Open Door Marriage (4 page)

* * *

Tori wished then and now that she could have crammed those words back into her mouth. For an entire year she had left several voicemails asking for Alicia
’
s forgiveness and begging her to come home. When Alicia didn
’
t return a single call to Tori or anyone else, the family hadn
’
t expected her home for the holidays or anytime soon.

Now it seemed some fences were better left unmended.

Tori looked over at the woman curled on the bed and covered in Dallas
’
custom designer leather coat. Alicia had failed to make any kind of eye contact with her—and that was just as well because Tori didn
’
t know how to phrase the questions she desperately needed answered. What reason could Alicia have had for sleeping with Dallas? Was this payback for Tori
’
s actions last Thanksgiving? But then, Alicia did act surprised to learn Dallas was her fiancé.

“
Auntie . . .
”
Tori found herself saying.

Alicia didn
’
t move from her spot on the bed.
“
Tori, I
’
m so sor—
”

Dallas
’
concerned voice interrupted their attempt at a conversation.
“
Are you going to be all right?
”

Tori turned to answer, and snorted bitterly when she realized that he was talking to the other woman.

If you
’
re truly his friend, then you won
’
t keep leaving him at the mercy of all those gold-diggers and whores.

Tori didn
’
t know why her mother
’
s words popped into her head. Bernice had considered herself the absolute authority when it came to men. It never occurred to Tori that her mother could be wrong.

With his grueling schedule, this was Dallas
’
first visit to get the seal of approval from her family. Not that Tori needed it. Dallas was the ideal man. He was the perfect example of what a strong man should be
—
compassionate, generous, sexy and charismatic. Not to mention, honest, reliable, loyal, and purpose-driven. So why would he screw up now, when her dream wedding was only five months away?

“
I
’
m all right,
”
Alicia said, sitting up.
“
I just need to get in the tub. I feel like my foot is swelling.
”

Dallas held out his hand to assist her aunt into the bathroom. Her delicate hand disappeared within his massive one and once again, Tori couldn
’
t help but note how at ease they seemed together as he guided her into the bathroom.

The sudden flare of heat between them made waves of nausea pass over Tori. She hurried to the bathroom door in time to see Dallas remove his coat from Alicia
’
s shoulders. In the royal blue and white bathroom, Alicia sat on the edge of a porcelain Jacuzzi that had been built for lovers. Tori
’
s knees nearly buckled seeing the intense gaze that Dallas had locked onto her aunt—and the flash of something she couldn
’
t quite name in her aunt
’
s eyes.

They both glanced in Tori
’
s direction, but she refused to let them see her hurt.
To hell with pain! She would stick with angry.

With every aspect of her dreams circling the bowl and making a mad dash for the drain, angry was what she had every right to be.

Chapter 4

9:20 p.m.

Minutes later, Dallas followed Tori into the Grand Suite, their steps slow and weighted on the natural wood floors of a foyer, which led into a dining and living room with tan suede seating. The warm, modern décor was drastically different from the chic, elegant suite they
’
d just left.

The snowstorm, which had delayed his flight earlier today was what had set this chain of events in motion.
Tori had thought the delay would have given him time to cool off—but it also meant he would miss going with her and her parents for their traditional Thanksgiving visit to other relatives.

She
’
d said,
“
I
’
ll leave the house keys under the mat on the porch for you just in case you get there before we return.
”

He
’
d said,
“
Fine.
”

Like she
’
d expected, he made it to their house before they returned. And somehow, for some reason, Alicia was there.

The hotel room door hadn
’
t closed all the way before Tori whipped around to face him.
“
What the hell happened between you two?
”

Dallas shifted, like he wasn
’
t sure how to answer that question. He had managed to bypass all types of woman before this, and it wasn
’
t like he didn
’
t have his pick. Yes, he was a baller, but he
’
d always shown her that he was faithful. Until today.

He made direct eye contact with Tori.
“
Do you want the truth or the version that will let us remain friends?
”

She blinked for several moments as though taking in the many things his statement implied.
“
Didn
’
t we say that we
’
d always be about honesty and trust? I want the truth.
”

He sighed, then began.
“
I was tired after my flight and just wanted to take a long shower. I went in the top floor guest room, just like you told me. I didn
’
t realize the bathroom was connected to another bedroom and I walked in there. The last thing I expected to find was the love of my life.
”

* * *

Four hours earlier …

Dallas froze at the foot of the bed. When he realized he
’
d walked out on the wrong side of the bathroom, his first instinct was to turn and hightail it out of there. But then, the woman had shifted and kicked the lavender silk comforter away from her like she was hot. And his eyes had immediately been mesmerized by her legs. Perfect calves, hearty thighs, and then, the triangle that met at the center of her thighs. Her voluptuous body was just like he liked it. He couldn
’
t help it. His eyes lingered, and his manhood rose as if taking in the possibilities. She wore a skimpy t-shirt and sexy lace panties and for the first time since he
’
d accepted Tori
’
s vow of celibacy, Dallas had the overwhelming urge to have sex.

