Authors: Carrie Ann Ryan
“Lily?” Jamie asked through the window. “Are you okay?”
Lily sighed. Was she? She hadn’t felt the same since the lightning strike, but she didn’t want to say anything else to anyone. What if she were the only one? What would that mean? Frankly, her work issues seemed to be the cause of some of the aches in her body. Her friends didn’t need to hear it. It wasn’t that they couldn’t understand what it was she was experiencing. Well, maybe they could understand, but not really. She’d never could go into details with them about her chemistry theories because their eyes always seemed to glaze over. That seemed true about most people.
She wasn’t commenting on her friends’ intelligence. No way. Her friends were some of the most brilliant women she’d ever met. Lily just had a different skill set than they did. It wasn’t like Jamie would ask her to help her shelve books at the store. Lily might love to read romance novels, just not as much as Jamie, and she couldn’t run a business like the quiet woman. They were all so different; it was a wonder that they were all such close friends.
“Lily? What’s wrong?” Jamie rapped on the window again, and Lily shook her head.
“Sorry, I’m fine.” Lily grabbed her purse, checked her faint makeup in the rearview mirror, and opened the door.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jamie frowned, brushed her hand against Lily’s arm and squeezed.
Sometimes Jamie was more like a sister than a best friend. Lily didn’t know what she’d do without her.
“I’m just tired. It was a long day, but I’m better now that I’m here and ready to get a drink.”
Jamie gave a small smile. “If you’re sure.” They walked down the sidewalk toward Dante’s Circle’s front door. “You look nice tonight. Any special reason?” She smiled knowingly.
“Oh, shut up. You know the reason, but really, do I look okay?”
Jamie pulled her to a halt and looked her over, biting her lip. “Let me see…skinny jeans? Check. Cute flowing top that shows off your curves without making you look skanky? Check. Hot ankle books with that clasp I love? Check. Hair flowing and make up done? Check. Yep, you look incredible. I can’t wait to meet this dominos player of yours. Shade.” She sighed the last word and fluttered her lashes.
“I knew I never should have told you.” Lily fake-scowled.
The night before, Jamie and Becca had come over to watch their weekly airing of
Grey’s Anatomy
so they could stare at the sexy blue-eyed doctor, Avery. Forget “McDreamy” and “McSteamy,” they wanted “McBlue-Eyes.” They hadn’t watched most of the show. As soon as Lily had told them of her last-minute replacement dominos partner, Jamie had hit mute and demanded in her quiet way every detail of Mr. Shade.
Lily had described every detail she could. From the way he’d smile and crinkle his eyes to the way the wind touched his hair just right.
And his eyes.
Oh, his eyes.
His crystal-blue eyes put Avery’s to shame.
“You’re my best friend,” Jamie continued. “If you meet Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome, then you have to tell me. It’s written in the friend code. I’m sure of it.”
Lily wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulder. “Sure, but you’ll have to do the same.”
Jamie rolled her eyes. “Like that would ever happen. I like lighter hair anyway.”
They reached the door and walked in. Lily stopped and looked around the place.
Everything looked like it had before the storm.
What the hell?
How had Dante cleaned everything so fast? They tables and chairs were set where they should have been, the pool table was fixed, and a group of men were racking up the balls. The wood paneling gleamed in the lighting, with not a nick in sight. The pictures were back on the walls set in new frames.
Dante stood behind the bar filling a drink order, but his attention lay solely on Nadie as she frowned at him. Why was she frowning again? Something was going on between the two of them, but Lily didn’t know what.
Lily walked toward the two and put her hands on her hips.
“Dante,” she called.
He turned his head, grinned, and topped off the beer.
“Good to see you, ladies,” he crooned.
Nadie rolled her eyes and took a sip of her club soda.
Jamie went to sit at their normal table, and Lily shook her head and joined her.
“Dante,” she started again, “how on earth did you clean up everything so fast?”
He shrugged and brought over their drinks before they even ordered them. “I couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t that big a deal.”
“It was. I mean, look at the place. I don’t know how you did it. How did you do it this fast? I thought I was supposed to help.” For some reason she felt put out. It wasn’t rational.
