Coming Home (The Morgans) (2 page)

As Tori crossed the yard up toward the Morgan house, she noticed the tractor sitting out in front of the barn. She heard what sounded like a clanking noise coming from the general vic
inity and headed that way.

 
As she neared she saw long legs and a cute backside facing her in a pair of close-fitting worn jeans bent under the tractor hood. Kevin always did look good in a pair of jeans. She couldn’t resist. She knew how ticklish he was.

 
Sneaking up behind him, she pounced, grabbing his sides and tickling away yelling, “Skittles!”

This was the nickname she had dubbed Kevin one winter when they were in grade school. His Aunt had given him a bright green scarf and bright orange sweater. She had thought he looked like a rainbow of Skittles candy wearing that. The nickname had stuck.

  Unfortunately for Tori it wasn’t her Kevin that banged his head on the tractor jumping in surprise and turning ready to attack.

 
At the same time proceeding to spill whatever brown oily-looking substance he had been holding all down the front of his shirt.

 
Drue’s fiery green eyes stared back at her.

 
“What the he...” he began to roar and stopped short.

 
“Victoria?” he said almost in confused wonder. A mixture of emotions crossed his face before he seemed to gather his composure. Only his irritation remained.

 
“What the hell are you doing here and why are you sneaking up on me almost giving me a concussion?” he grumbled as the rest of the oil that covered his torso dripped from his chin onto what was left of his stained shirt. He was rubbing his head where he had hit it on the tractor.

 
She found her voice somewhere. So shocked was she to come face to face with a man she had not said more than a few words to in six years. Always one ready to defend herself, Tori straightened her 5’ 2” frame self-consciously against his six-foot frame and retorted, “I would think for an intelligent man like yourself, Drue Morgan, it would be obvious that I mistook you for your brother!”

 
Drue continued to stare her down all the while fluid dripping from his chin. The situation struck Tori so unbelievable funny she could not contain herself. She couldn’t help it. The first laugh slipped out before she could stop it.

 
“You find this amusing, Miss Winslow?” Drue ground out through clenched teeth.

 
“Miss Winslow?” thought Tori. Oh he really was steaming.

 
Whether it was from the tension or seeing him again or just the plain hilarity of the situation, Tori didn’t know, but the laughter came. It bubbled out of her like an erupting volcano with gut-wrenching ripples.

 
Nothing could have prepared her for what happened next. She felt his hands on her forearms before she realized his intent as Drue pulled her forcefully to him.

 
Chest to chest Tori looked up into Drue’s face and knew she was in trouble.

 
His eyes had turned emerald green, stormy and turbulent. She had seen that look before and knew whatever was coming next could not be good, but never would she have expected what did. She hiccupped as she tried to curb her laughter.

 
He swooped in quickly and pressed his lips to hers in what was meant to be a punishing kiss, but once their lips met, something happened. Sparks ignited. Her lips opened to him and his tongue invaded her mouth, scorching her.

 
Just as quickly as the assault to her senses had began it ended.

 
Tori knew she was standing there in shocked amazement and silence as Drue set her away from him.

Her stomach was in tight knots and she tingled from head to toe.

Never in a million years would she have expected their reunion to be like that. His kiss had seared her to her soul. She was certain she now knew what it must feel like to be struck by lightning.

 
“I see you have yet to learn that when you strike a match, you could get burned, Victoria.” Drue drawled dryly.

 
“I on the other hand have learned something new today.” he stated sarcastically.

 
His mouth twisted in that lopsided grin of his that always drove her crazy.

 
“I think I may have discovered the only way to shut you up,” Drue stated. “Now I guess we are even.”

 
With that he turned on his heel and headed back up to the house.

 
Just as Drue came to the back door, Kevin came flying out of it. He looked at Drue with raised eyebrows smiling.

  “Hey big brother, d
id you have a fight with the tractor and loose?” Kevin goaded him mischievously.

  “Your
evil twin has returned.” Drue stated dryly.

