Chapter 268

The next morning, Tori woke slowly. She was lying on her side, Richie a warm wall at her back. Just as she became aware of that, he moved, rolling onto his back. Instinctively, she followed, curling against him, her head on his shoulder, her arm slung over his chest, fingers combing through the patch of hair. One of his hands came up to rub her arm, the other curved around her waist, holding her tight against him. A few minutes later he kissed her forehead, sighed and slipped from the bed, heading for the bathroom.

Tori laid and listened to the water running in the shower. When it stopped she glanced at the clock. Her brows rose in surprise. “You’re up early.” She commented when he exited the bathroom.

“Yeah. Jon’ll want us at the studio early. I thought I’d help Rosa with breakfast.” He pulled on his clothes and started for the door.

She frowned. “Hey! Good morning to you too!”

“Sorry honey.” Walking back to the bed he bent and kissed her. “Morning.”

His lips were cold. Before she could comment on that, the baby woke up. Richie lifted him out of the bassinet, kissed his head and handed him to his mother. “Morning Peanut. I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”


“Say goodbye to Daddy Peanut, he’s got to go to work.” Tori stood with the baby by the door as the men prepared to leave.

Richie bent to kiss them both. “I’ll call you and let you know when to expect us home.”

“Don’t expect us for dinner.” Jon added as he also kissed them both.

David and Tico followed suit. Tori laughed. Ava demanded the same gesture. They all obliged.

Tori was asleep by the time the guys got home. She woke up when Richie slid in beside her. “How’d it go?” She curled into his side.

“Not bad. We got two tracks done.”

“Is that all?” She yawned.

He chuckled. “If you’d been around for the previous albums, you’d know that two is actually very good when you’re talking about Jon.”

“Right. Forgot. Neurotic Jon takes over in the studio.” She yawned again.

“Mmmhmmm. Go back to sleep angel.”

A few minutes later, he kissed her forehead and rolled onto his side facing away from her with a sigh. She snuggled into his back.

The next morning when Stevie woke up, Tori glanced at the clock, then at Richie. They stared at each other and grinned. Tori picked the baby up and cuddled him. “What a good boy! You slept right through the night!”

Richie yawned. “Barely, but it’s a good start.” He watched her feed the baby for a few minutes, then got up and headed for the bathroom. After showering and dressing he once again left to help with breakfast.

And the pattern of their days was set. Tori and Ava spent their days swimming, cooking, playing games, and looking after the baby while the men spent long hours in the studio.


The fourth day, Jon was pacing and running his hand through his hair in frustration. “It needs...something. Any ideas?” The question was directed at John Shanks. Shanks was sitting in the booth deep in thought. “John? What are you thinking?”

“I’m trying to think of what female singers I know that could come in and bump up the background vocals. But, it’s got to be someone who’s voice will blend with both yours and Richie’s and I’m coming up empty.”

Jon stopped in front of David. Their eyes met and they both grinned. “We can help with that.” Jon turned around. “Rich, call your wife. Tell her vacation time’s over and it’s time she got back to work.”

Richie snorted as he reached for his phone. “I’ll call her, but you can deliver your own message. I like my parts just the way they are thanks. Hi angel. Can you come down to the studio? We need your help. And you’d better bring Peanut. I don’t know how long this is going to take.”

“Gail’s on her way to pick up Ava for a sleep over. I’ll be there as soon as they leave.” Tori agreed, curious to see that part of the album making process.

“Great. Thanks angel.” He gave her directions and hung up. “She’ll be here in about twenty minutes.”

Shanks was looking forward to this. He’d heard about Tori of course, he was always on the lookout for new talent and kept up on all the music industry news. “If you’re hungry, we can bring in some food.”

Jon looked around at the group and shook his head. “No, we’re fine.”

“But I thought Richie asked his wife to bring peanuts.”

They laughed. “Peanut is my son.” Richie explained. “Well, his name is Stephen, but my daughter named him Peanut before he was born and it stuck. He’s seven weeks old and she’s nursing so I thought she’d better bring him with her.”


Tori arrived at the studio, unfastened Stevie’s car seat and walked inside. The receptionist glanced up at her entrance. “Hi. I’m...”

“Mrs. Sambora! They’re expecting you. Right this way.” She came around the desk and peeked into the car seat. “Well hello there. Aren’t you a cutie! Did you come to watch Mommy and Daddy work?” Stevie opened his eyes and blinked at her. “Oooh, he got the Bon Jovi blue eyes!” She looked up at Tori who smiled and nodded. “He’s going to be a heart breaker.” She lead the way down the hallway to a door near the end. Checking the light above the door, she opened it and stuck her head in. “John, Mrs. Sambora’s here.” She looked at Richie. “Your son is gorgeous.”

Richie grinned. “Thank you.”

“It’s the eyes.” Jon batted his. The rest groaned. The receptionist grinned and winked.

Tori walked through the door, crooked a brow at Jon and shook her head. She thanked the receptionist and turned to her brother. “Okay. I’m here. Do you want to tell me why?”

Jon introduced her to Shanks who explained. “We’d like you to sing back up with Richie and Dave. The song is missing something and we’d like to try this and see if it helps.”

“Okay.” Tori set Stevie’s carrier and diaper bag on a chair behind Shanks and headed into room where the guys were.

Richie kissed her and handed her a set of headphones. Jon handed her the lyrics. She looked them over, squinting at some of the words. “Can I get this typed out? Jeez Jon, your writing is horrible.” She grinned at Richie. He winked at her. Jon flipped her off. “Okay. Can I hear it once?”

“Sure.” Shanks ran the playback for her.

She hummed along, her head nodding in time to the music. “Very nice. Are they all like that?”

“Like what?” Jon asked.

“Real rocking, heavy on the guitar riffs.”

“Yeah. I decided to make your husband work for a change.”

Richie flipped him off. Tori chuckled and squeezed Richie’s shoulder. “The fans will be thrilled.”

“You think so?” Jon respected her opinion since she had been a fan long before any of them had met her.

She nodded. “Yeah. They’ve been asking for a rock album for awhile. And it’ll give more opportunity for Richie to make those guitar faces the girls love so much.”

Jon rolled his eyes. David groaned. Richie’s brows rose, surprised that she would mention something like that. He took it as a good sign.

“Okay. Let’s try one.” Shanks interjected. “Regular harmony please Tori.” She nodded.

They’d done three run throughs and were discussing the latest when Shanks interrupted. “Uh Tori?”

“Yes?”

“I think it’s dinner time.” Stevie’s cries could be heard through the intercom.

She glanced at her watch. “Coming.”