Home Run (6 page)

“I see that.”

“It seems silly for us to just stand in the hall and drink alone. Let’s dance.”

“Oh, Chris, I don’t think…”

He brushed his fingers down the scar on her arm and it sent a shiver through her that had her gasping. “It’s just a dance. Among friends.”

She should have left with Scott. She should have never stayed alone at the wedding. What did she think? That she’d be okay with him there and her alone?

“Just friends,” she reiterated and took Christian’s offered arm.

They were a pair limping along side of each other into the room full of people. The lights were low, music played, people mingled.

They set their glasses on a table and Christian led her to the dance floor. He’d seen his mother elbow his father and point in their direction, but he pretended not to.

The rest of the Kellers would be vital in him making a move on her. They liked her—he still loved her. He didn’t think he could be a father, but he sure as hell didn’t want that Scott guy taking the job either.

As they stepped onto the dance floor the music changed, slowed, and the lights dimmed more. Christian wrapped his arm around Tori’s waist and pulled her as close as he possibly could to him. She rested her hand on his shoulder and clasped her hand into his other.

They’d never danced well, but they were a pair with their limping and their scars. Still, they swayed together and he managed to get her even closer, until they were cheek to cheek.

“Did you pay the DJ to play this?” She said softly in his ear.

He finally listened to the song. Unchained Melody played and the verse, “Are you still mine? I need your love,” rang in his ears.

“That would be giving me too much credit.”

He’d noticed that her hand was no longer on his shoulder, but instead her arm was draped behind his neck. He pulled their clasped hands in closer until they were rested between them.

How was it that in a matter of minutes he had her pressed so close to him, swaying to a song that was so close to ending.

It was a sign, right? She had to miss him as desperately as he missed her. There was no other reason to be able to hold her so close.

One song melted into another slow dance and she stayed in his arms. In a bold move, he slid his hand from hers and laced it around her waist forcing her to take her other arm around his neck too. Now they were completely pressed together. Their cheeks rested against each other’s and he was sure he could feel her fingertips massaging the nape of his neck.

He closed his eyes and breathed in her perfume. Chanel No. 5. He’d bought her a bottle at Christmas last year and she’d sworn she’d only wear it for special occasions. He couldn’t think of a more special occasion than this one—and he didn’t mean his brother’s wedding.

Tori’s breath was laboring, meaning she was feeling something between them. He could feel her heart racing since she was pressed so close to him.

Suddenly, the numerous Jack and Cokes and two glasses of champagne swam in his head.

“I think this going around in circles on the dance floor is making me more drunk than I already was. Take a walk through the atrium with me.”

She pulled back enough that he could see her face. Her lips parted. Her eyes closed and opened again in a slow, sexy blink.

“Okay, and then I need to go home.”

He nodded in agreement, but he had no plans on letting her leave his side for at least a few hours. Maybe a nice long walk would help sober him up so he didn’t say or promise anything stupid. Right now he just wanted her close. He needed her. He’d missed her.

Chapter Seven

It seemed that Christian had sobered quite a bit before he quickly escorted her out of the room, but not before he’d grabbed two more glasses of champagne.

Victoria was sure she was making a mistake being alone with him. But for some reason, she didn’t care. Perhaps it was the champagne.

This was what she’d wanted, wasn’t it? She’d wanted to be with him and now she was.

He handed her a glass and tapped his against it. “To Ed and Darcy.”

Victoria smiled. “To Ed and Darcy.” She took a sip and blew out a breath. “I am getting just a little light headed with all this champagne.”

Christian gave her a crooked grin that had one side of his mouth turning up. “I can’t even see you clearly.” He laughed. “But I know how you look and I know it’s a picture of beauty.”

Those butterflies were back in her stomach. She took another big sip of champagne to try and drown them.

“Are you sure you want to walk? I mean we can just stand here and talk. Or not,” she offered. “We could just go sit.”