 
Kevin’s head shot up and scanned the yard. His face lit up and he gave out such a hoop of joy that the birds scattered from their trees.

 
Kevin bounded toward Tori. This caused Tori to shake the fuzz from her muddled brain. He picked her up hugging and swinging her around in circles of delight.

 
He set her back down and held onto both her hands.

 
“You’re back! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming today?”

 
Tori smiled at her friend. It was so comforting to see him.

 
“Are you alright? You’ve lost weight. Aren’t you eating? What...”

 
Tori interrupted him

 
“Kevin. Slow down.” She chuckled.

 
“I’m fine. It’s just been a trying time. You know that.” She finished quietly.

 
Kevin held her close and whispered in her ear.

 
“I know, Sprite. It’s going to be all right. You know I am here for you.” He said gently.

 
Tears fell as she clung to Kevin. She was so grateful for his support, especially since she felt so alone.

  Kevin stopped short and stared at his friend. With his typical raising of his eyebrows he questioned Tori.

 
“Just what in the world have you gotten into,’ he asked as he wiped oil from the side of her face.

 
“Don’t tell me you and Drue have mended fences and were working on the tractor together,” he teased.

 
Tori looked down at her sweatshirt that was now streaked with oil.

 
She could feel the grime across her face that had been transferred from Drue’s when he had kissed her.

No. No need to review that scene in her mind. She needed to forget all about it, although she doubted she would be able to any time soon.

  She playfully punched Kevin’s arm.

  “Your
brother was paying me back for sneaking up on him, nearly giving him a concussion,” Tori grumbled.

 
“I thought it was you.  You have to admit, your back sides do resemble one another,” Tori said laughingly.

 
The image of Drue’s backside as he was bent over the tractor invaded her memory. Heat spread through her entire body.

  “Stop it.
” she mentally scolded herself. “Nothing good can come of those kind of thoughts.”

 
Kevin reeled her thoughts back in.

 
“So, I guess this means you and Drue didn’t kiss and make up?” he teased.

 
Tori’s face paled, and she thought she would faint.

 
Had he seen what had happened, she wondered?

 
“Hey,” Kevin said more seriously. “I was just kidding. I know you and Drue have always been a thorn in each other’s sides, but for the life of me I can’t figure out why.”

  Kevin just shook his head.
He hugged Tori close once again.

 
“I am just so glad you are here.”

 
“I have a lot to take care of over the next month.” She stated sadly.

 
“You’ll get through it. It will be tough, but you are not alone, Tori. My whole family is here to support you.” Kevin affirmed what she already knew.

 
“Well, I need to go get settled at the house. I haven’t been there yet.” Tori moved away from Kevin.

 
“Alright, but come have dinner with us tonight. Mom and Dad will be thrilled to see you.”

 
“That would be great. Normal time? 6:30?” she asked.

 
“You betcha. Be here or be square.” He taunted her.

 
“As if!”

 
Victoria walked to her car as Drue watched from his upstairs bedroom window.

Lord how that girl, correction – woman, got under his skin. Time had apparently done nothing to change that with the exception that the result of his reaction to Tori had definitely intensified. She had always been cute and full of energy, but she was all grown up.

  She had turned into a beautiful vibrant woman. Her petite frame with her dark wavy auburn hair that curled halfway down her back was enough to catch any breathing male’s attention, but it was her eyes that always held Drue. Their deep brown depths always held so many emotions. She never had a poker face. She expressed herself freely and openly.

 
He had worked hard over the past several years to ignore the attraction he felt for her.

He couldn’t believe he had kissed her! What was the matter with him? He could still taste her on his lip
s and smell her sweet scent of lavender and lemon.

 
She had always brought him to the brink of his control, and today he had lost it. Never had that happened. Even when the tables had been turned and she had surprised him so many years ago with a kiss.

 
Drue had controlled himself then even though he had found himself wanting to return her kiss. He couldn’t. It would have been wrong. She was Kevin’s girl. At least that was how he had always looked at her.

