Loving Lily Lavender (15 page)

Take care of my heart,

Your Lucas forever

I sighed. What a wonderful man. If only he knew how wonderful he
truly was. I strolled into the kitchen and grabbed a yogurt and a cup of coffee.
I took a moment to take a quick sniff of the beautiful flower arrangements
before heading into the bathroom. I showered, dressed, and put on a little
makeup. I was planning to go to the set and surprise Lucas, when suddenly I
began to feel strange, becoming dizzy as my head began to throb painfully. I
stumbled my way to my nightstand and managed to reach my phone. I hit Lucas on
speed dial, and as I was waiting for him to answer, everything intensified, the
room began to spin and I could feel my consciousness slipping away.

“Lily, I was just thinking about you.”

“Luke—I—I,” I dropped the phone and collapsed to the floor.

I woke reluctantly to the beeping noises of an all-too-familiar
hospital room. “Luke,” I called as I forced my heavy eyelids to open.

“I’m right here, baby.” He reached and took my hand, and I
immediately noticed his was warm and clammy. He’d been worrying. Did I expect
any differently?

“What happened?” I asked.

“You passed out. They’re not sure why yet. They’re running some
tests. The CAT scan was clear though, a precaution due to the bump on your
head. How do you feel now?”

“I feel fine now, just a little groggy.

Doctor Peterman opened the door and stepped inside. “How are you
feeling, Mrs. Lavender?”

“Better, thank you.”

“Well, I’m sorry I have to do this, but I have to ask you some
questions, and it’s very important that you answer them honestly.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Do you do drugs of any kind?”

“Absolutely not,” I answered, offended.

“What about you, Mr. Lavender?”

“Well, I have done things in the past, but nothing in three
months, not since meeting Lily. Why are you asking us this, Doctor?”

“Well, we found traces of a drug of some kind in Lily’s
bloodstream. We’re not sure what it is yet. We’ve sent it to the lab.”

“How can that be possible?”

 “Try to think, is there anything out of the ordinary that has
happened? Maybe something you wouldn’t ordinarily touch or smell perhaps.”

“Well, I received a lot of flowers arrangements yesterday, and I
smelled all of them, but they were from people I love.”

“No, Lily,” Lucas interrupted, “remember, one was from someone
you didn’t know, an anonymous fan it said.”

“Doctor, do you think someone put some kind of drug in the
flowers for me to smell?”

“Well, it certainly makes more sense than anything else. I mean,
from what I understand, you’re still getting some negative responses from
Lucas’s fans, especially now that you’re married.”

“But why would she be reacting to it now if she smelled them last
night?” Lucas asked curiously.

“All people react differently to drugs. Was she acting at all
strange last night?”

“Um, she fell asleep when our guests were still visiting, but we
figured it was the pain medicine she took.”

“Hmm.”

I interrupted. “Actually, I just remembered, I smelled the
flowers this morning too.”

Doc spoke again. “I think we need to get the police involved in
this. I have a friend I’ll call. We need to get those flowers out of your home
and get them tested. All of the affects of the drug seem to be fading, so take
her home, watch over her, but she should be completely fine in a little while.
These kinds of drug affects don’t usually last too long. Don’t touch the
flowers until the detective gets there, and I’ll be in touch as soon as we have
results for you. Don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions.”

Noting my concerned expression, Luke took my hand and squeezed.
“I’ll take care of you, Lily. Don’t worry about this. Okay? Don’t worry.”

I would’ve felt reassured if his expression wasn’t more
troublesome than my own.

Detective Santiago arrived at our home shortly after we did. He
took the two flower arrangements in question and said he would get back to us
as soon as he had information. He also asked Lucas to keep someone with me at
all times. As if Lucas needed another reason to worry. He was already wound
tight enough to hang himself, not literally of course.

By the time evening came, I was completely back to normal, just
like the doctor had said. Lucas was a little guarded as I began to snuggle up
to him on the sofa. “So, do you want to pick up where we left off last night before
our guests arrived?” I asked in a sexy voice.
At least it sounded sexy to me
.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea after what you’ve been through?”

“Oh, I’m sure. I think it’s a great idea.” I began to kiss along
his neck all the way up to his ear. “In fact, it’s the best idea I’ve ever
had,” I whispered in his ear.