Dante leaned over and kissed her forehead, and she blushed at the brotherly feel. “I know, sweets. I’ll make sure to make a mess later that you can clean up.”
“Stop patronizing her,” normally calm Nadie ordered.
Dante raised his hands in surrender and backed off. “Let me know if the three of you need anything. Are the rest of your girls coming in?”
Lily shook her head. “No, just the three of us tonight.”
He smiled and went back to the bar.
“He’s such a jerk sometimes.” Nadie scowled.
Lily raised a brow and looked at Jaime, who had an equally confused expression. What the hell? Nadie was the quiet and reserved one. What had Dante done?
“Is there something we should know?” Jamie asked tentatively.
Nadie froze then blushed, a red that flamed out straight to her ears. “No.” She coughed. “No, not at all. I just didn’t like the way he teased you about your OCD.”
Yeah. Sure.
“Okay, if that’s all.” Lily didn’t believe her one bit, but she didn’t want to step on any toes. Nadie would let her know what was going on when she felt comfortable. She wouldn’t push. It would only further alienate her friend.
“How is everyone feeling?” Lily asked. She’d been feeling slightly off since the lightning strike or whatever the hell that was. Were the others feeling the same?
Nadie shrugged. “Fine, I guess. I don’t really know what I’m expecting to feel. I don’t feel any different, but I think the fact that I don’t feel bad makes me feel like something’s wrong, you know?”
Lily nodded. “Exactly.”
“It was just a freak storm,” Jamie added. “We’re fine.”
The three looked at each other as unease settled in Lily.
“So, did Lily tell you about the
real
reason she’s here tonight?” Jamie asked, a sly smile on her face, breaking the tension.
Lily scowled and threw a pretzel from a bowl that had been on the table when she got there, which the black-haired beauty promptly ducked.
“Hey!” Dante called out. “This isn’t the lunchroom cafeteria. No throwing food.”
Lily blushed and refrained from throwing one at him. If Becca or Faith had been there, they would have done something, but she didn’t have it in her.
“Tell me, Lily.” Nadie smiled. “Why are you here?”
“Can’t I just come here to talk with my friends?”
“She met a man!” Jamie giggled.
“Ooohhh.” Nadie joined in the laugher.
Lily covered her heated face with her hands. It was as if they were twelve. Dear Lord. It wasn’t like she never dated. She was old enough to have some experience. Okay, very,
very
, little experience, but geez.
“Shut up, both of you. It’s not like that.”
“Oh, really?” Nadie raised a brow, a knowing smile on her face. “Then set us straight. How exactly was it?”
Lily let her head fall back and she closed her eyes. What did she expect? These were her best friends, and Shade would be there any minute. She could at least warn them.
“Fine. I met a man named Shade…”
Both women oohed and ahhed at his name, and she threw another pretzel.
“Act like adults!”
“You’re the one who just threw food!” Jamie laughed.
“Fine. I won’t say anything else.”
Nadie’s eyes widened, and she failed at hiding her smile. “I’ll be good. I promise. Tell me more about Shade.”
“I met him in the park. He’s just a guy who played dominos with me.”
“He was going to take our Lily on a motorcycle ride,” Jamie added.
“Our Lily on a motorcycle? He must be amazing,” Nadie said
Lily let a sigh slip. “Oh, he was, no
is
. I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know him. He offered to take me for coffee, but then I got called into work. Now he’s coming here soon so everything worked out I guess.”
“He’s coming here?” Nadie asked.
“Yep, any minute now.”
“Hence the cute clothes.” Nadie nodded.
“Are you saying I look like crap most days?”
“No, it’s just that you look all datey.”
“Datey is not a word,” Jamie, their loving bookstore owner, corrected.
Nadie rolled her eyes, very reminiscent of the kindergarten students she taught. “I know that, I was just in the mood to make one up. You do look nice, Lily.”
“Thank you, Nadie.” She just hoped Shade thought so too. He was so handsome she felt sort of unworthy. A stupid thing to think of since she was an independent, modern woman. Still…
Nadie scrunched her brows. “Wait, why did you have to go into work? I thought it was your day off.”
Anger rose through her at the thought. “Yes, but Glenn called me in to work on this special project of his.”
