Smoke and Mirrors: (Fire and Fury Book Two)

by Avery Kingston

  “Oh God, oh God, yes…” she cried as she reached her peak.

  His body climbed toward the edge.

  She licked her thumb and rubbed it across his nipple—which she knew drove him absolutely nuts.

  God damn, the things this woman did to him. Scott tilted his head to the side and closed his eyes, sweat covering his body. Electricity shot through him and he trembled as he spilled every last drop into her.

  They collapsed on the dingy sofa in a sweaty mess, and lay there catching their breath for several moments.

  “I’m sorry I left you in the shop.” Scott apologized. “It was a dick move.”

  Tori shrugged. “It was, but I know I scared the shit out of you.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I promise to never leave you in the dark again—even if I’m angry with you.” His words caught in his throat and his eyes welled up as he pressed his forehead to hers. “All I want is for you to be safe, Tori,” he whispered. “That and your heart.”

  “I’m sorry it took me so many years to give it to you, and I’m sorry I still keep parts of it hidden. I’m trying,” Tori breathed. “Please know: you have my heart. You always have. I’ve always loved you.”

  “I know you have.” He rubbed her cheek with his thumb and kissed her gently.

  “So, you do still choose me?” she asked, still breathless. “Even with all my stubbornness and recklessness?”

  “I wouldn’t want you any other way, baby.” As much as he hated it, he also loved how it was woven into her. It made her the amazing creature she was. He kissed her on the cheek as he got up off the sofa and pulled up his pants. “Don't get me wrong—you drive me absolutely insane. I can only assume we’ll have this same damn argument for years to come, but God I love the fight in you. You don’t give up, even when you probably should.” He grabbed his shirt off the floor, pulling it over his head.

  He tossed her clothing to her and she dressed. While she righted herself, he grabbed the cane over by the wall, flipped it open and inspected it. Thankfully it didn’t appear damaged. He pulled her off the sofa and placed it in her hand. “Now come show me what you made today.”

  They walked out into the garage and were met with shifty eyes and awkward grins. Blaze started a slow clap, then the others followed.

  “Congratulations on a spectacular performance!’ Presley put her fingers in her lips and whistled.

  Scott chuckled and put his arm around Tori as she buried her head into his chest laughing.

  “I take it all is forgiven?” Chad questioned.

  “I told you I had my ways with him.” Tori smirked.

  “Well, yeah, with fucking that hot, he’d be an idiot to stay pissed at you,” Blaze remarked.

  Scott grinned like a madman. “Now show me this welding project of yours.” He led her over to the bench.

  “It’s not a big deal.” Her cheeks reddened.

  It was positively adorable when his confident woman got bashful. “I mean, it’s only a heart, a stupid simple shape. Obviously, I couldn’t start with something complex.” Tori rested her cane against her shoulder and fiddled with the pieces, feeling the edges and placing them in their proper order—discarding the ones she didn’t need. “I got this idea that I could raise it off a background somehow to make it more tactile, once I smooth the edges. I want to solder the pieces together, like stitches.”

  Scott looked down at it. There were smooth pieces and rough checkered pieces mixed together. “Like a stitched heart. I get it. Like you.” He squeezed her shoulder and kissed her on the top of the head.

  “No, like us. Two hearts make one.” She scratched her brow. “I know, it’s cheesy…”

  He loved it. God, she was too precious for words. “I think it’s perfect.”

  “Your mom will have a fit that we’re late for dinner,” Tori remarked as Scott pulled into the parking space. Their little escapade at Chad’s shop had cost them some time, and now they were adding a trip to the store.

  “She can deal. You need allergy medicine and I guarantee you there’s no hard liquor in that house.” He glanced at Blaze through the rearview mirror. “I have a feeling we’ll need more than wine to get through this evening,” Scot groaned.

  Blaze and his mother were about the two most opposite people that you could put in a room. He wasn’t quite sure how this evening was going to play out.

  “Is that for you or for him?” Presley chuckled and nodded toward Blaze as Scott killed the engine.

