Addicted to Pearls (Revised) (Pearls Series) (7 page)

These w
ere just a few of the comments made in passing to Vic from other officers as the couple walked toward Vic’s office.  With a frown, Vic finally caught up to Paul and asked him what the hell was going on.  With a chuckle Paul told him that he’d forgotten to turn off the recorder in Vic’s car even after they’d left the station yesterday.  Vic groaned and Tori, getting the gist of things, blushed and said nothing.  Tori couldn’t believe that others had heard the sound of them making love and the wicked things she’d said to Vic.   It was so out of character for her that even thinking of others knowing what she’d done was shocking and had her blushing.   This was sure a far cry from what he
r
life had been like just a few days ago.

Vic was used to being ribbed by others at the station, but this was a bit more than normal.  He tried to think back to what was said and done as he drug Tori into his office and shut the door. “I’m sorry baby, I completely forgot they were recording everything in the car,” Vic told her.  “If it’s any consolation, I’m guessing I’m considered the luckiest man alive at the moment by every male in the station,” Vic whispered to her, still holding her.

Tori reached up and kissed Vic, knowing she had to leave soon.  “It’s ok, I wouldn’t take back what happened,” she told him.  Vic knew his time was limited.  He arranged for Tori to be driven to her car and walked her out to the waiting patrol car for her ride, both trying to laugh off the additional comments made as they went. 

“I’ll call you as soon as this operation is over,” he told her as he kissed her one last time and headed off to do his job.

Tori left the city that same afternoon and headed back home, a changed woman.

Tori didn’t realize the changes the last few days would make in her attitude, thoughts and
self-image
.  She was smiling, laughing and even hesitantly teasing others.  People were noticing and surprised at the new Tori, her Mother was livid.   One afternoon
,
just two days later, while having lunch with her Mother, Tori stopped to say hello to one of the officers as they walked toward their table.  It was a quiet, one minute chat, mostly just saying hello and being friendly. 

“When did you start acting like a slut?” her Mother asked.  Tori was shocked, she knew her Mother was over zealous, but this was over the top.  Tori sat there staring at her and realized this was always how her Mother was and that negativity had been her
mother’s
way since her father had left them.  She blinked and decided then and there, that this was no longer going to be how her life was going to be. 

“Mom, I love you, but that was uncalled for and hateful.  I’m leaving and if you want to change your attitude then give me a call.  Until then, take care and try to remember that you are not the judge of me or anyone else for that matter.”  And with that she stood up and with her head held high walked out of the restaurant, smiling.  It was again a brand new day for her.  She called her sister and let her know what had happened, and that she was ok.  Lisa was frantic, not really understanding why Tori had made a scene and why she was acting this way.  “You know how Mother gets,” she reminded Tori.   But Tori wasn’t sorry and she stood by what she’d said telling Lisa that their Mother was being judgmental and that they shouldn’t have to live their lives this way.  “We shouldn’t have to be perfect for her to love and respect us,” Tori told her sister.

The following week was bitter sweet for Tori.  Her mother wasn’t talking to her but she was slowly turning her life around.  “Girl, you are sure looking good,” Gloria told her when she breezed into the courthouse.  “I like the new look.”   Tori just laughed and thanked her.  She was smiling more than ever.

There were a few men that were
definitely
starting to
take
notice as well.  Tori wasn’t wearing the drab clothing
,
was smiling, wearing a little make up
,
and generally becoming more outgoing.   She was still wearing what would be considered conservative clothes, they were just not as bad as they had been.  But underneath it all was a building sadness. 

Vic hadn’t called, hadn’t contacted her in any way.  Part of her knew that what they had was special, but insecurities kept her wondering if that was just on her side as day after day went by with no word from him. 

Three weeks later, Tori decided that she had had her first
,
and only
,
one night stand that
had just
lasted a little longer than one night.  Even as she felt the hurt she was thankful.  Because of Vic, Tori was happier than she’d ever been.  She had even turned down a date with a local man that before had never
even said hello to her.  It
amaz
ed Tori
how once
she had
bec
o
me more open to people
how n
ice and friendly
they had become. 
Tori was blossomin
g under the glow of new friends and her hard won new confidence.

Vic was tired, bone tired.  He had worked to
o
many hours with not enough sleep.  Damn that woman, breezing into his life, work,
and dreams
and then disappearing on him without a trace.  He still couldn’t believe that she had left without a word, leaving him with no way to find her.   He’d had friends looking for her, but with only a first name to go by, so far there had been no luck finding her.   His only clue was that she worked at a courthouse somewhere and that wasn’t getting him very far.

Not only that
,
but his case had been made that much more difficult without having her testimony to use.  The Captain wasn’t very happy that an unknown woman had been involved to the extent she was.  That was hard for Vic to take.  Between the ire of his superiors to the continued taunting from fellow officers regarding the recording of Tori and him in the car, Vic was getting grumpy.  

The situation was frustrating him to no end.   He’d started taking on extra work last week to try and work himself to the point that he wasn’t dreaming of her every night, waking up needing her sweet body to ease the ache. 

