AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She winced. He didn’t need to mention any of the potential, dominant consequences Brett might subject her to if she was trying to pull a fast one for some reason. Allie loved to socialize, and it was unlike her to avoid such events.
“Before he got delayed, I told him I wanted you to go instead. Other than a short text about getting tied up, I haven’t heard from him.”
That was legit. Brett often took cases at no charge if the client was dealing with harsh circumstances, and anonymity was key to their safety.
“You like these events, so what’s the big deal?” she asked. “Did you have plans?”
Reed sighed. He might as well go. Maybe something different tonight would pull him out of his funk. “Just the usual, hanging at Casey’s.” He went over and picked up the plumed hat and black wig with long braids that would hang down to his chest. A matching mustache and goatee and mask that went over the eyes, nose, and cheeks completed the head pieces, leaving the wide-sleeved white shirt, leather vest that matched the leather pants, a red-lined cape, and a fake sword to complete the ensemble. Holding up the hat, he waved it so the feathery attachment swayed. “You’re asking a lot for me to give up my Stetson for this.”
She giggled and gave him a hug. “It’s for a good cause. Think of all those people you’re helping. We’ll attend the annual dog walkathon for the shelter next month. Maybe we can find Chance a buddy.”
“Chance loves his job herding the livestock, and he’s attached to Slade. Neither would welcome another dog.” The border collie’s speed, agility, and stamina, not to mention his intelligence, made him the perfect working dog. Reed and Brett had grown just as fond of him as Slade since Slade brought him home a few months ago.
“But you’ll go tonight, won’t you?” she persisted, her expression hopeful.
“Yeah, what the heck. It might be fun.”
“Thank you!” she exclaimed with another hug.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow if you’re welcome or not,” he returned, giving her a quick squeeze before scooping up the outfit. If nothing else, he would enjoy playing a skirt-chasing rogue for a few hours.
“Fair enough. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
He still didn’t trust the minx’s motives but found himself looking forward to the evening after arriving at the Casper Event Center and watching people entering who appeared familiar but were still unrecognizable in their costumes. There were contests for the best costumes and for those who managed to keep their identity secret. The steak dinner catered by one of his favorite establishments was something else that cut into his misgivings about doing this favor.
He’d parked in the rear of the lot in case anyone arriving recognized his black sporty Mustang with the silver stripe along the sides. After resigning from the highway patrol and turning in his cruiser, he’d opted for the car for personal use, leaving his ranch truck for everything else. Since purchasing the flashy vehicle, way too often he’d pictured Lily sitting next to him as they zipped down the highway with a summer breeze blowing in the lowered windows, whipping her hair around. Not even her extended absence had kept his fantasies at bay for long, and it was past time he set his sights and thoughts to seeing women outside of the few private members of their BDSM group.
With that vow in mind, he went inside and spent a few minutes buying tickets for the raffle drawings, speaking with the volunteers, and looking over the architect’s drawings of the renovations they planned for the current shelter.Lily should be a part of this,he thought, then put a lid on any further imagining her reaction to the planned improvements.
Striding into the gala room, his resolve to socialize with an interest in hooking up with someone new crumbled the second his gaze landed on the woman welcoming guests. He would recognize that long sable braid and soft profile anywhere, Lily’s unexpected presence hitting him with a kick to the gut. She appeared thinner in tan casual slacks and a forest-green blouse, but still soft and appealing. He could still recall the press of her full curves when they’d danced at her wedding, the memory as arousing now as back then. Lily turned with her hand extended, and the same smile he’d fallen for at their introduction robbed him of breath, the instant lust to crush his mouth over her soft lips difficult to stifle.
“Don Juan, right? So far, you’re one of a kind.” Her breathy voice, free of sadness, washed through him, and Reed returned her smile, taking her hand, waiting for her to recognize him. Instead, she introduced herself as if they’d never met. “I’m Lily Regan with Creative Events. Thank you so much for coming out tonight to help raise money for a new facility for our homeless.”
Even in the heels she wore, he stood several inches taller, and Reed glanced down at her name tag to clarify she’d returned to using her maiden name. He debated whether to reveal his identity, not wanting his presence to bring back bad memories. His disguise must be better than he thought. The slight tremor of her hand in his decided for him, and he replied, “My pleasure, Ms. Regan. I’m...”
She hurried to hold up her other hand before he continued. “Don’t tell me your real name, as I’m one of the judges for tonight’s contests. You look familiar, but then, everyone does despite the months I’ve been out of town. Have a pleasant evening.”
“Thank you, I will. Nice to meet you.”
She stiffened and peered at him closer before shaking her head, as if his voice jarred a memory. “It’ll come to me.”
“When it does, let me know.”
Reed moved on, the motive for Allie’s change of plans now clear. He should be glad Lily didn’t recognize him or his voice right away.
Should be, but he wasn’t.
That meant she’d given him little thought since they’d seen each other at John’s wake, unlike his inability to stop thinking about her. That didn’t surprise him, he admitted. She’d never viewed him as anything more than her husband’s friend and partner, either while married or after they had split. That should make it easier for him to move on also.
Should, but it didn’t.
Twenty minutes later, Lily strolled behind a microphone and announced the last call for cocktails before dinner was served. “Thank you,” she added before her gaze connected with his, the deep breath she sucked in lifting her chest, her face turning pink with interest. A hot surge of blood pumped into his cock, the last response he needed to get through the night when he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. He turned away to continue conversing with a group of ranchers, deciding it would be best if he revealed himself the next time they crossed paths tonight, regardless of how she felt about him, and then make an early night of it. The shelter already had the Kincaids’ sizable donation.
But, between her disappearance into the kitchen during dinner, and then her responsibilities before the raffle drawings commenced, the opportunity to speak again never materialized. Reed struggled to focus on conversations and activities, most revolving around guessing identities, while cursing Allie for not warning him about Lily’s return. He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes from straying her way or tamp down his response each time she met his gaze with a curious look of barely concealed interest.
At first, she appeared happy and sociable, laughing with guests, much more relaxed than that last day, when she was mourning John’s passing. He assumed both the months away and the coroner’s final report of accidental overdose helped the most.
Reed wished he could say the same for him, but his reaction to seeing her again, touching her, and hearing her voice stirred that forbidden need to life, proving he wanted her as much now as before. Her gaze cut his way as often as he sought her out, and if he were dumb enough to read more into that than was wise, like she was looking for him, he deserved the tight clutch in his groin whenever their eyes connected. As attuned as he was to Lily, he noticed the pleasure suffusing her face disappearing when a woman dressed as Cinderella approached her. Even from across the room, he could make out her tight lips and pale face, the way she shook her head against whatever the other woman was saying, how her shoulders slumped as the woman walked away. The change in her made it much harder to keep his distance.
