Confer, Lorelei - Deadly Revenge (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Lorelei Confer

  “I’m pretty sure Tory will be able to do that in a couple of days once she gets acclimated with the properties. Can you call or come by then, and we’ll get you all taken care of?”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll see you in a couple days then.” Dave grinned at Tory.

  Chapter 8

  Because Tory’s town house came completely furnished with linens, tableware, and small and large appliances, she was able to move in her personal belongings over the course of a few hours the next day. The two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home was large with a panoramic mountain view from each of the wide windows which were open now. The cool, fresh scent of pine and springtime air wafted in helping her easily envision herself staying for a long time to come.

  Her town house had two levels with a large deck off the living dining room area, a modern, sleek gourmet kitchen, and a half bath on the first level. The master bedroom, with a view of the mountains from a large window, came with a sizeable bath and closet. Another bedroom and bath were also on the second level.

  With her personal things plus a few new decorative items she’d splurged on, she felt at home at last. Being on her own was important to her. She’d been on her own since she graduated from high school eight years ago.

  She had started working for Trevor Braedden as his assistant yesterday and found it was as exciting as her job in Myrtle Beach with many similarities. She saw herself soon falling into her usual routine. Work during the day, run after work, and then a quiet dinner and bedtime.

  As Tory was leaving for work early the next morning, she ran into someone she recognized. Laura Peterson wore wire-rimmed glasses as thick as Coke bottles and her extremely curly dark brown hair was pulled away from her face and was fastened with hair pins. She was wearing the same outfit Tory had seen her wear many days in high school. A brown paisley print pleated skirt with a multi-brown striped blouse. Short and thin, her reputation as the worst dresser in school aggravated her natural shyness. She was bullied and called “mouser” all through school. Tory pitied her.

  “Hello, Victoria, nice to see you back in town. Are you here to stay or just visiting?” Laura asked in a soft but screechy voice while adjusting her glasses on her nose.

  “I’m visiting for now. How have you been?”

  “I’ve been good, still working at the library. You know something, Victoria? You were my only true friend throughout high school and even now. Do you know how many people cross the street to avoid talking to me? You never did stuff like that. You never snubbed me like all the rest. You’ve always been my friend, and I will never forget it.”

  “Laura, I’m very flattered. I consider you one of my friends, too.”

  “Thank you. Maybe we can get together for a cup of coffee some time and get caught up. Stop by the library and we can make some plans.”

  “Okay, Laura. That sounds like fun. I’ll try to get by sometime during my stay here. But wait. I want to take a picture of you. Let’s step out into the sunlight where the light is better.”

  As they made their way outside to the bright spring sunlight, Laura said, “Now I’m the one who’s flattered.” She pushed her curly hair away from her face.

  “How about standing over by the big oak tree? That way neither of us will be looking into the sun.”

  Tory looked at her watch. She was running late and needed to get going. She quickly took a few pictures of Laura and then held out the camera in front of them together and took a couple shots.

  “I promise I’ll stop by the library and drop off a copy of our pictures, okay?” She hollered on her way to the car, waving good-bye.

  “I’d love that, Tory. Please keep your promise,” Laura yelled after her as Tory drove away.

  * * * *

  A day or so later Tory and Trevor went to lunch at a small local cafe.

  “How did you start your business, Trevor, if you don’t mind my asking?” Tory asked after they had placed their orders for big salads and glasses of sweet tea.

  “The traditional, old-fashioned way, with a lot of hard work and a strict budget. Our company is now prospering and growing, just like our family, but that wasn’t always the case. We started our business together from the bottom up.” He answered as their lunch was delivered by the waitress.

  “We waited until we had established ourselves in a community where we could live, work, and raise a family before deciding to start a family, not expecting to have any problems. Hopefully, with bed rest, Amber and the baby will be fine. Finally, everything is falling into place.” He took a long drink of sweet tea and “aahed” as he set it down.

  “It sounds like everything is coming together for you now, doesn’t it? You’ve planned everything so well. Well, except for Amber’s difficult pregnancy.” Tory shrugged her shoulders and ran her fingers through her hair.

  “During our first conversation when I first showed you the town house, you interrupted my musings by asking questions, like ‘Are the appliances new? Do they have warranties?’ You were definitely all business and I decided I liked that trait and was looking forward to working with you, if only for a short period of time. You are already helping me immensely.”

  “Thank you, Trevor. I find that I’m even enjoying myself by staying busy. Otherwise, I don’t know what I’d be doing.”

  Chapter 9

  Two days later Dave came into the office when Tory was out of the office. He spoke with Trevor.

  “Hi, Mr. Braedden,” Dave said, holding out his hand.

  “Trevor. Please, call me Trevor,” Trevor said as he shook Dave’s outstretched hand.

  “Okay, Trevor. I wanted to talk to you about the rentals you have available. I looked at the one-bedroom town house with a loft, but couldn’t make up my mind. Now I want to take another look at it and some others you may have available for a six-month lease.”

  “No problem. Just let me talk to Tory first. I think I heard her come back in the office.” He buzzed Tory on the phone and asked her to come in his office.

