Forever His Baby

By Morgana Phoenix

Two brothers. One impossible choice.

From the moment her suspicions are confirmed, Lily knows she’s screwed. What the hell is a nineteen year old with no future going to do with a baby? She can barely take care of herself. She needs help.

In walks Sloan McClain, the only man Lily has ever truly wanted — and the brother of the boy whose baby she’s carrying. While Lily expects a great number of outcomes when she tells Sloan her news, him proposing marriage and asking her to keep the baby is not one of them, especially not when she has every intention of giving the baby a better future by giving it the home she can’t.

Having spent the majority of his life protecting his brother from the bone-breaking fists of their father, Sloan is no stranger to hardship, loss and abandonment. He has learned long ago never to rely on anyone to take care of what was his, and that baby is his. He isn’t about to let Lily give away his family, nor can he allow that child to destroy the future he has built for Cole. His only option: marry the mother and claim the baby as his.

But no secret ever stays hidden forever.

Forever His Baby ©2014 by Airicka Phoenix

www.AirickaPhoenix.com

All rights reserved.

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of the copyright owner and/or the publisher of this book, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Your insomnia awaits your submission.

Editor: Kathy Eccleston

Beta Readers: Jaime Radalyac & Krystal Marlein

Illustrator: Airicka’s Mystical Creations

Interior Design & Formatting: Airicka Phoenix

ISBN-13: 978-1505682021

ISBN-10: 1505682029

Published by Airicka Phoenix

Also available in eBook and paperback publication.

As Airicka Phoenix

Games of Fire

Betraying Innocence

TOUCH SAGA

Touching Smoke

Touching Fire

Touching Eternity

THE LOST GIRL SERIES

Finding Kia

Revealing Kia

REGENERATION SERIES

When Night Falls

As Morgana Phoenix

IN THE DARK SERIES

My Soul For You

Kissing Trouble

SONS OF JUDGMENT SAGA

Octavian’s Undoing

Dedication

For those who have loved.

And those who are loved.

Acknowledgement

Wow. My last book of the year. There’s always something special about the beginning and end of every release year. Those two books, no matter how many more you put out throughout the year, those two will always be remembered because what happens in between one book and the next could be the turning point. For me, this year, was an impossible move that we’re still grappling to recover from. It was changing everything and trying like crazy to adjust. But in all that, I can tell you Touching Fire came out in the beginning of 2014 and Forever His Baby came out last and despite everything that happened in between, that is the one thing that hasn’t changed. I am still writing. I am still loving it. And I am still here.

But every good author, good person will tell you that no matter how hard the road was, there is always people who have walked it with you, who held your hand and forced you to take the next step. For me, those people are not limited to the names on this list. They would need a whole book in their own. This is just the beginning.

Amber, nope, I am definitely not simple. I am a royal pain. I am always changing my mind, always nitpicking, always pushing to do more, and you indulge me. You support every decision no matter how crazy. You work effortlessly be the friend and PA every girl needs.

Kimmie, we haven’t talked in a while, but this acknowledgement wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t include just how much I miss you and love you. Please come back soon.

Krystal & Jaime, I’m one lucky girl to have two such dedicated, thoughtful and beautiful beta readers. You ladies never fail to humble me with your awesomeness.

My Street Team, there was a girl who had a dream. That dream was to write and put her books out to the world. That dream was made possible by an incredible few who stood by the girl and supported her through every rise and fall. I am thankful every day to be so fortunate to have you all in my life.

My Readers, how does one express their gratitude for having readers who unfailingly stand by them through every moment of their journey? It hasn’t been easy. A lot has happened and yet, every time I need it most, there you are, eagerly welcoming me back into the loving folds of your friendship and support. Thank you for never giving up on me.

Love you all!

~Airicka

Chapter One ~ Lily

There was something almost morbid about getting bad news on a bright, sunny afternoon. Something earth shattering and life changing deserved rolling thunderclouds and the occasional boom of thunder. Instead, Lily was forced to watch specks of dust twinkle like fairy dust floating through planks of buttery sunlight while her entire world crumbled around her.

“Are you sure?”

Across from her, small and wrinkled like all the liquid had been sucked out of him, Dr. Phillips glanced at his notes for the hundredth time and Lily knew, even before he adjusted his coke-bottle glasses and raised his watery eyes to her face, what he was going to say.

“We can take another test, but … the results won’t change, Lily.”

Of course it wouldn’t. Why would it when it hadn’t the last five times she’d made him redo it? It wasn’t his fault the test kept reading the same thing.

“Do you want me to call someone?” he asked kindly.

The knuckles on her fingers were bloodless, the bones jutting against the skin. She stared at her hands, resting small and helpless in her lap. She shook her head.

“Thank you.”

The paper on the examination table crackled as she slid to her trembling feet. Dr. Phillips stretched out a hand when she swayed. But Lily was pushing away, moving to the chair next to the door and her purse.

“Lily?” Dr. Phillips observed her with those sympathetic eyes, the same eyes she had known her entire life. “There are … options, nowadays. I can—”

“No!” She softened her tone. “It’s fine. I’ll be fine. Thank you.”

The lie was to comfort him and the thin lines pulling around his mouth. There was no comfort for her.

Georgia May Hadley smiled up at Lily from the reception’s desk. Her bright red lipstick an ugly gash against an otherwise flawless complexion. Her cascading mane of chestnut brown hair tumbled in shiny waves around her shoulders. She flung back a coil and the cluster of diamonds placed in the shape of an owl winked. Its emerald eyes stared over the desk at Lily, almost accusatory.

“Lily!” she cooed, propping her elbows on the table and resting her chin on her laced fingers. “I didn’t know you had an appointment today. I hope everything’s all right?”

Self-appointed town informant, Georgia May made it her business to know everyone else’s business. It was to no one’s surprise when she took the reception’s job at the doctor’s office.

“Everything’s fine,” Lily muttered. “Thank you.”

She swung her purse strap over her shoulder and headed for the door just as Dr. Phillips appeared in the waiting area and handed Lily’s file to Georgia May. The two exchanged words and the file was set on top of a small pile of others. Dr. Phillips caught Lily watching and gave her a wave before ducking back into his office and shutting the door. Lily left before Georgia May could lure her into conversation.

On the sidewalk, Lily dusted a hand over the light fabric of her summer dress. Her finger caught in the tiny hole in the seam just over her hip and Lily sighed. She had been meaning to mend it. It had been one of the things on her very long to-do list. But it didn’t seem as important anymore in the light of her much bigger problem—she had to tell Sloan she was expecting his brother’s baby.

Cole’s baby.

An overpowering wave of panic and dread rushed over her and she had to lock her kneecaps to keep from sinking to the stubbornly kept sidewalk. Waves of heat and cold surged and clashed throughout her thin frame, making her feel feverish and sick. The nausea she’d been fighting back the last few mornings pushed up her throat and unwanted tears sprung to her eyes. She squeezed them shut tight and prayed not to break down now, not in the middle of town where anyone could see. But a single tear still managed to escape and trace a wet trail down her cheek. She scrubbed it away with the back of one hand and straightened. She opened her eyes and stole a quick glance around, making sure no one had seen before adjusting her purse strap and setting a straight course to the second last place she wanted to be.

McClain’s Pack N’ Go was a twenty minute walk to the very edge of town. It sat away from the dirt road, enclosed by miles of crusty, unplowed dirt where the fields hadn’t seen harvesting since the previous owners sold the place nearly six years ago. Now most of it went to waste, except for a small area around back where the four massive trucks in various sizes were parked.

It never made sense to anyone why a person would buy farming property and then turn it into a moving company, but then, unlike her, most people didn’t know the McClain brothers and their demand for privacy. No better place to get that then to stay as far away from town as possible.

The two story country style structure needed a fresh coat of paint. It was the one thing Lily had been unable to talk Sloan into doing. He claimed he didn’t have the time for it, and he didn’t trust Cole, or her, on a ladder. So the white was a dull, faded gray and the once blue shutters were a dismal dishwater color. The stone steps leading to the front door had once been green, but most of that had been chipped off by weather. Dry dirt mounds made little graves along the front of the house where no one had thought to plant anything that year. Most summers, it was Lily who dragged Cole to the hardware store and the flats of flowers she would make him haul home.

Lily loved the place. Always had. There was something homey about the worn-downness of it. She loved how the roof was just a little too crooked and how none of the shutters ever closed and how nearly every floorboard in the place creaked. It was all the little imperfections that had always made her feel at home. Maybe that was why she had made the decision to go there first. She needed somewhere to think and the McClain house had always been her escape. But that was before Cole left. Now it was just another house. And she was a trespasser.

A gnawing sensation started in the pit of her stomach that had nothing to do with disappointment at seeing the dead flowerbeds. It was cold and empty, like she had taken a sip of cold water on an empty stomach. She stared at the screen door and the dark interior on the other side, contemplating the wisdom of her decision.

This was a bad idea. She should have gone home and hidden under her bed until it was over, as ridiculous as that sounded. For one, there was no hiding from this. For another, her mother would have forced her out with a broom. It didn't matter which way she looked at it, her one careless mistake would haunt her for the rest of her life. She would never live it down, and what exactly was she supposed to tell Sloan? Hey Sloan, I know we’ve never really gotten along in the past, but do you think you could give me a ride into the city? I need to tell your brother I’m pregnant with his kid. It sounded ridiculous and humiliating all in the same breath.

Oh God, what am I going to do?

Run!  The rational voice decided.

“Lily?”

All thoughts of escape vanished in the blink of an eye and Lily was forced to face the figure rounding the side of the house and approaching her with slow, almost hesitant strides. Even from a distance, she could see the confusion and surprise knitting his brows together. He had the expression of someone not sure if they missed an important meeting, like he was trying to figure out why she was there, and Lily couldn’t blame him. She hadn’t darkened that doorstep since Cole had gone off to school.

Sloan McClain stopped at the base of the stairs and squinted up at her. He must have been around back, because he was filthy and wearing his work uniform, a tattered pair of jeans and a wife beater. There was a smudge of grease across his right cheek and there was a fine sheen of sweat glistening across his brow. The hair he kept stubbornly short was damp and shone in the late afternoon, appearing much darker than it really was. And he looked exactly as he had the very last time she’d seen him standing in that very doorway, behind Cole as she had hugged his brother goodbye before his long journey. As per usual, Sloan had said nothing to her, not even a wave as she hurried down the steps and started home.

No wonder he was confused.

In all the years she had known the McClain brothers, there wasn’t a single memory of Sloan being clean. He was always fidgeting with something smeared in black oil. His hands were always smudged with grease to the forearms and more times than not, even after a shower, he came down smelling of motor oil, soap and metal. It was hot. The man was hot. He was rugged and dangerous with eyes that penetrated the very soul and a body made to be splayed across the glossy pages of a magazine. It didn’t help that he was tattooed from wrist to shoulders on both sides. The winding ink ran across his chest and back as well. Lily could never sum up the courage to get close enough to see what the crossing images were, but there had been countless summers when he would work on the trucks … topless, and she would try her damnedest not to drool, or stare. Like she was doing now.

Sloan raised a filthy hand and cupped it over his blue eyes, shielding them from the late afternoon sun and he could peer more closely into her face. His free hand stuffed a bandana into his back pocket and then hooked onto his belt loop by a thumb.

“What are you doing here?” he asked when she continued to ogle him mutely.

The whole way to his house, Lily had had a sense of purpose propelling her, something that helped move her feet forward. But now that she was standing there, facing him, all forms of speech had abandoned her. She had no idea what to say, or how to say it. So she stood there, insides writhing like an angry hornet’s nest while the urge to burst into tears had her chewing desperately on her bottom lip, hoping the pain would redirect the prickling behind her eyes.

Don’t break down! Don’t break down! But there didn’t seem to be any helping it. She was scared out of her damn mind and all she wanted was to tell someone and have them assure her it wasn’t really happening. That it was a mistake. But there was no such person and the only person she could ever confide in was miles away. She was completely alone.

“Lily?” Sloan moved up a step, one hand going to the wrought iron railing. “What is it?”

The taste of copper filled her mouth and she realized with a start that she’d been cutting a gash in her lip. She let it go and fought hard not to look him in the eye. But with him so close, it was impossible to look anywhere else.

“I’m sorry.” The words burst out in a shaky tremor without any consent from her. “I shouldn’t have come.”

She made to duck past him and run before she embarrassed herself beyond repair and was blocked. His movement so quick that she gasped in surprise to find herself eye level with his collarbone and the faint hint of ink peeking up from the collar of his top, because even though he was still beneath her by two whole steps, he towered drastically over her.

“But you did,” he countered smoothly. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

Most people would have taken his question as signs of concern, or affection, but Lily had known him too long and knew perfectly well that Sloan couldn’t stand the sight of her. He was only asking because she was still Cole’s best friend and it was probably no more than grudging reluctance. Pity. And somehow that was more humiliating than the reason behind her being there.

“Please…” she whispered, wishing he would just let her go.

“Please what, Lily?” There was something dark and challenging behind the question, something that had her gaze darting up to his and getting caught in the stormy blue currents of his eyes.

An unwarranted shiver passed through her. Her lips parted, but no words came out.

His impressive frame shifted, pushed deeper into her personal space until she was caressed by his heat and the scent of motor oil, sweat and grass.

“Tell me.” It wasn’t a request. He wasn’t giving her an option.

“Please don’t,” she pleaded. “I can’t.”

That was the wrong thing to say. It only made his eyes narrow and his chin lift an inch in defiance. His shoulders squared and she knew she had lost. Yet, oddly enough, it didn’t bother her. A part of her was relieved.

“I’m not letting you go, Lil. Tell me, or I’ll carry you inside and make you.”

The threat sent a hot spike of desire shooting through her. Her breath caught in her throat as waves of the dirtiest images flooded through her mind of all the things he could do to make her talk. It momentarily overshadowed the dread tearing up her insides.

She moistened her lips. “I need…”

His gaze flickered to her mouth before returning safely to her eyes, several shades darker. “What, Lily?”

She sucked in a breath, held it for two whole heartbeats, then released it slowly. Focus! This was not the time to dwell on how completely alone they were and how he could easily push aside her skirt and take her right there on the front steps. That, after all, was the very thing that had gotten her in trouble in the first place.

“I need to talk to Cole,” she whispered at last.

His eyes narrowed into slits of confusion. “You have his number.”

Lily nodded. “Yes, but I need to see him. It … it’s an emergency.”

Maybe that was a little extreme, but it certainly felt like an emergency. It felt like if she didn’t get it off her chest quickly, she never would and she would suffocate under all the weight crushing her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sloan, please—”

“What’s wrong, Lily?” he demanded, leaving no room for objection.

Lily broke. A tear spilled down her cheek. Then another. Soon they were raining from her chin in a steady trickle and the truth was bursting out of her like someone had opened a can of snakes.

“I don’t know how it happened,” she blurted. “I was sick, like horribly sick for a while so I went to Dr. Phillips and he … I had no idea! I never meant for it to happen. I am so sorry!”

“Lily!” He made to reach for her. The tips of his fingers grazed her shoulders before he jerked them back, balled them into fists and let them drop. “What happened?”

She bit her lip as though that could somehow stifle the next words itching at the back of her throat. It didn’t work.

“I’m pregnant.” Her heart rocketed hard and fast against her chest. More tears spilled as fear and something else, something cold and painful ripped through her insides. It took her a moment to pinpoint the right word: guilt, like she had somehow betrayed him and that was ridiculous. “I need to see Cole. Please, Sloan. You know I wouldn’t ask, but I can’t tell him this over the phone and I need to tell him, because he’s my best friend and because … because it’s his.”

The look of utter shock would have been comical if the situation had been something else entirely. But it was doing nothing to calm her down, if anything, it only fueled the urgency coursing through her. Thankfully, it lasted for only a second before his expression became furious.

“What the hell do you mean it’s his?”

Lily tried not to frown at the question. “I mean we—”

“No!” he snapped, startling her. “I don’t want to hear this. I don’t want to know how you … with my brother!”

The accusation in his remark made her flinch.

“I didn’t know who else to go to.” She scrubbed furiously at the tears drying on her cheeks with an angry fist. “You’re the only one I trust, aside from Cole.”

There was a full second where she was certain he was about to turn her away, tell her to find someone else, that he was too busy for this bullshit. But he seemed to suck in all the air around him at once, straighten to his full six foot four and give a nod.

“Let me wash up.” He dug into his pocket and fished out the keys to his Mustang. He pushed them into her hand. “Wait for me in the car.”

Crippled with relief, Lily broke into a fresh wave of tears. “Thank you!”

He searched her face like there was more he wanted to say, but he thought better of it, gave another nod and stepped around her. Lily didn’t move until the screen door banged shut behind him.

Keys clutched in her trembling fingers, she hurried around the side of the house to where Sloan’s baby sat, tucked away from the sun beneath a makeshift carport made entirely of tarps and plywood. The black paint gleamed in the shadows. She distantly remembered sitting with Cole, watching as Sloan put the thing together from the ground up. Once in a while he’d make Cole run and grab him some tool from the garage and she would be left free to trace the hard lines of Sloan’s arms while he worked, loving how the muscles bulged and the tendons flexed beneath all that golden skin. His hair had been longer then and he’d keep it swept back with a bandana. She would always feel a flutter in her chest when he would tear it free and rake the light strands with his fingers.

It all felt so foolish now, a stupid girlish crush, but she had secretly been in love with Sloan McClain from the moment she knew what the tingling of her body meant whenever he was around. It was her sensibility that kept her from doing anything really stupid, like throw herself at him, reminding her that he was five years older than her, her best friend’s brother, and he couldn’t stand the sight of her.

“You could have gotten in.”

Sloan rounded the house and made his way towards her. He had changed into fresh jeans and a black t-shirt under a dark, zip up hoodie. His strides were long and purposeful as he stalked towards her.

Lily looked down at the keys in her hands. “You don’t like people touching your car.”

Something like the ghost of a smile fluttered across his face before it was gone and he was motioning for her to toss him the keys. She did and he caught them with the flick of his wrist. He came around to her side first and opened her door.

“What?” he said when she blinked in surprise.

Blushing, she shook her head and climbed into the warm leather. “I didn’t think men opened doors for women anymore.”

“Men do.”

He shut the door behind her.

She watched as he rounded the hood and got into the driver’s side. A ripple of heat rushed through her at how close they were, which was ridiculous considering her situation. It wasn’t like they were going on a romantic drive to Lover’s Lane.

“Does Cole know you’re coming?” he asked as they cut through town.

Lily shook her head. “I came straight from the doctor’s office.”

His fingers, still stained, but clean, drummed on the wheel. “So you’re sure.” It wasn’t a question.

“About—”

“Yes,” he cut in before she could voice the reason they were in the car, headed almost six hours out of town.

She nodded. “Dr. Phillips did the test five times.”

“How long?”

Lily shifted in her seat. “Two months roughly. He guesses the baby will be born in April.”

“April,” he mumbled. “Jesus. That’s not a lot of time.”

Despite herself, Lily chuckled. “That’s nine months. So you believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” He rubbed a hand over his face. “So you’ve decided to keep it?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.”

He nodded slowly. “Have you told your parents?”

“No.” She bit her lip and looked down at her hands knotted tight in her lap. “I don’t know what to tell them. I don’t know what to tell Cole. I just … I don’t want to be alone when I face them.” She stole a glance at him. “Does that make me a coward?”

He shook his head. “I didn’t realize you and Cole were … together, like that.”

She could see how he would get that assumption, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“We’re not,” she said. “At least not like that.” She took a deep breath, taking the moment to get the words out properly. “Back in seventh grade, we made a pact that if we were both single by the time we graduated high school and still virgins, we would be each other’s firsts. Cole didn’t want to come off awkward and clumsy when he finally found someone and I … I was curious.”

“High school ended a year ago,” he mumbled.

Lily felt the warm creep of heat crawl up the column of her throat to fill her face. She kept her gaze away from the figure next to her. “Yes…” she murmured quietly. “But Cole took last year off, remember?”

Sloan nodded.

“We didn’t talk about it again until he applied for university this year and things didn’t work out with Stacey…”

“So why couldn’t he just find a girl the normal way?”

Lily shrugged. “He could. He and Stacey were really close a few times, but he didn’t want to start his first adult steps into the world as an inexperienced virgin.”

“And you didn’t think to use protection?”

Lily gasped. “Of course we used protection!” she snapped. “We’re not stupid.”

He cast her a sidelong glance that came equipped with an arched brow.

“We used protection,” she told him hotly. “Cole stole a condom from the stash you had in your drawer.”

Sloan’s face bunched in confusion. “In my drawer? I haven’t had condoms around the house in seven years.” He caught her staring at him and his complexion darkened slightly. “I was raising a teenager. I was trying to set a good example. Whatever box you guys found was probably expired.” A look of irritation passed over his face. “What was he doing going through my drawers anyway? He’s nineteen. Why didn’t he go buy a box like a normal person?”

Lily shrugged. “I guess he figured he only needed one.”

“Just one?”

The surprise and slight disgust in his voice further darkened her cheeks. “We just wanted to get it over with. It wasn’t supposed to mean anything.”

Sloan exhaled. He didn’t say anything though and Lily let the roar of engine and grind of packed dirt beneath the wheels fill the silence around them, which was probably a good thing when the nausea returned. The unsteady rocking of the car didn’t help every time they hit a pothole, nor did the roll of scenery outside the windows. A low whine worked up her throat and she bit it back, afraid the vomit would come up right alongside the sound.

The morning sickness was the first to hit. It had been the first sign that something wasn’t right. But in no way, not in her wildest dreams had she ever considered pregnancy as a possibility behind the discomfort. The fact that she had only had sex the once and it had been protected, Lily had gone to the doctor fully confident it was no more than a bug. An hour later, her entire life had been turned upside down.

“All right?”

“Yeah.” Breathing slowly through her nose, Lily rolled her head in his direction. She rubbed her queasy stomach absently. “The nausea goes away after a minute. I usually only get them in the morning.”

“Do you want me to pull over?”

She chuckled. “I won’t hurl in your car, I promise.”

Sloan shot her a scowl. “That isn’t my concern.” His gaze swept over the road. “There’s a gas station coming up.”

She wasn’t sure what he needed at the gas station—the gas needle read full—but he was already pulling in. She watched as he climbed out and disappeared inside. Lily took that moment to get her nerves back in order. Most of the motion sickness had subsided the minute they’d stopped, but she continued to work careful breaths through her nostrils. A moment later Sloan returned with a bag in hand. He passed it to her as he climbed back into the car.

“What’s this?” she asked, prying the top open.

There were two plastic tubes, one of water and the other with orange juice. There was also an apple, several different kinds of granola, a bag of peanuts, a banana and a chocolate bar.

“I wasn’t sure what you were in the mood for,” he said as he put the car into drive. “But you should maybe drink some water.”

Lily couldn’t help laughing. “These are for me?”

Seemingly confused by her confusion, he shot her a quick glance. “You don’t want to dehydrate. It’s not good for you. Plus you said you were nauseous this morning so you must not have eaten. You probably should.”

“What?” he asked when Lily continued to stare at him, the bag still open in her lap.

While Sloan had never been an outright asshole to her, he had never been directly kind either. Their relationship had always been one of two strangers that happened to share a mutual friend, that friend being Cole. Sloan had always tolerated her the way one did a bothersome puppy their kid brother found and brought home. Growing up and knowing with all her heart she was unavoidably in love with the guy, that fact had always hurt. But she had grudgingly accepted that nothing would ever become of her feelings for Sloan and that was what had helped her move on. Him showing her this tender side of himself now when she was a wreck in every sense of the word left her feeling confused, touched, and even more riddled with guilt.

She turned her attention back to the items in her lap. “Thank you.”

With only an inclination of his head, Sloan started the car back up and they continued.

Lily drank the water, taking small sips to appease her empty and sensitive system. But she couldn’t trust herself to eat anything. Sloan didn’t seem pleased when she tucked the bag under her feet, but he didn’t push her.

“Sloan?” she murmured after a moment.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

His gaze flicked over to her, then away just as quickly. “For what?”

Lily bit her lip. “Everything?” She frowned down at her hands. “You could have turned me away.”

“I thought about it,” he murmured solemnly.

Her heart sank and she kicked herself for it. “Why didn’t you?”

There was several seconds of pause before he replied, “Because you said please.”

Surprised by his response, her gaze jerked over to him and caught the teasing shimmer in his blue eyes. She offered him a small smile. But as it always did, the gesture seemed to annoy him and he turned his head forward, like he suddenly remembered who she was and why she couldn’t be trusted.

Lily willed herself not to let the disregard hurt. Maybe it was all the pregnancy hormones everyone was always talking about, but it stung a little more than usual.

Sucking her bottom lip between her teeth and worrying it, she lay her head back against the headrest and turned to the window. Smears of green and brown flashed past as they raced down the countryside. The sun was still a brilliant, orange ball pasted against a landscape of blue. Lily tried not to concentrate on the rocking motion of the car, or the fast blur of movement outside, but instead focused on the heat of the sun warming her like a blanket as her eyes closed and she let herself drift.

The world was dark and quiet when Sloan gently shook her awake. Lily groaned as her stiff joints protested any movement. Her neck ached from being in the same position and there was a pang along her tailbone that was sending slivers of pain along her thighs. She squinted at their surroundings, at the grassy incline on the other side of the hood, barely bathed by the dim headlights of the car and the empty halos of light spilling from lampposts over asphalt. It was a parking lot of some sort. She could just make out the dark silhouette of a building and more lights in the distance.

“Are we there?” she croaked, her voice hoarse.

Sloan nodded, sitting back in his seat. “Yup.”

She reached for the water bottle she’d left in the cup holder and unscrewed the cap. Sloan pushed open his door and climbed out. Lily hurriedly rinsed her mouth and took a deep gulp before capping the bottle and setting it in the holder once more.

Sloan was waiting for her when she pushed open the door. His hand was right there, palm open, waiting for her to take it. Lily wasn’t certain she had the guts. It would be the one and only time they had ever touched in nineteen years.

She took the coward’s way out, by pretending she hadn’t noticed as she rolled out of the car and heaved herself up. If he noticed, he didn’t comment. Instead, he shut her door and guided her with a light hand on the small of her back, staying close until they had reached the safety of the sidewalk. He pulled out his phone and she saw Cole’s name on the brightly lit screen before he hit dial.

“Why are you calling him?” she wondered, still feeling gritty-eyed and rumpled from her nap.

“Because this place is enormous and I don’t want to spend the next month searching for him.” He said a split second before she heard the familiar sound of her best friend’s voice on the other end. “Hey, it’s me,” Sloan said. “Where are you?”

Lily couldn’t make out what Cole was saying, but he was talking fast.

“I’m here with Lily.”

The excitement was almost deafening as Cole responded.

“We’re…” Sloan glanced around them and squinted at a nearby sign. “West Parkade.”

Cole said something and a moment later, Sloan disconnected the call and stuffed the phone back inside his pocket.

“What happened?” she asked.

“He’s going to meet us here,” Sloan said evenly.

Lily nodded and turned to survey what was probably a beautiful sight in the daylight. In the dark, there wasn’t much she could make out. Plus, she wasn’t really sightseeing. Her mind was a jumbled mess of nerves and fears. She still had no idea what she was going to tell Cole, or how he would take it. She imagined it would turn his life upside down as it had for her. He would be scared, possibly angry. Not at her, but at the situation. Then, because she knew him like she knew herself, he would try to do the right thing. Only she had no idea what that was.

“Lily?” Sloan’s warm, soothing murmur drew her away from her spiraling thoughts to focus on him.

“I’m okay,” she lied.

He nodded slightly. “I know.” He shrugged out of his hoodie and draped it gently around her trembling shoulders. “It’s going to be okay.”

The confidence in his tone almost reassured her. She almost believed him. She wanted to believe him. But the facts were too blinding. Instead, she had a crazy urge to close the single foot between them and bury herself in his chest. She wanted to hide her face in the hollow of his throat and beg him to make it better. She wanted to feel his arms surround her, warm, strong and protective while he assured her everything would be okay. Instead, she had his hoodie and that was close enough.

The residual heat left behind by his body warmed the chill scattering goose bumps along her arms. His musky scent clung to the fabric and she had to stave off the urge to bunch the material to her nose when she drew it closer with a quiet murmur of thanks. He inclined his head in response and they went back to their silence. Lily was glad. She was too terrified to make conversation.

“Lily! Sloan!”

The sound of her name had never shot her through with such crippling dread, but in that moment, as she watched Cole’s familiar silhouette jog over to them, she wished she were back in Willow Creek. The feeling intensified when he beamed at them like nothing had ever made him happier than to see them.

Unlike Sloan who was all muscle and height, Cole was slender and just brushing a comfortable five nine. His hair was the same sandy blond as his brother’s and they shared the same blue eyes, but Cole’s face was softer, rounder, and more boyish whereas Sloan was chiseled with sharp lines and hard grooves. It was evident that Cole was still just a boy on the cusp of manhood where Sloan was all man.

Lily dragged her thoughts away from that and focused on the words tumbling rapidly from Cole’s mouth.

“Can’t believe you guys are here!” he was saying around the widest smile she’d ever seen on his face. “Why didn’t you call? I would have taken the day off my classes tomorrow and we could have—”

“We’re not staying,” Sloan interrupted. “Lily wanted to see you.”

Those brilliant blue eyes darted from his brother to her, still dancing with so much happiness it hurt to look at.

“I talked to you just last night.” He laughed. “You never said you were coming.”

“It was a last minute thing,” she whispered.

He nodded like that made sense. Then his face sobered and concern darkened his features.

“Is something wrong? You said you weren’t feeling well. Did you see the doctor? Was it not a bug?”

Lily’s mouth opened and closed half a million times and still nothing came out, except the tears. They burned the back of her eyes and she had to grit her teeth to keep from falling apart.

“Lil?” Cole took a step forward, took her shoulders. “What?”

“It wasn’t a bug,” she croaked hoarsely.

“Okay…” He shot a glance from her to Sloan and back. “What was it? Is it serious?”

A broken laugh escaped her. “Kind of.” She wet her lips, hoping that would somehow make it easier. “Cole, I’m—”

His phone chirped, making her jump. He yanked it free, hit silence, then stuffed it back into his pocket without even checking the screen.

“What?” he pressed.

Lily glanced at Sloan, wishing he would say something, but he wasn’t even looking at them. He was a little too focused on something across the empty parking lot.

“Lily!” Cole grabbed and shook her gently. “How bad is it?”

She was saved yet again by his phone.

He jerked it out a second time, glowering. “Jesus Christ!” he swore loudly, twisting his wrist to peer at the screen. He swore again with frustration.

“What is it?” Lily asked, grateful for the lull to gather her thoughts, because apparently six hours hadn’t been enough time.

Cole sighed. “Just someone I was on my way to meet before you guys called.” He hurriedly texted the person back before shoving his phone back into his pocket. “But they can wait. I want to know—”

“Maybe we should go somewhere quiet for this.” Sloan spoke up for the first time.

Cole snorted. “Quieter than a deserted parking lot?”

Sloan scowled at him. “Somewhere we can sit down,” he clarified.

“Okay, well…” He bit his lip and did a little hop on the balls of his feet. “How about you guys join me? I want you to meet the person I was on my way to see.”

“Why?” Lily wondered.

Cole gave her a grin. “Because I really want you guys to meet her.”

“Her?”

She and Sloan fell into step on either side of Cole when he turned on his heel and motioned for them to follow.

“I met someone.” He was practically shivering with anticipation. “Her name’s Beth. She’s amazing. You’ll love her.”

“You’ve only been here two months,” Sloan muttered. “How the hell did you find someone that fast?”

Cole grinned at him. “We met at the coffee cart outside the dorms. We bonded over Manga and The Iron Maiden.”

“You’re supposed to be studying and learning things, not bonding with random girls over coffee.”

Cole rolled his eyes. “Lighten up! I can do both. Also, I don’t bond with random girls. Beth isn’t just any girl. I’m crazy about her.”

“You’ve known her a week,” Sloan pointed out.

“Eight.” Cole exhaled, the sound wistful and dreamy. “I’m completely in love with her. I’m pretty sure she’s the one.” He glanced from Sloan to Lily. “You’ll see once you meet her. She’s impossible to resist.”

He took them to a tiny coffee shop off a main street full of coffee shops and bistros. The rich scent of espresso and baked goods perfumed the air. The place was elegant with oil paintings hanging from the cream colored walls and soft lights mingling with equally soft music, something jazzy. There were only four round tables on the floor and four leather booths pushed against the far wall. A glossy counter stood at the back, attached to a gleaming glass case full of sweet decadents that made Lily’s insides whimper with longing, even though she knew she was too nervous to eat anything.

Lip caught between her teeth, she absentmindedly rubbed a hand over her empty gut, willing it to keep it together just a little longer, promising to feed it anything it wanted once this was all over.

Swallowing, she turned away from the display of cakes and cookies and found herself caught in Sloan’s watchful eye. His expression was carefully blank, but his eyes were saying too much. Their appraisal of her made her nervous, like he knew exactly what she’d been thinking.

“We still have a few minutes before she gets here.” Cole pulled their attention away from each other to focus on him. “Tell me your news,” he pressed Lily. “I need to know.”

Lily tried not to fidget. She ran the palms of her sweaty hands over the soft fabric of her dress. Sloan’s hoodie was suddenly much too big and thick and she couldn’t breathe. Her gaze shot to the few customers sitting at tables, working and chatting with friends and wondered if this was the right place to tell him. There were too many people and it would be hard enough talking in front of Sloan.

“Maybe this isn’t the right—”

“Jesus, just tell me!” Cole cried, throwing his hands up. “If you’re trying to build the suspense, it worked. I’m intrigued. Now just please tell me.” His brows drew together. “Is it cancer?”

“No!” she said hurriedly. “I’m fine. It’s nothing like that.”

Cole exhaled heavily. “Oh my God! Thank you!” He pressed a hand over his chest. “You scared the shit out of me.” He chuckled and threw an arm around Lily’s shoulders. He pulled her into his side. “As long as you’re okay, I don’t care about anything else.”

Lily swallowed audibly. “Cole, I still need to—”

“Cole!”

The bell over the door jingled wildly as a beautiful brunette hurried into the café. She smiled widely at him and waved.

“Beth!” Cole forgot all about Lily and Sloan as he hurried to the girl and swept her up into his arms.

She was stunning, small with a sweet smile that illuminated her green eyes. Her hair shimmered under the bright lights as she beamed and threw her arms around Cole’s neck. They kissed as though they hadn’t seen each other in years. It was the kind of lover’s lock that made onlookers uncomfortable, or want to buy tickets.

Lily averted her gaze, focusing instead on the ceiling fan over their heads.

“Guys, I want you to meet someone.” Cole and the girl had broken apart and he was leading her over by the hand. “This is my brother Sloan and my best friend, Lily. Guys, this is Beth.”

As she shook hands with Lily then Sloan, Beth kept one hand tightly clasped in Cole’s. She flashed them with perfect dimples on either side of her beaming mouth.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” she told them. “Cole has told me so much about you,” this was said to Lily. “I won’t lie, I was jealous. He made you sound so pretty.” Her mouth dropped in horror at her own words. “I don’t mean you’re not. You are. You’re beautiful, actually. I just mean…”

Lily laughed. “It’s okay. I know what you mean.”

Beth had gone a frightening shade of crimson. “I am so sorry. I babble when I’m nervous.”

“It’s true,” Cole said, slipping an arm around Beth’s waist. “The first time we met, she dumped half her coffee down her front.”

If possible, Beth’s complexion darkened even more. She pressed a hand to her face. “You swore never to mention that again.”

Cole laughed and pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “I thought it was adorable.” He turned to Lily and Sloan, who had yet to say anything. “How about we grab some coffee and you guys can tell me why you drove all the way down here.”

They found a booth tucked away in the corner next to the window overlooking the street. Cole took Beth’s order and left. Beth threw herself into the booth.

Sloan pinned Lily with those dangerous eyes. “What do you want?”

“I don’t think I can hold anything down right now,” she confessed weakly.

Sloan searched her face with the same intensity he’d been giving her all day, like he was trying to reach straight into her soul. His eyes narrowed slightly like he didn’t like what he saw, but he made no comment as he turned on his heels and followed Cole to stand in line.

Lily watched him go, watched the broad lines of his shoulders as he pushed his hands into his pockets. Cole looked up when Sloan joined him. He grinned and said something. Sloan shrugged and replied. Cole nodded. His mouth moved in speech, and whatever he said had Sloan’s head turning over his shoulder. His gaze met Lily’s. The hot force behind it scalded her even from that distance and her breath hitched in her chest. Her heart missed a beat the way it always did where Sloan McClain was concerned.

“So, Cole tells me you guys grew up together.”

Beth’s innocent question shattered the silent battle Sloan was unleashing upon Lily. It pulled her back to the quiet hum of sax and the sweet scent of powdered sugar. She drew in a long breath and let it out slowly before forcing herself to turn.

Beth smiled at her, oblivious to what she’d interrupted.

Lily slid into the booth across from the other girl. “Since we were in diapers.”

Beth chuckled. “I don’t know anyone from that far back. Well, except my parents and, well, my family. It sounds nice.”

“It is.”

Beth shot a glance to where the boys stood, placing their order. She fidgeted nervously with the silver charm bracelet around her wrist.

“Could I ask you something?” She turned those green eyes on Lily.

Lily shrugged. “Sure.”

Scooting closer to the edge of the table, Beth lowered her voice even though they were the only two within hearing distance. “There’s no girl back home, is there?”

Lily frowned. “Girl?”

“I mean Cole doesn’t…”

“Oh! No. He’s completely single. There was one girl, Stacey, but they broke up ages ago.”

Relief washed over Beth’s pretty face. “Oh thank goodness. He told me he was, but you never know, you know? He’s such an amazing guy and he makes me feel … so much! I just don’t want to be wrong.”

Lily shook her head. “No, Cole’s a great guy. He’s exactly what you see. That’s one of the things I always loved about him.”

Beth narrowed her eyes. “You and he aren’t…?”

“God, no!”

Grimacing sheepishly, Beth put her hands up. “Sorry! I’m sorry. He just talks so much about you. I thought maybe you guys had that unresolved feelings thing.”

Lily raised an eyebrow. “Unresolved feelings thing?”

“Yeah, you know? Like when you love someone, but you’re both too blind to see it.”

Lily snorted. “Oh, I can say with absolute certainty that Cole and I share no hidden feelings. We’re just really good friends.”

Beth glanced at the boys again. “So what’s wrong with him? There’s no such thing as the perfect guy. There has to be something.”

Lily burst out laughing. “I can give you a list. He snores like a foghorn. He flosses his teeth every time he eats popcorn, even in the movie theater. He has an obsession with Betty White that I find borderline disturbing. He has a ton of lame jokes that will make you want to face plant into a wall…” She broke off and shrugged. “He’s unnaturally selfless. He always tries to do the right thing, even if he’s the one who winds up getting hurt. He’s sweet and generous and is the best guy any girl could ever ask for.”

Beth’s eyes seemed to shine slightly in the light. “Wow.”

Lily only nodded, her throat tight. She bit the inside of her cheek to force back the tears. Beth also seemed to have run out of things to ask and the pair of them sat in silence as the boys returned, mugs of coffee and plates of cookies in hand.

Cole set a cappuccino and a brownie in front of Beth before taking the seat next to her. No sooner had he set his coffee and muffin down when she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with a passion that made Lily blush and look away. Thankfully Sloan took that moment to push in next to her, distracting her with the platter of oatmeal cookies and mug of hot chocolate he set down in front of her.

“What’s this?”

Content with a single cup of coffee, completely black, Sloan met her eyes. “You need to eat,” he said simply. “Just a few bites. Please,” he added when she frowned at him.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Fine, but only because you said please.”

He snorted and smothered his grin behind the rim of his mug.

Across from them, Cole and Beth had separated and were grinning foolishly at each other with swollen mouths and rosy cheeks. Lily watched them, the knot in her gut tightening until she could scarcely breathe. Under the table, her palms rubbed nervously up and down her thighs, dampening the fabric of her skirt with sweat. The soft hum of jazz faded as the loud thrum of her heartbeat took residency between her ears. It intensified when Cole and Beth finally remembered their existence and turned their way.

“So,” Cole said, setting his and Beth’s clasped hands on the table. “What brings you guys?”

“Lily—”

“Just wanted to see you.” Lily cut Sloan off. “It felt like ages before the next holiday. We didn’t want to wait.”

Cole beamed in pleasure at her response. Sloan turned narrowed eyes on Lily, but she ignored him.

“I love it here,” Cole said. “But I miss you guys.”

“Tell them about the team!” Beth urged, tugging on his arm.

“Oh yeah!” Cole straightened in his seat. “I got picked for the swim team.”

Lily frowned. “Swim team? You don’t swim. You play ball.”

“I know!” He laughed. “I know I got sent here on a basketball scholarship, but there was a spot open on the team so I figured … meh, why not.”

“He didn’t think he’d get in,” Beth chimed in. “But I told him to try anyway and he got picked.”

“That’s great!” Lily said, smiling widely at her friend. “Good thing they have those padded speedos now.”

Cole burst out laughing. Lily chuckled even when she didn’t have the heart for it. He was so happy. How could she take that away from him? He had worked his entire life for this opportunity, to get sent to a good school and follow his dreams of playing pro. Not many ever had that chance. He was the first in six generations to finally go to university. Not even Sloan had gone past high school. Lily certainly hadn’t. Her parents didn’t make enough to send her down the block, never mind to any school that wasn’t free. She knew the moment she told Cole he would drop everything. He would leave school, leave Beth, and move back to Willow Creek to help her. He would give it all up for her, because that’s the kind of guy he was. He wouldn’t shuck his responsibilities.

A second realization struck her on the heel of her dilemma; did that mean she was keeping the baby then? She had always known that she could never bring herself to terminate a pregnancy so that option had never even crossed her mind, but could she give her baby away? It seemed like the most logical course of action. Cole would never know and he would never be hurt by it. It would save her as well from the ridicule and shame she was sure to receive in a close minded town like Willow Creek.

So why did the thought leave her feeling hollow and riddled with guilt? People did it all the time. There were hundreds of couples who were looking for babies to bring home. It would be hard, but it was for the best. It had to be.

“Lil?” Under the table, Cole nudged her foot, jolting her back to the table and the three sets of eyes watching her.

“What?”

Cole grinned, but it was hesitant and worry-filled. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she lied a little too quickly. “It was just a really long drive.”

Some of the tension seemed to lift from his features and his smile was genuine now. “When are you guys going back?”

“Soon,” Sloan answered. “It’s a long drive back and Lily needs to rest.”

Cole’s eyes widened even as Lily cursed inwardly. “You said you were okay.”

“I am!” Lily said quickly, before Sloan could think about interrupting. “I was complaining about my leg cramping while we were driving up that’s all.”

She had never told so many lies, and never to Cole. It only added to the weight crushing the life out of her.

“If you’re sure…”

Lily ignored Sloan’s glower as she nodded. “I’m sure. Everything’s fine.”

“Well, in that case, why don’t you guys join us for dinner?” Beth offered. “We were going to try this Thai place around the corner and it would be nice to have company.”

Lily looked to Sloan. It was his car after all. It was up to him to decide when they would go.

He met her gaze, frustration tightening his brow. “If you want to stay, we can stay,” he told her. “I won’t leave without you.”

Even while the sensible voice in her head reminded her he was only trying to give her the opportunity to tell Cole the truth, she couldn’t stave off the warm flutter that tightened her chest.

“Great!” Cole said happily. “Come on, before there are no tables left.”

When Beth and Cole left the table, Sloan didn’t move and since he was blocking her path, Lily couldn’t move. They sat staring at each other, a clash of wills to see who would look away first. Finally, he broke the tension.

“Why didn’t you tell him?”

Lily bit her lip.

“Why, Lily?” he pressed.

Her chin wobbled before she could stop it, or the tears hot in her eyes. “Because I love him and I can’t ruin his life.”

His gaze softened. “What about you?”

She gave a jerky shrug. “What about me? Unlike him, I don’t have a bright future waiting for me.”

“You could.” His voice dropped an octave. “I would want to know, Lily.” He searched her eyes. “I would want the chance to decide.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” she whispered. “Look at him, Sloan. He got into his dream school. He’s met the perfect girl. He’s in love. He’s happy. What would be the point of telling him?”

“He’ll find out, maybe not today, or tomorrow, but one day.”

Lily shook her head. “No, no one will know, except you and me.”

He blinked, fast and hard. “What? How…?” His face muscles tightened. His eyes darkened. “You’re terminating.” It wasn’t a question, but a flat, cold fact.

“No,” she whispered, and watched as some of the tension melted from his shoulders. “But it would be my choice if I did.”

“But you’re not, right?”

“No.”

He lowered his head, seemingly murmuring a prayer of thanks before he spoke again. “Okay, then what have you decided?”

“There’s only one choice, isn’t there?” Her voice caught on her words and he looked up at her. “Give the baby—”

“No.”

Lily started. “What?”

