he remembered that part.

Between them nothing was said. They didn’t touch. They didn’t even look at each other. But an energy resonated between them that anyone around them would surely feel.

When the elevator stopped they stepped out and she followed him to the room he was sure Tyler had mentioned. At least he hoped it was the right room. At that moment, the millions of bubbles within that champagne he’d already drunk were swimming in his head. He eyeballed the bottle in his hand. He wondered if either of them would even want to drink it.

Christian pulled the key from his pocket and Tori took it from him. “I’ll get it.”

She slipped the key into the lock and the light turned green. She pushed open the door, took a step in, and turned back to him.

He stood there just looking at her. The most beautiful woman he’d ever known was in his hotel room and was all his for the night. He absolutely didn’t see this coming when he reluctantly put on his tuxedo that morning.

“One night?”

“One night,” he promised again knowing that it was all he could offer.

She nodded slowly then grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled him through the door shutting it behind them, allowing them to forget the world beyond the door.

Chapter Eight

Stillness encompassed the room. A small sliver of light crept through the dark curtains to tell Victoria that morning had broken.

A throbbing in her head reminded her of the night she’d taken part of. The drinking, the kissing, the love making.

Christian’s arm was draped over her and his soft breath was warm on her neck. She closed her eyes and breathed it all in, knowing that she needed to get out of that bed and get home as fast as she could. Nothing good was going to come from what she’d done. He’d asked for only one night and she was foolish enough to give it to him. Now she had to pick up where she’d left off when he approached her on that veranda. She had to pick up the kids and pretend that she hadn’t done the most foolish thing—sleep with Christian Keller.

The thought was only a memory when Christian’s lips pressed to her neck and his body to hers. The sign that parts of him had awakened before the rest of him was pressed into her back. His hands grazed over her naked skin. It was very obvious that one night was going to lead into one more time the next morning.

“I’m glad you stayed,” he whispered in her ear.

“Christian,” she started to speak, but he lifted his finger to her lips and rolled her onto her back.

“I want you to stay in my arms all morning.”

What is he doing, she wondered as he lowered his lips to hers and she accepted him, again. Her fingers pressed into his back. His body moved against hers. Her heart took a tumble and she knew she’d never recover.

When the moment was over, Christian rested heavy against her. His breath unsteady and his heartbeat rapid against her chest.

She had to admit that she had longed to hear the words she hadn’t heard from him in nearly a year. In her heart she loved him and would always love him, but she wanted confirmation that she wasn’t just a fling that had fallen into a trap.

But the moment of opportunity was gone when her cell phone rang. Christian rolled away and she reached for the nightstand and picked up her phone. It was Sonia.

“Tori, are you okay?” Her voice was bordering on frantic.

“Yes,” she said softly.

“It’s noon. Where are you?”

Victoria sat up quickly and the night’s binge smashed her brain into a million painful knots.

“I’m still at the hotel. I stayed. I’ll be there as quick as I can.”

“I’d let them stay, but the kids have a birthday…”

“I said I’d be right there.” She ended the call.

Victoria pulled away the sheets and stood.

“Is everything okay?” Christian sat up.

“I have to go. Where is my bra?” She began a frantic search.

Christian stood and looked around, finding her bra on his side of the bed. He held it up. “Let me get ready and I’ll give you a ride.”

“No. No ride. I need to get to my house and get my car. I can’t have any distractions. I need a cab. I need to call for a cab.”

Christian looked out the window. “There are cabs out front. But let me give you a ride.”

She had to weigh it in her head. She really couldn’t afford a cab and he did have a car. But as bad as her head throbbed, his had to be just as bad.

“I don’t want to owe you anything. I have to get the kids. Remember, the kids that are a burden? I don’t want them to be your burden.”

Christian watched her gather her clothes and run to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

He swallowed hard. He didn’t feel like that—anymore. Sure the kids were a burden. All kids were, in their own way, but he didn’t hold it against her. He never should have in the first place.

Tunneling his fingers through his thick hair, he let out a long breath. Those words had caused a tear in his future that he never could have imagined. One brief and stupid moment when the pain was too much from both the accident and the end of his career and he didn’t think before he spoke.

Christian looked for his pants and pulled them on. He could hear her in the bathroom and she was crying. He’d made her cry. Not this morning or last night, but nearly a year ago.

He hated the selfishness he felt in his heart. After the accident, she had to go through surgeries and intense physical therapy. She had to bury her sister and her brother-in-law and take guardianship of her niece and nephew. It had worked out that she’d moved into their house. That, he was sure, was more a benefit for the kids than for her.

Sonia had been there for her since her own parents had died. Victoria had been alone to deal with everything, because Christian had been having a pity party for years—the accident only had solidified it.

The scar on his forehead began to itch again. He rubbed it—cursed it.

He found his shirt and gathered up all of the remaining items they’d brought with them, though they hadn’t had much more than themselves.

When the door opened to the bathroom, Tori stood there as lovely to him as she had been the night before. Though her hair was unbrushed and her makeup was smudged, she was still radiant to him.

He wanted to compliment her, but he was sure she wouldn’t take it as such.

She reached for her purse and took it from him. “I’ve decided to let you give me a ride home, if you’re sober enough.”

“My head hurts, but I’m sober.” He took a step toward her and she took a step back. He didn’t like that. “I can take you to get the kids too.”

She shook her head. “No. Just a ride home please.”