"Hey, you can't cry yet," she said with a laugh, seeing the teary moisture in her mother's eyes. "Save something for tomorrow."
"I'll try." She put her arm around Tori's shoulders. "I'm so glad you're here. I just wish your father was here as well."
Her mom didn't mention her dad very often. In fact, Tori couldn't remember the last time Ben Hayden's name had come up. She didn't know if her mother refrained out of respect to her second husband Ray, or if it had just been so long since his death that he wasn't on her mind anymore. Hearing her mother say something now made her feel a rush of pain that the family she'd once had no longer existed. But she couldn't let emotion bring down the joy of the weekend.
"I feel the same way," she said. "I'm sure he's here in spirit."
"We used to talk about watching you and Scott get married, playing with our grandchildren, growing old together. That's when your dad said he was going to slow down." She laughed a little at that thought. "I didn't really believe it. He always went at a hundred miles an hour. He had so much he wanted to do. Maybe he instinctively knew he didn't have that much time." Her mother shook her head. "I don't know why I'm saying all this now. Pay no attention to me."
"It's fine. You can always talk to me about Dad."
"Well, right now, I need to find Ray and get to the house so we can make sure the caterers have all the food out when everyone gets there."
"I'll be right behind you," she said, as her mom went to join her husband.
She looked around for Dylan and saw him standing with Ava, Monica and Scott.
Seeing Dylan and Scott with two pretty women reminded her of the past when she'd been the fifth wheel. Ava wouldn't appreciate her interruption. She was definitely trying to let Dylan know she was interested, but too bad. It had been Dylan's idea for them to go together. If she got in the way of them hooking up, so be it.
She walked over to the group and mischievously put her hand on Dylan's arm the way Ava had done earlier, making it seem like they were a little friendlier than they were. "Are you ready to go, Dylan?" she asked.
"Did you two come together?" Scott asked in surprise.
"Yes, Dylan was nice enough to offer me a ride," she replied. "We should all get to the house. Mom has a great dinner waiting."
"Let's go," Dylan said. "We'll see you all there."
"Well, you have a fan," she said, as they headed toward his car.
"Ava?" he asked.
"She's just your type—blonde, big boobs, skinny legs."
He opened her car door. "I don't just date blondes. But even if I did, what's it to you?"
"Nothing. Just making a comment," she said, as he got into the car.
"You sound jealous."
"Don't be ridiculous."
He gave her a questioning look that she'd never seen on his face before. "Is it ridiculous?" he asked.
Her heart skipped a beat. "Of course," she said, stumbling over the words. "You're Scott's friend."
"And you're Scott's little sister," he muttered.
"Always have been," she said, not sure what he meant.
"Maybe I'll get Ava's number."
"You should," she said in annoyance.
She folded her arms in front of her chest as he drove out of the lot, wondering why clarifying where they stood with each other didn't feel better.
Seven
Ava was the most shallow woman he'd ever met. Dylan tried to look politely interested as she droned on and on about her Mexico trip, but long before she was done, he was more than ready to find another conversation. Unfortunately, Ava had attached herself to him as soon as he'd entered Scott's house, and the one person who could have run interference seemed content to stay on the other side of the room.
Tori had ditched him the second he entered the house, ostensibly to help her mom, but since then he'd seen her talking to just about everyone but him. Now she was talking to his friend, Paul Hastings.
Frowning, he thought if he couldn't date Scott's little sister, then Paul sure as hell couldn't, either. Plus, Paul changed women as often as he changed clothes. He had no interest in being anyone's boyfriend.
Maybe he should warn Tori.
But it wasn't his business. And she wouldn't appreciate his insight. She'd probably tell him to take his advice and shove it. He smiled at that, thinking that she was even prettier when she got a fire in her eyes. That seemed to happen a lot when they were together.
"Isn't that funny?" Ava said, obviously interpreting his smile as interest in her story.
"Definitely," he replied, having no idea of what she'd said. "I'll catch up with you later. I need to talk to Paul."
"Can I come?" she asked with a flirty smile.
"We need to talk about groomsmen stuff."
Disappointment colored her expression. "Fine, but don't take too long."
He walked over to Paul and Tori, who were laughing at something together. It was both nice and irritating to see Tori having a good time. She'd been scared and stressed since the fire, but now she was much more relaxed. That was a positive thing. He was just irritated that Paul had been the one to ease her tension.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"Paul was just telling me about his skydiving trip, how he was so worried about making sure his chute was on that he forgot to zip up his pants and when he jumped out of the plane, his pants dropped down to his thighs, and those still in the plane got a nice view of his ass."
Paul definitely had a good game, managing to make himself look like a superhero and a self-deprecating charmer at the same time. Dylan would have appreciated the play more if Tori hadn't been the target.
"That story gets better every time you tell it," he told Paul.
Paul gave him a shrug and a laugh. "What can I say? I always remember new details. Can you believe little Tori is all grown up? It has been a long time since we all hung out together."
"Like you guys ever let me hang out with you," Tori said. "At best, you both tolerated me being in the same room, but that was about it."
