Huddle with Me Tonight (Kimani Romance) Read online

  Torrian’s softly whispered “Are you okay?” confirmed that he was awake.

  “I’m fine,” Paige answered. His hand settled at her waist. “You still want this to continue when we get back to the city?” she asked.

  “If you think I can just walk away from you, you haven’t been paying attention,” he said. He captured her chin in his hand and stared down into her face. “And I’m tired of hiding. I want people to know we’re together. You know you’re going to get that syndication deal on your own merit. That’s all that should matter.”

  He was right, Paige realized. But then another thought occurred to her. “What about the show? Don’t you think news of us together will undermine it? I don’t want anything taking the spotlight from our charities.”

  “We can wait until after the show,” he said. “In fact, why don’t we have our coming out the night of the restaurant’s grand opening? I want you to be my date.”

  She gazed into his eyes. “I can’t think of anything I want to do more.”

  One of his brows quirked. “I can think of one thing.”

  Then he proceeded to show her.

  Chapter 16

  Traffic was at a standstill. It had been that way for the past two hours as the paparazzi and onlookers alike descended on the Fire Starter Grille. Everyone wanted a glimpse of the star-studded guests who’d been lucky enough to score a handcrafted invitation to the opening night/book launch bash.

  Torrian sat behind the wheel of his BMW two blocks away from the restaurant’s entrance. He and Paige had been parked here for the past forty-five minutes. Torrian wasn’t scheduled to make his big appearance for another half hour. He’d come here early for this very purpose, to see the mass of bodies clamoring around the Fire Starter Grille.

  Excitement pulsed through the city like a living, breathing thing. The restaurant opening and book signing had been the talk of the town. On the heels of his big win of the Playing with Fire competition, it had not been hard to keep the buzz going.

  “You’re not upset about how the show turned out, are you?” he asked Paige.

  She lolled her head to the side and rolled her eyes at him. “How many times do I have to tell you no? Your dessert was awesome. You deserved to win. I’m just happy I had the first sample,” she said with a wicked smile.

  Just the mention of that night in the Hamptons when he’d licked spiced chocolate from her body caused his heart rate to spike. It was physically impossible for him to do anything but lean over and connect his lips to hers. God, this woman was sweet. She tasted like everything that was good in life.

  “Thanks for sticking to your bargain and splitting the last of the prize money with me,” she said.

  “My pleasure,” Torrian answered, going in for another kiss. It’s a good thing all the attention was focused on the restaurant. Even though his windows were tinted, an observant passerby would have been treated to quite a show had they stopped long enough to peer into his car.

  When Torrian finally released her lips, Paige expelled a lazy, satisfied sigh. “We can do this all night, but believe it or not, there are more important things to do.”

  “What could be more important than making out in my car?” Torrian asked.

  She grinned, grabbed his hand and placed a kiss across the ridge of his fingers. “This is your night,” she said. “It’s show time.”

  Torrian drifted from one table to the next, personalizing the cookbooks that had already been autographed and placed on the seats of each table.

  “You want this made out to you?” he asked the young girl from the New York Boys and Girls Club. The publicity department at the publishing company had glommed on to his idea of inviting not only celebrities but underprivileged kids as well to the opening night celebration. Other than his teammates, Torrian could have done without many of the A-listers on tonight’s guest list. They would forget about this party after the night was over and they were onto the next big celebrity powwow. For the kids at this table, this was probably the biggest thing that would ever happen to them.

  Torrian personalized the other books and made promises to drop in at the after-school camp where many of the kids spent their evenings.

  Every single table in the main dining room and the private one was filled. The special invitation for tonight’s grand opening was the most coveted item in New York. There had been several reports of fakes being sold on eBay, but thanks to the hologram photo of licks of fire on the back of each invitation, counterfeits were easy to spot.

  The fact that so many people wanted in caused a rush of excitement to pulse throughout his body. Everyone was talking about this restaurant being New York’s newest sensation. It’s everything he’d wanted to give Deirdre. And his sister was eating it up.

  Torrian sought her out in the sea of tables. Dee had pulled out all the stops, dressed in her executive chef’s uniform, complete with the traditional pleated chef’s toque atop her head. Seeing the animated smile on Deirdre’s face as she talked with guests and accepted their praise made every single cent he’d pumped into this place worth it.

  “You look as if you’re enjoying yourself.”

  He turned and his heart constricted in his chest as he looked at Paige.

  Even better than the feeling he got when he saw the joy on Deirdre’s face was the pleasure he’d experienced when he’d walked through the smoke glass doors of the Fire Starter Grille with Paige on his arm for all his guests to see. The entire restaurant had erupted into applause at the entrance of the stars of Playing with Fire, but when Torrian grabbed Paige and kissed her, the crowd went absolutely wild.

  Apparently, he and Paige had not done a good job of hiding their true feelings for each other. Speculation about their off-camera relationship had become hotter than the stoves on the set of Playing with Fire. Everyone he’d talked to tonight said their chemistry on camera was undeniable.

  “So?” Paige asked. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “The question is, are you enjoying yourself?”

  “Why is that the question of the night?”

