Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
It was dark by the time we got back into town. The highway was quiet as we drove through the mountains, making the sights around us more serene and quiet. Emilia drifted off almost as soon as we left the orchard, her belly full after all the apples and treats she’d consumed during the afternoon.
I smiled as I spotted her slouched over in her seat, unable to keep the happiness off my face. Truth be told, today was the best day I’d had in a long time. It wasn’t because of the orchards, or the animals, or even the ridiculous amount of sugar I’d consumed. Nope. It had everything to do with the two girls in my car and how I felt around them.
Every moment I spent with Tori and Emilia, I wanted a hundred more. I was becoming a greedy, selfish man when it came to them, and I couldn’t bring myself to care. Where normally, I’d be itching for space after spending the entire day with someone, instead, I was already dreading when we’d separate for the night.
I stole another glance at Victoria and Emilia. How in the hell had I gotten so lucky? It wasn’t the first time I’d thanked my luck, but in the past, it was usually because of my career. Acting was a difficult way to make a living, and for every person who got their big break, hundreds were waiting for their moment. I was one of the fortunate who had met the right people, been in the right place at the right time. And as hard as I worked for my success, I’d have to be delusional not to thank my luck.
But sitting here, watching as Emilia slept in the backseat and Tori hummed along with the radio, this simple moment surpassed any role I could have earned. As much as I missed acting, if I screwed this up, I knew I’d miss moments like this more.
“What was your favorite part of the day?” Tori asked, a small smile playing on her face.
“Mrs. Campbell, is that you?” I teased, remembering the way her mother used to start every meal with the same question. “I’m having flashbacks to all those Sunday dinners at your house growing up.”
“You know, I thought it was so lame when I was a kid.” Tori glanced in the rearview mirror. “But once Em started getting bigger, I found myself doing the same thing.” She shifted her smile to me. “Guess we really do become our parents.”
“That wouldn’t be the worst thing,” I chuckled. “Except for the farming part. I’d be a disaster.”
“Probably,” she laughed. “Remember when you tried to help my mom with her garden?”
“It’s not my fault I don’t have a green thumb.” I reached over and took her hand in mine. “But to answer your question, I can’t choose one moment. The whole day was pretty damn perfect.” I lifted her knuckles to my lips. “And it’s not even over yet. ”
“Oh yeah?” Tori asked, shifting to face me fully. “And what are the plans for the rest of the night?”
“That’s up to you,” I said seriously. “I don’t want to intrude on your space with Emilia, especially before she knows we’re more than friends. But if you’d like, I could come over after bedtime…”
“And have a repeat of the other night?”
“Maybe even more, if you’re into it.”
“God, yes,” she sighed. “I’d really like that.”
“Yeah?” I questioned, releasing her hand to flicker the blinker, turning into the guest lot for Fox Creek. As I pulled into a space, I leaned in closer to her. “You’re feeling a little needy, baby?”
“You have no idea,” she groaned. “We fooled around once, and I’m pretty sure you’ve already ruined me.”
I chuckled, looking down at our joined hands. She had no idea how true that was. From the moment our lips touched, Victoria was the only one I wanted. I smiled as I looked over at her, running my free fingers along her jawline. “Just returning the favor.”
As I reached out to open the door, I turned to face the front of the lodge, hissing a sharp curse when I saw we weren’t alone. Cole stood on the porch, his forearms resting on the wooden railing. While he wasn’t looking in our direction, unease crawled down my spine. Did he see us? As much as I was dying to tell him about my relationship with Tori, this wasn’t the way I wanted him to find out. That conversation needed to be in the light of day, and if he didn’t take it well, I didn’t want it attached to the memory of today.
Besides, Tori wasn’t ready. As much as I wanted to tell him the truth, I’d respect her wishes and keep it between us until she was comfortable sharing our news .
I gave Tori a sympathetic smile, sure her anxiety was probably skyrocketing at the sight of him. “How do you want to do this, Tor?”
She chewed on her lower lip, looking at Emilia snoring softly in the backseat. “We’re just hanging out,” she said out loud, but it sounded more like she was comforting herself. “There’s nothing wrong with that. We’ll tell him the truth.”
“The truth, huh?” I sighed, clenching my hand over the wheel. “Can I call him a cock-block, because all I’ve thought about all day is having you at my mercy?”