"Were we that bad?" Paul asked.
"Yes," she said. "But I understand it better now. The age difference was bigger in your minds than in mine. I thought I should be doing everything you were doing."
"Trust me, you were better off being left behind," he said.
"Dylan is right," Paul agreed. "We made some bonehead moves back then."
"But you guys were always entertaining," Tori said. "I was a little sad when everyone went off to college. It was a lot more boring in this house when you were all gone."
"Hey, what's going on?" Scott interrupted, looking more at ease now that he had the rehearsal behind him.
"Just catching up with your little sis," Paul said. "I'm going to get another drink. Can I get you something, Tori?"
She held up her half-full glass of red wine. "I'm good. Thanks."
"Me, too," he said at Paul's questioning look.
As Paul left, Scott said, "So do I want to know what's going on with that fire you were involved in, Tori?"
"You really don’t," Tori replied. "You're getting married tomorrow, Scott. Concentrate on that."
"I am concentrating on that, but I still need to know if you're in any kind of trouble."
"I'm not," she said firmly.
Scott looked from Tori to him. "Is she telling me the truth, Dylan?"
"Why are you asking him?" Tori put in with annoyance. "If I say it's the truth, it's the truth."
"You would lie to protect me," Scott retorted.
"Well, you would do the same," she countered. "And it's not your job to protect me."
"It was."
"Well, I'm not twelve anymore, so consider yourself fired."
Scott frowned. "You can't fire me. I'm your brother. Don't be so annoying."
"Don't be so big brotherly."
"Dylan—can you help me out here?" Scott asked.
He smiled. "Tori is very capable of taking care of herself." He didn't want to lie to one of hi
s best friends about the potential seriousness of the situation Tori was in, but he also wanted to keep Scott's attention on the wedding and not on a situation he could do nothing about.
"That's not exactly the answer I was looking for," Scott grumbled.
"You don't have to worry. I'm keeping an eye on her," he said.
"Oh my God," Tori said, storm clouds gathering in her dark-blue eyes. "Stop it, both of you. I've been looking out for myself the past ten years. Get over yourselves. I don't need either one of you to keep an eye on me. I'm going to find Mom and see if she needs any help."
Dylan saw the warning light in Tori's eyes as she gave him a pointed glance on her way out of the room.
Scott must have seen it, too, because he said, "Okay, seriously, what's going on, Dylan? And don't tell me not to worry about her. I know how she is. She's impulsive and reckless and she doesn't always think before she jumps."
"That's true, but she's also smart, independent, and stubborn as hell."
Scott's brows drew together. "Since when have you gotten to know her so well?"
"Since we reconnected at the fire. I've kept her abreast of the investigation."
"So it was arson? What about the man she followed into the building?"
"It looks like he escaped the fire as well."
"But I thought someone died."
"It wasn't him."
"That doesn't make me feel better. Has she seen him again?"
"No."
"I don't like this, Dylan. I don’t know what she was thinking, going into an abandoned building after some stranger."
"She's a reporter and, as she's mentioned a number of times, she's grown up, and she can handle her own life."
"I know she's good at what she does. But, like my dad, she can get tunnel vision on something, and she doesn't see what's around her—including danger signs."
"Did your father get into dangerous situations?" he asked, curious to know more about the man who seemed to keep coming up in conversation.
"Yes. He had some really scary moments in his reporting days. He didn't like to back down, not when he thought that there was an important story to tell. He took reporting to an extremely high level, and I see Tori doing the same thing. I understand her drive to be good, to live up to Dad's reputation, but I hate that she takes risks the way she does. I don't want anything to happen to her."
"Your dad didn't die on the job," he couldn't help pointing out. "It was a weekend fishing trip."
Scott sighed. "I know, and Tori reminds me of that all the time. But sometimes I wonder…"
"About what?"
"If my father was so overworked and stressed out that he didn't put enough planning into that trip. If he drank too much or made bad decisions because he was exhausted. I know he wasn't sleeping much the week before that getaway boating trip. It was one of the reasons why my mom encouraged him to go. She thought he needed a break from work. Relaxing was not an easy thing for him to do."
"Did his friends tell you that he made bad decisions? They were with him, weren't they?"
"Yes. Mitch told me that my father was drinking a lot that day—more than usual. He'd gone down below decks to take a nap. A storm came up suddenly, and they were caught unawares. My dad got trapped below deck." Scott ran a hand through his hair. "Damn, I don't want to be thinking about that now."
"Then don't. I'm sorry I brought it up. This is your wedding weekend, Scott. The only thing on your mind should be getting married and having honeymoon sex with your new wife."
His words brought the smile back to Scott's face.
"Trust you to help me get my priorities straight," Scott said. "In all seriousness, Dylan, I know I'm getting married tomorrow, but I can still deal with a problem if there is one. You need to be honest with me."
Tori would rip his heart out if he said anything about the threatening note, but he was torn; this was Scott he was talking to, and they'd always been straight with each other. He needed to find a way to satisfy his loyalty to both of them.
