Shade got out of the truck as soon as they walked far enough away that they couldn’t see their car. Keeping to the shadows in case they doubled back, Shade made it quickly to Charles’ car, kneeling down by the back tire. He slipped his knife out of his boot, and thrust it into the tire before moving to the front and doing the same. As soon as he heard the hissing air, he returned to the truck, sliding back behind the wheel.
Taking out his cell phone, he gave Rider a call to give him a head’s up that Razer would be calling him shortly, so he needed to finish his business with Kaley. He wanted his ass ready to roll when Razer called to give Lily a ride home.
Shade sat back and patiently waited for the couple to return.
*
Lily couldn’t hide her yawn as Charles talked about his father’s new restaurant.
“Let’s head back; I can tell you’re tired,” Charles broke off.
“I’m sorry, Charles. It’s been a long day.” She squeezed his hand, relieved when he gave her a smile.
When they got to the car, he opened the door, letting her slide inside. Lily watched as he walked around the front of the car, seeing Charles bend down by the front tire then stand with a frown on his face. She turned as he walked to the back tire and stood, staring down for a minute before getting inside the car.
“I have some bad news. We have two flat tires,” Charles said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his cell phone.
“Don’t you have a spare?” Lily asked then felt stupid at the look he gave her.
“I do, but not two. Dad’s still in Lexington, so I can’t call him. I’m going to try Lyle, but it’s Friday, so the chances aren’t good that he’ll actually answer.”
Lyle was the town drunk. Lily hated to refer to him that way; however, he was drunk more often than he was sober. She really didn’t want to be stuck in the tow truck with him after he had been drinking most of the night.
“I’ll call Razer,” Lily offered when Charles had no luck reaching Lyle. She pulled out her own cell phone, calling her brother-in-law. He answered on the third ring, and Lily quickly explained their predicament. He offered to send Rider.
“Thanks, Razer.” She disconnected the call, turning back to Charles. She could tell he wasn’t happy she had called Razer, but the problem with living in a town the size of Treepoint was that your options were limited.
“I wanted to spend some more time with you. I guess I got my wish,” Charles said wryly.
Lily laughed. Reaching over the console, she kissed his cheek. “I really missed you, Charles.”
The tension faded from his face and he relaxed back against his seat. They started talking about the mischief they would get into in high school.
Twenty minutes later headlights pulled in behind them. Rider opened his truck door as another truck pulled up next to him. Shade climbed out of the older-looking truck that everyone in town knew was Cash’s. Both Charles and Lily then got out of the car.
“What’s going on, Lily?” Rider asked as he walked next to Charles and looked down at the car with the two flat tires.
“We went for a walk and when we came back, the tires were flat,” Charles explained.
“I’ll get it loaded onto the trailer and drop it off at the garage.”
“I’ll give you both a ride home,” Shade offered, moving forward.
Neither of them said anything as the two men loaded Charles’s car onto the trailer. When they finished, Rider climbed back into his truck.
Shade went to the truck he was driving and opened the passenger door for them. Lily climbed into the truck first, holding her dress down as she slid across the seat so that Charles had enough room to sit. Shade climbed into the driver’s seat and started the truck, as Lily tugged her dress down over her knees.
When Shade backed up and turned around; she was sitting so close to him the movement of him shifting gears had him brushing his arm against her breasts. Lily stiffened, trapped between the two men with nowhere to go.
The silence in the car could be cut with a knife. Feeling agitated and uncomfortable in the silence, her hand went to her wrist, but before she could snap it, Shade’s hand covered hers, preventing her from snapping it.
She slid her hand away, laying both hands on her lap.
“I appreciate you and Rider coming out.” Charles broke the silence as they hit the outskirts of town. “We tried calling Lyle, but he didn’t answer.”
“That’s because he was at Rosie’s. I saw his truck as I passed.” Shade’s cold voice filled the cab of the truck.
“That explains it.” Charles muttered.
Lily expected Shade to drop her off first, but he kept driving past her house.
“Where to?” Shade asked.
Charles gave him directions and silence resumed in the truck. She had to force herself to keep her breathing even as they turned a corner and she was pressed up against Shade’s side. Thankfully, Charles lived close by and it wasn’t long before they were pulling into his driveway.
Charles opened the door when the truck came to a stop. “Thanks, Shade. You and Rider come by the restaurant and I’ll buy you dinner,” Charles said, getting out.
“We’ll do that,” Shade said.
“Goodnight, Lily. I’ll see you in church Sunday.