Betrayed Hearts (8 page)

His ability to hold back vanished. He reached for her and gently pulled her stiff form into his arms. “You were only a child,” he murmured. “You weren't responsible.”

How could any father burden a child with that type of guilt? Visions of his own father's face, twisted with rage, came to mind.
How could any parent beat their own son?

When her breath hitched, Nick gathered her closer, reaching up to caress her soft hair. The subtle scent of her perfume invaded his senses. He fought to keep a clear head, relieved when her muscles relaxed and the trembling subsided. He held her silently, enjoying the sensation of closeness, and the fact that he could help in some small way.

“Did your father…mistreat you?” he asked after a few minutes.

As if coming out of a reverie, she blinked and moved away from him. He crossed his now empty arms as she took a seat on the couch.

“Yes.” She pulled a cushion against her like a shield. “I tried to run away several times, but he always had the police bring me back.”

Harsh memories from Nick's own childhood rose up inside him as he joined her on the sofa. “I know that helpless feeling. My father used to beat me when he drank.” He couldn't keep the bitterness from his voice. “I tried to run away, too, only the beatings got worse when he found me.”

She reached over to lay a tentative hand on his arm. The sorrow in her eyes told him everything she wasn't saying.

“I guess that's why I can't take it when a man is abusive in any way, especially to a woman.”

She nodded, seeming to understand. “Who was it that Marco…?”

“My cousin. She's like a little sister to me.”

Even now, his gut tightened with the memory of her hysterical phone call, begging him to come and get her at the edge of town where teenage boys liked to park after a date. Only sixteen at the time, she'd gone out with Marco, who was several years her senior, against the express orders of her mother.

“Was she OK?”

“Yeah. When she wouldn't give Marco what he wanted, he abandoned her out in the country. Good thing she had a cell phone.”

Lily remained silent for a moment. “I understand now why you reacted the way you did. I'm sorry I got so angry.”

The knot of tension in his stomach loosened. “I'm just glad you're all right.” He paused. “You won't be going out with him again, will you?”

She shook her head.

He released the breath he'd been holding. “Good.”

The velvet depths of her eyes held him captive. He found it hard to tear his gaze from hers, but he knew he had to go—before he did something stupid, like kiss her. He squeezed her hand and reluctantly pushed up from the couch.

She followed him to the door. “Thank you for looking out for me. I guess I'm not used to dealing with a genuinely nice guy.”

Before he could respond, she raised herself on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Silky strands of hair brushed his face. He held her gaze for a second, fighting the overwhelming urge to kiss her. But to take advantage of her vulnerability after what she'd been through would be lower than low. He'd be sinking to Marco's level.

“Call me if he gives you any more trouble.”

“I will.”

“And lock this door when I leave.”

“I always do.”

They stood in the hallway with the door open.

“Good night, Nick.”

He paused, wanting to stay longer but unable to find another excuse to linger. “'Night, Lily.”

On the landing, he waited for her to close the door behind him, listened for the click of the dead bolt, and started down the stairs. When he exited onto the porch, Nick was relieved to find the Ford gone and no sign of Messini. At the same time, an unmistakable prickle of guilt nagged at his conscience. As a future minister, he couldn't go around losing his temper and manhandling people—even if they did deserve it. His behavior needed to be above reproach, a shining example to his parishioners.

He sighed and began the walk home, mentally preparing an apology for the morning.

 

****

 

Lily sank back in the bathtub, allowing the hot water and fragrant bubbles to soothe her frazzled nerves. What a disastrous night. Not only was Marco a boring date, but he
had
expected compensation for their meal. She should have known better. A plate of spaghetti was not worth getting groped.

All she'd gotten for her trouble was one tidbit of information about Chloe Martin. Marco told her that Chloe lived with her frail, widowed mother, a devout woman who kept Chloe on a tight rein. From his description, Mrs. Martin sounded surprisingly similar to Tobias. For Chloe's sake, Lily hoped not.

