Coming Home (The Morgans) (3 page)

 
“Knock! Knock! Anybody home?” Tori asked as she entered the back door through to the kitchen at the Morgan’s home that night.

 
“Victoria, come in. Come in, dear. It’s so good to see you.”

 
Mrs. Morgan said, drying her hands on a dishtowel at the kitchen sink.

 
“I brought sugar crème pie.” Tori offered, handing the pie to Mrs. Morgan.

 
“Oh, we better put this up before the boys smell it, or else they won’t eat any dinner first.” Mrs. Morgan teased.

 
“Is that sugar crème pie I smell?” Mr. Morgan entered the kitchen and wrapped his arms around his wife and nuzzled her neck.

 
Mrs. Morgan swatted at him.

 
“You go on out of here, Bob Morgan. No pie until after dinner.”

 
Bob and Claire Morgan had been married for 30 years and still acted like newlyweds. Tori was always amazed at how evident their love for each other was. They were an amazing couple and were like surrogate parents to her.

 
Bob enveloped Tori in a bear hug.

  “Welcome home, h
oney. We’re glad you’re here.”

 
He held her at arm’s length and looked closely at her. His eyes narrowed with concern.

 
“You doing all right? You look like you need that pie more than I do.  Apparently you didn’t forget how to cook, so what’s your excuse for losing weight?” he scolded lovingly.

 
“I know. I know. Kevin already lectured me. He’s promised to fatten me up while I’m here.” Tori joked.

Speaking of the devil…

  Kevin stormed into the kitchen and grabbed hold of Tori around the waist from behind.

 
“Say you’ll marry me now so I can have a lifetime supply of sugar crème pie!” he swooned.

 
Tori smiled up at her friend.

 
“Then all your teeth would fall out, but I guess you could gum sugar crème pie.” she offered.

 
Everyone laughed, including Tori until she turned in Kevin’s embrace and her eyes met Drue’s at the kitchen door leading to the dining room.

 
He was frowning at her as usual.

 
“I see some things never change.” he stated dryly.

  “Don’t worry b
ro. I’ll share the pie.” Kevin grinned mischievously and released Tori.

 
“Dinner’s ready. Everybody go wash up.” Mrs. Morgan ordered.

 
“Victoria, would you please help me with the food.”

 
“Absolutely. Everything smells mouth-watering as usual, Mrs. Morgan.”

 
Tori had eaten many a night at the Morgan dinner table.

  “Your famous barbeque
chicken if my nose is not mistaken.” Tori stated.

 
“Flattery will get you everywhere, won’t it Mom?” Kevin teased as he came into the dining room.

 
Everyone was taking a seat at the round table, and it appeared Tori was being left the chair between    Kevin and Drue. Lucky her.

 
Okay. She could do this, she kept coaching herself.

 
Just act normal. Forget that kiss ever happened.

 
Yeah right. Like that was going to happen.

 
The conversation caught her up on what had been happening around town. The talk of course of the success of the crops that year, new machinery they were looking at for planting in the spring, who had gotten married, who had babies.

 
It was all so comfortable and familiar. Tori felt a tug at her heartstrings. She loved these people and this place. It was so much a part of who she was.

 
“So, Kevin tells us you are on a leave of absence until after Thanksgiving to settle things with Mildred’s estate.” Mr. Morgan began.

  “If you don’t mind me asking, h
oney, what do you plan to do about the property?”

 
“Bob Morgan! Give the child a chance to get settled before you start giving her advice. My goodness!” Mrs. Morgan chastised.

 
Tori smiled weakly.

 
“It’s okay, Mrs. Morgan. You know you all are like family to me. There isn’t anything you couldn’t ask me.”Tori replied.

 
“Tori, we are worried about you. We know you have decisions to make about the house and the estate.   We also see that, not to keep bringing it up, but you have lost weight since the funeral. You have to take care of yourself, sweetheart.”

 
Their concern was her undoing. She had kept so much of her grief inside. Now being here with all of them so caring and loving, a tear escaped down her cheek.

 
“Excuse me.” Tori quietly left the dinner table to go into the kitchen.

 
She just needed a minute to pull herself and her emotions back in check. She stood at the kitchen sink looking out the window.

 
She didn’t hear him come in, but she felt the hand on her shoulder. She thought it would be Kevin.

 
“I’m fine Kevin. Just a little weepy. Stupid girl thing I guess.” She joked pathetically.

 
“I’m sure he will be glad to know that.” Drue replied softly.

 
Tori gasped as she realized it wasn’t Kevin that had followed her into the kitchen, but Drue.

 
“You know, Sprite, I don’t think I have ever actually seen you cry in all the years I have known you.”

 
Tori didn’t miss the mention of her childhood nickname Kevin had given her. She was surprised to hear him use it.