  * * * *

  A surprised-to-see-Dave Tory arrived at the doorway. “Tory, would you mind showing Dave some properties? He kind of liked the one bedroom with a loft but wants to look at some others as well. I need to go home and check on Amber. I can drop you both off at the properties and pick you up on the way back, if that’s okay with both of you.

  Tory looked at Dave with apprehension. She didn’t want to be alone with him since he brought out emotions in her she wasn’t ready to explore. Her nipples hardened, and her heart thudded in her chest. Surely he can hear it. She was so attracted to him, she wanted to be close to him, to smell his masculine scent, hear his voice—imagining his whispering sweet nothings in her ear as he kissed her neck. She wanted to taste his kisses on her lips, and feel his strong arms around her.

  But she didn’t have a choice. It was part of her job.

  “Sure, that’s fine with me. I’ve shown lots of properties and would be glad to help,” she heard someone saying in her voice. “What about you, Dave? You okay with that?”

  “It’s fine with me. You’ll tell me everything I want to know, right?” Dave said teasingly, with a smile and a wink of his eye.

  “Of course!” she exclaimed.

  Tory stopped at her desk to grab her bag and always-handy camera, and then led Dave outside to Trevor’s big SUV with Trevor right behind them.

  They drove the short distance to the town house complex in silence. Trevor stopped in front of the buildings long enough for Tory and Dave to get out. He quickly handed over keys and rental information to Tory and left with a quick, “I’ll see you in a few.”

  Tory snapped a picture of the well-manicured grounds which created attractive curb appeal. She found herself excited to see inside. They made their way into the first unit which was a one bedroom with a loft, a modern kitchen with granite countertops, island, and stainless steel appliances. The deck from the living/dining room overlooked a golf course and included a gas grill. The model unit was expertl
y furnished, so it was easy for her to point out the positives to Dave.

  * * * *

  Dave didn’t hear many of her words, so fascinated with the movement of her lips, thinking about how they would feel under his. Moist. Warm. Soft. His shaft became aroused and pressed against the zipper in his pants. He imagined what it would feel like to lay naked with her, throbbing for her, or to feel her nipples pucker and harden at his touch. How she would taste when he kissed her from head to toe. He could smell her soft, feminine scent.

  Tory shocked him back to reality when she said his name.

  “Well, Dave, what do you think?”

  “I think,” he paused then slowly walked closer to her, “I want to kiss you. I’ve been thinking about it ever since we first met.” He reached for her arms at her sides.

  “What, oh,” she stuttered as she turned away quickly, a bright pink blush spreading onto her neck and face. She ran her fingers through her hair and fiddled with the buttons on her blouse as she stared out the window at nothing.

  “I meant about the space, not me!” She turned around and was in his arms.

  Her bright green eyes twinkled as she looked into his, and her lips opened to speak but no words emerged. When he touched her sensitive neck her knees buckled, and she grasped his upper arms to steady herself to keep from falling. Then slowly his lips began touching her neck, and she wrapped one arm around his neck for better support, to draw him closer. He kissed her neck, her ears, and her chest, and then he settled on her lips.

  His erection pulsed, throbbing against her abdomen. She wanted to touch him, to taste him. It had been so long since she had been with a man. Her heart raced as she clung to his neck, absorbing his life’s breath from his lips, kissing his neck, running her hands through his hair. She felt his chest hair through his light shirt. She opened the buttons of his shirt, while mindless lust and wanton need consumed her.

  * * * *

  Dave moved his arms behind her and pulled her against him. Her breasts pressed against his chest as their bodies locked together, nipples to knees. He backed her onto the nearby sofa. The taste of her intoxicated him, along with her sweet scent and her soft touch. He wanted more of her. So much more.

  He unbuttoned her blouse. He groaned, a deep guttural sound, as he cupped her breast, an overflowing handful, rubbing his fingers across the little bud. He squeezed her nipple between his fingers, making it hard and erect while he continued to pilfer her soft, hot lips.

  He became breathless, his heart raced, as he pushed himself closer to her. His swollen shaft throbbed against her abdomen. She has to know how much I want her. He wanted to feel her legs wrapped around him while he was inside her. He wanted her. He wanted to feel complete.

  * * * *

  Beep! Beep!! Beep!! Beeeeeeeeepp! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!

  Dave moved away from her, startled, breathless. She looked at his face, confused. What! This is it? You get me all hot and then quit? She reached for his neck to draw him to her, wanting to feel the warmth of his body on hers, to bring his lips back on hers. Her body was on fire everywhere he touched her, and only he could put out the flames. She felt his erection and surged toward it, wanting to feel more of him. She ran her fingers through his hair, and then reached for his chest. His nipples became hard as she rubbed across them, feeling his soft chest hair.

  He held up his finger. “Listen!”

  Tory lay on the couch, her blouse undone as Dave lay half over her with his shirt unbuttoned, listening intently.

  Beep! Beeeeeep! Beeeeeeeeeeep!!!

  “A car horn. It must be Trevor back to pick us up.”

