Shade

by Jamie Begley

  “We’re done here. Holly can replace the sofa for me Monday. Thanks, everyone. It would have taken several days for us straighten this mess out,” Diamond said gratefully.

  “No problem. We’re glad we could help,” Winter said with a smile.

  She, Lily, and Beth stood.

  “I’m sorry about the cuts, Lily,” Diamond apologized.

  “I shouldn’t have overreacted; it was just a few scratches. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Lily shook off her apology with a smile.

  Beth took her hand, leading her out of the office while Razer and Shade followed.

  “I left my SUV at the diner,” Beth said as they stepped outside.

  “You two stay here with Razer. Give me your keys, and I’ll go get it.” Shade held his hand out for the keys.

  “I can walk,” Lily protested but snapped her mouth closed at his cold glance, taking a step closer to Beth.

  Beth handed the keys to Shade.

  “You can walk with Shade and get your bike, Razer. I’ll stay here with Lily until Shade brings my car.”

  Razer and Shade both shook their heads.

  “An office in this building was just broken into a few hours ago, and they haven’t been caught; it’s not safe to leave you alone. I’ll be right back.” Shade strode away, taking deep breaths, easily identifying Lily’s perfume in the air.

  Being confined in the small space for hours had gotten to him. He had seen her darting, fearful glances whenever any of the brothers had come too close, especially him. He had hoped, with the few times she had been around him, she would begin to feel safe. Instead, he was seeing the same fear in her eyes as when she had first seen him at the lake. She just managed to hide it better.

  He opened the door to Beth’s vehicle and climbed in. Then he put it in reverse to pull out, and as he did, he saw a blue ribbon which must have fallen out of Lily’s hair. He straightened the wheels and put the car in drive before his hand went to the seat, picking up the silky ribbon and touching it to the side of his face. He wished it was her fingers on him, instead. He slid the ribbon into his jean’s pocket before pulling out onto the road, driving to Diamond’s office where he stopped the SUV in front of them, getting out to hold the passenger door open for Lily as she said her goodbyes to Razer.

  Beth kissed her husband before getting behind the steering wheel.

  Lily hesitated before climbing in, giving him a shy smile. “Thanks, Shade. I’m sorry I was such a baby.”

  Shade had to swallow the lump in his throat, glad his sunglasses hid his eyes. He managed a brief nod before closing the door. As he stepped back, Razer came to stand next to him.

  “Do you ever wish you hadn’t seen her that day?” Razer asked softly.

  The first day he had seen Lily was the first day he had actually felt alive. Before then, he had merely existed; there were no highs or lows, no thinking about her constantly—if she was all right or if she was ever going to care about him. All the emotional bullshit he had suffered through would never have happened. Her purple eyes, smile, and gentle beauty filled his mind.

  “Not once.”

  Chapter 31

  Shade watched Viper and Winter’s ceremony as far away from Lily as he could sit. There was only so much he could stand before he reached his breaking point.

  He had called in all the IOU’s he had earned playing poker and from the betting pool he had started on whether Knox’s squirrel had lived or died. They had used Evie to get Knox drunk off his ass then questioned him. The squirrel had survived, and Shade had made a bundle of cash, giving the money to Viper to give to Winter with the idea of redecorating the club room so Lily wouldn’t be smacked in the face with their lifestyle when she entered the first time.

  He made sure he was one of the last in line after the wedding. He even sat at another table and was carrying his dirty plate to the sink with every intention of passing the table where Lily sat, without even looking her way.

  Evie and Bliss were getting up from the table, excusing themselves to wash dishes as Diamond and Lily started to rise to go help.

  “Let them take care of it; it’s their punishment.” Knox stopped Diamond with a hand on her arm.

  “Punishment?” Diamond questioned.

  Lily’s eyes widened at Knox’s words.

  “They screwed up an order that went out last week. The kitchen is the punishment they drew.”

  “You punish them when they make a simple mistake?” Lily questioned.

