Love Required (11 page)

“Good morning, sweetheart,” Tori said with a kiss and hug before she made her way into the kitchen. Or maybe kitchenette was a better description. Since she lived in what was now classified as a one-bedroom apartment, with attached office space, it was originally a garage. Her landlord, Hal, had converted the garage for his disabled son. He wanted him to have the luxury of independence, but still be nearby. Unfortunately, his son got ill and passed away unexpectedly, leaving Hal alone.

Tori poured herself a glass of orange juice and padded over to her favorite spot on the couch. Reading to Lexi while nursing her every morning had become their new routine. Since the rest of the day she took a bottle, it made her time in the morning with her more precious. It was a closeness neither shared with another.

It also made her think of her mother and how she wished she’d met Lexi. A small part of her liked to believe that her mother protected and guided her after she fled from Damien. She definitely knew someone had been watching over her.

Shaking off the darker thoughts, she picked up the book of children’s stories and began reading to her daughter, mentally mapping out what the rest of her day would be like. Wednesday was when she helped Hal with groceries and prepared individual meals for him. Since she loved cooking, and was quite accustomed to making large portions, it was no hardship to do this for him.

When she was done with all of that, she hoped she’d be able to find something worth wearing for her date that night. Her desire to look good for Jason had kept her awake late last night. Certain that she was going to need at least an hour to pick her wardrobe, she would have to make sure not to fall behind on her tasks that day. She smiled as she once again let the anticipation of going on a first date flutter through her chest. It was an excitement she hadn’t thought she would ever feel again. Knowing that Damien hadn’t stolen that from her permanently, had her smiling even bigger. That sense of satisfaction was immeasurable.

JASON checked the inventory list his foreman handed him. Placing a work order for the upcoming job was his goal for the morning, and he was thankful his head wasn’t nearly as far up his ass as it was the day before. It was a little baffling how anxious he was waiting for Tori to call him. Looking forward to the evening ahead, he thanked his foreman and made his way to the onsite office he and Logan shared.

Dropping down into the seat at his desk, he put his phone next to the laptop and got to work. Logan strolled in a few minutes later with their lunch. He took the offered bag with his sandwich in it without even looking up from the screen. Mumbling his thanks, he blindly pulled the food out and began eating while he finished his work. A few minutes and half a sandwich later, Logan asked, “So, you know where you’re taking your date tonight?”

Leaning back in his chair, Jason finished the food in his mouth before answering, “I have a few places in mind, but was thinking of asking her where she felt like going.” He shrugged.

“Not a bad idea. Nothing worse than making plans only to find out you were totally off base with your choice. Shit like that on a first date could probably derail the second date before dinner even hits the table,” Logan said as he took another bite of his sandwich.

Jason smirked at his friend. “You speaking from experience? Didn’t know you were an authority on first dates.”

“Not on first dates, but I’m definitely an expert on being totally off base. Been there done that, even with my wife of seventeen years. Problem was, Gillian was always quiet about things when she was bothered. I used to think that was her being weak.” He paused and seemed to be reflecting on something before adding, “Now I know that was just her trying to make me happy.”

Logan shook his head and shoved more food in his mouth. Jason hated seeing his friend like that, but was glad it didn’t happen all the time. It seemed to be only when he realized he had screwed everything up all by himself. Wanting to lighten the mood, Jason said, “I don’t know too much about her, but I can tell you she’s not a vegetarian. She tried to make me think she was, then confessed, saying ‘I totally eat meat.’”

Logan started choking on his soda. Jason laughed, happy he succeeded in lightening the mood, as Logan’s feet hit the ground, and he proceeded to cough. Taking another bite of his own food, Jason waited for him to recover.

When Logan had found his voice, he said, “You’re an asshole. You had to say that when I had a mouth full of soda?”

Jason shrugged and smiled bigger. “Didn’t plan it that way, but I enjoyed the outcome.”

Logan was cut off from responding further when Jason’s phone rang. When he saw Tori’s name on the screen, he felt a shot of excitement course through him at her unexpected call. Then it quickly turned to concern at the thought that maybe she was calling to cancel. If he needed to give her another reason to go out with him, he would, but there was only one way to find out, so he answered.

