Breathing His Air (28 page)

He pulled her against his chest. “You’re a goof. No one names their dirt bike.”

“So you’ve said, but who else has a custom pink paint job with a chrome chain cover? Huh?” She laid her cheek against his shirt, letting the comfort of knowing she pleased him sweep over her. “I’ll go with you. We have a party to give, and I want to be able to make it home in time to change clothes. If I’m not with you, one of the guys will stall you, and I won’t get to dress up.”

“Wear the heels.” He guided her out of the room and locked the door.

“Are you asking me?”

“Telling.” He put his arm around her waist, letting his hand move over her butt and gave her a pop.

She jumped, laughing. “Yes, sir. I wouldn’t think of disobeying you.”

He cocked an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching. “About time,” he mumbled.

“Dumbass,” she mumbled back, grinning.

Two hours later, they’d picked up the boxes of meat from the butcher and delivered them to Bruce, who would make sure everything was ready and organized for later. They picked up two ice cream cones at Hamburger HQ and ate them on the way home, because they were starving and couldn’t wait until later to eat.

Once home, Tori banned Rain from the bedroom to finish getting ready. A special night called for going all out. The event was an outside barbeque. The majority of the people attending would be in biker gear, shorts, and casual wear, so she decided to mix and match two of her new outfits.

She also took time to dry, curl, and mess up her hair before adding a little spritz to keep it wild. She added the hoop earrings Naomi urged her to buy yesterday at Target. Lastly, she applied lotion to her legs, arms, and upper chest.

Not wanting to take her purse and hold on to it all night, she took her phone out, paused, and on a whim, sat down on the bed and called Taylor. With everything going on in her life, she hadn’t had time to update her best girl on how she was doing.

Taylor picked up the call. “Girl, you are in so much trouble.”

She smiled, happy to hear Taylor wasn’t giving her the silent treatment. “That seems to be the majority of people’s opinion lately.”

“Where are you?” she asked.

“At home.”

“Is Rain with you?” Taylor whispered as if they weren’t talking to each other on the phone but in the middle of the bar.

“Nope. I’m shut in our bedroom all alone. I’m sorry we haven’t stayed around and had dinner at the bar this week. With everything going on, we’ve been trying to get home to spend some time together without Rain getting called away.”

“So you and Rain are tight now?”

“Yeah.” She smiled. “Everything is perfect. He’s finally calming down about letting me out of his sight. Speaking of, why didn’t you go shopping with Naomi and me yesterday?” She walked over and found her heels in the closet.

“Busy. Maybe we can go next week. I have Thursday off. We could make a day of it while Rain is working.”

“I’d like that. Then we can go to the bar and all have dinner together.” She sat on the edge of the bed. “Make sure you come and talk with me tonight.”

“I will.” A doorbell rang in the background. “Look, I need to go. I’ll catch up more later, okay?”

“Sounds like a plan. Later, girl.”

“Later,” Taylor said.

Something was bothering Taylor — Tori just couldn’t pinpoint what it was. She typed in a note on her phone to remind her to make Thursday all about Taylor.

“Babe!” Rain knocked on the door. “Time to go. Get your ass out here.”

She rolled her eyes. He was so cute when he tried to boss her around.

“I’m coming.” She swung open the door.

Rain straightened at the sight of her. His gaze traveled down her body, glazing over. She warmed and swallowed past the lust creeping up in her own body. Sure, she wore a skimpy pair of faded cutoffs, a black half-shirt tank with Harley Davidson scrolled in pink across her breasts, and killer black high heels with faux diamonds down the spike that made her seem taller than her five foot six inches but Rain — he was hot.

He wore his old Levi’s and a black T-shirt, but it was the black chaps and a different black vest with the Leather and Chains emblem on it, his tats peeking below his sleeves, that got her juices flowing. She moved in, and he pulled her the rest of the way toward him.

“If I wasn’t running the party, babe, I’d have you on your back right now, and those heels poking holes in the mattress.” He kissed her hard. “Later tonight, you’re mine.”

She moved her hand from his waist, around his side, and cupped his butt cheek. “As long as you leave the chaps on, honey.”