  “Because I want you to be happy,” Torrian replied. “More than anything. What will make you happy, Paige?”

  Her beautiful brown eyes looked directly into his. “I couldn’t be any happier than I am at this moment,” she answered. “I’m here with you, sharing one of the biggest nights of your life. I’m adoring all my fans who are just fawning over me,” she said with a dramatic fluttering of her lashes.

  “Oh, yes, I’ve witnessed the fawning. I don’t know how you stand it,” Torrian teased.

  “And,” she continued, “I just received word that my column will be syndicated.”

  Torrian’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes,” she said, her air of nonchalance replaced with an excitement that rivaled any he’d ever seen.

  “Baby, congratulations. How? When?”

  “Angela just called. She said the managing editorial director from the Cambridge Group called Jory over two hours ago. Can you believe he was going to wait until I got in tomorrow to tell me?”

  “He’s going to be upset with Angela for spilling the beans.”

  “As if either Angela or I care.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Torrian, this feels so amazing. I’ve wanted it for so long.”

  “Feels pretty good to have your dreams come true, doesn’t it?”

  “You would know,” she answered, placing a sweet, gentle kiss on his lips.

  God, it felt good to kiss her out in the open, without having to worry about who may be coming around the corner. It was pure heaven.

  Playful clapping behind him pulled Torrian from Paige’s lips. He turned to find Latoya standing a couple feet away.

  “I won the pool.” She did a little happy dance. “We’ve had one running between the doctors on my floor since the second week of the Playing with Fire show.” She turned to Paige. “I’m Latoya Stokes. It’s wonderful to meet you. You were absolute
ly amazing on the show.”

  “Thank you,” Paige answered. “Did you say your last name was Stokes?”

  “Yes, I’m Theo’s sister,” she answered.

  “Oh,” Paige said. “Oh,” she said again with more meaning, looking between Torrian and Latoya.

  “Yes,” Torrian confirmed. “She’s my doctor.”

  Latoya opened her mouth to speak, but Torrian stopped her. “It’s okay,” he said. “Paige knows.”

  “Wow. Really,” she said slowly, her eyes widening. “Maybe I didn’t win the pool after all. I figured you two realized you were meant to be together by the end of show four, but it must have been a lot earlier than two weeks ago if you’ve managed to share that,” Latoya said in a lowered voice. She gave Torrian a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so happy for you, honey.” She stuck out her hand to Paige. “Great meeting you. Take care of him,” she warned.

  “I will,” Paige answered. “So—” she wrapped her arms around Torrian’s neck “—is she an old girlfriend I should be jealous of?”

  “Not in a million years.” Torrian chuckled. “Latoya doesn’t really go for the Sabers football players. Now, the cheerleaders maybe.”

  “Ah,” Paige said with understanding. “Well, that’s good, because I don’t want any other woman calling you honey.”

  “A jealous girlfriend.” Torrian smiled, nodding his head. “I like that. Any chance I can get you to fight with a woman over me?”

  “Nope.” Paige laughed. “And just for future reference, I do not fight like a girl. I punch.”

  “Figures.” Torrian laughed. “Come on, let’s finally have some of this food everybody’s been enjoying. We’re letting the press in at nine o’clock, and I want to eat without them scrutinizing the way I chew my steak.”

  “The press cannot be that bad.” Paige laughed.

  “Yes, they can,” he replied.

  “Hey, wait a minute. Should I remind you that I’m a part of the press?”

  “Present company notwithstanding,” Torrian said, wrapping an arm around her hip and leaning in for yet another kiss.

  “Smart answer, Fire Starter. Smart, smart answer.”

  When she was younger, Paige had never had aspirations of being prom queen—that was always her sister’s thing. But after tonight, Paige could certainly see the appeal of being the girl at the center of attention.

  This was the Fire Starter Grille’s night, but her and Torrian’s relationship had taken center stage. It’s all anyone wanted to talk about. Once the talk moved from what happened behind the scenes of Playing with Fire, it quickly turned to her column in Big Apple Weekly.

  Not in a million years would Paige have thought that simple, four-paragraph review of Torrian’s book would have led to her being on the lips of the most celebrated people in New York City. After writing for years about the city’s newest it—newest “it” writer, newest “it” Broadway star—she was the “it” on everyone’s list.

  The thought was heady, but Paige knew it wouldn’t last. She’d never been one for the spotlight. After the novelty of this wore off, she would be more than happy to go back to being the unseen face behind Page Turners with Paige Turner.

  “Are you almost done?”

  Torrian’s question knocked her out of her daydream of bright lights and movie stars. She looked down at what was left of her seared tuna.

  “I could eat another bite,” she said. “But I shouldn’t. Besides, I want to save room for dessert.”

  “Yes, you do,” Torrian said. “It’s a surprise that you will not want to miss.” He looked down at his watch, then at the door. “They’re going to let the press enter in another ten minutes. I was wondering if you would come to the storage room with me for a few moments.”

  He had to be kidding. “Now, Torrian?” Paige whispered, looking around to see if anyone had heard his request.

