LOVE in a Small Town (Ladies of Legend Boxed Set)

by Janet Eaves

  “I’ve wanted to do this ever since you answered Suzie’s door. He lifted her chin and lowered his head, closing his eyes as his lips took hers.

  Lilly’s eyes drifted closed as she absorbed the feel of his lips placing gentle kisses above, below, and upon hers. Without thought she responded, opening her mouth slightly, allowing him to tug on each lip independently before tilting his head and taking her mouth fully.

  She fell into the kiss, her mind spinning, her legs growing weaker as the rest of her system went on full alert. He pulled her closer as she wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, running her fingers through the softness of his short dark hair.

  “Way to go, Coach!”

  Lilly pulled back as her cheeks warmed. She stepped behind Jim as he scanned the dimly lit parking lot and waved to a group of teenagers. One boy gave a thumbs up signal, his grin huge. Several others, both boys and girls, were watching them as they whispered to each other.

  Jim grinned as he first helped Lilly into the vehicle then settled in himself. “I’m going to get the ribbing of my life at practice tomorrow.”

  Lilly studied him to see if he was bothered by the prospect but he only seemed amused. So she would be, too. “I guess everybody knows everybody’s business here.”

  “Pretty much, which gets old sometimes. But there are good points, too. The kids don’t get into too much trouble since we all pretty much know each other. Same goes for our elderly citizens. If one doesn’t show up where they are expected someone goes to check on them. Of course, in my case, the entire town will know by tomorrow night that I was caught making out with a beautiful woman outside of The Westfield Restaurant.”

  Lilly forced herself to tamp down the flutter of panic. This was a small town, off the beaten path. Even if the entire town talked about them, no one else would know. It was just a kiss. Nothing newsworthy enough to go out over the wires. Nothing that would bring dangerous men to Legend. Nothing that would bring danger to her.

  Lilly felt Jim’s questioning glances as he drove. She turned to him with what she hoped looked like a genuine smile. “Well, I guess I had to get introduced to the community somehow.”

  Jim laughed and relaxed into his seat. Lilly exhaled, hoping she wasn’t making a terrible mistake. Of all the men she could have met and fallen in lust with in Legend, why had her mind and body reacted to the one man everyone knew…the bright and shining star of the community? She was supposed to be hiding, or if not hiding, at least laying low.

  Lilly chewed on her lip as Jim slowed to a stop at the edge of a cliff. She looked around, only now realizing they had driven up a small part of the mountain to a pull-off. She stared through the windshield, out over the edge at all the sparkling lights as he cut the engine, and then waited until he came around to open her door. She left the car, awed by the beauty of the night. Silently she approached the rocky ledge with its concrete fence and coin operated binoculars.

  Breathtaking. The stars twinkled brightly around a very large, full moon. The orange ball bathed the rugged rock wall leading straight down the mountainside. What appeared to be small rocks from this distance met the waters of the sparkling lake the town was named after. A slight breeze rose up the cliff’s edge to lift tendrils of her hair as Jim pulled her back from the edge. She turned, capturing his gaze before dropping hers to his mouth.

  Without a word Jim wrapped her in his arms and took her lips. He explored, nibbled, licked, probed, advancing and retreating then advancing again. Lilly’s mind spun, around and around, making her dizzy, making her thirsty in a way she had never known. She placed her hands on either side of his head and pulled back to stare into his eyes. They were dark, and hungry. This time she did the exploring, the taking, the giving, until they were both panting with need.

  “I want you,” Jim said, his lips still against hers.

  She nodded, agreeing, but couldn’t speak as her mouth was once again invaded, plundered, devastated. Her knees buckled but didn’t give as he held her tightly against him. Her lungs begged for air, but an animal she didn’t recognize took over her body, making her claw and bite; crazed by what his lips and hands were doing to her.