He shook himself out of his trance and was just about to turn and leave, when the woman stirred again. Her eyes fluttered open, and slowly locked on him. If he was speechless before, he was at a completely loss of words now.
It couldn
’
t be!

The woman sat up, staring at him like she was trying to focus, make sure she wasn
’
t dreaming. Then her eyes moved from his face, down to his nakedness, then back up to his face. Finally, she whispered,
“
Dallas? Dallas Avery?
”

Alicia still had those mesmerizing green eyes. Their gaze
s
remain locked as she eased out of bed and moved toward him with a hunger he hadn
’
t seen from a woman in a long time
—
raw femininity, vulnerability, and sensuality.

She stepped in front of him and stroked his broad chest as though testing to see if he was real or part of her imagination.
“
You must be the most exquisite creature I have ever seen in my life,
”
she said, her touch every shade of warm, wonderful and sensuous.

His erection got harder, which Alicia noticed. No more words were exchanged as her hand lowered, her fingertips gliding over the veins that thrummed with a rush of blood. She stroked him with gentle touches, which became stronger when he moaned with a pleasure he hadn
’
t felt since the last time he
’
d made love to her.

Dallas was usually a rational man, but only one head was thinking now, and he eased her tank off.
“
Just like I remember,
”
he whispered, taking in her full breasts.
“
Why did you leave me?
”
he moaned as he caressed her nipples.

“
I didn
’
t have a choice,
”
she replied, her voice husky as she continued stroking him.
“
What are you doing here? You can
’
t be here. I must be dreaming.
”

“
This is no dream,
”
he corrected.
“
This is fate. I
’
ve been
dreaming of
you since the day you walked out on me.
”

From the time he and Tori had
officially
become a couple, Dallas had been faithful.
Even after her vow of celibacy, he had warded off groupies, cheerleaders and teammates
’
wives, now only to be felled by this woman with the hands of a goddess. The minute he reached out and brushed his hands across her delta, and a fingertip across her pearl
,
she arched toward him and her release was so dynamic, so intoxicating
—
it fueled a desire to do whatever it took to please her again.

It was the same feeling he had the night she won a date with him at a charity auction.
She had turned down the dinner and strictly asked for his autograph.
He insisted on that dinner, which later turned into much more.
He had kept her with him at his condo for three months
—
pleasuring her, learning her, listening to her, and without warning, he fell deeply in love with her.

He couldn
’
t resist the silken feel and taste of that honey skin, curves that begged for a man
’
s lips and touch, and thighs that should be no other place but wrapped around a man who could pleasure her from dusk to dawn.

Dallas leaned in and pressed his lips to hers; she parted her lips, inviting him to explore her moist mouth. Their tongues intertwined, then Dallas pulled her into his arms, holding her close.
“
I
’
m not going to let you go this time.
”

She snuggled her naked body closer to him.
“
Oh, my, God. I can
’
t believe you
’
re here.
”

Those words suddenly brought Dallas back to reality.

“
Wait,
”
he said, pulling back from her,
“
why are
you
here?
”

“
This is
my
house,
”
she said. Reality must
’
ve been setting in for her as well because her intense gaze had been replaced with panic.
“
Why are
you
here?
”

But before either of them could say another word, the door had swung open and Bernice had burst into the room. Dallas quickly reached for the comforter and covered Alicia as best he could.

Th
at
brief encounter and now, the look on Tori
’
s face derailed all of Dallas
’
plans.
Even before seeing Alicia, his
intention
had been to break up with Tori.
He
’
d wanted to make it through Thanksgiving before he actually had that talk with her, wanting her to enjoy the holiday before she
’
d have to deal with their breakup.

But now, Alicia had miraculously dropped back into his life, and he had no intention of ever letting her get away again. He never wanted to hurt Tori, and he definitely had no clue they were related. But it was what it was.

Dallas had to leave Chicago, but outside the window in the Grand Suite, snow was falling, blanketing the Windy City in another coat of soft, white powder that would make getting a flight back home tonight nearly impossible.

“
Dallas?
”

He focused on Tori for a moment as he settled into one of the suede seats across from her. She had been waiting patiently for him to explain.