“No!” he repeated more firmly.

“It’s my choice!” she gasped.

Sparks of electric heat crackled in the depths of his eyes as he bore mercilessly into hers. “And I respect your choice not to tell Cole, I might even agree with you, but I’ll be damned if you give that baby away to strangers.”

Fear and anger noosed around her throat, tightening until she wanted to scream. Her hands balled into fists in her lap as she meet his unwavering glare firmly.

“That isn’t your decision!” she snapped. “It’s easy for you to say when you’re not the one who has to deal with this. This is my baby, Sloan. I get to decide what happens to it.”

If it were possible, the temperature in the room dropped. The noise and voices faded as they faced the other down.

“He’s my blood,” Sloan said very slowly, very carefully. “And I take care of what’s mine, Lily.”

Chapter Two ~ Sloan

They didn’t join Cole and Beth for Thai. Lily claimed she had a headache and Sloan didn’t argue. He wanted to leave. He needed to get home and think. He couldn’t do that when he kept worrying about why Lily wasn’t eating, if she was comfortable, if they should tell Cole about the baby. The brother in him hated breaking their number one rule: never lie to the other. And while he assured himself it wasn’t technically lying, it still ate at him, more so because he kept thinking what if it were his kid? He would want to know. A man had a right to know he had a child out there somewhere. A man would need to know so he could do the right thing. Just like Cole had a right to know and yet, Sloan couldn’t help agreeing with Lily. Cole had too much going for him. He was too close to his goal. Sloan knew his brother would give it all up if he knew. Family had always been the glue holding them together and there was nothing more important than protecting those closest to them, even if it meant sacrificing everything, something Sloan was an expert on.

While he never considered it sacrifice, Sloan knew he had had to make tough decisions in life. There were things he had to turn away from, because the bigger picture had always been to get Cole as far away from that life as possible. But it had never been an issue for him. Sloan had always known he wasn’t important. What he wanted wasn’t important. His main and only job was to make sure Cole never went without and for the last seven years that was exactly what Sloan had done from the moment their mother had died and Sloan had made the decision to step up as the man of the house. He dropped out of school, got a job, and worked his ass off to make sure no one ever looked upon Cole with pity. It had been up to Sloan to make sure Cole was fed and clothed and had books for school. It wasn’t like their father would take the plate. More times than not, Jacob McClain was passed out next to whatever bottle he’d crawled into the night before, which was just fine with Sloan. The further he was from Cole and Sloan, the better.

The skin on his back prickled as it always did at the thought of his father. Sloan gritted his teeth and focused determinedly on the road to keep from shifting.

In the seat next to him, Lily was a pale figure in the darkness. She sat with her head back and her eyes closed while fingers of light splashed over her face with every streetlight they passed. She was nibbling restlessly on her thoroughly abused lip, a habit he noted she did often when she was upset. The cookies he’d gotten her at the coffee shop were clutched in a paper napkin in her hand, untouched, and his fingers tightened around the wheel. But he let it slide. There was a much bigger problem he needed to address. He just wasn’t sure how without causing another fight.

The leather squeaked with the shift of Lily’s weight. Sloan’s attention snapped almost automatically in her direction, while still concentrating on the road. His ears perked, waiting for even the slightest sound of discomfort. He saw her raise a hand from the corner of his eye and stifle a yawn behind it. She sniffed and snuggled deeper into the seat, clutching his hoodie tighter around her much too thin shoulders.

Sloan turned the wheel, redirecting them off course without a second of hesitation, his mind already made up.

“Where are we going?” Lily turned her head to him.

“Somewhere to rest for the night,” he said.

She straightened. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s dark,” he said simply. “I’m tired and I don’t want to be on the road.”

It was a lie. He could have easily driven the six hours with no problem, but not with her in the car. While he trusted his own driving, he didn’t trust others. It wasn’t safe, but also, she looked exhausted. She needed rest, and since the news, her comfort and safety had simultaneously become synonymous with breathing. It was all he could think.

He needed to protect her and that baby.

He drove them to a motel and got a room with two beds. Lily was standing by the car when he returned. Her shimmering mane the color of corn silk seemed to glow under the flickering lamppost. The strands fell in straight lines around her shoulders and down her back, some fluttered across her rosy cheeks and were absently shoved back behind her ear. Her warm, brown eyes were hidden behind streaks of shadow, but the familiar tug in the pit of his stomach told him they watched him draw closer. Her small, pink mouth was ever so slightly parted and all he could think about was leaning down and meeting them with his. He had this inexplicable need to taste her whenever she was around, like her mouth was the center of the universe and he was dying to dive in.

He forced aside those thoughts. They never did anyone any good, especially not him.

“Okay?” she asked when he was close enough to hear.

Sloan held up the keycard. “Do you need anything before we go in?”

Lily shook her head. Her shoulders pulled up around her ears and her slim fingers tightened around the collar of his hoodie until the knuckles blazed white. Her tiny frame gave a shudder.

“Come on.”

He led her quickly to the room and the warmth inside. He snapped the lights on and ushered her inside. She gave a groan of pleasure that went straight to his nether regions.

“Here.”

He stuffed the keycard into his back pocket and reached for the neatly folded blanket the hotel had placed on the top rack of the closet. He yanked it down and shook it out before closing it around her.

For a moment, his arms were around her. His face was in her hair. The silky strands smelled of a meadow after rainfall, fresh and enticing. Sloan had to fight every inch of himself not to nuzzle, not to turn his face into the slender column of her neck and lick the delicate curve of her jaw. More than that, he had to keep from turning her around, hoisting her up into his arms and carrying her to the bed. That was what he wanted more than anything, to splay her across the sheets and feast on every hill and valley of her perfect body.

Stop it! The sensible voice in his head jarred him back to the land of the sane.

Sloan quickly jerked back and hoped to God she hadn’t felt the proof of his weakness pushing up against the front of his pants. He moved away from her, putting as much space between them as humanly possible without physically leaving the room. He stopped only when the wall became an obstacle.

“How long do you need to rest?”

Sloan gave himself two heartbeats to compose before forcing himself to face her. She stood where he had left her at the foot of the first bed, staring at the paisley patterned comforter draped over the mint green sheets as though nothing had just happened. The blanket was still around her, making her appear even smaller, if possible.

Sloan took a deep breath and moved to the second bed. He busied his hands emptying his pockets onto the nightstand, car keys, hotel keys, some loose change and his wallet.

“What do you mean?”

“I have work in the morning,” she explained.

Pockets empty, he was left with no choice but to face her. “What time?”

She was watching him. “Ten.”

He nodded. “I’ll get you there.” After he was satisfied that she had gotten some sleep. “In the meantime, I’m going to order supper.”

It happened slowly, a gradual curl of that beautiful mouth into one of the most dazzling smiles he had ever been witness to. Yet it was so sudden and so unexpected that he was given no chance to brace himself before he was rendered stupid, which was stupid because he had seen her smile before. Only it had never been so openly aimed at him.

“Are you trying to feed me again?” she teased.

Despite himself, Sloan felt the skin on his face warm. “I eat too you know,” he muttered defensively.

If his tone affected her at all, she never showed it. Her sweet laugh carried across the room and punched him in the chest.

“If you keep this up, I’m going to be enormous by the time I have this baby.”

He wasn’t sure why, but the picture those words conjured pleased him. He liked the thought of her being soft and round with the baby inside her, even if the baby wasn’t his.

That thought bothered him. Not that she was pregnant, but that she was pregnant with another man, even if that other man was his brother. While he had never had any delusions that Lily would ever be his, the idea that she had been with someone else cut at him. He hated it. It filled him with an irrational punch of rage that made no sense—Lily wasn’t his. She was never his. She never would be. So to stake claim on her now was ridiculous. Yet he couldn’t help wishing it had been him. He wanted it to be his baby she carried. He wanted to be the one inside her making that life.

He shoved the thought aside violently. He wasn’t. She was his brother’s best friend. She was also carrying said brother’s baby. He needed to remember that. His only job was to make sure that kid was taken care of. For the time being that meant he needed to take care of the mother and that was all.

“Sloan?”

“You’re eating for two,” he blurted.

He was gifted with another playful smile. “Yes, but you’re not the one who will have to lose all that weight afterwards.”

There was no stopping the annoyance that flared through him. It furrowed his brows and pursed his lips into a thin line of impatience. “It’s hardly the time to start worrying about your weight. You need to eat. The baby needs you to be healthy.”

The soft, sweet look she gave him was a physical blow to the sternum. “You are going to be an amazing daddy one day, Sloan.”

He thought about her words long after the food had been ordered and he’d managed to coax two slices of pizza down Lily’s throat. He sat on his bed, the TV playing some Clint Eastwood movie on mute as she slept soundly in the next bed.

Sloan had never thought about having children in the past. Maybe it was because he had raised Cole since the boy had been ten, but he had always felt like he’d already done it. He had raised a child. He had sent him off to school. He didn’t need to experience that again. But Lily’s careless remark stirred something in him, something dormant and hidden deep in the place he kept far away from. It made him pang for things he shouldn’t. Lord knew he had his plate full with his moving company, Cole, and now the baby Lily was going to have.

Lily.

His gaze slid across the two feet separating them. He traced the silhouette of her resting form beneath the stiff comforter. He had always wondered how she slept. All the times she stayed over, he couldn’t help hating Cole a little for getting those private moments with her. Now he was the one who got to watch her and the way her mouth was slightly parted, and how she breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth with a soft exhale. It irked him that there was nothing about her, not one thing that annoyed him. And even if there had been, he still wanted her with a desperation that hurt like a physical wound.

Swearing, he jerked his mind and eyes away from the familiar temptation. She was still so young and so out of his reach. Now more than ever.

Flipping off the TV, he climbed into bed and fought like the devil to fall asleep. But his mind, like his body was too restless. It wanted too much to get up and take action. The part of him that was too used to taking charge and fixing problems growled in frustration at his incapability. But tomorrow was another day and if there was one thing Sloan McClain was good at, it was fixing things.

There wasn’t much said between them as Sloan drove back into Willow Creek. The sun was already bright in the sky when he pulled alongside Lily’s house. He hurried around to her side of the car and helped her out. She murmured a thanks when he shut it and turned to face her.

“Will you be okay?”

Lily nodded. “I think so.” She squinted up at him. “Thank you for everything. I know going up must have been such a waste of your time, but I appreciate it.”

“It wasn’t.” His gaze skimmed her flat belly before he focused on the ground at their feet. “Lily, I want you to promise to call me if you need anything. I don’t care what time it is, or what it’s about, I need to know you won’t hesitate.”

She was shaking her head even before he finished. “You’ve already done so much—”

“I don’t care!” He cursed when she jumped. He willed his voice to calm down. “There is nothing more important than you and that baby.” He drew in a breath, met her gaze squarely and murmured, “You’re not alone, Lily. I won’t let you be alone.”

“Don’t…” Her voice was thick with the tears he could see shimmering in her eyes. “Don’t get attached. Please.”

His own better judgment took a backseat as anger flooded through him. “It’s too late for that. You might not have told Cole about that baby, but he or she is not without family. I am its family and I am going to fight for it.”

“This isn’t your concern anymore,” she whispered, her face twisted in frustration and grief.

“It will always be my concern,” he said tightly. “If you don’t want that baby, I do. I will take it and raise it myself.”

Lily gasped. The look of hurt and betrayal seared through him. “I never said I didn’t want it. I’m trying to do what’s best for his or her future, a future I can’t give it. Why are you doing this?”

“I told you,” he said at last. “I take care of what’s mine.”

“I’m not yours!” She looked away from him. “This … this baby isn’t yours. We’re not your problem.”

“You made it my problem the minute you showed up on my doorstep, Lily,” he shot back hotly. “I won’t let you give that baby away. I will fight you every step of the way and do whatever I need to do to make sure it comes to me, even if I have to tell Cole the truth.”

He regretted his words the moment they were said. The fear in her eyes, the step she took away from him, hurt worse than if she had smacked him.

A movement from the house stilled anything he could possibly say to make amends. The curtains over the front windows shifted back and a pale face peered through. Sloan cursed inwardly and swallowed down the tirade bubbling in his chest. He turned his attention back to Lily.

“Meet me tonight after work,” he said instead, gentling his voice. “We need to talk about this, Lily.”

She looked on the verge of refusing. It wouldn’t have surprised him after he’d just finished threatening her. But she gave the faintest nod.

“I get off at five,” she murmured.

“I’ll pick you up,” he promised, then quickly turned towards the car before she could change her mind.

He had a hand on the door handle when she called him back. He watched as she raised her hand and took hold of the zipper tongue on his hoodie and began slowly sliding it downward. It was a perfectly harmless gesture, but damn if something hard didn’t kick him in the gut. Midway, just below the soft swell of her breasts, she seemed to falter, like she could sense the animal thrashing around inside him. Her lashes lifted and Sloan was seized in velvet brown eyes. Their gazes locked like the antlers on two warring bucks; he couldn’t look away.

When the zipper finally gave way and the hoodie slid over her shoulders, his breath caught in his chest. His jeans became suddenly uncomfortable and he had the dizzying urge to grab her, shove her against the side of his car and…

“Sloan?”

He jolted out of that fantasy almost violently and found her holding his sweatshirt out to him with dark, pink patches riding high on her cheeks. He wondered if she had been thinking the same thing, or if maybe she’d seen the hard swell pushing against the front of his pants.

He took the hoodie without a word. He didn’t stop her when she hurried to the house. He didn’t move until the front door had closed behind her and he was standing alone in her driveway with the worst hard on in his life.

Disgusted, Sloan threw himself behind the wheel and tore out of there with a rage that spun his tires and kicked gravel everywhere.

At home, he left the Mustang parked outside the front door, something he never did and bolted inside for a damn beer. Forget the fact that it was still only eight in the morning, he needed a drink. He would have gone for something stronger but he never kept the stuff around the house. He'd seen what it did to people. Plus he never wanted to give his father a reason to drop by looking, although he did occasionally darken Sloan's doorway in search of money or things to pawn off. Sloan had learned long ago to hide his mother's china and silver. By the end, before the cancer had gotten beyond stopping, she hadn't had much. His father had gotten to most of it, but what was left, Sloan had packed away for Cole to take when he finally settled down, along with some of their mother’s jewelry. The last thing their mother had given Sloan was her grandmother's ring. It had been passed down through her family to the eldest child for generations. Sloan, having never had a desire to marry, had every intention of giving that to Cole as well when that day came. He knew their mother wouldn't mind and would have probably understood.

Tense and harboring the mother of all headaches, he yanked a beer from the fridge and walked with it towards his office to tackle the mountain of work waiting for him. Anything to stop thinking about Lily for a few hours. He threw himself behind his cluttered desk and groaned.

He’d been meaning to tidy up the place for years, but each time, the moment he sat down, the thought made him cringe. So, he set down his untouched beer and stared out the window as a flawless blanket of blue worked up over the horizon, the sure sign that it was going to be a beautiful day. He wondered if Lily was having breakfast, if the nausea she’d been feeling earlier had finally subdued, or if she would head into work hungry.

A growl escaped him before he could stop it. He scrubbed viciously at his face with the heel of both hands. That girl was going to drive him insane.

The bells above the front door tinkled softly, signaling the arrival of a customer. Sloan relished the distraction and straightened in his chair just as Barty Coon slumped into the room.

Rail thin and as tall as Sloan, Barty grinned lopsidedly from the doorway. His long face was badly sunburned, intensifying the bags beneath droopy gray eyes. He always reminded Sloan of Goofy, right down to the buck teeth and the hunch in his skinny shoulders.

“Morning Barty,” Sloan said. “What brings you?”

Barty smacked his gums a couple of times, an age old habit from chewing tobacco for nearly two decades, a habit his wife had forced him to stop going on two years now.

“Need to borrow one of your trucks,” he said lazily. “Got a cargo that needs moving.”

With a nod, Sloan motioned Barty deeper into the office. The floorboards creaked under the other man’s weight as he moved to the chair on the other side of the desk. He sat and eyed the beer.

“A bit early for that, ain’t it?”

Having forgotten all about it, Sloan waved his hand dismissively. “Long night.” He cleared his throat. “Did you want the same one you took last time?” Sloan asked, moving the mountain of papers, folders and pamphlets around.

Damn it, one of these days I’m going to organize this crap, he told himself, as he did every time someone came in for a truck. But he wasn’t a filer, or organized. He was a mover and the occasional mechanic. Organization and paperwork just wasn’t one of his talents.

“Nah, maybe the sixteen footer,” Barty said. “Josie’s ma has some junk she wants to dump on us and I need to go get ‘em. Old bat thinks she’s going to die tomorrow. She’s been saying that for sixteen years now. I’ve given up hope.”

Sloan chuckled. “Do you need me to send a guy to give you a hand?”

Barty considered this a moment before answering, “Yeah, maybe one.”

Sloan turned to consult the chart behind his desk listing the names and jobs of each employee. Five years ago, when Sloan had started his company with the insurance money his mom had left in his name, there had only been him and a dolly doing most of the work. Cole would occasionally come out to help if the job was too big for one person, but the boy had no patience for the job. After a while, Sloan would make him help with just the big pieces of furniture before sending him home so he could finish alone. The hassle and fighting just hadn’t been worth it. Over the years, he’d hired on six men who he rotated with every new job to make sure everyone got a fair amount of pay.

“I'll send Tom to your place. When do you want him there?”

Barty shrugged. “After lunch tomorrow. Noonish.”

Filling out the proper forms, Sloan passed the clipboard over for Barty to confirm and sign.

No sooner had Barty passed it back when the bell jingled a second time and was followed by the loud clunk of heels on hardwood. A moment later, Josie Coon clattered into the room, round face flushed with excitement that reflected in her wide, green eyes. It was the glow of a child who’d just finished giving Santa her list.

“You will never believe what Dawn over at Ma’s told me!”

Barty didn’t look inclined to care, but being a smart man, he indulged her as he always did. “What’s that, sugar plum?”

Josie gave a jiggle that nearly made her generous breasts bounce straight out of her blouse. “Well, as you know I was over there talking to the girls and Dawn tells me that she heard from Debbie, who heard from Susan, who heard straight from Georgia May that Lily Price was in to see Dr. Phillips yesterday.”

Sloan stiffened. His fingers tightened around the clipboard as he waited for Josie to voice what he already knew.

“So I said, I hope she’s all right, because you know me, I am always thinking about others just like the good book asks us to do and I care about the God fearing folk of Willow Creek—” Sloan rolled his eyes when he was sure Josie wasn’t looking. “Anyway, Dawn tells me Georgia May happened to get a glance at what Lily’d gone in to see Dr. Phillips for, and you won’t believe it!”

Sloan gritted his teeth and watched as the buxom redhead practically shivered with excitement.

“Is she all right?” Barty wondered, sounding genuinely concerned.

Josie’s brilliant grin turned blinding, reminding Sloan of Joker. “Oh that girl is so far from fine that she can no longer even see it.”

Barty straightened now, his bushy eyebrows creasing as he studied his wife. “Well, what is it?”

Josie bit her lip. “Oh I don’t know if it’s my place to say. Far be it for me to add to that poor girl’s burden. Although…” She gave a contemplative little shrug. “She did bring it on herself and I’m not really repeating anything everyone else doesn’t already know.”

Sloan wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince she wasn’t a gossiper. Everyone in town knew it.

“And anyway, it’s just us here and you boys don’t really care, right?” She glanced from her husband to Sloan, batting heavily painted eyes. “That’s what I told Dawn. I said, my Barty just doesn’t care about silly little things like that. Who cares if the Price girl went and got herself in trouble? She’s just a girl like any other.”

“What?” Barty said, looking like he wasn’t sure he’d heard his wife right. “Leon’s daughter?”

Josie nodded a little too hard. “That’s right. She’s about two months along if Georgia May is correct.” Her eyes narrowed and her pouty red lips puckered. She was visibly trying very hard to think of something. It looked painful. “Funny thing is, no one can fathom who the daddy is. Isn’t that strange?” Her shrewd eyes narrowed, fixing on Sloan. “Wasn’t she and Cole—”

Sloan turned the conversation. “Sorry to rush you, Barty, but I have to get one of the trucks over to Tony’s.”

It was a lie. Tony Pazioni had helped his brother move the week before, but they didn’t know that.

After waving the pair out, Sloan slumped back in his chair and squeezed the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb. His beer had long since gone warm and he couldn't bring himself to care enough to get another.

The whole town knew about the baby. It wasn't surprising. Lord knew it was more amazing that it had taken almost twenty four hours for them to catch on. Willow Creek was usually more on top of things, especially the really juicy stuff. Sloan had never cared about the mindless chatter of the bored. Growing up, he’d heard enough of it aimed at his family to not give a shit. But this was different. This was about Lily. Those bastards had no right talking about her. Compared to most of them and their hidden skeletons, Lily was a saint, and she wasn’t even the first girl to get herself in trouble. Just last summer, Georgia May’s own niece had gotten pregnant with the school quarterback. Unlike Lily, Nancy had been sixteen. Yet somehow, that was all right. Just children being stupid. The hypocrisy made Sloan see red.

Growling deep in his throat, he turned his mind to the task at hand, needing the distraction to keep from marching down to the clinic and strangling Georgia May with all those clunky beads she was so fond of. He called Tom and let him know he was helping Barty at noon the next day. He phoned Marcy’s motor shop and ordered a muffler for one of the trucks. He filled out several forms, wrote way too many cheques and kept one eye on the clock until he could see Lily again.

He was immersed in shipping orders when the bells over the door sounded again.

“Office!” he called without glancing up.

He was aware when the person stalked in, but he finished the form he was working on before looking up. Leon Price glowered at him from the doorway and Sloan knew exactly why the man was there.

“Mr. Price, what can I do for you?”

“You can start by telling me where I can find your good for nothing brother.”

Sloan let nothing in his tone, or in his face show anything but mild curiosity. “Cole? He's at school. Is there something I can do?”

Mr. Price closed the five steps from the door to the desk and loomed over Sloan.

He wasn't a big man, but he was backed by anger and that made him dangerous. Sloan knew the signs and knew to tread cautiously.

“Your brother ruined my daughter’s life. I know it was him. Lily never gave another boy the time of day and if your brother was any sort of man, he will do the right thing by my Lily!”

“Did Lily tell you this?”

The other man pinched his lips. “Of course not. Do you think I would be this furious if she had? Half the women in town called my wife, congratulating her on the great news. Karen is in tears! She and Lily had always been close. It made no sense why she wouldn't tell us. But I knew the moment Karen told me that it was that brother of yours. He got my girl in trouble and fled town like a coward.”

Careful not to appear threatening, Sloan got to his feet, having promised himself years ago to never let another man tower over him. On his feet, he had considerably more height over the other man but he didn't use it to make his point.

“I understand your anger, Mr.  Price. But it wasn't Cole.”

Mr. Price’s nostrils flared. “Are you calling my daughter a whore, McClain?”

Sloan put his hands up. “Absolutely not.”

“Lily is a good girl. She could have done whatever she wanted in life. But she chose to stay here in this shit hole because she didn't want...” He broke off, breathing rapidly. He ran a shaky hand over his mouth. “I know she blames herself for us never having enough money, but I told her, I would find the money. She refused, said she wasn't going off to school while I worked myself to death paying for it. That's the kind of girl my Lily is. I don't care what those assholes say about her. She would never...”

Lily’s family lived in one of the more rundown areas of town were the majority of the yards consisted of scrap metal and garbage. Lily’s home was the only one that seemed out of place at first glance. While it wasn’t kept up to date, the yard was neatly mowed and, in the summer, there were always flowers blooming everywhere. Her family not having enough money was never a secret, but the fact that she gave up a chance to leave Willow Creek and finish her school was. It was something she never discussed, not even with Cole, or Sloan had a feeling Cole wouldn’t have pushed her so hard to join him at the university that fall. Her refusal had puzzled Sloan, but it had been her decision. He never questioned it, until now. But perhaps it made sense Lily would stay to help her parents. Sloan didn’t know the Prices too well. Outside of the occasional greetings at church and around town, he had never really spoken to them. He knew her mother had lost mobility in both legs during a car crash and her father worked two jobs to make ends meet. But these were things he’d overheard Lily tell Cole.

“Have you talked to Lily?” Sloan asked.

Mr. Price shook his head. “She’s at work. That shrew wouldn’t give her the phone anyway.”

Sloan didn’t need to ask which shrew he was referring to. Everyone in Willow Creek knew Judith Sinoski, or Ma as most of the town called her, the owner of Ma’s Diner. The woman was a cold, greedy bitch that scared ninety percent of the population, yet everyone continued to frequent her restaurant. Sloan suspected it was because she had the only diner in town and not because of her sparkling personality.

“So what are you going to do about this?” Mr. Price demanded. “Are you going to call your brother, or am I?”

Sloan had already accepted Lily’s decision not to tell anyone, not even Cole that the baby was his, because he agreed—in part—that Cole deserved a chance. He deserved to leave that town and start a fruitful and bright future. He deserved to do that without the worry of taking care of a child. If there had been some way to save Lily the same fate, Sloan would gladly sacrifice anything to make it happen. Unfortunately, he was only able to save one. At least he and Lily both agreed on who that should be.

“There’s no reason to bring Cole into this,” he murmured, mind already set. “The baby is mine.”

Leon Price reared back as though Sloan had pulled out a cobra. Then, just as quickly, the white of his complexion bled through with bright crimson. His eyes narrowed into thin slits of fury.

“What?” His lips barely moved around his tightly clenched teeth.

“The baby is—”

“I heard you!” The snarl was followed by a violent step forward. He was breathing hard. His hands were balled into angry fists at his sides. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t paint these walls with your blood, boy.”

“I don’t have one,” he said. “I also wouldn’t blame you. It shouldn’t have happened.”

He waited for the fist. He braced for the rolling rage, but Mr. Price remained in place, and like the unpredictability of a roaring ocean, his anger seemed to recede. Sloan had no idea why he wasn’t attacking, he knew had he been in the other man’s shoe, the guy would be dead, but apparently Mr. Price had a whole lot more control than Sloan.

He took a deep breath, drew himself up and met Sloan square in the eye. “So what are you going to do about it?”

Still working over his surprise, Sloan wasn’t quick enough to answer.

“You are going to step up, aren’t you, boy?” There was a warning in the question. And while Sloan could never quite recall ever being a boy, he chose to ignore it.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t like more,” he said honestly. “Unfortunately, there isn’t much I can do when Lily doesn’t want help.”

Mr. Price rolled his eyes and gave his head a slightly shake. “That girl is stubborn as a mule. She gets it from her mother,” he muttered. “Lord knows how I survived all these years with those two.”

Sloan snorted a chuckle.

Mr. Price sighed. His gaze landed on the untouched beer on Sloan’s desk. He gestured to it.

“You wouldn’t happen to have another of those, would you? Preferably cold.”

Nodding, Sloan motioned him into the kitchen. He drew out two cold ones from the fridge and set them on the table.

“Do you have a woman, McClain?” Mr. Price asked as he popped the cap off his drink.

Taking the seat across from him, Sloan shook his head.

“They’re a nightmare,” the other man went on. “But once you find the right one … being without them just doesn’t make sense, you know?”

Sloan didn’t know. He hadn’t been with a woman for more years than he would ever admit. First it was because he hadn’t had the time for romance. Then it was because he hadn’t wanted to set a bad example for Cole, bringing women into their home. Then it was because he just never found the right one. Finally, when he did find the perfect one, the one that made his blood stir and his heart race, she was so out of his league that they weren’t even playing the same sport. Lily would have been horrified if she knew just how much Sloan wanted to ravage that mouth of hers until all she knew was his name and how badly she wanted him inside her.

“McClain?”

The raised eyebrow Mr. Price gave him nearly brought a grimace to Sloan’s face. There he was, sitting across from the guy and all Sloan could think about was all the ways he wanted to fuck the man’s daughter.

“Sorry?” He had to clear his throat.

Mr. Price motioned with his chin towards the beer still gripped in Sloan’s hand, unopened. “Are you going to drink that?”

Sloan stared at it a moment before setting it aside. “I’m not much of a drinker.”

The other man nodded as though that made sense. “So tell me what your plan is.”

“My plan?”

Mr. Price nodded. “For the baby.” He sat back. “It’s as much your responsibility as it is hers.”

Sloan tried not to laugh at that. “I don’t think I have much say in the matter,” he confessed. “Lily has already decided that she’s not keeping the baby and won’t hear a thing else about it.”

Mr. Price scrunched his eyes like Sloan had just started babbling in Spanish. “She what?”

“She has her mind set to give it up for adoption.” He drummed his fingers on the table to keep from slamming his fist instead. “She won’t hear a word I say. She’s just hell bent on doing things her way and I’m too scared to push, honestly. What with her condition and all. She’s already stressed and I don’t want anything happening to her or the baby.”

“And what exactly did you tell her?”

“That I take care of what’s mine,” Sloan said without hesitation. “That goes for both of them. I’m not rich, but I make a good living and I would make sure they had everything they needed.”

Mr. Price eyed him for so long, Sloan wondered if he’d said something wrong.

“Do you love my girl, McClain?”

Having already lied about the baby’s true father, he couldn’t bring himself to tell another.

“Yes, sir. I do.”

Mr. Price nudged his chair back and rose to his feet. He stood over Sloan and watched him a moment before speaking.

“Then you better do right by my girl and that baby, do you hear me? I hear otherwise and you and I are going to have words.”

Sloan frowned. “I don’t understand.” He turned in his seat as the man started for the door. “Lily has already decided—”

Mr. Price stopped in the doorway and glanced back. “You leave Lily to me. You just remember what I told you.”

Chapter Three ~ Lily

“Lily!”

Having been lost in the tirade of her own mind, Lily started when the sharp voice penetrated her woolgathering. She blinked away from the burn mark scoring the tabletop to peer at the miniature sized woman glowering at her.

Ma stood on the other side of the table Lily had been scrubbing absently for the last fifteen minutes, bony arms crossed over her thin chest. She had her perpetual scowl twisting her long face, making it impossible to determine whether Lily was in trouble or not.

“Ma?” Lily straightened.

Standing at barely four feet, Ma just came to Lily’s midsection, but her aura made her seem enormous. Eyes the color of dirty dishwater narrowed. She pursed her thin lips.

“My office!” she barked.

Lily frowned. No one ever got sent to the office unless they’d done something wrong.

“Did I do something?”

“Didn’t I say my office?”

Snapping her mouth shut, Lily followed her through the steamy kitchen towards the cramped little room tucked away in the far corner. The place stank of stale cigarette smoke, dust and citrus air freshener. The latter was somehow the worst. It churned the single spoonful of cereal Lily had forced herself to eat earlier that morning. So when Ma ordered her to shut the door, Lily nearly whimpered.

The cramped little space was just big enough for the desk taking up most of the room. The rest was claimed by filing cabinets and an ugly picture of Ma playing poker with some of the women from church. There was a single chair and Ma claimed it. She interlocked her long, knobby fingers and tucked them beneath her crocked nose. She eyed Lily from over the knuckles.

“You know why you’re here, Lily.” It wasn’t a question.

“I don’t, actually,” Lily murmured.

“I have been getting complaints.” She lowered her hands away from her mouth so her words were unmistakable. “You’re not pulling your weight.”

Mouth gaping, Lily stared at her. “What? Who—”

“That hardly matters,” Ma said sharply. “I can’t have trouble in my diner. I hired you on because you seemed like a sensible sort of person. But I was clearly wrong.”

“Wait, but—”

“Here is your last check.” She snatched an envelope off the papers on her desk and thrust it towards Lily. “Return your uniform and apron no later than the end of the week.”

“But, Ma, I haven’t done—”

She waved the envelope at Lily. “We’re finished here.”

Insides cold and hot at the same time, Lily took her final pay and stared at it through a film of angry tears.

“I haven’t done anything!” she said, spearing the other woman with the full force of her outrage. “Whoever said I—”

“I don’t need to explain my decisions to you, Price.” Ma got to her feet. “Hell, I don’t need to even give you an explanation if I don’t feel like it. This here is my business and I will run it as I see fit. So if I say you’re fired, you’re fired! Standing here arguing won’t change my mind. Now get out before I get you thrown out.”

Stunned, Lily wrenched open the door and hurried out with her insides dragging along somewhere behind her. The urge to cry was overshadowed only by the need to break something. More importantly, she wanted to find the person who had complained and dump a pot of hot water over their heads.

While Lily wasn’t the greatest waitress in the world, she wasn’t the worst. She always made sure to keep a smile on her face no matter how tired she was, or how unreasonable the customer was being. She was quick and never once got a single order wrong. The whole thing made no sense.

“Everything okay, Lily?” Dawn Pierson screwed the lid onto a salt shaker and turned to face Lily with a look of concern darkening her pretty face. Her blue eyes took in the envelope Lily held and her frown deepened. “What’s that?”

Lily and Dawn had never really been friends. They never argued, but they were mostly work friends. The sort that laughed over strange orders and grumbled over lousy tips together. Their entire relationship circled around the diner. Yet there was a bond all waitresses forge when they worked nearly every shift together.

“She fired me.”

“What?” Dawn gasped with genuine horror. “Why?”

Lily shrugged. “She said someone complained.”

“I don’t believe it.” Dawn speared her balled little fists into her hips. “But it’s just like Ma, isn’t it? Firing you now of all times.”

Lily frowned. “What do you mean?”

Dawn shifted closer a step and lowered her voice. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? There was no complaint. She just doesn’t want to fork over maternity pay to someone that won’t be doing any work for a year.”

It was as though the floor had been torn out from beneath her twice in a matter of minutes and Lily wasn’t quick enough to catch herself the second time. The entire diner rolled like the wheel on Wheel of Fortune. Her insides roiled with it and she had to squeeze her eyes closed tight and count to ten before she could speak again.

“How did you—”

“Know?” Dawn gave her a sharp little smile. “Oh, darling, everyone knows. It’s all over town.”

Lily choked on the thin wisp of air she had fought to catch. “What?”

“Why are you still here, Price?” Ma stomped through the swinging doors and glowered at Lily.

“Did you fire me because I’m pregnant?” Lily rounded on her.

Ma’s beady little eyes narrowed until they were thin slits against the folds of her many wrinkles. “Your … problem, had nothing to do with it. Like I said—”

“You’re lying!” Lily shot back. “There was no complaint.”

Ma bristled, but even with her trying to reach an intimidating height, she was still forced to tip her head back when responding. “Leave before I call the sheriff.”

Lily seethed. Her hands fisted around the envelope. Her insides rattled with the fury she could barely suppress.

“You are an evil little troll!” she hissed.

“Get out!” Ma roared, her face a blotchy red.

Customers, those who weren’t already watching the show and whispering, turned to see what was happening. Lily could feel their eyes burning into the rigid wall of her back as she glowered at the woman one final time. Ma sneered back, her crooked and stained teeth a gross contrast to her sallow complexion.

“I hope no one ever treats you the way you treat others,” Lily murmured before whirling on her heels and marching stiffly to the doors.

She threw herself into the late summer air, her rage a black cloud strangling her. She pulled a greedy breath in and willed her nerves to stop shaking. Her feet moved on autopilot, propelling her down Main Street towards home while her mind spiraled with questions, like how the hell news of her pregnancy got out. She doubted Sloan told anyone and since they were the only ones who knew, besides Dr. Phillips…

“Georgia May!” The name burst out of her as though it were poison. “That fucking bitch!”

Outrage coursed down the stiff lines of her frame in rivulets of electricity that fueled the bloodthirsty need to hunt Georgia May down and beat the ever loving God out of her. And she would have. Lily had had all the bullshit she could handle for one day, between Sloan’s threat, Ma firing her and now her private matter broadcasted to the entire town … Lily was ready to take a rampaging bull on, pregnant or not. She even started towards the clinic when something occurred to her; if the town knew, that meant her parents knew.

Lily swore loudly, causing several people passing her to pause and gasp. She ignored them, her mind on a much bigger problem as she practically broke her neck running home.

The tiny rancher with its ramp and white shutters was the last house at the end of the dirt road. The squat little building had once been yellow, her mother’s favorite color, but time and weather had worn the paint out, turning it dull even in the bright sunlight. Even the overflowing flowerbeds and the tiny flower boxes she and her mother planted every summer appeared pathetic next to the ramshackle structure. Lily always told herself she would buy paint once they had a little extra cash, but that day hadn’t come yet. The paint was their last worry when the roof leaked and the ramp her mother used needed to be repaired, amongst a hundred other things that needed tending. The place was two seconds away from being considered condemned. But it was home. It was also the reason she couldn’t bring a baby there.

Careful not to step on the rotted boards, Lily jogged up the ramp to the door. Her hands shook as she reached for the knob. Her breathing wheezed in her ears and she had to take a minute to calm down. Yet even then, her heart continued to jackhammer, pumping fear throughout her entire body.

“Mom!”

She pushed the door open and slipped inside. Her shoes hit the plastic mats next to the closet and she crept down the narrow corridor to the first doorway on the left and the sitting room. The place was unnaturally quiet and she wondered if maybe her parents had gone out. It wasn’t normal for the TV not to be on. Her mother never watched it, but she claimed the noise made her feel less lonely when no one else was around.

“Mom?”

Lily stepped into the darkened room and jumped.

Her mom was already there, sitting in her wheelchair. Her face was averted from the doorway, but the dim light filtering through the lace curtains across the room made the tears glisten. She sniffled and swiped her cheeks with the handkerchief clutched in her hands, still not looking at Lily.

“Mom?” Heart cracking with a vengeance that hurt, Lily darted into the room. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

In her rush to get to her mother, Lily didn’t see the second figure standing in the corner of the room until it shifted. She yelped in fright before she recognized him.

“Dad? What are you doing home?”

He motioned for her to sit. “I took the day off. We were waiting for you.”

Lily didn’t disrespect them by pretending to misunderstand. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” her mother croaked, scrubbing viciously at her nose with the wrinkled square of fabric. “When were you going to tell us, Lily?”

Lily swallowed hard. “Never?” Her mother’s strangled sob cut into her. “I wanted to. I was going to!”

“We talk about everything!” her mother moaned, bursting into fresh tears.

“Mom, please, don’t cry! Please. I’m sorry.”

“You really hurt us, Lily,” her dad said quietly. “Every person in Willow Creek knew before we did. Do you have any idea how that feels?”

“I’m sorry!” Lily said again, feeling her own eyes fill with hot tears. “It wasn’t supposed to happen. I … we were careful, but somehow…”

No one spoke while her mother wept noisily into the handkerchief. Her dad watched Lily, seemingly contemplating what to say next.

Finally, he spoke. “What are you going to do, Lily?”

Scared all over again, Lily took a deep breath. She looked down at her fingers as they picked nervously at the hem of her uniform. “I’m going to find it a good, loving home.”

“What?” Her mother’s cry of outrage was silenced by the gentle hand her father placed on her shoulder.

“Why?” her dad asked.

The question threw her. She had been so sure her parents would agree. They were in no position to raise a baby, not when each decision was a coin toss between electricity or food that month. Not when the house was a short few years from collapsing. Not when the rooms were no bigger than closets, especially not when their neighbors were routinely raided by the sheriff for cooking up meth in the basement.

“Because we can’t afford a baby,” she exclaimed. “We can barely make ends meet and I won’t make a baby suffer because I—”

“Did you suffer, Lily?” her father cut in.

Lily grimaced. “That’s not what I meant.”

“We know what you meant,” he interrupted again. “What do you want to do? What feels right deep in your heart?”

As though to prevent herself from answering, her teeth bit down hard on her lip, bottling back her answer. But the desire was too strong.

“I want it,” she blurted and as soon as it was out, something shifted on her chest, like a weight lifting. “I want to keep it.” And she did … so much. “But I know—”

“What about the father? What does he want?”

Lily looked away. “He’s not in the picture.”

“Why?”

“He’s just not!” she said a little too sharply. “I don’t want him to be.”

“But, Lily.” Her mother sniffled. “He has a right to make that decision. It’s his baby as much as yours. Keeping this from him is … it’s … cruel! Not just to him, but the baby.”

“A man has just as much say in the matter as you do,” her father added.

Guilt wormed through her. “But it’s my body. I will be the one who grows it and raises it and—”

“Do you think he wouldn’t be there for you?”

Lily said nothing, because she knew, if Cole knew, he would be in a heartbeat.

“I think this is something that you both need to decide together,” her father went on. “I think he’ll surprise you.”

“No,” she said firmly. “I don’t want him to know.”

“Are you sure he doesn’t already?”

Taken off guard, she stared at the man watching her too closely. “What do you mean?”

A soft knock interrupted their response. Her father rose from the sofa.

“I mean that we are not letting you give that baby away,” he said before leaving the room.

Her mom peered back at her through the semi darkness, her brown eyes shining. She wasn’t crying anymore, which was a small relief.

“I can’t keep it, Mom,” Lily whispered, desperately needing her to understand. “It kills me, but I’m trying to do what’s best—”

“Taking that baby away from the people who love it is not the best for it, Lily,” her mom murmured. “I know we never had much, but we always made due, and that baby will get everything it needs, because your father and I have already decided that we’re not letting your stubbornness take our grandchild away.”

A cold sort of suspicion crawled through her at the bold defiance tilting her mother’s chin.

“Mom, what—?”

Low murmurs from the corridor had them turning towards the doorway just as it was filled by her father and a second figure. Her heart tripped in her chest.

“Sloan?”

He caught her in the deep confines of his gaze and held her there. “Hello, Lily.”

She got to her feet. “What are you doing here?”

“I invited him,” her dad said simply. “It’s only fitting considering he’s a part of this.”

Confusion swarmed through her, making her head reel and her temples throb. “What—?”

“You need to talk to him,” her father said sharply. “You can’t make this decision alone.”

“And I don’t want you to,” Sloan added quietly.

“This has nothing to do with you,” Lily cried, blinking back the dark smudges hovering around the corners of her vision as the pressure built in her chest. Her heart thumped a little too erratically between her ears, making every breath she took feel thick.

“How can you say that?” her mother cried, horrified. “It takes two people to have a baby, Lily.”

“Two people…?”

Somewhere in the recess of her dilemma, Lily realized something; her parents thought Sloan was the father and he wasn’t arguing the fact.

The room swayed and she pinched her eyes shut when the effect had her stomach roiling. Her hand flew to her brow. The skin was scalding hot and clammy.

“Lily?”

Firm, tender hands grabbed her by the elbows. She was pulled into a chest smelling of grease and soap. Warm breath fanned across her temple.

“I … I need air.” The bitter tang of bile retched through her. Her body shuddered. Alarm bells went off in her head. “Oh God!”

She bolted out of Sloan’s arms and dashed into the only bathroom. She collapsed onto her knees in front of the toilet and almost missed when her stomach heaved too soon.

Blinded by tears and pain and gasping breath, she was only vaguely aware of someone coming up behind her until her hair was gathered up by gentle hands and held back. She heard water running and a moment later, she was pulled away from the porcelain bowl and cradled against a strong chest. The toilet lid was lowered and the lever jerked, flushing the sick away. Then a cool, damp cloth was pressed to her brow. It was dragged lightly over her cheeks and across her mouth and throat.

Too weak to protest, she let her head lull back against his shoulder. She closed her eyes and willed her stomach to stop.

Sloan continued to hold her, keeping her tucked in the V between his legs with one arm hooked tenderly around her middle. The other stroked her hair.

“Okay?” Warm lips brushed the shell of her ear.

“I want to die,” she groaned, turning her head away from him, saving him from getting a face full of her sour breath.

“Mm,” he murmured softly. “I’m all out of death, would you like some water instead?”

Despite the exhaustion weighing her down, Lily laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you joke before.”

“I’m a very funny man on the inside.”

She closed her eyes and lay quietly in his arms a moment, basking in the feel of him surrounding her. His heart beat against her shoulder blade and his every breath tickled the hairs at her temple. The bathroom wasn’t big enough for him. One leg was stretched out into the hall, while the other was curled up against her shoulder. Yet he seemed like he could sit there forever if she asked him to.

“Why are you here, Sloan?”

His chest rose and fell against her back. “Your dad asked me to be here, to talk to you.”

“My parents think you’re the father. Why do they think you’re the father?”

If her question threw him, he never showed it.

“Because I told them I was.”

“Why?”

“Because not telling them will hurt you. People will need a face and if you want to keep Cole out of this, you need to give them that face.”

“You shouldn’t have done that.”

Something dark flickered behind his eyes. “Your father came to me because you didn’t tell them about the baby. He was out for blood, Cole’s blood, because everyone in town knows the only person you were ever with was Cole. What would you have liked me to say?”

Lily hated that he was right, hated that she had been given no chance to prepare or to prepare those she loved.

She closed her eyes. “They want me to keep it. They say we will work it out, but we can’t.” She opened her eyes and tipped her head back to search his blue eyes. “My dad already works so hard just for the little we have and without my job—”

“What happened to your job?”

She looked away. “I was fired today.”

“What? Why?” he demanded, his face a mask of dark anger.

“It doesn’t matter—”

“Why?”