  “It wasn’t a simple mistake; a customer was kept waiting for the supplies they needed. They gave us a bad review and took their order somewhere else,” Shade said, pausing by their table.

  “Then write them up,” Lily snapped back. “But punishing them like children is ridiculous.”

  “Is it?” Shade said. “Do you think a written paper telling them they made a mistake is as effective as making them wash all the dishes and clean the kitchen for a week?”

  “For a week?” Lily asked. “They should report you to OSHA.”

  Shade’s lips twisted into a smile. “It was handled as a club punishment, which is different than what we would have done if they had been one of the hired employees.”

  “What would you have done to a hired employee? Make them mop the floors for a month?” Lily asked with fight in her eyes.

  “No, we would have fired their asses,” Shade answered.

  Shade could see the wheels turning behind her eyes.

  “Do you have to take punishments like that?” she asked her sister.

  When Beth didn’t answer immediately, Lily drew taut beside her sister.

  “Then you don’t need to belong to the club anymore,” Lily declared.

  “She’s Razer’s; she belongs to him and the club,” Shade said bluntly.

  Lily stared at her sister, wanting her to deny their ownership.

  “We’ll talk about this later, Lily,” Beth said, taking Lily’s hand. “But I love Razer and you do, too, and you know it. The Last Riders are a big part of his life; he considers them family. I did know he was in a motorcycle club when I fell in love with him, and it’s not like it’s an overly harsh punishment. The worst thing that could happen is dish-pan hands.”

  Lily gave her sister a rueful smile. “I’m sorry I overreacted. I just couldn’t stand the thought of you taking any punishment for any reason.” The women shared a private moment. “Besides, it’s your life, and I know for a fact you’re very happy.”

  “Yes, I am.” Beth smiled.

  Shade once again started to walk on until Lily’s next words stopped him dead in his tracks.

  “We need to go to Arizona. They have cowboys, Diamond,” Lily said to her mischievously.

  He almost tripped spinning back around so quickly.

  “Cowboys?” Diamond asked, not understanding the abrupt subject change.

  “I’m going to marry a cowboy. They’re gentlemen, kind, and protect their women,” Lily said with authority.

  “They do?”

  Lily nodded.

  Shade gritted his teeth. The only man who was going to be in her life was him. Cowboy? Fuck, he could outshoot any of those mother fuckers.

  Beth laughed at her sister’s idea of a perfect husband. “Our father wouldn’t let us watch television. The only shows he would take us to every now and then were cowboy movies. Lily has been infatuated with them ever since,” Beth explained.

  Shade’s hands itched to show her exactly what a real man could give her instead of those dreams she had built around cowboys. He was about to ask her how far she had gone with the imaginary cowboy of her dreams when Winter came up behind him.

  “Shade, Razer is waiting on you.”

  Shade leaned over Lily, reaching for Diamond’s empty plate. “You think cowboys don’t know how to punish their women, Lily? They have whips and spurs they use on their horses.”

  A terrified look came over Lily’s face, and her hand went to the wrist with the red rubber band. Shade’s hand covered
the wrist before Lily could touch it, his chest brushing her shoulder. He had bent low enough that his breath whispered over her neck.

  “I’ll take that to the kitchen for you, Diamond. At least when I punish someone, I don’t leave a mark,” he said suggestively, rising with Diamond’s plate in his hand before leaving the quiet group behind.

  “That wasn’t nice.” Evie smiled as she came up behind him, setting the dishes in the sink.

  “I’m not a nice guy.”

  “Yes, Shade, you are.” Evie shook her head when he would have spoken. “No one else was there when I needed them. I don’t know what kind of shape I would be in today without your help. You helped me keep my sanity in a time I didn’t want to hold on to it. It meant more to you than it did me. So, yeah, you’re a nice guy. You’re much better than a cowboy; you’re a knight in shining armor.”

  “I wouldn’t take it that far.” Shade snorted. “This knight’s armor was tarnished long ago.”

  Evie looked toward Lily. “Sometimes, all it takes is someone to care enough to polish it and make it shine.”