“
You remember the woman I told you about,
”
Dallas began,
“
the one I met at my fundraiser a few years ago?
”

Tori frowned, then said,
“
The woman you said you were in love with? The woman who—
”

“
Yes,
”
he whispered.
“
That woman. Beautiful. Green eyes. Knew a whole lot about investing and stocks. Taught me all about how to grow my money.
”

Realization dawned in Tori
’
s eyes.
“
Nooooo,
”
she crooned, gripping the edge of the seat.
“
No, it couldn
’
t be!
”

Dallas nodded.

“
The woman you asked to marry you,
”
she continued.
“
Then she up and left and you haven
’
t seen her—
”

“
Until today.
”

Tori was trembling so hard she couldn
’
t say a single word.
“
It was my aunt? God, this can
’
t be happening!
”

Dallas gave her a watered-down version of the scene that took place earlier. As her tears fell, an ounce of guilt crept in, but he resisted the urge to comfort Tori. Any gesture on his part could send a mixed message. And, it was a gesture of compassion that had brought Tori and Dallas
together in the first place.

* * *

Two years ago

Plano
, Texas

Dallas found a silent corner in the family waiting room in Baylor
Regional
Medical Center. He laid his head on the brightly painted wall and turned his body inward to block out any outside presence. His heart was breaking in ways that he had never experienced. His mother was dying. All of the reports from the specialists pointed to that fact. None of them held out hope.

Dallas closed his eyes and said a silent prayer.
“
God, I
’
m not going to promise that I
’
ll be in church every single Sunday for the rest of my life. I
’
m not going to put a lie on the table that I
’
m going to suddenly straighten up and fly right. It
’
s just that … I
’
m asking the right questions, but I
’
m not getting the right answers,
”
he said softly.
“
So, what I need now is strength. What I need now is guidance. These doctors are supposed to be the best in the business, but God,
You
know this healing business. You know how much she believes in You. Show me what I
’
m supposed to do. I don
’
t ask for much, but I
’
m asking you this, right here and right now…
”

The feel of a gentle hand rubbing his shoulder and the scent of a woman
’
s perfume caused his eyes to open. He looked into the face of an angel. He had never cried before, but for some reason he couldn
’
t stop the tears that nearly blinded him. The woman pulled him to her and he hesitated only a brief moment before he held onto her as though they had been life-long friends.

“
I
’
m sorry,
”
she said after a while.
“
I was trying to find a quiet place to study, and couldn
’
t help but overhear your words.
”
She took the seat next to him.
“
What can I do to help?
”

He peered at her, taking in the golden skin, soft brown eyes, honey blonde hair, slim figure—but it was the white lab coat that brought him to attention.
“
Who are you?
”

“
I
’
m Tori. I
’
m just a medical student right now,
”
she said, smiling at him.
“
but in a couple of years, I
’
ll be a resident.
”
She looked around the room as if to confirm that they were still alone.
“
You
’
re really upset; is there any way I can help?
”

Dallas wondered what a medical student could do when the doctors were
spinning their wheels.
“
What I
’
m most concerned about is that they
’
re treating my mother as if she
’
s already dying from cancer. Whatever happened to trying everything possible?
”
He shook his head.
“
I
’
m not feeling it. I haven
’
t felt it since we first came here.
”

Tori thought that over for a moment.
“
Have you already gotten a second opinion?
”

“
They sound worse than these guys,
”
he said sourly.

Tori picked up an iPad
that she had placed on an end table nearby and tapped a few letters on the screen. She turned it to face him.
“
Have you thought about this place?
”

He skipped past the name and went straight to the words that instantly put his mind at ease. At our hospitals, leading cancer technologies are combined with natural therapies to help you fight the disease and maintain your quality of life.

“
Natural therapies,
”
Dallas whispered.
“
Quality of life. That
’
s what I
’
m talking about.
”
He looked over the words again.
“
Trying for life, not putting a welcome mat out for a funeral.
”

Tori nodded and placed the iPad in his hands. He continued to study the screen.

“
Baylor is definitely one of the best at aggressive treatment.
”
She tapped a finger on the screen.
“
But i
t sounds like
what
you
’
re looking for is a place that looks at the whole well-being of the patient. Not just the cancer itself.
”

Dallas sat up and took her hand in his.
“
Thank you. Finally, someone who understands what I
’
ve been saying. They
’
re acting like I
’
m an idiot.
”

She gave him a small smile.
“
Well, you have to understand that each physician always thinks they know best.
”

“
How do I get her up out of here?
”
he asked.
“
They
’
re not just going to let me wheel her away, right?
”

“
You have a right to take your mother anywhere you like. Start with a call to Cancer Treatment Centers of America
. The closest one will probably be in Tulsa, but it
’
s so worth it. T
hen
,
request that her records are transferred to a physician there.
”

Dallas was out of his seat and hugging the stranger before he could give it a second thought. Within 24 hours, his mother was transferred. Within a week, she was responding to their treatment.