She had to look away from the fire crackling in the depths of his eyes. “She said it was because she was getting complaints, but Dawn thinks it’s because she doesn’t want to pay me to go on maternity leave in nine months.” She shook her head. “That doesn’t even matter. The point is that no one is going to hire me for the same reason and a baby needs diapers and clothes and a crib … my dad can’t do that on his own.”

“Why do you keep assuming you’ll be alone?”

“Because I’m not making you raise my baby, Sloan. It’s my responsibility and it’s up to me to take care of it, which I can’t. So I need to do what’s best for it, which is … is to find it a good home.” She broke off, bit her lip when it trembled and sucked in a shaky breath. “This is the only way I know how to protect it from getting labeled as the bastard child of the town whore.”

“Who the fuck said that?” His snarl made her jump. “Who?” he demanded when she said nothing.

“No one!” she said quickly. “But they will. You know they will and I…” A tear slid down her cheek. He caught it with the pad of his thumb and gently swiped it away. “It would kill me, Sloan. I wouldn’t be able to stand it.”

“That won’t happen.” His voice was filled with such confidence that she nearly believed him.

“You can’t—”

“It won’t happen,” he repeated louder, with a steely undertone that left no room for argument. “Because that kid will have me and I will kill anyone who hurts him.”

Lily shook her head, a fresh wave of tears making her shoulders rock with a sob. “And what about me?” She lifted her face to his. “Do you think I would be able to bear it, seeing him in town, knowing he’s mine but I can’t be with him because I gave him away?”

There was a look of disgusted disbelief on his face that was barely concealing the outrage she saw crackling underneath.

“Do you really think that I would cut you from his life?”

“I think I would have no right in his life,” she confessed. “What sort of mother just gives her baby away and then continues to be in his life? What would I tell him? Yes, I’m your mother, but I can’t keep you. Would I get weekends to take him out for ice cream, but would have to bring him home by nine? Back to a home that’s not with me so you can read to him every night and watch him grow and take his first steps while I … God it would kill me, Sloan!”

“Jesus, Lily!” His growl vibrated up her back. His arm tightened around her and his lips brushed her brow. “I would never let anyone take that baby away from you, not even me.”

Lily leaned into him, resting her brow against his chin. The stubbles scratched her skin, but she didn’t care.

“I’m in no shape to afford a baby,” she whispered, careful not to let her parents overhear. “I can’t raise him in this house. It’s a death trap. Everything is falling apart.”

“Then let me help, Lily.”

“How?” She pulled back an inch to peer into his face. “What can you possibly do?”

“Marry me.”

Maybe it was because she’d just thrown up, or the fact that she was on an emotional rollercoaster that wouldn’t stop, but she couldn’t seem to get her brain to wrap around his astonishing declaration.

“What did you say?”

There was shock in his eyes, like even he couldn’t believe those words had left him. But just as quickly, he squared his shoulders and met her gaze with determination.

“Marry me,” he repeated firmly.

Lily scrambled to her feet, horrified and insulted. “I can’t believe you just proposed to me over a toilet full of vomit.”

Even he had the decency to grimace. “I flushed…”

Disgusted, Lily stormed from the bathroom.

Lily had always known Sloan McClain was a stubborn man. Aside from having known him the last nineteen years of her life, she had seen him argue with Cole and win on just about everything, except her. She was the one thing Cole refused to budge on, no matter how many times Sloan told him to find a different friend. Lily had heard the argument with her own ears too many times to count. But the eldest McClain could hold his ground on just about any issue, sink his teeth in until he was the victor. So it was not entirely surprising when Lily woke the next morning to find Sloan in her kitchen, half buried in the cupboard beneath the sink.

There were tools and towels everywhere. A bucket full of black crap was next to his hip and a low grinding filled the air with every wrench of his arm. The square table that usually sat in the center of the narrow room had been pushed to the side and that’s where her mother sat, morning paper and coffee mug in hand. She waved at Lily with the hand not holding a cup.

Lily squinted at her, then jerked a head questioningly towards the toned pair of legs sticking out from inside the cupboard. Her mother shrugged in response.

Bemused, Lily padded over to the pair of black boots and glanced down at the front of Sloan’s pants. His black t-shirt had ridden up over his belt and a thin sliver of flesh had become exposed. She studied it a moment, then looked down at the zipper and the well outlined bulge leaning a little to the right.

A warm wave rippled spread through her, tightening her stomach muscles. The place between her legs pulsed with longing and her nipples hardened. She wondered just how inappropriate it would be to straddle him like that, to undo the fastens, fish inside the denim and pull him free. She was clearly not a stranger to a male erection, but she wanted to see his. She wanted to feel it in her hands. She wanted his hot groans in her ear and the feel of his calloused hands on her skin.

Lily forced herself away from those thoughts. Not only because she was barely keeping her hormones in check, but her mother was sitting barely five feet away. Part of her wondered if her cheeks looked as feverish as she felt, but she refrained from pressing a hand to them to check.

“Morning,” she forced out.

The grinding noise stopped and Sloan poked his head out.

“Morning.”

She shifted her weight, more to smother the ache than anything else. “What are you doing?”

With the wrench in his grimy hand, he gestured to the sink above his head. “Your drain was clogged,” he said. “I’m replacing the U-bend.”

Lily nodded slowly. “Why?”

He frowned at her. “Because your drain was clogged,” he repeated slowly, like she was hard of hearing.

Lily glanced at her mother again and got another shrug. She faced him once more.

“It’s nine in the morning.”

He disappeared under the sink once more. “I’m aware.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Since six,” her mother chimed in with a hint of something she smothered behind her coffee mug, but Lily didn’t miss the amused twinkle in the other woman’s eyes.

Lily’s jaw slackened. “Why on earth would you be here at six in the morning?”

“Because I have a job at noon and this needed to be done.”

“Okay, but—”

“Can you pass me that rag?” He gestured with a hand towards the rag next to the bucket.

Lily grabbed it and handed it over.

“Sloan, why are you under my sink?” she demanded.

“I told you, your U-bend was clogged.”

She threw her hands up in defeat and left him to his work. She walked over to the table and dropped down across from her mother.

“He showed up as soon as your dad left this morning,” her mother said in a conspiratorial whisper. “Had his tool box and everything.”

“Why?” Lily hissed back in the same low tone.

Her mother shrugged. “He just walked in and started fixing stuff and I didn’t stop him.”

It was a solid fifteen more minutes before Sloan finally hefted his lean frame to his feet. He scrubbed his hands on the rag before reaching over and turning the faucet on. He let it run a minute, watching the drain. Whatever he was waiting for must have satisfied him, because he gave a brisk nod, shut off the water, and stepped back.

“There.” He stuffed the rag into his back pocket and turned to them. “That should make things easier.”

“Thank you, Sloan,” her mother said warmly. “It was really kind of you to fix it, and for the air conditioner.”

Lily blinked. “Air conditioner?”

Her mother grimaced sheepishly.

“I had a spare one lying around,” Sloan replied as he began gathering his tools. “It’s been a hot summer and I figured someone should get some use out of it.”

It was only then she realized the house wasn’t sweltering hot and all the windows were closed.

She looked to her mother, who smiled brightly.

Mess cleaned up, Sloan said goodbye to her mother, inclined his head to her and headed out into the hallway. Lily jumped out of her seat and followed him to the front door.

“What are you doing, Sloan?” she demanded, reaching him just as he twisted the doorknob.

He stepped outside and turned to her. “What do you mean?”

Her gaze dropped to the crisp, brand new air conditioner box sitting on the ramp next to his feet. “Just lying around, huh?”

Unfazed, he bent down and grabbed the box up. “Yeah, it was.”

His blue eyes clashed challengingly with hers, daring her to argue, but she couldn’t. The gesture had been sweet. Him coming over at the crack of dawn to fix the sink and cool the house down had been sweet. If anything, it made her want to lean over and kiss him.

“What are you playing at, McClain?” she whispered.

Realizing she wasn’t going to fight him, the hard lines on his face softened. His gaze became prodding, determined and warm as they held hers. The boards beneath his boots creaked as he shifted his weight forward. His voice was husky and rich when he spoke.

“I’m not going to let you live in a death trap, baby girl.”

With that and without letting her respond, he turned and started towards his pickup truck.

He returned the next day. Lily woke to the roof groaning over her head. Terrified that the ceiling was about to collapse on top of her, Lily bolted out of bed and hurried from the house. She found Sloan perched on the ladder, ripping shingles off the roof. On the ground were several bundles of new shingles waiting to replace the old ones he was tearing out.

“What are you doing?” she cried, still frantic.

“It’s supposed to rain next week,” he called down. “These need to be replaced before then.”

“You’re a roofer now?”

He glanced down. “When I need to be.”

“You’re going to get yourself killed!” She took a panicked step forward. “Get down from there.”

His mouth curled in one corner. “Worried about me?”

“Yes!” she cried without hesitation.

“Don’t be,” he said, turning back to his shingle yanking. “It would take more than falling off a roof to get rid of me.”

A week later, Lily was awakened by the persistent thump, thump, thump of hammer pounding into wood and knew without opening her eyes that Sloan was back. She rose from the bed and edged out of her room, surprised to find the house empty as she followed the sound to the front door. She yanked it open and squinted through the brightness at the figure tearing up the ramp.

“What are you doing now?”

Sloan raised his head. “Did I wake you?”

A grin tugged on her mouth. “I’m beginning to get used to it.” She ran a hand through her tussled hair. “What are you doing?”

“The boards on the ramp are finished,” he said, gesturing with the hammer. “I got some new ones.” He motioned to the neat pile a few feet away. “They’re thicker and durable.”

Lily stepped out onto the front porch, ignoring the fact that she was clad only in a t-shirt and panties. She folded her arms at the slight chill in the air and studied the boards at her feet.

“Why?” she wondered, facing him.

“Because these ones are rotted and I don’t want your mother’s wheelchair to go through.”

His response stole all other thoughts. It filled her with a warmth that spread through her like sunshine. Lily looked into his face and knew without a shred of doubt that she loved him.

“What?” he said and she realized she’d been staring at him.

Lily chuckled and gave her head a shake. “Nothing. I just…” She shrugged. “I know you’re only doing all this for the baby, but it really means a lot to me.”

“It’s not.”

Lily blinked. “What?”

He slid the shaft of the hammer into the loop of his utility belt and turned his body in her direction. “It’s not just for the baby.” He paused, hesitating before adding, “I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.”

That light flutter grew into a hard wrench that seemed to collect all the strings attached to her heart and twist until they were in knots and she was breathless and dizzy.

“You should head inside,” he continued when Lily remained speechless. “It’s chilly. I’ll finish up here and head out. I have a job this afternoon, but I wanted to make sure this was safe before I left.”

Unsure what to say, Lily did as he said and started for the house. She paused halfway through the door and glanced back, not surprised to find him already watching her.

Without a word, she ducked her head and hurried inside.

The day after, she found him taking down and painting the shutters and cleaning the gutters.

A week after that, Lily stood at the living room window, arms folded, watching as he put the second coat of paint on the side of the house, a soft, canary-yellow. He was topless, his beautiful torso a masterpiece of tattoos and muscles. Lily was having a hard time concentrating on anything else but how deep the grooves were cut along his abdomen, stamping his taut, golden flesh with six perfect squares and how his arms were hard, bulging muscles that flexed with his every fluid movement. His tattered jeans hung low on narrow hips and she had an aching urge to trace the V with her tongue.

It wasn’t anything unusual. She’d had thoughts like that regarding the eldest McClain since she’d turned thirteen and had caught him coming out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel. He hadn’t spotted her, but it had been an image that stayed with her for the next six years, becoming the centerpiece for all her fantasies. Not for the first time did she wonder what it would feel like to splay her hands across all that beautiful skin, to feel the heat coming off him beneath her palms, her lips and grazing every inch of her as he pressed her into the mattress and…

“Water?”

“God, yes!” She snatched the frosty glass she was handed and downed the contents in two greedy gulps. “Thank you!” she gasped, breathing hard.

Her mother raised an eyebrow, her expression barely containing her amusement. “It was for Sloan.”

Lily blanked. “What?”

She gestured with a nod to the glass in Lily’s hand. “The water. It was for Sloan.”

Cheeks flushing, Lily looked down at the empty glass. “Oh,” she mumbled stupidly. “Sorry.”

Her mom laughed. “I get it. The boy sure knows how to make a girl work up a sweat.”

Despite the gross factor of the comment, Lily laughed. “Doesn’t he just?” She stole another peek at Sloan through the blinds. “I just don’t understand him at all.”

“What do you mean?”

Lily sighed. “He’s here every single day from sun up to sun down, fixing everything in sight, and he never asks for anything back. Who does that?”

“A guy a smart girl keeps,” her mother said. “He’s a good guy, Lily. And it’s clear that he cares about you.”

Her heart gave a vicious kick. “He asked me to marry him.”

Her mom raised both eyebrows in surprise. “Did he? What did you say?”

Lily shook her head. “I said no.”

“Lily!”

“I couldn’t, okay?” She ran her fingers through her hair. “He only asked because of the baby. I’m not … I can’t marry a guy just because I’m pregnant, especially when I’m not keeping the baby.”

“I don’t think that’s the only reason he asked.”

“We were sitting over a toilet bowl full of my puke. I highly doubt he was swept off his feet by the smell, okay?”

“Do you love him?”

Since I was thirteen, she thought wistfully.

“It doesn’t matter,” she mumbled out loud.

“It does matter,” her mom argued. “If you love someone, it makes sense to marry them and raise a family. I should know.”

Lily chuckled. “It’s much more complicated than that. Loving him won’t change the fact that he doesn’t love me back.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” her mother said slyly. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

Lily frowned dryly. “Are you seriously trying to play matchmaker just so you can have a grandchild?”

The smile on the other woman’s face slipped a notch. “Is that so wrong? I know you’re young and can have others, but…” She looked down at her hands. “It really hurts to know I’ll never see this one again. That I will go on knowing he or she is out there somewhere and I will never hold them.” She broke off when her voice cracked and tears brightened her eyes. She took a gulping breath and looked away. “I know it’s your decision, sweetie. But I hate the reason you’re making it, especially when you are surrounded by people who will love that baby and do anything for it.”

“I’m not going to be one of those people who depend on others to help raise her kid,” she countered. “I have no income and a high school education. How far do you think my life will go with a kid to support?”

Her mother sighed. “Your father and I will support you, no matter what decision you decide to make. We will always love you. But I…” Her voice broke. She pressed a shaky hand to her heart. “I’m sorry. I really thought I could hold myself together.” She moistened her lips. “I think I’m going to lie down for a moment. Please thank Sloan for me when he comes in and remind him supper’s at seven.”

Lily watched as her mother wheeled her chair around and pushed herself out of the room. She was still standing there, staring at the spot with her mind whirling when the front door opened. There was a scuffle of approaching feet, then Sloan was darkening the doorway.

“Done,” he announced. “I’ll put the shutters back up tomorrow once the paint has fully dried.”

Lily didn’t know what propelled her, but she found herself closing the distance between them at a run. Then her arms were around him and her face was mashed into the seam between his neck and shoulder.

“Lily?” His arms closed around her, tight and unyielding.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was muffled by the warm skin of his neck.

His lips grazed her temple. “Don’t be.”

She shook her head. “I just…”

He didn’t press her to explain, but continued to hold her and that was all she needed. It seemed as though lately, whenever everything felt like a tide rising over her head, it was his presence that kept her afloat. He had become her rock, sturdy and dependable. Any other time, it would have been Cole she would run to, or call. But he had become so busy with school and Beth and the sports teams he was on that Lily rarely got to talk to him anymore. Their nightly phone calls had become weekends, then every other weekend. Lily wasn’t upset. She had known it would be hard, but she hadn’t expected it to be this hard. She hadn’t expected to feel so completely alone and isolated, and maybe it was the pregnancy hormones talking, but it was all just too much sometimes.

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” Sloan murmured.

“Do you think I’m a bad person, Sloan?”

His arms tightened. “No, I don’t. Why?”

“Then why do I feel like I am?”

The course tips of his fingers glided up the column of her throat and nudged her chin up. He held her there, pressed against him with their faces inches apart.

“You could never be a bad person, Lily. Now tell me what the matter is.”

Lily shook her head. “I’m being ridiculous.” She forced a smile for him. “I also kind of miss Cole, I guess. It’s strange not seeing him every day.”

“Why don’t you call him?”

“I did this morning, but I think he was in class.” She sighed and pulled back. “He’ll probably call me back later tonight.”

Sloan nodded slowly. “We could drive up this weekend and see him, if you want. We could stay the whole weekend.”

The offer made her want to hug him all over again.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” he said without hesitation. “Call him and make sure he’s not busy and we’ll go up.”

He dug into his pocket and pulled out his phone. She took it, all the while searching his face for signs of reluctance. But he stared right back at her, without batting an eye.

Filled with a new purpose, Lily dialed Cole’s number and left him an excited message. Sloan was watching her when she hung up.

“Thank you,” she said.

He took his phone back and inclined his head. “I have some paperwork to finish back at the house, but I’ll swing by tomorrow to finish the shutters.”

He was at the door when she hurried after him.

“Aren’t you coming back for supper?” she wondered.

His head tilted back over his shoulder to peer at her. “Aren’t you sick of seeing me yet, baby girl?”

“No,” she said honestly. “I want you here, unless you have plans…”

She hated the bitter taste the thought of him having plans left in her mouth, especially when it was accompanied by the image of some beautiful girl in his arms.

Sloan shook his head. “No plans.”

Relief sagged her shoulders.

“Then I’ll see you for supper?”

“I’ll be here.”

Chapter Four ~ Sloan

It was three in the morning when his phone rang. Groggy, Sloan reached for the receiver off his nightstand and mashed it to his ear after smacking himself in the temple with it first.

“’ello?” he grumbled.

“Sloan…”

He bolted upright, instantly alert. “Lily?”

“Sloan…” Her small, broken voice washed him in a current of ice. “It’s the baby.”

Heart a panicked mess in his chest, his mind a blank slate of terror, he leapt out of bed.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” He wasn’t even sure he disconnected the line.

Grabbing his jeans and a shirt off the floor, he threw himself down the stairs, dressing as he went. He paused just long enough to stuff his feet into his boots and grab his keys before breaking every speeding law to her house.

She was standing on the porch when he pulled to a screeching halt in the driveway. Her hair hung in tangled knots around the stark, sickly white of her complexion. Her thin shoulders were bunched up around her ears as though an invisible force were beating against her. She wore a light purple dress with a knitted sweater drawn overtop, yet she continued to shiver despite the humidity.

“Lily!”

He threw open his car door and sprinted across the lawn. Her brown eyes were dry, but the fear in them was paralyzing.

“I’m sorry,” She croaked. “I didn’t know who else to call and I didn’t want to wake up my parents.”

He shook his head. “No, it’s okay. What’s wrong?”

Her face crumpled and the tears rained down her face. She took an unsteady breath, but even then, when she spoke, the words were a series of sobs.

“I’m bleeding.”

Sloan’s very being went cold. His gaze dropped to the hands she was restlessly rubbing over her belly and alarm bells sounded in his head.

“I woke up with these horrible cramps,” she went on. “And there was blood on the sheets…”

Sloan tore violently out of his own terror to pull her into his arms. His hand cradled the back of her head as she wept into his shoulder.

“It’s okay,” he murmured into her temple. “It’s going to be okay.”

“It’s my fault,” she wept. “I did something I shouldn’t have. I know it.”

He held her tighter. “No, Lily.”

“Then God’s punishing me for not wanting to keep the baby.”

He drew back an inch to peer into her face. “No,” he said again, taking her wet cheeks between his hands. “This isn’t your fault, nor is God punishing you. Come on. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

He bundled her up into the car and drove as quickly and as safely to Willow Creek Memorial as possible. All the while, Lily wept quietly in the seat next to him. Her hands stayed flat against her abdomen as if she could someone keep the baby inside her and the sight broke everything inside him.

Sloan had never felt so useless. He didn’t know how to comfort her. He had no words to assure her that everything would be okay, that the baby was fine. His own insides were in turmoil. He kept murmuring the same prayer over and over inside his head, begging whatever god was listening to keep the baby safe. It was only for Lily that he was keeping it together.

At the hospital, he grabbed a wheelchair and helped her into it, then practically bowled people over as he raced to the waiting area.

It was deserted. A sleepy-eyed nurse sat behind the counter, dozing in her paperwork. She jumped when they approached her.

“We need to see a doctor,” he said and wasn’t quick enough to conceal the tremor in his voice. “She’s bleeding.”

The nurse looked Lily over and blinked in confusion when she didn’t spot any blood.

“She’s pregnant!” he snapped, his patience coming to a close.

This got the nurse moving. Twenty minutes later, Lily had her blood taken and sat on a cot, waiting for the doctor to give them the news. She wasn’t crying anymore, but the way she sat, staring with blank, shattered eyes at nothing while her entire body shivered all the way to her hair ripped at him.

“Lily?” He went to her and took her face in his hands. There were unshed tears in her eyes when they met his. “Does it hurt anywhere?”

She shook her head, still shivering; he could almost hear her teeth chattering. “I’m so scared, Sloan.” Her bottom lip wobbled. “What if—”

“Shhh.” He couldn’t stand to hear those words spoken out loud. “You heard what the nurse said, sometimes women bleed.”

A tear slid down her cheek. “That much?”

He had no idea.

“It’s going to be okay,” was all he could say. “The doctor will be here any minute now.”

When her fingers reached for him, closed in his shirt and dragged him closer, he didn’t fight it. He put his arms around her and pulled her in the rest of the way, resting his chin on the top of her head.

“Thank you for coming.” Her warm breath tickled the hollow indent of his throat. “I’m sorry I woke you. I just … after waking and…” She shuddered. He tightened his hold on her. “You’re the first person I thought of.”

God, he loved her.

“Don’t ever be sorry for calling me,” he murmured into her soft curls. “I will always be there for you, Lily.”

Sniffling, she raised her face to his, her damp lashes forming the sharp points of a star around velvet brown orbs. “Even if—”

He stilled the words with a gentle finger on her lips. “Always,” he promised, combing back the strands at her temple.

His knuckles brushed the curve of her cheek as he followed the line to her jaw. He slid down to take her chin between his fingers. His thumb traced her lush little mouth. He watched as her lips parted as though begging him to take what he’d been dreaming of for ages. His blood stirred and his heart picked up in anticipation. He could practically taste her on his tongue.

The door behind him opened and a weary doctor walked in, flipping through a clipboard. The wrinkled state of his coat and the equally rumpled clothes underneath were nothing compared to the dark rings around his blue eyes. He squinted at them through silver rimmed glasses and offered them a tired smile.

“Hello,” he said. “I’m Dr. Nixon. You’re…” He consulted his clipboard. “Lily?”

Still in Sloan’s arms, Lily nodded. Her fingers tightened on Sloan’s shirt. “Is everything okay? The baby…?”

It seemed to take the man ages to answer, as though he were deliberately trying to torment them. He moved to the machine set up next to the bed and pulled the stool out. He lowered himself onto it and accessed his notes once again.

Then, just when Sloan was about to snatch the thing from him and read the results himself, the man looked up.

“You’re roughly fifteen weeks, is that correct?”

Swallowing audibly, Lily nodded. She was beginning to tremble again.

Dr. Nixon snapped the clipboard shut and tucked it into the corner of the machine. “Okay,” he said. “Let’s see if we can’t hear anything.”

“Hear anything?” Lily murmured.

The doctor nodded as he busied himself taping things into the machine. “If we’re lucky, we might be able to pick up the heartbeat.”

“The heartbeat?” Sloan asked.

“So the baby’s okay?” Lily chimed in, her eyes bright with apprehension and joy.

The doctor shrugged. “Your hCG levels are perfectly normal, but I want to do a scan to double check. Can you lie back, please?”

Exchanging a quick glance with Sloan, Lily reclined on the cot. The doctor asked her to roll her top up as he plucked up a bottle from a slot on the machine. Sloan started to step back when his fingers were caught by Lily and he was pulled back to her side.

“Don’t leave me,” she whispered, tightening her grip.

Never! He wanted to tell her. But he said nothing as Dr. Nixon scooted closer to the bed and squeezed liquid goop across Lily’s belly. They watched as the doctor pressed a plastic wand into the mess and began sliding it across the smooth surface of her belly. Every once in a while, he’d pause to type something in, then he’d continue.

“So…” he began. “The fetus is roughly four inches long from what I can see. The heartbeat seems normal…” He hit a key and the room was filled with a soft whooshing noise like air through a microphone.

Then they heard it, the echo of a tiny heartbeat, rapid, but steady. Sloan stared at the screen, throat constricted as though he’d swallowed a golf ball. The wonder of it stole his breath and all he could do was stare in silence as the doctor continued letting them hear one of the most beautiful sounds Sloan had ever heard.

“Can we see it?” she asked.

The doctor didn’t answer right away. His brows were furrowed as he dragged the wand back and forth over her stomach.

“I’m trying to get a clear picture, but he is very adamant to stay hidden.”

“It’s a boy?” Sloan asked.

The doctor laughed. “No, sorry. I mean, it could be. We’re really not allowed to divulge that so early in the game. Ah!” He gave a cry of delight and stopped his hand movement. He tapped something on the keyboard with his free hand, then twisted the monitor around for them to see. “There he—or she—is.”

There was no mistaking it. The oblong head, the tiny ridges of its spine, the long, slender arms.

“Jesus…” Sloan breathed.

“Sloan…”

“Yeah, I see it.” His voice sounded dazed and full of awe even to his own ears.

Without thinking, he bent his head and brushed a kiss to her brow. Eyes still feasting on the image on the screen, Lily squeezed his fingers in response.

The doctor printed out a small square scrap of paper with a black and white image of a face peering back at them through a vast sea of black and handed it to Lily. “There you go,” he said, smiling. “Something to take home with you.”

“Sloan, look!” She held it up for him to see.

“He’s perfect, baby girl.” he murmured, more enthralled by the happy glow that had chased away the fear. She was radiant once more, bright and full of light in her eyes. “Beautiful,” he murmured.

Still beaming, Lily turned to the doctor. “So the bleeding…?”

“It happens sometimes,” he assured her. “It should stop, if not, come back and we’ll check again.”

It was nearly six in the morning when Sloan finally pulled up in front of Lily’s house. They hadn’t spoken throughout the entire drive, which was filled mostly with her staring at the ultrasound photo. The unmistakable joy on her face made the fact that he had to be ready in an hour to help move an entire house so very worth the couple of hours he’d slept.

“Are you going to be okay?” he asked as they stopped in her driveway.

Finally tearing her eyes away from the picture, Lily smiled at him. “Is it strange that I feel amazing?”

“No.” He didn’t tell her that that was all he ever wanted her to feel.

She looked at the picture again as if unable to stop. “Is it strange that it hadn’t felt really real until we heard the heartbeat?”

“No,” he said again softly.

With a laugh she lowered the picture and tilted her head towards him. “I am just so happy.”

He had to restrain himself to keep from leaning across the divider and kissing her and tasting that happiness for himself.

“Me too.”

She bit her lip. “I should let you go and get some sleep. Thank you again for coming and staying with me.”

“Anytime, baby girl.”

He got out of the car and went around to help her out. He walked her all the way to the front door and waited as she slipped inside before going home to shower and dress for work.

“You going to be okay, Sloan?” Jeremy Shaw watched Sloan tumble awkwardly out of the truck cabin, the knuckles white around the door handle.

“Fine,” he muttered around gritted teeth.

His back screamed as he fought to remain upright. Sharp fingers of pain lanced up the small of his spine to spider web across the width of his shoulder blades and coil into a tight ball at the back of his neck. The effect had chisels piercing his temples. And to think the pain had been worse earlier that day and had calmed down considerably.

“I am so sorry,” Jeremy went on, following Sloan towards the house.

“It’s fine, Jer,” Sloan mumbled, wishing the boys would leave so he could lick his wounds with a little dignity. “It wasn’t your fault.”

And it wasn’t. It had been Sloan’s own fault. He’d been too caught up in thoughts of the previous night, of Lily and the baby and seeing that ultrasound and hearing that tiny heartbeat that he hadn’t been paying attention to the sheeting they’d put down to protect the hardwood. His foot had slipped and he’d lost his hold on the sofa he and Jeremy had been balancing between them. The unexpected jerk and the weight of the heavy piece of furniture had wrenched the muscles along his back and the pull had been horrendous. He would have passed out, or thrown up if the guys hadn’t been there.

“Do you need something?” Jeremy darted past Sloan and yanked open the door for him, making Sloan growl deep in his throat, his pride taking another ding. “I could get you an ice pack.”

“I’m fine!” he said a little too sharply. He softened his tone. “It’s okay. I hardly feel it now. Go on home.”

Looking hesitant, Jeremy stood there a moment longer before giving a slight nod and trudging back outside.

Alone, Sloan shuffled to the sofa and propped himself up on the armrest. He planted his hands on his knees and leaned forward as far as his protesting back would allow him.

He needed a bath, an entire bottle of aspirin and a bed. What he lacked was motivation to follow through.

The bells above the door jingled. The floorboards creaked as someone stepped into the foyer. Head still bent, Sloan rocked it slowly from side to side in frustration.

“I’m fine, Jeremy. Go home!”

Light footsteps shuffled into the sitting room and paused.

He groaned inwardly. “Jesus, Jer, I said—” He raised his head and started at the small figure watching him back. Definitely not Jeremy. “Lily?”

She offered him a hesitant smile and a small wave. “Hello.”

He tried to straighten. His back disagreed, so he stayed where he was, hands still braced on his knees. “What are you … everything okay?”

Lily nodded. “I came to thank you…” Her eyebrows furrowed as she took him in. “Are you okay?”

Groaning and forcing himself upright, Sloan nodded. “Fine. Just a small moving accident. It happens.”

“Moving accident?” She moved closer. “What did you hurt?”

He waved her away. “Just my back. Pulled something. It’s not a big—”

“It is a big deal!” she argued. “Do you have any idea how serious that is? You should be resting.”

He raised an eyebrow at her, endeared by the determination in her eyes. “Sweetheart, I’ve been doing this for four years. If I lay down every time I get hurt, I’d never work.”

Her lips pursed together tightly. The disapproval etched into her face was amusing.

“You could seriously hurt yourself,” she snapped. “What good will you be if you damage a nerve, or worse?” She seemed to draw herself up to her full height, which still only came to the center of his chest. “Get in bed.”

Tossing her purse down on the sofa, she marched into the kitchen. A second later, he heard the water running.

“I don’t hear you leaving!” she called.

“Chicken soup is for sick people,” he called back.

The water stopped. He heard a clink of metal striking metal and then she was back, dusting her hands down the front of her skirt.

“I’m not making you chicken soup,” she said. “Will you please get into bed?”

For someone who had never had anyone take care of him, Sloan wasn’t sure what the protocol was. He could tell her no, he supposed. He wasn’t about to take orders from a pint-sized woman he could pick up and toss over his shoulder. But his curiosity got the better of him and he shuffled in the direction of the stairs. It wasn’t until he was halfway up that he realized she was following him.

“Going to make sure I follow orders?” he teased.

She raised her head and peered up at him. “No … maybe. Go on.”

Shaking his head, he continued up, grimacing with every step and the pressure pulsing along his back.

In his room, he gingerly lowered himself down on the edge of the mattress, kneecaps clutched tightly beneath his hands. He would have cursed as every breath was stolen by agonizing pain, but he couldn’t unclamp his teeth to do it.

“Can you raise your arms?”

Eyes he hadn’t realized he’d squeezed shut flicked open and he blinked in surprise to find her standing in front of him, so close, all he had to do was reach out and she’d be in his grasp.

“What?” That single word croaked out wrapped in tension.

“I need to take your shirt off,” she murmured. “Unless you want to keep it on. It doesn’t matter either way. It’s just easier.”

Damn it, what are you doing, Lily? He wanted to ask. But he was just too sore to care. He couldn’t get a hard on even if he wanted in that moment.

With a nod, he raised his arms and tried to twist his shirt hem around his hands, but that only pulled the tendons, making his back scream. Then Lily was there, peeling the filthy, sweaty fabric off him and tossing it aside. She was too damn close now, standing in the V of his thighs. Her chest was inches from his face, the soft mounds swelling against the cotton material of her dress. She smelled amazing, sweet and fresh like a meadow of flowers.

“Lie down.”

The request was said quietly, but it was the slight tremor in her voice that sent fire coiling in the pit of his stomach and his gaze flitting up to her face.

Her brown eyes met his, a pink flush warming her cheeks. Her lips were parted, soft and inviting. His hands balled into fists on his thighs, a poor substitute for restraint when all he wanted to do was bunch the fabric of her dress, pull her into his lap, and connect the trio of freckles on her chest with his tongue as she sank him home deep inside her.

“Fuck!” He growled in pain as the head of his cock cut into the teeth of his zipper—so much for being unable to get an erection.

“Does it hurt a lot? Should we get you to the hospital?”

Her misdirected concern almost made him laugh. There was nothing the hospital could do for him, except maybe arrest him for the world’s biggest boner.

“They won’t help.” He rubbed a hand over his face, grimacing at the grit and grime coming off his brow. “I should take a shower.” A cold one.

“Okay.” She took a few safe steps away from him. “Do you need help undressing?”

He pushed up to his feet and her neck craned back as he loomed over her. “Baby girl, you come near my pants right now and I guarantee we will never leave this room.”

Not waiting for a response, he stomped out of the room and down the hall to the bathroom. He closed himself inside and took the longest cold shower in history.

Clad in a towel and water droplets, Sloan returned almost twenty minutes later, expecting Lily to have gone downstairs, or left, but he found her sitting on the edge of his bed, waiting for him. She shot up when he walked in, a pink wave rolling up her slender throat to fill her face.

“How do you feel?” she asked hurriedly.

His fingers tightened around the towel. “The shower helped.”

She nodded slowly, but made no move to leave. “I filled you a hot water bottle.” She gestured nervously towards the nightstand where the water bottle sat propped against the lamp. “If you lie down, I’ll—”

Without thinking, Sloan took a measured step towards her, trapping her between him and the bed. “You’re awful adamant to get me on that bed, Lily.”

If possible, the pink in her cheeks turned a dark shade of crimson that went all the way up to her hairline. “It’s not … I wasn’t…”

“Towel on or off?” He couldn’t help teasing her.

She dropped her face forward and squeaked something that sounded like, on.

Biting the inside of his cheek, Sloan slipped around her and climbed facedown onto the mattress. The reclined position pulled all the muscles in his back and he groaned. The place at his hip dipped and her heat burned into his side. He jumped when her fingers grazed the valley between his shoulder blades. His entire body stiffened reflexively. Self-consciousness made him want to get up, to twist away from what she would undoubtedly see and feel. The jagged maze of scars may have been hidden by a whirlwind of tattoos, but it was harder to hide to the touch.

“Lily, don’t…” He winced at the pathetic croak and prayed it was too muffled by the pillow for her to have heard him.

“Relax,” she whispered as she worked her fingers over the bunched muscles, never once pausing to ask why his back felt like someone had taken a lawnmower to it.

He had no idea where she learned to do magic with those tiny hands of hers, but every prod and knead tore a moan of pleasure from him. It was as though she were reaching straight through his skin and untangling every knot. Then, when she traveled down and dragged the heel of her hands down the lengths of his legs to his feet, Sloan whimpered.

“Jesus, baby girl. Don’t stop.”

She worked her thumb into the instep of his feet, down the hollow and over each toe before paving her way back up his body to his back.

Limp and sleepy, he closed his eyes and let himself fall captive to her beautiful assault. But when he opened them again, the room was painted the blue-black of dusk, his alarm placed the hour at a little after ten and the entire place was thick with the rich scent of meat, spices and vegetables.

Groggy with confusion and sleep, he pushed back the sheets that had been tucked around him and slid out of bed. He dressed quickly and ventured below in search of the smell.

He found Lily in the living room, curled up on the sofa with a book in her hand. The lamp next to her was the only light in the entire house. The rest of it sat in still darkness.

“Lily?”

Her head came up, her eyes wide in surprise. She set her book down when she spotted him and hurried to her feet.

“You’re awake!”

He ran a hand through his hair. “What are you doing here?”

He instantly regretted his question when embarrassment colored her cheeks and she seemed to shrink back.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay.” She must have thought that sounded strange, because she made a face. “Maybe I’m also a little too used to always being here. I’m sorry.” She snatched up her purse and began edging towards the door. “I should go. There’s stew in the kitchen. It should still be warm, but you can heat it up if it’s not.” She hesitated. “Okay, goodnight.”

“Lily, wait.” He crossed to her. “You don’t have to go.”

She shook her head. “I should. I need to remember Cole’s not here anymore and…” She laughed, but the sound was hollow and didn’t reach her eyes. “I know how much you always hated when I came over.”

It was true. He had hated when she would skip in through the door, blonde locks a shimmering cap around her shoulders. She would always smile at him from across the room and wave before darting upstairs to track down Cole. It infuriated him that he wanted her to run to him, to throw herself into his arms and let him kiss her senseless. He wanted her on his bed, chattering on about whatever was on her mind. He wanted her laugh to fill his room. It always baffled him how Cole never saw that his best friend was one of the most beautiful women in the world. It certainly made Sloan question if his brother’s taste ran to women, because no hot blooded male could have sleepovers almost every night with a girl like Lily and not want to fuck her. Sloan was in the room across the hall and all he could think about was spreading her open wide and tasting that sweet place between her legs. So sue him if his perpetual blue balls made him cranky. Who could blame him? If anything, his control needed a fucking medal.

“Goodnight, Sloan.”

Tangled in the memories of her coming down for breakfast in tiny shorts and a tank top, Sloan was almost not fast enough to stop her before she reached the door. He caught her hand and dragged her away from the possibility of escape.

“Stay.”

Chapter Five ~ Lily

Lying in Cole’s bed, watching the light from outside the window reflecting across the ceiling, Lily listened as the house settled in for the night. The hum of silence was a familiar one. She’d heard it often over the years. Even the view was the same. Cole would always leave her the bed and he’d crash on the floor. There was never anything remotely romantic between them. Never. Even their single night together had been filled with awkward giggles and even more awkward petting. Neither of them had wanted foreplay and had even undressed themselves before climbing beneath the sheets.

There was nothing there the other hadn’t seen before. They had already gone through the whole curious stage years before where they’d stripped naked in front of the other just to see. Then they’d gotten dressed and gone down for cookies. So that night, when he’d strapped on the condom and climbed over her, Lily had told him to just do it. He had spat on his hand, rubbed it over his semi hard cock and then positioned himself at her opening. Then he’d plunged inside … and missed. He missed two more times before she had to guide him.

It had been painful, sweaty, and unpleasant. She hadn’t come and was glad when he rolled off her, breathing hard.

“Did you…?” he’d asked.

“No. Did you?”

He’d looked down at his flaccid cock lying limply against his thigh. “Yeah.” He had shifted up onto his elbow. “Do you want me to…?”

Lily had laughed, because the last time Cole had tried to finger her, she couldn’t stop giggling. “No! I’ll deal with it when I get home.”

“But you’re okay?”

She had shrugged. “Yeah, I think so.”

And she had been.

While most girls wanted someone they would be with forever, Lily had never been under that illusion, because the person she wanted forever didn’t want her. But Cole would be and who did she trust more than Cole? He would always be her best friend. That meant something.

But Cole was gone now. She was left alone in his bed as his brother, the man she desperately wanted, lay snoozing in the room across the hall. It was a country song waiting to be written.

Sloan had offered to drive her home after they each finished a bowl of stew. But Lily knew his back was still hurting him and he refused to let her walk home alone. They agreed she would stay until morning, bunking in Cole’s old room. She just hadn’t anticipated how much she would hate that. Even while wearing one of Cole’s t-shirts and snuggled under familiar sheets, the bed was too big and lonely. What more, she was still tingling from earlier when she had helped Sloan remove his shirt; she hadn’t missed the way he’d been watching her breasts, breasts that had tightened with the hopes that he would take them into his mouth. She had secretly begged him to undo the tiny pearl buttons on her dress, pull her into his lap and fill her with the erection she could just make out beneath his jeans.

He hadn’t, which was probably a good thing since the bleeding had slowed considerably, but hadn’t stopped and even if Sloan had torn off her clothes and thrown her on the bed, not very much would have happened, which was just her luck.

Grumbling, she turned onto her side and watched the night shift outside the window.

It was the tantalizing scent of coffee that lured Lily awake a few short hours later. She stretched and yawned before pushing back the covers and making her way downstairs.

Sloan stood at the counter, back to her, taking timid sips of the mug in his hand. He was topless again and his feet were bare. The flannel bottoms he wore hung dangerously low on his hips.

Lily watched him, tracing the intricate swirl of symbols clashing in a solid mass of colors across the length of his back and intertwining down his arms. They had always seemed so random, but she had felt what they concealed, because while the images hid them from view, the raised ropes of scarred flesh was impossible to miss under the touch. She had wanted to ask, but there was no real need to. Cole had told her about their father, about the drinking and the beatings. Yet while Cole’s body was as flawless as a baby’s, Sloan’s back was a maze of horror hidden behind a beautiful wall of ink.

It made her insides ache with so much pain and anger. Cole had never let her come over when his father was home. But she had seen him in town, always disheveled and stumbling around with a bottle in his hand. The night their mother had died, Lily had wanted to come over, to stay with Cole, but he had begged her not to. She had gone over the next morning to find the place in pieces. Shattered pieces of glass, furniture, and books lay everywhere. It was as though someone had filmed a scene for Terminator in their living room. Lily had been horrified by the blood that smeared the floors and walls. That was when Cole told her about his dad stumbling home drunk after the funeral and Sloan shoving Cole under the bed and facing their father alone as he had ever since they were little.

Lily’s heart broke every time she thought about it.

“Morning.” Sloan offered her a slight smile over the rim of his coffee mug.

Lily shook free of the memories and willed herself to relax. “Morning.” She took a careful step closer. “How’s your back?”

He rolled his shoulder in a shrug. “It’s better.”

He moved to the table, set his cup down and hefted up his top off the back of a chair. He swung it on and pulled the hem down over his waistband.

The pang in her chest deepened until it was a physical thrum. It was almost enough to propel her forward, to do something bold like drag his top off and kiss each puckered strip of flesh until he knew they didn’t bother her. It was solely the fear of being pushed away that kept her in place.

“Lily?” He must have said something, because he was watching her expectantly.

“Sorry?”

He took up his mug. “I asked how you were feeling.”

She shrugged. “I’m okay.” She chuckled sheepishly. “It’s the first morning I’ve woken up without getting sick.” She looked down at her bare legs under Cole’s t-shirt. “I should head home.”

“I’m about to make breakfast,” he said before she could leave. “Do you think you can stomach eggs?”

Lily rubbed her rumbling belly and nibbled on her lip. “I think so. I’m actually hungry.”

Setting his drink down on the counter, he moved to the fridge and began rummaging inside. He drew back out a moment later, arms laden with a carton of eggs, a stick of butter, a carton of milk and a packet of cheese. She watched him take everything to the table and set them down.

Moving away from the doorway, Lily went to get him a bowl and the whisk. He thanked her and started the process of cracking eggs into the bowl.

“There’s bacon in the fridge,” he said.

The preparation of breakfast passed with very little conversation, but there was a comfort in the process. It felt so normal being there in the kitchen with him, moving around him for things and helping set the table afterwards. She was almost sad when it was finished and they were seated opposite each other over scrambled eggs, bacon and toast.

“Lily?”

Forking fluffy eggs into her mouth, she looked up. “Hmm?”

He was studying his plate with a look of deep contemplation. He absently poked his bacon with the four prongs of his fork as he mulled his response.

“I’ve been thinking.” His gaze finally lifted to meet hers. “You should move in here with me.”

Lily almost dropped her fork. “What?”

Carefully, he set his fork down and observed her levelly. “After the other night, it makes sense. I have the room, whereas your parents don’t. You won’t have to call me if you need something, because I’m always here, except when I’m working. And you won’t have to worry about bothering your parents.” He furrowed his brows. “Honestly, I would sleep more easily knowing you’re close, and since Cole left, this place is just too big for me so the company would be nice. Also, I need someone to help me in the office. It’s not strenuous and I would pay you.”

Struck speechless, Lily could only stare, open mouthed as his words clattered around in her skull.

“I—I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said at last.

He seemed prepared for that. “Why’s that?”

Because it’s hard enough keeping my hands off you, she wanted to say.

Instead, she replied, “Because you hate when I’m here.”

Something passed over his face and he dropped his gaze. “That’s complicated, Lily.”

“I don’t think so,” she said. “I used to see how you would look at me when I came over. It wasn’t exactly welcoming.” Biting back the hurt welling up in her chest, she shook her head. “Cole used to tell me it was because you thought I would eat you guys out of house and home.” She offered him a humorless grin. “And that was before I started eating for two.”

Sloan stared at her, horrified. “I never said that!”

She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant about the whole thing. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Lily!” He planted both palms down on the table and leaned forward. “I never said that! I never cared how much you ate, or how often you came over.”

