by Jamie Begley
“I’m not leading Charles on,” Lily protested, turning to look at him as he came to a stop.
“Yes, you are. When you went out with him tonight were you planning on fucking him?”
“Of course not,” Lily said, shocked at his blunt statement. She quickly jerked her dress out from underneath his thigh.
“Then that’s leading him on, in my opinion.”
“Well, thank God your opinion doesn’t count,” Lily snapped, sliding across the seat toward the door. “And you should know about being cruel.” Lily opened the truck door, sliding down from the seat then turning and slamming the door closed.
Pulling her house key out of her pocket, she went to open the door and then found herself pressed flat against the door. Shade’s body pressed against her, his hand planted against the door, preventing her from moving to put the key in the lock.
“It’s not a smart move, not leaving your porch light on, Lily. You think I’m cruel? How was I being cruel by telling you that you should quit fucking with his head? Don’t you think that every time he goes out with you he’s wondering if this will be the time he actually gets to touch that soft skin of yours.” His mouth lowered next to her ear. “If you’ll let him touch those firm breasts.”
Lily trembled, but while his body kept her pinned to the door, his body didn’t touch hers. It was the heat of his body and the smell of his leather jacket that were attacking her senses, keeping her pinned by fright, while at the same time, her breasts tightened in response to his words.
“I’m a man, and I’m telling you without a doubt that he walks out of his door to go out with you, he is planning on spending the night between your thighs. I’m not the one being cruel; you are.”
Lily moaned, unsure exactly why as Shade took a step back. It took a moment before Lily could gather herself enough to unlock the door and let herself in. When she turned to slam the door in his face, she stopped when he placed his hand on the door.
“I’ll have to teach you how to break that hold.” He turned, leaving without another word.
She still slammed the door, but he was already pulling out of the driveway so it lacked the effect she wanted. It did make her feel better, though.
She locked the door before going up to her room to get ready for bed. In her room, she caught sight of herself in the mirror, making her pause before climbing in bed. Her cheeks were flushed and her breasts still felt tight and achy. Her hand went to her forehead, feeling the beginning of a headache.
She opened a door in her mind, thrusting all thoughts of Shade and what she was feeling inside. She couldn’t let herself be attracted to him. Earlier, when she had turned to shut the door, she had seen a look on his face before he could disguise it with his usual inscrutable one. She had no trouble recognizing the darkness in his soul that he kept hidden.
She had no intention of falling for him like the other women that constantly surrounded him. She was going to find her cowboy and bring him back to Treepoint, and they would live happily in this house.
Lily laid down, fantasizing about her imaginary man, trying to drive all thoughts of Shade away. She didn’t realize when she finally managed to fall asleep his was the last image in her mind.
Chapter 8
Lily sat next to Charles in church, holding hands, and she wished she could feel for him the way he felt toward her. It wouldn’t be too long from now that she was going to have to talk to him. She had already told him they had no future and he needed to find someone else, but he had just shook his head, saying he would wait.
Lily smiled sadly to herself. He would wait forever for her if she gave him the least bit of encouragement. She didn’t want that for him, though; it wasn’t fair. He deserved a woman that loved him as much as he loved her. She knew she didn’t have the stomach to be cruel to him like Shade suggested; she resolved that she could make him understand without hurting him.
Lily stood up when it came time to sing, her gaze caught by Rachel as she sat with her nephew and brothers. Holly and Mrs. Langley sat in the same pew. She and Rachel had worked long into the afternoon yesterday organizing the basement, talking throughout the long day, and she had found herself sharing things with her that she’d imparted only to Beth. Rachel was easy to talk to and she was Lily’s own age, sharing many of the same experiences. She would miss their days together when she went back to college, which she was already dreading with Penni’s absence.
After church, Charles went to the diner with her and they sat at the same table with Beth and The Last Riders. It was uncomfortable at first, yet gradually everyone at the table just ignored them as they sat at the end of the table talking quietly. All except Shade, whose eyes she could feel on them even though he had his sunglasses on.
“We’re going swimming, Lily. Want to come?” Beth invited.
“No, thanks. I’m going to stay at home and relax.” Lily refused the invitation, knowing they would refrain from taking their cooler of beer if she went. She didn’t want to spoil the day for them.
“Are you sure?” Beth asked.
“Yes.”
Not long after, Charles finished, bending down to give her his usual kiss on the cheek before he left.
A cup smashed on the floor and everyone jumped.
“Sorry, my elbow hit my cup,” Beth apologized.
“You didn’t get cut by any glass, did you?” Lily saw the smashed cup on the floor by her sister’s feet.
“No, I’m fine. Just clumsy.”
“I’ll call you tonight,” Charles said before leaving, ignoring the strained silence at the table.
When they got home a few minutes later, Beth and Razer went upstairs to change into their swimsuits. While they changed, Lily loaded the cooler with cold sandwiches and fruit for when they became hungry. Opening the refrigerator, she found some bottled water and sodas, putting those in the cooler, as well.
