Chapter One
LILY
The nice thing about living in a small town is that nothing ever happens. The bad thing about living in a small town is that when something even remotely out of the ordinary happens the sky might as well fall because that’s how everyone will talk about it. And mark my word, everyone will talk about it. But it seems no one told any of this to the guy trying to break into Boyd’s bar, through the front door.
“Haley. Come look at this,” I call while keeping my eyes on the worst burglar in history out the bank of windows on the front wall of Main Street Cafe.
I’m about to call her again, after a few seconds without an answer, when the man turns, crosses Main Street in a few long strides, and bursts through the cafe door.
"Hey," I yell as he blows past me.
He’s disappearing into the back hall and the only bathroom when a rather large party pours in after him. “Sit anywhere you like. We'll be right with you," I say and go after the guy to get him out.
Maybe I should call the police. But he hasn’t done anything illegal. Technically. I suppose I could call him in for loitering.
"Bathroom's for paying customers only," I yell and pound on the door. “Don’t make me call the police. I really don’t want to cause a scene.”
I lift my fist to knock on the door again, but just before I land the first knock the door opens, a hand reaches out, grabs me, and pulls me inside. Slamming the door shut with my back against it, a big, muscular body pins me in place. A large hand covers my mouth as the dark-haired and bearded man pierces me with a steel-rimmed, icy-blue stare pressing a finger to his lips begging me to be quiet.
I should fight back. I have no idea who this guy is or why he’s holding me captive. But every time I think about kicking him in the groin or biting his finger off, I catch a whiff of his earthy spice or feel his breath on my face, and instead, I swoon.
"Is everything okay in there?" Haley’s voice comes from the other side of the door.
Since Gage, the cook, isn’t breaking down the door, I assume no one saw this guy come in and thus, have no idea I’m not in here alone.
A cold sweat rolls down my back. What have I gotten myself into?
The panic builds in my chest taking the form of a scream no one will hear with my mouth smothered by his impossibly large palm. I almost let it go despite knowing it wouldn’t make a difference when the man's eyes glisten with desperation. Asking me without words not to give him away. And that one look strangles my fear making my heart hurt for him.
Hell, if he wanted to hurt me, he’s had ample time. For that reason and the unexpected pulse between my legs as his eyes hold mine and his scent imprints on my memory, I start to believe he’s harmless.
The weight of his hand lessens as I nod letting him know I’m not going to give him away. When he removes his hand completely from my mouth and braces it on the door, along with the other, each on either side of my head, my breath gets caught in my throat.
My God, he has presence. Radiates confidence. I’m convinced he could command the room even if we weren’t the only two people in it.
“Lily, sweetie?” Haley says, more concerned now.
“You’reLily?” he whispers and holy cow. Even hushed, his voice is nothing short of intoxicating. But I have to get over it really fast to wonder how the hell he knows me, or my name, anyway. And why finding out that name belongs to me makes him sweep his eyes down my body before coming back to my eyes again with an extra spark in them I wouldn’t have thought possible. They're truly out of this world.
“I swear, Cala Lily Carmichael, if you don’t answer me right now, I’m getting Gage to break this door down,” Haley calls, her concern now morphing into fear.
"I'm okay. I'll be right out,” I call back.
She sighs loud enough for me to hear through the solid wood door. “Well, we're swamped out here. Another big group came in and they’re super demanding. So, hurry up, please.”
“I’ll be right out.”
The guy keeps his eyes locked on mine for several seconds. Even after Haley’s feet shuffle away from the door. Then all at once, his body collapses against me as he plants his head on his forearm next to my head. Breathing heavily, his chest expands against mine. Without my permission, the friction brings my nipples to hard points.
I freeze. My hands at my sides, palms flat on the door searching for the knob.
"Thank you," he whispers next to my ear before pushing away.
Instantly, my body cries for him to come back.
A complete stranger's body.
What the hell is wrong with me? I was on the verge of crying for help—calling the police and now… Like he’s cast a spell, I can’t take my eyes off of him. Want to find an excuse to get close to him again.