“Then what was it?”

His jaw tensed. He sat back, his face a mask of tense frustration.

Knowing he wouldn’t answer, Lily looked away. “Like I said, moving in with you would be a bad idea.”

“Please.”

It wasn’t so much the quiet plea, or how it sounded like it was coming from the pit of his very soul, it was the darkness in his eyes, the way he seemed to be bracing for rejection that speared her straight through the heart.

He pulled his gaze away from her and glared hard at his plate. “I can’t sleep,” he murmured. “Not since the other night when you called. I keep waiting for the phone to ring again and I … I’m scared out of my mind that next time I won’t get to you in time and…” He broke off, forced five fingers back through his hair. “Maybe what I’m asking is purely for my benefit, but I don’t care. I need you here. I need to know that you’re just across the hall and that I can get to you when you need me.” He raised his head. “Don’t answer right now, but at least think about it—”

“Yes,” she whispered before doubt and uncertainty could cloud her judgment. “I’ll stay.”

“I can come in with you,” Sloan offered as he pulled into her driveway an hour later.

Lily shook her head. “I should tell them alone.”

He nodded slowly and glanced towards the house. “I think I’m just worried that you might change your mind.”

“I won’t,” she promised. “I’ll phone you as soon as I finish talking to my parents.”

He gave a reluctant nod and climbed out of the car. He opened her door and walked her to the door.

“Feeling okay?”

Lily chuckled. “Nervous, which is ridiculous, because I’m nineteen and already pregnant. Moving in with a guy is probably not the worst thing my parents have had to deal with the last few weeks.” She offered him a gentle smile. “But they adore you. I know they will think this is the best idea since the invention of the wheel.”

“The fact that they think I’m the baby’s father will probably help,” he added.

Lily sighed. “Yeah, there is that.” She raised her eyes to his face. “I hope you’re going to go home and rest.”

He stuffed his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “Maybe. I was actually thinking of maybe starting on Cole’s room. That way it’ll be ready for you.”

“Sloan, you need to rest!” she protested. “You could cause irreparable damage to your back. The room can wait a day, or two.”

“But I can’t.” He pushed a strand of hair off her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “I want you home, baby girl.”

While she hadn’t been wrong, she hadn’t exactly been right about her parent’s thoughts on the idea of her moving in with Sloan.

Her dad was appalled.

“He should marry you first!”

Her mom was delighted.

“I think it’s wonderful.”

In the end, it took Lily to remind her father that Sloan had asked her to marry him and she was the one who had turned him down. Only then had he relented and accepted the idea.

“The town is going to have a field day,” he muttered.

“She’s living with the father of her child!” her mother soothed.

“Out of wedlock,” he pointed out. “That isn’t what I had in mind when I told the boy to do the right thing!”

“It’s a different time,” her mother countered. “No one hardly gets married anymore.”

Her father narrowed his eyes. “Would you like to tell Father Peters that?”

Her mother pressed her lips together.

“If it makes you feel better,” Lily chimed in. “If Sloan asks me to marry him again, I will definitely consider saying yes. So long as it’s not in a bathroom.”

Her father sighed. “Lily, you’re a grown woman. You really don’t need our permission if this is what you want to do.”

“I’m not asking for your permission,” Lily said. “But I would like your blessing.”

“Of course, sweetheart!” her mother said at once.

Her father stepped around the coffee table and brushed a kiss to the top of Lily’s head. “You always have our blessing, Lily pad. And remember,” he pulled back to peer into her face, “this will always be your home.”

“Will you please stop picking things up?” Sloan took the lamp from Lily.

“It’s just a lamp,” she said with a laugh.

Tucking the lamp securely between two boxes, he glowered at her. “Who moves things for a living?”

“The boy has a point, sweetie.” Her dad came up behind her, a box in his arms. “Let us do this. Why don’t you go keep your mom company?”

“I’m not made of glass,” she mumbled, but only halfheartedly.

Nevertheless, she left the men to finish emptying her room and joined her mother in the living room.

“Got shooed away?”

Lily shook her head. “You’d think I was made of fine china. I got snapped at earlier for moving an empty suitcase from one end of the room to the other.”

Her mom chuckled. “Wait until your water breaks. You want to see a grown man fall to pieces, that’s the time.”

Lily laughed. “He’s already all but padded every sharp object at the house like I’m a toddler learning how to walk. He wouldn’t even let me pack Cole’s old things. He spent the entire night putting everything in the basement.”

Her mom closed the magazine and set it aside. “How is Cole?”

Lily honestly had no idea. Despite having called him no less than a dozen times the last week, he hadn’t returned any of her calls, not even the one about visiting that weekend. It irked her, but more than that, it hurt; her best friend had completely forgotten her.

For her mother, however, Lily kept a straight face. “He’s good! He’s having a blast at university. I don’t think he’s ever going to leave.”

“I’m surprised.”

Lily frowned. “What about?”

Her mom shrugged. “That he hasn’t said anything about you and Sloan, or the baby for that matter. I thought for sure he would.”

It took a great deal of effort not to wince in guilt.

“Yeah, well, like I said, he’s having too much fun.”

The lie was a clump of hot coals coming up her throat, but it was easier than telling her mother that Cole had found a life away from her and no longer wanted anything to do with this part of his life. But she smiled at her mother like the reality wasn’t suffocating her.

Oh the lies, she thought gloomily. Each one felt like a gingerly set wine glass on top of a pyramid of wine glasses just waiting to shatter and crumble. She still hadn’t told anyone who the father really was, except her parents, and even they didn’t know the truth. But it was only a matter of time before someone put the pieces together.

“Yoohoo! Is anyone home?”

Lily blanched even before the buxom figure trotted into the room. Speak of the devil!

Georgia May, followed by Josie Coon and Stephanie Noelle charged in, a giant, wicker basket clutched in Georgia May’s manicured hands. She smiled blindingly at Lily’s mom, then at Lily.

“I hope I’m not disturbing,” Georgia May said as she sashayed deeper into the living room. “I was baking my famous blueberry muffins and I realized I made too many, so of course I had to share with all my neighbors.”

“That’s very nice of you, Georgia May,” Lily’s mom said kindly. “Your muffins are just delicious.” She glanced at the other two behind Georgia May. “Hello, ladies.”

“Hello, Karen!” Stephanie said, trotting forward. “How are you?”

“Fine, thank you.”

Beaming, Georgia May set the basket onto the coffee table and took a step back, hands clasped in front of her. “So, we couldn’t help noticing that you’re moving some things out. I hope everything’s all right?”

And there it was. The real reason behind their visit. Lily would have laughed if she wasn’t struck with the unexpected urge to grab the basket and pitch it into the woman’s face.

“Thank you for your concern, but yes, everything is fine. Would you ladies like to sit down? I could put on a pot of tea.”

Her mother was so much better at being civil, so much better at the polite game. Lily decided she would let the other woman do all the talking until the vultures departed.

It didn’t work that way when Georgia May’s gaze pinned Lily.

“Lily!” She hurried over in her six inch heels and flopped down next to Lily on the sofa. Stephanie and Josie took the one opposite them, sitting so close to the edge of their seats that it was amazing they didn’t fall off. “How are you feeling?”

“You mean before or after you told the entire town I was pregnant?” Lily wondered. “Speaking of, isn’t there some law against reading other people’s personal medical records?”

The glow in Georgia May’s eyes dimmed a notch, but her smile remained firmly in place. “Oh, honey, I would never read personal documents. The whole thing was such a horrible accident. Susan Bray came in to see Dr. Phillips after you left and we were talking. Well, clumsy me, I accidently dropped some files, yours being one of them. I had to read them so that I could get them in the right folder. Yours didn’t have your name on it so I had to ask Dr. Phillips which of his patients was pregnant. Susan overheard me. Like I said, horrible accident. I feel simply awful.”

“Uh huh,” was all Lily could say.

“It is nothing to be ashamed of, Lily!” Stephanie said. “Why, it’s the twenty first century. Girls get pregnant all the time outside of wedlock.”

Josie nodded. “Of course, you and Cole are just perfect for each other,” she added. “I’m sure he can’t wait to get home to you.”

Lily felt her teeth grind together and wondered if they could hear it. “What does Cole have to do with anything?”

The three women exchanged glances.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Georgia May cooed. “You don’t have to keep it a secret. We all know.”

“Well, of course it’s Cole McClain,” Josie chimed in. “The timing adds up.”

“It’s smart that he’s getting his education,” Stephanie added. “That way, when he gets back, he can take care of you and the baby properly.”

Lily stiffened all over. “Cole has nothing to do with any of this.”

No one was listening to her.

“You know,” Georgia May pursed her pouty lips. “I just realized that Cole never gave anyone a place to contact him. It’s such a shame. I would have loved to take some of my muffins over to him. Poor boy probably hasn’t had a decent meal in ages. You know what?” She turned wide, gleaming eyes on Lily. “I bet I can get his number from the school office. I’m sure he’ll just love the surprise.”

“The school office won’t give out that kind of information.” Sloan appeared in the doorway, sweaty and gorgeous in his jeans and black wife beater. “But if you like, Cole will be home for Christmas.” He wiped his hands on his bandana. “That’s when we were going to surprise him with our news.”

Absolute silence descended on the room as the three women digested this information like vampires on a fresh kill.

“Our news?” Josie chirped.

Sloan grimaced and peered guiltily at Lily through thick lashes. “Sorry, baby. I know you wanted to wait until we told Cole first, but I got a little excited.”

Lily couldn’t form words even if she had wanted to.

“Are you saying the baby’s yours, Sloan?” Georgia May pounced on the juicy tidbit.

Sloan continued to watch Lily, his expression sheepish, but watchful.

“Yes,” Lily blurted. “It’s Sloan’s baby.” Her heart leapt at the dark flicker across Sloan’s face. She cleared her throat. “Now you ladies know, thanks to Sloan’s inability to keep a secret.”

Sloan moved forward, stopping when he was behind Lily. He bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“The van’s ready, love.”

“You’re moving?” Stephanie jumped in.

Sloan rested his large hands on Lily’s shoulders, burning her through the material of her shirt. “I want Lily and the baby close in case they need me.”

Stephanie and Josie gasped in unison. Georgia May patted her chest, looking star struck.

“That is just the sweetest thing!” Josie moaned.

“Karen, you just have to invite us to the wedding!” Georgia May proclaimed, turning to Lily’s mother. “Oh! You must have it in December when Cole arrives!”

Josie gasped, practically leaping out of her seat. “A Christmas wedding! How romantic!”

“Oh, no, we’re not—” Lily was ignored.

“Can you imagine? Lily dressed like a winter princess in a beautiful white gown…” Stephanie squealed slightly, giddy in her own day dream.

“We’re not—”

“A little too late for a white dress, isn’t it, Steph?” Josie giggled.

“You just have to have roses,” Georgia May interrupted. “White and red. It will be gorgeous.”

“I don’t see why not,” Stephanie protested. “She would only be, what…?” She paused to do the math. “Five months, give or take.”

“I think the pregnancy would add to the fairytale,” Georgia May decided.

“It would be symbolic!” Josie clapped her hands. “A new beginning.”

Lily cast her mother a pleading look. She was the only one who hadn’t spoken and the way she was listening to the other woman go on, Lily had a feeling her mother wasn’t going to be much help.

Behind her, Sloan squeezed her shoulder. “Let them have their fun. I want to get you home.”

It seemed like everyone in the room stopped speaking at the exact same moment and his words rang through the silence.

The women loved it. They sighed and aww’d as Lily got to her feet. She said goodbye quickly and let Sloan usher her from the room just as the conversation went back to talks of her wedding.

“I don’t know whether to thank you for being such a great actor, or be worried,” Lily mumbled as they made their way down the short hall towards the front door.

Sloan stopped walking and twisted around to face her, his face void of expression. “It wouldn’t have taken them very long to track Cole down,” he replied evenly. “Did you want him to hear it from them?” He glanced towards the front door where Lily could just make out her father stuffing the last of her things into the back of the truck. “Cole’s not stupid. If those three could do the math, he certainly can.”

Lily sighed and leaned back against the wall. “It just feels like this whole thing is becoming a tangled web of lies. I haven’t lied this much in my whole life.” She gouged the tip of her fingers into her brow and gave a vicious rub. “This is just becoming so complicated.”

She felt rather than heard him shift closer. His heat burned through the soft material of her dress to singe her skin.

“It’s over,” he said gently. “The only thing they were sniffing around for was the identity of the father and now they have one. There’s nothing left.”

Lily lowered her hand and met his gaze. “Were you in there just now? They expect us to get married, because we’re in the sixties where women can’t have babies alone.”

“But you’re not alone.”

“That’s not the point!” Frustration had her temples throbbing.

“Hey.” He lightly took her shoulders into his hands and drew her to him. “What’s really bothering you?”

“Cole never called me back,” she confessed. “Not a single phone call, email, or text since we drove down to see him. It’s like he’s completely forgotten me and the last nineteen years of us being best friends.” She dropped her gaze to her feet. “I feel like I’m completely replaceable, worth nothing.”

Sloan’s face darkened. His fingers tightened. “Don’t say that!” He gave her a gentle shake. “It isn’t true. Let’s get you home. Then I’ll deal with him.”

Chapter Six ~ Sloan

Moving Lily into the house took one whole day. It took a second day to help her unpack and reorganize Cole’s old room. He hadn’t expected it to take very long, not a single, tiny bedroom, not when they had left her bed and dresser behind. Her entire world was a handful of boxes that held mainly photo albums. There were so many that Sloan wondered if she had a secret fetish he didn’t know about.

“I like taking pictures¸” she confessed when she caught him watching her line them along the bookshelf, the top of the dresser and stacked on the window seat.

It really didn’t surprise him; he remembered all too well the times she would run around the place, snapping pictures of everything in sight, including him. Then, one day, she just stopped.

“I hadn’t realized it was a hobby,” he said.

Lily shrugged as she traced a finger over the stitched daisies on the cover of one album. “It was just … nothing.”

But it was something. He could see it in the careful, almost tender way she handled each one, as though they were made of fine china. There was nothing careless about how she placed them.

Sloan flipped one open and was immediately assaulted by a carousel of colors and poses. Each page held four snapshot of various objects that had no connection, yet worked perfectly together in some strange way. There was one of a tulip bowing to a gust of summer breeze, a greasy wrench lying forgotten on pavement, a ladybug making her way across a brick wall and the picture of a hand, Lily’s hand, waving at the sky. There was no filter, no alterations. These pictures were randomly snapped for no reason except to immortalize them forever within the confines of her books. Yet they were beautiful, like poetry through pictures.

“Oh!” Lily caught him and she grimaced. “I actually don’t let anyone—”

“These are amazing,” he cut her off. “Why did you stop?”

“Um…” She sidestepped around several boxes and stopped in front of him. She took the album, closed it and set it aside. “No real reason. I guess I kind of outgrow the whole thing.”

The lie made him frown. Her avoidance of his gaze only intensified his curiosity.

“People who outgrow things, don’t usually keep so many souvenirs.”

She rubbed anxiously on her arm and turned away from him to dig through another box. “I just really don’t like throwing things away.”

Sloan didn’t push her. “I’m going to go get some work done,” he told her. “Don’t pick anything up that weighs more than a pillow. I’m just downstairs if you need help.”

Lily twisted her head around and glowered at him. “Seriously? A pillow?”

He pointed a warning finger at her. “I never joke about pillows!”

With that, he left her to finish.

Downstairs, he walked into his office and shut the door. He took a seat behind his desk and picked up the phone.

Karen Price picked up on the second ring.

“Hello?”

Sloan deliberated the wisdom of his decision for a whole second before deciding he would risk it.

“Hi, it’s Sloan.”

“Hi, Sloan! How’s the move going? Is Lily settling in okay?”

Sloan thought of the twenty boxes of photo albums and gave a shrug. “I think so. I actually had a question I was hoping you could answer.”

“Sure!”

He told her about the boxes, about the mindboggling number of photo albums and Lily’s reluctance to answer his questions.

“She says it’s nothing, but…”

Mrs. Price sighed. “I honestly don’t know what happened. Her father and I asked her about it, but she refuses to talk about it. Lily can keep a secret like nobody I know.”

“So you don’t know why she stopped?”

“Not a clue. She always took such beautiful pictures. I thought it was sad when her camera disappeared.”

Sloan frowned. “Disappeared?”

Mrs. Price chuckled. “I’m sure it didn’t disappear, exactly. That thing was superglued to her hand about ninety percent of the time. She loved it the way one loves to breath. It was why we got it for her. She was eleven and every time we passed Hidden Treasures, you know the pawn shop in town? She would press her little nose to the glass and just eye that thing for hours. It took us ages to save up enough to get it, but we managed to just in time for her birthday. The look on her face was just … magical. You would think we just gave her a baby unicorn. Then, one day, it was just gone.”

“I wonder what happened,” Sloan mumbled to himself.

“I have no idea, but if you find out, let me know?”

Promising that he would, Sloan said goodbye and hung up. Then he just sat there, listening to the groan of floorboards as Lily moved around overhead. Her pacing seemed methodical, like she was moving the same path from point A to point B. He couldn’t be sure if she was pacing, or unpacking. But he turned his mind away from her and focused once more on the phone. He picked the receiver up a second time and dialed Cole’s cell. It rang five times before the female voice told him the mailbox was full.

Puzzled and slightly concerned, Sloan set the phone down once more and ran the tips of four fingers over his bottom lip. The promise he’d made Lily hadn’t left his mind. But now a new itch had formed deep in the recesses of his mind. The one that plagued him with images of something horrible having happened. Years of playing the parent apparently didn’t stop once the grown child was out of the house.

With a sigh, he reached for the phone a third time and rescheduled the move on Sunday, promising to cut the fee in half if they could do it Monday. Bo Jenkins seemed unperturbed by the postponing. He assured Sloan it was fine and Monday would work just as well.

Sloan hung up and left his office.

Lily was folding clothes into the dresser, which explained the pacing from the bed to the dresser. She looked up when Sloan stepped into the doorway.

“I thought you had work,” she said.

Sloan nodded. “I finished.”

“Already?” Chuckling, she tucked a t-shirt into one of the drawers. “Well, I’m glad you’re here.” She returned to the bed and folded a pair of jeans in half. “I wanted to ask if you wanted chicken for supper, or fish.”

Reflexively, Sloan grimace. “We have fish?”

Lily laughed, deep and unrestricted. It was the sort of laugh only Cole could draw out of her. Hearing it pour out over something he’d said filled Sloan with a smug sort of satisfaction.

“No,” she said. “But I was going to run into town. Truthfully,” she walked to the dresser and yanked open the top drawer. “You don’t have a whole lot of anything in that kitchen of yours.”

Sloan shifted uneasily at the truth. “I’m one person,” he muttered. “Most days I forget to eat anyway.”

Lily frowned at him while stuffing the jeans into the drawer. “How have you managed to stay alive this long? You don’t take care of yourself at all.”

“Because I don’t care overly much about myself,” he confessed.

She ceased what she was doing and twisted her body so they were face to face. Her head cocked ever so slightly to the left and she regarded him with a look of annoyance.

“Well, that’s not going to continue,” she decided at once. “So long as I’m here, I’m going to make sure you start treating yourself better.” Mind made up, she went back to unpacking. “So, what will it be?” She gave him a teasing grin from over her shoulder. “Fish or chicken?”

He opted for chicken, but insisted he would drive her into town to get it. She didn’t argue.

“You’re going to take your baby into town to get groceries?” she teased when he led her to the Mustang.

He yanked open the passenger side door and motioned for her to get in.

“The pickup has been acting funny the last little while,” he explained. “The Mustang is safer.”

She looked on the verge of saying something, but seemed to think better of it as she ducked into the seat. Sloan shut the door behind her and rounded the hood.

The drive to Produce and More was made in silence. Sloan pulled into an empty spot right in front and exited the car. Lily was already out of the car and waiting for him on the sidewalk when he reached her.

“Are you ready for this?” she asked with apprehension in her eyes.

“What’s that?”

The tip of her tongue poked out and raked nervously over her unpainted mouth. Her gaze darted to the automatic doors leading into the store.

“Being seen together,” she whispered. “I know everyone must know by now.” Her eyes lifted to his face. “But this will make it official.”

“Wasn’t that the plan?”

Her bottom lip slipped between her nibbling teeth. “There won’t be any turning back.”

“I don’t want to turn back.” He closed the distance between them, stopped when her head was properly tipped up to his. “I’m not going anywhere, Lil.”

Her expression remained apprehensive, but she accepted his word mutely and started for the doors. Sloan stayed close to her shoulder.

The looks, the sly second glances, the low murmurs of interest and curiosity were expected. It didn’t matter how big the gossip. It didn’t matter if Lily had been pregnant or not. Just walking into a place was cause for talk no matter who the person was. Walking in with him was just an added bonus.

Lily grabbed a yellow basket and made a beeline for the produce with her head down and her strides quick. Sloan followed with slow, even clips. He kept his hands tucked loosely in his pockets and his expression casually blank as he met the eyes of every person they passed without flinching.

“I won’t be long,” Lily said hastily as she tore a plastic bag from the spool and selected a bundle of green onions.

Sloan looked away from the craning necks peeking at them from over shelves and focused on the woman at his side. He took in her troubled expression and the tremor in her hands and slipped up behind her.

“Hey.” Careful not to startle her, he slipped his hands over her waist and turned his face into the soft curtain of hair draped over her ear. “Don’t ever rush for anyone,” he whispered.

“They’re all watching,” she said with a soft croak in her voice.

“Let them.” His arms twined around her middle and he drew her into his chest. “You have done nothing wrong.” He took the basket from her. “Besides,” he gave her his best lazy grin. “I like to think they’re looking at me.”

The fear in her eyes turned to laughter.

“That was lame.”

Sloan shrugged. “And yet, very true.” He pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “Come on. There are people in canned goods who have yet to get a glimpse of me.”

With her laughter following them, he guided her through the store, never once releasing his arm from around her. He talked to her about his favorite foods and the time he and Cole had had a grape war that nearly got them kicked out. He told her why fish was so disgusting and how he would leave the house for a week if she ever cooked it. While he talked, Lily relaxed. She leaned into him and forgot all about the eyes. It was somewhere between aisle ten and eleven that he finally told her his plans for that weekend.

“But he never phoned back,” she said. “I don’t want to just show up and he’s not there, or busy.” Her brows furrowed. “But at the same time, what if something’s wrong? I mean, Cole always calls me back.” She stopped walking and turned to him. “Maybe you’re right. We should drop by.”

After supper that night, Lily went straight up to pack for the weekend. Sloan left her to it while he tried Cole’s phone again with the same response. He checked his watch and frowned at the late hour.

Cole never went that long without checking in. Something had to be wrong.

The drive the next day was a gloomy one. The roads were slick with rain and the heavy overcast made the ride depressing. He and Lily said very little as he concentrated on getting them there safely. Six hours later, he pulled into a parking spot a full two blocks from Cole’s apartment building. He cut the engine and turned to tell Lily to stay in the car, but she was already climbing out and slamming the door shut behind her. Sloan decided not to press her about it. She wouldn’t stay anyway, not when there was a possibility that something had happened to Cole.

Together, they walked through the light drizzle towards the towering building of red brick and iron bars. The place reminded Sloan of a prison, not an apartment building. But the rent was cheap and it was close to the university, two of the things he and Cole had both tried doggedly to find when searching.

They climbed the stone steps to the steel doors and peered at the call panel. Cole’s number was four-fourteen. Sloan buzzed it.

No one answered.

Next to him, Lily chewed on her lip as she eyed the metal plate as though it had all the meanings to life.

“Maybe he’s out,” she decided. “Or sleeping.”

Nevertheless, she leaned in and began pressing every button on the panel.

“What are you doing?”

“I saw this on a TV show,” she said. “There is bound to be someone in that building waiting for a buzz.”

Sure enough, sixth button down, the door locks disengaged with a buzz. Lily squeaked in triumph and grabbed for it before it could lock again and yanked it open.

Sloan raised an amused brow at her as he reached to take the door. “That was pretty clever.”

Grinning, Lily giggled before ducking beneath his arm and darting inside.

Sloan followed and let the door swing shut behind them.

The building had no elevator. It was four flights of stairs to get to Cole’s door. He and Lily were both breathless by the time they reached the teal-green door marked with a brass four hundred and fourteen.

Lily knocked.

Apprehension coiled around them as they waited for someone to answer.

No one did.

Lily knocked again, harder.

“Cole?”

Sloan reached for the doorknob and twisted, only to have it jerked out of his hand when the door swung open.

Disheveled and blurry-eyed, Cole squinted at them through a tiny slit in the door. His hair had gotten too long and it stood in crazy spikes around his head. There was a month’s worth of beard covering his jaw and he smelled like he hadn’t showered in weeks.

“Lil?” He blinked at her through bloodshot eyes. “That you?”

“Hey!” Relief was a neon sign across her face. “You’re okay!”

Cole pried the door open the rest of the way and they got a full view of him. His shirt was stained with things Sloan refused to name and there were more holes in his sweats than in Swiss cheese. His feet were bare and dirty as though he’d gone running in the woods barefoot. Fat construction worker headphones hung from around his neck. But the worst was the smell. It was as though something had found its way inside the apartment, taken a dump and then died in a pit of their own filth.

“Jesus!” Sloan muttered. “What the hell happened to you?”

Cole squinted at him. “What?” He swayed slightly on his feet. “Sloan?”

“Cole?” Lily pushed her way inside and took his arm. “What happened?”

Cole let himself be led into the rancid apartment.

“Nothing. Life.”

Sloan followed them, reluctantly shutting the door behind him.

The apartment was a single room dwelling with a tiny bathroom and an even smaller kitchen mashed into one corner. Sloan had only been there once before when he helped Cole move in, but he didn’t recall the place looking like a rundown crack house.

In a stroke of genius, someone had nailed blankets all over the room, creating makeshift rooms and dividing the whole place into two separate sections.

The right seemed to be Cole’s. It was equipped with his bed, a rickety desk holding his humming computer and a dresser of his clothes. There were dishes, books, papers and clothes all over the place.

The other half was a bed, neatly made and nothing else.

“Cole?” Lily nudged Cole onto his bed and yanked the headphones off. She tossed them onto the mattress behind him and cupped his face. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he slurred. “Just one more paper and then … where is my pencil?”

Lily pressed a hand to Cole’s brow. “God you’re hot!”

Cole smirked sleepily. “I know.”

Ignoring him, she hurried to his desk and pushed aside papers to reach the coffee mug hidden underneath.

“No!” Cole lunged to his feet so fast that Lily yelped and stumbled back in fright.

Sloan grabbed her as Cole scrambled to his desk and began hurriedly righting everything she touched.

“Don’t touch!” he snarled at her. “You can’t touch!”

Color washed out of Lily’s face. “I … I’m sorry…”

“You could have ruined everything!” he said, his voice loud enough to be heard somewhere downstairs. “Don’t touch!”

“Hey!” Sloan glowered at his brother. “Chill!”

Face still a mask of fury, Cole looked from him to Lily and realization seemed to dawn. The anger melted off his face and disgust followed.

“Shit, Lil. I’m sorry.” Cole sighed. “I’ve been writing papers and essays and studying for tests every day for the last month. I haven’t left this room in weeks. I guess it’s starting to get to me.”

Lily took a cautious step forward. “We’ve been trying to call you.”

Cole puffed up his cheeks and blew out the air. “Yeah, I don’t even know where my phone is. I think Beth has it.”

“Why does Beth have your phone?” Sloan asked.

“Because I told her I couldn’t have any distractions. I needed to focus. I guess I should have told you guys, too.”

“That would have been nice,” Sloan muttered.

Lily closed the space between her and Cole and put her arms around him. “We just missed you so much and we were worried.”

“Missed you too, Lil.” Cole gave her a squeeze before stepping back. “I need a shower. My head is starting to itch.”

Lily grimaced and jerked back. “Ew.”

Cole started for the bathroom. “Why don’t you guys call Beth up and we can all go out for dinner, or something. I’ve been living on granola bars and rice crackers. I need meat.”

“Are you done with your work?” Lily called after him.

“I will never be done,” he mumbled with a tremor in his tone before the door shut behind him.

“He’s okay.” Lily turned to Sloan.

“Or something,” Sloan said. “This room needs to be fumigated.”

Laughing, Lily waded her way through a mountain of crap to the windows across the room. With a deft yank, she drenched the room in dull, gray light. She tried the lock, but the window remained firmly shut.

“Maybe a fan,” she decided.

An hour later, Beth stood in the cramped space with them as Cole rushed around finding his clothes, shoes and keys. The shower had done him wonders. He no longer resembled a mountain man, one that had no concept of soap. He seemed more alert as well. He chattered on about his courses and the mountain of work he was being forced to do while strapping his sneakers on.

“I haven’t seen him in two weeks,” Beth chimed in.

“I just wish someone had told me becoming a lawyer was such a bitch!” Cole muttered. “My brain is fried.” He got to his feet and glanced from Lily to Sloan. “So, how have you guys been? Anything new, or interesting?”

Lily shot Sloan a glance while her mouth opened and closed rapidly.

“Nothing that can’t be discussed over food,” Sloan interjected.

“Yes!” Cole agreed with a loud crack of his palms slapping together. “Food! I am all for food, and I know just the place.”

He took them to a steakhouse that was filled mainly by college kids. The waitress took one look at Cole and beamed.

“You’re alive!” She and Beth laughed like they shared a joke. “I was beginning to think maybe you died in that apartment of yours.”

Cole grinned back at her. “Not yet.”

Still chuckling, the girl motioned for them to follow her towards the back and the corner booth. She gave them a smile, promised them their waitress would be with them soon and left.

“Come here a lot?” Lily asked as she slid in across the smooth leather.

“We practically lived here at one point,” Beth said as she unwound her scarf and pushed in after Cole.

Sloan took the bench next to Lily.

“I am starving!” Cole growled, craning his neck around Beth to search for their waitress.

“Oh!” Beth dug into her pocket and tugged free Cole’s cell phone. She slid it across the table to him. “I know you said not to give it to you until you were finished everything, but I figured you should at least check your messages now that you’re taking a break.”

Cole picked it up, but no sooner had he switched the power on when the thing burst to life in his grasp, shrieking, tolling and vibrating loud enough to force him to stuff it under the table and clamp both hands over the device until it stopped.

Grimacing, he pried his hands apart and peered at the screen. His eyes widened.

“Eighty-three text messages and fifty-two voicemails? How is that even…?” His thumb scrolled over the screen. “Lily. Lily. Lily…” He raised his head and pinned Lily with a glower that was tactfully avoided as she straightened the salt and pepper shaker. “Seriously? Eighty-three?”

Cheeks an endearing shade of pink, Lily met his gaze with a defiant tilt of her chin. “I really doubt all eighty-three are mine. Maybe like … half!” The last part was mumbled as she went back to fidgeting with the shakers. “Okay fine!” she snapped when Cole continued to stare at her like she’d lost her mind. “Maybe I called a few times, but I was worried.”

Cole turned to Beth, held up his phone for her to see the screen. “This,” he swung the device side to side. “This is why I told you to take the phone.”

Lily gasped in offense. “Maybe if you had texted me, even once, I might not have called that many times.”

Cole put the phone down. “You’re crazy!”

“You’re an ass!” Lily shot back.

“Well, that’s hardly a valid argument,” Cole muttered, sitting back in his seat.

The two laughed.

Sloan exchanged slightly amused glances with Beth from across the table.

“Are they always like this?” she wondered.

“Worse,” Sloan muttered.

Their waitress arrived, gave Cole and Beth a personal and delighted greeting before handing them menus, taking their drink orders and leaving.

“Oh!” Beth patted Cole on the arm, her gaze fixed on something over Sloan’s shoulder. “I see some of the girls from my dorm.” She looked to Lily. “I want to introduce you.”

Lily started. “Me?”

Beth laughed. “I might have mentioned you a few times and I know they’re curious. Good things,” she promised when Lily narrowed her eyes warily.

“Tell her the truth,” Cole mumbled under his breath.

Beth sighed and rolled her eyes heavenward. “Okay, the truth is that they didn’t think a guy and a girl could be friends, at least not as close as you and Cole are without something … more between you.”

Cole and Lily exchanged glances, and Sloan realized Cole hadn’t told Beth about his night with Lily.

“I told them that was ridiculous, you guys have been friends since forever and neither of you are interested in each other romantically. I mean, it’s totally possible and I know I don’t have to worry about anything.”

“Lily and I are friends,” Cole mumbled in a tone that suggested they’d been over this way too many times. “We’re perfectly happy staying that way.”

“It’s true,” Lily piped in. “I don’t feel that way towards Cole at all.”

Beth smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Right, so I was thinking if the other girls met you, they could lay off the topic. You’d be doing me a huge favor,” she added when Lily hesitated.

With a sigh, Lily smiled. “Okay, sure.”

Beaming widely, Beth scooted out of her seat as Sloan did the same to let Lily out.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” he murmured when she squeezed past him.

Lily rolled her eyes. “It’s not a big deal. I’ve never felt anything towards Cole, except friendship anyway. I don’t love him the way I love y … cake.”

Sloan blinked. “Cake?”

Cheeks a startling red, Lily nodded. “I really love cake.”

He could say nothing when she darted past him and hurried to join Beth.

“Just the dudes!” Cole declared when Sloan regained his seat. “How you been, man? How’s the company?”

“Good,” Sloan answered. “Nothing new on that end. How’s school?”

“Beating my ass!” Cole exclaimed. “I am exhausted, my sleeping pattern’s all out of whack, my diet is all messed up, and don’t even get me started on my bowel movement.”

Sloan grimaced. “Please don’t.”

Cole slumped back in his seat and rubbed viciously at his face with both hands. “This is the first real break I’ve had in a month.” He let his hands drop into his lap and met Sloan’s gaze from across the table. “I’m sorry I made you guys worry. I guess I was just really stressed about getting everything done and not falling behind. I didn’t even think it had been that long.”

Sloan waved a hand dismissively. “Lily was worried.”

Cole glanced over to where the girls were now sitting with a group of other girls. They were all laughing at something a pretty brunette was saying, including Lily.

“She would fit right in here,” Cole mumbled. “I kind of wish she would change her mind about attending.” He turned back to Sloan. “It would certainly save you from having to keep driving her up to see me.”

“I don’t mind,” Sloan said.

“She been driving you nuts yet?”

Sloan stole another peek in Lily’s direction, took in her beautiful face and the twinkle in her eyes. “No.”

Cole snorted. “Yeah, well, she always had a thing for you so I guess she wouldn’t be her normal pain in the ass self with you.”

Sloan stiffened. His gaze shot to Cole. “What?”

Cole laughed. “Don’t tell me you never knew.” At Sloan’s slack-jawed expression, he sobered. “Seriously? Dude, how clueless are you? Yeah, she like had this huge crush on you back when we were kids. It was disgusting.”

“What are you talking about?” Sloan narrowed his eyes on the other man.

“Relax.” Cole grinned. “I’m sure she’s over it. You weren’t exactly warm and welcoming towards her the last nineteen years, Sloan,” he explained when his brother could only stare at him.

“Why did you never tell me this before?” Even to his own ears, the question was quiet and riddled with betrayal.

Cole shrugged. “Why would I? The last thing I wanted was to make things even more uncomfortable for Lily when she came over.”

The leather squeaked with the shift of Sloan’s weight. His gaze slid the twenty feet over scuffed hardwood to the table across the way. Lily was leaning forward with her forearms braced on the table, listening to something Beth was telling her. The two laughed and Lily flicked a napkin at the brunette. Sloan’s chest tightened at the happiness that seemed to radiate off her. She looked so content sitting with other girls her age, like they’d sat at that table a million times. Cole was right, this was where she belonged, building a future for herself. It wasn’t right that she was always sacrificing for everyone else.

Lily took that moment to raise her head and their eyes met. She was still smiling, but it softened; the kind of smile a girl gave the guy she cared about in a way that was more than a friend, as though they shared something deep and intimate. Not once had he ever seen her give that look to Cole, or anyone else. But there it was, aimed straight at him. Had it always been there? Had he simply never paid attention to it? How was that possible when there was very little about her he didn’t notice?

Sloan had always known he could have been warmer towards her over the years, even cordial, but it had felt safer to keep her as far away from him as humanly possible. Even now, he couldn’t trust himself not to hurt her. She was just too important and he was too damaged. Wanting her the way he did hit him as something someone like him didn’t deserve.

“Sloan?” Cole was waving his hand from side to side, attempting to get Sloan’s attention.

“What?”

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I, uh…” He cleared his throat and tried to focus. “I just thought of something.”

Cole raised an eyebrow. “It looked painful. You sure you’re okay?”

Nodding, Sloan glanced over at the other table just as the waitress arrived with their drinks. She set them down and asked if they knew what they wanted.

“The usual for me and Beth,” Cole said, handing back his unopened menu.

Sloan gave the waitress a sheepish wince. “We might need a bit longer.”

“They’ll have the same.” Cole ordered. “Trust me,” he said to Sloan. “The ribs and steak platter is to die for.”

Shrugging and passing his menu over, Sloan grinned. “Ribs and steak sound great. Two of those.”

With a smile, the waitress left.

“So, how are things with you and Beth?”

Cole shrugged. “Great. I’m still crazy about her.”

Sloan nodded slowly. “Lily seems to like her.”

Cole laughed. “Trust me, it’s really hard not to like that girl. She’s disturbingly sweet.”

Again, Sloan bobbed his head. “Hey, I wanted to ask you something. Do you remember that camera Lily used to have?”

“The one she used to take everywhere with her? Yeah, what about it?”

“What happened to it?” Sloan asked. “I mean, she has a million photo albums of all these pictures she’s taken, but I haven’t seen her camera.”

“No idea,” Cole answered. “That thing disappeared like three years ago and never turned up. Hey, how did you know she has a million photo albums? Those things are like the Holy Grail to her. She doesn’t show anyone.”

Sloan looked down at the table between them, knowing full well he just put his foot in his mouth and there was nothing to do about it, but tell the truth, because he had already lied too much where his brother was concerned.

“Lily moved into your room.” He lifted his head and met his brother’s stunned expression. “Yesterday.”

“Whoa, Lily is living with you?” His brow creased with deep confusion. “Why?”

“I asked her to.”

“Why?” Cole said again with a little more emphasis on the word.

Sloan straightened the utensils wrapped in the blood-red napkin and continued to study the sparks pinging off the metal prongs of his fork every time the light hit the metal.

“Maybe because she’s not the only one who has had feelings all these years.”

“What?” Cole’s bellow of shock and outrage silenced the restaurant for a full minute before people realized nothing was going on and went back to their meals. Cole was oblivious to everything, except Sloan. “Are you kidding me?”

Sloan gave the slightest shake of his head.

Cole leaned forward, narrowed his eyes and stared into Sloan’s face like he was searching for a brain deformity.

“Are you in love with Lily? My Lily?”

Sloan’s teeth clenched at the words. “She’s not your Lily.”

“She’s my best friend!”

“But she doesn’t belong to you!” Sloan shot back, feeling his own temper rising.

Cole reared back, head rocking rapidly from side to side. “Jesus! You’re in love with her!”

“In love with whom?” Beth appeared at the table, sans Lily, Sloan noticed. She slid into her spot next to Cole and glanced from one to the other. “Who’s in love?”

Neither Cole, nor Sloan spoke. They were too busy having a heated death match with their eyes.

“Does she know?” Cole demanded.

“No.”

Cole rubbed a hand over his mouth. “I don’t even know what to say…”

“Say about what?” Beth demanded. “What’s going on?”

Sloan ignored the question. He turned his head and searched the other table for Lily, but her spot was empty.

“Where’s Lily?”

“Bathroom,” Beth replied. “Now can someone please tell me what’s going on?”

“Lily moved in with Sloan,” Cole answered.

Beth frowned. “Like, moved in moved in, or moved in?”

Cole scowled at her. “What does that even mean?”

Beth shrugged. “Well, one implies a lot more adult activities.”

“Ugh!” Cole jerked away from her like she’d just contracted a fatal disease.

“What?” Beth laughed. “We’re all grown ups here.”

Lily appeared then. She slid in next to Sloan and looked around the table with a smile on her face.

“What did I miss?”

“Sloan was just telling us you guys moved in together,” Beth supplied.

Lily’s eyes widened. They shot from Sloan to Cole and back.

“I was kind of hoping we could tell him that together,” she said in a small voice.

“I know,” he murmured.

“Is there anything else you guys need to tell me together?” Cole shot in.

Lily tensed. It was subtle, barely noticeable had she not been pressed into Sloan’s side. Some of the color left her cheeks and he nudged her drink over.

“What?” Cole demanded. “What are you two not saying? Lily?” He rounded the full force of his accusation on her. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Sloan felt the tremor that passed through her and anger washed through him.

“That’s enough,” he warned.

“Lily!” The slam of his palm on the table rattled the salt and pepper shakers, but it also made Beth squeak in surprise and Lily jump.

Sloan would have leaped to his feet if the table hadn’t been bolted into the ground, instead, all he could do was lunge over the table and grab the front of Cole’s sweater.

“I said enough!”

“I’m pregnant!”

Those two words seemed to have the power to still the very air in the room. No one moved, except Sloan, who relinquished his grip on his brother and sat back. Cole, Sloan was sure, wasn’t even breathing. He stared at Lily as though she had just announced she was undergoing surgery to become a bird.

“What…” His mouth worked a while longer, making the shapes of words without anything coming out. Finally, he blurted, “How?”

Lily shot him a look that said, really?

Cole seemed not to have noticed. He pointed a finger from Lily to Sloan like he was trying to connect the dots.

“Is that why you guys moved in together?”

Lily didn’t glance at Sloan, but the answer was written perfectly across her face.

Cole looked at Sloan, disgust darkening his features. “You fucked my best friend?”

“Cole!” Lily’s gasp of outrage was overshadowed by Cole’s temper hitting the roof.

Chapter Seven ~ Lily

“You son of a bitch!” Cole snarled. “I can’t believe you would do something like that.”

Lily bristled. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she demanded.

Cole turned frigid blue eyes on her. “It means he’s a hypocrite!” Cole shot back. “All my life, he’s warned me to wear a condom, to not have a baby until I’m in a good place. Yet, he ruined your whole future because he’s a hypocrite.” He shot Sloan a disgusted sneer. “You’re a selfish son of a bitch, Sloan!”

“Hey!” Lily jumped in before Sloan could even think of something to say. “First of all, this isn’t his fault. Second—”

“Not his fault? Lily, he knocked you up!” His nostrils flared as he rounded on his brother once more. “You better be doing the right thing by her, because I swear to God—”

“Stop it!” Lily hit the table just hard enough to stop Cole, and to calm some of the anger and terror clashing through her own system. “It’s not his baby, Cole! It’s—”

Sloan’s hand landed on Lily’s thigh, silencing her with a gentle, but firm squeeze.

“What?” Cole demanded. “Whose baby is it?”

Tirade interrupted, Lily faltered a moment before responding, “Mine!” she blurted. “It’s my baby.”

Cole rolled his eyes. “Typical,” he spat. “I swear it would fucking kill you to just accept help, even when it’s clearly something beyond even your limits.” He sucked in a breath, visibly trying to restrain himself. “So, what’s the plan?”

Lily blinked. Her gaze darted to Sloan questioningly before moving back to Cole. “Plan?”

“Yeah, when are you getting married?”

“Married?” Lily cried, horrified. “Why does everyone think that just because you’re having a baby, you need to get married?”

“Because that’s what you do when you’re pregnant, Lily!” Cole growled. “You get married and you give that kid a stable, loving home.”

“Says who?”

“Everyone!” he said, throwing his arms open wide and nearly knocking Beth in the face. “Damn it, Lily. The kid needs a mom and a dad.”

“No, it doesn’t!”

“Yes, it does!”

They were both shouting now, loud enough for the whole restaurant to hear every word.

“No, it doesn’t!”

“Why?”

Lily, feeling cornered and furious, said the first thing that popped into her head. “Because I’m not keeping it!”

Cole jerked back as though she’d thrown her drink in his face. Beth gasped and quickly covered it with her hand. Sloan … Sloan didn’t move, nor did he look at her. The muscles in his cheek bunched.

Cole recovered first. “What?”

Breathing hard enough to make her head buzz and her vision blur, Lily squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the feeling of lightheadedness to fade.

“Are you kidding me?” Cole continued to press.

“Let it go, Cole,” Sloan mumbled, still staring viciously at the wall.

“Let it … are you fucking kidding me?” He shook his head wildly. “Hell no are you getting rid of my niece or nephew! Are you insane? You can’t even do that, not unless Sloan agrees, which he won’t, right?” He didn’t even give Sloan a chance to speak. “We’ll both fight you on this, Lil. That baby belongs with his family. You can’t just take him away.”

“Cole, stop,” she pleaded, her heart drumming violently between her ears.

“No, I won’t,” he said. “As the uncle, I have every right to—”

“Cole, stop!” It was Beth this time. She placed a hand on his arm. “Stop. Lily is under a lot of stress right now, pushing her isn’t going to make the situation better. I mean, if Sloan has already agreed—”

Cole’s head jerked in his brother’s direction. “Did you agree to this?”