  A decadent smile spread over his lips. “That’s not what I was thinking, but I’m damn happy to know that’s the first place your mind went.”

  She blushed as she followed him to the kitchen. It was like a well-oiled machine. Everyone moved at a lightning-fast pace, but they were all cool and calm, their movements fluid as dozens of individual ramekins of chocolate soufflé were plated.

  Paige pulled in a deep breath. Her body reacted instinctively to the dark chocolate and cayenne pepper combination.

  “You did this, didn’t you,” she accused Torrian as he led her past the line of cooks.

  “It was a special request,” he answered with laughter in his voice. “Of course, I didn’t tell Deirdre why I was requesting this special dessert.”

  “Thank God,” Paige said. “I’d never be able to look her in the eye.”

  They arrived at the huge walk-in storage room. Large containers of spices lined the shelves.

  “So, what was so important that you had to take me away from my tuna?”

  “I’m going to come clean to the team doctors,” Torrian said. “About my eyes. I’m going to tell them.”

  “When?” Paige gasped.

  “At tomorrow’s practice,” he said. “I have a checkup to clear my shoulder to play in Sunday’s game, but I can’t stay with the team through the playoffs knowing I’m a liability. It isn’t fair to them.”

  “Are you sure you want to do this so soon, Torrian?”

  “It’s not soon enough,” he countered. “I should have come clean way before this, Paige. It’s past time I do the right thing.”

  She stepped up to him and leaned her forehead against his. She stared into his eyes. “You’re so brave.”

  “At the risk of ruining your image of me, no, I’m not. I’m scared out of my mind.”

  “Don’t be. You’re so much more than just football. Whatever happens, you’re going to land on your feet.”

  He raised his head and captured her chin in his fingers. He tipped her face up, lowered his mouth and kissed her slowly, thoroughly.

  “I love you, Paige.”

  Her breath caught in her throat, followed by a rush of emotion that brought tears to her eyes. “I love you, too,” Paige said. Out of everything she’d gained from Page Turners with Paige Turner, he was the most precious.

  “Come on.” Torrian grabbed her hand. “It’s time to go face the press.”

  Chapter 17

  After only five minutes of fielding questions from the press, Torrian was ready to send them out of the restaurant. He needed to remember that the press was now his friend. The more exposure the restaurant received, the better.

  “Is it true the reason you opened the Fire Starter Grille was to give your sister her own restaurant?” a reporter from the Daily Times asked.

  “This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Torrian answered. “My sister, Deirdre, has done a lot for me. You’ll all read much more about it when you read my book. So…” Torrian clapped his hands together. “Any other questions?”

  “Just one,” came a voice that sent a thread of disgust through Torrian’s veins. He turned and noticed Barry Stein standing at the edge of the crush of reporters, his notepad in his hands.

  “Yes?” Torrian asked.

  “How will your eye condition affect your work here at the restaurant?” Torrian’s blood chilled. His eyes zeroed in on Stein, who continued, “I assume you plan to spend your time here during the off season. Will your…what is it?” He consulted his notepad. “Retinitis pigmentosa hinder you in any way? At the restaurant, that is. Apparently, you don’t feel it’s affected you on the football field since you’ve known about the disease for years, yet you’re still on the Sabers team.”

  The increased mumbling among the gathered press was drowned out by the blood rushing through Torrian’s ears. How in the hell did Stein find out?

  “Any response, Fire Starter?” Stein asked with his signature smugness.

  Torrian took a labored breath, hoping like hell it would calm his rising ire. “My condition isn’t up for discussion,” he answered. “Tonig
ht is about the restaurant and the book. If you don’t have questions about either of those, then I’m afraid I have nothing for you, Mr. Stein.”

  The questions bombarded him from all angles.

  “Do you have a disease?”

  “Is that why you missed so many passes this season?”

  “Tell us about retinitis pigmentosa.”

  “How long have you known you had an eye condition?”

  Torrian turned away from the barrage of inquiries that were hurled from the reporters.

  “Wood.” Theo caught his shoulder, but Torrian brushed him off as he headed for the storage closet.

  Torrian sat on the floor with his back against the wall, his head in his hands.

  How had Stein found out? They had been so careful all this time. He, Theo and Latoya had made a pact, and he’d never had reason to believe they would break it. It just didn’t make any sense.

  The only other person…

  Torrian’s head popped up.

  “Hell no,” he said aloud. Paige would not have sold him out. Not after everything they had been through.

  But she was the only other person who knew.

  And as a reporter she was the only one who had everything to gain by sensationalizing his eye condition. Her career meant everything to her, and being the source for one of the biggest stories in New York sports would be a hell of a career boost.

  Torrian choked on the bile clogging his throat.

  The force of Paige’s betrayal cut so deep that it felt as if he’d impaled himself on one of Deirdre’s freshly sharpened knives. He’d trusted her with his deepest, darkest secret, and she’d used it against him. And for what? To further her career?

  Why was that such a surprise? Everything she’d done since she’d known him had been to further her career. Her review of his book, agreeing to do the cook-off, coming to his home in the Hamptons because of the invitation to Cambridge’s party.