“Hello.”

There was no response, so he pulled the phone from his ear and looked at the screen. The connection was still there, but
she
didn’t seem to be. Listening closer, he could hear noise in the background and then a high-pitched baby squeal, followed by a slurping, sucking sound. It was so loud in his ear, he had to pull it away for a moment. He could hear Tori talking in the background but couldn’t make out the words. For a split second he felt like he was eavesdropping, but squashed that down because she was the one who called him. Well, maybe not intentionally, but it was still true.

He said hello again, a little louder, and was met by a baby giggle. Looking up at Logan, he laughed. “I’m pretty sure I got butt-dialed by an infant.”

Logan stood from his chair to discard his trash. “Smart kid. They keep learning younger and younger nowadays.”

Jason snorted. “Quit using words like ‘nowadays;’ it makes you sound old.”

Resuming his listening, he started talking to Lexi, “It sounds like Lexi is playing with Mommy’s phone, isn’t she?” He knew she wasn’t going to answer, but he paused anyway before saying, “I’m going to hang up the phone now baby girl and call you back, so if the ring scares you, I’m sorry.”

Hanging up, he waited a beat before calling the number back. After three rings, a laughing Tori answered, “Hello?”

“Hi, did she get scared when the phone rang?” he asked.

“Actually, you startled her. The look on her face before she got excited about it was hilarious. How did you know?” Tori asked.

“Because I’m calling you back. She had somehow called me, and there was no other way to get your attention.”

“Ha! Ten months old and already calling guys. I should be very afraid.” Tori laughed, and Jason could hear her talking to Lexi. It brought a smile to his face as he listened. A moment later, she was back. “Sorry about that. I hope she wasn’t interrupting anything important.”

“No, just having lunch. It was a pleasant distraction.”

“Then I’m glad she called you. I have to tell you, though, I was worried you were calling to cancel on me,” she admitted.

“Funny, ‘cause that’s what I was worried about when I saw
you
calling
me
.”

“Nope, not me. Besides, you have my spare tire,” she said with exasperation.

Smiling even bigger than he already was, he said, “I knew that tire would come in handy.”

He loved the banter between them. She was funny and fun to be around. Add in all the sexy parts, and Jason almost groaned at how much he was looking forward to their evening together.

“Yes, handy indeed. I will have to make sure I add that to my list of things to do when I want to hold someone hostage. Steal something of theirs so they have no choice but to submit.”

With that, his body’s physical anticipation heightened. He wanted to keep talking to her, but knew he needed to get his shit done or there would be hell to pay in the morning when his men didn’t have what they needed to get their jobs completed. “It mainly only works with objects of significant need or large ticket items. You know, like cell phones, cars, prosthetic limbs. Any of those would work.”

She barked out a laugh, louder than he’d heard from her yet, and Jason couldn’t help but laugh with her. “All good stuff to know! I will have to make a list of people I know with prosthetic limbs and determine if they have something I want.”

“Sounds like a great plan.” He paused, a moment of insecurity passing through him. “So … does six-thirty still work for you?”

After a few moments of silence, in a soft voice, Tori answered, “Yes. See you later, Jason.”

“Later, Tori,” he answered before she hung up. When he set his phone down on the desk, he took in a deep breath and let it out, enjoying how content he felt after talking to her. When he felt a crumpled up piece of paper hit him in the forehead, he glared over at Logan.

Logan put his hands up in mock surrender. “Sorry, man, couldn’t help it. I was afraid you might start spouting poetry with that dreamy look on your face.”

Shaking his head but holding in a laugh, Jason said, “Did you really just say ‘dreamy look’?”

Logan smiled confidently. “I have a teenage daughter. What’s your excuse for sounding like a chick?”

“Hey, if sounding like a chick, gets me the chick, then I’m all for it.” Logan looked to be considering what he said, and they both got back to work. He focused on the task at hand, telling himself that the sooner he got it done, the sooner he’d be out of there, and the sooner he’d be on his way to Tori’s. Thoughts of his evening were put on the backburner, but his anticipation remained on a low simmer.