 
Even though it seemed amazing that there had never been any kind of romance between them, Drue fully expected them to end up together. Their lives had always been so closely intertwined. Even now he knew they spoke weekly.

 
Victoria was off limits. That was why he had always pushed aside any feelings he may have harbored for her when they were growing up. Something had always been there nagging in his gut that intensified whenever she was near.

 
What rattled him was that just the sight and sound of her today had unleashed such a reaction that he had actually kissed her.

 
He had meant it in anger but when his lips had touched her, his anger turned into such a heated rush of desire it had unsettled him.

 
Never had he experienced such a reaction to any woman.

 
He didn’t like it. He had always practiced self-control. It seemed that Victoria could reach something in him that no one else ever had. He was going to have to be very careful not to let that happen again.

 
The further away from her he stayed the better. He knew that would be difficult, but she would only be here a few weeks, right? He would just have to deal with it until she left.

 
A heavy feeling settled in his chest at the thought of being so close but yet so far from her.

He knew the sooner she left the better.

 
Tori climbed the white slightly wobbly front steps to her grandparent’s front porch. The wooden weathered porch swing creaked back and forth in the gentle fall breeze to her left. Her grandparent’s white wicker chairs with bright yellow and blue patterns welcomed her home.

 
So many nights had been spent on this front porch. So many wonderful memories. They were like a picture show in her mind full of vivid colors. Her first skinned knee when grandpa taught her to ride her bike. Her excitement telling her grandma how Kevin had stood up for her that first day of school, writing for the school newspaper, her first kiss, breaking up with Bobby Johnson and so much more.

 
This front porch had been an integral part of her childhood. How could she feel so sad when she had been blessed with so much love?

 
Tori took the three additional steps to the front door, took a deep cleansing breath and turned the key.

Warmth surrounded her. She sat her bags down at the foot of the stairs in the foyer. It had been just two weeks since she had buried her grandmother. The house felt so empty and quiet. No one greeted her. No sounds but the creaks and moans of an old house.

  She felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness.

 
Walking through the house to the living room, Tori stopped in front of her grandmother’s rocking chair. It had always been her favorite chair, one that had rocked her since she was a baby. She had always felt safe and loved wrapped in her grandma’s arm, singing her to sleep to “In the Garden” her grandma’s favorite church hymn.

 
Curled up in an afghan rocking back and forth, tears pricked her eyelids. “I miss you both so much," she whispered.

 
All of her life was tied to this house. It’s contents. It’s memories. Even the cement outside had her handprint in it when grandpa had poured new steps to the back door.

 
What was she going to do? She had a meeting with the solicitor in two days to go over the estate. She already knew the house was hers. The question was what was she going to do with it? Her life was in Chicago. Her friends. Her career. Her publisher.

 
For the past three years Tori had worked as a Senior Editor for McNutt Publishing House. Losing herself in the pages of a story and picturing the people, their habits, their adventures and hardships brought to life by the creative minds of the writers wasn’t work to Tori. She loved every minute of her work. What she desired even more was to write her own stories. Even now she was awaiting the review from her publisher on her first submitted novel. She knew it was good, but would they see it as good enough? Soon she would know. Then what?

 
She loved the city, but it felt so good to be home. Home. There was no doubt that this was still home.

Can I sell it and walk away? That thought made her even sadder. Taking care of a property this size was a lot of responsibility. She couldn’t do it from Chicago. She really had a lot of thinking to do over the next few weeks and decisions to be made.

  Well time’s a’ wastin as grandpa would say. Tori folded the afghan and decided a cup of coffee is just what she needed before unpacking.

 
Wiping her eyes and telling herself yet again that she was so grateful for the love and life she was given by her grandparents, she made her way to the kitchen and instantly stopped. Closing her eyes she breathed the scents in.

 
The smell of sugar and cinnamon greeted her. She expected to open her eyes and see her grandmother standing at the stove. She breathed in deeply. Oh how she loved the smell. A smile graced her tear-stained face as an idea grew. She knew just what she was going to take to dinner with the Morgans.