Picking up the file for the Claytonville Police Department a few towns over, Vic reviewed the training request and information for his planned training session with their department next week.  They were a small department so the training would combine the next small town over and the county sheriff’s office as well.  With a grumbled oath Vic decided that since it was Friday he’d head over there today and spend the weekend getting a feel for the area. So he gathered his paperwork, let the office know what he was doing
,
and headed out the door.

It was a great drive to Claytonville.  Vic had decided to ride his Harley over and have his assistant trainer bring the training rig and trailer over Monday morning.  

He wore worn jeans with leather chaps, a black t-shirt
,
leather vest with gloves and heavy riding boots.   His hair was
too
long to leave down so he’d tied it back with a string of leather since he still hadn’t cut it from when he’d been doing the undercover
work.
He just hadn’t cared to take the time to get a haircut since then.   He didn’t look like a cop as he roared into town.  Sometimes it’s pays to see how the local LEO’s react to someone new in their town, especially someone that has a potentially dangerous look about them, he thought smiling.  He rode a big black Harley Road King Classic with
its
fat wheels and somewhat retro look.  The big bike fit his larger frame and he loved the power of the machine.   He made it through town and to the police department and courthouse building without incident although he did get a couple long stares from one of the local patrolmen. 

Parking the bike at the courthouse, Vic sauntered into the building, intent on letting the police chief know he was here early
,
although he didn’t necessarily want him letting his officers know.

Vic was walking by the court clerk’s open office window when he heard a laugh that made him stop in his tracks.  He backed up and leaned against the wall listening.  He knew that laugh, he’d recognize it anywhere.

“Tori, come on you can tell me what happened, it was a man wasn’t it?” Vic heard
a woman
asking her. 

Hot damn, he thought, I’ve finally found her, as he continued listening.  He got a wicked smile on his face.  Who would have thought he’d find his woman here in this little town.  This was a definite bonus.

Laughing back, Tori replied to the question with a comment that made Vic cringe.  “Yeah, it was a man, a really really good – bad boy.  But, I guess I wasn’t good enough since I haven’t heard from him since.  Still, it was amazing Gloria, I never knew it could be like that,” she told her friend. 

“He was just an idiot,”
the woman
replied,
and then
Vic heard the sounds of
whoever
was talking to Tori leave the office.

What the hell did that mean, he thought.  How did she expect him to contact her when she left without even telling him her last name, he thought.   Well, he wasn’t going to let that stop him at this point.  He’d found her
,
and he wa
s going to have her again;
  Vic looked at his watch saw that it was pretty close to five
,
and
thought
Tori
sh
ould be leaving the office soon.  With the police chief forgotten, Vic left the building and moved his motorcycle to the employee parking lot and waited for Tori to come out.

He watched as Tori and a few others left the building.  With his helmet on he
knew
she’d never know it was him.  He saw her climb into a
non-descript
sedan and chuckled, yep she was his now.  He watched as she left the lot and
then
followed her home.   She seemed to be in a hurry as she jumped out of the car
and raced into a modest home in the middle of a nice, tree lined, neighborhood.

Vic sat there a few minutes and decided it was time to say hello.   Parking the bike and taking off his helmet he headed up the walkway smiling.  He knocked on the door and waited.

Tori was just doing up her jeans
after
changing from her work clothes and was heading to the kitchen to grab the sack of food she’d made for the town employee picnic they were having this evening.  Once a year the employees of the town would have a BBQ and picnic at the park near the river.   Tori had only gone once before and found she’d felt so out of place that she’d never gone again.  But this year she wanted to go, to join in
,
and have fun with the people she worked with.  It was another big step and she was proud that she was taking it. She’d even put on a modest tank top, these clothes would reveal her body shape more than anything she’d ever worn in public other than those two days with Vic.

At the sound of knocking she changed directions and opened the door without looking too
see who was on the other side.  Small towns lend themselves to making one trusting. 

Tori froze, she couldn’t have been more shocked.  Her mouth opened but nothing came out. 

“Hello Darl’n, I’ve been looking for you,” Vic said then slowly took a step forward and leaned in without touching her and softly kissed her lips.  Tori wasn’t thinking she just responded.  Her hands lifted and slid into his hair, her body moved forward and she kissed him back.  The flare of passion was instantaneous and hot.

“I’m thinking we’d better take this inside,” Vic told her as he lifted her and walking into her house, shutting the door behind him with his foot.  He was hard, just from that one kiss, but he wanted to clear things up before they went any further. 

When he stepped back
,
disengaging himself slightly from Tori
,
she was still stunned, looking at him as if he was a dream.

“What are you doing here?
”
She finally asked.  

“I’m doing some officer training for a few days for the PD and
sheriff’s
office.  I was at the court house to check in with the chief when I heard your voice.”  He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her.  “Baby, why didn’t you give me your number or even your full name?  Not only so I could see you again, but I needed it for work.  You just disappeared on me.  I‘ve been going crazy looking for you.”

Tori looked at Vic questioningly, “I don’t understand, I left all my information with your clerk.  I knew you’d need it and I was hoping I’d hear from you.”  Tori was blushing, admitting that she had wanted to hear from him.  

Vic knew just who she was talking about and knew that this time he was going to
have to do something about Dot
.  If his clerk was jeopardizing cases with her behavior it was time to get rid of her. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.  I’ve had people looking for you and drove myself crazy wanting to find you,” Vic told her in between kissing her neck and face.