“Cole!”

He ignored Beth’s attempts to regain his attention. “Are you letting her give the baby away?”

“Do you think I haven’t tried everything already to change her mind?” Sloan hissed through tightly clenched teeth. “There isn’t anything I can do!”

Cole waited a full heartbeat, glancing between Lily and Sloan before jerking his wallet out and tossing a bunch of bills onto the table.

“Come on,” he said. “I know a guy who can get you guys married in like an hour.”

“No!” Lily and Beth cried on unison.

“I’m not getting married, Cole,” Lily said.

“Why not?” Fire leaped behind Cole’s eyes. “Is my brother good enough to screw around with, but not good enough to marry? Is he not good enough for you, Lil? Or maybe you think he’ll be like our dad. Go ahead and say it.”

“Cole, knock it the fuck off!” Sloan snarled.

Never in nineteen years had Lily ever felt like she hated Cole, but in that moment, she hated him, hated everything he was saying, because, while none of them were true, they hurt coming from him.

“Fuck you,” she whispered as the first tear slid down her cheek.

Before anyone could stop her, she shoved out of the booth and ran from the restaurant. She hit the glass doors and stumbled into the crisp, autumn night. Behind her, someone called her back. She ignored it and dove into the crowd heading towards the main road. She didn’t stop until her feet touched the shopping district. People milled in all directions, entering and exiting stores with their bags. Cars raced past. No one took notice of her as she turned west and started walking at a brisk pace.

I am a bad person. The mantra played in a loop, distracting her from all other sights and sounds. Her heart broke with every drag of her weary feet pulling over concrete. The cold breeze shifted and slammed at her from all sides, but it was nothing compared to the chill rising from deep within the pit of her own stomach as the reality of her choices pounded into her.

She was pregnant with her best friend’s baby, a best friend she couldn’t tell, because to do so would destroy everything he had going for him. His brother, the man Lily loved with a passion that was terrifying, wanted to marry her, give the baby and her a home, and still everything inside her wanted to run. Yet, she had moved in with said brother when he had asked, knowing, that by doing so, she was letting him think she had changed her mind about keeping a baby she had no right having.

“What the hell are you doing, Lily?” she moaned tearfully to herself. “What are you doing?”

She sunk down on a bus bench and stared at the flashing lights all around her. People passed by without sparing her a glance, not that she cared what any of them thought; her life was in shambles and, in a few months, she would be bringing an innocent little person into that mess.

Every part of her wanted to die.

“Excuse me? Are you waiting for the seventeen?”

Lily looked up as a tiny woman with a head full of white curls and sparkling gray eyes smiled down at her. She wore a thick, blue coat with gold buttons that were fastened all the way to her chin and thin, silver glasses. She leaned heavily on the cane in her knobby hands and in the harsh lights around them, her skin appeared translucent.

“I’m sorry?”

“The bus, dear,” the woman said, gesturing to the sign.

“Oh.” Lily cleared her throat. “I’m not waiting for the bus. Sorry.”

The woman sighed as she shuffled her weight sideways and gingerly lowered herself down on the bench next to Lily.

“That’s all right,” she said. “Neither am I. I don’t even know where the seventeen goes.”

Lily frowned. “Then why…?”

The woman shrugged. “Because you looked like you needed someone to talk to.”

“I’m okay,” Lily lied. “Thank you.”

For several moments, the woman said nothing and together, they sat watching traffic speed by.

“I was at bingo,” the woman said. “Didn’t win anything.” She exhaled dejectedly. “Never do, yet I continue to go every Saturday.”

Lily couldn’t help herself. “Why?”

“No reason,” the woman answered. “Sometimes in life, we do things just because. Other times, we’re compelled to because the universe has a much bigger plan for us. For example, had I not gone tonight, I would never have met you.”

Lily looked down at her fingers twisting and knotting together in her lap. “I don’t think meeting me will be the high point of your night.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” The woman cocked her head to the side. “What’s your name?”

“Lily.”

The woman smiled. “Lily,” she repeated with a fondness that made Lily’s mouth twitch into an almost smile. “Why are you sitting out here in the cold?”

And just like that, Lily found herself telling the strange woman everything. Maybe it was because she was an objective and neutral party, but Lily found herself desperately needing someone to untangle the web she had weaved. She needed someone to tell her what to do. If nothing else, it was nice having someone listen.

When she was finished, the woman remained quiet. Lily, feeling a thousand pounds lighter without all of that on her chest, didn’t push her. They watched the number seventeen bus roll to a stop in front of them, deposit a small crowd of people and then roll away. Finally, just when it looked like the woman may have fallen asleep, she spoke.

“Why did you move in with Sloan?”

Lily, having gotten comfortable with the silence, jumped. “Sorry?”

The woman looked at her. “Why did you move in with Sloan?”

“Because he asked me—”

“That’s not why,” the woman interrupted. “Because he also asked you to marry him, and keep the baby, but you didn’t want to do either of those things. So, I have to wonder, why move in with him if you don’t plan to stay with him, or keep the baby?”

“I don’t know…”

“You do know.”

Filled to the brim with frustration, Lily shot her a glower. “I don’t know!”

The woman seemed unaffected by Lily’s growl. “Well, think about it then. Why didn’t you marry him?”

“Because he asked me over a bowl of vomit,” Lily snapped. “And he only asked me because of the baby.”

“Why did you move in with him, Lily?”

“Because I didn’t want to be alone.”

“But you weren’t alone,” the woman countered. “You had Sloan and your parents. You didn’t have to move in with him.”

Lily was beginning to really dislike this woman.

“What do you want me to say?”

“I want you to tell me why you agreed to move in with him.”

Lily ground her teeth together, her patience and aggravation taking a toll. But even she wanted to know why. What had been her reason? If she didn’t want to keep the baby, what difference did it make where she was? Why did it matter that Sloan be there with her? Why did it matter that she not be alone?

“I want to keep the baby,” she whispered, more to herself than the woman next to her.

The moment it hit home, Lily could breathe again. The noose constricting her chest unraveled and she gasped.

The woman chuckled. “But you already knew that.”

Yes, she had always known that, had she the choice, she would keep the baby, but…

“It hadn’t been a real possibility until Sloan asked me to move in with him,” she blurted. “That’s why I said yes.”

“So why didn’t you marry him then?”

Some of the warm, light feeling evaporated.

“Because I love him.” Her voice hitched and she quickly looked away. “And he only wants to get married because I’m pregnant with his brother’s baby. He feels responsible. That’s what Sloan does, he fixes problems. I tell him I’m pregnant, he asks me to marry him. I tell him my house is falling apart, he fixes it. I tell him I don’t have the means, or space to raise a baby, he asks me to move in with him. Sloan is one of the most selfless and kindhearted people I know and here I am, wrecking his life.”

All the happiness that had filled her fizzed out and she was left feeling cold and hollow.

“What do you mean?”

The world around them shone and sparkled like a million stars through the tears gathering in Lily’s eyes.

“I moved in with him because I wanted someone to help me raise the baby. What kind of woman does that? It’s not his baby, but I’m going to shackle him to it. I’m going to make him pay for its clothes and diapers, because I am a selfish bitch. What happens when one day, he meets a woman, falls in love and wants to start a family? I would be taking his entire future away from him.” Lily shook her head, spilling the tears down her cheeks. “I can’t keep it. I can’t let Sloan give everything up because of my mistake. He deserves better.”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”

Every nerve ending in Lily’s body jumped with a mixture of fright, panic and delight at the familiar voice that cut through her misery. She shot to her feet and whirled.

“Sloan.”

His face was flushed and he was still breathing heavily like he’d run all the way there. His blue eyes were burning pits, devouring her from head to toe. His feet made no sound as he started around the bench to stand before her.

“How long have you been standing there?” she wondered, her heart beating a little too quick in her chest.

He never looked away from her face. There was no shame, or guilt, just a quiet heat that washed over her hotter than a balmy July night.

“Somewhere around the time you said you loved me.”

Lily’s heart rocketed with panic. Her jaw dropped in horror. She stared at him, too scared to speak.

“Did you mean it?”

Lily swallowed multiple times, but no matter how hard she tried, her mouth remained stubbornly dry. All words failed her.

“Lily.” Some of the intensity softened. His words were gentle, pleading.

“I’m sorry,” she croaked.

Something flickered over his face. “Why?”

She nervously licked her lips. “Because I don’t want you to hate me.” Her bottom lip trembled and she bit down hard on it. “I couldn’t bear it if…”

He reached for her. His fingers glided down the length of her arm to curl around her hand. He drew her to him, close enough so she was cocooned in his warmth.

“Why would I hate you?”

“Because I know I’m not your favorite person and I know you only ever put up with me because of Cole and because I never wanted you to find out.”

He released her and raised the hand to support the back of her skull as his nearness forced her head back. His chest brushed hers and the shock of it scattered a shower of electricity throughout her body. She would have gasped if her face wasn’t suddenly so unimaginably close to his.

“Lily,” he whispered so lightly she almost mistook it for a breath. “God, Lily, I should be the one who is sorry. I should never have behaved the way I did. I should never have let you believe I couldn’t stand the sight of you, because it wasn’t true.” He traced the lines of her face with his eyes. “The truth is you have always been that distant light keeping me sane every time my father came home, drunk and looking to kick the crap out of someone. You are my safe place, Lily, and I have been in love with you for so long that I don’t even know how to live without it.”

Then he kissed her. It was wet and tasted of tears and joy, but it was the most beautiful sensation Lily had ever experienced. He tasted of hope, love and possibility, so much possibility she wanted to cling to it and never let go. It almost didn’t seem possible that it was Sloan in her arms, that it was Sloan’s mouth moving over hers, that it was Sloan’s hands in her hair and flattening against the lower part of her spine. It was all real, yet it felt like a dream.

She pulled away. Her eyes opened slowly, almost hesitantly and she peeked up into the face inches from hers.

It was still him.

Her heart swelled.

“I meant it,” she whispered. “I love you, Sloan. I’ve always loved you.”

His eyes darkened and the fist in her hair tightened. “Say it again.”

A smile stole across her face. “I love you.”

With a low growl, he lowered his brow and rested it over hers. “I will never get tired of hearing that.” He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, like he could somehow ingest those three words into his body. Then his eyes opened and they were no longer kind and gentle, but fierce and angry. “Why did you take off like that?”

Guilt drew her gaze down to the zipper of his jacket. “I’m sorry.”

His slow exhale whispered over her face, cool against her already chilled cheeks. “Damn it, Lily, you scared the hell out of us.”

Lily lifted her eyes to his. “I don’t think you’ll be like your father, Sloan. Cole was wrong about that. You are nothing like him. One day, you will be an amazing dad. But it shouldn’t be out of obligation and it shouldn’t be with someone who can’t even get her own life straight. I know you think you’re doing the noble thing right now by claiming this baby as yours, but it’s not and one day, you are going to want to start your own family with the person you care about and…”

“And you think I’ll stop loving this one,” he finished.

Lily looked away. “You would have a family, one that is really yours.”

“I have a family, Lily,” he murmured. “I have Cole and this baby, and if you’ll let me, you. Nothing and no one can change that.”

“Then why does it feel so wrong letting you help me raise this baby?”

“You don’t understand.” He pushed a strand of hair off her cheek. “There is very little I wouldn’t do for you, and I have thought about marrying you for longer than is probably considered appropriate and it was never out of obligation. I want a family with you, Lily, starting with this one.”

Her head bent to the side as she regarded him levelly. “Are we really never going to tell Cole?”

It was Sloan’s turn to shift his gaze away. “He thinks the baby’s mine and to avoid confusing him and the baby, I think it would be best if this stayed between you and me.”

As wrong as it felt, Lily had to agree. There were too many lives in the balance, too many people who could get hurt, including the baby. At that point in the game, with everyone calling Sloan the father, changing that would cause chaos and so much heartbreak.

Cole may never forgive her.

Sloan took her hand, bringing her back to the crowded sidewalk and the man watching her with the same grief she felt burrowing deep inside her.

“Come on,” he murmured. “Cole and Beth are looking for you as well and I’m sure they’re worried.”

With a reluctant nod, Lily turned away from him to face the woman she had up until that moment forgotten about. But the bench was empty. The woman and her cane were gone.

“Where’d she go?”

“She must have left,” Sloan guessed, scanning the crowds.

Her heart gave a jolt of sadness at not having had the chance to say thank you, or even goodbye. She may never see the woman again and she would never know just how much she saved Lily that night.

Sloan kept a firm, but gentle arm around Lily’s shoulders as he led her back towards the steakhouse. Every so often, he would brush a kiss to the side of her head. Lily didn’t mind. Being with him, knowing he loved her as much as she loved him, was something she had only ever fantasized about. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever considered the possibility of it ever becoming true. Yet, when she looked into the face of the man next to her, it was his, no matter how many times she checked.

“What?” He chuckled at one point.

Lily shook her head, snuggling into the knowledge that she wasn’t crazy. “Nothing.”

Cole and Beth found them. They were running down the block, headed in their direction when Cole’s eyes landed on Lily. They widened. Then he was right in front of her, scooping her up into his arms and holding her much tighter than was necessary.

“I am so sorry!” he breathed into her shoulder. “I am such an asshole.”

Lily held him back. “Yeah, you are.”

He set her down gently on her feet, but kept her folded in his chest. “I shouldn’t have said those things. I think it was the shock of the whole thing plus all the stress I’ve been under lately, but that doesn’t make it right.” He pulled back to search her face. “You know I have your back no matter what you do, right?”

Lily nodded. “I know, but…” She exchanged a quick glance with Sloan. “I think we’re going to keep it.”

The shimmer of euphoria was stifled solely by the apprehension tightening his face. “If it’s because of what I said…”

Lily shook her head. “It’s not. I’ve always wanted to keep it. I guess I was just scared.”

Cole’s entire face seemed to tear into two as he gave her the biggest, brightest smile she had ever seen. He whooped loudly and jerked her back into his arms. Her bones cracked under the force.

“I’m going to be an uncle!” he yelled into her ear. Then tore away from her and rounded on Beth. “I’m going to be an uncle!” he said again as he pulled her into his arms and swung her around, lifting her off her feet in a wide circle.

Beth’s laughter filled the silence that had fallen over the night. Lily dared a glance towards the other figure not celebrating and was met with the same echoing darkness threatening to swallow her up.

God help her, but she hated herself.

They stayed in a motel four blocks from Cole’s apartment building. Unlike the last time, it wasn’t a room with two beds, but two rooms joined by a door. Lily wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Part of her was disappointed; she had waited nearly her entire life for the moment when Sloan McClain would finally be hers. Spending the night together had always been the conclusion of most of her fantasies. The other part was relieved. While it was great to imagine them tangled together across the cool sheets, they had only just confessed their feelings. Things had already changed so much and so much had already happened without them jumping into something that would later hurt them, not that she thought sleeping with Sloan would ever be a bad idea. But waiting didn’t hurt either.

When Sloan walked her to the room, her hand clasped firmly in his, Lily wasn’t sure what to expect. They hadn’t spoken much since they reunited with Cole and Beth and returned to the steakhouse to finish their meals. Cole and Beth did most of the chatting, shouting out their favorite baby names and how cute Cole’s room would look as a nursery. Lily had let them talk while she bit absentmindedly into her steak and ribs. There was no enthusiasm behind the act, but she was starving and that fueled her.  Sloan said about as much as she did. Most of his food found its way onto her plate and he stayed content sipping on his drink and losing himself in thought. Lily wondered what he was thinking, but since she was unwilling to share what she was thinking, she didn’t ask.

At their hotel doors, Sloan pushed the keycard into the slot and shoved her door open first. But rather than let her pass, he backed her into the frame and pressed into her. The back of his fingers dusted the side of her face, drawing back strands of hair and sending heat flickering in the pit of her stomach. The pad of his thumb glided the length of her jawline and dipped into the indent of her chin. Her face was tipped up to his.

“Okay?”

Lily wanted to laugh, but couldn’t bring herself to so much as breathe. “Yes.”

With a quiet hum, he lowered his head and skimmed her mouth ever so gently with his. Just as quickly he drew back.

He grinned at her bemused expression. “There’s a reason I got two rooms,” he explained. “Goodnight, Lily.”

Left with no choice but to slip beneath his arm, Lily ducked into the room. He wasted no time shutting the door behind her.

The room was like any other motel room, dimly lit and furnished sparsely with a bed, dresser, TV and a small round table in one corner. There were the odd homely touches, but Lily could only concentrate on the two way door in the middle. As she stared at it, she couldn’t help but wonder what his reason was for getting two rooms.

They joined Cole for breakfast the next morning. Beth had classes, but promised to see them later that evening if they were still there. But Lily couldn’t bring herself to stay any longer than they already had. Every part of her wanted to go home and get as far away from her best friend as possible, which was impossible to do now that he knew she was expecting. Him not knowing the whole truth was the reason Lily was so anxious to pack up and hit the road.

“Are you sure you guys can’t stay one more night?” Cole asked for the hundredth time.

“We should head back,” Sloan replied, having already gone over the plan with Lily on their way out of the hotel. “You have work to finish and I have a business to run.”

“And I have an office to tidy up,” Lily chimed in.

Cole’s eyes widened. “Whoa, he suckered you into touching that deathtrap? Low blow, bro,” he said to his brother, shaking his head.

“I’m going to pay her,” Sloan justified.

“I don’t think there’s enough money in the world,” Cole challenged. “That room is disgusting.”

While the two bickered, Lily finished her bowl of oatmeal and fidgeted with the loose bit of thread poking out from the cuff of her sweater, anxious to leave. Every minute they were around Cole, the harder it became to continue the lie, especially when he was so genuinely delighted at the thought of it. Everything about the lie felt so wrong.

“Lil?”

Jolted out of her self-loathing by the spoon swinging side to side in front of her face, Lily jerked back in surprise. “What?”

Cole raised an eyebrow. “I asked if your shots were up to date.”

Sloan chucked a roll at his brother, who caught it and took a bite.

After a fraught goodbye that consisted of Cole giving her one of the longest hugs in history, Lily got into the car and watched as her best friend shrunk in the side mirror. Her insides gave a grudging grumble that didn’t sit well with the oatmeal she’d had.

“You okay?” Sloan asked.

Lily shook her head. “I have never lied to Cole, not once in nineteen years. It feels so wrong.”

Sloan reached over the divider separating them and took her hand. He gave her fingers a squeeze.

“I know, but it’s better this way.”

Lily looked at him. “How can you be sure?”

“Because he’s not in a place where he can actually raise a baby. Dropping out of school, coming back to Willow Creek, and for what? To work at the diner? Or bag groceries? There aren’t many opportunities for people without a proper education and that baby deserves not to go through what you and I did. The best thing for Cole and that baby is for him to become a lawyer, get a great job, and settle down. You saw how he was last night,” he pressed when Lily said nothing. “Do you really think he’d stay in school if he knew the baby was his? He’d be in the car with us this morning, heading back to that shithole, and I worked my ass off to make sure Cole got better than that.”

Lily knew he was right. There was no point ruining things for both of them, and if anyone deserved a good life, it was Cole.

“I won’t bring it up again,” she promised.

“I don’t care if you do. I know you care about him as much as I do. But this is the best for everyone.”

Chapter Eight ~ Sloan

It took Lily three weeks to organize the infinite tower of papers and file them. In those three weeks, Sloan kept completely out of her way, avoiding the death glares shot his way every time he so much as walked by the office doors. And since there was no furniture for her to move and the majority of the task involved her sitting, he didn’t mind staying away until suppertime. Lily seemed to prefer that as well, because by the time he returned, she was calm again and less likely to smack him over the head with a frying pan.

It was on the last day that she finally called him down. She stood in the office doorway, hands braced on either doorframe as she glowered up at him.

“You’re not allowed in here,” she told him evenly. “You are not allowed to even look in this direction. I will answer the phones and I will write up the paperwork and I will put it away. You are in charge of the trucks.”

Being a wise man, Sloan didn’t argue. He peered around her tiny frame at the wonder that had become his once chaotic workspace. The desk was spotless save for the phone, the computer he had bought under her specific orders, a small container of pens, and a clipboard. Behind that was a row of filing cabinets he vaguely recognized. The drawers were all neatly shut and there were little labels on the corner of each one, marking them from A to Z. She had placed a series of potted plants and baskets of dried leaves that were filling the room with the faint scent of roses. There was an area rug under the desk and framed pictures of random things along the walls that must have been from her albums. All in all, he was in an entirely different room from the one he had given her.

“You’re looking,” she muttered with a teasing glint in her eyes.

Sloan shook his head. “This is … wow! You did an amazing job.”

Lily gave a nonchalant shrug and rolled her eyes heavenward. “I know. Oh!” She twisted around on her heels and hurried to the clipboard on the desk and picked it up. “Daniel called. He needed a trailer to haul out some garbage from his garage. I told him we didn’t have trailers and suggested one of the smaller trucks for a bit more money and he has to clean it out afterwards. He agreed. He’ll be by tomorrow to pick it up.”

Listening with only half an ear, Sloan studied her, studied the way her shirt was a little too tight around her chest and midsection and how she stood just a little too braced with her feet shoulder width apart. She had her hair scooped off her face by little silver clips and her face seemed to glow in the light of the room. Her feet were bare, the toes a dark purple that were chipped in some places. The cuff of her jeans rode a bit too high around her ankles where the swell of her belly dragged them up. Everything about her made him want to march over and nuzzle.

“What?” she asked.

“You need new clothes,” he observed.

Lily set the clipboard down and stabbed her hips with her hands. “Are you saying I’m getting fat?” The remark was finished with a tiny twitch of her lips.

“No.” He crossed over to her slowly and pulled her to him. His hands replaced hers on her hips and he lifted her onto the table. The cup of pens toppled over. Pens spilled to the floor. Neither noticed. “I’m saying you’ve never looked so sexy.”

An eyebrow arched. “Never?”

“Maybe you’ve come close a time or two.”

Lily laughed. “I don’t know whether to be insulted or thrilled.”

Focused on her mouth, Sloan bit back a growl. His fingers tightened around her hips. He jerked her closer to the ledge of the desk and forced his hips between her thighs, opening her to him. Her sweet gasp clawed through him. Her eyes darkened and the mouth he had been obsessing over for years parted, begging him to take what was his. He lowered his head.

“Wait.” The tips of her fingers settled over his lips, halting him inches from making his claim. She was breathing hard. Her cheeks were rosy with the desire he could feel writhing inside him. But she stared with a painful longing at where her fingers were keeping him at bay. “I … I have to tell you something.” She wet the lips he was dying to taste before blurting out, “I’m wearing really ugly underwear.”

The confession was so ludicrous, it took a second to fully register, and even when it did, he couldn’t determine whether she was joking or not.

“Uh…”

“They’re not hideous,” she explained quickly. “Just not one of the pretty ones. My nice ones don’t fit anymore and—”

“Lily.” He kissed the soft pads of her fingers while propelling her backwards until she was a sweet banquet splayed across his desk. He curled his fingers into the waistband of her jeans and hoisted her down the flat surface until they were touching where it counted most. “Do you feel that?” He ground the hard outline of his erection into the stiff seam of her pants and earned a throaty moan in return. “The only thing I care about is getting that inside you.”

The sound she made was between a whine and a whimper, and pure, unadulterated sex. Her small hands trembled as they reached for him, curled into the fabric of his shirt and hauled him up to claim his mouth.

The kiss was desperate and hungry. Sloan had to brace his forearm on the table to alleviate his weight off her belly as he set out to devour her. His free hand fumbled with the snaps on her pants.

“Hurry!” she begged, hands tearing at his top, dragging it up his back and over his head. He had to pull away and fling it off, but he was back on her in the blink of an eye.

She unclasped his belt, tore apart the snap and was working on his zipper when a soft, discreet cough shattered the moment.

Georgia May smiled at them from the doorway. Her cat-like eyes took in the pants Sloan was hurriedly refastening, then moved to Lily, flushed and tussled, yanking her own clothes back together.

“I’m sorry,” she cooed. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. The front door was open.”

Sloan knew for a fact that wasn’t true, but opted to let it go as he reached for Lily and helped her gingerly to her feet.

“Georgia May.” Lily ran her hands through her hair, straightening the silk strands while fighting to gain composure. “What brings you?”

“I’m actually here for you.” She stalked deeper into the room, digging into the giant, leather purse bumping into her thigh. “Some of the ladies and I were at tea the other day and you came up in conversation.” She unearthed a small envelope and passed it over to Lily. “Your mother thinks it’s a fabulous idea. Plus it’s kind of a tradition so you really can’t say no.”

Lily stole a glance with Sloan before reaching for the envelope. She turned it over and peered at the fluid strokes of her name across the front.

“Open it!” Georgia May urged when Lily continued to stare at the thing as though determining whether or not it was going to explode.

Lily pried the top open and slipped the card free. She cleared her throat and opened it.

It was a simple, white card with silver ribbons along the edges and a dove holding a flower in its beak embossed across the front. Inside was white with swirly blue letters congratulating Lily for her little bundle of joy. Around it, someone, possibly Georgia May, had written, Join us in celebrating the birth of our newest little towns person. Eleven o’clock, February tenth, be present at Georgia May’s home for an afternoon of fun, snacks and prizes while we celebrate the upcoming birth of Lily Price and Sloan McClain’s baby, in black ink.

Lily, when her gaze shot to Sloan, looked as stunned as he felt by the gesture.

While Georgia May wasn’t a monster, she wasn’t exactly the sort of person who went out of her way to do something nice for another person, unless it benefited her in some way. Sloan could only imagine what she was up to, or how his baby worked into it.

“This is very nice of you,” Lily mumbled as she closed the card and gently tucked it back into the envelope. “But we really can’t accept—”

“Nonsense!” Georgia May waved a hand in Lily’s face, silencing her. “Like I said, it’s a tradition. All babies need a baby shower. Now, I know there is still three months between now and then, but things like this take planning and time. So I need to know what the sex of the baby is and if you would like any sort of theme.”

Lily blinked. “We don’t know what sex the baby is.”

Georgia May’s gaze dropped to Lily’s midsection. “I suppose it is still very early. You’re still so small. But that is why we are booking this so far in advance. It gives us time. So when you know…”

“Georgia May—”

The other woman put her hand up, cutting Lily off. “I won’t take no for an answer. You just let me handle everything and I will see you there.”

Then, as suddenly as she had arrived, she was gone. The bells over the door jingled with her exit.

Lily sighed as she tossed the card onto the desk. Her gaze landed on the spilled pen holder and she began bending down to gather them up.

Sloan beat her to it. He scooped them up and returned them to their place.

Lily thanked him, but her gaze remained focused on the card.

“What is it?” he asked, going to her.

She shook her head. “I really don’t want to be surrounded by married women, judging me for not being the same. I know it’s going to be brought up.” Her hands went to her belly and she stroked the bump. “I’m pretty sure that’s why Georgia May is doing this, to ridicule me for not being married.”

She left the room before Sloan could respond.

“Lily?”

Later that evening as Sloan lay with his head in Lily’s lap, watching Jimmy Fallon on TV, he peered up at the woman gently combing her fingers through his hair.

She looked down. The glow from the TV shone over her face, illuminating her eyes. “Yeah?”

She watched as he reached for the remote and muted the canned laughter. He set it back down on the coffee table and twisted his body around on the sofa.

“I want to know what happened to your camera.”

It was something that had been steadily nagging him since the day she moved in and no matter how many times he tried to bring it up, he found he couldn’t, or it wasn’t the right time. But he couldn’t stand it anymore.

“My camera?” Even if her voice hadn’t tightened, the tension in her once lax frame said it all. “Why do you want to—?”

“Because no one seems to know what happened to it,” he said evenly. “You used to take it with you everywhere—the hundreds of albums upstairs attest to that—yet no one has seen the thing in years.”

She focused on something across the room. The muscles of her delicate jaw worked anxiously.

“I grew out of it,” she mumbled.

Sloan shifted higher on the sofa until they were face to face and she had no choice but to look into his eyes. “No one with that kind of passion simply out grows the thing they love to do.” He coaxed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Tell me.”

Her bottom lip disappeared between the vicious gnawing of her teeth. Her eyes glittered in the semi darkness. “If I tell you, do you swear never to tell anyone?”

He pried her lip free from the abuse and brushed it with the pad of his thumb. “You know I won’t.”

Her throat moved with her hard swallow. She dampened her lips. “Do you remember that weekend the school took the senior class camping before graduation?”

Sloan’s ribs gave a twang of pain at the memory. That had been the weekend his father had broken three of them after he found out Sloan had taken money out of his beer fund so Cole could go to that camping trip with everyone else. When Cole had asked what happened, Sloan had told him not to worry about it, but the pain of it felt as real now as it had then.

“I remember,” he mumbled.

Lily drew in a deep breath. “I never wanted to go. Three hundred dollars for a single weekend of camping seemed like such a waste when we needed that money for a hundred different things. So I never told my parents about it, because I knew they would want me to go. But they found out and next thing I knew, my name was on the attendee list. Later, I found out, by accident, that the money had been for my mom’s medication, that they had used her money to send me to that stupid camp.” Her voice broke and she looked away.

Sloan brushed away the tear that glittered in the TV light. “You sold the camera.”

“It was the only thing I had worth anything,” she whispered. “I didn’t get as much as I should have, I know that, but it was enough to get Mom her meds.”

“How did you do that without them noticing?”

A ghost of a grin pulled on her lips. “I put the money in the hen jar.”

“The hen jar?” he inquired.

Lily chuckled. “It’s this ugly cookie jar my mom keeps in the pantry. Whenever they had some spare money, which was hardly ever, they would put it in the jar for emergencies. They never knew I knew about it, but when you’re eight and see a cookie jar, you always hope…”

Sloan laughed and kissed her nose.

Lily sobered. “I put the money in there. Neither of them could figure out where it had come from, but since I didn’t know about the jar, they figured they must have just forgotten. Mom got her medication and all was right in the world once more.”

“No, it wasn’t,” he murmured. “You lost your camera.”

Lily shrugged in what she probably thought was a gesture of nonchalance, but the pain he saw reflecting in her eyes were unmistakable. “It was only a camera. Besides, it’s not like anything would ever come of that hobby. I like to think it served its purpose.”

Sloan kissed her with all the tenderness swelling up inside him. He kissed her as though worshiping her with his mouth was the only way to convey just how precious she was.

Against his lips, she sighed. Her fingers brushed his jaw and glided up until she was cupping the side of his face between her palms. Sloan adjusted his weight, lifting himself up and scooting up from his reclined position. With their lips still attached, he drew her over him as he stretched out onto his back. Her knees went to either side of his waist and her arms slipped around his shoulders. And they kept kissing as the TV flickered in the background and their heartbeats pattered as one.

Sloan paused only briefly to peer up into her beautiful eyes, shadowed by the curtain of hair draped around both their faces. Their labored breathing tangled together as they examined each other in the darkness, and Sloan realized with a start that he wasn’t hard. He knew he could be in a matter of seconds, but there was no desire to change that comfortable moment when all he wanted to do was hold her.

“I love you,” he whispered. He brushed his fingers over her cheek and combed them back through her hair. “I love everything about you.”

Lily lowered her head and nestled her head into the curve between his neck and shoulder. Sloan rubbed the arch of her spine where she couldn’t fully lay over him through the soft material of her top.

“I love you, too.”

Sloan held her there a while longer, enjoying the wash of her breath against his throat and the tickle of her hair along his jaw. But he knew it couldn’t be comfortable for her the way she was hunching, and as much as he wanted to stay there, he pushed them upright.

“I think it’s time for bed,” he murmured into her temple.

Lily sighed and nodded. “You have a move in the morning and I want to go shopping for some clothes before people think I shop in the children’s department.”

Sloan chuckled. “Did you want me to come along?”

She pulled back and squinted into his face. “You want to go clothes shopping with a girl?”

When said like that, no. But he was a wise man.

“Only if you want me there.”

With a snort, clearly not believing him, Lily tentatively climbed off him and stood. “That’s okay. I’m only going to pick up a few things. I read that apparently this,” she splayed her pale hands over her belly. “Is just the beginning. It gets bigger, so no point getting too much when I’ll just need to buy more later.”

Swinging his legs over the edge, Sloan heaved himself upright and turned his body so he had her between his knees. His hands lifted of their own volition and rested carefully on her hips. His head tipped back so their eyes met, his asking without words.

Lily nodded, and for some reason, with that small gesture, she had given him something irreplaceable. And it scared him that he was terrified. Yet, when he raised his hands, they were steady. Over him, Lily’s sharp intake of air was never relinquished. She seemed to be holding her breath as he was. It rushed out when his palms made contact.

The swell seemed to radiate its own heat. It burned his skin like cupping hot coals. Part of him wondered if that was only in his head, or if a person’s body could reach those temperatures. But it was more than that. The hurt was spectacular. It was the sort of burn that made his entire body sing with an unimaginable happiness. It was no surprise when his voice caught.

“Does it hurt?”

There was the slightest shake of her head.

The idea of a baby had always been there. He had always known she was carrying and that eventually, one day, that baby would be out in the world and it would be his responsibility to step up. But it had never truly felt real until that moment. There was a tiny life inside her, one that needed him for so much. This child would only know him as its father. He—Sloan—would be the one to put it to bed, wrap up its skinned knees and make the monsters go away at night. True he had had no hand in its conception, but that didn’t matter. This kid, no matter what the future held, would always be his and he would love it no matter what.

He found Lily at her desk the next morning. She looked agitated as she dug through the filing cabinet with a ferocity that made him worry for the files. Sloan edged carefully into the room.

“Lil?”

Yanking out a file, she slammed it on the table and wheeled herself back behind the desk. “Why is it so hot in here?” she snapped at him. “It’s like a million degrees.”

Sloan shot a glance in the direction of the gray, winter glow outside the window and frowned. “It’s November, love. In Canada. No one ever mistakes Canadian winters as too hot.”

She blew out a breath that lifted her bangs off her brow, and only then did he notice it. Her cheeks were flushed like she had a fever and there was a thin sheen of sweat across her upper lip. Concern propelled him around the desk to her side.

“Lily?” He touched a hand to her brow. “God, you’re hot!”

She glowered up at him. “Now is not the time to be hitting on me.”

He would have rolled his eyes, but it wasn’t the time for that. “Baby, you’re burning up.” He dragged her chair away from the desk and scooped her up into his arms.

“Hey!” she protested. “Put me back. I have orders to fill out and calls to make…”

“It can all wait!” He marched with her into the sitting room and gently set her down on the sofa. “How did you catch something overnight?”

“I’m not sick,” she grumbled. “I’m just really, really hot.”

“I’m calling Dr. Phillips.” He dug into his pocket for his phone.

“I’m fine!” she cried, making a grab for the device. “I swear. I don’t feel sick. No runny nose, no sore throat. I’m just really on edge.”

He eyed her. “Fine people don’t have temperatures that high.”

“Stop fussing,” she ordered. “I feel fine. You, on the other hand, have a move that you need to get to.”

“The boys can handle—”

“Go!” she commanded. “I will make myself some tea and just relax. If I need anything I will call.”

“What if it’s the baby?” he demanded.

“The baby is fine. I’m fine. Now, please go to work.”

The phone in the office took that moment to ring and she made as though she were considering getting up.

“Stay!” he commanded sharply.

Lily frowned up at him. “I’m not a golden retriever.”

“No, but you’re still not moving from that spot.”

“It could be Tom,” she reminded him. “He’s probably wondering where you are.”

“Tom has my cell number,” he said. “He can call me there. In fact, everyone has my cell number, so if there’s any problems, or if someone needs to get a hold of the office, they can phone my cell. You are not moving from that spot. In fact…”

He left her and marched into the office. A moment later, he had the phone yanked out of the wall and was winding the cord around the base as he stalked back to her.

“That was a little excessive,” she grumbled. “Now how am I going to call you?”

Giving her a smug smirk, he walked over to the end table, picked up her cell phone and set it gently down next to her hip.

Her scowl deepened.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” he promised. He bent down and brushed a kiss to her warm brow. “Get some rest.”

“Hey man, what took you?” Tom, no doubt in the middle of dialing Sloan's phone again, snapped his cell closed and waved Sloan over.

Yanking his bandana free of his back pocket, Sloan fastened it around his head. “Just some home stuff,” he muttered.

“Everything okay with Lily?”

Not answering, Sloan motioned with a jerked of his head towards the two story house waiting to be emptied. “What we got?”

The move was straight forward; load, move, and unload. Sloan had done it a hundred times, but his mind was a mess of worries and questions, all involving Lily. Several times he had to stop himself from calling her and checking to see how she was. It irritated him that she hadn’t called him. He kept glancing at his phone, expecting to see a missed call, or a text. Hell, an email. But the stupid thing remained stubbornly blank.

He rubbed a hand over his grimy brow and wondered if she was resting, or if she was on the sofa, too weak to move, unable to call him because the phone had dropped and shattered and now didn’t work and he had taken away the only other phone in the house and she was…

No! He needed to stop that. He was worrying himself sick for no reason. He should just call her, then maybe his mind would finally be at rest.

But what if she was sleeping?

With a low growl, he hoisted up a box and lugged it to the van.

“Lily? I’m home.”

He let the front door close behind him as he trudged into the foyer. He kicked off his boots and ambled his way deeper into the silence. The sofa was empty except for a rumpled blanket and an indented pillow. The TV was off and Lily’s phone was on the coffee table. Its owner was nowhere to be seen.

“Lily?” he called again.

A low curse followed by the clatter of something dropping had him heading for the kitchen.

It was only then he noticed the rich scent of fried meat and tomato sauce thickening the air. There was a bubbling pot on the stove. Steam billowed from the edges where the lid wasn’t set properly. A ladle dripping with red sauce sat perched on a napkin. Lily was standing over the table, one finger in her mouth as she glared at the knife on the cutting board, surrounded by small, neatly diced piles of celery, red, green and yellow peppers, and mushrooms.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Scowling, she nodded. “Just cut myself. It’s nothing.” She wiped her hand on her skirt impatiently. “Supper will be ready by the time you get out of the shower.”

From the smell of it, supper was chili, which made sense how the temperature had dropped since autumn had begun to set in, but it didn’t explain why Lily was wearing a short, strappy dress in an almost sheer fabric that clung to the swell of her breasts and fluttered down her delicious frame like every man’s fantasy. Her hair was swept into a messy knot at the back of her head with tendrils falling enticingly along the flushed column of her throat and the rosy slope of her cheeks. Her feet were bare, the toes painted a metallic blue.

“Why aren’t you in bed?” he asked, edging a couple of steps deeper into the room.

“Because I told you, I’m fine.”

He stopped when the table was between them. “You’re still really flushed. That can’t be fine.”

If possible, the red in her cheeks seemed to only get darker. “It’s fine.”

Her confidence on the matter puzzled him. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because,” was her only response as she tactfully avoided his gaze.

“Lily…”

Her face bunched in a grimace. “Please don’t make me say it. Please.”

“Tell me,” he pleaded softly.

She pulled in a deep breath, held it in her chest while she leveled him with a gaze that begged him to just drop it. Her chest rose and fell rapidly beneath the lacy cups of her dress, demanding his attention, but Sloan stayed focused. When she pried her lip free of her teeth, they were swollen with blood and wet from her tongue and momentarily caught his gaze before he shifted back to her eyes.

“There’s this thing that happens to pregnant women,” she began awkwardly. “Like a hormone imbalancement. What happens is that it messes with … with your body.”

Sloan nodded slowly, trying to understand what she was trying to tell him. “Okay, so what do you need?”

Her chuckle was pained. “I didn’t want to bring it up like this. I had this whole thing in my head. You would come home. We would have supper. Then I would…” She mumbled the last word too low for him to hear.

“What?”

She rolled her eyes heavenward, her face as bright as the chili sauce. “I was going to seduce you.”

Sloan’s eyebrows migrated straight into his hairline. “What?”

“Don’t make me say it again!” she snapped. “I already said it twice.”

“No, I heard you … I think.” He rubbed a hand over his hair. “I just don’t understand.”

Lily threw open her arms in exasperation. “What part of that didn’t you understand? I want you to fuck me.”

Her eyes said it. Her lips said it. It hung in the air around them, thick and heavy. But his brain had completely gone on standstill.

“We’ve been officially together for nearly two months,” she went on, her words quick like she needed to get them out before she lost her nerves. “We’ve kissed … a lot. We nearly came close a few times, but either you pull away or we get interrupted. I’ve only been with one person, but I know enough about my body to know it wants you. I want you. I want you to throw me down on this table, tear off my clothes and fuck me until I can’t see straight.” She broke off, sucked in another breath and continued. “There. Now you know why I’m so hot. Now excuse me while I go drown myself.”

Without waiting for him to get his brain off the floor, she bolted towards the door. But Sloan came out of his shock before she could escape and lunged after her. His hand closed in the fabric of her dress and he yanked her back into his chest. Her gasp echoed in his ear. The hand holding her dress released and slid up to cup her throat, forcing her head onto his shoulder as his free hand went for the sweet place between her thighs.

Her panties were soaked. The heat coming off her burned his hand. He groaned into the curve of her jaw as he pressed against the material.

Lily whimpered. Her hips rocked greedily into his palm.

“I love the reason you’re so hot,” he growled into her ear as he tore the flimsy scrap of material off her body with a fluid jerk of his wrist. Her whimper thrilled him. “Question is, how ready for me are you?”

Her mound was neatly shaven, leaving a smooth path clear to her slippery folds and he dipped his fingers into the sticky puddle in the center. He sunk his teeth around her earlobe as he fought like the devil not to spray into his own shorts. He had waited too long for this moment. He had gone too long without a woman. But it was this woman, the one writhing in his arms and whimpering his name that he had dreamed of every night. He didn’t care if this was a fluke. He didn’t care what tomorrow would bring. She was his now and he wanted to make sure she never forgot that.

Unable to wait another minute to bury himself deep inside her, Sloan moved. He forced her forward until her hands were pressed flat against the wall just inside the kitchen doorway and her feet were spread apart. With one hand nestled between her thighs, he used the other to shove his pants around his thighs and free the full, hard weight of his aching cock. His hands shook as he grabbed Lily’s hips. His heart cracked like a vicious hammer against concrete as he aligned himself, took a deep breath, and drove home in a single, powerful thrust.

Lily howled. It was a sound bordering on pain and pleasure. Sloan released his own snarl of victory as he forced himself deep into her slick and swollen channel. The vicious grip of her walls was an angry fist, much too tight for someone who wasn’t a virgin. He swore as the overpowering urge to spill roared in his head.

He drew out and sank back in, aiming higher, faster and harder with every assault. Lily clawed at the wall as she was rocked up onto her toes. Her sweet little pussy pulsed like a greedy mouth sucking him in deeper. She was close.

“Not yet, baby girl,” he panted into her ear. “I want to see your face when you come for me.”

He withdrew, ignored her weak sob of protest by spinning her around. Her wide, darkened eyes peered up at him, glazed with the need to have him back inside her. Sloan wanted nothing more.

“You said you wanted this on the table,” he reminded her as he forced her back against the wall. He hooked a hand under one knee and lifted her leg around his hip. Then his cock was back in the warm cocoon of her body. “Hmm, perfect fit.”

Her eyes were barely focusing on him as she fought to achieve her own release; her hips rolled and bucked in his grasp with a greedy vengeance. Her nails gouged into his shoulders, fisting his shirt and ripping strips of flesh in her pursuit.

Sloan watched the ripples of pleasure wash over her face, watched the slow rise of color working up her chest to swarm into her face, watched her chest bounce and strain against the loose fit of her bodice. Caught in the provocative jiggle, Sloan propped her securely on his cock by a single arm hooked around her middle. He raised his free hand to bunch the front of her dress down over one breast. The dusky, pink nipple hardened for his attention. Sloan didn’t disappoint.

He cupped the plump swell and was rewarded by Lily’s low hiss of pleasure. Her back bowed, thrusting the offering further into his palm and the skim of his thumb over the nipple in slow circles. The bud rolled and stiffened under his caress. But it wasn’t enough.

Scooping her up with his cock still impaling her, he marched with her back to the table. He gave the rickety piece of shit a single glance before casting the thought aside. He sat in a chair instead with her on his lap, her legs dangling on either side of his hips.

“First chance I get,” he told her. “I will buy you a new table and fuck you on it.”

Lily gave a throaty laugh that quickly turned into a deep moan when she realized she was in complete control. Her hands relinquished their grip around his shoulders and dragged the thin straps of her dress down her arms. The fabric formed a flimsy pool, bunched around her waist, leaving her completely bare to his eyes.

“I want you to show me,” she whispered.

His eyes unfastened from the proud points tempting him and lifted them to her flushed face. “Show you what, Lily?”

She shivered around him. Her walls convulsed, releasing a fresh wave of hot cream over his shaft. Her eyes fluttered shut briefly before she caught herself and returned his gaze.

“How to come.”

Sloan tried hard not to look surprised. “You’ve never…?”

