The Last Riders - First Four Votes (80 page)

“The new dresses?”

“I don’t know. I just guess… I don’t know. The color is I—”

“Do you feel sad?”

“Yes, but not like depressed sad, like someone died,” Lily tried to explain the deep feeling of loss she had felt the last week or so.

Shade nodded his head, catching her eyes with his. “Who do you feel like you lost, Lily?”

“Beth.” A lone tear slid down her cheek.

“Anyone else?”

“Razer.” Another tear joined the first.

“Who else, Lily?”

Lily remained quiet.

“Who else, Lily?” Shade’s voice became firmer.

“You,” her voice was a whisper.

“Why do you think you lost me?”

“I don’t know. You were my friend, then I saw you with Evie and Rider and I know that...” Lily took a shuddering breath, “I don’t know you.”

His thumb traced over her high cheekbone. “You know me, and you sure as fuck haven’t lost me, even though I know you want to. Go take a shower then change into your workout clothes. I’ll lay them out for you while you’re in the shower. I’ll meet you in the gym.”

“Okay.” Lily gratefully moved away, relieved his questions were over.

She closed the bathroom door behind her, leaning back against it. She would get through the day and talk to Beth tonight. She would convince her sister that she could go back to school. She couldn’t stay at the clubhouse, and she was not about to stay another night in Shade’s room. Whoever it was out there who wanted to hurt her wasn’t as frightening as the man on the other side of that door.

S
hade was waiting
for her on the mat.

“Ready?”

“Yes,” Lily replied.

“Today, I just want you to stretch then work on your weight training.”

“Okay.” Lily warmed up then moved over to the weights.

Shade handed her some weights. “From now on, when you feel uncomfortable trying something or you get scared, I want you to say a word that lets me know you’re getting scared and want me to stop.”

“All right. What’s the word?”

“You make one up. That way you’ll remember it better.”

“Blueberries.”

“Blueberries?”

“Yeah, I like blueberries. Even saying it makes me happy.” She smiled at him.

“Christ.” Shade returned to work on his own weights.

“What’s wrong with blueberries?” Lily asked curiously.

“Nothing,” Shade stated, his jaw clenched.

“Then why are you frowning?”

“I don’t know. Most women would pick a color or an object, not a fruit.”

Lily continued lifting her weights. “I can pick a color. I like pink.”

“Lily, blueberries is fine,” he snapped.

“Why are you getting angry?”

“I’m not getting mad, you’re just distracting me.”

“Oh.” Lily lifted the weight again. “I like baby blue.”

Shade stopped and glared at her. “If you don’t quit bugging me, you’re going to be using your safe word in the next sixty seconds.”

Lily shut up.

By the time they finished, she was tired and needed another shower.

“You finish up while I get showered and changed,” Shade told her.

Shade left and Lily did some more stretches, cooling down. It didn’t take Shade long to return, dressed in faded jeans, boots and a black t-shirt. His dark hair was still wet.

“Get showered. I laid out another outfit for you.”

Lily ignored his last words, going to his room. The sooner Beth showed up, the better.

She went into the bedroom, seeing a pale blue dress lying on the bed with her flat shoes beside it.

Lily showered before dressing. She was brushing her hair when Shade came back into the room.

“Dinner’s ready,” Shade said. “Let’s go.”

“We’re going out to eat?” Lily asked hopefully. She could get him to drop her off at her house afterwards, surely he wouldn’t mind leaving her with Beth there.

“No. We’re eating upstairs like everyone else.”

“But I’m not allowed upstairs,” Lily argued, trying to pull away as Shade took her hand, leading her to the steps.

Shade stopped and looked down at her. “If you’re going to get used to living here, that means you get used to going upstairs. You don’t want to stay down here all the time, do you?”

“No, but I don’t want to go up there, either,” Lily insisted.

“Come on.” Lily tried to pull away again, her hand going to the rubber band on her wrist.

“Remember our deal,” Shade warned.

“I already told you, I don’t want to go up there.”