  “Oh, my god,” Tory said. “I’m so sorry. I’m really not this kind of woman, really.” She hastened to button her blouse and straighten her pants.

  “What kind? Sensual, attractive, passionate?”

  She shook her head, running her fingers through her hair.

  “Yes, you are, Tory,” Dave answered without giving her a chance to respond. “You’re all those things and more, much more. We can talk about them over dinner tonight. Right now, I’ll run down and keep Trevor occupied, so he doesn’t come busting in. You can lock up and come down whenever you’re ready.” He kissed her once more, leaving her breathless.

  * * * *

  “Yes, of course, I’ll be right down,” she said, but she was talking to the door closing behind him. She shook her head trying to get a grip on what had just happened. What am I doing?

  She raced down the short hall to the bathroom. One look in the mirror told her she was in trouble. Her face glowed bright red, and her lips were swollen from being so thoroughly kissed. Her hair looked like something wild ran through it.

  She finger combed her hair, trying to make it lay flat. The water wasn’t turned on in the unit yet, so she couldn’t wet her face, not that it would help her very much. She fanned herself with her hands, but not much changed.

  Oh well, nothing I can do about it now.

  She rushed to the door, pausing to pick up her camera and take a couple of pictures to refer to later. She picked up her purse and the keys on the kitchen counter and headed to the door.

  * * * *

  Dave stood by the back of the car as traffic flowed by. When it cleared, he strolled to the back door on the far side of the car.

  Tory addressed Trevor through the open passenger’s side window. “Did Dave tell you what he thought about the space?”

  “He said he found it absolutely irresistible.”

  Tory stood and glanced over the roof at Dave, who was grinning. He winked at her. She opened the door to the back as Dave opened the opposite door.

  “I can’t thank you enough for showing it to him. We’ll go over the paperwork later and then you can get it signed whenever he makes up his mind.”

  “And tonight, you’ll be having dinner with me,” Dave said. “So we can sign the papers, right?”

  Tory glanced out her window to compose herself as her face heated. She had to say yes. It was part of her new job after all. “Sure, we can do dinner. What time?”

  “How about I pick you up around six o’clock?”

  “Six will be fine.”

  “I can make a couple of good recommendations for a nice dinner if you want to drive to Hickory,” Trevor said as he maneuvered the Land Rover into a parking spot in front of his office building.

  The doors opened. While Dave and Trevor talked about where to eat, Tory walked toward the office door.

  * * * *

  Nobody noticed the dark car parked nearby that had followed and watched Tory’s every move since she had arrived in town. Nobody heard the ruminations of the occupant waiting inside the car while Dave and Tory dallied inside. And nobody could have imagined the evil plans being formulated in the head of the occupant. Evil plans soon to be put into action!

  Chapter 10

  Dave parked his car in front of Tory’s town house and checked his watch. Six o’clock. Right on time as usual. He prided himself with his punctuality. He wanted to make a good impression. Eager to see her again, he walked to her door and knocked.

  Tory opened the door. She could have been a cover model on a magazine.

  “Hello there. You look beautiful,” Dave said somewhat breathlessly. He was in awe.

  She smiled. “Thanks. I hope I’m not overdressed.”

  “Not at all.” Dave was unable to take his eyes off of her. She looked the next best thing to naked.

  “You don’t look so bad yourself. Let me get my jacket and we can go.”

  * * * *

  She swirled around and left the room, thinking about how she was going to be able to get through dinner with the most attractive man in the place. He was so handsome in black dress slacks, a crew neck, ivory color silk T-shirt, and a sports jacket in a soft tan color. Her whole body trembled after one glance at him.

  Tory returned to the foyer carrying a matching short lacey bolero jacket and picked up her bag. He helped her put on the jacket and held the door open
for her. She handed him her key, and he locked the door. They walked to his SUV, his hand on her back, guiding her gently. He opened and held the door for her, assisting her into the higher seat.

  * * * *

  As Dave walked around the car to the other side, he thought about how beautiful she looked and her sweet scent. He remembered how she felt when he kissed her earlier at the town house. He could feel the beginning of an erection tightening and he quickly adjusted himself before he got into the car.

  Once settled in the vehicle and on the way to Hickory, Tory asked, “How was the rest of your day today? Have you made a decision on which property you like best?”

  “No, I’m torn between the one and two bedroom units. But I need something pretty fast. Mom and Dad’s place is fine for a couple of days, but not for six months. I’m not sure how many more nights my back can take the cruel and unusual punishment of the old pull-out sofa bed, if you know what I mean. So I need a place now or sooner.”

  “Let me show you my town house. Maybe you’d like it better. It’s more spacious than the other ones I’ve shown you. It’s a two bedroom, two and a half bath, multi-level unit. I love it. Completely furnished, all you need is your toothbrush.”

  “When can I move in?” Dave asked, winking at her. “It’d be kind of a waste of money for both of us to have the same place but separate, don’t you think?”

  She felt her face blush, probably her chest as well. “I wasn’t suggesting that you move into my place. You need a place of your own.”