  Shade shook his head at her romanticism. He was no knight; he was what nightmares were made of, with a fascination for a woman who didn’t need another monster in her life.

  He went outside to the backyard where the brothers and women were dancing. Shade walked to a tree, leaning against it as he watched Lily come outside and take a seat. Razer and Beth went to the dance floor while Lily watched them with a wistful look.

  Shade left his spot to move to the dance floor where Jewell and Bliss were dancing together. He began dancing with them until Jewell eventually began dancing with Train. Shade didn’t trust himself to dance with her; however, he wanted Lily’s eyes on him as she looked at the dance floor.

  A few of the brothers began to feel uncomfortable that Lily was the only one not dancing; even Razer was glancing her way frequently. Shade gave him a warning look. Brother-in-law or not, Shade didn’t want to see her dance with anyone except him. He knew he was being a selfish bastard, but he had agreed to give Lily time to graduate college. Of course, that didn’t mean he had to stand back and watch her have fun with another man.

  When Knox and Diamond stood up to dance, Knox walked to the dance floor while Diamond snatched Lily’s hand with hers, saying something to her.

  Lily’s expression took Shade’s breath away. He missed a step before righting himself, apologizing to Bliss for smashing her foot under his.

  Knox gave him a wary glance as Diamond pulled Lily onto the dance floor. Diamond’s stubborn expression showed she wasn’t giving the brother a choice other than to dance with them both.

  The only thing that saved him from Shade decking him was he danced close to Diamond’s side, staying as far away from Lily as the crowded floor would allow.

  Lily stayed on Diamond’s other side, dancing with youthful enthusiasm. She was good, her lithe body moving to the music as a rosy glow crept onto her cheeks, her purple eyes sparkling with joy. She twirled when the music ended, laughing at Diamond’s astonishment at her skill, missing Shade’s own awe.

  “You’re very good,” Diamond complimented her.

  “Beth and I used to dance in our bedrooms when we were little. We were terrible, but it was just us, so we didn’t care,” Lily confessed.

  “You’re not terrible now; you’re really good.”

  “My roommate has been teaching me. She likes to go to some of the college parties, and she makes me go with her.” Her voice was a little loud, so he could easily hear over the music.

  Shade decided he was going to deduct from Penni’s allowance for taking Lily to parties.

  She twirled again, and that time, Shade was waiting. Lily immediately tried to shy away from him, but Shade held her close with his arm around her waist.

  “You dance with guys at these parties?” Shade asked.

  “No,” Lily said, trying to break away.

  Shade loosened his grip, letting Lily put some space between them.

  “Dance with me,” he said persuasively, loosening his hold.

  As Razer and Beth came to dance next to them, Beth sent Lily an encouraging smile. Shade had expected Beth to make an excuse for her sister and provide an escape from him, not encourage her.

  Lily slowly began to dance to the music, yet she didn’t regain the fluidity of before. Her hand went to her wrist, but Shade sent her a warning glance and she removed it. As soon as the music was over, she fled from him, leaving him standing alone on the dance floor. He followed slowly.

  “It’s time I leave. I’m going back to school tonight. My roommate is picking me up at my house. She’s visiting a family friend. Beth didn’t want me to drive back in the dark.” Lily accepted her sister’s over-protectiveness without complaint herself before they could reach their chairs. She hugged Beth and Razer goodbye. “See you in a couple of weeks.”

  “Bye, little sis,” Razer said with his arm around Beth’s shoulder.

  Lily turned to Diamond, giving her a quick hug. “It was nice seeing you again, Diamond.”

  “You, too, Lily. Drive careful.”

  “I will,” Lily murmured, stepping toward the door, avoiding Shade’s sharp gaze.

  Each time she left, it was torture for him.

  Arms circled his waist as Bliss pressed her breasts to his back. “Can we finish dancing now?”

  “I don’t feel like dancing.” He removed her hands from his waist and went inside.

