by Sylvie Kaye
She winced and cowered away. Gretch let out a muffled protest. To protect Lili, Gretch spread her thighs open in the dirty straw.
While his drooling attention was on Gretch's crotch, and what he took as her willingness, Lili peered at the other woman over the foul-tasting gag. Gretch rolled her eyes toward his knees, signaling that this was their chance to strike.
"Looks like we have a winner.” When he jerked Gretch to her feet, making sure she stumbled and fell so that he could pull her up by her hair, harder and higher, he snorted a laugh.
Lili was still on her knees, but his back was to her. He was enthralled with harming Gretch, and Lili took advantage of his distraction to thrust herself behind his legs.
Gretch didn't lose any time, slamming him backward with her full body, following him down. Once he was flat on his back, they both squirmed into position to hold him down. With a grunt, he rolled away, shrugging them off as if they were rag dolls.
All three of them scrambled to their feet, each one of them seeking an advantage.
When Lili lifted her head and flicked her hair from her eyes, rushing forward before Lowry had too much recovery time, she came within an inch of Luc's rifle barrel.
It was aimed at Lowry's head, right between his beady eyes.
Still gagged and with their hands tied, she and Gretch maneuvered behind Luc's back. Lowry cursed, but didn't twitch a muscle or blink an eyelash.
If Luc had planned to shoot him, the decision was taken from his hands when Ned burst through the barn door, flinging it open wide. Sunshine rushed in, blinding the women and Lowry who hadn't seen daylight in awhile. Ned's nostrils flared, but he didn't say a word. He pounced on Lowry and beat the hell out of him with his bare fists.
Lowry, for such a bad ass, didn't put up much of a fight. He threw two punches. One missed and one connected with Ned's jaw.
Ned didn't waver. He threw an uppercut, and Lowry went down like a pole-axed steer.
Soon after that, the women were bundled into old horse blankets found in the barn. Ned dragged Lowry outside, his grungy shirt choking him at the neck while his boots dragged two trails through the dirt.
Once Ned dropped him onto the ground, Lowry cursed and sputtered. “I was holed up here, waiting for a chance to rip Owen Grainger off for the money he owed me. Then those two hussies come along—"
Ned gagged and hog-tied him, tossing him into the bed of his truck.
Lili and Gretch rode into town with Luc.
The mayor was silent except for the official call to Police Chief Raleigh, who in turn informed the sheriff of Thad Lowry's capture.
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Chapter Eighteen
Luc was pissed.
Lili and Gretch could've been killed by Lowry. Why hadn't they called him right away?
But he waited to vent. Once the women had been given a clean bill of health and a day to recoup, he stormed out to Mercy Creek Ranch. Gretch had a meeting later in the day with the town expansion committee, and he wanted to see her alone.
He caught up with her in the stable, tending to her mare, her pups yipping at her boot heels.
"What in the hell is wrong with you?” He propped his hands onto his hips.
The mare nickered a protest at his raised voice. Gretch edged away from the stall, and he followed her. When she turned and faced him, her puffy eye glared at him, the brown iris peeking through a narrow slit.
Damn Lowry. He should've shot him. Wounded him at the least.
"Ned was suffocating me, and Lowry hadn't been sighted in weeks.” Gretch rattled off her reasoning as if she'd been expecting his question. “And because—” She tossed her red braid over her shoulder and poked her finger into his chest. Her hand and fingers were bruised. “You're such a know-it-all about the tires."
His eyes widened, but he didn't back up an inch. “Is that why you refused to buy new tires, because I told you to? That makes no sense."
"There are a lot of things around here that make less sense. You and Lili for instance.” She dropped her hand to her side and squinted her good eye at him.
Now, he backed up a step. One of the pups barked and nipped at the toe of his boot. “Don't start with me about Lili."
"Fine, and don't start up with me about new tires."
"I had them put on yesterday. Four all-terrains."
She turned on her booted heels and stalked off. The pups chased after her. He didn't.
Undeterred, Luc steered for town to take Lili on next. He knew where to find her—in her salon, working. She was so earnest. Why couldn't she focus some of that determination on him?
"I want to talk to you in the back room.” Not about to take no for an answer, he tipped his hat to her clients and pushed past her toward the storage room.
"Excuse me, ladies,” she apologized. “Probably has to do with yesterday's apprehension of the thief."
"He's a thief and an arsonist,” somebody called out as Lili entered the room and shut the door.
"And a kidnapper,” someone else hollered.
With his jaw set, he crossed his arms and frowned at her.
"What is so important that it can't wait?” She flung her arms up.
Her T-shirt with the shop's name stitched across her chest rode up to reveal a sliver of bare skin at her tummy. And scratches from her scuffle with Lowry. One arm was bruised from the wrist to the elbow. His anger over the entire ordeal seethed to a new level.
"Am I so objectionable to you that you couldn't call and tell me about my own sister? I had to hear about it from Ned.” He kept Suzie in the clear as promised.
"That's not why and you know it. Ned was closer."
"Okay.” He nodded. “I'm a reasonable man. Why didn't you call me after you called Ned?"
"I'd heard a noise and went to investigate.” She tapped her booted foot, showing her impatience.