  “Both.” Scott rolled his eyes as he opened his door and went to the passenger side to grab Tori while the others filed out of the car behind him.

  “You two head to the liquor store next door and meet us back at the car,” Scott ordered. “I’ll take sneezy here and get her medicine.”

  “Copy that.” Presley nodded and dragged Blaze across the parking lot.

  Inside the store, Scott grabbed a small basket and weaved them in and out of the aisles, heading for the pharmacy section. He found the right aisle and guided Tori to the allergy section.

  “Ok, we have about a thousand kinds here. What do you need?” Scott asked.

  “No Benadryl, unless you want me crashing right after dinner.” She warned. “Just something that won’t make me sleepy.”

  He scanned the array of choices in front of him on the shelves until his eye caught one that said non-drowsy. “Zyrtec?” he asked.

  She nodded. “That works.”

  He dropped the box into the basket. “Anything else you need while we’re here?”

  “Some headache medicine.”

  “Mom’s got plenty of Advil.”

  “I need the migraine stuff.” Tori shrugged.

  Scott furrowed his brow and looked at her. This wasn’t the first time she’d mentioned headaches. With her prior TBI, he was concerned. Saying nothing, he led her over to the painkiller aisle and scanned them.

  “How often are you getting headaches?”

  “Occasionally.” She shrugged again.

  Liar.

  This was the third headache she’d mentioned this week. And he knew damn well there was probably a slew of them that she wasn’t mentioning.

  “Have you talked to a doctor about your headaches?”

  “Headaches seem pretty standard after a blow to the head that renders you blind,” she hissed at him in a low whisper.

  Scott grunted. “I think you need to see a neurologist.”

  “Are we going to do this now?” Tori curled her nose at him.

  “Fine, I’ll drop it for now. But you’re going to look pretty silly slung over my shoulder, kicking and screaming as I drag you into the neurologist.”

  She crossed her arms and turned toward him. “What would I ever do without my caveman dragging me into submission?”

  “Are you actually trying to roll your eyes under those glasses?” Scott laughed.

  He grabbed a bottle. “Excedrin Migraine. Will that work?”

  “Yup.” Tori nodded.

  He dropped the pills in the basket.

  They headed toward the front of the store.

  “Oh shit. I told your mom I’d make dessert. I need cookie dough, yogurt, cream cheese and lots of fruit, bananas…”

  A bemused grin passed across his face and he snorted. God only knew what she was making. He guided them to the produce section.

  “What?” Tori barked. She stopped walking and planted her feet, pulling his arm backward.

  “Nothing.” He chuckled.

  “You have something to say, funnyman?”

  “I didn’t know that you could cook.” He shrugged and shook his head, a bit surprised.

  “Just because I can’t see doesn’t mean—”

  “Tori, that’s not what I meant. You don’t cook.” The only thing he could ever recall her making him was a grilled cheese sandwich and he couldn’t classify that as actual cooking.

  “I helped your mom with the pie!”

  “Exactly; you helped. How many times have I made us breakf
ast versus you making breakfast?”

  “Everyone knows that breakfast is the man’s job.” She lifted her chin and waved her hand.

  Scott belly laughed at that, causing a few heads to turn in their direction. “That’s a bit sexist and stereotypical from someone who doesn’t like to define gender roles, Miss I-Was-Just-Welding.”

  “Oh, just shut up and get the damn fruit,” she groaned, elbowing him in the side.

  They mulled about the produce section as she took time picking out the strawberries, blueberries, bananas and kiwi she wanted.

  “Kiwi?” He palmed some of the fuzzy fruit and curled his nose. “How do you even pick these things out?”

  “Yes, haven’t you ever eaten kiwi?” She seemed a bit shocked. He could understand why. He wasn’t a picky eater by any means, but kiwi had always weirded him out.

  “No, it’s weird. Fruit shouldn’t have fur. It’s unnatural.”

  Now it was her turn to laugh obnoxiously. “It’s not any fuzzier than peaches; you eat those, right?”

  “Nope. I don’t eat furry fruit. Weirds me out.”

