Chapter Twenty-Three #2
“This is my friend Tori, she’s the doctor on the circuit. Tori, this is my mother.”
“You don’t have to sound so disappointed when you say my name,” Mom sniffed. “Lovely to meet you, Tori.”
Tori waved from behind me. “You too. And uh, you, sir.”
“That’s Derek,” I said, not wanting to look him in the eye after what I just caught him doing to my mother.
“So, what’s brought you home?” Mom asked, perching on the arm of the couch instead of going to get dressed.
“I wanted to swing by and see you for your birthday. Now I think I’ve seen more than enough. We should go.” I turned to Tori, expecting Mom to ask us to stay.
“Sure, why don’t you come back tomorrow?” she said, glancing over at Derek.
I rolled my eyes. They were like teenagers, eager to get back to it.
“Okay, see you then,” I said, nudging Tori back out of the living room.
“Call first!” Mom yelled after me.
“Will do!” I shouted, barely holding in a shudder.
Once we were back outside, Tori burst out laughing. “That was incredible!”
“That was one of the worst moments of my life,” I groaned, dropping my head in my hands.
“And I was the lucky one who got to witness it.” She whistled low, adding, “Your mom looks good for her age; she keeps it all tight!”
“Okay, enough.”
“Sorry. You look like you could use a drink. Let’s go to that bar I saw in town,” Tori offered.
That was a surefire way for word to spread to Maddy that I was home, if she didn’t come to the bar tonight herself. I was planning on messaging her later to tell her I was back home for a surprise visit. I just wanted to give myself a minute to adjust to being in the same space as her again.
“Come ooooon,” Tori goaded at my hesitation.
“Fine, I need to get drunk to erase what I just saw,” I added.
“Derek had a huge—”
“Alright!” I shouted, storming off in front of her, much to her amusement.
Tori teased me all the way to The Lonely Bison and only stopped when we entered and she got distracted by all the different tequilas she could have.
“Leo!” Max called, leaping over the bar and pulling me into a crushing bear hug.
“Hey buddy,” I chuckled into his t-shirt, grimacing as my ribs screamed. “Good to see you too.”
Max pulled back, raking a hand through his dark wavy hair, and I saw Tori eyeing him head to toe. “How? When? Why didn’t you tell us you were coming back?”
“Last minute decision,” I shrugged.
“And who is this lovely lady?” Max turned to Tori who met his megawatt smile with her own.
“Victoria, you can call me Tori,” she added with a seductive tone.
I rolled my eyes. “That’s not special, everyone calls her Tori.”
Tori dug the heel of her boot into my foot. “Only my friends. And we’re friends, right Cutie?” She winked at Max.
Max actually blushed. “Anything you say, ma’am.”
“Ooh, I’m going to like it here,” Tori enthused, rubbing her hands together. She turned to me. “If we get separated tonight…?” she trailed off.
“There’s a spare key under the doormat.”
“Perfect,” she purred and took off after Max back to the bar, asking him what Tequila would make his pants come off. I rolled my eyes again; the woman was a menace.
A couple of cowboys from the local rodeo circuit came over, wanting to talk about Stampede and I was only too happy to oblige.
The door to the bar opened and I just knew it was her.
I turned and she walked in, practically moving in slow motion.
The evening breeze lifted her silky brown hair, blowing it about her face.
Her white shirt billowed open a little, giving me a tantalizing glimpse of soft, tan cleavage.
The flame necklace I’d bought her all those years ago settled against her chest. Her denim skirt lifted to her thighs, leaving miles of creamy skin on display before my eyes settled on her peach cowgirl boots.
Worn, weathered, but suiting her perfectly.
Maddy was stunning, no other woman in the bar compared to her. Hell, no other woman on earth compared to her. And one glimpse of her had all my feelings rushing back.
Maddy’s eyes roved around the bar, the dip between her brows making me smile and then her eyes landed on mine. My heart tripped over itself in my chest as my cheeks ached from the width of my smile. Damn, it was good to see her.
She, however, did not look happy to see me. She didn’t smile, her eyes didn’t even light up like they usually did. Instead, she turned away, dismissing me and immediately went off down the hallway to the bathroom.
My stomach dropped. I was in deep shit and I knew it. I shouldn’t have come home without telling her. Hell, this woman was my home. I’d just been a poor, hurt idiot and I’d hurt her in return. Fuck. I needed to talk to her.
Max appeared next to me. “Quick, while she’s in the bathroom, are you sleeping with her?”
My cheeks heated. “You mean, Maddy?”
“No, idiot. Tori?”
“Oh, no, shoot your shot. But if you hurt her, I’ll shave off all your perfect hair and rip out your perfect vocal chords.”
Max touched one hand to his hair and one to his throat. “Ouch, I hear ya.”
Max returned to the bar and a few moments later Tori reappeared, heading straight towards me, her eyes blazing.
“You asshole!” she shouted, poking me in the chest.
“Ow, what the fuck, Tor?”
Her dark hair whipped around her face with her anger. “I don’t know what you did to her, but you fix it. You fix it now, you hear me? I’m out of here.”
“Wait, Tori!” I called after her, but she spun on her heel and stormed out of the bar.
What the fuck was that about?
Maddy.
What had I done? I hadn’t even spoken to Maddy so I couldn’t have upset her? Why was she saying something to Tori? What was she saying to Tori?
I looked around the bar for Maddy, but she hadn’t left the bathroom yet. I waited, temper flaring as I paced back and forth outside the bathroom, but she didn’t leave. I ran a frustrated hand through my hair.
“If she won’t come out to me then I’m going in to her.”