 
Drue turned Tori around to face him. He studied her face as her doe-like brown eyes and pixie-like face stared up at him.

 
She was at a disadvantage this close. She had to bend her neck back to look up at him. Drue gently wiped the remaining tears from her cheek with the pad of his thumb.

 
“You know, my mom is always trying to convince us boys that it isn’t a sign of weakness to cry. Maybe you should listen to her as well.” He said tenderly.

 
Tori’s heart thudded. Her breath caught in her throat. Being this close to Drue was nerve-racking, especially in her vulnerable state.

 
“Did you come in here to make fun of me, Drue?” Tori asked.

Drue smiled.

  “No, I came in here for pie. The one Mom has been trying to hide until we finished our supper.”

Drue grinned cheekily and wriggled his eyebrows mischievously.

  Tori laughed. She couldn’t help it. She hadn’t seen this side of Drue up close before. It was unnerving.   Kevin was the playful, teasing one. Not Drue.

 
This was dangerous ground.

 
“Well, don’t let me keep you. You better take it in before they all come looking for it.”Tori conceded.

 
Drue took the pie from Tori and started back to the dining room. He stopped and turned to Tori.

He cleared his throat and looked uncomfortable.

  “Look, Victoria. I wanted to apologize for this afternoon.” Drue started.

 
Tori looked at Drue in shock. Had she heard him correctly? Were her ears deceiving her? In twenty-four years she had never heard Drue apologize for anything. Never. Sure, he would be the first to admit he was wrong about something, but when it came to Tori he always thought he was right in their disagreements.

 
“You caught me off guard today, and I reacted unacceptably. I am not making excuses. I only hope you know I would never…”

 
Drue fumbled and shuffled his feet.

Tori could see his discomfort as well as his genuine effort to smooth things over. This was a new side to Drue for her. First the fiery, passionate man who had kissed her that afternoon and now a reluctant unsure side that was most definitely not his comfort zone.

 
Tori was fascinated by this new insight. She had always sensed so much more hiding under the surface that he would not let be exposed. She only wished she were the one who could free him from his emotional constraints of always being the strong dependable and responsible son.

 
At least make him realize that it wasn’t a weakness to have feelings and live life. Have some fun.

Just maybe the next month would give her the opportunity to show him. Dare she set herself up to fall for Drue all over again, or could she be stronger than that?

  She would just have to keep reminding herself that Drue did not feel that way about her.

 
“Drue, it’s alright.” Tori started. “I know you would never hurt me intentionally. We just seem to have the knack for pushing each other’s buttons, don’t we?”

 
Tori smiled at Drue, her eyes warm and forgiving.

 
Drue shook his lowered head and chuckled, returning Tori’s smile.

 
“No argument there, Victoria.”

 
Now why did her name have to sound so seductive on his lips? She had never really cared for everyone calling her by her given name until she had gotten older. It had always irritated her that Drue would never call her Tori, but when he said her name it took on a seductive tone.

 
“Why do you suppose that is, Drue?

 
“I don’t know if I have an answer to that. Sometimes it’s just the way it is between two people.” “We are very different.”

 
He sure as hell wasn’t about to tell her he burned to push her up against a wall and kiss the living daylights out of her.

 
“Well, the way I see it we have two choices. We can continue to hen peck each other at every encounter, or we can call a truce.”

 
“I am after all going to be here for a month. We will more than likely be seeing a lot of each other. I don’t know about you but the thought of being at odds with you is not very appealing, so what do you say Morgan? Do you think the grown up Victoria and Drue can play nice?”

 
She leaned back against the kitchen counter to look directly at him.

 
Was he frowning or pensively considering her peace treaty?

 
He looked directly at her then. Something was there in his face. She couldn’t quite identify what. She could sense it more. His mood shifted. The tension in the air was thicker, but it wasn’t unpleasant. It was electric and made her fidget.

 
“Drue?”

 
“Thank you for believing me, Victoria. It means more than you know.” He stated very seriously.

 
“And as far as the truce is concerned, I accept that challenge. It should prove to be no ordinary task for either of us.”

 
Tori laughed. “We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?”

 
She playfully bumped her hips into him.

 
“Come on then. Everyone is going to be thinking we ate the pie ourselves.”

 
Tori and Drue came into the dining room together still laughing. Everyone was so surprised at his and her playful demeanors all activity stopped.

 
“What? Did I spill something on me?” Tori looked down at her blouse.

 
“Oh, nothing dear.” Mrs. Morgan was the first to speak. “We were just wondering if we might get an early snow as you and Drue seem to be getting along is all.”

 
“You have to admit it is an unusual sight to see the two of you laughing together.” she finished.

 
“If that isn’t the understatement of the year.” Kevin chimed in.

 
Tori popped Kevin on the back of his head playfully as she moved to sit down.