When he came back to the hospital to locate Tori and thank her, he ended up taking her to dinner that night. And the next night. And the night after that. She had
traveled to Tulsa with him several times, and had even gone on her own, when a game sent him to the other side of the country. Tori had
met his parents and took the time to research anything he, or his parents, needed along the way. They
’
d been friends ever since.

The treatment for his mother was a long and arduous journey, but even he could tell his mother was now focused on beating the disease, rather than being beaten by it.
For that, he was forever grateful to Tori Mitchell.

Their friendship deepened over the months as he excelled in basketball and at the same time, Tori worked on meeting every goal she set for herself in medical school. The next step after friendship was dating, then the next logical step was marriage, though that step had come from Tori.

The two had been dining in a private area of Tate
’
s, Tori
’
s favorite soul food restaurant that Dallas co-owned with his cousin, Lolita. The place was colorfully decked out in a Motown theme
—
all the way down to plates that were made in the impression of old school vinyl records. It was a night of celebration
—
Dallas had won another case involving a frivolous lawsuit from yet another woman who was after him strictly for a quick life-time payday.

Their dedicated servers waited just outside the door of their private dining area as Tori and Dallas partook of the restaurant
’
s specialties
—
fried chicken, collard greens, 4-cheese macaroni cheese, sweet potatoes, and fried green tomatoes.

“
You know,
”
Tori said softly, around a bite of jalapeño cornbread,
“
a lot of your problems would go away if you got married.
”

“
You
’
re forgetting women these days,
”
he countered.
“
They don
’
t care if there
’
s a ring or not.
”

He reminded her about Helen, the church
’
s young secretary, and her gold-digging friends who
’
d been through so many members of his basketball team that he
’
d told his boys to stop attending service if they were only on
“
pussy patrol.
”
He hadn
’
t seen so many desperate women since Moses parted the Red Sea. Females
—
young and old, single and not-so-single
—
weren
’
t waiting for
“
I do.
”
They were just slipping between the sheets and saying,
“
Ooops, I did.
”

Tori laughed at his candid explanation, then looked at him for several moments.
“
You know a reporter asked me if you and I were an item. I didn
’
t tell her anything.
”

Even though their friendship had blossomed into a relationship, Dallas hated the media in his love life, so they hadn
’
t gone public.

“
I don
’
t mind them knowing that you
’
re my girl,
”
he said.

Tori toyed with her food.
“
It
’
s funny, she said she didn
’
t believe that we could be together because the rumor was I was a virgin and no way would the great Dallas Avery be with someone who wasn
’
t putting out.
”

Dallas shook his head.
“
I don
’
t understand why everyone
’
s always in my
business
.
”

Tori shrugged.
“
Well, I did tell her that part was true. Only one special man will have the privilege of knowing me intimately.
”

Dallas took a bite from one of the homemade wheat rolls.
“
I
’
m still amazed that you
’
ve kept it on lockdown all this time,
”
he said, chuckling.
“
There definitely aren
’
t that many twenty-six year old virgins around.
”

She grinned, placing her napkin back on her lap.
“
It
’
s not hard to do. No other men have measured up.
”

Dallas nodded and put his attention back on his plate.

“
You
measure up.
”

Dallas
’
head whipped toward her.
“
So what
’
re you saying, Tori?
”

She toyed with the fork as she shrugged.
“
I think it
’
ll be a good idea if
we
get married. Then maybe you
’
ll stop ending up in these lawsuits with women who have your bank account in their crosshairs,
”
she said.
“
I listened to that woman in court, it was obvious you hadn
’
t slept with her. She thought you
’
d just pay her to go away.
”

“
I don
’
t give in to blackmail,
”
he said, his mouth stuffed with food.
“
The DNA would
’
ve told the truth.
”

“
But by then your reputation,
your brand
would be a little damaged. That
’
s what these women want you to pay to protect. Your brand.
”
Tori took another bite of crispy fried chicken.
“
Getting married means you
’
ll have one place, one woman to come to for everything. Love. Sex. Friendship, and definitely having all those children you swore up and down you wanted.
”
Tori grimaced as she looked over at him.
“
Although, I think we
’
ll have to cap that number at one. You
’
re not wearing my womb out with eight children.
”