“I’ll get the glass out and get it cleaned up, and then the sting will stop.”

“Beth is a nurse; she can do it, Shade. I want Beth,” Lily replied stubbornly, refusing his help. Shade knew she was reacting to being in the close confinement of the room with him.

“I’m sure you do. Do you think Beth can pull out that glass with you crying and acting like a baby?” he said, hoping her anger would arouse her fighting instincts.

While Lily stiffened, Shade could see her trying to gather her composure as her eyes tried to sneak a peek at her still-oozing injury.

“Eyes on me,” Shade snapped again, wetting paper towels and gently picking out the fine shards of glass.

He could instantly feel her gaze on his face. She hadn’t argued against his commands, even though he had been a bit harsh. The same nearness of the restroom, which was unnerving her, was straining his control.

As he finished her hand, he heard a knock on the door and Razer telling him he had a first-aid kit. When he opened the door, a silent message passed between the two men before the door closed once more.

Shade opened the box, finding sterile gauze for cleaning her knees. One particular shard had become imbedded there, so he took great care in removing it; however, Lily’s dress had ridden up her silky thighs, rattling his concentration. Shade’s hands shook as he finished cleaning her knees, wiping them with an antiseptic and starting to wrap them with bandages. He felt her tremble as his hands touched the soft skin behind her knees, trying to clench her thighs together.

“Open your legs. I need to wrap your other knee.”

He felt her legs open a scant amount so he wrapped it softly, stroking the sensitive flesh behind her knee. When she would have pulled away, Shade rose to his feet, letting his hand slide across the top of her thighs with a delicate touch the innocent girl would think was accidental.

Taking her hand, he applied the antiseptic to it then wrapped it, taking his time once more, enjoying her eyes watching his every move. Unable to prolong the inevitable any longer, he took a step away.

“You’re done.”

Her eyes immediately broke from him, and she practically ran from the restroom.

Shade picked up the first-aid kit, meticulously replacing the items he had taken out. Going to the sink basin, he washed his hands and sprayed cold water on his face, wondering how much longer he could resist reaching out and taking what he was determined would be his.

The glass had been swept up by the time Lily reentered the room with wild eyes. Shade watched from the bathroom as she immediately went to Beth. Her sister rubbed her back, easing her tension until Lily calmed and sat on a chair to begin organizing the papers The Last Riders were picking up.

Shade’s eyes remained on Lily when he came back into the room. He started gathering the papers while taking in Lily ignoring him. He didn’t like being ignored by her. She hadn’t even bothered to thank him before running out of the room, either. He could still feel her soft skin under his fingertips.

Shade was unaware the brothers had formed a circle around him until he looked up and saw himself surrounded.

Evie, Dawn, Jewell, and Raci arrived then, lessening the tension in the room. All of them brushed aside Diamond’s protests and began organizing her paperwork. Holly put them back in the cabinets when each folder was completed.

What would have taken a week to reorganize took just one afternoon with everyone’s help.

“Damn, any idea who did this?” Evie asked, handing Diamond the last sheath of papers.

“No, but I think it involved Knox’s case. It’s too much of a coincidence with the search warrant for the jewelry and now this. Someone wants me to stop.”

“I agree; they’re escalating. This is becoming more dangerous than I anticipated. I don’t want you going anywhere without back-up, Diamond,” Viper ordered.

“I’ll be careful, Viper,” Diamond said.

“You better be,” Knox stated sternly.

Evie and the other women paused at Knox’s words, looking stunned while Diamond turned away and busied herself by putting the rest of the folders back in the cabinet.

“We’re done here. Holly can replace the sofa for me Monday. Thanks, everyone. It would have taken several days for us straighten this mess out,” Diamond said gratefully.

“No problem. We’re glad we could help,” Winter said with a smile.

She, Lily, and Beth stood.

“I’m sorry about the cuts, Lily,” Diamond apologized.

“I shouldn’t have overreacted; it was just a few scratches. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Lily shook off her apology with a smile.

Beth took her hand, leading her out of the office while Razer and Shade followed.

“I left my SUV at the diner,” Beth said as they stepped outside.

“You two stay here with Razer. Give me your keys, and I’ll go get it.” Shade held his hand out for the keys.

“I can walk,” Lily protested but snapped her mouth closed at his cold glance, taking a step closer to Beth.

Beth handed the keys to Shade.

“You can walk with Shade and get your bike, Razer. I’ll stay here with Lily until Shade brings my car.”

Razer and Shade both shook their heads.

“An office in this building was just broken into a few hours ago, and they haven’t been caught; it’s not safe to leave you alone. I’ll be right back.” Shade strode away, taking deep breaths, easily identifying Lily’s perfume in the air.

Being confined in the small space for hours had gotten to him. He had seen her darting, fearful glances whenever any of the brothers had come too close, especially him. He had hoped, with the few times she had been around him, she would begin to feel safe. Instead, he was seeing the same fear in her eyes as when she had first seen him at the lake. She just managed to hide it better.

He opened the door to Beth’s vehicle and climbed in. Then he put it in reverse to pull out, and as he did, he saw a blue ribbon which must have fallen out of Lily’s hair. He straightened the wheels and put the car in drive before his hand went to the seat, picking up the silky ribbon and touching it to the side of his face. He wished it was her fingers on him, instead. He slid the ribbon into his jean’s pocket before pulling out onto the road, driving to Diamond’s office where he stopped the SUV in front of them, getting out to hold the passenger door open for Lily as she said her goodbyes to Razer.

Beth kissed her husband before getting behind the steering wheel.

Lily hesitated before climbing in, giving him a shy smile. “Thanks, Shade. I’m sorry I was such a baby.”

Shade had to swallow the lump in his throat, glad his sunglasses hid his eyes. He managed a brief nod before closing the door. As he stepped back, Razer came to stand next to him.

“Do you ever wish you hadn’t seen her that day?” Razer asked softly.

The first day he had seen Lily was the first day he had actually felt alive. Before then, he had merely existed; there were no highs or lows, no thinking about her constantly—if she was all right or if she was ever going to care about him. All the emotional bullshit he had suffered through would never have happened. Her purple eyes, smile, and gentle beauty filled his mind.

“Not once.”

Chapter 31