Shade's Fall (21 page)

“Now, let’s talk about your punishment. I’m going to be lenient this time,” he paused at Lily’s unladylike snort, “and give you your choice of punishment.”

“What are the choices?” Lily had no doubt she wasn’t going to be happy with any of them.

“You can take the spanking you deserve, or you can sleep in the bed tonight, or you can give me one kiss. Take your pick.”

“You’re not serious?”

“Yes, I am being more than fair. It hurt like hell when you grabbed my nuts. None of your choices involve excruciating pain.”

“That strap looks like it’s going to hurt.”

“I plan for you to enjoy that.” Shade gave her a grin.

Lily shivered, and it wasn’t from pleasure.

“Which one?” Shade prompted her. “Would you like me to pick for you?”

“No!”

Lily was stuck. She was going to have to pick one. She really didn’t want a spanking with that strap, but the other two were just as bad. The kiss was totally out; she couldn’t imagine touching her mouth to his.

“I’ll sleep in the bed,” Lily said reluctantly.

“You sure?”

Lily nodded her head.

“Fine. You can get ready for bed.” Shade got up from the chair, turning the television on.

Lily gathered her pajamas before going into the bathroom. Pulling off her clothes, she walked down the three steps into the shower. She turned it on, feeling the water hit her body at different areas. She took her time, as the shower was becoming an obsession of hers. Each time she took one, she felt absolutely decadent.

Lily bowed her head, confused with why he wanted her when he had a variety of women to choose from, not only in the club but also in town. Every woman in town who was single, and some who were married, had been chasing him since he had rode into town.

Reluctantly getting out of the shower, she blow-dried her hair to take even more time delaying the inevitable. She wanted to flick the rubber band, but she didn’t.

Dressed in her thick pajamas, she opened the door, going into the bedroom. She wanted to go to the corner; instead, she forced her feet toward the bed.

Shade didn’t take his attention away from the television as Lily climbed into the bed, clinging to the side as much as she could without falling out. Shade then turned the television off and went into the bathroom. Lily relaxed when he left the room, letting herself get even more comfortable when she heard the shower. She drifted in and out of sleep, too tense to slip into a deep slumber.

When the door opened, however, she pretended to be asleep. She felt the bed dip on the other side of the bed and felt Shade reach out to turn off the lights. With her back to him, Lily opened her eyes and saw he had left the bathroom light on. She continued to lie tensely, feeling him move under the covers, getting comfortable.

She was trying not to panic. If he rolled one inch closer to her, though, she would go to the corner. Lily didn’t know how long she lay tensed before she realized he was already asleep. She forced herself to relax again, her fingertips lying against the red rubber band as if it would protect her.

Closing her eyes, she drifted off to sleep, thinking she had gotten one over on Shade. This wasn’t a punishment; she was glad to be out of the corner.

*  *  *

Shade forced his body to remain still long after Lily had managed to fall asleep. The whole bed had practically shaken with her frightened tremors. When he was sure she had finally gone into a deep sleep, he rolled closer to her, fitting her against him as his warmth seeped into her chilled body.

He let his fingers play with the wisps of hair on the pillow. He was an expert at moving his body a centimeter at a time. All his years of experience had led to this one moment that he had waited years for: Lily in his bed, holding her close.

After she had been hurt back in the summer, he had purchased a whole new bed. None of the women had lain in the bed Lily was lying on now.

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,” Willa 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.”

“That’s fine.”

“I appreciate the donations to the church.”

“You’re welcome. Well, I better go. See you tomorrow, Rachel and Lily. Pastor Dean.”

Willa left and Lily looked at Pastor Dean.

“I think she thought you would break into a spontaneous sermon the way she took off from here,” Rachel said.

“She always acts like that. I don’t know why. Am I one of those preachers who puts the fear of God into you by being in the room?” he asked with a frown. “None of the other women in the church act like that. They like to make desserts for me, but she has a kitchen full of baked goods and never brings me anything.” If Lily didn’t know better, she would have thought the Pastor was pouting.

“Those women bring you food trying to catch you. They want to impress you with their cooking skills,” Lily told him.

It was no secret that Pastor Dean was the most eligible bachelor in town. Ever since he had taken over the church after her father’s death, the single women in the congregation had been vying for his attention.

“Willa doesn’t need to worry that she’ll give me that impression. She doesn’t give me the time of day if she can help it. I think if there was another Baptist church in town, she would have left ours already,” Pastor Dean said.

Lily could hear the concern in his voice. “I don’t think that’s true at all. She was probably in a rush.”

“Could be,” Pastor Dean said, yet he didn’t sound like he believed his own words.

Rachel and Lily shared a glance. It was unusual to see Pastor Dean unsure of himself. He was loved and respected by the whole congregation. Lily was sure he had over-thought Willa’s reaction to his presence.