“What an ass,” Nadie said, and blushed. The woman never cursed.
“Yeah, but there’s nothing I can do about it. He’s my boss, and I need the job.”
“So, what was so special about this project?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just this odd sample that’s not showing up clearly on any of the scans I’ve run. I’m doing them again to make sure I didn’t make a mistake.”
Jamie sat forward. “You don’t make mistakes like that, Lily. Maybe it was something else.” Her eyes brightened with anticipation.
“This isn’t one of your mystery novels, Jamie.”
She waved a hand around. “It could be. Shade can be your mystery man that will help you solve the case.” She sat back and sighed. “Isn’t it romantic?”
“You really need to get your head out of your books.” Lily smiled at the thought of being side-by-side with Shade as they solved the case of the mysterious blue dust. Then when they figured out what it was, they could celebrate…
Images of his tanned skin brushing against hers, his hands tangling in her hair as he crushed his mouth to hers, the way he would thrust into her…
Lily choked on her soda, and Jamie stood to slap her on the back.
“Sexy thoughts?” Nadie asked.
“Shut up,” Lily rasped out.
“I can’t wait to meet this Shade of yours,” Jamie said.
“He’s not
my
Shade.”
“Not yet, anyway.” Nadie smiled.
As nice as it would be, Lily didn’t want Shade to be hers. He was just a hot guy she’d met at a park. They hadn’t even been on a real date. Tonight wouldn’t count. He was meeting her with her friends in a public place. Not quite the ideal romantic situation. She was getting ahead of herself anyway. Shade hadn’t really shown any interest. Heated glances aside, she didn’t know anything about him. Why would he want her? He could have any woman he wanted, and she was just plain, practically virginal Lily.
Tonight would just be a meeting of minds where she could talk to him. That was it. Nothing would come of it. She probably wouldn’t even see him again.
Yep. That’s what would happen. She probably wouldn’t ever see him again; him and his piercing blue eyes and sexy-as-hell motorcycle. Nope. Wouldn’t happen.
A pang shot through her heart. She was human enough to admit that she wanted it to happen, but want did not equal getting, especially to a woman like her. She was just average. Average body, hair, personality. Average everything. She’d been through the whole ‘loving a man’ thing before only to find out he was a loser. She didn’t want to go through that again.
Lily checked her cell phone for the fifth time. Ten more minutes. She could wait that long and then he’d leave soon after, most likely. If he even showed.
That would be his choice. She’d be fine. See? She was acting like a calm, rational adult.
Right?
God, this self-pity made her feel like crap.
Chapter 8
“Let me get this straight.” Ambrose’s deep voice penetrated the silence of the car. “I’m to be your wingman?” He lifted a blonde brow, and Shade held back a chuckle.
They were on their way to Dante’s Circle to meet Lily and try to see if they could get information out of her.
Shade tried not to smile.
Lily.
He couldn’t lie to himself. He also just wanted to see her again. The strawberry scent of her made him want to lick every inch of her to see if she tasted the same. Yes, he’d find out what he needed for the council, but he also wanted to get to know her.
Hell. He
really
didn’t want to do this to her. Why did the only woman that had caught his eye in decades also have to be the one who could be his people’s downfall?
Fate sucked ass sometimes.
Okay, all the time.
“Shade? If you are as lost inside your head with the girl as you are now, it’s no wonder you haven’t found out anything.”
He shook his head and gave a quick glare to Ambrose before switching lanes. It might be true that Lily occupied his thoughts more than she should, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t good at his job. He was a warrior, meaning he protected his brethren from all forces. Even if he didn’t have to use a sword to get his way, he still had a job to do. It grated on him that his friend and mentor would think so lowly of him.
“We’re almost there,” he growled.
“I trust you, Shade. It’s just that I don’t trust this situation. It’s keeping me on edge. I know that you’ll find out what we need to know and retrieve everything. Our secrets are safe as long as we figure out what’s going on.”
Shade nodded, his anger receding at his mentor’s words. He pulled up to the bar and parked. The wind blew leaves across his windshield, but it was a far cry from the weather of a few nights ago, and it wasn’t raining.