As she had taken out the water and soda, she had noticed that the beers Shade had left behind were still inside the fridge. Beth hadn’t asked why there was beer in there, so Lily had come to the conclusion that she had asked Shade to keep an eye on her. She felt ashamed that Shade had been put in the position of watching a grown woman.
“You sure you don’t want to change your mind and go?” Beth asked, coming into the kitchen.
“No, thanks. I think I’ll read for a while in the backyard and get some sun that way.”
“All right, if you’re sure.” Giving Razer a glance, she said, “We may just spend the night at the club, if that’s all right?”
“Of course. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
Lily watched them leave, remembering the days that she and Beth would go spend the day together swimming. She missed those times with Beth. She didn’t resent Razer or the others. It was her own fault she couldn’t bear to be around them when they were drinking.
She changed into her bikini before fixing herself an iced tea and going outside into the backyard. She sat down on a lounge chair, putting on some tanning lotion before she lay back to read a self-help book.
She enjoyed lying in the warm sun, especially in the backyard that was completely closed off with a privacy fence and mature trees that prevented anyone from looking into it. It was her own safe-zone of privacy to just be herself since the houses on both sides were one-story and the home behind theirs was empty. It had been that way for years, but it was regularly maintained, and every now and then, they would see a car outside. Their father had told them it belonged to a couple who vacationed there twice a year.
Lily rolled onto her stomach after laying the lounge chair flat. She felt the swimsuit’s bottom ride up a little, but she was too drowsy to fiddle with it, knowing no one would see. It was getting a little snug on her and she needed to get a new one. She’d had the same one since high school, though as she seldom wore it, she didn’t want to waste the money.
Lily later woke from her nap startled, feeling warm hands rubbing cold lotion into her skin. Her hands went to her si
de, ready to jump up from the lounge chair.
“Stay still. I didn’t want you to burn,” Shade’s voice sounded behind her as his hands rubbed more lotion onto the backs of her legs.
“That’s enough. I was going to go in and get changed,” Lily protested.
“Stay and relax. I brought us some steaks to grill. When they’re almost done, you can get changed.”
Lily wasn’t sure, but she thought she felt the faint touch of his thumb against the lowest globe of her butt. She started to stiffen; however, Shade was already up and moving away.
Lily turned her head, seeing that he must have been here for a while since the steaks were already on a plate, waiting to be put on the grill he was heating up.
“How did you get in?” Lily asked.
“I have a key.”
“What? How?” Lily asked.
“Beth gave me her extra key when you were in the hospital. She’d asked me to pack some clothes for you.”
Her sister had neglected to tell her that it was Shade who had brought her clothes to the hospital. Lily was horrified at the thought of Shade going through her bedroom, opening drawers. She remembered the red panties that had been packed for her. Lily was going to let Beth have it when she returned home.
“You can grab a quick shower. The steaks are almost done.”
Lily didn’t want to get up from the lounge chair. Her top was indecent and her large breasts were barely held inside the tiny cups.
Fussing at herself for not bringing a wrap, Lily got to her feet and hurried toward the back door, keeping her face averted from Shade’s.
A hard arm went around her waist, pulling her toward him.
“Wait a minute.”
A finger pressed on the skin just above the flesh of her breasts. “You’ve gotten too much sun. Put some lotion on before you come back downstairs. I’ll keep the steaks warm.”
“I’m a grown woman,” Lily snapped.
“I can see that for myself.” His eyes were on her breasts.
“Jerk.” Lily started to wiggle away but was released before she could do so.
“Get changed.” Shade grinned.
“I planned to.” Lily stomped away, but then walked more demurely after she glanced back and saw his eyes on her butt.
“Don’t say anything unless you want to learn my lesson on respect,” he said, seeing the fire in her eyes.
Lily muttered something unintelligible under her breath.
“What did you say?” he asked with a warning glint in his eyes.
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
Lily showered, washing her hair thoroughly. After drying off, she smoothed some body lotion onto her skin before sliding on a pale green maxi dress that came to her ankles. Leaving her hair to dry naturally, she went back downstairs to the smell of the steaks, making her hungry.
Outside, Shade was already putting the steaks onto a platter. He had also packed out the tea pitcher and glasses with ice. There was even a big baked potato placed on each plate.
“Exactly how long have you been here?” Lily asked, taking a seat at the table.
“Long enough.” Shade grinned, setting the plate of steaks down onto the table.
“I would complain, but the food looks too good,” Lily said with wry amusement.
Shade placed one of the big steaks on her plate before serving himself. Lily cut off a piece of the tender meat then took a bite.
“It’s delicious,” she complimented.
“You didn’t think I could cook?” Shade raised a brow.
“Why would you need to cook? You have a bunch of pretty women cooking and delivering it to you,” Lily teased without rancor.
“I’ll have you know that we all take turns cooking and sharing chores.”
“I bet that’s interesting. How often does Winter get stuck doing chores?”
“Not often, unless it’s a punishment. She has a way of finagling things to get her way.”