“Yeah.” He grinned. “That’s my girl.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Motorcycles lined the perimeter of the parking lot around Cactus Cove in uniform fashion. Tori turned in a circle in the middle of the parking lot, amazed at the number of people attending the Summer-Palooza. The excitement was contagious.

Classic cars skirted the edges of the parking lot, while crowds of people dotted the gravel area, eating, drinking, and mingling. A four-person band played on a makeshift plywood stand close to the charred remains of the cabin, playing classic rock music. She gazed over to where she’d left Rain talking to a group of men. Not once had she ever doubted his power in the town but until today, she’d never realized the magnitude of how many lives he touched.

Knowing him and his need to take care of everyone, he’d make sure each guest walked away feeling good after tonight. Whether that was to point them in the direction of the grills smoking at the entrance of the bar or to deliver a Dixie cup of beer to someone standing around empty-handed, he directed the party. She smiled when he caught her looking and winked at her. Never once had he forgotten who he’d come here with.

“Okay, I think we’re set.” Taylor balanced two plastic plates in her hands.

She relieved Taylor of one plate of food. “I’ll take the other one, too, so you can go back and get your own.”

“I need to get one for Slade, too. I’ll meet you over at the picnic table by the trees.” Taylor disappeared back into the waiting line for food.

She carried dinner over to Rain and waited until he was through talking. “Eat up, honey.”

Rain kissed her. “Let’s go sit down, and you can get off your feet for a little bit.”

“I’m okay.”

He leaned closer. “I plan on keeping you okay, because when tonight’s over I don’t want your feet hurting and you falling asleep on me.”

“Sh.” She nudged him with her shoulder. “Someone will hear you.”

“I don’t care.” He cupped her ass. “They know you’re my woman.”

“Slade and Taylor are joining us.” She glanced up at Rain, thinking it was better to get his mind off her, at least until they got home. “Are they together or just hanging out?”

“Don’t know.” He held her hand after she unburdened herself of the food, and she put her legs under the table. “They seem to be spending all their free time together.”

She grabbed a few napkins out of the dispenser in the middle of the table. “They deserve to be happy.”

After feeding her hunger with a couple bites of her hamburger, she wiped her mouth. “I’m impressed.”

He finished chewing and swallowed. “About?”

“The event.” She leaned forward. “You.”

“Has nothing to do with me. Everyone helps. It’s the community.” He lifted his cup. “Pitnam’s the only town I’ve known.” He drank. “I’ve traveled around, but have never found anywhere that compares to here.”

She nodded. The same was true for her, but for a different reason. Sometimes she pinched herself to make sure all this was really happening and she wasn’t dreaming.

“Is Derek coming? I wanted to meet Denise before the big barbeque next weekend at our house.” She wiped her hand on a napkin.

“Doubt it. He hasn’t come to an event since he got stuck with her,” he said.

“That’s sad. Maybe I can try to talk them into hanging out with us one night. You guys can shoot some pool, and Denise and I can have a girl chat.”

Rain snorted. “Don’t even try. It’s not even worth it.”

“What?”

“You’re trying to fix their marriage.” He paused and lifted his chin to someone behind her.

This was the first place where she’d allowed herself to care and grow close to others. Whether it was the effort she made, or the people were abnormally friendly and accepting, she loved it in Pitnam. She’d finally found home, and she wanted everyone else to be as happy as her.

Things could’ve turned out differently if she hadn’t pulled off the interstate and gassed up. She would’ve ended up stopping in another town with no Rain, no friends, and still running from the past.

“You okay?” He studied her.

She waved her hand, clearing her throat. “Yeah. Just … being sentimental.”

“Babe … ”

“Really.” She smiled. “It hit me that today’s special. It’s a new start for me, and I’m blessed to have you and everyone else in my life. Probably for the first time, I actually think I deserve to be here.”

He rose and walked around the picnic table, threw his leg over the bench, sat, and pulled her against his chest. “You deserve everything good, babe. Makes me happy to know you’re settling in and pleased with living here. Never doubt I want you.”

“I don’t,” she whispered, craning her head around to look at him. “I love you. I do.”

“I know.” He kissed her. “You don’t have to convince me.”

She shook her head. “I don’t do it for you. I need to keep reminding myself. I don’t want to forget.”

