Linked

by Barbara Huffert

  “Already did and I was still thrown,” Guy stated. “I knew what she’s doing and why and I could even see it coming but I haven’t learned to deflect it yet. Christ, I knew this wasn’t going to be easy but I wasn’t even remotely prepared for it. Even Diana warned me, which I now see as a good sign but so far, I’ve fallen into just about every trap Tori’s set.”

  “Man, I don’t envy you. I was so damn lucky that Carla didn’t put me through any of that.”

  “You’ve developed selective memory. I recall plenty of times you had to decide which hoop to jump through.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right. But since the end of the rainbow is so damn incredible, it’s easy to forget most of the storms. You’ll see.”

  “He’ll see what?” Tori asked, jolting them out of their revelry.

  “Hey.” Guy stood and kissed her cheek.

  “Hey yourself. You haven’t answered me, Barry.”

  “We were just talking about Sunday,” Barry sputtered. “I asked if you would be coming over to watch the game with us and Guy wasn’t sure how you felt about football. I don’t think it makes a difference, either way, since Carla would rather do just about anything than watch a whole game although she does from time to time anyway. I said that you girls are perfectly capable of entertaining yourselves for a few hours if you share her opinion and I told Guy he’d see that I’m right if he finds the balls to suggest it to you.”

  “Oh God, not another one,” Tori groaned.

  “I’m sorry?” Barry didn’t understand Tori’s comment.

  “You’re one of them.”

  “Tori?” He looked to Guy for an explanation but all he got was a sheepish grin.

  “One of the guys who will manipulate things to take the heat off his buddy. First Todd, now you. I’m almost impressed with how realistic that sounded. Too bad I know you’re not telling the truth about what Guy’s going to see but I won’t call you on it because that would ruin the nice feeling I have from spending time with Diana,” Tori paused for effect. “Don’t expect to get away with it again because this feels like a once and done thing to me.”

  “Well, son of a bitch,” Barry muttered. “Where have you been hiding those claws all this time?”

  “Men can be such boys,” Diana stated. “Don’t encourage them and they’ll quit soon enough. I’m so glad you came by, Tori girl.” Diana hugged her and winked at Guy behind her back. “I know you’re tired of hearing this but I have to say it again. As much as I miss you I absolutely refuse to let you come back to work until this is over and done with. I can come to you or Guy can bring you in for a chat whenever he feels it’s safe, either here or at home if you’re going stir crazy. I’d much rather do without you for another month than lose you forever.”

  Tori sniffled and dropped her chin. “Me too.”

  Guy snagged her waist and gently urged her head to his shoulder. “Tori will be back before you know it,” he declared. “Todd has everything under control. Still, you better get used to the idea of me hanging around anyway because I plan on making a lifelong habit of it.”

  “How the mighty have fallen,” Barry teased. “Seriously, come to the house Sunday. It’ll give Carla a chance for a little girl talk. No offense, Diana.”

  “None taken.” She smiled. “I do understand the need for female friends who aren’t relatives.”

  “Good.” Barry shifted. “I should go. Please think about it. No need to call. There’s always plenty to munch on and you’re both welcome anytime.”

  “Thanks, Barry,” Tori replied. “We need to go too since I would like to stop and see Harry if you don’t mind, Guy.”

  “Not at all.” Guy let her slip from his arm but not before catching her hand. “We’ll see you both soon.”

  They said their goodbyes. Since they didn’t look back they didn’t see Diana and Barry grinning happily behind them as the pair discussed the changes in both Guy and Tori.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The sound of soft laughter could be heard from the kitchen during a momentary lull in the noisy football game. Guy knew he had a silly grin on his face again but didn’t attempt to hide it. Barry was someone who understood what he was feeling. He was even looking forward to the teasing comments Barry would make sooner or later.

  “Damn, this feels great,” Guy sighed contentedly, knowing he was adding to Barry’s amusement.