“I’m just afraid you’ll run out if I don’t keep you occupied by dancing or walking.”

“I don’t do either one very well,” she said with her voice dripping.

Christian blinked hard and then furrowed his brows. “How is your leg?”

She shrugged. “Horrible.” Why lie to him? He knew pain. “They think I might need a few more surgeries. As it is, I’m just a walking scar statue.”

“Can I see?”

She narrowed her eyes on him.

“Your leg. The scars.”

There was a seriousness to him that made her know he wasn’t making a play on her. She bit down on her lip and handed him her glass. Then she took a step back from him and slowly lifted the skirt on her dress to expose her leg.

His face showed concern. “And they want to do more?”

She nodded. “It’s no big deal.”

He shot his look up to her. “No big deal? It’s a huge deal. How do you take care of the kids when…” he stopped and she knew he’d finally stumbled over his tongue.

“I have friends,” she said dropping her skirt into place. “I’m not all alone.” She took the glass from his hand and drank down the rest of it.

“I’m still your friend,” he said, but his words slurred. Though, she wasn’t sure if his words slurred or her hearing did.

“Friends don’t just forget the other person when they need them the most.”

She saw the fire light behind his eyes. “I didn’t forget you.”

“Really? I haven’t heard from you in eight months. Not until I bumped into you at lunch.” Her head was swimming, but at this point she didn’t care. She finished off the drink.

“And you think it was because I didn’t care?”

“I think it’s because Christian Keller can’t think of anyone but himself.”

His mouth dropped open, but he didn’t say anything.

Victoria decided that she needed to call Sonia and beg for a ride. As she started for the banquet room—now limping and swaying—Christian caught her hand.

“You promised me a walk.”

“All about you.” She pulled her hand back. “See what I mean?”

“Damn it! I don’t want you to hate me for the rest of my life.”

“I don’t hate you.” She spun and her head kept going long after she was sure her body had stilled. “My whole problem has been that I don’t hate you quite enough.”

Christian raised his hand to her cheek and she wanted to wince and pull away, but her body was no longer following the rules her brain was sending out.

“Let’s just walk.” He held out his hand to her.

Victoria contemplated his offer for a moment, but considering it was getting harder to stand still she accepted his hand.

He interlaced his fingers with hers and they began to walk toward the stairs that would descend down to the atrium.

While he had drank away his afternoon and danced with the woman by his side, day had given to night.

“What do you say we walk outside?”

He could see her trepidation. “I don’t know…”

“Please.” He was going with the fact that fate must have stepped in and given him this night. After all, how perfect was it that someone took the kids and that man who’d pawed and kissed her all day was called away, too. Yeah, fate was giving him one shot to show her how much he’d missed her.

They walked through the front door of the hotel and he kept her hand in his. As of yet, she hadn’t shaken hers loose.

Desperately he hoped that the booze, now sloshing in his stomach and swimming through his head, didn’t make him do anything stupid. God forbid it made him sick to his stomach or make him say things that would make her run.

“Clare said Sonia picked up the kids.”

Tori nodded nervously. “They’ll stay with her tonight. She was giving me the evening to have some adult fun.”

She’d said the words and he felt her tense. Her lips tightened, but she didn’t retract any part of her statement.

Christian was extremely happy that Scott had left, now for more than one reason.

“The kids looked cute today. I had no idea they would be in the wedding.”

She’d smiled when he mentioned the kids. “Darcy didn’t call until late yesterday. They were thrilled to do it.”

“You’re doing a good job with them.”

The smile on her lips disappeared. “It’s gotten a little easier now that we have a routine, but I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had Sonia. The kids needed a lot of adjustment after the accident and there I was always in a cast or something.” A tear rolled from her eye. “Sam doesn’t remember his parents much, or isn’t old enough to really ask, but Ali…” she sucked in a sob that must have stolen her breath, “she misses them.”

