Riding Raw (3 page)

Heavy work boots sounded, alerting Lily that she was no longer alone. When Duff came through the door, her pulse jumped in spite of what she'd witnessed ten minutes earlier. His lover followed close behind.

"Lily Dumont, this is Bo Lawrence. He's my...partner. He lives here."

She smiled, hopping up on her sore feet to shake hands. “Good to meet you."

The men stood awkwardly as if they were waiting for something. But Lily's surprise had dwindled, and it pleased her to see them so puzzled at her acceptance of their status.

Finally, Bo ended the silence. “You hungry, sweetheart? Pardon me for saying this, but you're looking kinda lean—like it's been a while since you had a good meal."

"I'm hungry enough to eat both of you. Last meal I had was yesterday, as I've been trying to hold on to the last of my money."

Duff shifted uncomfortably. “How'd you get out here, anyway? Where's your car? Hell, woman, where are your shoes?"

"My car broke down about two miles south of here.” Her gaze drifted to her feet. “I walked the rest of the way in my bare feet because that was the way I escaped."

"Escaped? Now, that sounds like the beginning of an interesting story, one I'd like to hear.” Bo grinned. “You come on back in, and we'll fill you up. Afterward, if you wouldn't mind, we'd like to hear all about it. Is that fair?” He took her hand.

"Lead the way. I hope you have lots of food, because the way my stomach's talking, it means to empty your pantry."

"Duff, will you look in the medicine cabinet and get something for Lily's feet?"

They went inside, leaving Duff to contemplate what he'd just seen. He'd forgotten how easygoing Lily could be, her charm effervescing over whomever she met. But she could also be conniving and cruel.

Still, he needed to know exactly what had brought her back here. And how she planned to explain the way she'd left.

Bo squeezed Lily's hand and led her to the bathroom. “Get freshened up, hon. I already laid out some clothes for you to change into. Unfortunately, the only clothes I think won't be overlarge are the sweats and tees. Oh, and there are a couple pair of those holiday slippers that look like ballet shoes for you to wear. Leave your dress in the bathroom hamper. I'll wash it and have it back to you in a few hours."

"Thank you,” she whispered. “I know I look a wreck."

"It's nothing soap, water, and a good meal can't fix, Lily."

Before heading into the kitchen to heat up something for their guest, Bo stopped in the bedroom and sat at the bed's edge. His heavy heart bothered him. Ordinarily he wasn't an insecure sort, yet the brief interaction he'd witnessed between Duff and Lily tugged at him.

There was a raw energy there, and he couldn't ignore it. Knowing how much Duff loved and cared for him could not remove the dull ache spreading inside him. Lily had broken Duff's heart, but she still kept a part of it with her.

Absently Bo ran his hands over the bed he and Duff shared, recalling all that had gone on in this space—hot love, deep talks, promises made. While he felt their bond to be unbreakable, he could not deny the effects of an old flame. Especially the one that got away. Love was funny that way, tying people together even when they were apart.

Despite his misgivings, Bo couldn't bring himself to be jealous of Lily. She was stunning even at her lowest point, and he'd seen hints of charm and good humor. But from the little he'd been able to glean from Duff, she'd had a hard life from the very beginning, and many of her choices had been those of necessity.

Had it been necessary for her to leave Duff, nearly driving him to suicide in the process? Or had it just been another in a long line of Lily Dumont's bad choices?

"Fried apples, Bo? You're making her fried apples? Why didn't you make any for my breakfast?” Duff grumbled, a smile twisting his lips. “You know I love ‘em. You seem to only make them on special occasions."

"And this is a special occasion.” Bo dumped the apple peelings into the trash can. Opening the refrigerator, he removed the butter tray, setting it beside the cinnamon and the sugar canister. “Besides, it'll only take a few minutes. Everything else can be warmed up pretty quickly. I just want to make sure Lily enjoys her meal."

"She's a woman, Bo, and not a very large one, or hadn't you noticed?"

"The little woman you're referring to told me herself that she has a large appetite."