He began to relax and, without warning, turned and crushed his
lips eagerly to mine. “God, I love you,” he murmured into my lips.

“Prove it.”

He picked me up swiftly into his arms and began to carry me into
the bedroom. As we passed the kitchen, there was a knock on the door. “No!” we
both said in unison right before the door burst open and our gang spilled into
the room, arguing amongst themselves.

“We’re so glad you’re okay, Lily.” Vicky’s expression was curious
as she studied me in Lucas’s arms.

“We’re not interrupting anything, are we?”

“As a matter of fact,” Lucas started to say until Jordan
interrupted.

“Of course not. They never do anything even though they’re
married now. Why do you think we come here all the time?”

Lucas put me down gently, clearly disappointed. I rubbed his arm
reassuringly.

“We brought supper again. I hope you’re hungry.”

“Actually, I feel sick,” Lucas whispered for only me to hear. I
stifled a laugh though Lucas didn’t think it was funny at all.

It was midnight before everyone left and I was struggling to stay
awake. “Come on, lover, let’s go to bed,” he whispered.

I knew he was hoping that the time was right, but as soon as my
head hit the pillow, I was sound asleep.

I woke to the sound of the phone ringing. I heard Lucas answer it
from the den.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t come right now. I can’t leave Lily here
alone. Wait, I hear her getting up. I’ll call you right back.” He hung up the
phone and greeted me cheerfully as I entered the room. “Good morning, baby,” he
said, putting a steaming cup of coffee in my hands.
Thank God for observant
husbands.

“Luke, why are you still here? You need to go to work. I don’t
want anyone mad at me for keeping you here.”

“Lily, you’re my top priority now, and I won’t leave you here
alone.”

“Okay, well let me get ready, and I’ll come with you.” I walked
quickly back into the bedroom. “And call Landon back and let him know we’ll be
there in thirty minutes!”

When we arrived on set, Lucas went straight into hair and makeup,
while I went to find the others. It was exciting to find out we were filming on
the set of the Hamilton home for the week, but to my dismay, it was the day to
film in Heath’s bedroom, which meant the unavoidable love scene.

I knew the day would come, but once it did I wasn’t quite sure I
was ready for it.

Lisa, who plays Heath’s love interest, Rose St. Clair, is like a
sister to me, and I love her, but the idea of her in bed kissing my Lucas was a
little unnerving, to say the least.

In the first movie, their love scenes were just a little kissing,
but in this film their relationship intensifies.

“Lily, are you going to be okay with this?” Lisa asked me with
genuine concern.

“You know, Lisa, I’m not sure. I’ve never experienced watching
the man that I love kissing and touching someone else, but I think I’ll be okay.
It’s only acting, right?”

“Right. If it makes you feel any better, I always picture that
I’m with Will. He was on the set a lot during the filming of the first movie.
At first it was hard for him to watch, but then he got used to it. Lucas will
be thinking about you too. You don’t have to stay and watch if it’s too hard.
Just promise me it won’t affect how you feel about me.”

“Lisa, I love you like a sister. Of course it won’t change
anything, but I believe I can handle it.”

“Good.” She smiled and then hugged me.

Lucas entered the room wearing blue jeans with his white shirt
unbuttoned halfway. I couldn’t help but notice how nervous he looked as Landon
described the scene to them both.

“Okay, Lucas, you’ll start off kissing very slowly then it’ll
gradually become heated. As the passion intensifies, I want you to pull Lisa’s
shirt off over her head, and Lisa, I want you to rip his shirt open before
pulling it off. Then I want you to fall together onto the bed, Lucas on top.
Continue kissing until I say cut, got it?” They both nodded in agreement.

My mind raced. “Oh, this is so bad,” I mumbled. “Sooo bad.”

“Lily, are you going to be okay with this?” Lucas asked with
heavy concern shadowing his face.

“Don’t be silly, of course. I know you’re just acting
.” At that
moment, I hoped it was true.

“You don’t have to stay.”

“I know, but I want to stay with you. I’ll be fine, don’t worry
about me, just do your best. On second thought, don’t do your best,” I teased,
though my heart was thumping in my ears.