“Lily, the club isn’t going to hide itself from you anymore. That cat’s already out of the bag. At first, you’ll be uncomfortable, but then you’ll become familiar with how things work around here.”

As Shade pulled her up the steps, Lily was afraid to attempt to yank herself away, not wanting to fall. Coming to the head of the stairs, he opened the door to the kitchen, which was full of The Last Rider members. Lily tried to hold back, yet Shade pushed her forward into the big room.

Evie, Jewell and Raci watched in amusement as Lily was then tugged forward to get in the food line.

“Hello,” Lily greeted them.

“Hi,” they greeted her in return.

Shade pushed her forward when the line moved and she stayed still. Lily gave him a frustrated look.

“I’m hungry. Unlike you, I haven’t eaten.”

“I’m sorry,” Lily said, stricken with guilt that she was being difficult while he just wanted to eat.

“I was joking, Lily. You take everything literally.”

Lily lowered her head, her feelings hurt.

Shade’s hand wrapped around the back of her neck, using his thumb to raise her head to meet his eyes. “You look very pretty in that shade of blue.”

“Are you trying to patronize me?”

“A little,” he admitted.

Lily laughed, shaking her head at him.

Taking a plate, she grabbed a few things that she thought looked good despite not having much of an appetite. Shade, on the other hand, filled his plate with much larger servings. Then they sat down at a table with Evie, Rider, Train and Bliss.

Lily kept her eyes on her plate, not able to meet Rider and Train’s amused gazes.

“Have you given Killyama her ride yet?” Lily asked Rider when she couldn’t take it anymore.

Rider’s amused expression disappeared. “Not yet. I’ve been busy.”

“Pussy,” Train goaded.

Rider’s hand clenched on his fork. “That woman probably expects me to ride bitch,” Rider made excuses for himself.

“If the panties fit, wear them,” Train said, dodging the fork that Rider threw across the table.

“I like Killyama,” Lily said, cutting into her pork roast. Silence was her only response. “She saved my life, and I heard Star’s mother had to have plastic surgery after she got in a fight with her. I can see where she might be too much for you,” Lily said, thinking the laid-back man wouldn’t have anything in common with the more serious Killyama.

Everyone at the table burst into laughter.

Rider turned to Shade. “Set it up,” he ordered, all humor gone.

“Will do,” Shade replied, keeping a straight face.

“Make sure you take protection,” Train goaded.

“Which one are you talking about? Condoms or my gun?” Rider asked.

“Both,” Train said truthfully.

Lily threw Train a reproving look. “I think you should volunteer to give Crazy Bitch a ride, Train. I think you two would have a lot in common.”

Evie put her hand on her mouth while Bliss, sitting next to her, asked, “Is she serious?”

“I think so,” Evie said, getting to her feet before she broke down into laughter, taking the dirty dishes with her.

Lily got up, taking hers, and Shade followed her into the kitchen. She started to do the dishes, but Shade took her hand.

“It’s Raci and Train’s week. We take turns.” Lily followed him nervously into the other room where everyone was sitting around, talking.

“I thought Beth would have been here by now,” Lily stated, noticing Train and Cash were pouring drinks at the bar.

“Beth won’t be here tonight. Mrs. Langley had surgery to remove her gall bladder and she’s staying with her at the hospital,” Evie said, taking a seat across from her.

Lily looked at Shade sharply before her eyes went back to the bar where several members were going back and forth, taking beers.

“But I need to talk to her.”

“I’m sure you do, but it’s not going to make a difference.” Shade replied.

Lily’s hand went to her wrist as Viper and Winter came in through the front door. A breath of relief left Lily. Winter would drive her back to college or drop her off at her house.

Viper stopped at the bar long enough to take a beer and the couple came to sit down on the couch, forcing Lily to slide closer to Shade.

Winter sat next to Lily. “I’m relieved to see you up. How’s it going?” Winter asked.

“Fine,” Lily said, not letting her eyes go to the beer bottle in Viper’s hand. “Do you think you could give me a ride back to my house? I really need to get back to school.”

“You’re going to be staying here. Didn’t Shade tell you?”

