by Lara Jones
Mora grinned. “Yes, it is. Why, down south—do you know where Texas is?”
“I do. I’m good at geography.”
“Good, then you can teach me.” Mora waved her hand in the air. “Anyway, down south, all the women want to be pretty as a peach.”
Lily grinned. “Then thank you very much. You’re as pretty as a peach also.”
“Why thank you, ma’am,” Mora said and then chuckled when Lily did.
“Now your men here are getting a little tired of me being here…”
“But they’re not mine, and why would they be tired of you?”
“Let’s get to the men thing later. Everyone says I’m trouble, and they get kind of mean to me sometimes.” Mora stuck out her bottom lip. Her lips twitched when Lily gasped and held her hands to her chest.
“That’s awful. Why would anyone be mean to you?”
Mora’s eyes slid to Alec’s and then John’s.
“Well, I’m not for sure, but I think it’s because I’m just too cute.”
Lily looked confused, and then her head snapped around when Alec snorted.
“But she is cute, Alec. But that shouldn’t make you mean.”
Alec pushed some hair out of Lily’s face.
“Oh, we know she’s cute, baby girl. It’s just she likes to misbehave, a lot.”
Lily’s eyes raced back to Mora. She couldn’t believe this woman got in trouble.
“But, she’s so sweet.”
John coughed.
Mora’s eyes narrowed at John.
“See, Lily, they’re mean to me.”
Lily gasped again and turned her eyes to John.
“Are you being mean to her?”
John ignored the satisfied look on Mora’s face.
“Honey, no…”
Mora grunted.
He narrowed his eyes. “We don’t want to be mean to her. It’s just that…” He didn’t know how to say she was a nuisance, nicely.
“What?” Lily asked.
“Yes, tell us what, John?” Mora asked with a definite twinkle in her eyes.
“Enough,” Alec’s voice thundered, making Lily jump. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to scare you.” His eyes narrowed on Mora. “Mora came to meet you.”
Mora hid her smile. Oh, she knew she was getting it later and was okay with it because this was so much fun to see them squirm.
“I really did want to meet you, and someone told me we are about the same size, so I brought over some clothes.”
“Oh, I couldn’t take your clothes from you, Mora.”
Mora saw the stressed look on her sweet face and pressed her palms together as if praying.
“I’m begging you. Please take these. I had my things brought up from Dallas, and we don’t have enough space for them. They have been sitting in boxes where they’ll stay for a long time.”
“These are clothes you never wear?”
“I’ll show you my closet sometime. You’ll shi—think it’s crazy.”
“Good save,” John said.
Lily sat, undecided. “I just don’t know…”
Mora held up a hand. “Wait a sec.” She turned toward the door than yelled, “Dylan, please bring those sacks in.”
A minute later the man from before came through the door with a dozen sacks full of clothes.
“Oh, my. Mora. That’s too many. I’ve never had that many clothes in my whole life.”
Dylan sat the bags on the bed.
“Please, Lily. Help me out here. I can’t find anything because her clothes are taking up all the closet space. She’s even taking the other bedrooms closets.”
“Really?”
Mora and Dylan smiled at each other.
“Really,” they said together.
“If you promise that if you want any of them back, you’ll come and get it.”
“Absolutely.” The only person that believed her was Lily.
Mora pulled a few things out of one of the bags and handed them to Lily.
She watched as tears filled Lily’s eyes.
“Oh, no you don’t, sister. If you start crying, then I’ll start. And it isn’t pretty when I start crying.”
“That’s for sure,” Dylan added and then smiled at the look of retribution on Mora’s face.
Lily held up a long colorful skirt and then clutched it to her heart.
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much, Mora.” Lily sniffed and blinked a few times, trying to hold back the tears.
Mora cleared her throat of emotion and stood. “Listen, I’ll stop over in a few days, but if you want to talk before, then call me.”
“How?”
Mora realized who she was talking to.
“Have one of your guys show you. It’ll be fun being on the phone with you for your very first call.”
“I’d like that. Thank you so much again for everything. It’s overwhelming to me the kindness you’re showing me, and you don’t even know me.”
“But we’re going to be best friends. Friends help friends, right?”
“Yes,” Lily laughed and nodded. “Bye,” Lily said as Mora and Dylan walked out of the bedroom.
“What’s got you so giddy, baby girl?” Alec asked when Lily sighed and then giggled.
Lily looked at both men.
“I have two friends now here. I never thought people would like me.”
“Oh, I guarantee everyone’s going to love you,” John said and kissed her forehead. “Don’t forget, we’re your friends, too, Lily.”
“Men and women can’t be friends.” She laughed and shook her head.
“Remember, this town’s different. We can all be friends.”
Lily sat back and thought about it for a minute.
“Different places, different customs. There’s a lot to get used to.”
“We’ll help you,” Alec said and patted her leg. “Oh, by the way, look what we found.” Alec pulled up the bag he’d found in the feed store. There was so much going on when he arrived, she hadn’t noticed it in his hands.