Lily materialized in the kitchen doorway, catching Duff off guard. She looked freshly scrubbed, like a college girl on her way to class. Her golden red hair cascaded around her shoulders in heavy waves, something he knew annoyed her. Without styling implements to straighten out her tresses, Lily's hair could be unruly. To Duff, it was beautiful. There had been a time not so long ago when he couldn't keep his hands out of her hair.

"Something sure smells good.” She eyed them instead of the food.

"Sit down and I'll fix your plate. Apples will be ready in a couple of minutes.” Bo turned away from her, bending slightly to gauge the progress of the bacon and biscuits warming in the toaster oven. “You do like fried apples, don't you?"

"You kidding? I'm from North Carolina,” she said, as if that were explanation enough. “I mean, I moved away when I was six, but one of the things I remember most about my time there was the fried apples so many of the women seemed to prepare for breakfast."

Duff leaned back in his chair, amused as Bo set about making their guest comfortable.

After finishing the apples and spooning them out, Bo added bacon, biscuits, and sausage and then set the plate before Lily. “What do you want to drink? Coffee? Orange juice? Some milk, maybe?"

Lily, who had never been shy about asking for what she wanted, nodded. “I'd like all three, if you don't mind."

"Don't mind at all."

With her order filled, Lily ate with gusto. As she did, her gaze trailed the length of Duff's body, infuriating him even while Bo pretended not to notice.

Figuring he'd been a gracious host long enough, Duff launched into his questions. “What are you doing here, Lily? Who are you running from? What made you think you could stay here?” He grinned wickedly when she coughed up a little of her milk.

"Duff,” Bo mumbled, reaching across the table to touch his lover's hand. “At least allow her to finish her food."

"No, no. I'll answer.” Lily wiped her mouth and glared at Duff. “You're still sore at me, Duff, and I can't say I'm surprised—"

"Why would my feelings have anything to do with why you've come back?” he retorted. “You never cared before. You have to be the most selfish person I've ever met, and I don't expect that'll change, especially at your
advanced
age."

Bo gasped.

Lily set down her fork. “I guess I deserve that, though I had no idea thirty-seven is considered old these days."

"It is for a woman in your profession,” Duff said. “You're a little long in the tooth to be selling your wares, Lily. I don't care how well those wares appear to be holding up."

"You're thirty-seven?” Bo asked. “Really? You look like maybe—maybe twenty-eight. You're older than me?"

"I've always looked younger—"

"And she's used it to her advantage. Haven't you, Lily?"

"That's right, Duff. I've used that and anything else I could to survive, and you know it!” She slammed her fist on the table and leaned in close until they were eye to eye. “But it was never that way with you."

"At least you didn't come right out and charge me. I almost wish you had, sweetheart. Maybe it wouldn't have stung so much if I'd treated you like the whore you are."

"Duff!” Bo thundered. “That's enough!"

"I think he's just getting started, Bo,” Lily murmured, turning a sad smile on him. “And I'm not going to sit here and pretend I don't deserve it. This conversation was a long time in coming, I guess."

"You're damn right. You're damn fucking right!” Duff yelled. “But you know what? I don't need to know it—whatever it is. You'll never change. You'll always be a broke-down vagabond with no home of your own and no respect for yourself. Other than that tight body of yours, you're worthless. And that'll go too. What will you do when that happens, Lily? When you can no longer find stupid, lonely men to take you in, what will you do?"

Duff half expected Lily to storm out of the kitchen after that blazing insult; Bo certainly would have. That or smack him across his face.

She merely squared her shoulders and leveled him with a look so sexy it was obscene. “Everything you said is true, and I know saying it made you feel better. But will you stop insulting me long enough to admit there was something good between us once? Something real?"

Duff ran a hand over his buzz-cut head and averted his eyes. He felt nauseated, his stomach battling to hold on to that morning's breakfast. “I'll admit I was a fool to ever think you could change.
That
I'll admit. But I'm not gonna allow you to keep changing the subject, woman. What's got you so jumpy that you had to crawl back here with your tail tucked between your legs?"

Lily's voice dipped to a whisper. “It was Shane Doherty, but you already knew that. We had some trouble—hell, the whole relationship was trouble. After he started beating me, I knew I had to get away or be killed."

