“Are you all right?” Shade asked, looking across the table at her with a frown.

“Yes, I must have eaten something that gave me indigestion,” Lily said, getting up from the table.

“Yeah, I feel a little nauseous myself,” Winter commented with a warning look at Bliss, sitting across from her.

“You’re probably stressed out, worrying about coming up with the money for the computers. Let me know how much they cost and I’ll write you a check for two of them. I wish I could do more,” Lily said, not looking at the people sitting at the table.

“I’ll ask Lucky. If he doesn’t, then I’ll pay for them,” Viper conceded, taking Lily’s hand as she reached for his plate. “We’ll take care of it. Keep your money, Lily.” Lily gave his hand a squeeze before letting it go and picking up his plate then Winter’s.

“Okay, but if you decide you need it, let me know. I’m going to bed. I’m tired tonight. Goodnight, everyone.” Lily left everyone sitting at the table, carrying the dirty dishes to the sink.

Jewell was rinsing and stacking the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. Lily quietly helped her finish the dishes until Nickel showed up to help.

Wishing them goodnight, Lily went downstairs to Shade’s bedroom where she carried her pajamas to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and then took her time blow-drying her hair.

For once, she was glad she was downstairs as the wind howled from outside. She hated storms. She had noticed the storm was moving closer when she had been upstairs. The rain was beginning, and from the sounds of rumbling coming through the house, there was thunder starting.

She turned off the blow dryer and then went to the bedroom door where she paused at seeing Shade removing his t-shirt, having already taken his boots off.

Lily started to go to the corner.

“Bed, Lily.”

“But—”

“You agreed when you chose your punishment last night,” Shade reminded her.

“I thought that was just for last night,” she protested.

“No. Go to bed. I’m going to take a shower.”

Lily was feeling too tired to argue tonight. She climbed into the bed and attempted not to play back the image of the expression on Bliss’s face when she thought she wasn’t looking.

Bliss was a very attractive woman with a sexuality that even she couldn’t help noticing. The men’s eyes were constantly on her and she wasn’t shy about returning their gaze.

Lily did what she always did; she locked it away where it wouldn’t bother her anymore, moving her mind toward the fantasy of traveling the many places she wanted to explore instead. Gradually, she fell asleep to the sound of the water from Shade’s shower.

Lily awoke later, surrounded in warmth with the blankets pulled snugly around her. She could hear the wind howling, sounding like screams in the night. Her eyes lifted open to complete darkness and she jerked straight up in the bed, screaming in terror.

“Lily.” She heard Shade’s voice next to her in the darkness. “The power went off. The generator will kick on in a minute. Just take a deep breath with me and let’s count.”

She couldn’t concentrate enough to count; the door was trying to open.

“Lily! Concentrate. Count with me. One… two… three…”

“Four… five...” Lily focused on the sound of Shade’s reassuring voice as she counted. She took a sobbing breath and resumed counting. “Six… seven…”

As the lights flickered briefly then came on, she turned to Shade, who was also sitting up, and lay her head on his shoulder, crying in relief.

“I have you, Sweetheart. Shh… I have you.”

The rocking motions of his body soothed her as her arms circled his neck and she burrowed closer to him, trying to get warm. She was always so cold. So cold.

Fine tremors shook her body while his firm hand stroked her back as he continued to rock her with his soothing words, repeating over and over that it was a storm. She gradually relaxed, exhausted, lying limply against him and falling back asleep.

A man stronger than the shadows of her memories had held her demons at bay.

Chapter 20

Lily woke the next day, feeling like she hadn’t slept. She glanced over at the clock, realizing it was going to be a rush getting ready for church. As she started to slide out of bed, she noticed Shade was lying on his stomach, where she could see his bare back covered in a large tattoo.

In the middle of his back was the Navy Seal emblem with a large snake coiled around it from top to bottom with the head actually appearing as if it was about to strike. At the base of the tattoo were two revolvers that had a chain wrapped around both barrels. To the side and higher up was a pair of brass knuckles. Lily also saw a hand of cards and a long-handled razor. The entire tattoo had a shaded appearance.

While the tats on the rest of his body were clustered together, he only had that single large one on his back. Lily had a sense of its importance to him.

Pulling her attention away from the tattoo, she got off the bed, rushing around the room to get ready for church. Sliding on a navy dress and flats, she brushed her hair, ready to leave.

“Ride in with Evie and Winter.” Shade didn’t rise, merely rolled over in the bed with his arm over his eyes.

It was then that Lily realized that not only had the overhead light been on but the two lamps on each bedside table and the bathroom light. She took the time to turn off the lights before leaving the room.

Pulling out her phone on the way upstairs, Lily saw that Evie had texted her that they were in the car with Bliss, Jewell and Raci all waiting for her. She rushed out and climbed into the backseat next to Bliss.

“The storm was terrible last night,” Evie remarked as she turned onto the road. Lily thought she must have slept through the storm.

“I didn’t notice,” Bliss said. “Train and Cash kept me too busy.” Lily saw Evie throw Bliss a warning glance in the rearview mirror.

The car grew uncomfortably quiet. When Winter looked over her shoulder at her, Lily turned to look out the window as they drove down the mountain. Gradually, conversation resumed with Raci breaking the silence, discussing the Halloween party for next week.

Lily tuned out the discussion, trying to remember back to the night before. Her head started aching, and she wished she had thought to put some ibuprofen in her purse.

The church was already filled when they walked through the door. Looking around, Lily saw Beth and Razer had saved her a spot next to them, so she slid onto their bench.

Beth searched her face, reaching for her hand. Lily—forgetting her resentments for a while—held her hand throughout the service, listening as Pastor Dean presented an eloquent sermon on giving to the community. He ended the service and went to the doorway as usual.

As everyone filed out the doors, Willa was in front of Lily, and she was glad to have the opportunity to speak with her.

“Thank you for the cupcakes yesterday.”

Willa smiled back as the line moved forward. “I enjoy baking.”

“Obviously,” Georgia said from behind Beth, making no effort to lower her voice.

Lily rushed to talk so that Willa wouldn’t overhear the rude woman, but she didn’t need to worry as the sound of several motorcycles coming from outside was loud.