Friends--And Then Some (11 page)

Lily would have agreed to anything if it would help lessen her intense feeling of guilt. “If you’d like.”

“Oh, I’d like, my sunbeam, I’d like it very much.” With that he tenderly lifted the hair from her forehead and kissed her again.

Lily had all the physical response of a rag doll. She didn’t lift her hands to his shoulders or encourage him, but Rick didn’t appear to notice or care.

“I’ll call you in the morning,” he promised. Within a minute, he was gone.

Like a soldier returning to camp after a long day in the field, Lily marched into the house. Gram was asleep and snoring in her rocking chair. The crossword puzzle had slipped unnoticed to the floor. Gently, Lily shook her grandmother.

“Come on, Gram, let me help you into bed.”

Gram jerked awake with a start. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Who were you expecting?”

“Jake. You did say he was coming back, didn’t you?”

“Yes … but he isn’t here.”

“He will be,” Gram stated confidently, sitting upright. She rubbed a hand over her eyes and looked around her as though half expecting Jake to be there without either of them noticing. “Trust me, girl, he’ll be here.”

Lily wasn’t as certain. He hadn’t actually agreed to come back, but he hadn’t told her he wouldn’t, either. Lily had been the one to convince Jake to submit his story to
The New Yorker
. They should be celebrating together.

Lily changed out of her evening gown and into the white dress that Jake had bought her. A night as significant as this one demanded a dress that was just as special.

Pausing at her bedroom window, Lily parted the drape and stared into the starlit sky. The street was empty and her heart throbbed with anticipation. If Jake didn’t come, she didn’t know what she’d do. Perhaps go to his boat. Tonight he wouldn’t escape her.

A half hour later, Lily sat in the still living room, staring silently at the elephant tusks that adorned the wall. The moving shadows cast by the trees outside, dancing in the moonlight, seemed to taunt her for being so foolish.

Gram’s last words before heading to bed were that Jake would come.

The sound of Jake’s cab registered in her mind and she bolted to her feet, sucked in a calming breath, and rushed to the door. He was really here.

She was standing on the porch by the time he’d parked. He didn’t look eager to see her and stopped the instant he realized she was wearing the dress. When he started toward her again, he trod heavily—like someone being led to a labor camp.

“Gram said you’d come.” She rubbed her hands together to dispel her nervous energy.

Jake spread his fingers wide in a gesture that told her he hadn’t wanted to return. But something stronger than his will had led him back to her.

“What did you tell Rick?” Jake stood on the sidewalk as if he wasn’t quite sure that he wanted to come inside.

“That I wasn’t feeling well.”

“And he bought that?”

“By the time we left the opera it was true.”

“And how are you feeling now?”

“Terrible.” She hung her head so that her hair fell forward.

“I shouldn’t be here.” Why did Lily have to look so beautiful standing there in the moonlight? She was miserable and confused, and it took everything in him not to reach for her and haul her into his arms and comfort her. Rick had probably wanted to do that. Involuntarily, Jake’s fist clenched. The thought of Rick holding Lily produced such a rage within him that he felt like smashing his hand through a wall.

“I’m glad you came back,” Lily said softly.

Her intense gaze commanded his attention. Jake knew he could refuse her nothing.

“I’m glad I did, too,” he admitted with reluctance, walking toward her.

“It’s a little late for going out to eat. I thought … that is, if you don’t mind … that we could order a pizza.”

“With anchovies?”

Her eyes lit up with a smiling glint. “Only on your half.”

“Agreed.” He took the stairs two at a time and paused at the darkened living
room. “Where’s Gram?”

“She fell asleep. I’ll wake her.”

“No.” A hand on Lily’s forearm stopped her. No, tonight was for them. “Let her rest.”

“All right.”

She smiled at him and Jake felt his stomach twist. If he had any sense left, he’d get out of there right away. But the ability to reason had left him the first time he’d kissed Lily that night in the attic. From that minute on he’d behaved like a fool. He’d like to blame Lily for what he was feeling, but he couldn’t. With her, everything had been of his own making.

“I brought some wine.” Actually he’d left it in the front seat of the cab. He hadn’t been sure he’d be staying. “I’ll be right back.”