He refused to let up. He had to know if he was the reason she risked her neck. “We're talking a matter of seconds."
"I thought I could handle it."
"Alone."
"Yes, alone."
With a shrug, he capitulated. “I get the hint. You don't want me in your life romantically, socially, or even if you're in danger. But Gretch's life was on the line, too."
"That's what I feared. That's why I didn't waste time. And not wanting to talk to you didn't sway my decision making."
"So you admit you didn't want to talk to me.” His anger turned to something less heated, more numbing.
"Not exactly,” she protested without much sincerity in her voice.
"I get it.” He held his hands up. “Lili, we've said our goodbyes. We'll leave it at that."
She touched his arm. “It's for the best."
He shrugged away, tipped his Stetson, and left.
* * * *
Lili missed Luc more than she could say. But there was little sense in making up only to say goodbye all over again.
Thursday, Suzie took the day off, and Lili was too busy and tired to pine for Luc in her empty house, but by Friday she felt desolate.
As she picked through her belongings, packing them into a cardboard carton that evening, tears welled. The ache in her chest felt physical. It wasn't a pain she ever wanted to revisit. Resolve drove her onward.
The next morning, she came into the shop toting a carton full of her belongings.
"Having a flea market sale in the salon?” Suzie's eyebrows puckered.
"No. These are for the pawn shop. You said you were going to El Paso this weekend. I packed my laptop and some handheld electronics, and these.” Setting the carton on the desk, she pulled out a velvet bag. “My gold jewelry and an heirloom piece from my grandmother."
"Lili, you can't sell your granny's brooch."
"I have no choice. Even if I don't pay the business tax, I still come up short on the down payment. The owners in Austin need the money by next week."
"Next week?” Suzie jaw gaped.
"Will you pawn these for m
e?” She shoved the bag at her.
"I went to El Paso on Thursday. Got a darn good price for my engagement ring, too. Since then, I've been thinking about our arrangement. Originally, when you asked me to buy you out, I was still with Frankie. Now I have the time and the money to invest."
"And..."
"I'd like to buy the shop.” She smiled.
"Oh, Suzie.” Lili clutched the velvet bag tight in her fist and hugged her.
Both women cried, laughed, and celebrated with a latté before Suzie opened the door for business.
Lili played the business phone messages. First one was from Luc, cancelling his standing haircut appointment.
A heaviness dampened her elated spirits, but she didn't have time to give into it as the customers kept coming at a steady pace.
Before closing, Lyssa and Patti-Pie popped into the shop. “Did you hear the good news?"
"No,” Lili said, and Suzie shook her head.
She continued to sweep the floor while Suzie collected and soaked all the combs and brushes into disinfecting solution. Both women were too tired to stop even for good news.
"The mayor stayed on Storm Trooper for the entire eight-second ride,” Lyssa shouted.
Patti clapped, and despite her weariness Suzie managed a squeal.
"That's wonderful.” Lili beamed, glad for him.
Sad for herself. She'd have liked to share the happy moment with him. Party with him afterward, in public and in private.
Instead, she had her own private celebration to go home to alone. Hair Crazy Beauty Salon was going to be sold to Suzie. Lili was getting out of Wayback.
But she didn't feel festive.
When Lyssa and Patti left for The Blue Bug Saloon, she locked the door after them.
"You know what, Suzie? I'm going to pack up my suitcases and hit the road for Austin tonight.” She snatched up her carton. “We can handle the sale of the shop by fax and phone."
"Is that wise?” Suzie held the door open for her and her box of goods.
"Sure. It would only get teary-eyed in the shop next week saying so-long to my friends and customers."
"What about Luc?"
"We already said our parting words."
Suzie hugged her, they wished each other well, and went opposite ways when there was nothing else left to say.
By midnight, Lili had packed her clothes and the car. She called her mother with her news, left a note for her neighbor who had an extra key to watch over the house, and locked up the front door. Behind the wheel of the SUV, she cranked up the radio and pulled away from Wayback.
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Chapter Nineteen
Around midnight, Luc waved good night to his friends and fellow partiers.
Bobby Lee sauntered up, hiking his belt beneath his beer belly. “I'm sticking around for a nightcap or two."
"I'll head over to Lili's for a bit.” He'd had a few shots and was mellow enough to put his hurt behind him and attempt to talk sense to her.
Her house was dark when he walked up to her front porch. Her driveway was empty. He punched speed dial on his cell. Her phone rang and rang, but went to voice mail.
He supposed she was at Suzie's. All her other friends were at The Blue Bug. Suzie lived across town, too far for him to walk, and he'd had too many shots to drive there. He wandered back to Bobby Lee's house and flopped into bed.
Storm Trooper had bucked and reared plenty today. The bull had jarred Luc's arm, jolted his jaw, and rattled his spine, but he'd stayed on long enough to dismount after the eight-second buzzer. Thanks to TruBlu whiskey he wasn't feeling his aches and pains.
He'd gone the limit with the bull, now he needed the same stamina to make it with Lili.