  “I wish I had a camera. Next time I heard you referred to as a cold-hearted bastard with ice water in your veins I could flash a picture of you sitting here looking like a love-sick puppy,” Barry chuckled. “Nah, wouldn’t work. They’d think I drugged you or something because no way would they believe it was the real you.”

  “They will when I can’t stop thinking about her long enough to get rid of the stupid grin on my face. I know I must look like an idiot but I can’t help it.”

  “You don’t look like an idiot. You look like a guy who just found the secret key to the universe. It’s called being in love with the right woman. Whole different ball game from this side, isn’t it? Even for you, the guy who always went out of your way to be supportive when the rest of us needed a boost to keep us from falling apart while our heads and our hearts were way out of sync.”

  “Sure is. I don’t know why but I always thought I’d handle it better than the rest of you.”

  “You might if you didn’t need to keep looking over your shoulder for a pair of serial killers who are expecting your woman to welcome them with open arms when they show up.”

  “Thanks for trying to humor me but we both know I’d be a mess anyway. If Tori didn’t have that to hide behind she’d just come up with some excuse for why I’m temporarily deluding myself into wanting to be with her. I bet she’ll have a new one as soon as we have them in handcuffs. I know she’s pretty stressed right now and that’s part of the reason she switches gears so often but I have a strong feeling that it won’t be much different after we get them. She’s quick and I suspect she has one hell of an imagination.”

  “Hate to say it but I’m looking forward to watching you work your way through this. Not that I want to see you squirm because I’m sure you’re going to be suffering. You do know I’m here if you need me, right?”

  “Right and don’t be surprised if you find me cowering at your door in the middle of the night.”

  “Anytime. Now what I meant by that is that it’ll be good to see a less reserved side of Tori. She’s never been here without Diana before even though we have asked her. She was always chatty and interesting but, I don’t know, unapproachable maybe? Even though she was pleasant and joined right in with whatever was going on, I had the impression that there was an invisible boundary around her that no one could get through. I mentioned it to Carla either the second or third time Tori was here and she agreed.”

  “I’m surprised it didn’t drive her crazy,” Guy chuckled. “No offense, Bar, but your wife can meddle almost as well as my sisters.”

  “It would have if Diana hadn’t still been here and knocked the wind out of her sails. Now she is one perceptive lady, Diana is. She convinced Carla that actively trying to draw Tori out would only manage to push her deeper into herself. She told us just enough about Tori’s past to make us understand that patience and consistency were what it would take if Carla truly wanted to get to know her.”

  “Guess that applies to me too.”

  “Probably but not in the same way. Tori has relaxed more over the years. She’s loosened up since we first met her. I think she would have become more open given time and Carla and I both enjoy her company enough to give her as much space as she needs so she keeps coming back.”

  “I wish I’d met her here years ago.”

  “You would have if you hadn’t been such a stubborn ass and gone out of your way to avoid her,” Barry stated, studying Guy closely. “Damn, I knew I was right. You deliberately stayed away when you knew she’d be here. What I don’t get is why? It’s so unlike you, not showing up to check ou
t a pretty girl.”

  “I know, I know. But the first time Carla hinted I might find Tori attractive I had just gone through a whole string of disastrous blind dates arranged by my sisters who insisted that each and every one was the one for me. They were so ambitious that I dreaded going to visit any of them and I didn’t want to feel that way about coming here so I became a stubborn ass and ignored Carla’s subtle attempts to get us together. You could have told me you noticed.”

  “Sure, but then I would have had to ask Carla to back off and she was having so much fun with her little plots to lure you both here at the same time that I couldn’t. If it helps any, Carla didn’t have any success with Tori either the few times she felt daring enough to push her luck.”

  “I hate that I wasted so much time that we could have been together.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe you had to meet now, like you did, or you wouldn’t have connected. Aren’t you the one who believes in fate arranging things as they need to be so things end up as they’re meant to?”

  “Yeah, but I always assumed that fate would be kinder to me. Guess I’m being taught a lesson for being so presumptuous.”