Lily had the wineglasses out by the time he returned. She turned to him when he walked into the kitchen and Jake found he couldn’t look away from her no matter how hard he tried.

“Do you want a corkscrew?”

Lily’s words shook him from his trance. “Yeah, sure.” He paused to clear his throat. “You look nice in that dress.” That had to be the understatement of the year. She was the personification of the very name of the gown: Angel’s Breath—so soft and delicate. It was the purest form of torture to be near her and not touch her.

Lily handed him the corkscrew, and while he fiddled to open the wine bottle, she casually browsed a pizza flyer she grabbed from the side of the fridge. “Should we pick the pizza up ourselves or have it delivered?”

“That’s up to you.”

“Have it delivered.” Lily didn’t want to go out again or do anything that would disrupt the evening. “What toppings do you want?”

“Anchovies, pepperoni, olives, green pepper”—he paused—“and sausage. What about you?”

“Cheese,” she told him, and laughed at the doubtful look on his face. “I’m just teasing. I’ll have the same, except for those disgusting little fish.”

The cork came out of the wine bottle with a popping sound and Jake filled both
glasses. “Here.”

Lily accepted the wine and took a small sip. It was excellent. “This is good.”

“I wanted something special.”

She touched the edge of her wineglass to his. “To Jake: a master of words, a skilled storyteller, a man of obvious talent and virtue.”

“And to Lily, who lent me her support.”

“Moral and immoral,” she added with a small laugh.

“Mostly moral.”

Together they tasted the wine and then moved into the living room to sit on the zebra skin beside the wide ottoman. Lily had a fleeting thought to suggest they light a fire in the fireplace, but the evening was warm.

“Thank you, Lily, for all your encouragement.”

“Thank you, Jake, for being such a talented storyteller.”

“To friendship.” His eyes didn’t leave hers.

“To friendship,” she repeated in a hushed whisper.

They each drank their first glass and Jake replenished their supply.

“Jake.”

“Hmm?”

“What really happened between you and Elaine?”

The question was so unexpected that his mouth parted, searching for words. “What do you want to know for?”

She lifted one shoulder and lowered her gaze to the red liquid. “You were so close to her.”

“Yeah. So?”

“And then everything blew up.”

“She wanted me to be something I couldn’t.”

“But that’s part of what’s great about you, Jake. You’re so versatile. You can do anything.”

“But only if I want to.” Jake had no qualms about admitting his talents. He’d tried enough things in life to know what Lily said was true. He wasn’t being egotistical, only honest.

With a lazy finger, Lily drew circles over the rim of her wineglass. “Were you lovers?”

“What?” Jake sat up so quickly that the wine nearly sloshed over the side of his glass. “What kind of question is that?”

“I just want to know.” Morbid curiosity had driven her to ask.

“That’s none of your business.” He downed the remainder of his glass in one giant swallow. “Do you mind if we don’t talk about Elaine?

“All right.” It was a sore subject. But Lily couldn’t regret that Jake had broken things off with Elaine. She wasn’t nearly good enough for him.

“What about you and Rick?”

She straightened. “What about us?”

“Has he kissed you?”

Lily clamped her upper teeth over her bottom lip and hunched her shoulders. “Sort of.”

“How does a man ‘sort of’ kiss you?”

Lily rose to her knees, planted her hands on Jake’s shoulders, and slanted her mouth over his. “Like this,” she whispered, gently grazing his mouth with hers. Their mouths barely touched in a soft caress.

Jake nearly choked on his own breath as a shaft of desire shot through him. He broke contact and leaned back, lowering his gaze. Lily was achingly close; she smelled like summer and sunshine and everything good. He had to look away, fearing he’d feel compelled to toss aside the wineglass and pull her into his arms. “Yes, well, I see what you mean.”

“You knew Rick was married before, didn’t you?”

“I seem to remember something about that.”

“He’s been divorced less than a year.”

“What happened?” Jake didn’t care two cents about the breakup of Rick’s marriage, but he needed the distraction. Anything to take his mind off how badly he wanted Lily.

“I’m not exactly sure, but apparently she left him for another man.”

“That must’ve hurt.” The remark was inane, but every second was torture having
Lily so close.

“He’s insecure and lonely.”

“So are a lot of people.”