Her hair swung around her shoulders with the shake of her head. “By myself, yes, but I want you to show me how to come like this, with you inside me.”

If possible, his cock swelled to a painful throb. He gritted his teeth against the urge to wash her insides with his seeds.

“Turn around.” Even to his own ears, the command was hoarse.

Lily didn’t seem to notice as she rose on wobbly knees and turned her back on him. Sloan dusted her dress off her frame before kicking off his own boots and pants. He settled his hands on her hips and guided her back.

“Put my cock back inside you,” he said.

With her legs on either side of him, Lily reached for the heavily creamed length of his cock lying against his stomach. He groaned when her fingers curled around him. He yanked off his top while she guided him to her opening once more and lowered herself inch by inch until he was buried to the hilt inside her.

“Lean back,” he instructed.

She did and he splayed her thighs apart. Her tiny belly made it slightly challenging to see her puffy lips, or the swollen little nub glistening in between, but that didn’t stop him. He let his fingers glide along her sides, over her hips to cup either side of her pussy. Two fingers pried the lips apart so his thumb could smooth over the bump.

“Shit!” Lily bucked involuntarily, her back coming off his chest. “God you feel so good, Sloan.”

He wondered if she could feel how rapidly his heart quickened at the seductive whimper, or how his cock pulsed inside her.

“Yeah?” he whispered huskily into her ear. “Like having your pussy stretched around my cock?”

“Yes!”

He took her clit between his thumb and finger and gently pinched, making her curse wildly and thrash. He rolled the bud and her head rolled side to side against his shoulder. His gaze went to the hard peaks of her breasts and his mouth watered.

“Play with your nipples,” he commanded, still speaking low and gravelly into the hair over her ear. “Good girl,” he purred when she immediately took her breasts into her hands and began kneading the soft mounds and rolling the nipples under her thumbs. “Next time, I’m going to watch you spread those legs and play with your pussy until you come. Then I’m going to lick her. I’m going to taste your sweet little cunt and have you hold my head to her while I push my tongue so far up your tight hole—”

With a vibrant wail, Lily came. Her walls clamped around him, trapping him deep inside her. Her slick little clit throbbed violently under the fingers he was using to hold it down, prolonging her tumble. His free arm held her tightly to him as she flailed with such intense force she nearly slid off his lap.

Sloan threw his mind to anything but the warm rush of heat that trickled over his shaft, or how the woman in his arms screamed his name with unadulterated passion. He wasn’t ready to come.

Finally, after what felt like ages, she went slack in his arms. Her chest heaved with ragged breath. Every so often, she would give a tiny shudder that was followed by a low whine. Her walls continued to vibrate as though implanted with electrodes.

“Oh my God!” she gasped.

Sloan grinned into the side of her head. “Done?”

Still panting, she turned her head so their faces were inches apart. “Aren’t you?”

Without taking his eyes away from hers, he closed his hands on her hips and pushed up with his hips, feeding himself deeper inside her.

“Not even close, baby girl,” he murmured. “You promised me a taste of your pussy.”

Lily gasped. Her eyes went round with wonder and a new burst of hunger. Her pussy clenched. She bit her lip.

“Taste me.”

With a groan, Sloan kissed her, fierce and hard. He continued to lazily flick her clit until she was fidgeting again. Only then did he take her to the sofa and make her sit for him with her bum close to the cushion edge and her knees up. She held them apart against her chest so when he kneeled on the floor between her thighs, he could see the opening his cock had made stretching her. The area glistened with her arousal. The muscle at the top was swollen and a bright pink. Her lips were puffy and hairless.

His mouth began to water.

“Are you comfortable?” he asked her, never taking his eyes off his prize.

“Lick me!” she commanded in response.

Sloan obliged. He lowered his head and ran the flat of his tongue from hole to clit in a single sweep that made her hiss. Her sweet flavor filled his mouth. The musky scent of her sent his head reeling with lust. His fingers bit into her thighs as he fought to control himself.

He repeated the gesture twice, sucking her clean. The third time, he speared her with the point of his tongue, pushing as deep as he possibly could go and swirling it around inside her.

“Shit!” Lily sobbed, hips bouncing off the cushion to rub against his face. “Shit! That’s your tongue! I can feel your tongue inside me!”

Sloan opened his eyes and peered over her mound to the look of anguished pleasure darkening her face. Her mouth was open in a silent scream and low moans were coming from her chest.

He eased his tongue out and placed an open mouth kiss over her slit before working his way up to cover the bundle of nerves at the top. He sucked and nibbled as he worked two fingers into her opening. He knew he wouldn’t be able to last much longer, but he was determined to make her come at least one more time.

“No!” she croaked, actually scooting back, away from him.

Sloan raised his head, concerned he’d done something wrong.

“I want you inside me again when I come,” she panted.

Never one to deny a woman anything, Sloan rose to his feet. Lily’s gaze dropped to the bright, purple hood on his cock. Veins bulged along the shaft still glistening with her cream. Her eyes glimmered with yearning. She licked her lips and scooted to the edge of the cushion. Her feet went to the floor. He caught her hand before she could touch him.

“Next time,” he promised. “You come near him right now and this is going to end pretty quickly.”

Her bottom lip puckered, but she nodded, and for the second time that night, Sloan had her straddling his lap, her pussy a tight sheath around his cock. His hands guided her, fast and hard, pounding into her while he thrust upwards with his hips. He took one of her hands off his shoulder and brought her middle finger to his mouth. He suckled on the finger, all the while peering heatedly into her eyes. Once it was properly wet, he dragged it down between their bodies to her clit.

“Play with her,” he instructed. “I want you to come with me.”

Her lip disappeared between her teeth as she did what he asked. Sloan busied himself ravaging her breasts, sucking and nipping on her nipples. Above him she began to make those sounds he was beginning to really love. It started as low whimpers that quickly built to choked gasps. Then she was sobbing his name and trembling around him.

Sloan gathered her up close as he shot his seeds up into her greedy opening. Her orgasm sucked him dry, gobbling his come until he was empty, lightheaded and so exhausted, he could have passed out right then and there.

“I think the chili burned,” she panted into the side of his neck.

He groaned, partially relieved that the burning smell wasn’t really his brain turning to mush. Carefully, he pulled back and searched her face for even a hint of regret, or worse, pain. What he saw instead was a flushed, visibly sated woman that returned his gaze with a shy smile that warmed his heart.

“Okay?” she whispered uncertainly.

Never taking his eyes off her face, Sloan shook his head. “So much better.”

Lily beamed and he kissed her, then eased her off him to hurry into the kitchen. He left her just long enough to snap the stove off and remove the pot from the element. Then he was back in front of her, scooping her up into his arms and marching with her up the stairs to the bathroom.

She didn’t protest as he set her down. He turned the water on, then helped her under the spray and quickly followed.

He slid up behind her and drew her into the curve of his front. He nuzzled the side of her neck, his hands going to her breasts now beaded with water.

“Tell me if you’ve had enough.”

Her response was to turn in his arms, go up on her toes and kiss him.

Chapter Nine ~ Lily

Lily awoke in Sloan's bed alone. It was morning and the sun was a bright square patch of light cut into the sheets an inch from her toes. The air was warm and laced with the faint scent of the previous night. She blushed as it all came back to her, the memory of Sloan's hands skimming over her, his mouth worshipping her, and his cock, buried impossibly deep inside where she had always wanted him. She couldn't believe she had told him to fuck her. She couldn't believe he had. It would have felt like a dream if her body wasn't still humming like livewires.

I had sex with Sloan McClain. I had earthshattering, mind numbing, incredible sex with Sloan McClain!

Holy shit!

A stupid grin formed across her face. Beneath the flimsy and severely wrinkled sheets, her nether region thrummed with a sweet pulse that coaxed a shiver from her. She stared across the room as memories of being wrapped around him, rolling and writhing across the mattress, somersaulted across her mind’s eye.

She blushed, something she was surprised she was still capable of doing.

“Morning.” Sloan stood in the doorway, a tray of plastic cups and a paper bag in his hands. “How are you feeling?”

Pushing up on the thoroughly destroyed bed, Lily clutched the sheets to her chest and tried not to blush too furiously.

“I'm okay.”

She heard him move into the room. The items in his hand were set on the nightstand and the corner of the mattress sank as he sat.

“I brought you hot chocolate and apple crumble. I know you like them.”

She nodded. She did like them, just not in that moment, because he was watching her with a very intense expression.

“Lily, we should talk.”

She grimaced, her earlier happy feelings gone. “About what?”

“About last night,” he said evenly.

He regrets it, she thought miserably. It had been one of the best nights of her life and he looked like he was about to tell a patient they had twenty-four hours to live.

“Do we have to because I'm already mortified and I'm pretty sure there aren’t enough I'm sorry’s in the world to make you forgive me.”

It was his turn to look stricken. He blinked and stared at her with wide eyed confusion.

“Forgive you?”  The bewilderment in his voice dared her to steal a peek at him.

“I practically raped you,” she blurted. “I threw myself at you and put you in what was probably the worst situation and I am just so sorry.”

“What are you talking about, Lily?”

“I should have kept my mouth shut.” Why was he making this so hard? “Then you wouldn't have felt obligated to—”

“To fuck you like I've wanted to for too damn long?”

Lily’s blush returned with a fury. “If that’s true, then why…”

“Because I was worried I hurt you,” he answered.

Her brows knitted together. “Hurt me?”

“I was rough,” he said with a hard pinch of his lips. “I have to remember to be more careful with you.”

“This may come as a shock, but I’m not made of china,” she said. “I wasn’t hurt. I loved everything we did. All of it.”

Sloan offered her a half grin. “You want to know why I hated when you would come over, Lily? Because you were a constant test to my control.”

Mouth tasting like she’d swallowed cotton, she stared at him. “What do you mean?”

Kicking off his boots, Sloan crawled onto the mattress and kissed her and that kiss burned with all the yearning and love she felt blazing inside herself for him. It sizzled with years of pent up passion and sang through her.

When he drew back, they were both panting.

“You make me forget everything except how badly I want you,” he replied. “Last night was testament to that and I woke up this morning scared out of my mind that I somehow scared you, or worse, hurt you. I would never forgive myself.”

A tender smile softened her face. “I wasn’t hurt, or scared. Not once. I love you, Sloan,” she whispered against his mouth. “I love you so much.”

He cupped the side of her face and smoothed the pad of his thumb over the curve of her cheek. He peered intently into her eyes, squinting as though searching for something. He must have found it, because he relaxed. His features softened and he returned her smile.

“Love you, too, Lily.”

Cole called while they were in the shower. Lily recognized his number the minute she picked up her phone and saw it flash across her screen as a missed call. She checked the time on Sloan’s bedside alarm before hitting redial.

Sloan, dressed as she was in a towel and miles of damp skin, entered his bedroom and raised an eyebrow in question.

“Cole,” she mouthed as the dial tone rang in her ear.

“Hello?” came Cole’s voice a second later.

“Hey!” she said. “You called?”

“Yeah, where were you guys?”

Lily tried not to look in Sloan’s direction, even though Cole couldn’t possibly see her blush, the last thing she wanted was to tell Cole the truth.

“We didn’t hear it ring,” she said, not entirely a lie. “What are you doing? Everything okay?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be? Can’t a guy call his best friend and his brother?”

Lily frowned at the comment, but let it slide.

“No, of course. So what’s up?”

There was a rapping sound in the background, like he was anxiously tapping a pen against his books.

“Not much,” he replied slowly. “Just studying.”

There was silence as Lily waited for him to tell her why he was calling. He seemed to be waiting for something as well, his nerves maybe?

“How’s the baby?” he asked finally.

Lily looked down at the small hill pushing up the front of her towel. “Still cooking.”

“Yeah? That’s cool.”

She finally rolled her eyes. “What’s up, Cole? Just say it.”

“Say what?”

“Whatever you called to say, you weirdo.”

“I didn’t call to say anything.”

Lily raised an eyebrow he couldn’t see. “You called to sit here in silence?”

“Why not?”

“Cole!”

There was a sigh, followed by a grunt. “Okay, fine. I’ll tell you, but you have to promise you won’t freak out.”

“You joined the circus,” Lily guessed. “You kicked a munchkin. You lost your clothes in an underground gambling ring.”

“Are you finished?”

“You woke up this morning married to a pineapple.”

“Hey, that pineapple and I are very happy, okay? So just back off.”

Lily laughed. “So tell me your news.”

Cole hesitated. Something chimed in the background. It sounded like a microwave. A computer chair squeaked and she guessed he was getting up to retrieve whatever was inside.

“Cole?”

“Yeah, I’m here. Sorry.”

“What’s going on?”

Lily lowered herself down on Sloan’s bed and found her gaze locked with the owner from across the room as he tied the drawstrings on his flannel bottoms.

“Will you talk to me?” she demanded.

Sloan was watching her with narrowed eyes now and she decided to do them both a favor and put Cole on speaker phone.

“Look, it’s nothing, okay?” Cole insisted. “But I might not be able to come down for Christmas—”

“What?” Lily cried.

“The swim team has a huge tournament after the winter holidays and I want to spend the two weeks hitting the pool.”

“But…” She looked to Sloan for help, but now that he knew nothing serious was going on, he was busy pulling a shirt on over his head. “We have pools here in Willow Creek!”

“It’s not the same, Lil,” Cole said. “I really need to focus. This is my first real tournament with the team and I don’t want to let them down. But I promise to make it up to you guys.”

“How?” she muttered. “We have always spent Christmas together.”

“I know, but this is really important to me. I’ll see you guys for March Break. I promise.”

“Yeah, okay,” she grumbled.

“I gotta go, but I’ll try and call you guys back later this week.”

They said their goodbyes and hung up. Lily tossed the phone down onto the bed and slouched as low as her belly would allow her.

“I feel like we’re in a long distance relationship and we’re slowly breaking up.”

The spot next to her dipped and Sloan rested a gentle hand on her lower back.

“Cole loves you,” he said gently. “But we knew things would be different when he went to school. We knew we would have to adjust.”

“I know!” Lily stood and turned to him. “I just hate that he’s so far away and I hardly get to see, or talk to him. I mean, we went from seeing and talking every day for nineteen years to nothing. That is a huge blow. And it’s Christmas!”

Sloan rose and went to her. He glided tender hands along her arms and drew her to him.

“We could invite your parents over for Christmas.”

She shook her head dejectedly. “They’re visiting my aunt Irene this year up in Milton. She hasn’t been feeling well.”

“Irene is the one…”

“My mom’s sister,” she supplied. “She’s the one with cancer. Mom wants to spend some time with her in case…”

Sloan nodded understandingly. “Then I guess it’s just you and I this year. Do you mind?”

As much as the thought of Cole not being there hurt, Lily could see the perks of spending the Christmas alone with the man she was crazy about. It would be their first together before the baby was born.

She gave him a grin. “No, I really don’t.”

His mouth found hers in a toe-curling kiss that left her leaning into him and forgetting all else.

“Good. Me neither.”

The Christmas holidays started as it always did in Willow Creek. The town was alight with ropes of colorful bulbs that were strung from every tree, lamppost, and building. The air was filled with the sweet scent of powdered sugar, gingerbread, and cinnamon. Kids raced through crowds of shoppers with their little sleds and thermos of hot cocoa. Lily remembered being one of them once with Cole by her side. They would chase each other to Dead Man’s Drop and spend the entire day in the snow.

Now the idea of doing anything remotely active left Lily exhausted. If it were up to her, she would stay huddled on the sofa until the baby was born, or winter went away. But there was so much to do.

December was a slow month for Sloan’s moving company. Most of their ample free time was spent decorating the house, Christmas shopping, and visiting people neither of them cared about. The latter was something her mother encouraged her to do. In turn, Lily forced Sloan to tag along.

“That baby is going to be raised in this town,” her mother had said during one of Lily’s visits. “You can’t just hide away from everyone.”

Lily wasn’t necessarily hiding from anyone, but the thought of being around people she didn’t really get along with wasn’t entirely pleasant either. Regardless, her mother was right. She did need to start making an effort to get along with some of the other moms. In the future, her baby would need friends and she didn’t want it to feel unwanted because she never gave it a chance to get to know the other children.

Sloan assured her she was overthinking the situation, but he didn’t exactly stop her when she started accepting invites to Christmas parties.

By Christmas morning, the house was lit up with lights. Sloan had even hung icicle lights outside the front door and along the windows while Lily had wrapped the iron banister with garland. They hung a wreath on the door and considered it a success.

Inside, they put up a tree draped in layers of lights, shimmering tinsel and glittering bulbs of all sizes. Instead of a star, they perched a praying angel on top with wings made of tiny lights and a halo of silver. Lily hooped a felt skirt around the bottom and placed her gift to Sloan on top.

Usually, her parents went all out for Christmas with the whole tree and lights everywhere and little Christmas figurines. But this was her and Sloan’s first Christmas, and while they hadn’t overdone it like some houses they’d visited over the weeks, she knew they would get more as the years went on, not so much for themselves, but for the baby. For now, their little tree was perfect. It was right next to the fireplace so the flames in the hearth reflected off the colorful bulbs.

That night, they had a quiet dinner and snuggled under a mountain of blankets beneath the tree to watch the lights twinkle. Sloan had placed a fresh log on the fire and it blazed brightly, warming their feet.

Lily smiled up at the man in her arms, her insides brimming with all the emotions she couldn’t put a name to. His pale hair shone and the shadows cast by the fire put hollows in his cheeks and darkened his temples where he had let his hair grow out for the winter. His blue eyes seemed to reflect the flames, making the irises glow almost unnaturally. He was braced on one elbow, toying with a strand of her hair.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“I’m trying to figure out how this happened,” she whispered. “I can’t believe you’re actually here, after all this time.” Her smile slipped a notch. “I’m a little scared I’ll wake up and it’ll all be a dream.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he promised. “In fact, I’m pretty sure you’re stuck with me.”

“Forever?”

He tugged lightly on the strand coiled around his finger. “Much longer.”

Lily laughed. “I can live with that.” She wiggled into a more comfortable position. “So, when do I get my presents?”

He arched a brow. “What makes you think I got you anything?”

She rolled her eyes. “Because you’re a smart man.”

Grinning, he bent his head and skimmed a loving kiss to her mouth. “That I am. All right, but you’ll have to close your eyes.”

Biting her lip in excitement, she covered her eyes and waited. She heard him moving around, felt the sheets shift as he left and then shift again when he returned. The sound of paper rustling filled the air and then he said, “Okay.”

Lily dropped her hands. Her gaze flicked over his hands, then the area around them, but there was nothing there, unless it was invisible.

She looked up into his face, bemused.

He chuckled. “I want to say something before I give you your present.” He took the hand closest to him and kissed her fingers. His gaze never left hers. “I’m not very good with words and originally I was just going to give it to you and let you decide what to do with it, but I don’t want to do anything half-assed with you, Lily. I don’t want short cuts. You and the baby are worth so much more than that. And yes, I’m including him in this, because I know I’m not the biological father and I don’t care. He’s part of two of the most important people in my life and I will love him until the day I die, just like I would do anything for you.” He smoothed the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip, skimmed the rest of his fingers along the curve of her jaw and bent down for a light kiss. “I’ve loved you for so long, baby girl. So damn long. There were times I felt half-crazy with how much I needed you and now that I have you, I don’t want to ever let you go.”

A tear slid down Lily’s temple and disappeared into her hairline. She sniffled and tried to hide it with a chuckle, and failed.

“Is that your present? Making me cry?”

He smiled gently. “No…” He reached behind him and drew forth a small, black box. “This is.”

Lily’s eyes went wide even as her heart leapt with a joyous exhilaration. Her hands flew to her mouth to keep her scream tapered, but a single sound escaped and it was the squeak of a mouse getting stepped on.

“Sloan…”

“I know I asked you this before, and got shot down pretty harshly…” He grinned at his own teasing. “Will you marry me, Lily?”

“Oh my God!”

Firelight caught the teardrop point and sparked like blue flames against a bed of glittering diamonds. Delicate sparkles of light followed the intricate vines weaving the gems to its bed of silver. Lily couldn’t believe such a beautiful thing existed.

“What do you say, Lily?”

Her wet gaze jerked past the precious gift to the man offering it to her. His blue eyes appeared black in the semi darkness, but they held the shimmer of hope, anticipation and fear while he waited for her to possibly shatter it all. The latter had her reaching out. Her palm rested lovingly over his cheek as she bottled back the babble of emotions threatening to burst free.

“I love it so much!” she said, once she was able to speak without shrieking.

Sloan searched her eyes a little desperately. “Is that a yes?”

Laughing and crying, Lily nodded savagely. “Yes, it’s a yes!” She laughed harder. “I don’t want anything more.”

His shoulders dropped and she realized he’d been holding his breath. His face broke into a devastating smile that melted her straight to the core. He took her hand and, without breaking eye contact, slipped the ring onto her finger.

Lily shot upright, cradling her hand close to admire the way it glinted in the lights. She traced the sapphire and diamonds with a finger and marveled at how perfectly it fit, like it had been made especially for her.

“It was my mothers,” Sloan murmured, brushing a kiss to the slope of her shoulder, just next to the thin strap of her camisole. He scraped the spot lightly with his teeth before lifting his mouth to the pulse at her throat. “It’s been in the family for generations.”

Lily head came up fast, her eyes round with surprise. “You’re giving me your mother’s ring?”

He raised her hand and kissed the back, all the while watching her from over the bumps of her knuckles. “There’s no one I want to see it on more.”

Battling back a fresh wave of tears, Lily quickly pulled away from him. “Okay! My turn.”

“No.” He stopped her when she made to get up. “I have one more gift.”

Intrigued, she sat back and watched as he dragged a second box out from behind him.

It was small and wrapped in blue paper with glittering snowflakes. A fat, red bow was perched jauntily on top. When he put it in her hands, it was light.

“What is it?” she wondered.

Sloan eyed her with amusement. “You won’t know until you open it.”

She opened it slowly, enjoying the play of lights off her ring. She loved the delicate weight of it and how it seemed to embrace her finger like a lover’s arms. No matter what was inside that box, she knew he had already given her the best gift possible.

The paper parted like the soft petals of a flower, revealing the sleek, black box nestled inside. Lily had to turn it over to see the label, and her heart leapt. Her breath caught even as she tried to speak. The contents of the box rattled in her trembling grasp as she ripped into the packaging.

“I can’t believe…”

She stared at the compact digital camera with stunned disbelief.

“It’s not the one you had, but it’s digital and rechargeable so you don’t have to worry about getting new batteries or paying someone to print the photos out,” Sloan said as she held down the power button and the shutter window slid open with a quiet hum.

Lily turned her head to him, her expression awed. “Why…?”

“Because I don’t want you giving up something that clearly means so much to you, not if I can help it.”

The camera slipped into her lap, nearly disappearing in the folds of the comforter as she stared at it through a hot shroud of tears. She picked it up again, traced the smooth, shiny plastic with her thumb.

“What’s wrong?” Sloan wondered. “Don’t you like it?”

A tear spilled down her cheek with the rapid shake of her head. “I love it.” She rubbed at her face with the back of her hand. “I just…” She wet her lips and forced herself to meet his gaze. “My gift seems so small after this.”

“Lily.” His whisper kissed her temple a split second before his lips did. “Everything I’ve ever wanted you’ve already given me.”

Lily shook her head again. “Not like this.”

“Hey.” He took the camera from her and put it aside. Then he reached for her. “Look at me.” He didn’t wait for her to do it. He slipped his fingers under her chin and tipped her face to his. “Stop. I didn’t give you this to upset you.”

“It’s not just this!” Her bottom lip wobbled and she held it down with her teeth. “Since all this started, since I found out about the baby, you’ve been there in every way that counts and you never once asked for anything in return.”

“I told you, I have everything right here.”

He skimmed his mouth over hers, tasting her with slow, even sips that crushed her despite its tenderness. The weight of that kiss seized the regular patter of her heart and turned it wild in her chest. The pressure made her head swim deliciously. But she pulled away before the heat took her over.

“I still want to give you your gift,” she murmured.

Sloan inclined his head and dropped back down on his elbows to wait.

Lily crawled to the foot of their makeshift bed and pulled out the flat, rectangular box she’d wrapped the night before. She brought it over to the mound of pillows, positioned herself comfortably once more and passed it to him.

Sitting up, he tore off the ribbons, then the paper, then pulled the lid off and pushed aside the tissue paper. Lily waited with her lip caught between her teeth as he studied the glossy square of glass nestled inside. The butterflies in her tummy amplified when he reached in and gingerly lifted it from its bed of paper.

His eyes widened. “Lily…”

She waited anxiously for him to say more, but he had gone unnaturally rigid. The bumps of each knuckle had gone a stark white around the frame he held as though the very sight of it was something alien and beautiful.

“I looked everywhere for this picture after Mom died.” His voice was low and hollow, like it was rising from somewhere deep in the darkest part of his soul. “I thought my dad had destroyed it, like he’d destroyed all the other pictures of her.” He raised his head slowly and she was struck by the bright shine of his eyes. “Where did you find this?”

“Cole’s room,” she whispered. “It was taped to the back of his headboard. I had it blown up and framed.”

He nodded as though that made sense and went back to staring at the beautiful woman smiling up at him from her glass prison. She had her arms around two beaming boys, one just a baby and the other about five or six. They were sitting on the porch swing of their childhood home, the one Sloan had left behind with his father. Baby Cole sat perched on his mother’s knee, a chubby thing with curly blond hair and rosy cheeks. He looked like he’d been clapping; the area around his tiny hands was slightly blurred. On the other side of her sat Sloan, leaning into his mother, his round face bright with the biggest smile Lily had ever seen. Then there was Calla McClain, an elegantly regal woman with a long neck and a slightly upturned nose. Her hair was the same sandy blonde as her sons and they had her startling blue eyes that crinkled at the corners when they smiled. But her mouth was a thin slash against her triangular face and she had a decisively pointy chin that was uniquely her own. Behind the trio, the world was a beautiful landscape of orange and red leaves and a piercing blue sky. Lily wasn’t sure who had taken the photo. She doubted it had been Jacob McClain. He’d been a nasty man even before his wife’s death.

“I can’t believe he kept this hidden all these years.” He set the photo down to mash the heels of his hands into the backs of his eyelids. “Why didn’t he show me?”

Lily shook her head as her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I think maybe because he was worried it too would get destroyed? Whatever the reason,” she added quickly when Sloan’s expression drew together in sorrow and confusion. “It’s not hidden anymore.”

Sloan swallowed her response with another brisk nod of his head. His attention was pulled back to the photo, to his mother’s smiling face. The tips of his fingers skimmed the smooth glass, outlining the windblown wisps of her hair and the curve of her pinkened cheeks. Pain was a dark painting across the canvas of his face and Lily nearly wept. Her insides thrummed as though his suffering were hers.

“You lied.”

With a deep, rattling inhale, Sloan rose to his feet with the photo in hand and moved to one of the end tables bracketing the sofa. He placed the frame down as though it were made of the finest china and adjusted the picture so it overlooked the entire room.

“What?” Lily wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly.

Sloan returned to their mound of blankets and crouched in front of her. His fingers were warm tracing the line of her face. The firelight shone through his hair and illuminated the intense passion in his eyes.

“You said your gift was small compared to what I’ve given you, but that … that was…” he trailed off, his head rocking ever so slightly from side to side. “You can’t imagine what this means to me.”

Her hands reached for him, framed his beautiful face and she drew him down to her.

The fire had died to a pile of crumbling embers, casting the room in a slight chill when Lily came awake. Her back screamed in protest at being in the same position on the hard ground. It was as though the layers of blanket had grown impossibly thin in the few hours she’d been sleeping, leaving her resting on scraps of paper towels.

Her mangled cry of pain alerted Sloan and he jerked awake instantaneously. His hands found her in the dark.

“Lil?” The blankets rustled as he shoved up onto his elbow. “What’s wrong?”

Gritting her teeth through the fingers of agony splintering up and down the full length of her spine, Lily pushed upright. She gasped as those same fingers clawed the underside of her belly.

“Lily?” Sloan’s hands splayed over the ones she’d pressed into the bump.

“I’m okay,” she choked. “The baby doesn’t like sleeping on the floor.”

“Okay.” His arms found their way around her, scooping her up and cradling her against his chest. “Let’s get you both to bed.”

Lily didn’t argue when he hauled her upstairs and gingerly dumped her down onto their bed. He left her there as he returned downstairs to grab their things and double check the fire. Lily was curled up on the cool mattress, absently rubbing the tension tightening the skin stretching over her stomach. A smile played on her lips.

“Feeling better?”

Sloan marched back into the room, arms laden with pillows and blankets. He dumped everything on the floor next to the bed and began arranging everything around Lily.

“Much.” She sighed and shimmied her way upwards to rest her head on the pillow Sloan positioned against the headboard. “I’m sorry I woke you.”

Sloan crawled into bed beside her and drew the blankets up and around them both. “You didn’t. I was already up.”

Chuckling at his outright lie, Lily let herself get drawn into his arms and tucked like the perfect puzzle piece into his side. She nuzzled the bare width of his chest with her cheek before resting it over his heartbeat and closing her eyes.

But sleep never came for her. She lay awake, listening to the groans of the house withstanding the snowstorm outside and the low rumble of Sloan’s snores. Lily raised her head and peered up at his shadowed, slumbering features with a sense of longing. Except, now that she was awake, her body was acutely aware of needing to pee and then getting a drink and no amount of trying to ignore the needs was helping.

With a reluctant sigh, she wiggled free of Sloan’s possessive embrace and padded out of the room, hitting the bathroom first. The chill followed her progression to the stairs and she wished she’d thought to grab her robe. The camisole and panties were no cover to the winter worming its way into the house. She made a mental note to look into proper insulation. Of all the many years she’d spent sleeping over, she could never recall it being so damn cold.

The floorboards creaked beneath her weight all the way downstairs. Icy air swirled around her ankles like manacles. She hissed through her teeth as she was met with a solid wall of cold, like standing too close to a giant cube of ice. The fine hairs along the back of her neck rose and she shuddered. Her arms instinctively pulled around her, attempting to draw heat from her own body and failing.

A board squeaked and she wasn’t sure who was more surprised by the unexpected sound, her, or the figure standing in the middle of the living room, holding the photo Lily had given Sloan only hours earlier.

“Who are you?” She staggered back a step, hoping to get to the stairs before the man could get to her. Instinctively, her hands went to her stomach, as though protecting it from the intruder’s gaze. “What are you doing here?”

The figure straightened, or at least, attempted to. The gesture seemed to throw him off balance. He staggered, hitting the end table with his hip. He grabbed the back of the sofa to remain upright, the photo still in his grasp.

“Where did you get this?” The voice was gruff, edged with an angry slur.

Somewhere to her right, something banged. Lily jumped and gave a yelp of surprise as her attention was redirected momentarily in the direction of the front door.

Pale light spilled across the foyer. A flurry of snow blew into the house in a cloud of white swirls. The sudden chill in the air suddenly made sense, but that wasn’t her biggest concern.

“I asked you a question, girl!” The hulking figure launched himself forward, using the sofa to guide him across the room towards her. “Where did you get this?”

“You … you need to leave!” Lily ordered, struggling to keep calm, and more importantly, keep him away from her baby. “I’ll scream.”

The man lurched sideways as he heaved himself away from his crutch. Light lanced across the glossy black frame he raised over his head.

“You think you can tell me what to do, you stupid little bitch? This is my house! My wife paid for this shit hole. Who the fuck are you?”

Somehow, knowing who he was, didn’t make the situation better. If anything, knowing only intensified the bitter tang roiling at the back of her throat.

Jacob McClain was a big man in every way that made him dangerous. Years of alcohol abuse hadn’t shrunk his massive frame, if anything, he had swelled to an even greater bulk. He was taller, even now when Lily was no longer a little girl looking up into the bloodshot eyes of a disheveled and angry man. If anything he scared her more now than he ever had in the past.

“Mr. McClain…”

“I asked you a question!” he roared and lunged at her.

Lily screamed and slammed into the wall in her haste to get out of his path.

He was on her then. One meaty hand clamped over her throat, stifling all sound as he leaned into her. Lily’s hands never strayed from their possessive grip around her midsection, not even to protect herself when he jerked her to him and then thrust her back with enough strength to bounce the back of her skull off the wall with a dull thud that she barely felt.

His breath reeked of cheap beer and rot. The foul odor of it raked across Lily’s face.

“Stupid cunt!” he sneered viciously, speckling her face with his spittle.

“Please,” she croaked. “Please, don’t.”

The picture was brought up again for her to see. “Where did this come from?”

Windpipe blocked, Lily couldn’t answer even if she had wanted.

“Answer me!”

Violent starbursts exploded across her vision in a multitude of colors that bled together until she was sure she would be sick. There was a vague recollection of something crunching as it shattered against the side of her head. Then there was nothing except nausea and pain. Something thick and sticky ran along the side of her face, blinding her as it puddled over the back of her closed eyelid. It took her a moment to realize she was on the floor, curled on her side as the monster loomed over her, a dark shadow of rage. A gut churning terror washed through her as her mind screamed, begging him silently not to kick her. Her own legs curled upwards, protecting her stomach the best she could while struggling not to pass out.

“Answer—”

The second figure appeared out of nowhere. It launched itself off the stairs, straight at the man standing over her. The two crashed onto the floor in a heap of black. Lily scrambled up and backwards only to come up against the wall. A loud buzzing had started between her ears that muffled the thud of fist pounding on meat. The crunch of bones shattering. The grunts of pain.

Her hands shook violently as she raised them to swipe away the blood pouring down her temple and off her chin. A few feet away, the picture of Sloan and Cole lay in shattered pieces across the hardwood. There was blood staining the jagged shards that appeared black in the darkness. She had a sickening feeling it was hers.

“You son of a bitch!” Sloan’s roar brought her back to the pair not too far away. “You think you can come into my home and put your hands on what’s mine?”

There was a scuffle as the figure on top pushed to his feet, hauling the second figure up with him by the front of his jacket. But only halfway. Then there was a crack and the figure on his knees flew backwards to lay sprawled across the floor once more.

Sloan followed, his fury a thick, black wave pouring off him. He grabbed his father again, by the back of his collar this time, and dragged him to the front door. He forcibly shoved his father down the stairs and out of the house.

“If you ever come back, I will bury you in the fields out back,” Sloan promised with a savagery that stunned Lily. “And I won’t kill you first, but you’ll wish I had.”

With that, he slammed the door and slammed every bolt into place before he was running across the room. He paused only once to switch on a lamp before he was in front of her.

“Lily?”

His eyes were frantic, his hands unsteady as he took her face between them. There was blood spattered across his face that wasn’t his, or hers. His knuckles were battered and bleeding. The pupils of his eyes were enormous, practically swallowing the irises and the fire was white hot behind them.

“I … I think I’m okay.” But her voice wobbled with tears.

“I’m taking you to the hospital.”

She caught his arm before he could leave her. “I’m okay.”

“No! You need to get seen. There’s a cut on your head and the baby—”

“Is fine,” she promised when some of the color left his face. “He didn’t hurt the baby.”

Even while his shoulders relaxed, the determination remained behind his gaze. “You’re still going to get checked. Come on.”

She didn’t argue when he pulled her up into his arms and carried her upstairs. He set her on the bed while he went to dampen a rag and return. He cleaned the blood off her face and pressed the cloth to the gash against the side of her head.

Lily winced.

“What happened?” he asked, probably to distract her.

Lily moistened her lips. “I got up to pee and get a drink. I went downstairs and he was just there. The front door was open and he was holding the picture. He kept asking where I got it and then he came at me.”

Sloan’s nostrils flared. The muscles along his jaw bunched rapidly like he was barely keeping it together. Yet his free hand continued to gently stroke her hair, the side not caked in blood, without faltering.

“I’ll deal with him,” he promised. “I won’t let him near you again.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as he replaced his hand with hers on the cloth and hurried to the dresser.

He glanced back, his confusion evident on his face. “For what?”

“I don’t know.”

Sloan yanked out jeans and a sweater and quickly threw them on. “You have nothing to be sorry about, Lily. You did nothing wrong.”

While she knew he was right, she couldn’t help feeling as though she were somehow responsible for the tension hardening his mouth.

With his help, Lily dressed and he bundled her into the Mustang. They drove through the heavy winds and swirling snow towards the hospital. Lily watched the stretch of black all around for signs of Jacob McClain, but he was gone.

The cut wasn’t deep. By the time they arrived and got it checked, it had already stopped bleeding. The weary-eyed doctor checked her over from head to toe on Sloan’s insistence and finally gave her a clean bill of health, minus the cut on her head. He told her to take it easy and get some rest, but he also told Sloan to keep an eye on her for signs of dizziness, or nausea.

It was nearing dawn by the time they returned home. Neither paused for anything as they climbed upstairs and crawled back into bed, fully clothed.

Chapter Ten ~ Sloan

Sloan woke the next morning to find Lily curled up against his chest. His right arm had gone numb, having been tucked beneath her the entire time, but he couldn’t bring himself to care as he gingerly shifted off his back and onto his side. He drew her further against him. With his free hand, he combed through her hair, pushing the strands off her cheek. Most if it was still crusted with dried blood and caught on his fingers. The red had turned her pale hair a sick shade of orange on that one side. Yet, despite that, she slept soundly, like nothing in the world bothered her, while Sloan had to swallow the urge to hunt down his father and follow through with his promise.

Memories of waking to find Lily absent from bed and then the scream that had torn him across the room hissed through him like an agitated viper. He hadn’t known what to expect when he had reached the bottom step, but it hadn’t been to find Lily curled up on the floor with his father towering over her. The sight had ripped through Sloan with a fury that had momentarily paralyzed him to everything else. He had launched himself at the man who had terrorized Sloan his entire life. Sloan had never fought back in fear of retaliation, and the possibility of Cole getting hurt in the process. But that fear had evaporated the moment his father had hurt Lily. Sloan would have killed him had his need to check on Lily not been as hot and wild as his thirst for blood. Throwing Jacob McClain out had been the most Sloan could do. And it hadn’t been enough.

It wouldn’t be enough.

Careful not to rouse her, Sloan slipped free of Lily’s embrace, folded the sheets firmly around her and made his way downstairs. He paused over the shattered remains of Lily’s Christmas present to him and bent to pick it up.

His mother continued to smile up at him, forever frozen in that moment. Lily’s blood smeared half the side of the glass, but the picture remained untouched.

Sloan carried it to the kitchen and turned the broken pieces into the trash bin. Then he freed the picture and tossed the frame away. He held it gingerly, as though the picture itself were a priceless artifact that required a careful hand.

Sloan had been fifteen when his mother had taken her last breath in that hospital room. His father hadn’t been there, but Cole had been asleep in one of the plastic chairs. Sloan had stood next to the bed, next to his mother’s limp hand, studying her face while she slept. In those last days, she had looked nothing like the woman Sloan had seen puttering around in the kitchen, laughing and singing. Her face had been bleached of color, the skin pulled tight over sharp bones. Her sleek mane of blonde hair had fallen out several chemo sessions before and her head had been wrapped in a lavender scarf. She had almost looked comfortable.

“I can feel you thinking, little man.”

Sloan had jerked in surprise at the soft, raspy voice. His gaze had swung away from the pipes and tubes protruding from the arm closest to him. The skin there had reminded him of someone having sucked the juices from a grape, leaving the flesh sagging around the pit; she had lost too much weight, too fast.

She was watching him, her eyelids barely open all the way. She no longer had eyelashes and the blue of her eyes had dulled to a washed out gray. But they were still his mother’s eyes.

“It’s going to be okay, baby boy,” she whispered to him, not because Cole was sleeping and it was nearly three in the morning. That was what her voice had become, a whisper.

“You’re going to die,” Sloan told her. “You’re going to leave us with him.”

Pain that had nothing to do with the disease consuming her organs flickered over her face. Her white lips pursed and she turned her hand over for his.

“I’m sorry.”

The guilt had torn him apart. It hadn’t been up to her. She hadn’t wanted to leave them. Blaming her wouldn’t make him, or her, feel better. She had already hung on much longer than the doctors had predicted.

“You’re strong,” she told him. “So much stronger than I ever was. You will protect your little brother and one day, everything will be okay.”

Sloan hadn’t understood what she meant until the lawyer had shown up on their doorstep the day after the funeral. His mother had never had much money. That which she had, his father had already taken from her. But somehow, without his father knowing, she had taken out a life insurance policy on herself and she had named Sloan as her recipient, but only when he turned eighteen. His father had torn the house apart in his mindless rage. He destroyed everything that had once belonged to the woman who had given him two sons and sixteen years of her life. Sloan had barely gotten Cole shoved under the bed when his father was on him. That had been the worst beating Sloan had ever received. There had been moments he was sure his father would kill him. But he had lived. The broken bones had mended and bruises had faded. Most of the time, he was even able to forget the excruciating pain if he really tried.

On his eighteenth birthday, he had packed himself and Cole up, gone to the bank and bought the house he now shared with Lily, and he had never looked back.

Sloan stumbled out of the memory with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. The photograph was still clutched in his hand, but it was dotted by little droplets of water. Tears. He’d been silently crying without ever realizing it.

He wiped at his face and turned away from the trash can. His feet moved him quickly and with purpose to the office, where he propped the photo against one of the potted plants on the filing cabinet before taking claim of the seat. He snatched up the phone and punched in the numbers.

Sheriff Hank Henley picked up on the second ring.

“Sheriff’s office.”

Sloan never hesitated. “I want to report a break in, and assault.”

Sloan was chatting with the sheriff over lukewarm mugs of coffee when Lily padded into the kitchen. She had showered. The blood was gone from her hair and her skin was flushed from the hot water. Her brown eyes widened as they darted from Sloan to the portly man sitting across from him at the table. The sheriff was in his casual wear, jeans and a flannel button up, but his badge winked in the pale, winter light spilling through the kitchen window. He hastily removed his sheriff’s cap off his unruly brown curls when Lily walked in.

“Sloan?”

Sloan gestured to the man across him. “This is Sheriff Henley,” he said.

Lily nodded. “I know. Is something wrong?”

She crossed the kitchen slowly.

“Sloan called me about the incidents of the previous night,” Henley replied. “He told me you were hurt. Are you all right?”

Lily’s hand went to the side of her head where Sloan knew the gash was. “I think so.” Her gaze dropped to Sloan’s. “You called the sheriff?”

“He should have called us last night,” Henley chimed in. “Jacob McClain broke the law. He’ll be going away for a while.”

Concern colored Lily’s eyes a soft velvety brown. “Can I talk to you?”

Asking the sheriff to give them a second, Sloan rose and followed Lily from the room. She took him to the office and shut the door before turning to him.

“What are you doing?”

Sloan folded his arms, a defensive gesture he hated, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. “He needs to be held accountable for what he did to you, Lily.”

“He’s your father!” she cried.

“He’s a monster!” he snapped back. “And I can forget everything he’s ever done to me, but I won’t let him touch you, or the baby.”

Lily’s face softened. She reached for him. “Are you sure about this, Sloan? Once you go through with it, you can’t take it back.”

The tension melted from his shoulder blades and his arms dropped to his side. He raised one hand and cupped the back of her head, careful not to hurt her as he drew her to him.

“The only thing I will ever regret is not having killed him last night.”

With Lily by his side, they recounted the events of the previous night. The sheriff took note of everything, even the cut on Lily’s head for his report. Then he left, after promising to keep them informed.

The rest of the afternoon was spent curled up on the sofa, watching the lights dance in the branches of the tree. Lily made use of her new camera. Sloan loved watching her get lost in the world behind the lens. Every so often she would include him, showing him on the little screen the images she’d captured. The unlit fireplace. The winking lights on the tree. Her feet. His mouth. The ring on her finger. The latter was his favorite. He was still having a hard time believing she had said yes. While he’d hoped, he hadn’t expected it.

“You know what I want to do?” Lily said after a long stretch of silence where she had been dutifully flipping through the images on her camera.

“What’s that?”

She turned the camera off, set it on the coffee table, and twisted her body towards his. Her eyes glittered brighter than the Christmas lights. And he knew, even before she curled her hands into the hem of her t-shirt what she was about to say.

“I want you inside me.”

Chapter Eleven ~ Lily

“Please don’t make me go!” Lily whined.

Sloan smirked as he fastened the buttons on his jacket. “You promised, love.”

Lily grumbled grudgingly as she flicked free her hair from the collar of her coat. “Can’t we blame it on pregnancy hormones and bad choices?” She turned to him in the confines of the foyer and closed her fists into the lapel of his jacket. He was so much taller than her and that somehow always stirred the heat coiling in the pit of her stomach. “We could stay home and I could do that thing you like so much with my mouth…”

The offer wasn’t just because she had no desire to face Georgia May and the leading ladies of Willow Creek, but because she genuinely wanted him … again. It seemed she wanted him a lot lately. Every chance she got. Sloan’s ability to keep up astounded her most days, but he was just as ready every time she was.

“That is a bad idea,” he said slowly, but his voice had grown husky and the dark glimmer in his heavily lidded eyes said something else entirely.