“I love you.” He kissed my forehead before heading back toward to
the bed.

I took my seat beside Sylvia. As I looked over my shoulder, I
recognized Samantha, Amanda, and Rachel, from makeup. I guess the love scenes
drew a crowd, especially when Lucas Lavender was shirtless. Come to think of
it, I’d never seen him shirtless and he was my husband.

“Okay, quiet on the set,” Landon said, “and—action!”

I watched in horror as they began kissing, first slowly, then as
the kissing intensified, Lucas pulled away and grabbed Lisa’s shirt, pulling it
off over her head just as Landon had described. Tears filled my eyes as I
watched him kiss her passionately, his hand cupping her face like he does mine.
I thought my heart would break. In my head I knew it was acting, but in my
heart it felt like betrayal of the worst kind. I was so wrong. I couldn’t
handle it at all.

I threw my hand over my mouth as Lisa ripped his shirt open. The
gesture caught Lucas’s attention, and his eyes locked on mine. His expression
mimicked mine as he studied the anguish on my face. Lisa, desperate to salvage
the scene, began kissing him trying to draw him into focus once again. After
only a few seconds, his eyes broke from mine as he went back into his
role-playing.

Overcome with shock and sadness, I rose and quickly, but quietly,
exited the room. I held my tears until I reached the end of the hall, letting
them flow heavily. After a few minutes, I regained my composure. I thought I
had prepared myself, but the reality was altogether different.

“Lily, are you okay?” I jumped, hearing the voice call from
behind me. I turned and recognized Samantha.

“Yes, I’m fine, thank you,” I said, quickly wiping away my tears.

“I know that must’ve been difficult for you to watch. Seeing my
husband in the arms of another woman, seemingly enjoying himself, would kill
me. I feel for you.”

“Samantha!” Sylvia snapped, coming up from behind us. “Don’t you
have someone’s makeup to do?”

“Excuse me.” I cried, turning and running down the stairs, around
the corner, and out the front door.

I heard Lucas calling from behind me, but I couldn’t stop
running. I could hear his desperate pleas as he got closer, but it only made me
run faster. When I reached the car, I opened the door, jumped in, and sped
away. As soon as I got down the road, my phone started ringing, but I didn’t
answer it. I cried all the way back to the hotel.

I entered my hotel room, slamming the door closed behind me, and
ran into my room in hunt of my suitcase. I found it in the closet, opened it,
and began shoving my clothes in it as fast as I could, tears still streaming
down my face.  I couldn’t shake the images of the two of them together.

“Lily!” I heard Lucas call in a desperate voice, slamming the
door behind him. He ran into the bedroom and froze. “What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving!”

“Leaving? Why? Where are you going?”

“I’m going home. I can’t be here right now. I feel humiliated. I
can’t look at Lisa—I can’t look at you.”

“Lily, please!” He came quickly to me, grabbing me and turning me
to face him. His hold was gentle, but unyielding, but I didn’t look up. “Lily,
look at me.”

“No, I can’t look at you.”

“Lily, please. I’m your husband. I love you. Please look at me.”

Reluctantly, I let my eyes meet his. “Please don’t leave me.
You’re the most important thing to me. I’ll do whatever you ask. Do you want me
to quit? I’ll quit today, and then we’ll leave together.”

“No, you can’t quit. You have a responsibility. People are
counting on you. Besides, you’re almost finished.”

“I won’t let you leave me! I won’t!” His grip increased slightly.

“You can’t stop me!”

“Yes I can!”

I pulled from his grip, turned and zipped my suitcase closed,
picked it up, and started out of the room. I took two steps before he grabbed
my suitcase from me and tossed it on the other side of the bed. I started to go
after it when he grabbed me, picking me up and laying me on the bed. I
struggled as he climbed on top of me and pinned me down.

“Lucas, let me go!” I yelled, struggling to get free.

“No, I can’t let you leave like this—just calm down so we can
talk about this. Please, Lily.”

“No!”

“Lily, please, please.” Then tears began to leak down his cheeks
as he lowered his head to my neck and cried.

“Lucas?” My heart softened instantly as I realized that I was
breaking his heart. He released my arms and moved his hands under my shoulders
and held me close, like a little boy crying in his mother’s arms.