Page 13

Chapter Five

The raffle stand was just outside Victoria’s. Tori, joined by Helen, one of the festival planning committee members, stood beside it selling tickets and enjoying the festivities. Tori wore her usual dark pants and green polo shirt with “Victoria’s” embroidered on the left side of her chest. She felt frumpy next to Helen who wore a crisp white blouse, red floral skirt, perfect makeup and, of course, she had bright red nails that matched her skirt. Helen always looked ready to attend a soiree of some sort.

“We are doing brisk business,” Helen announced. “Today is the relay race. I love watching the teams come together and participate in this. Did you hear the Hamiltons are competing? Brothers and cousins.”

She hadn’t. “No, I didn’t know but, then again, they compete every year.”

The wind blew Helen’s perfectly coiffed bob and she patted it into place. “Tobias, Luke, Ernest and Eric are running. Taylor is the coach.” Helen giggled. “Eye candy day.”

“Should be interesting.” She looked to the start line where people were congregating. It would also be the finish line. “Looks like most of the town are beginning to show up.”

Tori peeked at the program. The race was to take place in an hour. She would find busy work in the restaurant so she wouldn’t have to deal with Tobias. No doubt, Mimi would be around bouncing and ensuring everyone knew they were engaged. As if the whole town didn’t already know.

“Oh, here comes Tobias now,” Helen announced. Sure enough, her nightmare swaggered across the street toward them. Why the hell was he coming to where she stood? He’d been giving her a wide berth lately. But then again, he did enjoy antagonizing her. He wore a loose, unzipped sweatshirt over a tank top and running shorts that showed off his well-sculpted legs. She’d always liked his legs.

“Ladies,” he greeted. “I’ve been sent to fetch Miss Romano.”

“What for?” Tori scowled. “You planning to get me run over as I cross the street?”

He studied her with the lazy look of a man too bored to speak. “Good idea.” He shrugged. “Maybe later, right now I imagine Allison would kill me if I let you get hit by a car. Besides, you may not have noticed but…” he looked up and down the street. “Traffic is blocked on Main Street.”

Of course, she’d not thought before speaking. Damn him for pointing out the obvious. “Who sent you?”

“Allison, I just told you. When you go get a personality transplant, ask them to throw in a hearing aid.”

She almost laughed at his quip, but somehow managed to glare at him. “I’ll have to remember not to ask you for a referral, because yours didn’t work.”

“Allison needs to talk to you pronto.” He made a shooing motion and then went to stand next to Helen. “You look lovely today, Mrs. Sanders.”

Helen blushed prettily. “Thank you, Tobias.”

Tori hurried to where Allison stood holding a basket of items. Her friend looked overwhelmed and gave her a concerned look. “I need your help, I’m desperate.” She shoved the basket, which held numbers and pins, into Tori’s hands.

“What’s the matter?” Tori asked.

“I just got a call from a customer. She’s on her way to pick up a bridal party flower order. I thought she wasn’t coming until the morning. I have to finish packing it up. Can you please go pin numbers on the runners?”

She gave Allison a droll look. “Sure go ahead. Although I am not sure why the runners need stupid numbers.”

Allison giggled. “It’s so they feel more athletic, I guess. Remember that whole conversation? You were there at the committee meeting when it was decided and, if I remember correctly, you thought it was a splendid idea at the time.”

“That was before I realized the dumbass was going to be one of the runners,” Tori mumbled, walking to the start line.

Each team had a different color patch and they were numbered one through four for the relay. There were to be two runs and then the best of the two would run for first place the following day.

The mayor was in the center of the square talking into the microphone. He was rambling on about one of the raffle prizes and encouraging people to buy tickets. One prize was a weekend at his hunting lodge. Tori wondered if whoever won would be more interested in a getaway by the lake than actually hunting.

She began sorting the team members, finding out the order and then helped pin a number on the front and back of each shirt.

When it was the Hamilton Team’s turn, she fortified herself. “Keep it together, Tori. Don’t stab him.”

Luke was first. The ever-present scowl softened somewhat when she approached. He’d be first. She pinned a blue number one on his shirt. Leah stood by chatting about something or other. Tori looked around her to see if Mimi was there. But surprisingly, the only woman present was Leah.

Next she pinned Ernest, who would be the second runner. Eric was third and Tobias was missing.

Taylor turned to her. “Have you seen my cousin?”

“He was over talking to Helen last time I saw him.”