“I know. It comes from being a high school principal. She was a mastermind at making the kids do things that they didn’t want to do.” Lily remembered her own experiences at losing to Winter’s machinations.
“Really?”
Lily nodded her head. “The seniors wanted to cut class on the first day of spring—it was a tradition at our school—yet students every year would manage to get into trouble. The previous principal had tried to stop it but wasn’t successful. Winter, on the other hand, acted all gung ho for us to have the day off. She told us that if we volunteered to clean the kitchen of the school’s chef training program she would let us have the afternoon off. What she didn’t tell us was that the students had made pizza the day before and hadn’t used pizza pans. It took us all day to clean those ovens. I had nightmares about burnt-on cheese for a month.”
Shade had stopped eating. Lily looked at him in question before it dawned on her what the look meant. She couldn’t stop the laughter from bubbling from her throat.
“Don’t tell me she got you on that one?”
“Let’s change the subject before I decide to stuff her into our oven.”
They talked the rest of the meal about the different things people ordered through the factory.
“Knox put Diamond on a budget,” Lily said when he described Diamond sneaking into the factory when a new shipment arrived.
“She finally calmed down. She’s too busy decorating her new house.”
Lily didn’t tell him about the two cases of MREs she had bought on his day off.
Cleaning the table, she watched Shade turn off the grill, making sure it was out before they went inside.
“I cooked; you can do the dishes,” he said, opening the fridge to take out a beer. Lily stiffened as he went to the living room and turned on the television.
“What do you want to watch? Something scary or something funny?”
“Funny,” Lily answered as she continued putting up the dishes.
“Scary it is.”
“Don’t you dare.”
“Then you better hurry up.” Lily closed the dishwasher before going into the living room to take the other side of the couch.
He had chosen a romantic comedy to watch, which Lily didn’t watch often and never with a male. She became so uncomfortable watching the two main characters fool around on the screen that, during one particular scene, Lily jumped up and went into the kitchen to make popcorn. She filled two bowls, grabbed a soda for herself and hesitantly took another beer for Shade.
“Thanks.” He took the beer and popcorn from her, and then Lily resumed her seat.
She didn’t even stiffen when she heard the can pop this time while not taking her eyes off the television.
After the movie was over, Lily carried the popcorn and empty cans to the kitchen.
Shade was already at the door when she returned.
“Lock the door behind me.”
“I will. Thanks for the steaks, Shade.” Lily braced herself and leaned up, brushing his cheek with a soft kiss before stepping back hastily.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Lily.”
* * *
Shade sat on his bike in the parking lot of Rick’s Pub. The lights inside cut off and the workers exited, casting cautious looks in Shade’s direction. Charles came out last, shutting and locking the doors behind him. When he turned to the parking lot and saw him sitting there, Shade didn’t see any surprise. He walked towards him. Shade had to give the kid credit, he didn’t flinch from his hard stare.
“If you came for that dinner, I’m afraid were closed.”
Shade let a wry smile touch his lips. “We both know that’s not why I’m here.”
Charles looked him over. “If you came here to threaten me to stay away from Lily, I won’t. You’re wasting your time. Even if you beat me up, all I have to do is show Lily. It would turn her against you. There’s no way you can win, Shade.” The little shit smiled at him.
Shade smiled back affably before reaching into
his pocket, pulling some photographs out and handing them to Charles.
Charles took the photos from him, turning pale. He looked back up at Shade.
Shade leaned forward, taking the photos back, looking at the woman and child in the picture. “Amazing resemblance, isn’t it? I think we both know what Lily would do if she found out you knocked up one of her friends. Miranda may have passed your kid off to the dumbass she married, but we both know the kid is yours. Not only would Lily not have anything to do with you, but it would break up Miranda’s marriage, and the gossip would get back to your daddy. I believe her husband is a Deacon in the church.” Shade leaned forward, resting his forearm on his knee, his eyes pinning Charles in place.
“What do you want?” Charles asked, his jaw tight. Shade smiled in satisfaction.
“What I want is for you to go back to Lexington. I’ll even give you a couple of weeks home before you have to leave, just don’t try to see Lily anymore.”
Charles nodded his agreement.
Shade straightened, starting his motor.
“She won’t ever love you. What makes you think you stand a better chance than me?” Charles looked him over as if he was trash.
Shade gave him his moment. Charles knew he had lost all hope of having Lily; he sure as fuck was taking it better than Shade would have. He gazed back at the man, but felt no pity.
“The difference between us, Charles, is I would give my right arm for her. You, on the other hand, didn’t take five seconds to put on a fucking condom.” Shade drove off, leaving the speechless man behind.
Chapter 9
Lily changed into her workout outfit, no longer worried about its brief coverage. She had become used to Shade seeing her in it after working out with him for almost a month now.
As she beat him to the mats, which was a first, she could hear music playing upstairs, so that meant that the usual Friday party had already started.
She began stretching while she waited for Shade to appear. The time had flown by and she could tell her defense lessons had helped her confidence, combined with the weights making her feel stronger. Her panic attacks had decreased to be almost nonexistent.