  Lights and the sound of an approaching car brought a flash of sanity and she sprang back. She knew she must look wild, disheveled, ravaged. She felt untamed, breathless, and still hungry. The car passed by as they stood panting, staring at each other in a warrior stance that usually preceded battle, or perhaps…lovemaking. Lilly had a feeling that with Jim Hood, they were one and the same. And at the moment there was nothing she wanted more than to find out.

  ****

  “And he brought me home.”

  Suzie took another sip of her tea as she studied Lilly. “Just like that, he brought you home.”

  “Yes.” Lilly still didn’t know what to make of his sudden change. “He was nice about it. I mean we talked some then he very politely walked me to the door and gave me a nice little kiss before saying, ‘Goodnight.’”

  “I see.”

  “I’m glad you do, because I don’t. I don’t see at all. I thought we would end up in bed having wild passionate sex all night.” She covered her face with her hands. “Please don’t think I normally have sex with a guy on the first date. I’ve only had sex once and it was because we had dated so long I felt obligated.” Lilly peaked through her fingers at Suzie. “It was gross.”

  Suzie burst out laughing, and kept laughing until Lilly couldn’t help but join her. With tears streaming and a runny nose, Suzie made an effort to pull herself together. It took several tries. Finally she cleared her throat. “Girl, you have a problem. Jim doesn’t let anything, and I mean anything distract him during football season. Sex is completely off his list. According to him, one romp with…hmmmm, well I’ll leave her name out of it, but to make a long story short, the last time his team lost was right after he… you know…did it.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  Suzie shook her head. “‘Fraid not. Sorry.”

  Lilly stared at her again until Suzie fell into another fit of laughter.

  “Well, damn.”

  ****

  The pain was as severe as it was unexpected.

  Lilly screamed, unable to hold the sound of terror and agony inside. This was her worst fear. The one thing she had dreaded above all else. She backed away, surprised and disoriented by the rough ground beneath her bare feet and the hard smack that knocked her head back and took her to her knees.

  She tasted blood and tears. A familiar, but none too comforting reminder of her teen years once she’d discovered the events preceding her birth.

  She dared to peer up and gagged on the nausea building like a giant wave. He was really there, the one she had always feared the most, looking both pleased and murderous.

  He would smell of Cuban cigars and money, she knew from memory, but her nose was pouring out blood and for now, that metallic taste consumed her senses. She froze, waiting for the shot that would put a hole in her head and drain her of life, or worse. Big Daddy was known for his pleasures, and one of those was to hear the screams of those he chose to kill slowly. She had been forced to witness more than one brutal execution, a lesson in what she would endure should she ever turn against those who had raised her. She had. And now she could only pray for a quick death. If her mind could form the words.

  Big Daddy moved closer, undoing his belt. He whipped the thick leather out of the loops on his neatly pressed suit pants. Lilly couldn’t halt the whimper that escaped her lips. He’d beaten her often before. The first time on that fateful night of her eighteenth birthday when she’d stumbled across the evidence that had literally knocked her feet out from under her. Her world, one of ignorant privilege and comfort, had been tossed upside-down. Not even Momma could save her that night, or the nights of beatings that followed. Finally she had escaped the brutality on her own. Momma couldn’t save her now either. Even if the woman had been on hand and would still be willing. Momma hadn’t really been her mothe
r. No more than Big Daddy was her father.

  “Take off your clothes.”

  His voice hadn’t changed. Lilly couldn’t help but stare at him in horror as he undid his trousers and slid a hand inside to fondle himself. She shuffled backwards, gaining her feet with the movement. The rough bark of a tree caught and held her, both a support and a trap. “No,” she croaked. “No!”

  Big Daddy smiled. His thick lips clamped on the large cigar like a cartoon character she’d once seen on a Saturday morning show. Only nothing about him was funny.

  “I said take them off, or Billy will do it for you.”

  Lilly slid a glance to the right. Billy, once a boy she believed to be her own brother, smiled at her with the same vicious delight as his father. “Billy, please!”