When he woke up in the morning, he rang her up again to no answer. After a few cups of black coffee, he tried once more while he steered the pickup toward Suzie's. Her neighbor, Mrs. Barrows, said she'd gone to church, but didn't know if Lili was with her. So he waited. After an hour, Mrs. Barrows invited him in and insisted on fixing him bacon and eggs.
He didn't bother ringing Lili, figuring if she was in church she had her cell turned off.
At last, Suzie pulled into her driveway. He thanked Mrs. Barrows for her fine eats and bolted next door. Suzie got out of her car alone.
"I've been calling Lili all night and morning. Stopped by her place, too."
Suzie's eyes looked sympathetic, and he knew that wasn't good. He waited for her to say something. She glanced up at the sun and squinted. When she looked at him, she said, “Lili left for Austin after work last night. If she didn't stop to rest, she's there by now."
He felt the blood drain from his face. “She didn't leave a message for me?” he asked, hoping for a note or a word.
"I'm sorry, Luc.” She shook her head, patted his shoulder.
The hell with pity. Anger set in at being such a fool. He bucked up his chin. “Thanks, Suzie. I'll stop by Monday morning. Bring coffee."
But it wouldn't be the same without Lili there. Her smiling, kissable mouth. Her bright blue eyes. Her sharp wit and sweet face.
* * * *
Gretch stormed into his office at town hall two days later.
"What in the hell is wrong with you?” she blasted.
"I knew I'd live to eat those words.” He propped his boots up on the scarred, oak desk and waited.
"You really don't make much sense.” She shoved a folder out of the way and sat on the edge of his desk, looking superior. “What are you doing sitting here? Why don't you go after her?"
"She doesn't want me."
"Of course she wants you. She just doesn't want Wayback.” She flicked her fiery red hair away from her face.
"Same thing. I'm the mayor of Wayback.” He plopped his feet onto the plank floor with a thud and sat up.
"So resign.” She shrugged a shoulder.
"I can't. It's a generational commitment. Except for Sam Glory's short, selfish term, a Fremont has been mayor of Wayback as far back as its founding. I have no choice."
"And if you had a choice,” she pursued, idly flipping through his Rolodex.
He played along, figuring the quicker he answered, the quicker she'd leave. “I'd move to Austin."
"And do what?"
Indignant, he said, “I can do other things. I can do PR for TruBlu whiskey. Take it national."
She looked at her nails, clear-polished and short. “So what's stopping you?"
"I told you, the mayor of Wayback has to be a Fremont. Even Sam Glory was a ragtag cousin of sorts. I couldn't break the tradition."
She met his eyes. “I'm a Fremont, too."
It took a moment for her words to sink in. Elation followed and then action.
"I guess it's time for my grand gesture.” He turned on the computer and began composing his resignation letter.
* * * *
When Lili opened her apartment door, there stood Luc with his suitcase in his hand.
She closed her eyes briefly, not believing he was there. Tall, lean, handsome, and sexy. Her insides quivered with her want. Her heart fluttered with her love for him.
"If you're here to talk me into returning to Wayback, please don't.” Her voice sounded pleading.
"May I come in?” His voice sounded assured.
"You and your suitcase?” She raised a questioning brow.
He chuckled. “If you want, I'll leave it out in the hallway."
"No. Come in, both of you.” She opened her door wider and stepped aside to let him pass.
He plopped his oversized, brown nylon gym bag onto the tiled floor in the foyer and edged closer to her. She backed up.
"I'm here to tell you I love you.” He cradled her face in one hand and touched her hair with his other.
Lowering his head, he kissed her. His lips were tender and warm. The kiss both loving and electric. Her head spun and her bones melted. He tasted like home. Like she never wanted to leave.
She clung to his shoulders, purred
into his mouth. She nestled her body closer to his, feeling his hard heat. Moisture pooled between her thighs. She'd missed him, desired him, and wished him here. She barely believed he was real.
"The bedroom,” she murmured in a hurry to verify his hard-bodied, red-blooded, testosterone-shooting existence. Her restless hands roamed his back and chest.
His breath was warm against her mouth. “Tell me you love me, Lili."
"It won't change anything.” She went still and dropped her hands to her sides.
He caressed her face between both of his palms. “Yes, it will."
She tried to shake her head but he stopped her.
Staring into her eyes, he said, “Fall in love with me and not the mayor of Wayback."
"They're one and the same.” Her eyes burned with unshed tears.
"Not anymore."
"Oh, Luc, it's a noble gesture, but you and Wayback have a history together."
"Fremonts have a history with Wayback. And my darling sister is a Fremont and the newly appointed mayor."
"I can't let you do that. You'd resent me for it in the long run."
"It's done. With you or without you, I'm staying in Austin."
"What am I going to do with you?” Her voice sounded resigned, while her heart beat wildly with her excitement over him never leaving.
"Love me,” he said.
"I love you, Luc.” She kissed him hard and long. When their lips parted, she led him into her bedroom.
"After I make passionate love to you, I'll tell you about my new job in PR."
"I can't wait.” She guided him over to her bed.
"By my next birthday I'm going to put TruBlu whiskey on the map."
She pulled him down onto the bed with her. “I'm sure you will. You're not a man who gives up easily."
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