Duff laughed, a long, deep belly laugh not without humor. Well, of course it was Shane Doherty! Who else would it have been? Lily had run off with that drunken loser, and the whole town knew it. “I wish I could say I'm surprised, hon, but I can't."

"Nor am I. I knew who I was dealing with when I left with him."

"And you still went. Why?"

Duff enjoyed watching her squirm. First she looked at Bo, who had clammed up during the proceedings. Eventually her gaze flittered down to her trembling hands, but she remained mute.

Duff reached over and gripped her wrist. “Answer me. Why did you run off with him?"

She exhaled a long, hard breath. “Because I wasn't good enough for you, Duff. Isn't that what you want to hear? Never have been, never will be!” Her eyes glittered with tears. “What's a woman like me to do with a good man, huh? I couldn't stand it, I guess, you being so kind and thoughtful and patient. You...loved me, and I wasn't used to that. But I was used to men like Shane. I know it doesn't make any sense, but I couldn't go on with you, the way you looked at me like—like I was something special."

Duff couldn't bring himself to look at her. He stared across the table at Bo's pallid face, keeping Lily in his periphery.

He hated knowing Doherty had abused her, and for a second, he wouldn't have minded choking the life out of—Who was he kidding? That was bitterness talking. There was no way in hell he'd ever have laid a finger on her no matter how badly she'd behaved. Even thinking about what she'd gone through boiled his blood, despite their rocky history.

He just didn't understand why it still hurt so badly. He'd started a new life with Bo, and he was damned happy. But she still had the ability to make him crazy.

That realization was enough to make Duff uneasy. He was still weak for this woman, and that could spell problems for him and his happy home if he didn't act quickly. The last time he'd allowed her into his life, she'd nearly destroyed him, and as horrible as that had been, he had way too much to lose now.

"I'll call Tim Watson to tow your vehicle. Maybe he and his son can fix it, get it started for you. I'll pay for it. But after that's taken care of, Lily, I want you gone—out of our lives for good, all right?"

She wiped her eyes.

Bo stared at the floor.

"Thank you, both of you,” she whispered. “I appreciate it."

[Back to Table of Contents]

After retreating to the guest bedroom, Lily reclined on the firm bed and gazed up at the ceiling. She'd once slept in this very room after leaving a bar with Duff the night she met him. She'd sized him up from across the room and watched him sip his beer while trying not to stare at her too much. Lily knew she'd go home with him that evening, but instead of a direct come-on, she'd played the only other card she had in her deck.

Pity was her ace of spades.

She'd never had a problem starting a conversation with the good ole boys she ran across. Duff McKay had been no different, at least in that regard.

After a few minutes of polite chitchat, she claimed the empty stool beside him. “I been staying at the motel a few doors down."

"Why would you be staying there?” He arched his brow. “That fleabag isn't—Well, it's just not the sort of place I'd imagine you being comfortable."

"It's not so bad, especially when you have nowhere else to go,” she answered honestly. “When you've traveled as much as I have, most any warm bed will do. Except it gets expensive after a while. I haven't found a job yet, and I don't know how long I'll be able to make it."

"Hmm.” He ran a callused finger along the lip of his bottle. “You're alone? Where's your family?"

She bristled, withdrawing a little. She disliked talking about her background, but her isolation was usually what made men pity her. She roped them with her beauty and reeled them in with her tale of woe. The more she backed off, the more they pressed.

He was obviously interested.

"Look, I'm sorry if I—"

"Nonsense, it's just that I really am alone in the world, and whenever I think about that, it makes life that much harder.” Chugging from her own bottle, Lily almost laughed at his expression. A mixture of pity and interest settled over him, his jaw clenching the longer they talked. “My parents died a long time ago, and I went to live with my aunt and uncle. Then when I was sixteen, my uncle died and my aunt ran me off. I haven't seen her in years, and I don't much want to."

Duff set down his bottle, a conspiratorial glint in his eyes. “If you want, I mean, if you'd like to, you can always stay with me until you get on your feet."

Lily exhaled a long, hard breath, her heart ricocheting inside her chest. Who was she to turn down a handsome man and a warm bed? She liked the way he looked at her, like she was a real person instead of a late-night trick. He seemed genuinely interested in her story, concerned about her plight, and she couldn't remember the last time that had happened.