With a startled cry, Lily grabbed at it and buried her face in the old cloth and wept.
“Oh, honey. Aren’t you happy?” John asked nervously.
Lily raised her head. Besides the tears rolling down her cheeks, she had a huge smile on her face.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am.” She pulled both men into her arms and hugged them awkwardly. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“I know of a way you can thank us,” John said, smiling at the other two confused looks. “You can eat a hearty dinner.”
Lily laughed. “Will we eat it the same way?”
“We absolutely could. We have to show Alec how we’re going to eat our meals, right?”
Lily giggled.
“I’m excited to learn.”
John smiled at him. “Oh, you’re going to love it.”
Chapter 11
Alec did enjoy dinner more than he ever had before. Lily sat between them on the sofa, and each took turns giving her bites. Before long she sat back with a groan.
“No more,” Lily moaned.
“Just one more bite?” Alec asked.
Lily giggled, shook her head, and closed her eyes.
“You’ve both said that too many times already.”
“All right,” he said and quickly finished what was on the plate.
The men started to clean the kitchen, but then Lily got up to assist. The guys tried to get her to sit down, but she wanted to help. She washed and then handed the dish to Alec, who dried and then gave it to John to put away.
“We’re quite the team,” John said as he put the last dish away.
Lily’s smile fell as she looked around the kitchen. There were so many things she still didn’t know what they were or how they worked.
It helped that the guys made it seem normal and walked around with her, explaining things and what some of them did.
/> She liked the stove and fridge but looked startled at the TV when John turned it on.
By the time they’d shown her the washing machine and dryer that night, her steps started to lag.
“Let’s get you into bed, baby girl. Your body still has some healing to do,” Alec said and steered her toward the bedroom.
They let her have some privacy in the bathroom and change into one of the many nightgowns Mora had given Lily. She froze as she walked out to see John already in bed and Alec sitting on the other side, waiting for her.
“We’re…um…we’re sleeping together again?” Lily asked, gripped a handful of her nightgown in her fist, and bit her lip.
Alec nodded and held out a hand.
“We will sleep together in one bed for the rest of our lives.”
“But…that means…” Her eyes widened more. “Are you talking marriage?”
Alec nodded again. “Yes, eventually. When you’re ready.”
John prompted himself up on an elbow.
“Come on, Lily. You’re swaying a bit on your feet. We’ll talk more when you’re in bed.”
She stood frozen in place.
John hardened his voice. “Lily, come to bed.”
Without a thought, her legs started their way before her brain could decipher their command. She crawled up in bed and pulled the covers over herself, clutching them against her chest and staring at the ceiling.
Alec chuckled. “Breathe, Lily.”
Lily exhaled in a whoosh. She hadn’t even known she was holding it.
Neither touched her, and they gave her a little space on either side of her.
John faked a yawn and laid his head down, facing away from Lily.
“Guys, can we talk in the morning? I’m tired, and I have to get up early.”
Lily yawned and relaxed a little more. “I’m sorry. Yes, let’s talk tomorrow.”
Alec mirrored John. Lying facing away from her, hoping that would make her feel more comfortable. Within minutes her breathing evened out and deepened.
Both men turned carefully and stared down at Lily. She honestly did look like an angel right then.
“Alec, I think we might need to slow down. She’s not used to anything in our world,” John whispered over her.
Alec nodded. “I agree. Let’s not bring up marriage again for a while. At least until she settles in better.” He reached over and carefully pulled a few strands of her hair that had escaped her braid off her cheek.
John relaxed into his pillow. “Night.”
“Night, John.”
Sometime in the night, all three gravitated toward each other until Lily was pressed against Alec with her arm over his chest and John was wedged against her back.
Chapter 12
The morning sunlight coming in through the window woke Lily. She looked around and noticed John had left, and his side of the bed lay empty. She reached out and pressed her hand on the dent in the pillow and then the sheet where he had lain the night before and found it cold. He’d been gone for some time.
“What are you doing, Lily?”
Lily jerked her head around to see Alec. It was then she realized her back was plastered against his chest, and he had an arm over her waist. How had she not noticed she rested against a man? Was it possible she was that comfortable with them already?
“Lily, answer me.” His morning voice was gruff.
A shiver raced down her spine at the look in his eyes and the deep tone of his voice.
“I was just wondering how long ago John left.”
“About four hours ago.”
“That long?”
Alec helped her turn onto her back so he could see her whole face. He pushed a lock of hair off her cheek and tucked it behind her ear.
“Yeah. He’ll be home later today. How’d you sleep?”
Lily unconsciously trailed her fingertips up and down Alec’s arm, driving him crazy, and she wasn’t aware of it at all.
“I don’t remember ever sleeping that soundly.”
Alec noticed the frown on her face.
“Why does that bother you?”
“Because I don’t think I slept like that even when I lived with my granny. I could tell she was always tense when I left the cabin, or someone came for healing. I know I felt it, and of course, I started to worry.”
“Now you don’t have anything to worry about.”
