by Maddie James
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.
Chapter Twenty-One
“And he brought me home.”
Suzie took another sip of her tea as she studied Lilly. “Just like that, he brought you home.”
It was all she could do to keep her mind on Lilly’s “dilemma.” At the moment her brain was a couple of miles away at the town meeting where her life was getting ripped to shreds. But for Lilly’s sake, she tried to concentrate. When she’d whipped into her driveway, her insides hammering with anger and her tires arcing little sprays of gravel, she’d been hell-bent on opening a bottle of wine, madly popping the cork, and heading to the lake to get herself good and tipsy.
At this moment she didn’t want to deal.
But as her lights splayed over the porch, and she saw Lilly sitting there quiet and alone with a lost look on her face, suddenly that anger waned.
A little.
“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.”
But as Suzie watched her, taking in the awed but also timid look of the woman, she had to wonder exactly what Lilly Peach was really all about. She came out of nowhere, had nothing but a few possessions, but enough money to rent a shop downtown. It was all curious.
“You really haven’t dated much, have you, Lilly?”
The grin fell from the young woman’s face. “No. Not much. Just not a lot of opportunity.”
Suzie gave her a half-smile. “Like I said, Jim’s a good guy. He’ll do right by you.” For some reason, she felt it important to reassure Lilly of that fact.
****
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 fo
llowed. 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 mother. 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.
****
“Be careful with her.” Suzie said an hour or so later to Jim, who had returned to the B&B long after he’d dropped Lilly off. Since Lilly was upstairs sleeping, it provided him prime opportunity to talk. Suzie had fixed some tea, and was trying like hell to remain calm, he could tell, but she was agitated beyond all get out.
He wondered why. Best not stay too long.
“She’s been hurt in some way or is running from something. I don’t know...but I don’t want her hurt. Mostly though, I don’t want you hurt.”
Jim stood and pulled Suzie to him and locked her in a hug. He and Suzie had almost been lovers once when they we still in their teens, but had realized that it could jeopardize the friendship they had always known. She was more like his pain in the ass cherished sister. He loved her completely. “Okay. So, are you telling me I need to back off?”
Suzie moved back to look up into his face. “Are you kidding? I’d give my best mixing bowl set to be as excited as you two are when you see each other. There is enough electricity in the room to bake the entire team their pre-game muffins.”
She stepped out of his arms. “I just wanted to let you know. She has some baggage. I don’t know what it is, and I would never say anything to anyone else, but you are mine, and I don’t want you hurt.”
“Thanks. I love you, too.” Jim gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “I’ll tread carefully,” he promised and cup in hand, headed toward the front of the house, certain he heard Suzie mumble, “Sure you will.”
The scream came from out of nowhere.
Jim dropped the pretty little tea cup and hit the deck floor running. Suzie was fast on his heels, both intent on reaching the woman who was now shrieking 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, and gasping. 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. “Go back to sleep then,” he whispered.
He stayed until she did just that.
Chapter Twenty-Two
I am not going to lose everything I have worked so hard for.
Finally perched in the Adirondack chair with her bottle of wine tucked between her knees, Suzie wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, and hugged herself a little tighter. She looked over the lake and sighed. She hated crying; didn’t do it often. And had felt damn proud that she’d held her tears in all the way home and for a full five minutes while sitting there.
Then little by little, they started falling.
Daylight Savings Time hadn’t kicked in yet and darkness fell early these days. The full moon sat low over the water, casting a mellow glow over the scene before her. Quiet. Peaceful. Waves gently lapped against the old dock pilings where she tied her small motor boat, soothing both her soul and her demeanor.
Another reason why she loved this place.
Large motors weren’t allowed on the lake but her trolling motor was great for tooling around and doing a little fishing. She glanced toward The Point. A few miles down the lakeshore at the park, paddleboats were the thing. Everybody loved those, kids and oldsters alike.
If she squinted she could see a bonfire. The reunion crew, she was certain.
Would all of this change? Would tourists at the hotel now want jet-skis and bass boats with loud motors to water ski?
Sniffling, she pushed her hair away from her forehead and raised her gaze to the mountain opposite the lake from her property. If she searched real hard, she could see the silhouette of the old lodge. There were smaller cabins, too, tucked high in the mountains. All of them had been deserted for years. She wondered if Brad knew the cabins existed. She’d heard that Legend’s Lake Lodge was a sought-after summer place in the fifties and sixties, kind of like a Southern Catskills. She chuckled, imagining the setting to be like the movie Dirty Dancing.
Would it have been like that?
Could it be again?
Nonsense.
You had to have money to stay
back then, she was certain. Maybe that’s why it all went away. The late sixties and seventies were different times. Priorities changed. Families didn’t, couldn’t, take off a whole summer to play golf or take Merengue and Mambo lessons. She was a small child when it all went away but she’d heard the stories from her parents and older family members.
When she was a teenager, they’d camped on the site, braving ghost stories and mountain folklore. They’d even broken into the old lodge one evening—her parents would have killed her had they found out—and spent the night on the ballroom floor in their sleeping bags, daring ghosts and goblins to roll down the majestic stairway to haunt them.
That didn’t happen, of course. The only heebie-jeebies they got were the ones they brought on themselves. That and a few bottles of gawd-awful strawberry wine.
The lodge was magnificent, however. It had made a lasting impression on her. And to this day she would sit, right where she sat at this moment, to look and wonder. She could only imagine what it had been like in its heyday. Back then she saw through the dust and cobwebs. She marveled at the rich pine plank floors, huge log beams, the incredible stairway and landing, chandeliers made from curvy wood branches and deer antlers, and a stained glass window to die for. Often, she had daydreamed of what it could someday be again.
Gone.
If Brad had his way, it would all be gone. And she might as well say Legend’s Landing Bed and Breakfast would be gone, too.
“Damn him,” her whispered curse floated on a breeze. She swiped her nose. “And I was just beginning to get used to the possibility of having him around.”
The drone of an engine came closer, moving steadily toward her home. The Harley. Unmistakable.
Shit.
The house was dark. Lilly was likely sleeping off her nightmare—she’d added an extra glub of Maker’s Mark to her tea—and Midnight had moved into her apartment over the Emporium a couple of days before.
She couldn’t remember whether she’d locked up or not. Had she given Brad a front door key? Honestly, she didn’t care. He was a big boy and could fend for himself. He could sleep on the porch glider for all she cared. And she’d gladly charge him a nightly rate for doing so.