“It won’t take long,” she whispered, the rapid crack of her heart making her breathless.

If possible, he seemed to expand at her words, taking up all the space and air. The coils of heat coming off him seared through her clothes, caressed her tingling flesh. Her nipples hardened and rubbed painfully against the soft material of her bra with every shallow breath. Her panties dampened, chafing uncomfortably against her swollen mound.

“Are you really that close, Lily?” he asked in the same quiet murmur he used to whisper dirty things in her ears while torturing her body to the point of beautiful pain.

Desire splintered through her and she bit her lip to keep from whimpering.

“Yes.”

Without taking his eyes off her, Sloan undid the buttons on his coat with slow precision. His movement was methodical and taunting.

“Take off your panties,” he ordered her.

Trembling with the sheer force of her arousal, Lily reached under her skirt and shoved the ruined fabric down her legs to her ankles.

“Off,” he instructed.

They caught on her shoes, but she tore them off.

Sloan took them from her. His lashes slipped over his eyes as he examined the simple, white material still warm from her body. He flipped it over with a deft flick of his wrist and the dark, wet patch came into view. Lily gasped, mortified by the size of the stain. Sloan seemed unaffected. He slid his thumb over the stretch of cotton, over her juices, and Lily gasped for a whole other reason.

“Turn,” he said without looking at her.

She did, already knowing the drill. Her hands instinctively went to the wall, palms flattening against the cool surface. Her legs parted wide. A cool rush of air smacked her bottom when her skirt was lifted over her ass cheeks. A low moan escaped her.

“You’re such a bad girl,” he murmured, coming up behind her and holding her hips steady with both hands. “We’re late and you soaked through your panties.” He kicked her feet apart even further. “Now you’re going to go there, dripping with my come and no panties to stop it from running down your legs.”

Lily’s nails left deep gashes in the paint as that image nearly sent her clean over. Her body gave a violent shudder.

“I knew you would like that idea,” he taunted, grazing the fat head of his cock over the crack of her ass and inward to prod at her slick center.

Lily hissed. Her pussy muscles clenched as though they could somehow suck him inside her.

“What are you going to tell them?” he wondered as he continued to circle her opening. Every so often, he’d add the slightest pressure, just enough to make her sob when he drew back. “Are you going to tell them that you needed to be fucked one last time before you left the house, even though your pussy was already crammed full of my come from the last three times I had you spread open since this morning?”

“God, Sloan! Please … please don’t make me come without you inside me again. I hate that.”

She felt him grin against the side of her face. “That was your fault.”

His hands slid around her. Her zipper was drawn down and shoved aside so he could begin the process of prying open the tiny buttons holding her dress closed. She watched as the material was parted to expose her white bra. Her breasts looked enormous being cradled in their lacy cups. Maybe it was because of the pregnancy, or because they were swollen with the need to have him toy with them.

The head of his shaft broke passed the wet ring of her vagina and Lily cried out. Her breasts were drawn free and her nipples were pinched between his fingers. The cruel torture brought tears of frustration to her eyes as her body threatened to combust if he didn’t ease the pressure.

“Mm,” he purred tauntingly into her ear. “Your pussy is as greedy as your mouth when you suck my cock. You just can’t wait to take me in deep inside that perfect body of yours.”

“Stop teasing!” she wailed. “I’m already so close.”

“I know.”

Without a shred of warning, he drove upward. Lily screamed as the force of his thrust, combined by the sensitivity of her walls, ripped a hole into her very consciousness. She would have blacked out from the sheer pressure had the world not torn apart and sent her spiraling into an orgasm that exploded between her ears in a deafening roar. Her eyes streamed and her entire body seized as the fire thundered through her. She was only vaguely aware of Sloan spilling inside her and her body hungrily lapping every last drop from him. He stayed firmly wedged inside her even as she drifted back to reality and the man holding her up. There was a delicious ripple of numbness spreading through her legs and her channel pulsed with the lingering beats of her release long after he had expelled from her.

“And you wonder why I’m always horny,” she breathed into the coolness of the wall. “God, you’re amazing, Sloan.”

His hold on her tightened. “And all yours.”

A smile tugged on Lily’s mouth. “I like that.”

With a kiss to the side of her head, Sloan drew back and began helping her fasten her clothes together. But he kept her panties.

Lily didn’t ask for them back.

He drove to Georgia May’s beautiful two story colonial with its green shutters and shimmering lights. All the windows were lit with pale gold lights that spilled in square patches across untouched snow. There was gray smoke billowing from the chimney that filled the early afternoon air with the scent of cinnamon. There were three other cars in the driveway that Lily recognized and a few more lining the street on both sides, and her stomach twisted.

“I don’t want to go in there,” she moaned.

“I’ll be there with you,” Sloan promised. “I won’t leave your side unless you want me to.”

Lily frowned. “That’s another thing, if this is a baby shower, why are men invited?”

Sloan shrugged. “It’s Georgia May. Does she ever really need a reason to celebrate?”

Lips pursed in agitation and dejection, Lily didn’t respond. She continued to sit there and eye the place with the look a criminal on death row would give an electric chair, fear and mistrust.

Sloan finally made the first move. He heaved himself out of the car and circled around to her side.

Georgia May answered the door wearing a breathtaking gown of black velvet and green silk. Her mane of chestnut brown hair was twisted into a pile of curls up top of her head. She smiled winningly at them.

“You came!”

Didn’t think it was an option, Lily thought miserably.

“Thank you for having us,” she said instead as she slipped past the other woman into the brightly lit foyer and the sweet serenade of flutes and violins.

“Oh, of course!” Georgia May cooed as she shut the door behind Sloan. “It just wouldn’t be the same without the expecting parents here to enjoy it.” She took a step back to observe them, and Lily immediately felt underdressed.

“The invitation said casual,” she said quickly.

Georgia May gave a nod. “It is. Please, let me take your coats and you can mingle.”

Sloan got out of his first and passed it to Georgia May. Lily’s zipper got stuck midway before she tore it free and shrugged out of it. Georgia May eyed the simple, flowy dress Lily wore with a very careful look on her face.

Lily owned a few dresses that she mainly wore throughout the summer. The dress she wore that night was one she bought because none of her other dresses fit over the bulking swell of her seven month belly. It was a maternity dress made for pregnant women and it fit her nicely, or at least Lily thought so.

“You are just a picture of glowing health!” Georgia May exclaimed finally. “Just about ready to drop, aren’t you?”

Lily flushed and lightly patted her midsection. “Dr. Phillips says early April.”

Georgia May clicked her tongue. “I bet it will be sooner than that. You’re enormous.”

Not sure how to take that, Lily forced a smile. “Thank you.”

The other woman continued to smile while examining Lily’s belly. “Well,” she said at last. “Let’s get you two away from the door and out meeting some people. But before I do, perhaps you should straighten up those buttons.”

Bemused, Lily dropped her gaze to the front of her dress and felt herself go hot; four of the top buttons had been done up wrong, leaving a gap between the third and fourth button.

“Oh!”

Lily turned her back on the room and hurriedly redid the buttons, smoothed a hand down her wrinkled skirt where Sloan’s bruising hands had bunched the fabric beyond repair and turned to the woman.

“Thank you.”

Casting knowing glances between her and Sloan, Georgia May smiled her cat-like smile. “Don’t mention it. Shall we?”

Lily didn’t exhale until the woman had turned her back on them. Sloan placed a gentle hand on the small of her back, but neither said anything as they followed Georgia May into the sitting area and the other guests.

The music was louder here, yet it was oddly drowned out by the chatter of voices and the ring of laughter. People turned when they stepped into the doorway and the babbling quieted.

“Look who arrived!” Georgia May announced, waving her arms in Lily and Sloan’s direction.

Exclamations of delight rose through the air. People moved forward to greet them and Lily instinctively tried to take a step back, only to be stopped by Sloan. He propelled her forward through the throng.

Without really knowing what to say, Lily repeated the same five words over and over to everyone she passed.

“Hi, nice to see you.”

It wasn’t until she saw the familiar faces of her parents that she finally relaxed and her tight smile blossomed in delight. She hurried to them without Sloan’s insistence and threw her arms around her father. Then her mother.

“I am so happy to see you here!” she groaned.

Her mother laughed and patted her on the back. “Hello, sweetie.”

Lily drew back. “Do you know half these people?”

Her mother looked over the room. “Some.” Her mother’s brown eyes met hers, still dancing with amusement. “You should sit down. I have a feeling this is going to be a very long night.”

Lily hadn’t seen her parents since they returned from their visit to see her aunt Irene during Christmas. She and Sloan had gone to welcome them back when they first got home, but then the holiday lull had ended and the rush of everyday life had gotten in the way. It made her whole night to see them there.

“How are you?” her mom asked after Sloan had dragged a chair over for Lily to sit next to her mother.

“Exhausted,” Lily mumbled. “I can’t sleep for more than a handful of hours before this one decides he wants to play kickboxing with my bladder. I swear I should just move my bed into the bathroom.”

Her mother laughed. “Wait until the three am feedings.”

Lily grimaced, but said nothing.

“So are you guys ready?” her dad asked, looking to Sloan.

“We ordered a crib, but it won’t arrive until next week,” Sloan answered. “We have a few other things already bought and left in Cole’s old room.”

“I wish we could have kept Lily’s old crib,” her mother sighed. “My father had made it for her.”

“Yeah, but the thing was a disaster waiting to happen,” her father muttered. “Plus I had to take an ax to the thing to get it out of the house.” He turned to Sloan. “He had stripped all the screws building it.”

Sloan laughed.

“Do you know what you’re having yet?” her mother asked expectantly.

Lily shook her head. “We want to be surprised.”

“You want to be surprised,” Sloan corrected with a mock glower at her. “She won’t even let me find out.”

“Because you might accidently tell me,” Lily protested.

“I never understood why women do that,” her father grumbled. “Karen was the same way. How the hell is a man supposed to prepare if he doesn’t know?”

Sloan waved a hand towards her father as though to emphasize the very valid point the other man was making.

Lily laughed and rolled her eyes. “You two are incorrigible.”

“So what kept you guys?” her mother asked, tactfully averting the conversation. “We were beginning to think you weren’t going to show up.”

Lily tried to think of something to say while battling down the red, hot flush working its way up her body. She met Sloan’s gaze and was rewarded with a sly smirk and raised eyebrow that did nothing to help stave off her flood of embarrassment.

“Lily couldn’t find her shoes,” he lied for her smoothly.

Her father smacked Sloan in the shoulder. “At least she can still put them on herself. Karen couldn’t even see her feet by the eighth month.”

Her mother huffed indignantly. “Lily’s right. You two are incorrigible.”

“So whose idea was this anyway?” Lily wondered, stealing a peek around the room.

“Georgia May,” her father answered, sounding none too pleased about it.

“It’s my fault.” Her mother looked to Lily with a look of guilt. “I ran into Georgia May at the grocery store and she asked about you. I told her you were fine and the baby was fine. She asked if I had thought about putting a shower together for you. I told her I had, but we were waiting for you to get a little further along. Next thing I knew, she was offering—”

“Insisting, more like,” her father griped. “Practically appointed herself head party person.”

Her mother reached out and patted him lightly on the arm. “It was very kind of her.”

“But this is a mother-daughter thing.”

It was amusing how incensed her father was on her mother’s behalf. But that was because her mother was such a quiet person, always leaning backwards to help others and sometimes, people took advantage of that.

“But this is for Lily and Sloan,” her mother soothed. “It’s a wonderful turn out and I’m sure they will get a ton of very useful things for the baby.”

Her father grumbled under his breath, but said nothing more about it.

Georgia May took that moment to sashay to the center of the room and call everyone’s attention. The low murmur of voices faded slowly as all eyes turned to the beautiful woman beaming around the room.

“Thank you all for coming.” She clasped her hands together neatly at her midsection. “This is a wonderful time for one of our own.”

Inwardly, Lily went cold. The smile she had plastered to her face felt tight and drawn. Her gaze swung to Sloan, panicked.

“Lily?” Georgia May was watching her. So was everyone else.

Lily screwed her smile more securely in place and rose to her feet with some assistance from her mother’s chair. Georgia May held a hand out to her when she drew closer. Lily accepted it and let herself be hauled to the other woman’s side.

“Lily and Sloan are starting a family and we couldn’t be happier for her.”

There was a spatter of applause throughout the room. But Georgia May wasn’t finished.

“As some of you may know, I have practically been an aunt to Lily since she was a little girl. I have watched her grow up and become the beautiful woman she is today, so of course I was hurt when I was last to find out about the news. Not that I was surprised.” She gave a laugh that grated across Lily’s nerves. “When a girl is left to her own devices, it’s almost to be expected. But mistakes happen. At least we all know Sloan is a decent man who stands by his responsibilities.”

Lily jerked her hand free.

Georgia May didn’t seem to notice. “We, of course, wish them luck in the future. After all, theirs will not be the first marriage brought around by an unexpected surprise. Theirs might even last.”

It took all of Lily’s restraint not to smack the woman right there in front of everyone. It was appalling how she weaved the sweet with the bitter, hiding every spearing insult beneath a silky shroud of compliment. It was disgusting and outrageous. Lily opened her mouth to tell the woman to drop dead.

“Georgia May, you are such a beautiful hostess.” Lily’s mother pushed forward in her chair, her face a mask of serenity. “It was so kind of you to invite us here to celebrate the birth of our grandbaby. It truly had been such a surprise when we first heard. We certainly weren’t expecting it, but we have accepted it, as I’m sure you and your family did when Nancy got herself in trouble with Brice Conner. It was such a shame when Brice left her for that other woman. I know I was simply devastated for her. But I have seen the love Sloan has for my Lily. He will make a wonderful father and husband.”

Lily wasn’t sure who was more stricken by the underhanded jab her mother just executed with such flawless aim, her or her father, who stood just behind her mother’s chair with his mouth slightly gaping.

Georgia May seemed to be as stunned as the rest of the room. Nancy’s mistake had cost her more than just her cheerleader position. All memories of her had been erased from Willow Creek as though she had never existed. Her parents had packed the girl up and shipped her off to live with family in a whole other province and no one was ever allowed to mention her, or the shame she had brought on the family. Now, Georgia May looked as though she’d just caught the family dog taking a shit on the sofa. It was a look Lily would cherish for the rest of her life.

Lily took the opportunity to try and slip back to where her parents and Sloan stood, away from Georgia May before the shock wore off, but instead, she found Sloan making his way to her.

By the time he reached her, Georgia May had come out of her speechlessness and had plastered on one of her habitual eat-shit smiles. It wasn’t until it was fully in place before the room seemed to take a breath. The tension fizzled out, but only slightly.

“Why don’t we all have some more to eat and then I think the men should retire into the man cave while the women enjoy some quiet time and presents.”

“Are you okay?” Sloan touched her elbow as the people around them all began to move at the same time. It was as though someone had pressed play on a paused movie.

Lily nodded. “Yeah.”

He didn’t seem satisfied by her response, but he didn’t press her either. Together, they walked back to her parents and Lily stared at her mother.

“What was that?” she demanded, awed.

Her mother blinked up at her with a quiet curiosity that Lily didn’t believe for a second. “What do you mean?”

Lily narrowed her eyes. “Uh huh.” Her face broke into a smile and she bent and hugged the other woman. “I love you.”

Hugging her back, her mom kissed her on the check before releasing her.

People found their way towards Lily, some out of interest, others genuinely happy, but all curious about the baby. What sex was it? When was the due date? Had they set a date for the wedding? Most she recognized from around town, others had to introduce themselves. At some point, Sloan had to forcibly drag her away to get food, or so she thought.

She found them facing Georgia May.

“Can Lily use your washroom?” he was asking her.

Lily opened her mouth to tell him she didn’t need the bathroom, but he seemed to sense that and squeezed her fingers to keep quiet.

“Just down the hall,” Georgia May said with an air of briskness that hadn’t been there when they first arrived.

“The toilet seems to be clogged in that one,” Sloan answered easily. “Is there another one?”

Georgia May’s gaze flittered over Lily like she was trying to determine if Lily was worthy. She finally resigned with a barely suppressed annoyance. “You can use the washroom in my bedroom. It’s the one at the very end of the hall.”

Thanking her, Sloan tugged Lily along through the crowd towards the stairs.

“Where are we going?” Lily asked once they were at the top.

“There’s something I need to do,” was all Sloan would say.

Bemused, and a little wary, Lily squinted up at the side of his face. “Are we going to rob her?”

Sloan shot her a questioning glance, but didn’t reply.

At the door in question, Sloan released her and shut the door behind them. Lily had been to Georgia May’s house, mostly because of church picnics, or some party the woman was throwing, but she had never been upstairs. Georgia May’s bedroom was a seat of startling white carpets so thick, it left imprints of their feet when they walked. Her bed was an enormous sea of white, stone columns draped in a mint green comforter. There were plush steps pushed up against the side to help get on the bed that matched the carpets. The walls were a crisp, teal blue that popped next to all the pale furniture. It was a beautiful room. Made Lily think she was underwater in some mermaid kingdom.

She turned away from the room to the man that had followed her in. Sloan was leaning against the door, hands lost in his pockets as he watched her with a look that instantly set her blood on fire. Her lips parted in an O of realization. Her pulse quickened.

“Sloan…”

“Get on the bed, Lily,” he commanded.

Her eyes widened, but even if she knew this was horribly wrong on so many levels, she knew she would never stop him.

She hurried to the bed and climbed on. The comforter was cold against her back, hardening her already puckered nipples to sharp, tingling points.

“Open your dress and spread your legs for me.”

There was a lot of fumbling on her part as her fingers struggled to push the buttons through the holes. From across the room, Sloan held her captive with his eyes, forbidding her to look away, even when he pushed away from the door and started his slow swagger towards her. He yanked open his belt and the jingle of the buckle cracked through the room. In her chest, her breath caught. Her thighs rubbed anxiously together to calm the needy twinge between them. Unlike her, he didn’t need the stairs to get onto the bed and in seconds, he was over her, shoving apart her legs with his hips. He had to balance himself over her with his hands splayed on either side of her shoulders.

“We can’t take very long,” he told her as he lifted one hand and undid the button and zipper on his jeans. His cock sprung free, hard and already leaking for her. “Or someone might come looking.”

Lily rocked her head quickly from side to side against the pillow, her starving attention fixated on the part of him she wanted desperately. “I’m ready.”

A slow, predatory grin twisted across his face. “You’re always ready.” He aligned the head of his shaft to her opening. “It’s one of the things I love about you.”

He paused. His head bent to the side as though he were listening for something. Lily’s heart plummeted.

“Is someone coming?”

He peered down at her. “No, I need you to get up on your knees.”

Since the expansion of her stomach, sex had become a series of trial and errors. It was harder being face to face, but Lily found she loved having him behind her, whispering things into her ears just as much as being able to wrap her legs around his hips.

With his help, she sat up and turned over, presenting him with her ass. His hands took her hips and guided her backwards until she was sitting in his lap with her bent legs on either side of his.

“You have to be quick,” he murmured into her shoulder blade.

Nodding in understanding, Lily took him inside her. Her head dropped back as he stretched her already sensitive walls and settled impossibly deep. She moaned her pleasure.

“God, I love this,” she sobbed. “Love how you feel.”

She rolled her hips, enjoying herself even though she knew she shouldn’t. Not now. They needed to hurry.

Reaching for the hand on her hip, she dragged it forward and tucked it between her legs. Sloan needed no further incentive. His clever fingers parted her lips and skimmed the life of all her pleasure in slow, easy flicks that quickened the pace of her bounce. She came with a strangled whimper that was met by a low grunt from him, followed by a thick, hot spray between her legs.

Lily slumped forward and he slipped from inside her. She fell boneless onto her side and shut her eyes. She was only vaguely aware of Sloan leaving her. A moment later, he returned and nudged her onto her back. A warm, wet rag ran the inside of her thighs. His fingers replaced the rag once he was satisfied she was clean. Lily shuddered as a fresh wave of arousal settled over her.

“You said—”

“One more,” he hissed, pressing the flat of his thumb over her clit and rolling it mercilessly until he had summoned one last release from her.

Only when the last tremor had left her did he stop, and even then, not before he had placed an open mouth kiss over her sex.

“Why?” she asked as he helped drag her off the bed.

Sloan didn’t pretend to misunderstand her question. He pulled her to him and kissed her with a vicious anger that left her breathless and slumped against him.

“Because I couldn’t punch her in the face like I wanted.”

Chapter Twelve ~ Sloan

It was too early for Lily to be awake, yet Sloan found her standing at the kitchen sink, an apple in hand as she watched the snow melt from the trees outside. One hand rested over the round bulge stretching the front of the t-shirt she wore. Her feet were bare and the hand with the apple was absently kneading the back of her knuckles into the small of her back.

“Hey baby.” He walked up behind her and eased her into his arms. His hands splayed across the expense of her belly. “Munchkin keep you up again?”

With a content sigh, Lily leaned back into his chest, pillowing her head on his shoulder. “Back pains. I’ve had them all night and all this morning.”

Gently, he wedged a hand between their bodies and replaced her fingers with his. He lightly rubbed the spot. “Do you want me to draw you a bath?”

She shook her head. “I don’t feel like sitting down. I’m just so restless.”

He kissed the crown of her head. “Do you want to see the doctor?”

She chuckled. “No, it’s normal what with the due date only a month away. I think it’s because Cole will be here in a week that has me so tense. He hasn’t seen me since before Christmas and I wasn’t as big as a house then.”

“It’s going to be fine,” he assured her.

She began to nod when the apple dropped from her fingers. It hit the floor at their feet with a muffled thud as she doubled over with a cry of anguish. Her hands flew to her midsection, gripping her stomach with white knuckled pain.

“Lily?” Sloan’s hands covered hers. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” she choked out around a quiet whimper. “The doctors warned me about these.”

“These?” he pressed, the urgency unavoidable.

“False contractions,” she said like that was supposed to mean something to him. “I’ve had them before. They go away.”

Sloan was not convinced. “Are you sure—”

She turned in his arms and kissed him, tasting like green apples and toothpaste. “I’m fine.”

Feeling as useless and powerless as ever, Sloan did the only thing he could think to do to help her. “Get into bed. I’ll give you a rub.”

“Mm.” She smiled beautifully up at him. “We love your rubs.”

Sloan chuckled as he pressed a kiss to her mouth. “I’ll even throw in a foot massage if you’re a good girl.”

Eyes dancing mischievously, Lily nipped his bottom lip. “Aren’t I always good?”

Flannel bottoms tightening, Sloan almost groaned. “Get upstairs, woman.”

Chuckling, Lily started for the doorway. Sloan paused only a moment to scoop up the apple and pitch it into the trash can when the back door flew open and someone rang out, “Honey, I’m home!”

Sloan’s first instinct was to attack, protect his family and home. He wasn’t expecting anyone and no one ever used the backdoor for any reason. But he turned and found himself face to face with the last person he was expecting.

“Cole?”

His brother beamed at him, arms open wide as though expecting a hug. Behind him, Beth giggled as the pair pushed their way deeper into the kitchen.

“Miss me?” Cole’s blue eyes swung from Sloan to Lily and practically bulged from their sockets. “Holy Jesus Christ in a manger. You’re fucking huge!”

Lily came out of her shock with a cry of delight and then was bolting across the room to throw herself into Cole’s arms.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, strangling the hell out of him in the process. “March Break isn’t for another week.”

Beaming, Cole shrugged. “Beth and I finished our classes early, thought we’d surprise you, but, man, we were not expecting you to have swallowed a baby elephant.”

“Hey!” Beth punched him in the arm. “That’s your niece or nephew. Be nice.”

Lily laughed. “No, it’s true. I feel enormous. I can’t imagine what I actually look like to others.”

“You look beautiful,” Beth assured her. “I promise. It’s actually a little disgusting how good you look for a woman as far along as you are.”

“Aw!” Lily released Cole and went to hug the other girl. “You’re so sweet.”

“Hey bro.” Cole went over to his brother and the two clapped hands. “How’s things been going?”

Having come out of his shock, Sloan shrugged. “Not much. Winter’s always really slow for work.”

Nodding, Cole turned back to Lily and Beth. “Did I not tell you they’d be surprised?”

Beth rolled her eyes. “I still think we should have called first. They could have been … busy.”

Cole snorted. “In the kitchen?”

Sloan met Lily’s gaze from across the room and they both had to smother back grins.

“Hey so does this mean we have to head on over to Macy’s Bed and Breakfast?” Cole wondered, cocking his head towards his brother.

“What? No!” Lily exclaimed before Sloan could open his mouth. “You have to stay here. Your bed is still set up.”

Sloan nodded. “We were going to wait until you guys had gone back before putting the crib up.”

“Oh thank god!” Cole gasped, clutching a hand to his chest. “Dude, I am so broke.” He smacked Sloan on the arm. “But we brought presents.”

“Late presents,” Beth chimed in. “We are so sorry we couldn’t make it for Christmas.”

“You should be,” Lily muttered. “But there is always next year.”

“Oh! Speaking of next year!” Cole began and was cut off by Beth.

“Baby.” Beth went to him and placed a hand on his arm. “Maybe we should actually get out of the doorway before sharing stories?” She looked to Sloan. “Is it okay if we…?”

Nodding, Sloan jerked a thumb towards the stairs. “Make yourself at home.”

“Great! Thanks.” She slipped out the back door, leaving it open for Cole to follow.

Cole made a face. “Okay, but seriously, next year … you won’t believe the news I have.”

With a roguish grin, Cole bounded after his girlfriend.

Sloan moved up to shut the door behind them before turning to Lily. “Okay?”

Lily nodded. “My back still hurts a little, but I think that’s because I’m on my feet.”

He pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head. “Why don’t you go get dressed? I’ll make you some tea and you can rest on the sofa.”

A look of absolute adoration passed over her face. She turned in his arms and cupped his cheeks. She kissed him lovingly.

“You are so good to me.”

Heart wrenching, Sloan brushed his lips to her brow. “Because there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, baby girl.” He pulled back. “Go.”

With a last smile for him, she left the room. He listened for her all the way up the stairs and along the upstairs hall. Then their bedroom door closed overhead.

He was in the process of putting hot water on the stove when the backdoor opened and Cole and Beth charged in, carting duffle bags. Sloan stood back as Cole showed the way to his room, a room still harboring a few of Lily’s things. Mostly her furniture and items they had bought for the baby. Her clothes had been moved into his room ages ago and he had gotten her a bookshelf for her albums that he had set up in the living room. The rest needed to go into the basement before the baby was born.

The kettle whistled and Sloan focused on making tea. It was ready by the time Lily entered the room in a pair of sweats that were his and a t-shirt that was also his. Sloan didn’t mind. There was something satisfying about seeing her in his clothes, which were much too big for her; she had rolled the pant legs up several times and the sleeves on the shirt went down to her elbows. Yet it brought a feeling of protectiveness over him at the sight of her.

He set the mug down on the table, expecting her to sit. Instead she walked straight up to him and encircled his middle. Her face mashed into the center of his chest and she clung to him. Startled, he returned the embrace with concern.

“Lil?”

She shook her head. “Just like holding you,” she mumbled into the fabric of his shirt.

But there was more to it than that. He didn’t know how he knew, but he could almost feel that something was wrong.

“Sit,” he ordered, nudging her into the chair. “Drink your tea.”

She didn’t complain, but raised her hands to cradle her cup. Her face held a slight pallor and she looked exhausted.

“And I’m back.” Cole stalked into the kitchen a second later, followed by Beth. “Now, for my news.”

“Coffee first,” Beth decided. “That stuff we had on the road was traumatizing.”

Cole threw up his hands in exasperation. “Woman, I am trying to tell a story here.”

Unconcerned, Beth patted his arm and moved around him to the sink. “I know, baby.”

“Let me help you,” Sloan offered and was waved away.

“I got it,” she said.

“She’ll find it,” Cole muttered as he dropped into the seat across from Lily. “The girl’s a coffee bloodhound. It’s all she lives on.”

“That’s not true,” Beth protested as she tracked down the coffee after opening only one cupboard, like she knew exactly which one it was in.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Cole said. “Coffee and pop tarts.”

Cole met his brother’s gaze and made a silent gagging face.

“I saw that,” Beth mumbled without turning around.

Lily giggled, but Sloan noted it never reached her eyes. Concern wormed through him and he moved to take the seat next to her. He slid his hand down her back, working his way to her lower spine. Her eyes closed as he rubbed.

“Everything okay?” Cole asked.

Lily’s eyelids flew open and she offered him a half smile. “Fine. How have you been?”

“Amazing!” Cole decided shamelessly. “Which I will tell you why, once the woman gets her butt over here.”

“I’m coming. I’m coming!” Beth muttered as she pushed the on button, cast the machine a wistful glance and hurried to sit. “Okay.”

Cole turned to Lily and Sloan, his face practically glowing with barely suppressed excitement. He planted his hands on the table as if bracing himself.

“I was offered a junior position at Barkley and Boyd as soon as I graduate.” He paused, eyes bouncing like ping pongs back and forth between Lily and Sloan. “It’s one of the biggest law firms on the western coast and they want me!”

“Oh my God, Cole!” Lily struggled out of her seat and went around to put her arms around him. “That is incredible news. I am so proud of you!”

Beaming with enough force to possibly tear his face in half, Cole squeezed her back. “I know, right?” Lily released him and returned to her seat. “I’m probably the youngest person to ever work there.”

Sloan surveyed his brother’s face, the absolute joy and bliss that seemed to radiate off him like heat waves and felt an incredible sense of peace washed over him. He had wanted so much for Cole for so long that he couldn’t bring himself to believe it was actually happening.

“My law professor knows Parker Boyd and he sent in one of my papers,” Cole went on, speaking fast, his cheeks flushed. “Mr. Boyd made an appearance at the school to see me specifically. Said he was impressed and needed someone as brilliant and driven as me on his team.” He slammed a hand on the table, making Lily’s tea rattle. “Can you fucking believe it? Me, at one of the best fucking law firms in Canada? I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or come in my pants.”

They all laughed.

Lily wiped her eyes with the hem of her shirt.

“Are you crying?” Cole teased her.

She blushed and scowled at him. “Hormones!” She rolled her eyes. “And maybe because I am so happy for you.”

Sloan rubbed her back and kissed the side of her head before turning to his brother. He offered the other man a half smile.

“Good job, little brother. You deserve it.” He paused as emotions threatened to overwhelm him. “Mom would be proud.”

Cole’s face tightened. His eyes glistened and he quickly dropped them to the table. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Sloan. You always rode my ass hard, but I see now why you did it.”

Sloan put his hand up, stopping the other man, because his own eyes were starting to sting and he refused to cry.

“You can thank me by graduating and possibly naming your first born after me.”

It had been meant as a joke. Cole laughed shakily, even Beth chuckled while rubbing her eyes dry with the sleeve of her sweater. But Lily stiffened under the hand he still rested against her back. He stroked the rigid length lightly until she relaxed once more.

“So.” Cole cleared his throat and screwed on a lopsided grin. “When’s the big day?”

“We haven’t decided yet,” Sloan admitted. “We’re waiting until after the baby’s born.”

Cole nodded. “Makes sense. You’ll have to tell me in advance so I can take the week off or something.”

No sooner had he spoken when Lily gasped for breath and bent in half. Her face twisted in pain as she clutched her stomach with one hand and the table with the other, the knuckles white on both hands.

“Lily?” Sloan reached for her.

“How long have you been having those contractions?” Beth interrupted.

Lily shook her head. “They’re not contractions.”

Sloan got to his feet, eased Lily’s chair back. “Come on. I’m getting you to bed. You need to lie down.”

Lily didn’t protest as he helped her upstairs and into their bed. He sat with her as she lay curled up on her side, gently stroking her stomach.

“I think it’s all the excitement,” she said.

He hummed and stroked the bump. “Get some rest.”

He left her nestled deep beneath the blankets and made his way back downstairs. Beth and Cole were in the living room, waiting for him when he returned.

“She okay?” Cole asked at once.

Sloan nodded. “She gets easily tired.”

Beth worried her lip and cast anxious glances towards the stairs. “Are you sure?”

Sloan looked at her.

“It’s just … I’m training to be a prenatal nurse and it looked to me like it was more than just exhaustion.”

Worry coiled tight in the pit of Sloan’s gut that didn’t settle, not even when he assured himself they still had a month.

“She had her appointment a week ago and the doctor said everything was fine.”

Beth opened her mouth when Cole spoke.

“If she wakes up still not feeling well, you should take her to the hospital.”

Sloan nodded in agreement, but couldn’t think past his apprehension to speak.

Beth seemed to be raging war with herself, but she too kept her mouth closed. Instead, she focused on the photo albums lining an entire shelf.

“That’s a lot of photos,” she remarked.

“They’re Lily’s,” Cole said.

He walked over and pulled one free to show Beth.

“These are incredible!” Beth said as Cole flipped through the pages. “I can see so many of these on my dorm room wall.” She raised her head to look at Sloan. “Has she ever considered starting a studio, or selling her pieces online? People would pay a fortune for these.”

Sloan chuckled. “I’m not sure she has, but you should ask her.”

Nodding, Beth went back to scanning the photos.

Sloan focused on his brother. “Think I can have a minute?”

Relinquishing his hold on the album to Beth, Cole followed Sloan into the office.

“What’s up?”

Sloan shut the door behind them and motioned for the other man to have a seat.

“There’s something I wanted to wait until I saw you in person to tell you,” he said as he propped a hip against the corner of the desk.

He peered down at his brother’s wide, blue eyes and briefly wondered if he shouldn’t tell him about their father and the events Christmas night. It had just been one more lie to protect him, because Sloan knew Cole would fly off in a fit of rage, leave school, and possibly kill their father for what he did to Lily. So he had opted to wait until they met, face to face. Now, with Cole’s face still flushed with his earlier revelation, Sloan couldn’t help wondering if he should wait.

“What?” Cole pressed. “You’re kinda freaking me out.”

Now or never, Sloan thought.

“Dad attacked Lily on Christmas.”

Cole’s eyes bulged. His jaw slackened. Then everything twisted into a sneer of absolute fury.

“What?”

Sloan told him everything. When he finished, Cole was on his feet, breathing hard with his hands balled into angry fists at his sides.

“Where is he?”

Sloan rose and rested a hand on his brother’s shoulder. The boy was practically vibrating with rage.

“In jail,” he said. “The sheriff found him the next day at home. He didn’t deny what he’d done.”

Cole’s nostrils flared. “Fucking bastard! Hitting a pregnant woman … what the fuck is the matter with him?”

“Doesn’t matter anymore,” Sloan said. “He can’t hurt anyone.” He searched his brother’s rigid expression. “I’m telling you because I didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else. He’s gone, Cole. And I’m going to make sure he never comes back.”

“Good.”

Chapter Thirteen ~ Cole

There was nothing like the warmth of being surrounded by family. Cole had gone so long without it that the whole scene felt surreal, like a dream, and he lived in constant fear that at any moment, he would jerk awake in bed with Jason’s snores filling the apartment.

He sat on the loveseat with Beth curled up into his side. She was laughing over something Lily was saying from her reclined position on the sofa. Her head was on a pillow in Sloan’s lap and his brother was combing the hairs at her temple with steady fingers while gazing down at the tiny woman with an adoration that took Cole’s breath away. The whole scene amused him in a way that wasn’t funny at all; his surly, pain in the ass brother was head over heels in love with Cole’s best friend, and from the way she looked back at him, Lily was equally gone over Cole’s brother. There was something both endearing and twisted about that, although he couldn’t imagine what that was. Frankly, he didn’t give a shit. If there were ever two people who deserved each other more, it was the two sitting across from him. He honestly couldn’t have been happier for them if he tried.

“You two are like a fairytale,” Beth said when Lily finished. “I am so jealous right now.”

Lily chuckled. Her brown eyes lifted until she was peering up at the man looking down at her as though she’d hung the moon. Her smile softened. She turned her face into the hand he stroked over her cheek.

“You two are going to make me sick,” Cole teased with no real heat. “Get a room.”

Beth gouged her elbow into his side. “I think they’re adorable.”

Cole wondered what that was like, to be so hopelessly in love with a person that nothing else in the world mattered. He knew he loved Beth. He knew being without her just made no sense, but when he looked at her, did he have the same look his brother did when he looked at Lily? Somehow, his feelings felt so inadequate next to these two.

“I think supper’s finished,” Lily said. “I should pull the roast out before it burns.”

“I’ll do it,” Cole and Sloan said in unison.

The room went quiet as everyone exchanged glances. Then, just like that, they all laughed.

“Come on, dork,” Sloan said, gently easing Lily’s head and pillow off his lap and onto the sofa. “You can help.”

Cole brushed a kiss to Beth’s soft, dark curls before getting to his feet and following his brother into the kitchen.

The entire room smelled of fried meat and roasted vegetables. It was enough to make his stomach whimper and his mouth salivate. Sloan tossed him potholders and told him to pull out the roast while he got the dishes.

“So you and Lily look really happy,” he remarked as he yanked down the oven door and was met with a punch of moist heat that made his eyes sting.

“I love her, Cole,” Sloan said so quietly that Cole almost didn’t hear it.

Cole glanced up to find his brother watching him, his expression determined. It would have made him laugh to think his brother was trying to convince him of the fact, except it was more than that.

“I know you do,” he said. “I also know she’s crazy about you.”

Sloan looked to be on the verge of saying something more, reconsidered it and turned away. Cole frowned, but didn’t push as he drew the pan from the oven. He kicked the oven door shut with his heel and dumped the massive weight onto the wooden board on the counter.

Supper consisted of light chatter that was done mostly between the girls with the occasional response from Sloan, or Cole. The girls didn’t seem to mind, or notice as they went on about absolutely everything. It amazed Cole just how much the two could talk about in great lengths. But it didn’t bother him. He wanted Lily to like Beth. He wanted them to get along, because they were both two of the most important people in his life and he had no idea what he would do if they hated each other.

Fortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.

“So how far long are you exactly, Lily?” Beth asked as she cut her roast into neat little squares.

She sat across from him, looking beautiful under the warm, golden glow of the candlelight. The light reflected off her green eyes and shimmered whenever their gazes met. Cole’s heart did a little flip every time she followed it up with one of her smiles.

Damn if he wasn’t crazy about the girl.

“Eight months,” Lily said from the place on Cole’s right.

“Wow!” Beth gasped. “You guys must be so excited.”

Lily giggled nervously. “No, not at all. There’s still a million things we haven’t done.”

“Like what?” Beth prompted.

While Lily told them about the crib they had yet to put together and the room they still needed to paint, Cole frowned into his plate as his mind suddenly latched on to Lily’s comment. He wasn’t sure why it was nagging at him, because, until that moment, he had never really thought about it. He never saw a reason to. It hadn’t fastened to his brain and grown roots.

Eight months.

He wasn’t an expert at childbirth, but he knew enough about babies to know they cooked for nine months. Nine months from April was July, which put Lily’s time of conception two months before he left for school so unless she and Sloan had been secretly seeing each other behind Cole’s back all that time, which made no sense because he knew he had been Lily’s first, or…

No. He had to be wrong. Maybe the doctor was wrong, or Lily. Maybe she got the dates wrong. Maybe they slept together after he and Lily had. Yeah, that made sense. Yet as soon as he allowed the happy feeling to take hold once more, it popped. No matter how he tried to manipulate the dates, it just kept rounding back to the fact that, unless she jumped into Sloan’s bed straight after she’d been in Cole’s…

“Baby?”

He must have made a sound, because everyone at the table was watching him with varying degrees of concern. But his dizzying senses were turned on Lily, then to the bump barely visible beneath the table’s edge.

Christ.

The roast he’d consumed turned to ashes in his stomach. He felt hot and cold waves of anger, betrayal, and pain collide over him.

“Cole?” Lily’s voice broke him.

He shoved back from the table with such force that the table rocked. Glasses of water toppled and something struck the ground and shattered.

“Cole!” Beth scolded him.

But Cole was staring at his brother through slitted eyes. “We need to talk.”

Sloan looked as taken aback as the others, but he rose and followed Cole into the next room, away from the girls, who watched them with baffled expressions.

Cole paced the length of the living room, trying to gather his thoughts before he started screaming.

“What’s going on?” Sloan asked.

And that did it.

“You son of a bitch!”

Sloan blinked. “Whoa, what the hell is—?”

Cole closed the distance between them and sneered into his brother’s face. “That’s my baby!” He had to give Sloan props; he never so much as blinked. “Tell me it’s not. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“Cole—”

“Jesus!” He staggered back, afraid he might do something he might not regret later, like hit his brother. “Jesus!” he said again, dropping down onto the coffee table with his face in his hands. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Sloan hesitated. “We were going to.”

His hands were shaking when he rubbed his face. “So it’s mine.” It wasn’t a question.

Sloan nodded.

“Shit! Fuck!” He shot to his feet and paced, faster and harder than before. “Is that why you’re marrying her?”

Sloan shook his head. “I really love her, Cole. Her and that baby.”

“That baby?” He stopped to glare at his brother. “You mean my baby? The one you were never going to tell me about? Did you think I was stupid? Did you think I couldn’t do the math? Christ, Sloan, I had a right to know I was going to be a dad.”

“I know.” His agreement did nothing to appease the roaring storm raging inside Cole.

“I don’t even know…” He shook his head so hard his brain hurt. “I can’t even look at you. I can’t believe you would do this to me.”

“It wasn’t to hurt you,” Sloan said. “We were trying to protect you.”

“By keeping my kid away from me?”

Sloan closed his mouth. His guilt and self-loathing only slightly making Cole happy.

“That wasn’t what we were doing.” Lily stood in the doorway, eyes a luminescent brown shimmering with unshed tears. “You were finally free of this place, Cole. You had a whole life away from the close-minded people you hate so much. We … I didn’t want to take that away from you.”

Cole could only stare at her, at the life growing inside her and his world gave another rocky jolt. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to cry or scream.

“You should have told me.” He whirled around on Sloan. “You’re my brother! How could you keep this from me?”

“It’s not his fault,” Lily cut in. “I told him not to tell. This is me. Please. Be angry with me. This is my fault—”

“No!” Sloan took a step towards her. “It wasn’t Lily. I asked her not to tell you.”

“But why?” Cole screamed finally, letting it roll off him in hot splinters.

It was Lily who answered. “Because you had your entire life ahead of you and we couldn’t take that away from you.”

Battling back his own tears, Cole turned to her. “But you’d take my baby.”

Her bottom lip trembled. Tears rained down her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

“Enough.” Sloan moved, planting himself between Cole and Lily. “You’re pissed. I don’t blame you. I’d be fucking furious if it were me. So go ahead and take your frustrations out, but on me.”

It was tempting. Beating the shit out of something, or someone, was exactly what he wanted to do.  His fists actually clenched with the bloodlust.

It was the low whimper that stilled him, the low gasping whine of someone barely able to breathe around excruciating pain. Sloan whipped around before Cole could pinpoint the source.

“Lily!” His arms were around her, supporting her when she began to sink to the ground.

She was a terrifying white as she caught at her stomach with trembling hands. Her brown eyes were wide with terror and pain.

“Sloan…!”

The sound of trickling water filled the silence. A thick, clear puddle formed around Lily’s feet. For a full second, Cole wondered if she’d wet herself. Then Sloan swore and Lily voiced the problem.

“The baby’s coming.”

Cole had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to do, except maybe soil himself. Sloan was no help at all. He’d gone rigid and a scary shade of white that surpassed even Lily. He was staring at the puddle at their feet with the look of a man about to be sick.

If he faints, Cole thought bitterly. I’m letting him hit the ground.

It didn’t come to that. Beth seemed to appear out of nowhere, hooked her arms around Lily’s shoulders and took instant charge.

“You!” She pointed at Sloan. “Get the bags. You.” She looked to Cole. “Start the car, then call the hospital and let them know we’re coming.”

“Wait!” Sloan blurted. “It’s too early. There’s still—”

“It’s not!” Beth said sharply, giving Sloan a warning glower Cole prayed he never got. “The baby is ready. Now get moving.”

Not waiting to see if anyone was actually going to do as she said, she propelled Lily out of the room.

“I—I…” Sloan muttered, his voice slightly slurring like he was drunk.

“Snap out of it!” Cole said as he pulled himself together. “Get the bags.”

“Bags?” Sloan looked so confused that Cole felt momentarily bad for him. “Bags. Okay.”

Beth had helped Lily into fresh clothes when they returned. They all trudged to the car where Sloan shoved a small duffle into the trunk. Lily was eased into the back seat. Sloan followed her without a word, leaving Beth to take the wheel, which was so shocking, that Cole couldn’t even think to be offended; Sloan never let anyone touch his Mustang.

“Time her contractions,” Beth instructed as Lily screamed through her teeth.

There was no need. Even Cole could tell they were fucking close.

They got to the hospital in under fifteen minutes. A nurse was waiting for them with a wheelchair. She smiled at Sloan as Lily was helped into it.

“I’ll come get you once we have her prepped,” the nurse told him, probably to get him to release the death grip he had on Lily’s hand.

“Sloan…” Her voice was hoarse, tearful and encased with fear.