Lily laid her head against the tiled wall, her thoughts turning to Nick Logan. She didn't know what to make of him. Could he really be as genuine as he seemed? Of all the men she'd encountered in her life, only Hank had ever treated her well. Working at the tavern, she'd mastered the art of deflecting men's advances.

Lily pulled the plug, and the soft gurgle of draining water filled the room. Once dried, she pulled on sweatpants and a T-shirt and shook her hair out of its clip. With a large hairbrush, she began the nightly ritual of untangling.

As she did so, she contemplated her image in the slightly warped bathroom mirror. What did Nick see when he looked at her? Did he find her attractive? Her dark eyes and her long, thick hair had always been her best features. Yet many men preferred blue-eyed blondes. Was he one of those?

Most males found her curvy figure desirable, a fact she'd used to her advantage over the years to survive living on her own. She shuddered to think how Nick would view her less-than-stellar past. All the more reason she should put Nick Logan right out of her mind.

Still, she couldn't deny her attraction. Nick's novelty was a big part of his appeal, yet after the time she'd spent with him tonight, the danger he posed became very real. The safety and comfort she'd experienced in those few, brief moments in his embrace were nothing but a beautiful deception. She'd learned the hard way never to count on a man to bring anything but trouble.

Nick Logan was an illusion she could
not
afford to believe in.

 

****

 

“Hey, Mike. It's Nick. Sorry to bother you so late.”

“It's not late. Not for a cop anyway.” His friend laughed at his own joke. “What can I do for you?”

Nick swiveled at his desk in the living room, tapping a pen to his lips. After his encounter with Lily, he was churned up and restless, haunted by the feel of her in his arms. He needed to know more about this woman who continued to wreak havoc with his emotions.

“I've got a new tenant I'd like you to check out for me. The name's Lily Draper.” He ignored the unease in his chest. He wasn't snooping. Merely protecting his interests—in more ways than one.

“I wondered when you'd get around to that. Folks are talking about what a looker she is.”

Nick gripped the arm of his chair, thankful Mike couldn't see his face. “What's that got to do with anything?”

“Nothing. Except you usually get me to check out tenants
before
they move in.”

Mike's tone had Nick's defenses kicking in. “Look, I felt sorry for her. I got the impression she was a bit desperate.”

“Un-huh.”

Mike implied something Nick didn't want to hear. “Are you going to help me or not?”

Mike chuckled. “Don't I always?”

“Yeah.”

“OK. So where is Lily Draper from?”

“Up north. Bismarck, I think.”

“A city gal. Wonder what she's doing down here?”

Nick leaned back in his chair, which squeaked in protest. “I wondered the same thing.”

“I'll see what I can find out.”

“Thanks, Mike. Oh, and keep it under your hat, will ya? No need to spread her business around town.”

“Always do.”

 

 

 

 

6

 

The next afternoon, Lily juggled two bags of groceries on the front porch while trying to pry her keys from her pocket. To her surprise and relief, the door flew open.

Maxi poked her head out. “Need a hand?”

Lily blew wisps of hair off her forehead. “Thanks. You're a lifesaver.”

Together they lugged the groceries up the flight of stairs to Lily's apartment. Maxi set her load on the kitchen counter and strolled into the living room.

“Hey, I love what you've done with the place. Where'd you get the fantastic artwork?”

Lily peered around the corner where Maxi eyed the paintings Lily had hung on the walls. “They're mine.”

“Yours, as in you painted them?” Maxi's mouth gaped as she pulled a stool up to the pass-through counter.

Lily gave a casual shrug. “It's a hobby.” She turned and opened the fridge. “Want a soda?”

“Sure.”

Lily handed her a cola and pulled out a can of her own. This was the first chance she'd had to talk to Maxi since meeting Chloe. Lily itched to pump her for information but wasn't sure how to bring up the topic without arousing Maxi's curiosity. “You working tonight?”

“Nope. Tonight's my youth group meeting.”

Lily popped the lid and took a sip from her can. “What's that?”