 
“Should you tell them or should I?” Drue smirked.

 
“Oh by all means, please do so.” Tori smirked back like a Cheshire cat with a secret.

 
“Alright. Spill it. What are you two up two?” Kevin asked. “You are freaking me out.”

 
“Victoria and I have agreed to a truce.”

 
Tori guessed you could best describe everyone’s response as shock.

 
“Well, I think that is wonderful news!” said Mrs. Morgan.

 
“We just decided it was time to bury the proverbial hatchet and get to know the grown up versions of our adversarial selves.” Tori smiled.

  “
We just haven’t set the terms yet.”

 
“Terms?” Drue questioned warningly.

 
“Gotcha!” Tori laughed playfully.

 
Drue bowed his head in mock defeat.

 
“Father what have I gotten myself into?”

 
Mr. Morgan rolled his eyes. He wondered what the return of Victoria Winslow would bring. He could feel the unspoken tension in Drue. He knew his son. Something was up. Those two had always gone head to head. He wondered what would happen now that they were all grown up. Did his son remember that opposites had a tendency to attract? He imagined his son would learn soon enough.

 
“You are on your own with this one, my boy.” stated Mr. Morgan.

 
“Some lessons have to be learned on their own. This I believe is one of those times.”

 
The rest of the meal passed amicably with no further reference or questions as to what Tori’s plans were.

Mr. Morgan squeezed her hand in a supportive gesture. Tori just smiled and nodded her acknowledgement.

  When she sat back down at the table, Kevin gave her leg a squeeze in the same show of support.

 
When Tori turned to Drue, he was smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He was looking at Kevin’s hand on Tori’s thigh with what some would say was disdain, but Tori didn’t recognize it.

 
Others around the table picked up on it though. Drue’s parents shared a knowing smile with one another.

  “Hey, Tori
” Kevin piped in. “You are just in time for the County Fair! It starts tomorrow.”

 
“Oh my gosh! I haven’t been to that in years, not since our senior year I don’t think.” Tori bubbled.

 
“Oh Yeah. I remember. That was the year you got sick on the buckets and lost it all over Jimmy Martin,” Kevin snickered.

 
Tori covered her face and grimaced at the memory.

 
“Thanks for reminding me of that, Kev. Appreciate that,” Tori pretended to sulk.

 
“Well, we are all going Saturday, so you have to go with us,” Kevin stated unquestionably.

 
“Sounds like fun as long as you don’t make me ride the buckets.” Tori teased.

 
“We’ll just let Drue ride with you,” Kevin said laughingly.

 
Drue had been listening to their playful banter.

 
“This is one guy who likes to keep his feet on the ground.” was all Drue said in reply.

 
“Fuddy duddy.” Tori threw back.

“Scaredy cat.” Kevin chimed in.

 
Drue contemplated and suddenly shocked the room by saying, “ All right. You’re on.”

 
Together both Tori and Kevin gasped, “What?”

 
“You heard me, Victoria. Unless you are chicken.” Drue goaded. “Buckets Saturday night, and I wouldn’t recommend eating corndogs before the ride either.”

 
“You’re on!”

 
Tori could not seem to calm the butterflies in her stomach. She didn’t know if it was nerves or excitement or maybe a little of both.

 
She couldn’t deny the effect Drue still had over her. Her body wouldn’t let her, but it was more than that. She was drawn to him like a magnet. There was so much of him that he did not let people see, but she knew it was there lying dormant just under the surface.

 
She wondered if she would be playing with fire, as he had said, by awakening those sleeping emotions within him?

 
A shiver ran down her spine at the thought. Now that she’d had first hand knowledge of the passion inside the man, she could only imagine what he would be like completely uninhibited.

 
Would she be woman enough to get through to him and could her heart handle the repercussions?

 
It was too late to back out now. She was no coward. Tori just prayed that this would be one time where she could hold on to some reserve of her own without making a complete and utter fool of herself a second time around.

 
Laughter brought Tori’s attention back to the table. Kevin had said something to amuse everyone apparently.

  She sigh
ed in contentment. It was so peaceful and relaxing here.

 
Drue stood, thanked his mother for dinner and carried his plates into the kitchen.

 
Tori came into the kitchen with an armload of dishes.

 
She grinned at Drue.

 
He narrowed his eyes. “Why are you smiling like that?”

  “Oh, no reason
. Since you seem to be in such a rambunctious mood, and Kevin went out to make the nightly rounds, and your mom and dad went for a walk, I volunteered you to help me do the dishes.” Tori finished smugly.

 
Drue groaned. “Great. Thanks.”

 
“I’ll run the water. You get the rest of the dishes from the table.” Tori directed.

 
“Yes, Ma'am.” He continued to grumble and walked off.