  “How did I never know this?” She shook her head, leaning her cane against her chest, and reached out in front of her for the fruit.

  “I guess it’s like how I never knew you were allergic to cats.” He shrugged. As much as they knew about each other Presley was right—there was still a lot they didn’t. “What else don’t I know about you, my dear?”

  Tori outright ignored his question. “Well, you’re going to try kiwi tonight.” She squeezed the fruit and lifted it to her nose, taking a whiff. “Too firm, not ripe yet and won’t have flavor.” She placed it back and went for another. “Too soft, mushy and slimy.”

  “Slimy, furry fruit. You aren’t doing a good job of selling me on these things.” He snarled as she piddled with the fruit. He glanced around the produce section. His eye caught a blonde flipping her hair over her shoulder a few rows over, revealing her creamy skin as he recognized her profile. Scott’s mouth went dry and the color drained from his face.

  Oh, god no.

  Brandi Turner.

  To say they had a bit of a history was an understatement. Other than Tori, she was the only woman he’d ever been serious about. While it ended on somewhat amicable, albeit enigmatic terms, he wasn’t interested in running into her again, especially with Tori on his arm.

  Brandi had ended it with him, but not because she wasn’t all in. She knew Scott’s heart wasn’t in the relationship. He’d hurt her, and he still felt terrible for that. He still recalled Brandi’s words to this day. It’s like you want me to be someone else Scott, and I can’t be her. I truly hope one day that you get her.

  He tilted his head downward and scratched his nose. “You about done?” Scott cleared his throat. He was hoping to get out of there unnoticed.

  “Yeah; now we need to get the yogurt, cream cheese and cookie dough.” Tori handed him the produce and he dropped it into the half-filled basket. Then, Scott quickly got them away from the produce section, and Brandi. It only took a little longer to grab the rest of their items and head to the checkout counter. He’d dodged the Brandi bullet, he thought, as they headed out of the store.

  Until they passed by her while she was checking out.

  Brandi glanced up and caught his eye, with a warm smile.

  Shit.

  Now, if he kept walking, he was a total asshole. Scott plastered on a grin and waved.

  “Scott Harris?” Brandi’s smile grew wider as she grabbed her shopping bag and made a beeline over to them.

  Tori’s head snapped toward her voice and her grip grew tighter on his bicep. Thankfully, with Tori hooked to his right arm and the bag on his left Brandi didn’t go in for the big hug.

  “Hey, Brandi.” Scott nodded at her.

  Brandi’s eyes darted to Tori, she started to say something, hesitated, bit her lip, then set her gaze back on Scott. “Scott! I heard that you were in town from my mom. How are you?”

  This didn’t surprise him one bit. His mom and Brandi’s mom were close friends, both beside themselves when they split for the second time. The way his mother flapped her jaw there was no way she’d kept him coming to town a secret—much less his relationship with Tori.

  Scott plastered on a fake grin. He’d never been caught in the ex-girlfriend meets current girlfriend situation before.

  Brandi eyed him up and down, smiling wide with her perfectly straight, white teeth.

  “Doing good, in town on business,” he said.

  Tori dug her fingernails into Scott’s bicep and coughed. Yes; he was getting to that.

  Cool your jets, Tori.

  “Brandi, this is Victoria, my girlfriend.” Scott put his arm around Tori and gave her a squeeze. “Brandi and I go way back.”

  “Yes, of course, Tori, right?” Brandi’s mouth twitched, but her smile didn’t falter completely. In fact, her brown eyes warmed and glistened as she eyed Tori. Why was she looking at his girl as if she’d seen a long-lost friend? It had to be eating Brandi up inside seeing the two of them together, but there wasn’t a hint of resentment in that smile. Brandi never was one to hold a grudge. There wasn’t a spiteful bone in the woman’s body.

  Tori nodded and wrung her hands on her cane. “Yes; uh, most people call me Tori.”

  Only Tori’s friends used her nickname, and his mom only referred to her as Victoria. Scott could see why Tori was a bit befuddled.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Brandi.”