  * * *

  The motorcycle drove steadily up the mountain road, taking the curves at maximum speed. He passed Rosie’s bar on his way back to the clubhouse, and there was a patrol car beginning to pull out of the parking lot. Seconds later, he saw the flashing blue lights in his rearview mirror. Slowing down, he pulled carefully off the road.

  Shade turned off his motor as he watched the sheriff get out of his car. The thought struck him that he was walking slower and his face had become more lined since the last time Shade had seen him, which had been only the week before.

  “What are you doing out so late?” The sheriff greeted him with the gruff question.

  “Couldn’t sleep.”

  “Knox just passed ahead of you. Something going on I need to know about?” The sheriff always tried to stay alert to possible trouble involving The Last Riders.

  “No.”

  The sheriff stared at him silently, patiently waiting for more information.

  “Nothing’s going on. Knox took his woman home and was going back to the clubhouse,” he explained, knowing he would worry.

  “Anyone I know?” he asked curiously.

  “Diamond Richards.”

  The sheriff whistled. “Never would have guessed that one.”

  “You’re looking tired.”

  “I am. I’m a deputy short.” The sheriff sighed, raising his hand to rub his eyes. “When Cash asked me to come up here and check on Beth and Lily, I never expected to stay this long.”

  “I know.”

  “Rach wants to travel. Lost one wife not listening to what she wanted, don’t plan on getting another divorce in this stage of my life.”

  “She won’t divorce you. Maybe stop cooking for you, but she wouldn’t leave you.”

  “I asked Lucky, if I retired, if he would take over,” his dad said, looking up the dark road ahead.

  “What was his answer?”

  “He told me to shove it.” The sheriff didn’t try to hide his disappointment at wanting to turn the reins of the sheriff’s office over to someone he could trust.

  His dad turned the conversation back to the reason he had made the stop. “Penni stopped by to see us. She was pretty upset about you calling her to jump on her ass.”

  “She doesn’t need to be going to parties, and she damn sure doesn’t need to take Lily with her.”

  “Go home and go to bed, Shade. You’re looking tired yourself. You’re not going to find what you’re looking for on this mountain road.” The Sheriff turned to walk away, but
then turned back. “And slow your ass down.”

  “I will. Night, Dad.” Shade started his motor, pulling out onto the road.

  “Night, son.”

  No, he was not going to find what he wanted in the mountains; she was sleeping in her room at college. Shade had begun driving down a couple times a week to check on her. Every time he got on his bike for a ride, he swore he wouldn’t go there, yet he would inevitably find himself sitting outside her dorm. It had even gotten to the point he had hoped she saw him.

  Penni had come out tonight while he had sat there on his motorcycle.

  “Shade, if you don’t leave, someone will call campus security.”

  He shrugged. “I’ll tell them I’m here visiting you.”

  “Is this how you want her to find out you’re my brother?”

  “No,” he admitted.

  “Then go home, Shade. Lily’s sleeping, so go home and get some yourself. You look like you haven’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks.”

  Penni hugged him as Shade sat stiffly, keeping his hands by his side until she slowly released him then turned to go back inside.

  “Penni?” She turned back to face him. “Don’t take her to any more parties.”

  Chapter 32

  “Where you two going?” Shade asked Knox and Razer, who were leaving the diner as he was entering.

  “Diamond called, said she had some news about my case. I’m going to her office. Viper wanted Razer to tag along.” He nodded to where Viper sat, eating in the back.

  “You finish lunch?” Shade asked Razer.

  “No, the waitress just brought my food,” Razer answered grumpily.

  “Go eat. I’ll eat later.”

  “You sure?”

  Shade nodded, going with Knox.

  “Diamond say what it was about?”

  “No, only that it was good news.”

  Shade hoped so. He let Knox enter the office first while he picked up a UPS box sitting outside her door. He was placing it on the desk of Diamond’s secretary when he saw Diamond run across her private office, throwing herself into Knox’s arms. Shade backed away toward the door, not wanting to interrupt them.