She went back inside without telling them dinner was ready, going back inside to the kitchen. She stood at the kitchen several minutes staring out the window as she tried to catch her breath. She began praying hard.
A few minutes later, she heard the front door open and the voices of the members. She quickly busied herself, placing a calm expression on her face.
“That bike makes me want to get a new one.” Train was the first in the kitchen with the rest following behind.
Evie and Jewell took advantage of the men talking to get in the food line to fix their plates. Lily saw Shade come into the kitchen with Viper, Raci and Bliss trailing behind them. Raci was no longer wearing Shade’s jacket.
Lily was tempted to go back to their house, but she was just as determined not to run. She fixed herself a plate, taking a seat at the table next to Evie and Jewell, forcing herself to eat while Shade and the others fixed themselves plates.
Shade finished filling his plate and took a seat across from her. When he would have said something, Lily picked up her plate and stood up.
“I’m done, Raci. You can have my seat.” Lily walked away from the table as Raci sat down.
Placing her plate in the sink, she went to the kitchen door.
“Lily?” Shade’s questioning voice had her shoulders stiffening. She reminded herself she wanted to be more like Sex Piston and her crew. She knew exactly what Sex Piston would do.
Turning around, she went back to the table, ignoring Beth and Winter who had come into the kitchen, just now getting off work. She walked up behind Rider and gave him sweet smile.
“Rider, it’s cold outside, and I left my jacket at the house. May I borrow yours?”
Rider paled, his eyes going to Shade’s.
“This isn’t going to be pretty.” Lily heard Beth’s amused voice behind her back.
“Uh, Lily. Shade’s jacket is in the other room; would you like me to get it for you?” Raci’s face was as white as Rider’s.
Lily turned toward Raci. This time the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “No thanks, Raci. Rider?” Lily turned back to Rider who hadn’t taken his eyes off Shade’s grim visage.
“Is there a problem?” she continued. “It’s not like your jackets mean anything, do they? It’s not like a wedding ring is it? I’ll give it back when I’m done with it.” This time Lily didn’t try to hide her anger at the knowledge that she had been right in the importance of the jackets. “I thought you men were all about sharing.”
“There’s the Lily I know and love,” Winter said, making no attempt to keep the amusement out of her voice.
Rider reached for his jacket, which he had hung on the back of his chair.
“Touch that jacket, and you won’t sit for a week,” Shade’s coldly furious voice had everyone tensing.
“Never mind, Rider. I’m sure a few minutes out in the cold won’t bother me.” Lily turned on her foot, going out the kitchen door
She was halfway back to their house when she was jerked to a stop. “What the fuck?” Shade’s angry face stared down at her.
“Don’t you dare ask me why I’m mad.” She wrenched her arm away from him and rushed toward the house. She opened the door and turned to close it, but Shade prevented her by coming in behind her, shutting it himself.
Lily ignored him as she turned on the lights.
“So what is this? The silent treatment?” Shade mocked with his arms crossed over his chest.
Lily threw him an angry look, turning to face him. “There is nothing to say, Shade.” Staring back at him, she buried her hands in the side of her dress. Even angry and hurt as she was, he attracted her like a moth to a flame, and just like a moth, she had given him the power to destroy her.
He was wearing dark jeans and boots with a black muscle shirt that showed his body to his best advantage. How could she blame Bliss or the other women for wanting him when the only thing she could think of was touching him?
Lily sighed going to the steps. “I fell in love with The Last Rider that’s the wildest? I knew you were bad, but I had no concept of just how bad, did I?”
“No.” Shade didn’t try to evade her question.
“Go have your dinner.” She climbed the steps to their bedroom, aware he was following her.
Her mind went back to after her wedding ceremony and the women’s faces when she had questioned them. She should never have lost her temper. Now she was regretting letting it rattle her that she had seen Raci in his jacket. Lily didn’t want to be jealous of other women; it would affect her marriage. She had to trust Shade or their marriage was never going to work.
In the bedroom, she gathered her pajamas and went into the shower, taking a long time, hoping Shade would go back to the clubhouse and finish his dinner. It would give her time to soothe her hurt feelings without wanting to throw something at him. Lily even thought of calling Sex Piston for advice.
When she finally came out of the bathroom, Shade was leaning against his cabinet with his shirt and boots removed.