  “Scott always spoke so fondly of you.” She touched her hand to her chest and was a bit shocked as he noticed the ring finger still empty. He assumed she’d have found someone by now.

  During their second time around the block, Brandi had been smart enough to know he was still hung up on Tori. It’s what ultimately ended their relationship, at least that’s what he’d assumed.

  “I was glad to hear the two of you finally got together.”

  Brandi sounded like she honestly meant that.

  Tori cocked her head to the side. “Were you now?”

  Brandi gave a noncommittal shrug. “Oh, you know, word travels fast around here.”

  “That’s Brandi’s polite way of saying my mother is a blabbermouth,” Scott teased. From the way Brandi didn’t blink twice about the cane, or the fact Tori was blind, he knew his mom had spilled the beans on that as well.

  “Yeah, I kinda caught that.” Tori laughed and flashed her goofy, sideways grin, which made Brandi chuckle.

  “As if my mamma is any better.” Brandi rolled her eyes.

  There was an awkward silence for a moment, neither one of them knowing what to say.

  Scott glanced over as Presley and Blaze moved toward them and he silently thanked God. Just the right moment to save him. He waved them over.

  “We’ve been standing outside for twenty minutes waiting for you two, I had to convince Blaze not to bust open the whiskey in the parking lot.” Presley crossed her tattooed arms, then eyed Brandi up and down.

  “Sorry,” Tori apologized. “I volunteered to make dessert, and we had to grab a few extra items…”

  Blaze snickered beside her. “You’re going to cook, Blondie?”

  “Oh, don’t you start in either. I can cook, dammit!” Tori waved a finger in his general direction and cleared her throat. “As I was saying, as we were checking out we ran into one of Scott’s old friends.” Tori waved her free hand flippantly, but the emphasis she put on the word told Scott that Tori knew exactly how they were acquainted.

  Brandi smiled shyly and ran her fingers through her hair, her long, loose curls falling over her dainty shoulders.

  Blaze’s eyes raked Brandi over, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.

  Yeah, Brandi had that effect on men. She was the perfect combination of innocent girl-next-door sprinkled with a dash of sexiness. Brandi was the kind of girl that other girls wished they were, and wanted to hate, but couldn’t.

  A sly grin crept across Blaze’s face as he t
ook her in, all five feet seven inches of her with tanned, toned legs.

  He looked like a wolf about to devour his prey and Scott waited for him to go in for the kill.

  “Brandi, you say? I’m Ian. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He extended his hand and shook hers, almost like a gentleman.

  Ian? Nice to make your acquaintance?

  Who the hell was this, and what happened to Blaze? Never in Scott’s life had he heard him speak respectfully to a member of the opposite sex that he found attractive. It was always honey, darling, babe or some other nickname that he deemed the girl worthy of, and he never offered his real name. He glanced over at Presley and Tori both of whom shared the same shocked expression.

  “Nice to meet you, Ian.”

  “How do you know my boy here?” Blaze patted Scott on the shoulder and grinned, knowing full well how Scott must have known her.

  Brandi’s cheeks flushed and she suddenly became very interested in her sneakers. “Oh, Scott and I go way back to high school.”

  Thank you, Brandi, for having more tact than my idiot best friend.

  “Brandi, this is Presley. She works with me. And you’ve met Ian. He and I served together in Afghanistan.”

  Brandi cocked her head to the side. “Are you Ian Hodges?” Brandi’s hand let go of his and she touched her chest.

  Blaze flashed her a wolfish grin. “In the flesh. Have the medals to prove it.”

  Scott couldn’t believe that he had admitted that to her. Blaze didn’t like telling people who he was, and he never boasted about his military accomplishments. It wasn’t his style at all.

  “We’ve heard so much about you around here.”

  “Well I hope it’s all good.” Blaze grinned.

  “Mostly.” Brandi gave him a mischievous smirk.

  “The bad are all lies, I promise.” Blaze gave her a wink and nudged her shoulder.

  “Will your friend be joining us for dinner tonight?” Blaze asked and stifled a giggle.