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“Good, thanks. You’re with the manager, Jordon, right?” She remembered seeing Bianca behind the bar with Casey’s manager.
“We’re still tight.” Bianca sent Reed a teasing grin. “It takes too long to break these guys in to trade them in too often.”
“Funny,” Reed returned, opening the door then addressing Vickie. “You should drive.”
“I was about to suggest that,” Vickie said, catching the keys Lily tossed her despite the stab of annoyance with Reed for not asking her first.
Lily was tired and still trembling from Reed’s attention, so she let it go. She couldn’t think straight until she was away from him – he was just too distracting in more ways than one.
“Nice to see you again, Bianca.” Turning to Reed, all she could think to say was, “Thank you.”
“Good night, Lily, Vickie. Come back soon.”
Lily’s breathing seemed to calm once they pulled onto the highway and were heading home. She’d aways thought no man could muddle her thinking the way John did, but that was one more thing she’d been wrong about when it came to her husband.
“Do I get the salacious details, or would you rather keep them to yourself?” Vickie asked.
“Well, if you double what I told you about last week, you’ll get a good idea.”
“Cool.” They both laughed then Vickie asked a harder question. “Are you going to see him again, give this a chance?”
“A chance at what, Vic? I’m not interested in another relationship, and, no, it’s not because I’m still stupid enough to pine for John, or even mourn him. He would have to be a hell of a guy for me to commit to anyone again.” She was an all-or-nothing woman, had her convictions and stuck by them. Her nature was to think of others first, do for them whenever she could, but in regard to getting involved again, risking her heart, she couldn’t afford to make another mistake.
“I understand,” Vickie said, turning into Lily’s driveway. “But don’t be so cautious you miss out on a good one. If nothing else, enjoy a sordid affair. God knows, you’re overdue.”
If the orgasms Reed had gifted her with were any sign, Vickie was right, and Lily was way overdue in that department. She couldn’t imagine, though, letting anyone else do those things, trusting anyone else with her physical well-being the way she’d put herself in Reed’s hands. Being with him tugged at more inside her than lust, and that required careful scrutiny before seeing him again.
“Mmm, I’ll give that some thought,” she said, stepping out of the car. As they strode toward the porch, screeching tires drew their attention down the street where Lily caught the taillights of a vehicle whipping around the corner. “I’ll bet that’s the teenager who just got his license. If he keeps that up, he’ll get his first ticket in no time.”
“Yeah, but at that age, it’s worth a lecture from Mom and Dad to have fun with your first car.” Vickie glanced at the dark porch, saying, “Didn’t we leave the light on when we left?”
Lily frowned, pulling out her key. “I thought I did. Maybe I missed the switch.” She glanced around the yard and then the porch, still uneasy at night even though Eagle’s Nest was a safe community and the neighbors watched out for each other. “That wasn’t it,” she said as they went inside and she felt for the wall switch and found it on. “Must be a burned-out bulb.”
“We can change it tomorrow, but I know we left that lamp on in the corner.” Vickie’s annoyed voice sounded loud in the dark.
Using her cell phone light, Lily found the corner lamp, but it didn’t light up when she turned the switch. “Okay, must be in the breaker box. Come with me. I can never figure these things out.”
“This is why I don’t like old houses,” Vickie said at her side as they walked through the kitchen to the utility room with only their phone lights to guide them. “No amount of charm is worth all the things that can go wrong.”
Chuckling despite the shakes from the dark, Lily bumped her with her elbow. “Lights can go out in any house. Make sure I do this right. Levi only showed me once.” She opened the box and flipped the switches, and not only did the light in the other room come on, the whole house lit up.
“What the hell?” Vickie went down the hall then came back, shaking her head. “You’re lit up like a Christmas tree, every single light, even the closets. You should call an electrician first thing Monday.”
Lily released her breath, relief easing her tenseness with the bright illumination regardless of the electrical expense she was likely facing. She hoped entering a dark room or stepping outside at night wouldn’t always cause her several moments of trepidation. “I will, but I can use a glass of wine before turning in.”
“I’ll join you.”
The next morning, Lily saw Vickie off, promising to make a trip up to Cheyenne when Levi returned from his latest assignment. With Vickie gone, her thoughts shifted to Reed, and Vickie’s suggestion to indulge in an affair. If she believed for one second she could spend a few weeks with Reed, or any man she found desirable and likable without engaging feelings, she might consider the idea. Her brother often took credit for her old-fashioned views regarding who and when she would sleep with a man, and she could now admit she appreciated his guidance and lectures during her teens.
If Levi only knew what I did the last two Saturday nights.He would lecture her until she was blue in the face, as only a protective big brother could. If he ever found out, she mused while cleaning up the kitchen, those encounters were worth listening to one of his sermons. She’d never been tempted to sleep with a man she didn’t harbor deep feelings for, which gave her pause in considering anything more with Reed. Regardless that her shattered heart had healed a long time ago and she was well over John and the end of their marriage, she would not allow room to repeat her past mistakes.
Reed is different.
“Oh, shut up,” Lily muttered, checking the clock. She was scheduled to help at the shelter this morning and didn’t have time to psychoanalyze herself or her actions. Which was good, because she had no idea where to begin when she thought about Reed now.
She remembered Delia’s call last night as she arrived at the homeless shelter, and a stab of guilt for ignoring it poked her abdomen. Thinking of the busy work week ahead, she decided today would be best to make it up to her. If she could meet her at the farmer’s market this afternoon, which only opened on weekends, they could get lunch there. If nothing else, the gesture would settle her conscience, Lily thought, pulling her phone out of her purse.
“Hey, Delia,” Lily replied when she answered. “I saw you called last night.”