“A group Nick started to keep kids out of trouble. We meet in the church hall every other week.”

Nick volunteered with teens? This guy really must be a saint.

Maxi's eyes widened. “Hey, you should come with us. It's a great way to meet people.”

Lily bit her lip and set down her can. “I don't think I'd feel comfortable. I'm a little old for that.”

Maxi laughed. “There's no age restriction, Methuselah. The older volunteers mentor the younger kids.”

Lily's shoulders stiffened. “I don't think so. I'm not into religion.”
More like allergic to it.

“Oh, it's not religious.” Maxi waved a casual hand in the air, bangle bracelets clanging. “We just use the church basement as a meeting place.” She pursed her lips. “Well, Nick does say a prayer, but that's about it. We have discussions, go on outings, raise money for charities, that sort of thing.”

Lily turned back to her task. Maxi didn't strike her as the type to be interested in such mundane activities. There must be another incentive. “Does Jason go to these meetings?”

“Sometimes. But I usually go with Chloe. You met her at the shop the other day.”

Lily's heart rate kicked into overdrive, knocking as loud as the old motor in her refrigerator. She focused on keeping her hands steady as she put away her eggs. “The brunette?”

“That's her.”

Lily closed the door with a careful click. “How are you friends? Isn't she still in high school?”

Maxi sipped her drink. “She's very mature for her age. Probably because she's been through so much—losing her dad, and her mom getting sick.”

“The poor kid.” Lily had hoped Chloe was having a glorious, carefree life, unlike her own horrible childhood.

“Yeah. She has a lot on her shoulders helping out at home.”

“Does she have any…siblings?” Lily tried not to choke on the word.

“Nope. An only child.” Maxi looked at her funky silver watch. “I'd better go eat and get ready. Let me know if you want to tag along.” She threw Lily a wicked grin. “I'm sure Nick wouldn't mind.”

Lily turned away to hide the warmth that rushed into her cheeks.

Maxi hopped down from the stool. “That reminds me. How'd your date with Marco go?”

Lily hesitated, remembering Marco was Maxi's friend. “Not so great. He got a bit too…friendly…for my liking.”

Maxi only laughed as she opened the front door. “That's Marco for you. Don't take it personally.” She paused to wink over her shoulder. “Let me know if you change your mind about tonight.”

After Maxi left, Lily finished putting away the last of the groceries, her mind returning to the fact that Chloe would be at that meeting. If Lily joined the group, she'd have a perfect opportunity to get to know her sister better. As a friend and peer.

Only one huge obstacle held Lily back. She swore she'd never go near a church again. But how could she pass up this chance?

She wiped her damp palms on her jeans and stiffened her spine. The least she could do was give it a try. If the situation became intolerable, she could always leave.

Grateful for the remaining prepaid minutes on her cell phone, she took Maxi's number off the fridge and dialed.

 

****

 

Nick looked over the group of rambunctious teens assembled in the church hall and a satisfied smile stretched across his face. He'd started the group over a year ago with only a handful of kids, but attendance had steadily increased, and they now boasted a crowd of between twenty to thirty kids.

Nick loved providing a safe environment for adolescents to air their opinions and grievances. The fact that he got to mix some faith in with their fun was an added bonus.

Ignoring the din of excited voices, he pulled the material for tonight's meeting from his briefcase and set it on the rickety table beside his laptop.

“Good evening, Nick.”

Nick looked up as Sarah Jane walked by, a tray of baked goods in her arms. His mood plummeted as he remembered their upcoming date. The idea held about as much appeal as stripping wallpaper.

She turned from placing the treats on a side table, caught him watching her, and smiled. Remorse roared to life as he smiled back, thankful she couldn't read his mind.

The sound of footsteps descending the basement stairs gave Nick an excuse to look away. Maxi dashed into the hall, a bundle of vibrant energy. Nick chuckled at her outrageous hair, bejeweled top, and platform shoes. Nothing subtle about Maxi North. His gaze moved past her, expecting to see Chloe.