I smirked as I glanced over at Tori, loving the blush filling her cheeks. It wasn’t as bright as usual, not with our only light being the overhead beacons above the parking lot. Shit, I hated the idea of calling it a night, but there was no way I’d be able to explain hanging out in Tori’s apartment after dark. “C’mon,” I said. “I’ll walk you two inside.”
Tori sighed, shifting her purse into her lap. “Maybe you should just go to your cabin, and I’ll deal with him.”
“Nope. Don’t like the sound of that one bit.” I shook my head before nodding to the backseat. “Plus, there’s no way you can carry her.”
“I can do it,” she answered. “Who do you think usually carries her to bed?”
I cringed at the thought, not wanting to watch Tori struggle to get her daughter inside. Sure, Cole would be more than willing to help, but my pride wouldn’t let him. The whole day, I’d gotten a taste of life with these two, and I wasn’t ready to drop the fantasy just yet.
“Not gonna happen,” I insisted. “Let me at least take her inside, and then you can hang with your brother.” I leaned forward, reaching up to run my thumb along her cheekbone. “Just know I’ll be thinking about you all night. ”
She let out a sharp hiss. “You have no idea how much I want to kiss you right now.”
Oh, I knew damn well. It was taking everything in me not to claim her lips right now, audience be damned. But not until she wanted to tell Cole the truth. I brushed my thumb along her plush lower lip, lowering my voice. “Whenever you’re ready, just say the word.”
After bringing Emilia upstairs, I insisted on tucking her into bed myself. Sure, Cole had given me a strange look, probably trying to connect the dots on why I was spending so much time with his sister and niece. For a moment, I thought about handing her over to him, but then her hand curled around my shoulder, holding me a little tighter, like she also wasn’t ready to let me go. There was no way I’d pass her off after that.
Tori insisted she could sleep in her day clothes and that she’d change her later when she got up to use the bathroom, so I set her on her princess bed, tucking the fluffy purple comforter up under her chin. As I stroked a couple of stray hairs away from her face, Emilia’s eyes blinked open, smiling up at me. “Thanks, Adam.”
“Any time, kiddo.”
“Today was the bestest day ever,” she yawned. “Can we go back again?”
I smiled brightly down at her. “Just say the word, and I’ll be happy to pick more apples with you.”
She grinned as she snuggled back into her bed, her breathing getting heavier before I even got to the door. As soon as I pulled it mostly shut, I turned back into the living room, catching the end of a conversation between Cole and Tori. Her face was scrunched, like he’d said something that upset her, and for the first time in a long time, I wanted to punch him in the jaw. I moved closer to Tori’s side. “You okay?”
“Yup,” she said as she smiled tightly up at me. “Cole was just talking to me about the Fall Fest. He wants me to come help at the Fox Creek booth.”
Cole sighed, running his hand through his hair. “Look if you don’t want to?—”
“I think you should,” I answered, looking at Tori. Her brow scrunched at me, trying to understand my reasoning. “Everyone’s been talking about the Fall Fest and how much fun it’s going to be. Maybe you should go, help Cole and Alex for a bit, and then you can enjoy the rest of it with Emilia.”
“We’d really like that,” Cole added. “Marta would be more than happy to watch Emilia until you’re done.”
“Or I could do it.”
Both Campbells turned to look at me, but their looks were drastically different. Cole stared at me like he was looking at a stranger while Tori was trying to fight a grin. I focused more on her, wanting to make sure she knew my offer was genuine. “We’ll spend some time here, and then I’ll bring her over when you’re ready. Besides, Marta and pretty much everyone else we know is going to be running a booth. I’ve got nothing else going on, and I’d much rather be hanging out with Em than be by myself in my cabin.”
“Are you sure?” Tori asked, shifting closer to me on instinct. I loved that she needed to be near me, her feet moving with a mind of their own. “She can be a lot of work, and I don’t want to ask too much of you.”
“You’re not asking, I’m offering.”
She sighed, glancing between me and Cole, who was still watching me like he’d missed something.
And he had.
He’d missed that I was falling for his sister and, by extension, her daughter. I wanted to be the one they called, the one who helped when Tori needed someone. I wanted to be everything for her.
“You don’t have to give me an answer tonight. Think about it and let me know.” I smiled down at Tori. “You know where to find me.”
I walked over to the door, clapping Cole on the shoulder as I passed. If I stayed another minute longer, I’d probably do something stupid, like confess to my best friend that I wanted him to leave so I could do unspeakable things to his sister. The only choice was to head out, even though every fiber of my being was fighting every step.
“Hold up,” Cole called out. “Let me walk you out.”
Oh, fuck.