Till There Was You (20 page)

After a nice long hot shower to wash away the dirt from the morning’s activities, Linc was ready for the trek into town, a trip he was making on a regular basis now that his relationship with Lily was heading in a healthy direction. The more time he spent with her, the more Linc was realizing just how much he had begun to feel for her, and while he wrestled defining it with the ‘L’ word, he definitely knew it was pretty close.

Leaving with time to spare, even after he played with Shade, he gave his dog a big bone to keep him occupied before heading to the car he now used—Tim’s car. He’d had it ever since that night he drove Tim home, and Lily had insisted Tim would be happy he was using it, telling him Tim thought it was ridiculous he was walking all that way to town.

“He actually called me a pussy for not wanting to drive him home,”
Linc had told her, remembering the old man’s attitude fondly.

Lily had chuckled.
“That sounds exactly like him.”

Pulling into a spot outside the bar, Linc sat for a moment and watched Lily in her element. It was something he used to do well before he’d ever spoken to her. Even back then, he’d liked watching how full of life she was in everything she did, how she seemed to genuinely like people and always saw the best in those around her, even if they didn’t see it for themselves. And now that he knew her, he found her no less spectacular.

Making his way inside after Lily busted him watching her, Linc entered the bright warm atmosphere she called her second home, a wide smile greeting him as he kissed her a welcome hello.

“How long were you watching, stalker man?” she asked with a smile.

“Not long enough. I like to watch you, remember?” His eyes traveled over her body as if he had x-ray vision.

“See anything you like?” she asked, striking a sultry pose.

“Everything. Even that Hello Kitty shaped birthmark on your—” Lily slapped a hand over his mouth, her eyes alive with embarrassment, muffling the rest of his sentence.

“Quiet you, or I won’t do that thing you like so much,” she warned, replacing her hand with her lips, kissing him into silence.

Linc kissed her back, reveling in the feel of Lily’s body pressed to his, the taste of her lips sending tingles of desire spreading throughout his body every time they were together. It was no less now than the first time they’d been together—and they’d been together a lot since then.

“Your place or mine tonight?”

Reaching up, she brushed back a strand of loose hair. “Mine, if you don’t mind. It’s closer and we spent last night at yours. I need a proper change of clothes and to take a shower where I use the time to actually get clean, not man-handled by some sexy mountain man,” she teased, poking him in the chest to emphasize her point.

“I like to man-handle you at your place, too,” he replied with a smile. “Plus, who’s going to wash your back for you?”

“And that’s how it starts every time, so thanks, but no, not this time, mister.” She gave him a wink, then evaded his reaching hands as she danced away, ducking behind the bar to relative safety.

“Listen, if you’re tired and would rather spend the night alone, I don’t mind.”

“Oh no, I want you in my bed. I just want to get nice and clean before you get me all dirty again.” She leaned across the bar and kissed him.

“Oh my god, would you two get a room,” Bec joked as she walked through the door, ready to take over so Lily could go on break. “Now I know how sick my and Brad’s PDA must make everyone feel.”

“PDA?” Linc asked.

“Public displays of affection,” Bec clarified. “It’s fine when you’re involved, but watching it can get a little icky.”

“I’m sorry we gross you out so much,” Lily said, sounding a little terse.

“Oh, Lil,” Bec responded, “you really don’t. You know I’m totally happy for you. Just please, for the love of all things good in this world, don’t start humping somewhere where I could walk in. That would be taking our friendship too far.”

“Duly noted,” Linc said with a nod.

While at the same time, Lily said, “I’m not making any promises.”

“Oh my god,” Bec groaned. “Please, go have your lunch. And do it somewhere private.”

Laughing, Lily took Linc by the hand and led him out the door, kissing him passionately on the sidewalk just to further tease her friend.

“You’re mean when you want to be,” Linc said as he chuckled.

“I’m just having fun.” She laughed, leading him over to the diner where they had a leisurely lunch.

By the time they got back, the bar was almost empty. Many patrons had gone home before the predicted storm settled in for the night and the few left would leave without a fuss when it was time to shutter up.

Taking a seat near the front door, Linc watched the sky darken as the storm started rolling in. Winds picked up leaves and refuse, spiraling them in a colorful display as it blew around the main street.