  “Think of it as being challenged because you’re up for it. Maybe you deserve a few obstacles but what about her? What did she do to piss off fate to be subjected to all she has before she found you?”

  “Not a damn thing. Maybe that’s my true punishment, Tori suffering for my stupidity.”

  “Perhaps but you’re together now so you must have appeased the powers that be. It’s all just the storms that make the rainbow. Focus on what you’ll find at the end of it and put the rest in the past where it belongs.”

  “My goodness, Barry,” Tori spoke from the doorway where she stood next to Carla. “I never knew you were such a philosopher. Going to share what you think Guy will find at that rainbow or didn’t you guys get that far?”

  “Let me, Bar,” Guy interrupted. “Tori?” He held out his hand toward her and waited patiently for her decision. When she finally stepped in his direction, Guy had to smile. Instead of just accepting her hand, he caught her and drew her onto his lap, much to her horror. “Sit still. You know what happens when you wiggle around like that.”

  Carla gasped in shock and Barry didn’t even try to hide his amusement as Tori gave Guy a deadly glare. “God, you are such an asshole.”

  “Since when does being honest qualify for asshole status?” Guy asked sweetly. He managed to intercept Tori’s hand before it connected with his cheek. “Careful. Assaulting an officer of the law in front of witnesses, one of whom is a fellow officer, is against the law. Consider yourself warned. Try it again and you’ll force me to handcuff you for my own safety. Now if that was your intention when you took a swing at me then I’ll tell you again that all you have to do is ask.”

  By the time he finished Barry was openly chuckling and Carla was moderately concerned as they waited for Tori’s response. For a few seconds, Guy was afraid he’d gone too far but relaxed when Tori began to blush.

  “Oh, Guy, stop acting like such a hard-ass.” Tori cupped his cheek as she gave him a shy smile. “Barry and Carla are our friends. You don’t have to pretend you’re a domineering tough guy in front of them. They won’t think any less of you if you admit you’re the only one of the two of us who spent any time in cuffs. There’s no need to drop hints and hope I pick up that you want another go. If you liked it as much as you seemed to, just say so when you’re desperate for more.”

  “Holy fuck!” Barry exclaimed between bursts of uncontrollable laughter.

  “Oh my God.” Carla’s expression was a mixture of disbelief and fascination as if she couldn’t decide if Tori was serious or teasing in response to Guy’s comment.

  Guy merely shook his head and grinned at her. “You’re going to keep me on my toes. Yep, full of surprises, you are.” Guy hugged her to his chest and glanced at his friends. “In case you’re still wondering about what I know I’ll find at the end of that rainbow,” he paused until Tori shifted to look at him. “The treasure I’ll claim when I get there is a pretty little tiger girl with the softest pale red hair and huge green eyes that are full of dancing sparkles whenever she smiles at me. She’s as feisty as she is sexy and she has so many different ways of frustrating me that she’s utterly amazed I haven’t run away like she expects me to. She’s so sure I’ll be the same as the other people she’s known that she can’t let herself accept the truest truth in all the universe. If asked, she’d even pretend not to know what that truth is but deep in her heart, she does. Want to tell us what that truth is, Tori?”

  “That you are so full of bullshit it’s time to break out the boots?” Tori suggested, dreading what she knew he’d say next but knowing he was pushing her because of her crack about the handcuffs.

  Guy laughed and brushed her lips. “Not even close but I know you need to hold on to that for now. No, the truth is that I love her—you—with all my heart and I will for the rest of my life.”

  “Guy.” Tori frowned and peeked at their audience.

  “Shh. Since you think they’re good enough friends that I don’t need to hide the fact that I’ve loved every second you had me in handcuffs then there’s no need to hide the way I feel about you. Barry knew without me saying a word that I want you to have a permanent place in my life. Carla’s probably ready to burst since she’s been trying to fix us up for years and I was an incredibly stupid fool not to let her. I’m sure she’ll have lots of fun, throwing that back at me forever but you know what? I deserve it. She was right and I made a mistake every time I ignored her little comments that were intended to make me ask her to arrange for me to meet you.”

