Romancing the Holiday (25 page)

Now she was exhausted and more than ready to kick off her uncomfortable shoes, so when she pulled into Brody’s driveway, he came to meet her at her car.

“Pull into the garage. It looks like rain tonight.”

She laughed. “My car has more golf-ball-sized hail dings on it than I can count. I don’t think a little rain will hurt it.”

“Pull it into the garage, Tori.”

She shrugged. “Okay.”

It seemed weird to park her car next to his truck. Silly perhaps, but it made them look like a couple and she hadn’t yet reconciled them to that place yet.

He waited for her to get out, then held the door for her as she walked in from the garage.

“Tired?” he asked.

“Very. But it was a nice baby shower, and I’m glad it went well, both for Riley and for your mom, who was stressed about the details.”

“And now it’s over.”

She kicked off her shoes inside the door. “Yes. Thank God. Now it’s over.”

“Would you like something to drink?”

“A giant glass of ice water would be great.” She’d had a couple glasses of wine and a few beers throughout the night but plenty of food, so fortunately she wasn’t buzzed, just tired. When Brody handed her the water, she took several swallows.

Brody swept his hand over her hair. “You look tired.”

She lifted her gaze to his. “That’s a euphemism for I look like hell, right?”

He laughed. “No, it means there are dark circles under your eyes like you need some sleep. Let’s go to bed.”

She couldn’t argue with him. “That sounds good. I am tired.”

They went upstairs and she realized how comfortable she’d grown undressing and climbing into bed with him. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, then kissed the top of her head.

She closed her eyes, relaxing into his body, smoothing her hand over his chest, drifting across his abs, then even lower. She could never get enough of touching him. Every moment they had together was precious to her, because she never knew when it would end.

“You keep touching me like that you’re not going to get to sleep.”

She lifted her head, searching his face in the darkness as she wrapped her hand around the hot, thick, oh-so-hard part of him. “I’m not
that
tired, you know.”

He shifted her underneath him. “Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“I have ways of exhausting you.”

“Yeah? Show me.”

His mouth met hers in a tangle of lips and tongues. She sensed a desperate passion in Brody tonight, and she met it with wild abandon. He smoothed his hand over her hip and down her thigh, lifting her leg as he put a condom on in record time and entered her with a quick thrust. She gasped as he moved within her, teasing her with slow, deliberate movements that made her climax so quickly it shocked her into a surprised cry.

But he wasn’t finished with her yet, because he rolled her onto her knees and took her from behind, teasing her nipples and breasts and reaching between her legs as he rocked hard and fast into her. He was relentless and ever patient, and when she came again, he stayed with her, giving her the strokes she needed to catapult her into oblivion.

And still, he only shifted her over onto her side, letting her catch her breath by kissing her, stroking her hip and raising her leg over his so he could thrust slow and easy.

“Brody,” she whispered, staring up into a face she’d grown to love so deeply it hurt. “What are you doing to me?”

“We have all night,” he said, brushing her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. She grabbed his thumb and sucked it between her lips, rewarded with his harsh groan of pleasure. He replaced his thumb with his mouth, shattering her with the intimacy of the gesture. She fought for breath as he took her right to the edge again, refusing to let go until she did.

She didn’t think she could, until he rolled her on top of him, giving her the control. He grasped her hips and held her while she rolled back and forth and he lifted up into her, burying himself deep. He cupped her breasts and brushed his thumbs over her nipples, searing her with the deepest pleasure until she arched against him, giving him everything he’d asked for, baring herself to him down to her soul. And when she came, this time he thrust, then groaned, his fingers digging into her hips as he roared out his climax and fell with her.

She collapsed on top of him, utterly spent. She vaguely registered Brody moving her off him, leaving her for a few minutes and coming back to the bed to cuddle up behind her. She only recalled his strong arms wrapping around her as he pulled the covers over them both.

Then she let sleep take her.

Chapter Eleven

The out-of-town job had been going smoothly, and plans for the new supermarket were well underway. Brody had a handle on everything, and even his personal life seemed to be going well for a change.

He and Tori had settled into seeing each other fairly regularly, which he liked. It was new territory for him, this whole relationship thing, but it sure beat the hell out of coming home to an empty house every night.

He wasn’t even freaked out that, little by little, her things were starting to take up residence at his place.

First it was a toothbrush, because she spent the night frequently. Then it was shower things and a few clothes for overnight stays. And he had to make closet and drawer space for her to put her things. He had plenty of room, so no big deal, right?

She was even cooking for him, and what guy would mind that? She sure as hell was a better cook than he was.