“Ah, ladies, you might want to leave whatever you’re doing for tomorrow and close up. Looks like we’ll need to get out of here ASAP.” Linc directed their view to the dark, angry clouds visible out the front window.

After letting the few lingering customers know it was time to leave, Lily turned to Bec. “You’re done, go home now. Linc will help me close up.”

“You sure, Lil?”

“Yeah, get out of here before you get caught in that.”

“Thanks, see you two next time,” she said, making a quick exit to stay ahead of the storm.

Following Bec out as she left, Linc wound down the shutters to protect the windows and knocked on the door in an effort to hurry Lily up.

“Want to take my truck?” she asked, slipping out the door a minute later. When Linc nodded, she headed straight for her truck, then beeped the horn at him as pay back for rushing her out of the bar.

“Very funny,” he said, climbing in to the passenger side as the first fat drops of rain started to splash down on the windshield.

“I just didn’t want you to get wet,” she said, flicking on the wipers as the cabin started to fog up from their body heat.

“Well, I think we’re both going to get wet,” he noted, the sound of rain getting louder as heavy sheets of water started to hammer down, reducing visibility to a few meters at best as they made their way to Lily’s place.

“Are you worried about Shade in this?” she asked, driving slower than normal as the wind started to buffet the truck.

“No, he’s smart. The moment a storm comes overhead, he’s inside. He loves the snow, but he isn’t a big fan of rain.”

“Maybe we could get him a friend.” Linc liked the way she said ‘we’. It caused the corner of his mouth to twitch up.

“Maybe.”

Pulling into her driveway, Lily looked up at the downpour as she cut the engine. “Ready?” she asked, turning to face him before she prepared to make the dash to the door through the freezing rain.

“As ready as I can be,” he said, glad he had dressed for the bad weather just in case something like this happened and he got caught in the storm.

“Okay, we go on three,” she added, getting her keys ready to open the door.

“Wait, is it one, two, three, go, or is it one, two, and we go on three?”

“Yes,” she responded and smiled as she jumped out without counting at all, squealing as the rain drenched her almost immediately.

Linc was only a step behind her as she fumbled, trying to get the keys in the lock as the winds threatened to sweep her away. Stooping to shield Lily from the worst of the wind and rain, Linc reached out, pried the keys from her fingers, and unlocked the door, ushering her inside as he fought the storm to close the door again.

They both stood there, dripping water, drenched to the bone and shivering. Lily’s teeth chattered as she tried to peel off the wet clothes plastered to her body.

“So, does that count as a shower?” Linc’s hands roamed her body as he helped her strip down.

“No, but it does mean I’m willing to share now. I can’t exactly let you get hypothermia because I want the chance to shave, now can I?”

“How about I get in and warm up, then give you the shower while I watch you do all your girly things?” 

“You want to watch me shave?” Giving him a curious look, she laughed.

“I want to watch you do everything.”

With a smile, she headed for the shower, flinging her wet bra and panties at him as she turned on the water. Wasting no time removing his wet clothes, he stepped in behind her, his hands immediately wrapping around her body as he pressed warm kisses against her neck.

Lily moaned and leaned against him, the warm water cascading over their bodies, chasing the cold of the storm away. “I love the way you always know exactly how to touch me,” she murmured, arching her back as her arm reached up and took hold of Linc’s damp hair while his fingers moved to explore the hard little button between her legs.

“I love the way you react every time I touch you,” Linc responded, his fingers delving deeper, pushing inside her as he worked her body into a frenzy.

“Oh god,” she gasped, her core clenching as she came against his hand.

Turning in his arms, she pressed her mouth to his, kissing him deeply as she reached down and took his length in her hand. “Now,” she whispered, rubbing his tip between her legs.

“I don’t have a condom in here.” Linc’s voice was tight with his arousal as she continued to glide along his shaft.

“You know I’m on birth control,” she gasped, her assurance spurring Linc on. He wanted to be inside her so badly, and to be inside her bare had his cock throbbing at the thought.

With an erotic growl, he reached down and gripped her by the thighs, lifting her so her back pressed against the tiled wall. Her green eyes met his, full of lustful desire as he sunk himself inside her with a satisfied moan.

“You feel so good,” he gasped, moving back and forth as her tight walls gripped his girth and her fingers dug into his skin.

