A small smile tugged at his lips. Her temper had surprised him today. Over the last couple of years, he had seen a few flashes of it, but today it had passed her barricade and broken loose. She had been jealous, and she didn’t even realize that was the emotion she was feeling, yet he had known it when he’d opened the office door and seen her face.
He hadn’t touched Jewell in his office. He had told Lily the truth. He hadn’t touched a woman since he had almost lost her and had seen her lying on that hospital bed. The sight of her had made him come to the conclusion he couldn’t wait for her anymore. Lily needed him as much as he needed her.
All summer, he had worked toward one goal—luring her to him. He had almost succeeded, too, if not for that bitch Kaley. Now she believed she hated him and he couldn’t blame her, but it didn’t make a difference because, either way, she wasn’t ready to admit to herself that she cared about him.
* * *
Lily woke the next morning to an empty bed. She showered and dressed and then, leaving the bedroom, she found Shade working out.
“I need to get to the church.”
“Grab some breakfast while I get dressed,” Shade said, setting his weights down.
“All right.” Lily went upstairs.
No one was in the kitchen as she prepared herself a bowl of cereal. She had just finished when Shade came in.
“Ready?”
“Yes,” she answered, putting her bowl into the dishwasher. “Aren’t you going to eat breakfast?”
“Rider and I are going to eat at the diner.”
They walked outside and down the path to Shade’s bike. Rider nodded at her as he came outside, getting on his own bike. Lily put on the helmet that Shade handed her and then got on behind him. Her car was still at the college. She needed to make arrangements to get it back to Treepoint so she wouldn’t have to depend on others for transportation.
The ride down the mountain was spectacular in the fall with the changing leaf colors. Lily couldn’t imagine a more beautiful sight.
Shade pulled into the church’s parking lot by the door that led to the room she and Rachel would be working in for the day.
Lily climbed off the bike, handing Shade his helmet.
“Thanks,” Lily said, starting toward the door.
“Lily.” She paused, turning back toward him. “Call when you’re finished.”
Lily nodded, going inside the building. She needed her car.
Rachel was already there, sorting clothes.
“Hey, Lily.”
“Good morning, Rachel. You’re hard at work, I see.” Lily picked up a handful of socks that the woman was sorting.
Rachel laughed. “Someone donated a whole bag of socks that had no matches.”
Lily looked down at the colorful assortment. “Just bag them into smaller bags. They won’t care. Most of the people we’ll be helping will just be happy to have something warm on their feet this winter.”
“Good idea,” Rachel said, dividing the socks into smaller piles.
The women worked steadily, talking about their week. Lily felt Rachel’s hesitance at broaching the subject of her breakdown.
“Were you okay when you woke up?”
Lily paused before opening another bag. “Yes, but I couldn’t remember what had set off the panic attack.”
Rachel nodded, reaching out to open the bag for her. “I’ve never seen anyone have a panic attack before. It was scary for me to watch. I can only imagine how Beth and Shade felt.”
Lily looked at Rachel. “Shade?”
Rachel looked her in the eye. “It’s obvious he cares about you, Lily. The man never lets you out of his sight unless you’re with Beth and Razer or at church.”
“I don’t like him… sometimes.”
“Why not? It certainly can’t be his looks that don’t attract you. I was in town last week when a woman practically walked into a parking meter while she was watching him.”
“He’s too... well... too...” Lily couldn’t think of the word she was looking for.
“Much?”
Lily nodded. “He’s too handsome, bossy, aggravating, and he can be mean, too.”
Rachel started to get angry. “He’s mean to you?”
“Not exactly,” Lily conceded.
Rachel gave a relieved sigh. “Thank God. I wasn’t looking forward to kicking his ass for you.”
Lily giggled. “You don’t have to; I can do it for myself.” She told Rachel what she had done the day before.
“Stop. I’m going to pee on myself if you don’t.” It took several minutes for Rachel to get herself back under control. “You actually grabbed Shade by the balls?”
Lily nodded her head.
“Why?”
“Because he made me angry with the way he treated Kaley.” Rachel gave her a wry glance before she began to fold the clothes from the bag.
“Are you sure that’s all there was to it? You weren’t just a little bit jealous?” Rachel probed.
“No, I wasn’t. Shade’s just Beth and Razer’s friend, that’s all.”
“Um, hm… I think the lady protests too much.”
Lily tossed one of the t-shirts at her and Rachel laughed, dodging her.
The door opening had both women turning to see who had entered.
“Hi, girls.”
“Hi, Willa.” Willa Weeks was in her early thirties. She was a caterer who specialized in cakes. Her creations had even made a few food magazines. Her cupcakes were also just as delicious-looking, more like little creations of art that didn’t deserve to be eaten.
“I have several bags of old clothes to donate if you can use them. I also updated my kitchen if you need any kitchen appliances. I have the clothes in the car, but the appliances are in my garage at home. I couldn’t move them by myself, so if you can get them picked up, the church can have them.”
“That’s great. The church could give them to someone who really needs them,” Rachel said.
“I thought of a couple of families who I know are cooking on hot plates because they couldn’t afford a new stove,” Willa said.
“I’ll tell Pastor Dean and he can get some volunteers to pick them up,” Lily said.
“Okay. I’m usually home unless I’m making a delivery so anytime is convenient,” Willa responded. “I’ll get the clothes out of my car.”
“I’ll help,” Lily offered.
“Let me,” Rachel said. “I need to work off my dinner from last night.”
Rachel followed Willa out the door. Lily continued to sort clothes while they packed in several more bags.
“That’s a lot of clothes,” Lily commented.
“I cleaned out my closets. I’m afraid my baking isn’t helping my figure any.” Willa was a pretty brunette who both Lily and Rachel had to glance down at because of her barely five-foot frame. “I keep telling myself they’ll invent a diet that will make cupcakes an option.”
“When you find one, let me know.” Rachel laughed.
“There’s one more bag. I’ll get it,” Willa said, going back out the door.
Lily put the bags of clothes to the side for them to work on next. The way everyone was donating, it was going to take several weeks for both her and Rachel to get everything organized.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Rachel asked.
“I’m afraid so,” Lily answered. “If we’re going to get this shop opened anytime soon, then we need another volunteer or we have to work days during the week.”
Willa walked back into the store carrying another bag of clothes and a small box.
“We appreciate the donations.” Rachel smiled at Willa who laid the clothes on the counter and then the small box, which she pushed toward Lily and Rachel.
Lily opened the box to see two cupcakes, which looked like little clouds of perfection. The pink frosting with chocolate chips was immediately grabbed by the women.
“I thought you two deserved a treat for the time you are donating,” Wil
la said, watching the two women eat her cupcakes.
“None for me?” Pastor Dean said, coming into the room from the church entrance.
Lily watched Willa’s face flame red in embarrassment.
“I’m sorry, Pastor Dean. I didn’t think you would be in the store.”
Pastor Dean eyed them enviously eating the remains of the cupcakes.
“It was delicious,” Lily complimented.
“I wouldn’t know,” Pastor Dean said woefully.
Lily and Rachel laughed while Willa looked embarrassed.
“I better go. I have an order I need to get started.” Willa edged closer to the door.
“Wait a minute, Willa,” Rachel forestalled the woman. “Pastor Dean, Willa has some appliances to donate, but she needs some help getting them here.”
“I’ll take care of it. When would be a good time?”
“Anytime would be fine. I’m usually home,” Willa told him.
“This evening around five sound good? I should be able to round up a couple of men to stop by and pick them up.”