“I don’t have to worry about that anymore, but now I have other things I need to decide.”
“Oh, like what, baby girl?”
“What am I supposed to do with my life?”
Alec tensed. “Eventually you’ll be our wife.” Alec cringed. John was going to kill him. They had made a decision the night before to wait to talk about marriage, but Lily had alarmed him with her questions.
Lily shook her head. “I’m very confused about that also. How you can think you want to marry me without knowing me. But I do know I can’t just let you take care of me.”
“Why the hell not?”
A frown puckered her brows. “Because I will not be a burden to anyone.”
Alec pressed his hand against her stomach.
“You’re not a burden to us at all, baby girl, and I never want to hear you say that again.”
Lily sniffed. “But, Alec, I can’t do anything. Everything either overwhelms me too much to use, or I haven’t learned yet. And what if I can’t learn?”
Alec cupped Lily’s cheek. “Stop, sweetheart. You do not need to worry about anything right now. We’ll figure out the things you’re going to enjoy doing, but you still have some healing to do. We’re in no hurry. Okay?”
Lily stared into his eyes then nodded.
Alec’s heartbeat grew in tempo as they stared at each other.
“I’m going to kiss you, Lily. Is that okay?”
Lily’s tongue swiped over her bottom lip, nervous, before she gave a little nod.
Alec moved in slowly. He lightly pressed kisses around her face, starting at her forehead and slipping down her cheeks and then to her mouth. He raised his head to see her relaxed and with her eyes closed as she waited. This time he went in and pressed harder and then used his tongue and pushed into her mouth, swallowing her gasp.
Lily clung to Alec as he pulled all sorts of crazy emotions from her and made her body feel things she didn’t understand, and that frightened her a bit. She used her own tongue to touch his in her mouth, and it made them both moan.
The sound startled her so much she jerked back. Her eyes were wide and fixed on his face.
Alec smiled at her bewildered expression. He ran his thumb over her bottom lip.
“Did you like that?”
Her tongue came out to taste him on her lips and came in contact with his thumb, which made them both jolt.
“Um, yes I did. Very much. Can I have another one?”
Something softened in Alec’s heart at the same time his body hardened to the point of pain.
“You can have a kiss any time you want one, baby.” He bent again and instantly dove into her mouth and deepened the kiss until they both were breathing heavily. One of his hands slid up and covered her breast and controlled her movements to shy away from the caress.
Lily felt such an overwhelming burst of feeling it scared her, but when she felt a flood of moisture leave her privates, she became incredibly embarrassed and pulled her head away from him.
“Stop, Alec.”
He lifted his head. “What’s wrong? Does this hurt, honey?”
Lily shook her head and tried to move away from him.
“Whoa. You’re okay, Lily. If it’s too much, I’ll slow down.”
“Yes, I think it’s too much.” She was trying to figure out how to get to the bathroom before Alec realized she had peed herself. “I have to use the toilet. Can you let go, please?”
Alec didn’t like how she wouldn’t meet his eyes. Maybe he’d pushed too fast, but she had been responding until she stiffened and pulled away.
&nb
sp; “Sure, honey. You use the bathroom while I get breakfast started. Okay?”
Lily nodded and waited for him to leave. She shuffled into the bathroom while pressing her legs together. She became concerned when she realized the liquid was not pee. This stuff was clear and smelled differently than urine. She cleaned herself up and washed her hands and brushed her teeth.
Sherice was supposed to stop by later. She’d ask her. Maybe it was some kind of infection? Anyway, she’d find out and take care of the problem.
Chapter 13
“I think this looks really good, Lily. I think in another day or so, you’ll be able to go without a bandage. What do you think?” She saw Lily looking at the injury, but she seemed a million miles away. Sherice looked up into the concern on the men’s faces. “Lily?”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Do you agree with me that it’s looking excellent?”
“Um, yes.”
“What’s wrong?” Sherice asked as she held Lily’s hand. She became concerned when Lily looked at the men and back at her as a deep blush covered her face. “Guys, can you leave us alone for a minute?”
The men looked at each other and then back at Lily. They were concerned when her face was turned from theirs.
“Sure,” they said and reluctantly walked out and closed the door behind them.
“What the hell do you think that’s about?” Alec asked.
John listened to the soft murmur of the women’s voices through the door.
“I’m not sure. I just wish she trusted us enough to come to us.”
Alec nodded. “I kissed her.”
John’s eyes shot to his.
“Well?” John demanded.
A slow heated smile crept across Alec’s face.
“Jesus, man. It sent shock waves through me. I’ve never felt like that before. And God, she was sweet. I could have just sat and kissed her sweet mouth the rest of the day.”
“Lucky bastard,” John grumbled with a frown.
“You’ll get your turn.” Alec chuckled. “I can’t wait to see your reaction. It’s going to blow your mind.”
* * * *
Sherice made Lily face her on the mattress and held her hands.
“Lily, there is absolutely nothing you can’t say or ask me. I’ve heard it all, honey, so don’t be embarrassed.”