  He laughed, his now adult body bulked up like a bouncer’s. “I’m gonna do you once Daddy’s done. Just like I always wanted. And then I’m gonna cut them little tits right off you.”

  Tears poured unchecked as Lilly shook her head. This couldn’t be happening. She was once a daughter and sister to these wicked men. “Please. Just kill me. No one will ever know.”

  Both men laughed, both approached, as if their movements had been choreographed. Lilly fought the strength of the tree at her back but it might as well have been another of Big Daddy’s thugs. Big Daddy reached her first, stopping only inches away. She dared to look up, determined to suffer whatever degradation she’d be forced to endure with as much dignity as she could. But the first touch of his hand at her breast tore a scream from her throat that split the night.

  Chapter Five

  Jim dropped the pretty little tea cup and hit the patio floor running, Suzie fast on his heels. His need to talk with Suzie had brought him to the house long after both would usually be in bed, but he wasn’t sleeping lately. The talk and his lack of sleep were directly due to the woman who was now screaming as if someone was attacking her.

  He reached her door, only to find it locked. Without looking back he put his shoulder to it and burst into the room. No one was there but her, in the bed, writhing and whimpering. He went to her side and pulled her into his arms. With surprising strength she fought him, arms striking out, legs kicking hard, moaning the word ‘no’ over and over as her head rocked from side to side.

  He pulled her closer and whispered her name, then looked up at Suzie, who seemed as lost as he felt. He mouthed the word, ‘tea’ which sent her out of the room at as near a run as he’d ever seen. His attention turned to Lilly once more. She instantly settled into his arms and was staring up at him, her eyes flat, her nostrils flaring with each agitated breath. A lone tear escaped before her face crumpled and a cry of pure agony passed her lips.

  Jim held her close, running a hand over her hair in strokes, hoping to comfort as she cried herself out. Suzie came and went, bringing tea, another light blanket, an old-fashioned wash basin with cool water, and soft terry washcloth. She glanced at Jim helplessly before dipping then wringing the cloth.

  “Here, honey,” she whispered, and handed it to Lilly.

  Lilly wiped then covered her face until her breathlessness slowed to an occasional jerk. Jim remained silent, uncertain what to say, what to do, yet felt loss when she pulled herself out of his arms, turning away as if embarrassed. He gave her a moment more while she took a cup of tea from Suzie and drank it all. “Do you have nightmares often?”

  Lilly shook her head, a movement he wasn’t entirely certain he believed. Whatever had haunted her dream had really scared her. “Are you all right?”

  Lilly slid him a glance then and nodded, obviously not yet able to trust speaking. He understood women enough to know there were times to back off, but he couldn’t. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Lilly shook her head and turned her attention to Suzie. A look passed between them that Jim knew would get him thrown out of the room. He stood, looking from one to the other. “I’m off. I’ll stop by tomorrow after school and before our second practice.” He turned fully to Lilly. “Do you need anything?”

  She shook her head as a shaky smile touched her lips. Those berry ripe lips now looked somewhat chapped, making him want to moisten them with his own. He pulled his attention back to her large liquid filled eyes, knowing that although the reasons were now different, he’d lose another night of sleep over this woman. “Goodnight then.”

  ****

  Lilly stared blankly through the large plate glass window at the activity on Main Street as Martin McClain elaborated on the benefits of owning a downtown shop. She heard him, every word, and everything he said made perfect sense from a business standpoint. She just wasn’t feeling very businesslike herself this morning.

  “The large amount of tourist foot traffic as people passed through Legend on their way to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge keeps a steady stream of shoppers in the area. Business is great during the summer and fall months, a little slower in the winter and spring, but the town council is looking at possible options to improve the situation.

  “Our lake is pristine. The surrounding property rarely comes up for sale as it’s mostly owned by the descendants of the original settlers, or very wealthy newcomers, but I know of one tract that could be available within the next couple of years if you’re interested. Mr. Wilcox is a hundred and three… Unfortunately he’s outlived his family.” Martin cleared his throat. “It’s all very sad, but he’s lived a good life and has commissioned me to take care of the disposal of the property when the time comes.