“So do you.” Her breath came out in short, shallow pants as he drove himself into her, their eyes locked in an intense connection that seemed even stronger than what they’d experienced before.

“I love you, Linc,” she whispered, her fingers in his hair, her lips brushing close to his ear. He shuddered and came inside her, her words pushing him over the edge in a confusing and exhilarating way.

He held her tight, his hips still thrusting until she exploded around him moments later. She shook in his arms until he lowered her to the ground and kissed her passionately, hoping his open worship of her body was enough until he was ready to repeat those same words.

She loved him. It was strange for Linc to hear those words spoken to him again. It wasn’t that he didn’t feel as though he was in love with Lily, it was just that he had trouble saying it, as if it would somehow replace the love he’d had before. Though, he knew that couldn’t be the case. What he felt for Lily was...different from what he’d had with Rachel. They’d been so young when they married, and life was easy back then—saying things was easy. It was only now, with Lily, that he actually felt his heart was on the line when he considered those three words. Falling for her completely, giving himself to her entirely...it scared him.

Kissing her one last time, Linc held her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes. He could see the emotion there, see that she meant what she’d said. What surprised him though, was the absence of expectation, and he wondered if she truly hadn’t thought he’d say it back.

“I’ll let you finish your shower,” he murmured, kissing her forehead as he stepped out and grabbed a towel.

“Still staying in to watch the shaving ritual?” she asked with a grin, her tone going from intense to lighthearted almost instantly, causing Linc to relax once more.

“No fair. I can’t see a thing through the glass with all that steam.”

“What about now?” she asked, pressing her boobs to the glass.

“Much better,” he laughed. Drying himself off, he admired the blurred outline of her movements as she shaved her legs.

“I’m just about done here if you want to get the fire going and put some coffee on.”

“You trying to get rid of me?”

“Never,” she said, wiping a small circle for Linc to see her face. “I want to keep you forever.”

“I’m glad,” he replied, tying his towel around his waist as he headed for the door.

“Oh! And there are some journals on the table for you from Tim. I keep forgetting to give them to you.” Her words stopped Linc in his tracks.

“Journals? From Tim? For me?” His brow knitted, puzzled.

“Yeah, I don’t know what’s in them. He only wanted you to read them, so I didn’t open them out of respect.”

“Thanks,” Linc said, feeling dazed as he walked to Lily’s room and pulled on a clean set of the spare clothes he kept there. Walking down the hall toward the dining room, Linc spotted the journals on the table and lifted the first one. It was old, the leather cover softened by use. When he opened it, he saw the neat, swirling handwriting that belonged to Tim as a young man. The first entry detailed his deployment, and sporadic entries were laced with moments of hope and horror. Linc could see why Tim had chosen him to have these. Like he’d said on that final night, Linc was the only one who would understand.

With a heavy sigh, Linc scooped them up and tucked them under his arm with a plan to set them on the entry table so he would remember to take them home. But he froze on the spot when his action caused a folder to skid across the table—the same folder Matt had tried to hide from him the other day.

It wasn’t in Linc’s nature to pry, and normally he wouldn’t dream of opening anything that might be deemed as personal. Except, a few of the pages had slid out just enough for him to see the corner of a photo—a photo that felt far too familiar to ignore.

Even then, his hand hovered over the folder, wondering if he should wait for Lily to finish her shower before jumping to any conclusions. Although, a familiar tug, telling him exactly whose photo that was urged him forward, heart beating furiously as his outrage bubbled slowly in his veins.

Opening the cover, Linc’s shock felt like the piercing of a knife being pushed into his chest as he stared down at the file’s contents. His world tilted as he picked up the photo in his shaking hand, biting at the knuckle on his other to mask his gasp of horror. In it were two bodies covered in stained sheets—one big, one small, both visible in the zoomed in picture. The last time he’d seen it was after he’d woken up in the hospital and the police were questioning him about the fatal crash that killed his wife and daughter. He couldn’t breathe. Horrifying shock paralyzed him in place as he shifted through the rest of the information in the folder—Army reports filled with redactions, newspaper articles about the accident, psych evaluations, even his goddamned high school report card. And there were photos—ones from his time in the service, ones taken after he’d returned, and worst of all was the photo of Rachel and Alana attached to their death certificates with a paperclip as if this were some sick version of show and tell.