“It’s in the air, babe. You won’t forget. I know every time I breathe.” He tightened his arms around her, his food forgotten.

“Hey, you two, knock it off.” Taylor slid in on the other side of the table. “There are kids around, and you’re making a bad example.”

She laughed. “You’re one to talk. I saw you and Slade earlier.”

Taylor’s eyes rounded. She stayed in Rain’s arms, enjoying her friend’s surprise.

“Well, that was earlier.” Taylor lowered her voice. “He’s got his own problems to work through.”

Curiosity piqued, Tori shifted and sat up straight. “What’s going on?”

Taylor bit down on her fingernail, glanced around, and came back to Tori. “Promise this doesn’t go farther than this table?”

“Sure,” she said.

“He’s having problems with his ex-wife. Custody battle.” Taylor planted her elbows on the table. “He’s doing whatever he can to get his two kids full time, and he’s afraid Jodie — that’s his ex — will use me and our relationship against him. Because he’ll do anything for his kids, we’re laying low until his court date in two weeks. I respect him for not jeopardizing his relationship with his kids, and I’ve told him that. But he needs support, too.”

“How old are his kids?” She reached over and squeezed Taylor’s arm.

“Eight and twelve. Boys.” Taylor looked at Rain. “You know them. How much of a chance does Slade have to gain custody?”

Rain’s mouth tightened. “Should be game on with the way Jodie’s acting. Can’t fault a man for being a man, taking care of his kids no matter what. I’ll be there as his character reference during court and do whatever I can to help. I’ve known those kids since they were born. Hell of a situation.”

Tori watched Rain. It was too soon for them to jump into anything besides discovering more about each other. But what she learned this second was Rain had a passion for treating kids right. She loved that about him.

“Why is the situation difficult?” she asked.

“New husband’s a problem. He’s not treating the kids right, stepping up, or being a man. Jodie’s messed in the head, and won’t back the kids.” Rain drained his beer. “Screwed-up situation.”

“Geez, poor Slade.” Tori offered her basket of fries to Rain.

They all finished their meals. Taylor, preoccupied with searching the crowd for Slade, grew quiet. The full plate waiting for Slade to join them put a damper in the mood around the table.

Tori whispered in Rain’s ear, promising to stay in view of him, and excused herself from the table. She’d seen the way Slade looked at Taylor as if he woke up every morning for her, and knew that just being around her brought him down to a level of calm he loved. He shouldn’t have to worry and suffer alone.

She found Slade with Renny. Both men stood by the keg, but Slade was empty-handed. She approached them.

“Hey, Tori, where’s Rain?” Renny asked, pushing the bill of his baseball cap up.

She half turned and pointed. “Finishing his dinner.”

“Did you need some drinks?” Renny asked.

“No. I wanted a word with Slade, if you can deal with the crowd on your own for a few minutes?”

“Sure.” Renny stepped away and called over his shoulder, “Catch you both later.”

She had no idea if Slade knew why she wanted to talk to him alone, but he waited without saying a word, letting her decide when she wanted to start talking. She shifted until her back was to the others waiting for beer.

“I came over to invite you to our table. Taylor made a plate up for you … ”

Slade’s forehead wrinkled, and he gazed down at the ground. “Shit, Tori.”

She laid her hand on his arm. “It’s not like that.”

He glanced across the parking lot toward the table. “She doesn’t deserve this, or being ignored.”

“She understands,” she said softly.

“You know?”

She shrugged. “Enough to empathize with what you’re doing.”

“I’m hurting my kids for not getting them out of that hellhole, and I’ll only drag Taylor down, too.” He grimaced. “She deserves more than half my attention, and until I can get my shit straight, that’s all I can give her.”

“You’re wrong. She’s stronger and tougher than you think — ”

“I don’t want her to be strong.” He ran his hand through his hair and lowered his voice. “I should be taking care of her, having her lean on me. That’s my job.”

She wet her lips and rolled them together. “Around others, yeah. Here at the party, yeah again. When you two are alone with no one watching and you’re growing close, she wants to see inside” — she patted his chest — “you, and doesn’t want you closing yourself off. Let her help you stay strong. It makes her feel good. When you close yourself off, all you’re doing is telling her she’s not important enough to take care of her man.”