Lily rotated the stem of the wineglass between her thumb and fingers. “I know.”

“You like Rick, don’t you?” Jake pressed. His gut feeling that Rick wasn’t right for Lily persisted, but he wouldn’t say anything. Not after what happened with that oil-rich Texan. Jake was beginning to doubt that anyone would ever be good enough for Lily.

“He’s a nice man.”

“Rich.”

Softly, Lily cleared her throat. “Yes, he seems to be.”

“That’s what you wanted.”

Lately, Lily wasn’t so sure. She set the wineglass aside, got up, and moved to the window to stare into the night. The city lights obliterated the brilliance of the stars, but Lily was only pretending to look into the sky.

Jake joined her, coming to stand behind her. He raised his hands to cup the gentle curve of her shoulders and rested his cheek against the side of her head. “It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?” He shouldn’t be touching her like this, even in the most innocent way. Her nearness was a stimulant he didn’t need. She smelled much too good for his sanity. Rick could give her all the things he’d never be able to afford. A knot of misery tightened in his chest.

“Yes, it’s lovely,” she mumbled. Without meaning to, she leaned back against Jake. He accepted her weight and slid his hands down the length of her arms. He desperately wanted to hold her—to touch her without giving in to the temptation to kiss her. Lily was meant to be cherished and treasured, and he couldn’t do her justice.

Lily didn’t move, barely breathed. The light touch of Jake’s hands stirred her blood. She yearned to turn and have his arms surround her. The light taste of his mouth lingered on hers unbearably.

Without thinking, Jake turned his face into her hair and breathed in the fragrance of her shampoo. He lowered his face and nuzzled her ear. Lily tilted her head, luxuriating in the warm sensation that flooded through her.

“Lily,” Jake breathed. “I shouldn’t be holding you like this.”

“I like it.”

“I do, too. Too much.”

“But I want you to hold me.”

“Lily, please.”

“Don’t hold me then,” she murmured. “Let me hold you.” Without warning, she turned and slipped her arms around his waist and pressed her ear against his heart.

“Lily.”

“It feels good in your arms,” she purred, tightening her grip so that he couldn’t break the contact. “How can it be wrong when it feels this good?”

“I don’t know. Oh, Lily …” He whispered her name as he lowered his head, searching out her mouth. He touched his lips against hers, savoring her. She tasted like melting sugar, unbearably sweet and highly addictive.

Restlessly she moved against him, caught up in the moment as her passion for him took over.

“Lily,” he pleaded against her mouth. “Hold still. We shouldn’t let things get out of hand.”

“I can’t help it.” She combed her fingers through his hair and looked up at him with wide, adoring eyes. “This feels so right.”

“Lily …”

“Shh,” she whispered and planted her mouth over his. She wound her arms around his neck and caressed his mouth with hers. “Your kiss is irresistible.”

“So is yours.” He paused to study the desire in her eyes. They were playing a dangerous game that they both stood to lose. Yet he was unable to resist her and he lowered his mouth to capture hers again.

Lily moaned softly, her lips moving against his. A low groan slipped from Jake’s throat and he forced deeper contact, gripping the sides of her face and fusing their mouths together.

He came away from her weak, his resolve diminishing by the second. He hugged her hard, struggling deep within himself to find the willpower to release her.

With a superhuman effort, he broke contact, stepping back and holding her at
arm’s length. “The wine went to our heads.”

Her small smile contradicted his words. “We didn’t have that much.”

“Obviously more than we should have.”

“I like what you do to me.”

“Well, I don’t like it,” he hissed. “Tonight was a fluke and best forgotten.”

“I’m not going to forget it.”

“Well, I am. This isn’t going to happen again. Do you understand? It’s not right.”

“But Jake …”

“I’m leaving. Right now. If you have half the intelligence I credit you with, you’ll forget this ever happened.” He dropped his arms and rubbed a hand over his face. “Good night, Lily.”

She could hardly see him. Salty tears clouded her vision. “Good night, Jake.”

He was gone before she could utter another word.

* * *

“Morning.” Gram greeted Lily cheerfully the following day. “I see Jake came. I told you he would.”

Lily pulled out a kitchen chair and sat. After a restless, unhappy night she wasn’t feeling very motivated.