Sloan kissed her fingers. “It’s okay, baby. It’s going to be okay.”

Their fingers slipped apart as the nurse propelled Lily down the hall. The moment she was out of sight, Sloan fell apart.

He slumped against the wall, hands on his knees, breathing like there wasn’t enough oxygen in the world. Sweat trickled from his brow and he was shivering uncontrollably. Cole had never seen this side of his brother before. Sloan had always been this unwavering force in his life. He honestly hadn’t thought there was anything that could shake him. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do.

“She’s going to be okay,” Beth said for him. “Women have babies all the time.”

Sloan shook his head rapidly. “She’s not ready. It’s too soon.” He pushed off the wall and began unsteadily pacing the width of the hall. “What if something’s wrong? What if—”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Beth soothed. “Babies come at eight months. It’s normal. I was born at seven.”

Cole looked at her. “I didn’t know that.”

Beth grinned. “I am a woman of mystery.”

Cole was about to comment when Sloan came to a skidding halt.

“The crib!” He looked wildly at Cole. “I didn’t put the crib up. The room’s not painted.”

Beth chuckled. “It can wait. Right now, you need to pull yourself together. You need to be strong for her.”

Sloan rubbed a hand over his mouth, looked at Beth and gave a nod. “You’re right.” But he still looked like he was about to throw up.

When the nurse came to get him, Sloan took a deep breath and followed at an almost drunken stagger. Cole waited for a second before hurrying after them; it was his kid being born. Shouldn’t he be present?

The room was white with a bed, a couple of nightstands and a bunch of things he didn’t recognize taking up most of it. Lily was on the bed, clad in a white hospital gown. Sheets were draped over her knees. Her tear stained face lit up when she saw Sloan. Her hands reached for him and were captured instantly. And just like that, the shaken Sloan was gone. His calm confidence seemed to spill over the room.

“Hey,” he murmured. “How are you?”

“The baby’s coming,” she told him breathlessly.

Sloan nodded. “It’s going to be okay.”

Lily shook her head. “We’re not ready.”

Sloan shushed her gently. “We’re ready.”

“The crib—”

He kissed her. “We’ll set the bassinet up in our room until his is ready. Now don’t worry about that, okay? Just concentrate on delivering that baby.”

“It hurts,” she gasped as another twang of pain bent her in two.

“It’ll be over soon.” Sloan promised, smoothing back her hair. He peered into her pain glazed eyes. “I love you, Lily.”

Cole didn’t get to see the rest as a nurse told him to wait in the waiting area and shut the door in his face.

He stayed outside the door, pacing and wondering why it was taking so long. Every once in a while, he’d hear Lily screaming and crying, but the door remained firmly shut. He wondered how long it would take and if Lily and the baby would be okay, because in that moment, he didn’t care that it had been kept a secret from him. He didn’t care about anything but seeing Lily. It was after all his fault she was in there now. He would be responsible if anything happened.

He made his way to the waiting room. It was empty except for one person.

Guilt shot through him.

Beth.

She looked up when he approached at an almost hesitant shuffle. Her eyes were dry, but there was something in them that made Cole’s insides writhe.

“I guess you know,” he murmured.

She looked down at her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “You guys weren’t exactly quiet.”

“Beth…”

She shook her head. “It’s okay.”

“No, please, let me explain?”

Her eyes were bright with tears when she lifted her face to his. The sight of them punched him square in the gut.

“You told me there was nothing between you guys,” she whispered.

“There isn’t!” he insisted, the urgency white hot in his voice. “There has never been—”

“She’s pregnant, Cole,” Beth interrupted. “With your baby. Clearly at some point—”

“Yes,” he admitted, taking the seat next to her. “We slept together once, but not because we love each other like that. It was a stupid pact that I regret so much right now.”

If he had at any point thought that would make her feel better, he was sorely mistaken. Her expression turned disgusted.

“That’s your baby!” she snapped at him. “No matter how it was conceived, you should never regret—”

“I don’t mean because of that!” He stopped to suck in a breath. The whole conversation had taken a horrible turn and if he didn’t keep his calm, he might lose her forever. “Everything I told you was the truth. Lily and I have been friends since diapers. I love her and I will always love her, but I don’t want her. I don’t feel lost and empty when she’s not around. I don’t wake up at night reaching for her. I don’t love her the way I love you.”

Beth’s eyes widened. Her soft, pink mouth parted, and even he was momentarily stunned by his confession. This was not how he had wanted to tell her. But he plowed on.

“I have always known Lily loved Sloan and that never bothered me. It still doesn’t. When we made that pact to lose our virginities together, it was a onetime thing that was so awkward that I still cringe at the memory of it. I went to school two months later and never thought about it again.”

“Then why did you never tell me?”

Cole shook his head. “Because it didn’t matter? Because you were already so worried about me having a best friend who was a girl? I don’t know. I just … I’m sorry.”

For several long minutes, neither of them spoke. They sat watching nurses in white scrubs rush to and fro, but no one gave them a second glance.

Beth broke the silence.

“What are you going to do now?”

He barked a laugh. “I have no fucking idea.”

Cole stayed, even when Beth left to get her things from the house and stay at a motel. He gave her both sets of keys, the ones to his car and the ones to the Mustang to save her from getting a cab. He knew him not asking her to stay hurt her. It wasn’t intentional, but how could he give her answers to things even he no longer understood? He couldn’t ask her to stay when his entire world had been flipped in the matter of ten minutes. That morning, driving down with Beth in the car, laughing and talking about all the things they were going to do in the future, a future that had seemed so incredibly bright … felt like a lifetime ago. It felt like it had never really happened.

He stared down at the hands hanging down between his knees and wondered how everything could have just slipped straight through them.

It was three in the morning when a nurse poked her head into the waiting area and announced that the baby was born and he could go on in if he wanted. Cole had hesitated, because he still wasn’t sure he did. He sure as hell wasn’t sure he was ready to look upon that baby knowing what he now knew.

He had a baby.

Unable to stay put any longer, Cole rose and shuffled after the nurse to Lily’s room.

It was dark except for the light on the end table falling in pale splinters over a breathtaking spray of roses, a dozen if he wasn’t mistaken, maybe more, all stuffed into a gleaming crystal vase with swirling vines blown into the glass. Lily was in bed, fast asleep. Sloan sat in a rocking chair by the window, a tiny bundle held gently in his arms. He was peering down at it with an adoration that was written about in poems and love songs. It was a deep, intense love that left no room for anything else. But beneath all that, there was a sort of peace, a calm Cole had never seen on Sloan’s face. He was happy.

Feeling like an intruder, Cole turned to leave.

“Hey.” Sloan had spotted him.

Cole turned back reluctantly. “Hey.”

Sloan rose from the chair. “Want to come in? She’s out cold,” he said when Cole shot Lily a glance. “She’s exhausted.”

Not sure what to say, Cole edged into the room. His gaze went to the bundle still in his brother’s arms.

“It’s a girl,” Sloan said. “She’s beautiful.”

Cole’s insides knotted.

“Want to hold her?”

Not expecting that, Cole looked at him.

Sloan chuckled. “She doesn’t bite.”

That wasn’t why he’d been surprised. It was stupid, but he hadn’t thought he would be allowed to hold the baby. In his mind, he had this image of not belonging in this child’s life anymore and the thought had been excruciating.

Carefully, Sloan slipped the baby into Cole’s arms and Cole’s throat closed. The round, pink face blurred behind tears. Despite his attempts not to show it, one slipped and landed on a delicately pink cheek. Sloan didn’t say anything as Cole stroked it away, smoothed his finger over a cheek that felt like rose petals. His entire hand was bigger than her whole face. Her nose was no bigger than his thumb—Lily’s nose. She had Lily’s nose. But it was his mouth set in a perfect little O. His chin.

A sob escaped him. His arms tightened around her and he lifted her up to bury his face into her newly born scent just as the tears started.

It was Sloan’s hands guiding him to the chair he had vacated. Cole sat, still nuzzling his face into all that softness. He couldn’t believe anything could be so soft and Sloan had been right, she was beautiful.

“What’s her name?” he asked, not giving a shit that his voice was hoarse.

Sloan took the chair opposite him. “We haven’t given her one. Lily wanted you to pick.”

Cole looked into his brother’s face. “Me?”

Sloan nodded.

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask if that would still hold true if he hadn’t found out. Would he still be allowed to pick her name then? But all that anger and bitterness seemed to take a backseat in that moment.

“Calla.” His voice broke around their mother’s name. He heard Sloan suck in a breath sharply. Cole didn’t glance up. He bent his head and brushed a kiss to one rosy cheek. “Calla McClain.”

Annoyed by all the talking, Calla let out a tiny, almost kitten-like mewl that was followed by an even more demanding screech. Cole almost jumped when the angry little fists flared, nearly knocking him in the face.

Sloan laughed, the sound thick. “Should have warned you, she’s bossy like her mother.”

Grinning, Cole drew her closer as she settled down once more.

“I want to be in her life, Sloan,” he said after several minutes had passed.

“Okay.”

Cole looked at his brother. “I mean it. I need for her to know me.”

Sloan narrowed his eyes. “Of course she will know you, Cole. We were never going to cut you from her life.”

Yet that was exactly how it had felt.

“I don’t know how to do this. I don’t…” He exhaled. “I don’t want to leave her, but … school and the junior position…” He looked at the other man, guilt twisting his insides. “Does that make me selfish? That I want to be her father, but I want to…” He shook his head. “This is more important, isn’t it? I need to be closer to home, so I can be with her and take care of her.”

“And how do you expect to do that?”

“What do you mean?”

Sloan shrugged. “Dropping out of school when you only have two more years to graduate, does that sound like a smart move? Are you going to get a job at Ma’s and flip burgers for the rest of your life?”

“I could work with you.”

Sloan nodded. “You could.” But he said nothing else.

“Well, what do you want me to do, Sloan? I have a kid. She comes first. I need to be there for her.”

“What about Beth?”

Cole stiffened.

“Is she going to give up university to move to Willow Creek? Are you going to let her go if she chooses not to?”

Anger pooled in the pit of his stomach. “You just want me to leave so you can have your family!”

It was cruel and he regretted saying it the moment it was out, but Sloan didn’t so much as bat an eyelash.

“You are my family, Cole,” he said evenly. “I love Calla, but I would never take your place in her life. Whether you stay or go, that will never change.”

Cole peered into the sweet face of his little girl and felt an overwhelming urge to cry all over again. Guilt twined with defeat and uncertainty and all he could think over and over again was, “I’m not ready.” He raised his tear filled eyes to Sloan. “I’m not … I can’t do this, Sloan. I can’t take care of her. I don’t know how.”

Sloan gave him the smallest of grins. “You think I do? This scares the shit out of me, but you just have to do it.”

Cole shook his head. “You don’t understand. I want a family, but not now. I can’t do this now.” He scrubbed ruthlessly at the tears running down his face. “I don’t even know how this happened. I used a condom!”

“Yes, well, next time, don’t use an expired one,” Sloan muttered. He sighed. “You need to decide what you’re going to do, Cole. I will support your decision. I will be there for you and her until the day I die. But I won’t let you jump in and out of her life whenever the mood suits you.”

Self-loathing sharpened his tone. “Unlike you, I didn’t have nine months to prepare for this!”

Sloan snorted. “Trust me, nine months or ten years, the doubts and fears don’t magically go away.”

Calla stirred. She whined and opened flawless blue eyes. Her little legs pumped as she demanded something he couldn’t offer her.

Cole looked to Sloan, panic tight in his chest.

“She awake?” Lily struggled upright. Her sleepy eyes lit up when she saw Cole. “Hey!”

Sick to the stomach, Cole looked away. He rose to his feet, gently passed Calla to Sloan and left the room without a word.

Chapter Fourteen ~ Lily

Calla Karen McClain slept in her mother’s arms without a care in the world. It hadn’t been like that only fifteen minutes before when the nurse had come into the room to show Lily how to give the baby a bath. Calla had nearly brought the hospital roof down. She had only stopped once she was bundled back up and fed.

Lily had never known it was possible to love someone you only just met. The tiny thing was a stranger and yet Lily would kill for her. It was remarkable how something so small could hold such a huge chunk of her heart.

“So you’re the little monster who kept kicking my bladder,” she said teasingly while stroking impossibly delicate cheeks with a single bent finger. “We meet at last.”

Calla kept on slumbering.

Baby still cradled to her chest, Lily lay her own head back and closed her eyes.

Sloan had gone to pick her mother up. Her father was at work, but promised to swing by on his way home. Her mother refused to wait. Cole hadn’t returned since leaving the night before and Lily had no idea where Beth was. No one else had come to see her since, and the room was lonely. She tried watching TV, but there were only three channels and none of them played anything worth watching. She stared out the window, but she was on the fifth floor and all she could make out were miles of white and the occasional bushel of treetops. She hoped Sloan would return soon, but more than that, she prayed Cole would come back. All her calls had gone to voicemail. She had left so many messages, she was practically stalking him. Finally, she had decided to give him space. He would come around when he was ready.

She hoped.

A soft knock jolted her awake. Her eyes popped open and she turned her head to the door. Beth smiled at her uncertainty over a bouquet of white lisianthus and pink bouvardia.

“Hey, did I wake you?”

Glad to see someone, Lily shook her head. “No, please come in.”

Beth almost crept into the room, her gaze dropping from Lily to the baby in her arms. “She is beautiful!” The flowers were set down on the nightstand next to the display of roses from Sloan. “What’s her name?”

“Calla,” Lily said, completely aware of the adoration her voice took every time she said her baby’s name.

Beth beamed. “Aw, I love it. It’s a type of lily, isn’t it?”

Lily shrugged. “Cole picked it. It was his mother’s name.”

Some of the other girl’s smile faded. “Cole was here?”

“He came to see the baby last night, but he left and I haven’t seen him since.” A cold feeling seeped through Lily. “I was hoping he was with you.”

Beth shook her head. “We … we had a fight and I left.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Lily said, meaning it. “I hope it wasn’t because…” she trailed off, rolled her eyes. “Of course it was.”

“No!” Beth said quickly. “I mean, a little, but—”

“I know how this must look, but it’s not exactly how it looks,” Lily tried to explain.

“I know. Cole told me.”

Not sure what else to say, both lapsed into silence, watching Calla sleep.

“Where’s Sloan?” Beth finally asked.

“He went to get my mom,” Lily said. “She’s excited to meet Calla.”

Beth smiled. “He’s a really great guy.”

Lily nodded.

“How long have you, you know, liked him?”

Lily shrugged. “It seems like forever. I guess I really realized it when I was about thirteen.”

Both of Beth’s fine eyebrows lifted. “That’s a long time.” She averted her eyes and moved towards the window, becoming a dark shape against the brightness. “And you never thought to tell him you loved him in all that time?”

“I thought about it,” she murmured, watching the girl curiously. “But it was Calla who actually brought us together. I don’t think I would ever have had the courage otherwise.”

“So you slept with his brother instead?”

Lily stiffened, not at the question, but because of the way it was said. There was no anger, or disgust. It was simply matter of fact.

“Cole and I have been friends our entire lives,” Lily said at long last. “Besides him, the only people I trust so completely are Sloan and my parents. I never had any delusion that Sloan and I would ever be together and I wanted my first time to be with someone I knew I wouldn’t regret in the morning.”

Beth turned away from the window, her expression unreadable. “You don’t regret what you did?”

A wiry smile pulled the corners of Lily’s mouth. “No, it was because of what happened that Sloan and I are together. It’s because of that night I have Calla. I do regret not telling Cole when I had the chance and finding a different way to keep him in school. But nothing else.”

Her long mane of brown hair shimmered when Beth cocked her head to the side. “I hate that I respect that.” She sighed and moved away from the window to stand at the foot of the bed. “I went to a motel last night, hoping to clear my thoughts and decide what to do next. I don’t hate the thought that Cole has a child with another woman. What I hate is that it’s you. I really liked you, right from the beginning. I liked that you were so sweet and clearly so not interested in Cole. I guess I felt safe and that was stupid.”

“Beth—”

“I asked you if there was anyone back home and you said no, and that whole time, you were pregnant with Cole’s baby.”

“There is no one back home for Cole, especially not me,” Lily tried to explain. “It was one night and that was all it would ever be because it was the weirdest experience either of us had ever experienced. We used a condom, for crying out loud. This,” she held up Calla, “was an accident.” She took a small breath. “I love Sloan, Beth. Cole loves you.”

“I just don’t know what to think right now.” She flicked hair off her shoulders and adjusted the strap on her purse. “I’m going back today. I just came to see the baby and congratulate you.” She hesitated before adding, “Take care, Lily.”

“Beth, wait!” she called after the girl. “I meant what I said, Cole loves you. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone. I hope you’ll at least think about giving him a chance to make things right between you.”

Beth, standing in the doorway, said nothing. She never so much as glanced back. But Lily saw her shoulders tense. Then she was gone.

Lily peered down at the tiny face in her arms. “What a mess,” she mumbled.

Her mother and Sloan arrived ten minutes after Beth’s departure. He pushed the wheelchair as close to the bed as possible, then took Calla from Lily and placed her gently in the woman’s waiting arms.

“Oh, Lily, she is beautiful!” Her mother was crying even before Calla was in her grasps, but now she was weeping so hard, Sloan had to pass her a tissue. “She has your nose.”

Lily snorted. “That seems to be the only thing. She’s all McClain.”

Sloan perched a hip on the edge of her bed and grinned. “She’s a girl,” he reminded her. “You have that in common.”

Lily nudged him gently in the hip with her foot. “Quiet.”

“What color are her eyes?” her mom asked.

“Blue,” Lily answered.

Her mom nodded. “Yours were brown right from the start, like mine.”

“Like I said, all McClain.”

Lily watched as her mom stroked Calla’s head, touched her cheeks, traced the length of her tiny nose and counted her fingers, the ones she’d wiggled free from the swaddle with a dull sense of dread.

“Mom?”

It took the other woman a few minutes to bring herself to pry her gaze away from the baby, and not for very long.

“Hmm?”

“There’s something we need to tell you.”

It might have been Lily’s tone, but her mother’s head came up and she was all focus now.

“What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with—?”

“No!” Lily said quickly. “Calla’s perfect.”

Her mom relaxed, but only a fraction. “Okay.”

Lily looked to Sloan, needing the confidence to continue. He took her foot and gave it a gentle squeeze.

It had been something that had plagued Lily the entire night, whether or not to tell people Cole was the father. While the rest of the town and their opinions meant nothing to her, she wanted her parents to know before they heard it down the grape vine. But it was that same uncertainty that stopped her. What if Cole didn’t want to be the father? She would change everyone’s life for nothing. Yet, deep down, she knew she should tell her parents. She knew they wouldn’t care. They would just be happy that Calla was there.

“What is it?” her mother demanded.

“It’s about Cole.”

“What about me?” And there he was, a hesitant figure in the doorway, clutching a custard yellow teddy bear. He looked from Lily to Sloan as though waiting for someone to yell at him. “Hey.”

“You came!” Lily struggled to sit higher on the pillows.

With one hand holding Calla, her mother used the other to turn her chair ever so slightly so she could see Cole.

“Would you like to hold her?”

Everything on Cole’s face said he wanted nothing more. He looked like a man offered something so incredibly precious it hurt to look directly at it. Seeing him so torn pierced Lily through the heart.

“I—I can wait.”

Her mother didn’t push him as she went back to running loving strokes over Calla’s cheeks.

“Are you going to come in?” Lily teased him.

His fingers trembled anxiously around the bear, but he gingerly took a step forward, then another. He stopped when he was standing next to her mother’s chair.

There was a forced sort of tension in the air the rest of the day. Her mom stayed with Lily until her father came. Her mother held Calla every chance she got, relinquishing her hold only long enough for Calla to be fed. Lily didn’t mind. Seeing the unimaginable joy and delight flicker across her mother’s face every time Calla so much as yawned made the separation worth it.

Her father, a big bear of a man, took the baby from his wife and held her with such tenderness in those giant hands that it didn’t quite seem possible. The blinding glow of love that shone over his face brought tears to Lily’s eyes. He fussed over every sound she made, demanding to know if they should get a nurse. It was harder to get Calla back from him then it had been from her mother. He was like a child not wanting to give a toy up at the store. But he did, reluctantly. Then he and her mother said goodbye, kissed Lily and Calla on the cheeks, shook hands with Sloan and left, leaving her alone with the two sitting at the foot of her bed.

While Sloan had made the effort of making conversation with her parents, Cole had spent the entire day mute, his eyes trained on Calla, the yellow teddy bear still in his lap. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts and Lily was afraid to ask what those were.

“Are you tired?” Sloan asked her.

She was, but she wanted this over with at the same time. “No.” She looked past Sloan to Cole. “Would you like to hold her?”

Cole rose without a word and moved to the bed. He set the bear down next to Lily on the cot before reaching for Calla.

He held her as though she were made of fine glass and even the slightest pressure could shatter her. The lines that had dug groves across his brow and around his mouth faded and for the first time since his arrival, he looked at peace.

“I’m staying.”

It was only two small words and yet the power behind them sent Sloan out of his chair and Lily’s jaw dropping.

“What?” Sloan roared.

While at the same time, Lily shouted, “No!”

Cole looked up, all calm. “I’ve already decided,” he said evenly. “I’m going to finish school, because you were right,” he turned to Sloan. “I can’t take care of her the way she deserves without a really good education. But I declined Mr. Boyd’s offer for the junior position.”

“Cole!” Lily felt her heart sink. “No.”

He shook his head. “All my life, I watched you sacrifice for me. I watched you take every beating so I wouldn’t. I watched you always give me the bigger portion of everything, sometimes even going without so I would eat. You might not think I noticed, but I did.” He continued even when Sloan ran a hand over his face and turned towards the window. “I got as far as I am, because I was so scared I would disappoint you.”

“Jesus, Cole.” Sloan’s voice was low, but thick. The hand he’d braced on the window frame tightened. “You could never…”

“I know why you never told me about Calla,” Cole went on as though they hadn’t just heard Sloan’s voice break. “You were just doing what you always do, protecting me. But I can’t let you do that, not with this. Calla’s my responsibility. I’m going to do my best with her and if that means finishing school and getting a job somewhere close by, then that is what I’m going to do, because someone once told me that a man always takes care of what’s his.”

Sloan lowered his head as though in prayer.

“But this junior position was such a big deal,” Lily whispered.

Cole nodded. “Yeah, it was, but it would also mean moving almost eleven hours away and I won’t do that. Not now. I’m already going to miss a lot of her first two years being at school, I won’t miss more than that.” He pulled in a breath. “I left the swim team this morning. I called my coach and told him. I must not have been very good, because he didn’t sound disappointed.” He forced a smile that just as quickly slipped. “I’ll work harder to make more trips home. I’ll call and Skype every day. I will be in her life … If you’ll let me.”

Lily’s face crumpled and she broke into tears. “Oh Cole, this isn’t what we wanted,” she cried. “We didn’t want you to give everything up.”

His smile was gentle, a little crooked. “When I left here last night, I started thinking about everything I would have to give up, the swim team, Barkley and Boyd, a future driving fast cars and even faster women…” His grin widened when she snorted a wet chuckle. “And you know what I realized? It didn’t feel like I was giving anything up. But when I thought of Calla and not being with her … I couldn’t. I didn’t want to imagine that future. I only met her and I already love her more than my own life. It’s not even a want, but this … this need. I need to be with her.”

Sloan moved away from the window and placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. His eyes were clear and focused.

“I told you last night, I will support whatever decision you make, and if you’re sure this is the path you want to take then I will support that as well.”

Cole swallowed audibly and the confidence he had wielded so boldly only moments ago wavered. “You’re not upset?”

Sloan offered his brother a small smile. “Because you’re doing the right thing, taking responsibility, and proving what an incredible man you’ve become? No. I’m proud of you, Cole.”

“I’m going to need your help,” Cole went on struggling visibly to control his voice. “I still have no idea what I’m doing.”

Sloan squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll figure it out together.” He looked past his brother to Lily. “All of us.”

Epilogue ~ Lily

Two Years Later…

Pocketing the keys to Sloan’s Mustang, Lily jogged up the steps to the front door, her mind a dizzying mess of a million things that needed to be done and still weren’t. She was vaguely aware of leaving the front door open as she jogged to the office, ticking items off in her head as she went, praying she didn’t forget any of them.

“Lily?”

“Office!”

A moment later, Sloan was darkening the doorway, hands wringing in a filthy bandana. He was smeared in grease and sweat. His jeans and shirt were caked. He looked gorgeous.

“I thought I heard you.” He watched as she ripped open drawers and rifled through papers as though they’d done something to piss her off. “What’s going on?”

With a frustrated growl, she slammed the desk drawer and straightened. “I can’t find anything! I have a wedding to photograph this evening. I have to pick Calla up from my parents. I can’t find the number for the caterer and the wedding is only three days away…” She broke off, gasping for breath. “My dress isn’t ready. The flowers I requested won’t be delivered until the day before, which gives us barely any time to prepare. And that guy who bought my last two pieces, wants six more like it for his New York apartment and I don’t even have time to go pee.”

He walked over to her and gently took her shoulders in his hands. “Breathe,” he told her calmly. “You’re going to make yourself pass out … again.”

“I’m fine!” she snapped at him. “I just … I need a system so I can be better organized.”

“Baby, what you need is to stop taking on so much work,” he protested. “We’re getting married in three days, focus on that. Everything else can wait until we get back from our honeymoon. As for the catering number, it’s in your day planner. You wrote it there the other day so you wouldn’t lose it. Mrs. Parker called earlier while you were out and said she’ll have your dress finished by this afternoon and I will help you with the flowers, just tell me where they need to go.”

“But—”

He silenced her with a gentle finger against her lips. “As for the New York guy, he can fucking wait for his damn photos. If he gives you a hard time, I’ll talk to him. As for Calla, Cole told you yesterday he was picking her up today so they could spend some time together. It’s the first day off the law firm has given him in months. So, the only thing on your plate really is that job this evening.”

When broken down like that, she couldn’t remember why she’d been freaking out, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was forgetting something.

“What about—”

“Baby, there is nothing.” He pulled her to him, and she let him, not caring that he was getting grease all over her new dress suit. “Actually, there is one thing you’ve been sorely neglecting.”

Her lungs contracted when his fingers hooked around the zipper holding her skirt in place and dragged it down.

“What’s that?”

He peered through his lashes down at her, the hunger in them unmistakable.

“Your husband.”

The skirt fluttered down the length of her legs to pool round her ankles. Her blazer followed it so she was in nothing but a camisole, black, lacy panties and her heels.

“Not for another three days, Mister,” she teased him. “I’m a free woman until then.”

The darkness in his eyes consumed his face. “Is that so?”

With a sultry half smile, she ducked around him and headed for the door. But he was faster. In one swift movement, he had her thrown over his shoulder and was marching with her through the living room and up the stairs to their room. He dumped her unceremoniously onto the bed. Her ankles were caught before she could make a sound and she was dragged towards him, twisted onto her stomach and forced over the side of the bed so the edge of the mattress gouged into the soft tissues of her abdomen and her ass was on display for him to do with as he wished.

He kicked her feet apart as the jingle of his buckle filled the room, momentarily muffling her ragged breaths. A second later, her arms were forced behind her back and the belt was tightened around her wrists.

Lily moaned into the bedspread. Her knees trembled, but she locked them at the kneecaps.

“Do you remember your safeword, baby girl?” he asked, while dragging the tongue of the belt up the back of her right thigh.

When he had first brought up the mention of a safeword, Lily had thought he’d been kidding. The things they did together, the things he did to her, she wouldn’t ask him to stop for anything. Every second of the pain he enticed was instantaneously followed by a pleasure that left her thrumming for days. Why would she ask him to stop? But as their games became darker and more intense, she saw the necessity behind it. While she knew he would never do anything to hurt her, having a way to stop anything that made her uncomfortable was a small piece of mind. The fact that he made sure she remembered that each time only made her love him more.

A snapping pain jerked her from her reverie and Lily yelped at the sting on her backside.

“Safeword, Lily.”

“I remember!” she panted.

His hand smoothed the spot he’d smacked with the length of the belt. “What is it?”

“Lamp.”

As safewords went, it was probably the stupidest, but it had been the first thing she had spotted when thinking of a word and it was a word that would most likely never come up in the throes of passion. Sloan had agreed.

“Good.” The flat of the belt slipped over the patch of fabric nestled between her legs. “You will use it, do you understand?”

She started to nod and felt a second burn on the same spot.

“Yes!” she gasped.

“Words, Lily,” he purred, stroking the spot with his palm. “You’re a big girl. I want you to use your words when I ask you a question, understand?”

A quick learner, Lily said, “Yes.”

His mouth skimmed the skin between her shoulder blades. “Good girl.”

As much as she had always thought spanking was for children, she couldn’t help loving it when Sloan did it. She had never earned a full one, only the occasional tap here and there, but she was actually excited for the day when she did.

“I have a surprise for you,” he told her. “But I don’t know if you’re ready.”

A white hot tingle spread down the length of her body and her hips wiggled against the belt rocking over her core. Sloan’s surprises always ended with her experiencing a level of euphoria that bordered on madness. The orgasms alone had become an addiction she couldn’t go more than a few days without needing again. He had completely ruined her and she loved it.

“I want it,” she pleaded. “I’m ready. Please,” she added quickly.

He seemed to be considering her answer while he drew the belt back and gave her pussy a light smack that had her toes curling and her thighs trembling. The fabric of her panties peeled away from her skin, wet and sticky, and she shuddered.

“Don’t move.”

Aside from the tremors and her ragged breathing, Lily lay as perfectly still as humanly possible as he moved away from her. She heard the closet door slide open and her pussy clenched in anticipation. She struggled not to shift when the screech of metal drawers being drawn open filled the room. Inside, she knew, lay an assortment of items Sloan had personally selected for her, things that the close minded people of Willow Creek would never understand, things that drove Lily wild just at the sight of. Knowing he was going for something in there nearly had her climaxing on the spot.

He returned a moment later. She felt his heat push up against her bare backside and legs. Cold steel kissed the back of her knee and she jumped involuntarily. Her eyes squeezed shut tight and she held her breath as it glided up the inside of her thigh to skate the lacy edges of her panties. There was a distinct sound of scissors opening and then her panties were fluttering in strips around her feet.

“There she is,” Sloan murmured, setting the scissors aside. “My fuck toy. Is she ready for me?”

“Yes, please, yes!”

His hands closed on her hips, gripping her steady and she knew what was about to come. She wasn’t wrong. He pushed inside her with one graceful thrust. Lily cried out her gratification and lifted her hips to meet him.

The smack came from his hand, the burn was sharper and lasted longer.

“I told you not to move.”

Lily bit her lip and fought not to shift again.

For several punishing minutes, he simply fucked her, pulling all the way out and plunging back in. It was killing Lily not to push back.

“Are you ready, Lily?” he asked at last.

Desperately needing more, sobbed into the comforter, “Yes, please, Sloan.”

Without leaving the swollen confines of her vagina, Sloan reached for the belt around her wrists. But rather than lift her up, he slid a finger over the crack of her ass to circle the puckered hole nestled in between.

“I want you here,” he told her quietly. “Not today, but soon.”

“Why not today?”

“Because it needs to be slow. I need to prepare you.”

She wanted to beg him to do it now, but it would only earn her a punishment and she was afraid he would force her not to come. He knew that was the worst torture for her and he took great pleasure in making her wait and suffer.

Giving her a few more thrusts, he pulled out, tucked an arm round her and gently eased her up. He bent down and lifted her up into his arms and sat her down on the bed. He slipped off her shoes, climbed up behind her and deftly arranged the pillows. He leaned against them and motioned for her to move forward.

“Turn,” he told her.

On her knees, Lily turned and was guided onto his lap with her bent knees on either side of his outstretched legs. He made her sit on his cock.

“I want you to watch,” he murmured into her ear.

Bemused, Lily frowned and was about to turn her head to ask him what he meant, when something glinted in the near darkness. A splinter of light from where the curtains hadn’t closed all the way lanced off a sheet of glass she didn’t recognize.

It was an enormous mirror that took up nearly the entire wall at the foot of the bed. The gilded frame was worn, the gold nearly faded, but the sheet of glass itself was flawless.

“When did you…?”

“Shh,” he told her. “Fuck me and watch.”

Lily knew how it felt moving over him, but she had never actually watched it. The experience was something else entirely. Watching him disappear inside her and then appear again, covered in her cream was exhilarating. It was hot.

“That’s all you,” he drawled. “You’re so wet, Lily.” He raised his gaze and met hers through the glass. “And I haven’t even made you come yet.”

With his hands gripping her waist tight, he lifted her so he came free, coated in a thick layer of her juices. Lily’s insides clenched with the need for him to return.

Slowly, he fed his cock back into her opening, letting it disappear inside her inch by painfully slow inch until he was buried to the halt. His deep groan of pleasure was swallowed by her animalistic sob of triumph.

He reached up and tore apart her camisole, letting her breasts bounce free. He took them into his greedy hands and the nipples were assaulted under his clever fingers. Lily thrust her chest out, pushing them into his palms for more. Her hips rolled over his, her clit grinding into the hilt of his shaft for the release she could feel inches away.

“You’re close,” he whispered into her ear.

“Yes!” she said, even though he hadn’t asked her a question.

“I think you’re ready for your surprise now.”

Eyes she couldn’t recall shutting flew open and she blinked in the mirror. “I thought—”

“That is only half.”

The dark glimmer in his eyes slickened her further around him. She watched and waited as he plucked something small off the comforter beside him and slid an arm around her middle.

She couldn’t see what it was until his fingers had parted her lips and something clamped over her protruding and swollen clit. He touched something on it and it began to hum … violently.

Lily screamed. For something so tiny, it tore her in half as the first orgasm ripped through her with the second one close on its heels. The third was harder and faster. They just kept pounding over her until it was all she could do to keep from sliding into unconsciousness.

In the mirror, Sloan watched her, his eyes heavily lidded in victory. He continued to lazily toy with her nipples while she writhed and shook over him. Without the use of her hands, she was powerless to do anything but take every brutal climax with tears streaming down her cheeks and her ears screeching.

After the seventh, or eighth, or tenth orgasm, he removed the device and caught her when she tumbled backwards into his arms, her body limp and still quaking. He pressed a hand over her mound where even she could see her poor little clit throbbing before it was covered.

“My pretty little fuck toy,” he whispered into her ear as his hips rose, thrusting him deeper inside her. “You come so beautifully for me.”

“It was too much,” she half sobbed, half whined.

“Was it?” He smoothed his hand over her mound, making her moan and shiver. “Your pussy doesn’t seem to think so. She’s ready to come for me again.”

He was right. The light roll of his palm over her clit had plumped it back to life and she was so close.

“No, Sloan, I can’t…”

“Should I stop?”

“No … no, oh god, please…”

She came and he came with her, mingling their juices together inside her. It spilled free to dampen the sheets.

“You’re evil,” she panted.

“And yet, I know if I touch you, you’ll want me again.”

The fact was it was true. She would. She would always want him.

She turned her head and kissed him with all the emotions crashing through her. “I will always want you, Sloan.”

Despite all her worries and rushing, Lily walked down the church hall feeling like nothing could make it more perfect. Her dress, a flowing gown of blinding white silk with a shower of glitter down the sweetheart bodice shimmered in the golden lights spilling from the stain glass windows. Her veil brushed lightly around her bare shoulders and traced the length of her bare back like wings. She held her bouquet, an arrangement of pink lilies and white callas intertwined with a ribbon of purple satin in one hand and smoothed her other hand over the swell of her skirt.

“How are you?” At her side, her mother peered up at her through eyes that hadn’t stopped leaking since the rehearsal dinner the night before.

“Anxious,” she confessed. “I just want to be his already.”

“I think we’re a little too late for that,” Beth teased from her place behind Lily.

Lily laughed. “Yes, but this will make it official, right?”

Shaking out Lily’s train and smoothing the satin, Beth shrugged. “One man for the rest of your life, are you ready for that?”

“Yes!” Lily breathed without a second of hesitation.

“All right then!” Beth grinned. “Let’s get this party started, shall we?”

Lily’s mother chuckled. “We better hurry. Last time I saw Cole, he was telling me Sloan was wearing a hole in the floor. He’s terrified you’re going to change your mind.”

Lily shook her head. “What am I going to do with that man?”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” Beth replied smartly.

No sooner had the three stopped laughing when Lily’s father hurried out of the altar area and caught sight of them. His face relaxed into one of relief.

“There you are!” He looked from face to face worriedly. “Are you ready?”

“What’s wrong?” Lily asked.

“Nothing!” her father said a little too loudly. “It’s just that the groom is getting a little antsy and I’m a little afraid he’s going to march out here and haul you to the altar over his shoulder.”

Lily burst out laughing, which her father didn’t seem to appreciate.

“I’m sorry, but can you please tell him to calm down? This is my big day and I will beat his ass if he rushes me.”

Her father frowned. “I’ll try, but I wouldn’t push it.”

They watched him walk away.

“You know, it’s usually the bride that is that nervous,” Beth said.

Lily shrugged. “I had two years to fuss, worry, and be nervous. Now I’m just ready.”

Her mother took her hand, squeezed it. “You look beautiful, Lily.”

Blinking back unexpected tears, Lily gave her a smile and straightened her shoulders. “You ladies ready?”

“We’re ready when you are,” Beth said.

Lily held her breath, her heart a pattering mess in her chest. “I am so ready.”

Beaming, her mother touched her arm. “I’ll go get your father.”

Bending down, Lily brushed a kiss over her mother’s cheek before straightening and watching her wheel away.

It was only when her mother had turned the corner that the butterflies started. Her palms turned clammy around the stems of her bouquet. Her heart cracked unevenly in her chest until she was sure she was having a heart attack.

She turned to Beth, needing something to distract her.

“So, how are you liking Willow Creek?”

Beth rolled her eyes. “It’s not Vancouver, but it’s where Cole’s law firm is, and Cole, and Calla.” She smiled. “I’ll get used to it.”

Lily nodded slowly, more to stave off the nausea than lack of enthusiasm. “I know Sloan and I were surprised when you agreed to move up.”

Her chuckle was light, like there was no other choice. “What can I say? I love that idiot and Willow Creek Memorial isn’t exactly booming with patients, but the people of this town sure do have a lot of babies so at least I’m always kept busy.”

Lily smiled and it was real, void of the tightness in her chest and filled with sincere affection for the girl. “Well, I know I’m really happy you’re here. It’s nice to have a friend. I mean besides Cole.”

Beth beamed, flashing her dimples. “Plus I look way better in a maid of honor dress, right?”

Laughing, Lily nodded. “Definitely. Thank you—”

Beth put a hand up. “Stop right there. You are going to make me cry and it took me six hours to do this makeup.”

“Hey, everyone ready?” Her father appeared at Lily’s elbow.

Her shoulders rose and fell with her calming breath. “Ready.”

“She keeps saying that,” Beth muttered. “Calmest damn bride I’ve ever seen.”

Her father chuckled. “Beth, love, can you give us a minute?”

Nodding, Beth hurried away.

Lily’s father turned to her.

“Did I ever tell you about the day I married your mother?”

He had, a million times, but she let him continue.

“So there I was, standing next to Father Peters, waiting for your mom to come down. Everyone was in their seats, watching me, watching the doors. I swear, it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes, but to me, it felt like hours. I was scared shitless that she would realize I wasn’t worthy of her and bolt. Then she appeared in the doorway, this stunning thing dressed all in white and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven, because in that moment, she had given me everything.”

She had heard all this before, although she never got tired of hearing it again.

“She walks towards me then and I can’t believe how calm she is while I’m a damn mess. It wasn’t until years later that she tells me that she nearly threw up twice on the way up to the altar and it was only because I looked so calm that she didn’t.”

Lily laughed.

“One day, you’re going to tell Calla the story of this day, but only if you’re sure this is what you want. I love that boy. He’s been real good to you and that little girl. He’s a good man and I respect that. But if this isn’t what you want, you don’t gotta do it.”

Except, there was nothing in the world she wanted more.

“I’ve been wanting this since I was thirteen,” she murmured. “That’s how long I’ve loved that man.”

Her father’s face softened into a smile. “Then let’s not keep him waiting.”

As Lily took those handful of steps down the hall to the altar doors, she pushed down the knot in her chest. She closed her eyes and let herself fall into that one perfect moment that was only overshadowed by Calla’s birth. She was about to marry the man of her dreams, what more could she ask for?

When she opened her eyes again, they were standing in the doorway lined with purple blooms that she couldn’t bring herself to remember their names. The aisle was lined with petals. Somewhere, she was vaguely aware of music playing her song, the one that would start the rest of her life. Ahead of her, skipping away in her lacy white dress with purple trim, Calla tossed rose petals haphazardly in all directions, getting them on the people, on herself and on the red carpet. Her ringlets bounced against her tiny shoulders, glinting in the early afternoon sunlight like spun gold. When she reached the end, basket empty, she spun around in a flurry of triumph and beamed proudly at doing her job so perfectly. Then she spotted Lily and her blue eyes went wide in joy.

“Mommy!”

Before anyone could grab her, she was tearing back down the aisle as fast as her two year old legs could carry her and had leapt full throttle into Lily’s arms. Lily only just managed to steady herself as she hoisted the squealing toddler up into her arms, uncaring of ruining her dress.

“I did it!” Calla shouted. “Did you see? I dumped all the flowers everywhere.”

Lily smiled up at her flushed and beautiful daughter. “You did wonderful, baby.”

Calla bent her head so their foreheads touched. “Daddy says you need to hurry or Uncle Sloan is going to pee himself.”

Uncaring of the eyes watching them, Lily burst out laughing and clutched her baby to her chest.

“We better not keep him waiting then, huh?”

With Calla’s nod of agreement, Lily slipped her arm back through her fathers, kept a tight hold of her daughter and started towards the man at the other end.

Sloan never took his eyes off her. His features were so calm, so confident, like he never once doubted she would show. He stood so tall and regal in his dark tux, reminding her of a prince.

Someone reached for Calla, but Lily shook her head without ever taking her focus off the man she was about to spend the rest of her life with.

At the altar, she stood facing him, her heart going a mile a minute. Sloan smiled, reached up and touched the curve of Calla’s rosy cheek, but his gaze was on Lily.

“My two favorite girls,” he murmured. “How lucky am I?” His expression turned serious. “You’re beautiful, baby girl.”

Lily reached for his hand with her free one, propping Calla on her hip.

The ceremony began. The man who had married her parents all those years ago, said the same blessing over her small family. Calla rested her head on Lily’s shoulder and Lily breathed in the sweet scent of the girl’s strawberry shampoo. On her other side, Sloan squeezed her fingers once before threading his through hers.

When Father Peters told him he could finally kiss the bride, Cole stepped out from behind his brother and held out his arms for Calla. She went into her father’s arms without fuss and Lily turned to her husband.

“Ready to make me yours forever, Mr. McClain?” she teased.

“No.” Sloan gave her the ghost of a smile as he took her chin in his hands. “Much longer.”

“Good, because I have something to tell you.”

The right corner of his mouth quirked. “Can I kiss you first?”

“Maybe…” She nibbled on her lip. “How do you feel about setting the crib up again in seven months?”

The fingers on her face shook once, the only outward show that her words had surprised him. Then his mouth curled into a blinding grin.

“I knew it.”

Lily blinked, her turn to be taken aback. “How? I only just found out myself.”

His smile turned dark, predatory. “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t notice the slightest change in your body? The one I know better than my own?” He drew her close. “And I will set up that crib as many times as you’ll let me. You’re mine forever now, baby girl.”

He sealed his promise with a kiss.

The End

About Airicka Phoenix

International Best-Selling author Airicka Phoenix lives in a world where unicorns, fairies and mermaids run amok through her home on a daily basis. When she’s not chasing after pixies and rounding up imps, also known as her four children, she can be found conjuring up evil villains, bad-ass heroines and swoon-worthy heroes to play with.

Airicka is singlehandedly responsible for her greatly anticipated collections, the Touch Saga, the Sons of Judgment Saga, The Lost Girl Duology, In The Dark Series, Games of Fire, Betraying Innocence & Forever His Baby. She also writes adult paranormal & contemporary romance under the dark guise of Morgana Phoenix.

For more about Airicka and the realm she rules with an iron fist—and tons of chocolate—visit her at: Website

Table of Contents

Forever His Baby ©2014 by Airicka Phoenix

As Airicka Phoenix

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Chapter One ~ Lily

Chapter Two ~ Sloan

Chapter Three ~ Lily“Lily!”

Chapter Four ~ Sloan

Chapter Five ~ Lily

Chapter Six ~ Sloan

Chapter Seven ~ Lily

Chapter Eight ~ Sloan

Chapter Nine ~ Lily

Chapter Ten ~ Sloan

Chapter Eleven ~ Lily

Chapter Twelve ~ Sloan

Chapter Thirteen ~ Cole

Chapter Fourteen ~ Lily

Epilogue ~ LilyTwo Years Later…

About Airicka Phoenix