 
Drue almost dropped the dishes as he came back into the kitchen.

 
To his dismay Tori was standing at the kitchen sink already washing dishes, but that wasn’t what stopped Drue in his tracks. It was the sight of Tori humming and swaying her hips to the music in her head. It was almost hypnotic to watch.

 
“There you are,” Tori teased. “I thought you had run out and left the dirty work for me.”

 
Tori glanced at Drue as he set the rest of the dishes down for her to wash.

 
He didn’t look any too pleased to be there. His forehead had the familiar creases Tori had seen a million times when he was dissatisfied or about to lecture her and Kevin.

 
She tossed the dishtowel at him playfully.

 
“Here you go, mate.”

 
Tori continued to hum and sway while she washed.

 
Drue continued to look stern while drying.

 
They established a good rhythm. They made a good team Tori thought as they worked in silence. If only he weren’t so stubborn and hardheaded!

 
“Wonder what’s taking Kevin so long?” Tori asked.

 
“Not to worry,” Drue stated flatly. “Your other half hasn’t left you. He never leaves you alone for long.”

 
“Other half?” Tori looked at Drue confused.

 
“You know there is nothing more than a lifelong genuine friendship between your brother and me.”

 
“Uh huh, sure. And the moon is made out of cheese.”  Drue said sarcastically.

 
“Ugh!” Tori growled. “Why does everyone always assume just because we are such close friends there should eventually be romantic ties as well?”

 
“Kevin is like a brother to me and vice versa. To think there is anything else is just gross!”

 
Tori took all her frustration out on the plate she was scrubbing. If she wasn’t careful the enamel was going to come off.

 
“Really?” Drue pushed back. “If that is so, then why isn’t there a Mr. Right involved in your life? Where is he, Victoria?”

 
She took a deep breath and considered how to answer that. She couldn’t tell him that being back home had dusted off feelings that had been dormant for the past six years but never gone, as she had convinced herself.

 
“He’s out there, Drue. Fate just hasn’t brought us together yet, but it will happen when the time is right.” Tori replied quietly.

 
“You and your romantic notions. Always with your head in the clouds,” Drue said disgusted.

 
“It might do you some good to stick your head in the clouds once in a while.” she told him.

 
“Let go a little. It wouldn’t kill you.”

 
“I am just fine with the way I am.”

 
She didn’t give up.

 
“Well, maybe you are, but I think you would be amazed at how good it feels to let go sometimes. Unwind.”

 
“Is that so?” he asked with raised eyebrows.

 
“Are you volunteering to show me how to, Victoria?”

 
A shiver ran down her spine. Oh boy would she. Then an impish thought crossed her mind. She looked at the water hose on the sink. Should she?

 
“I could teach you a few things,” was her suggestive reply.

 
“And just what did you have in mind?” Drue returned the challenging question.

 
Was he really playing this game with her?

 
Before he had any idea of what she was doing, Tori grabbed the hose and sprayed Drue straight in the face, lukewarm water soaking him.

 
“You could cool off for starters and not get so irritated about the little things.” She said laughing whole-heartedly watching water drip from his face.

 
Drue went very still.

 
In a controlled tone he said, “Victoria I am warning you…”

 
He didn’t get any further. Tori proceeded to spray the front of his shirt down to the crotch of his jeans laughing all the while.

 
Just as she turned to put the hose down Drue grabbed for her and pulled her against him, the hand and the hose pinned between them.

 
Her laughter died in her throat when she looked into Drue’s stormy green eyes. Turbulent and intense she knew she was in trouble.

 
“You’re playing with fire, Victoria.” he ground out. “I told you this afternoon you should remember what happens when you strike a match.”

 
He brought his lips to hers then with a demanding, penetrating kiss. Tori dropped the hose and her arms snaked around his neck and sifted through his hair.

 
She felt such a need ignite inside her it couldn’t be ignored. She needed to be closer to him to feel his body against hers.

 
Tori returned his kiss with a passion she didn’t even know she possessed. Never had she experienced such exploding desire. She was on fire from the inside out.

 
His tongue probed the inside of her mouth touching and tasting in wild abandon. Tori felt the counter behind her as Drue pushed her back against it. She felt too his response to her against her leg through the restraining material of his jeans.

 
His hands moved down her sides to cup her bottom in his hands and lift her against him as his quest continued.

 
He lifted her to the countertop where she wrapped her legs around him holding him tighter to her.

As if of their own accord her hips were grinding into his erection. God but he made her wet.

  A moan escaped Tori at the sensations spreading through her. Never had any man made her feel the way Drue did. She was sure she was one of the few twenty-four-year-old virgins left in the world and didn’t have much experience to draw from, but his touch was exquisite. She loved the feel of his mouth on her and his hands trailing her body. She returned his passionate kisses with fevered need.