"I'll tell you this," he said. "I'm keeping an eye on Tori, and I intend to keep doing that as long as it's necessary."
"So there is something going on?"
"Nothing specific. I just want to reassure you that I've got this. You can count on me."
"All right. Thanks. That makes me feel better." Despite his words, Scott suddenly frowned.
Dylan followed Scott's gaze. Paul had his arm around Tori's shoulder and was whispering something into her ear.
He found himself frowning, too.
"Is Paul hitting on Tori?" Scott asked.
"I'd say that's a yes," he said in clipped tones.
"Can you break that up?"
"I'd be happy to," he said, the smile returning to his face. "Anything for you, Scott. This is your weekend."
* * *
It was a little before ten on Friday night when the rehearsal party began to break up. Tori glanced at Dylan, who had been by her side all night. Next to him was Ava, who had apparently decided that she needed to be wherever Dylan was. Paul made up their foursome, and while he was fun and outgoing, he talked a lot about himself, and she couldn't imagine a less interesting person than Ava, who was beautiful but had little personality. She was ready to be done with the two of them.
Thankfully, her mother interrupted another one of Paul's heroic adventure stories.
"It's so nice to see all of you back in my house," her mother said. "Dylan, you and Paul used to practically live here in high school."
"Because you made the best cookies," Dylan said.
Her mom smiled. "You're charming, but I did not make the best cookies; your mother did that. I'm looking forward to seeing her tomorrow, and your dad, too."
"They were happy to be invited," he replied.
"Do you need any help cleaning up?" she asked her mother.
"No, no, the caterers have it all under control. Everything went smoothly, don't you think?"
"It was perfect. You did an amazing job, Mom."
"Well, hopefully the wedding will be just as drama free."
"I guess we'll take off now," she said. "If you're sure you don't need any help."
"No, go home and get some rest. I'll see you at the church at four. Don't be late, Tori. You know that makes me crazy," her mom added.
"I won't be late," she said, seeing a small smile play across Dylan's face. "I don't know why everyone remembers me as being late all the time."
"You always got caught up in something when you had to be somewhere," her mom said.
"Scott and I waited for you a lot," Dylan piled on.
"If I was late, I was doing something important," she defended.
"Well, I think you're worth waiting for," Paul put in with a charming smile.
She rolled her eyes at his blatant flattery. "I'm sure you didn't back then, Paul."
"Times change," Paul said with a laugh. "Do you need a ride home?"
"I'm taking her home," Dylan said quickly.
"You're taking her home?" Ava questioned, disappointment in her eyes. "I was hoping you could drop me off. I didn't drive. I guess I can call for a car."
"I'll take you home," Paul said.
"Sure, thanks," Ava said, not looking too thrilled about that.
"I'll see everyone tomorrow," her mom said.
Tori said good-bye to her mother and Ray and some of their other family friends, and then she and Dylan made their way out to his car.
"Ava seemed disappointed that you weren't driving her home," she said, as she took her seat.
"You are really obsessed with Ava."
"I'm not obsessed, but I couldn't help noticing the way she glued herself to your side."
"I'm irresistible. What can I say?"
She wished she could say she didn't find his charm irresistible at all, but that would be too big of a lie. Instead, she changed the subject. "Did Scott grill you on the fire and my involvement in it?"
"He did."
"You must not
have caved, since I didn't hear anything from him about a threatening note."
"I told you I wouldn't tell him, and I didn't. But I don't like keeping such an important thing from him."
"There's nothing he can do."
"That's what I told myself. I did assure him I'd keep an eye on you. Before you get all worked up about that, just remind yourself that keeping Scott relaxed and happy is your key objective, too."
He was right about that. "Fine. If that made him feel better, then okay. But you don't have to babysit me. I managed to make it through the day without any problems. It's very possible that nothing else will happen."
"I hope that's true."
There was a heavy note in his voice that told her he didn't quite believe it. "What?" she asked. "What are you thinking?"
"I just have a gut feeling that this isn't over yet."
She couldn't deny that she had the same feeling.
"Scott mentioned your dad to me," Dylan continued. "He seems to be on everyone's mind these days."
"It's the wedding. He's missing an important event in our lives." She paused. "What did Scott say about him?"
"He said your dad could be impulsive and reckless—like you."
She sighed. "I don't think either one of us are that bad."
"I wish I could remember your dad better. Do you have any pictures of him?"
"Sure. I have a photo album at my apartment."
"Would you mind showing it to me?"
She glanced at him. "Why?"
"I feel like it would be helpful to see his face. Especially since you think the mysterious Neil Hawkins bears a striking resemblance to him."
"Maybe that would be helpful," she said. "I don't know why I didn't think of it myself."
"So you don't know everything," he teased.
"I never said I did," she retorted. "You're the cocky one, Dylan."
"You really didn't have the greatest impression of me back in high school, did you?"
She didn't really know how to answer that. Her feelings about Dylan had always been confusing. He'd been so many things to her. He'd infuriated her, charmed her, filled her with desire and spine-tingling fantasies that she didn't know what to do with, but the boy he'd been and the man he was now were blurring in her mind.
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