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Chapter Twelve
Reed pulled his phoneout, answering Slade’s call with, “What’s up?” while waiting for Lily to finish dressing for work. Neither one of them had slept much over the weekend. He’d continued to probe her memory for anyone who might hold a grudge against her, making them both testy. She swore there was nobody, but she trusted the homeless on sight instead of learning their circumstances first, proving her gullibility. Unsavory characters lurked downtown among those innocent of wrongdoing, but Lily refused to turn her back on anyone who appeared to need help. It was one of the traits he admired most about her and now worried him the most.
“Lily’s wiring was frayed with a knife.”
His brother’s blunt words formed a tight knot in his gut. “The electrician agreed with you, then?” Slade had mentioned the possibility yesterday, after examining the wires with a magnifying glass and making comparisons with enlarged photos of old, damaged wiring.
“Yep. Just spoke to him. Did she give you anything to go on yet?”
Slade’s frustration and concern came through loud and clear. “No, other than she believes the mugging and the vandalism at her house aren’t related. She still thinks the attack was random.”
“Brett and I don’t believe so.”
“Neither do I, and I wouldn’t chance her welfare either way.”
Which was what Reed had told Lily after he’d calmed her down with sex following her meltdown. He’d seen her sweet, compassionate, sad, and happy, but Lily in a full-blown rage was a sight to behold and one he wouldn’t forget. He preferred not to witness another if it stemmed from a threat to her safety or a reminder of her painful past.
“We’re here to help,” Slade said, interrupting his thoughts.
Reed couldn’t resist needling him. “Aren’t you always saying you don’t want to get involved?”
“She’s yours, so I’m involved,” he returned without pause.
“Yes, she is,” he murmured, Slade’s words a simple declaration of their close bond, his brother’s unconditional support easing his worry. Lily entered the kitchen looking summery in a yellow, sleeveless dress with bright pink flowers. She’d been hiding her anxiety behind a calm demeanor since her blowup Saturday, but he’d seen through that same stoic façade she’d presented during rough patches since first witnessing the tension between her with John. “I’ll catch up with you at the ranch shortly.” He hung up and handed her a travel mug. “Ready?”
“Yes, and I’ll say it once more. There’s no reason for you to take up a chunk of your morning following me to work. No one will harass me on the road with so much traffic. Plus, I’ll be in a different vehicle.”
He picked up his Stetson on their way out, double checking the lock after closing the door. “I’ll feel better, and you were adamant about having your car today instead of letting me drive you. Call me if Trina leaves for lunch, and don’t unlock the doors if you’re there alone while she’s gone,” he told her, leading her to the rental parked next to his truck. Opening the car door, he grinned at her eye roll. “Humor me.”
“Fine. I’m not dumb, you know. I’m plenty scared enough to be extra careful and keep an eye out for anyone suspicious hanging around.” Lily settled behind the wheel and shifted on the seat. “I miss my Mazda. This feels like I’m sitting on the ground.”
“You’re accustomed to the higher SUV. I’m the same with the truck. You’ll get used to it, though, and it’s temporary. Again, you’re the one who insisted on taking separate cars.”
“With good reason. I don’t want to impose on Trina if you are delayed or can’t make it. This way, we’re covering all contingencies.”
Reed understood her reluctance to cede all independence and rely solely on someone else. “Drive carefully,” was all he said before closing the door. The extra drive did cut into his morning but was worth the price to lessen his anxiety.
There was safety in numbers, he kept repeating all the way to Creative Events, and between working with Trina and seeing clients, she wouldn’t be alone. That logic worked out in his head, which didn’t explain the hard thud of his heartbeat when he told her goodbye.
“Go, Reed,” Trina insisted when he lingered inside the building. “I promise I won’t leave her alone.”
Lily went up on her toes to kiss him then shoved him toward the door. “I have work to do, and so do you. Goodbye.”
“I’ll be here by four thirty.” Returning to his truck, Reed didn’t glance around despite the ball of dread cramping his abdomen.
****
“Iimagine he’s a nicechange for you,” Trina said, locking the door behind Reed.
“He’s definitely a change, I’ll say that.” Lily tossed her purse on the desk and sat down, already tired of the precautions and feeling guilty for imposing so much on Reed. She agreed with the necessity. She just didn’t like the burden her troubles were putting on everyone.
Trina picked up her cup off the desk and padded over to the coffee bar, talking over her shoulder. “C’mon. Admit he’s special, at least to me. Before this shit all came down, I never saw you so happy. The Kincaids are good people.”
“They are, but the overprotectiveness takes getting used to. Before Reed, Levi was the only person who cared enough to both hover and browbeat at the same time. It’s the reason for it now that’s grating on my nerves.”
Except when he’d exerted his dominance to calm her down from her uncharacteristic tirade. She would accept that kind of protectiveness anytime, anywhere. The things he could make her feel, the depth of her craving for more of him, still shook her. Lust, love, or a combination of both? That was a question she kept putting off answering, unsure if she was ready to face the truth. She booted up the computer, determined to work until Trina handed her a coffee refill and asked the one question she didn’t have an answer for yet.
“You can’t think of anyone who would do such things to you?”