CHAPTER TEN

TORI took another deep breath—in through the nose, out through the mouth. That was what they said to do to help calm down, right? Her nerves were getting the best of her, and Tessa wasn’t helping. Friends were for moral support, or so she thought. Shaking her head, she listened to her best friend tell Lexi about how important it was for Mommy to go on a date with the hot hunk because Mommy needed orgasms to survive. While she absolutely agreed that orgasms with hot hunks were desired, Tori knew that her evening wasn’t going to end that way. There would be no sex. Sex wasn’t something she thought she could handle just yet.

The whole evening was going to be a test in her ability to participate in activities that were considered normal for women her age. Activities that she hadn’t partaken in for over three years. Not since before. Not since Damien took over. Prior to meeting Damien, she had a very healthy dating life. Attractive and confident, she had friends, she had a job, she had a life. She also had her mom.

She thought the loss of her mother was the lowest point in her life. Looking back now, she knew that wasn’t true. The memories of her short marriage to
him
crowded into all the very low points, and that is where they stayed. Damien had been a predator, and she the prey. Weakened by the crippling pain of loss, he hunted her until he had consumed every part of her. She took one more deep, cleansing breath as she looked at her reflection in the mirror, and thought to herself,
or so he thought
.

She was empowered by the fact that she outsmarted Damien. So when she felt down about something, she reminded herself that it had been worse before. Instantly, she felt better. Even after he went to jail, and thought he had left her alone and lacking everything she would need to survive—money, shelter, food—she had outsmarted him. They were small victories that fueled the fire of her survival.

Her internal pep talk was interrupted when she heard a car pull into the driveway. Tessa must have heard it, too, because she took that opportunity to tell Lexi, “Hot hunks like this guy are usually hung like a horse and strive on giving orgasms. In most cases, multiples. Can you say
or-gaz-em
?”

“Tessa! Stop that!” Tori scolded. Tessa was at least smart enough to look a little embarrassed and gave her a sheepish smile.

“Not like she can talk anyway. Besides, this is all very useful information that I wished someone would have told me. She doesn’t have a big sister, and I’m her aunt, so it’s my job to make sure she is informed.”

“How ‘bout we wait a few more—or a lot more—years before discussing orgasms with her, okay?” Tori whispered urgently, wanting to end the conversation before Jason could hear it. How awkward it would be to start a first date being caught talking about orgasms.

Moving toward the door, she slipped on a lightweight, blue cardigan over her simple black dress. It was fun and flirty as it flared from her hips, ended above her knees, and was finished off with a pair of wedge sandals that wrapped around her ankles. She was pleased as she took in her appearance, skimming her hands down her front before pulling her hair out of her sweater and smoothing it over her shoulder. She was wearing it loose, per Tessa’s instructions, which included the reason: men liked long, loose hair and it made kissing even hotter. Tori preferred to wear it down, because she could without the fear of consequences now.

Tessa picked up Lexi and walked over to Tori. “Give Mommy a kiss, and wish her luck for at least two orgasms.” She had stretched out the word to emphasize it. Tori knew she was gonna need to find another sitter soon before Auntie Tessa also told Lexi about erections.

Tori pulled her daughter into her arms for a hug and kiss. When she handed her back to Tessa, she said, “Call me if there’s a problem, and please, for the love of God, stop trying to get my daughter to say orgasm.”

Tessa shrugged, totally disregarding her request. Tori just shook her head as she turned and opened the door to find the aforementioned “hot hunk,” with his hand mid-air, attempting to knock. A slow smile spread across his face as he took her in, and she sent up a quick prayer that he had not heard her say orgasm.

JASON let a slow smile spread across his face. She was beautiful. He let his hand fall from the mid-air position. “Hello.”

There was a pink tinge to her cheeks, and she had a hesitant smile as she answered. “Hi. I guess you found the place okay. You could’ve honked, and I would’ve come out to the car.”