“He mentioned it, but—”

“Did he tell you why?” Viper asked, looking at Shade.

“Yes, he did. Someone tried to hit me with a car then break in my house, but at school, I’ll be perfectly safe.”

“Lily, when Cash followed the prints to who tried to break into your house, they led to the house behind yours. Someone’s been watching you for some time.”

“That house belongs to a couple who vacation here a couple of times a year. It’s usually empty,” Lily explained.

“Knox traced the ownership of the house to a corporation and that’s as far as he can get. Cash said that whoever has been staying there is watching your house. There were video cameras, Lily.”

Lily felt frightened that someone would invade their privacy to that extent.

Winter took her hand. “That’s not all.”

“Your dorm room had listening devices planted there. There’s really no safe place for you to stay other than here, for now. Cash and Knox are both trying to find out who could be doing this, but until they do, you have to be patient. At your home, you would inevitably be alone, but what if Beth or Razer’s presence didn’t deter them? You don’t want them hurt because you didn’t take our help, do you?” Viper’s harsh words had her shaking her head in denial.

“Of course not.”

“Good, then everything is settled.” Lily was glad Winter was relieved. She just wished she could say the same thing.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t listen to reason. I’m sure Beth will be relieved, too. She doesn’t want you unhappy, but she wants you safe,” Viper told her.

“I know.” Lily didn’t know what else to do or say. She really didn’t want to stay here. They were obviously used to living a lifestyle that she didn’t fit into; however, it was the only option she had available right then.

Viper took another drink of his beer and someone turned the music up louder. Winter and Evie started talking about Mrs. Langley while Lily half-listened as her eyes wandered the room, which had several sitting areas. The members had spread out throughout the large room.

Her gaze caught on Bliss sitting with Cash. She had leaned forward and her top had fallen open at her breasts. Cash’s hands had come out, tracing the outline of a tattoo that Lily couldn’t see.

She hastily turned her gaze away, joining into the conversation with Evie and Winter. She felt Shade get up then return. He handed her a bottled water while she saw he had a beer in his hand.

Lily ran her hand nervously through her hair. She desperately wanted to snap her rubber band, yet she didn’t want him asking why in front of the others.

She noticed then Cash and Bliss walking up the steps to the upper floor.

Winter leaned sideways, breaking off her conversation with Evie. “The members will watch how they behave around you for a while, but eventually you’ll walk into an embarrassing situation. Just do what I do: leave the room.” Winter’s face was blood red as she talked, letting Lily know she was as uncomfortable as Lily was discussing the topic.

“At least she did the first few times,” Viper corrected her, cutting into the conversation.

Winter threw Viper a dirty look.

“Bring it on, pretty girl,” Viper warned.

Winter’s face went an even darker shade of red.

Evie got up. “Anyone want another beer?”

“I’ll take one,” Viper spoke up.

Lily started fiddling with the rubber band around her wrist.

“Sorry, Lily. The men might refrain from acting inappropriate around you, but there’s no way to keep them from their alcohol.” Winter said.

Lily couldn’t help it; she burst out laughing. “I guess beer outranks sex.”

They laughed in return and Lily began to get as comfortable as she could, which wasn’t much, but it was a start. When none of the men drank excessively or acted out of control, Lily had the feeling they were trying to accumulate her slowly. She didn’t know whether to be charmed or angry at their behavior.

Evie sank back down in her chair, taking a long swallow of her own beer.

“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.” Lily’s face went pale at Evie’s suggestion of her taking a drink. “I was only joking,” Evie said in apology.

Shade’s hand went to her face. “Stop it, Lily. No one expects you to drink. Okay? Evie was only joking like she would with anyone else.”

Lily nodded her head. Would she never be able to act normal? Lily didn’t feel like she fit in anywhere.

“I think living here for a while might be good for me.” Lily always tried to look on the bright side of things. “I need to get used to being around different people. This will make me quit being sensitive about people drinking around me. I wonder if cowboys drink a lot.” Lily looked at Evie this time, being the one to make a joke.

“Like a fish,” she answered.