The tear had become a full on cry and Christian stopped walking and turned to her. “I’m so sorry.”

Tori wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “I’ve taken her to counselors and they say it’s normal, but it’s so unfair. I don’t know how to make it better when I miss my sister so much I can’t sleep at night.”

Christian had never been one who could offer comfort in a desperate situation. He clearly remembered when his mother had cancer, he had sulked around as if he were a victim while his father and older brother kept the family together. And, since he was admitting things to himself, probably because he was more than a little inebriated, the past two years with his injuries and then the accident, he’d been playing the victim again. And again, he was being taken care of all the time.

“Let’s keep walking,” he offered trying to think of a different conversation that wouldn’t steer them back to the accident, though that seemed to be the common ground they now had.

He didn’t take her hand, though he wanted to. She had crossed her arms over her chest and walked guarded next to him.

“So, Ed has me overseeing the building of a baseball stadium.”

“Really, that’s great.”

“Not anything like major league, but a small community one.”

“See, you can use your talents off the field.”

He nodded. He hated it, but she was right. “What about you? How’s the team?”

Tori stopped walking and he turned to her. “Do you even talk to anyone from the team anymore?”

He shook his head. He’d had to bury that dream, the one of now managing or coaching, when he buried his best friend and her sister.

“I’ve been working at a dental office answering phones part time for almost a year.”

“You’re not doing the physical therapy?”

She turned her arms over, noting the many scars that covered them. Though it was dark he knew what she was looking at.

“How much strength do you have after the accident? Can you do what you trained your whole life for?”

He shook his head.

“Did you forget how many lives changed that night or are you still focused on what you lost?”

She turned to walk back toward the hotel. Christian caught up with her quickly. The buzz he’d had was starting to diminish.

When he caught up to her he reached for her arm and stopped her. “Listen. I’m sorry. I know I’ve been an ass. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about everything I did to push you away and…”

“You shoved me away, Chris. You told me you couldn’t marry me and be a father right now so it was over. Don’t take away how eloquently you said it.” She set her jaw.

He closed his eyes and tried to grasp for the last of the decency he must have as a person. He shook his head and let out a long regretful breath. “I’m sorry.”

Tori clasped her hands in front of her and held them there. “I need to go in and get my things. I’ll get a cab, but I should go home.”

“Please don’t. Just stay for a bit and I’ll see that you get home safe. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you since I learned you’d be here. And in my true fashion I seem to have messed up all my opportunities to show you that I can be a decent person.”

He waited for her to give him some reaction, but she didn’t, so he continued. “Just one night? One night to at least try to mend our friendship?”

Tori’s eyes shifted up as if she were looking toward the sky for guidance. Eventually she nodded and he was grateful for that, because he seriously had thought perhaps she’d throw one of her shoes at his head first.

A moment later he felt the unmistakable rumbling in his stomach and realized he’d never eaten anything at the wedding reception.

“What do you say we go back in for some food? Compliments of my brother.”

She actually chuckled and he took it as a positive sign. Perhaps he wouldn’t walk away from this evening as big a loser as he’d thought he would when he saw her kissing Scott in the parking lot earlier.

“I could really use some grown up food. Currently Sam will only eat chicken nuggets and Ali wants peanut butter and jelly cut into butterfly shapes.”

He narrowed his eyes in the dark. “How do you do that?”

“I have a cutter. I’ve acquired many interesting things since I became their guardian.”

He imagined she had.

As they climbed the stairs toward the reception—each of them slowly with limps and creaking body parts—they noticed the guests passing by them heading out of the hotel.

When they reached the top of the stairs they caught a glimpse of Ed carrying Darcy toward the elevator bank, no doubt heading to the honeymoon suite.

Clara met them near the entrance to the room. “Where have you been? Warner gave the toast. You missed the cake and…” She stopped as if she’d only then noticed he was standing next to Tori. “Sorry. I see that you were being social.”