  “The lake is a big draw for fishermen who don’t mind trolling or canoeing which is great if you think you might be interested. You’d never have to worry about noisy motored boats as they aren’t allowed on the lake. Fortunately that doesn’t seem to matter as far as tourism, especially to the older men and even some women, though mostly the wives enjoy our shops and eating establishments more.

  “It’s a good setup for the locals. We’re all pretty friendly and know the value of spending our money with our friends and neighbors rather than letting some big mega-conglomerated mall come in and take over.”

  Lilly blew out a breath, relieved he’d finally stopped talking. Yes, everything he’d said made perfect sense and it was exactly what she had dreamed to one day find for herself.

  But she’d forgotten.

  In the little bit of time she had been here, she’d been lulled into an unrealistic sense of security. Last night’s horror had only been a dream, no, a nightmare. It just seemed so real…, was too real to ignore. Because it was possible. Probable even, given their history. The threat to life and limb could actually happen if she forgot and didn’t keep an eye out for danger.

  “Can the glass be tinted?”

  Martin smiled at her. “I was wondering if you changed your mind about renting the shop.”

  Lilly made an effort to pull herself together. The poor man… well, not poor. He was actually quite a hunk, nonetheless she was being rude. “I’m sorry, no. I haven’t changed my mind. I was just thinking,” though you will never know what about, “and was wondering if the windows could be tinted.”

  Martin shrugged. “I don’t see why not. You’ve signed a lease for a year and I feel confident you’ll be here a lot longer.” He grinned. “Legend grows on you.”

  Lilly smiled for the first time since the horrible experience of the night before. “You’re right there. It has already sucked me in. It’s wonderful.”

  Martin looked a little embarrassed, or perhaps uncomfortable. Lilly took a step back. She hoped he didn’t think she was flirting. She wasn’t. He was a good looking man, no doubt, but there was no chemistry, no fire, no Jim.

  She shook that thought away. She wasn’t going to see Jim anymore. After the night before he was probably thanking his lucky stars she’d made a complete fool of herself and he could just quietly disappear. That would be best after all.

  That way no one got attached. No one got hurt. No one got loved.

  She inhaled at the pain that thought brought. She
had never once allowed herself the possibility of love before. She never believed she would be able to have a steady guy, much less a happily forever-after. Those things were for women who were born, not cut from their mother’s wombs. Those things were for women raised by people who didn’t make their living by kidnapping, stealing, money laundering, and killing as if it was big game season on humans.

  Not for her. If she was smart she would do the right thing and go with her original plan, lay low, keep her head down and her eyes and ears open. Then one day she would die. And that would be that.

  Fury built with each breath. She felt tears building with it and cursed this sudden propensity to cry. She pretended to study the high-gloss marble tiling on the floor. She walked away from Martin, blowing out puffs of breath, blinking rapidly, and silently lecturing herself about bawling all over men she barely knew.

  She understood that the fury stemmed from the injustice of her situation, and the need to cry from the frustration, but enough was enough. Those devils, those beasts that had haunted every aspect of her life were not going to get the rest of it. She had been right in coming to Legend. She was worthy of a wonderful, fulfilling, yes, even love-filled life. And if Jim Hood was scared away then he damned well better get over it!

  “So, what is your shop called?”

  Lilly inhaled a cleansing breath and turned to the realtor. She was about to confess that she had no idea when three young women crossed in front of her storefront. One was hugely pregnant, one was only a few months along, but it was the last one who caught her attention. The young woman had a serene expression on her lovely young face and a hand her on her flat tummy in the way women do when they have only just learned a new life is growing inside.

  She kept her gaze on the women until they moved out of sight. “It’s New Beginnings.”

  With those words peaceful assurance bloomed like a living manifestation in her gut. She turned to Martin, this time not caring how he might react to her smile. “My shop will be for babies and toddlers.