  “Let me go.” Tori struggled against his arms.

  “In a minute, after you listen first.”

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this.” Tori turned her head to stare at Barry. “Why are you letting him?”

  Barry waited for Guy to gesture that he should answer. “I know you don’t understand why I didn’t shut him up as soon as he started, Tori, and I’m very sorry for how you feel right now. Please don’t hate me for understanding my friend’s need to share his overwhelming feelings with people he trusts enough to know it’s safe to say all of that out loud in front of us. I’m sure Carla is going to read me the riot act after you leave but she hasn’t interrupted so she knows how important this is too, so please don’t reject her either.”

  “Ah. I get it now. This is all just a sick joke that you set up the other day at the library. I guess I’m not surprised that you’re in on it too, Carla. After all, everybody loves Guy and would do anything for him so why would you be any different? Okay then. Guy, get on with it. Spit out the punch line since I’m just dying to hear it.”

  Guy could tell how upset Carla was and hoped Barry would manage to explain it to her so she didn’t banish him from their lives permanently. Either way, he had to continue. He’d already said too much to stop now.

  “That was unnecessarily cruel of you, Tori, including Barry and Carla like that. You know both of them too well to suggest they’d deliberately plan to embarrass you for their amusement. Once you remember that I’m sure they’ll accept your apology and forget what you just said because they do understand how hard this is for you and that you’re fighting against it in every way you can.”

  “You twisted son of a bitch,” Tori growled.

  “There now, didn’t that feel much better than lashing out at people who have cared for you from the first moment they met you?” Guy’s tone was pleasant but his grip tightened when Tori tried to tug her wrists from his grip. “Keep listening for another minute and then I’ll let you get up. I do love you. With all that I am in the forever kind of way. I will prove that to you even if it takes the rest of my life. Someday I hope you’ll forgive me for tonight and understand what Barry was trying to say. They are truly our friends and we can trust them with anything. They know you can’t accept it yet but that won’t stop them from being our f
riends. I know you don’t believe in true love that lasts a lifetime and you don’t trust me enough to let yourself open up with me and be vulnerable at this point but I’m not going anywhere. I won’t ever give up on us. I know without a doubt that you will love me too if you ever let yourself take a chance with me. I’m sorry you think I’m only saying this to hurt you and that I’m doing it with an audience to humiliate you but I promise that is the last thing I’d ever do to you.”

  “Is there more?” Tori asked tiredly.

  “There is a lifetime of more but I’ll stop for the moment.” Guy released her, watching as she straightened her shoulders and transformed her expression into the same dignified one he’d seen the first night they met.

  “Thank you.” She glanced at Guy. “If you’ll excuse me,” she included all of them, “I’ll be in the car. Once you’re finished with the good laugh you’ll have over this and are done congratulating yourself for the complete success for the effectiveness of your prank, I’d appreciate it if you drove me home. Goodnight.” She spoke to Barry and Carla, “Thanks so much for including me.”

  Complete silence filled the room after Tori made her exit. Guy finally managed to focus on his friends. “Holy Christ, what have I done?”

  “What have you done? What have you done!” Carla screeched. “You just publicly humiliated a very sweet girl who is entirely too good for a worm like you, that’s what you did. You’re totally insane. How could you! And we’re no better, Barry, letting him go on and on like that.”

  “Stop, Carla.” Barry caught her mid-pace and snaked an arm around her waist. “Look at him. Nothing you say will come close to what he’s already saying to himself, so let him go. As for us, our only excuse is we know Guy and trust him. He says he loves Tori and will find a way to prove it and we accept that because we know it’s right to believe in him. Right or wrong, Guy needed to express his feelings out loud and right or wrong, we wanted to hear him. We all got too caught up in the moment to remember that Tori isn’t ready for any of this. We are all to blame.”