He had to admit he liked having her at his place rather than that hellhole of an apartment she lived in.

Which begged the question of why he didn’t just ask her to move in with him. It wasn’t like they were strangers to each other. He’d known her for years. They got along great. The sex was fantastic and they enjoyed each other’s company.

It was that next step dilemma that kept him from pulling the trigger. They were having fun. It was light and simple and easy between them. She didn’t ask for anything or tie any strings to him. He could pretend he was still the carefree bachelor he’d always been, because, technically, Tori wasn’t living there.

But she
was
a part of his life, and he didn’t like to think about her going back to her place and the two of them living separate lives. He didn’t want to think about his life without her in it. He didn’t want to think about her possibly finding someone else and leaving him.

Was that love? Did he love her? That was his problem. He had no idea what love was. He’d seen it, been surrounded by it with his parents and Wyatt and Calliope and Ethan and Riley. He knew it from the outside, but he’d never been in love with a woman before, so he didn’t have a freakin’ clue.

All he knew was he liked the way things were. Wasn’t that enough for now? Did it have to be defined?

He didn’t want to think about the deep shit anymore. All he knew was having her at the house made it easier for her to plan the company Christmas party, which she’d done a fantastic job of putting together. She’d made arrangements for caterers and the band and the booze and those outside heater things, and there was even someone coming to move furniture and bring in tables and a dance floor.

Whatever. He was kind of oblivious to it all because he had his work to do, but on the nights they were together she’d discuss it with him. He had to admit he liked the end of the day rehash they always did when she stayed over.

He was toying with the idea of asking her to stay at his place when he had to be out of town, though he couldn’t yet figure out how to make that work.

Why would she need to be at his place when he wasn’t there? It wasn’t like he had a dog that needed watching or anything.

Maybe he should get a dog.

“Brody. Brody!”

He snapped to attention at Wyatt’s sharp tone, realizing he’d been so deep in thought he hadn’t even realized his brother had been talking. “What?”

Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Were you even listening?”

“Uh...no. What were you saying?”

“I’ve just spent the better part of ten minutes going over inventory for the jobsites. Where were you?”

Brody dragged his fingers through his hair and stood, pacing the office conference room. “I don’t know. Somewhere else. Sorry.”

“Is it a job, or is it something else on your mind?”

“Oh. A job.”

“Okay.” Wyatt closed his laptop. “Let’s talk about it. Which job is giving you hell? We’ll talk about it and fix it.”

Shit. Every single job he managed was going smoothly right now. He couldn’t manufacture a problem if he tried. “Okay, it’s not a job.”

“Then it’s Tori. Did you fuck something up?”

He rolled his eyes. “No, I didn’t fuck anything up. Things are fine.”

“Then what’s got your head so far up your ass that you daydreamed away ten minutes of our conversation?”

He shot Wyatt a smirk. “Maybe you’re boring.”

“Screw you. Inventory might be boring, but I am never boring. Just ask my wife.”

“No, thanks. I’d rather not hear the gory details of your sex life.”

“Man, you’re missing out. They’re epic. Okay, then tell me about yours.”

“Perv. I’m not telling you anything about mine.”

“Not your sex life. Tell me what’s going on with you and Tori.”

“Nothing. We’re dating. Things are going fine.”

Wyatt cocked a brow. “Now that’s boring. Calliope and I are more exciting than that, and we’re married.”

“Correction. You’re newly married. You should still be exciting. If you’re not still rocking her world every night, then she should trade you in for a newer model.”

“Again...screw you. And you’re changing the subject so you don’t have to talk about you and Tori.”

“Noticed that, did you? And still, you’re not grabbing a clue. See, I always knew you were a moron.”

“So is it getting serious?”

“What is it with my family and Tori? If I was having a relationship with Rita Melner of Hair Raising’s salon, no one would say boo to me about it. But since it’s Tori, everyone has to be all up in my business about it.”

“That’s true,” Ethan said as he walked into the conference room and shut the door. “But you’re not dating Rita Melner. Zack Dorman is.”

“Our foreman on the upcoming supermarket job?” Brody asked.

“Yeah.” Ethan set his laptop down. “Riley told me when she went to get a pedicure yesterday that Rita’s been seeing Zack for about a month now.”

“Huh,” Wyatt said. “Interesting. But not as interesting as Brody and Tori.”

Dammit. He was so sure they’d start gossiping about Rita and Zack and he’d be off the hook.

“There’s nothing interesting going on with the two of us. We’re dating. Subject’s closed.”

“And things are going well I assume?” Ethan asked.

“Why? Did Mom ask for a report?”

Ethan snorted. “No. I just care about Tori.”

Brody rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to talk to the two of you about Tori. Not now, not ever. Not again.”

“You know, I do like to give you shit about this,” Wyatt said. “But we care about you, too. This is a good relationship for you, Brody. For God’s sake, it’s the first one you’ve been in since high school. She’s good for you.”

“Wyatt’s right, man. Make this one stick,” Ethan said.

Brody had nothing to say to that. He just wanted to be able to see Tori on his own terms without his damn family interfering every step of the way.

What would be with the two of them would be. And no amount of family interference would alter the outcome.

He looked outside the conference room where Tori sat at her desk, busy on the phone. Her gorgeous hair was piled up on top of her head, two pencils stuck in it to hold it up. Pieces of it rained down her long neck and all he could think about was sneaking up behind her and taking a nibble.

He was getting hard just thinking about it.

“Do you think he’s even aware we’re talking about him?” Ethan asked.

“I spent ten minutes going over inventory and he was daydreaming.”

“I hear the both of you,” he said, focusing his attention away from Tori, but only briefly, because she came to the door, her eyes wide with worry.

“Ethan. Is your phone off?”

“Uh...no. It’s never off.” He pulled it out of his pocket. “Shit. I must have hit the button.”

“Riley called. Her water broke and contractions have started.”

Ethan paled. “Oh, shit.” He stood, and started shuffling papers into his bag.

“Just go, man,” Wyatt said. “Leave that stuff here. And call us.”

“Yeah. You’re right.” He looked at all of them and grinned. “I’m going to have another baby.”

“And you’re going to miss it if you keep standing here talking to us,” Tori said. “Move it. Your wife is waiting for you.”

Ethan made a mad dash out of the conference room while Brody, Wyatt and Tori grinned at each other.

Fourteen hours later, Brody and Tori made their way into Riley’s hospital room to get their first glimpse at the baby.

Tori had worried all day and into the night. Brody distracted her by taking her out to dinner after work and then they went to the hospital to hold vigil with the rest of the family until the baby was born. Zoey was hyper excited, so Tori and Calliope kept her amused with electronic games until Ethan, grinning like crazy, came out and told them that Gideon Roger Kent had made his arrival, screaming like a banshee as he came out.

Tori unabashedly sobbed with joy on Brody’s shoulder. Brody’s parents went in first while they all waited. They didn’t want to crowd the room too much. After a while, they got to go in. Riley, who looked gorgeous as usual but tired, smiled as they walked in.

“Come see our baby,” she said. Ethan took him from her and deposited him in Brody’s surprised arms.

“Eight pounds, two ounces,” Ethan said with a smile.

“Wow,” Tori said, looking at his red, scrunched-up face. She smiled over at Riley and Ethan. “He’s gorgeous.”

“Daddy says he looks a lot like I did when I was born,” Zoey said.

“He does, doesn’t he?” Brody said, and Tori was awed at the shine of unshed tears in Brody’s eyes.

“Do you want to hold him?” Brody asked.

“I’d love to.” She washed her hands and held out her arms, a feeling of instant love and protectiveness washing over her as soon as Gideon was placed in her arms.

She took a seat in one of the vacant chairs and made room for Zoey, who couldn’t seem to get enough of her new baby brother. But after such an exciting day, it was obvious she was wearing down, and she soon fell asleep on Tori’s shoulder.

This was what she wanted, Tori thought. This life, with children in her arms. She shifted her gaze to Brody and found him watching her, an expression on his face she couldn’t fathom. She didn’t know if it was discomfort, the same kind of wonder she felt tonight, or something else entirely.

But she’d never seen that look on his face before, and she didn’t know what to make of it.

She wasn’t even going to try and figure it out, because today wasn’t about her and Brody’s relationship. Today had been about small miracles.

* * *

Brody watched the wonder on Tori’s face as she held baby Gideon in her arms, the way she cradled him close as if she was born to hold a child.

He’d always pushed the idea of marriage and children to the back of his mind, figuring that would come later in life, when he was ready for it. Though he didn’t really know when that “ready” time would be.

Maybe when he found the right woman.

But as he stole glances at Tori, as she carefully stood and handed Gideon off to Riley, almost with a sense of regret at letting go of the baby, he realized that it was time to start thinking about those things.

Holding the baby had seemed natural to him. He knew that feeling of not wanting to let him go.

It was time to start reevaluating what was important to him, and what he wanted.

And when.

But on his terms, and Tori’s terms.

Not his family’s.