“Goodnight, Charles.”
Charles closed the door and Shade backed out of the driveway, his arm again rubbing against her breasts again. Lily tried to scoot over, but his thigh was sitting on her dress. When her dress started slipping up, she sat still, pinned in place. She didn’t make an issue of it, since it was a short distance to her house.
“Did you have fun on your date tonight?”
His harsh voice startled her.
“Yes. We went to the movie and ate with my friend Miranda-Kaley’s sister.”
Shade didn’t respond, stopping at a red light.
“Beth and the others came into the diner when we were having coffee. You didn’t go riding with them?”
“No, I wasn’t in the mood for a ride tonight.”
The light turned green, and the truck moved forward again.
“I’m sorry you ended up having to get out tonight,” Lily apologized.
“You would have done better keeping your own ass home tonight.”
Lily stiffened next to him. “What do you mean by that?”
Shade turned the truck down her street.
“I mean, you need to be cruel to be kind, and quit leading him on,” Shade replied, turning into her driveway.
“I’m not leading Charles on,” Lily protested, turning to look at him as he came to a stop.
“Yes, you are. When you went out with him tonight were you planning on fucking him?”
“Of course not,” Lily said, shocked at his blunt statement. She quickly jerked her dress out from underneath his thigh.
“Then that’s leading him on, in my opinion.”
“Well, thank God your opinion doesn’t count,” Lily snapped, sliding across the seat toward the door. “And you should know about being cruel.” Lily opened the truck door, sliding down from the seat then turning and slamming the door closed.
Pulling her house key out of her pocket, she went to open the door and then found herself pressed flat against the door. Shade’s body pressed against her, his hand planted against the door, preventing her from moving to put the key in the lock.
“It’s not a smart move, not leaving your porch light on, Lily. You think I’m cruel? How was I being cruel by telling you that you should quit fucking with his head? Don’t you think that every time he goes out with you he’s wondering if this will be the time he actually gets to touch that soft skin of yours.” His mouth lowered next to her ear. “If you’ll let him touch those firm breasts.”
Lily trembled, but while his body kept her pinned to the door, his body didn’t touch hers. It was the heat of his body and the smell of his leather jacket that were attacking her senses, keeping her pinned by fright, while at the same time, her breasts tightened in response to his words.
“I’m a man, and I’m telling you without a doubt that he walks out of his door to go out with you, he is planning on spending the night between your thighs. I’m not the one being cruel; you are.”
Lily moaned, unsure exactly why as Shade took a step back. It took a moment before Lily could gather herself enough to unlock the door and let herself in. When she turned to slam the door in his face, she stopped when he placed his hand on the door.
“I’ll have to teach you how to break that hold.” He turned, leaving without another word.
She still slammed the door, but he was already pulling out of the driveway so it lacked the effect she wanted. It did make her feel better, though.
She locked the door before going up to her room to get ready for bed. In her room, she caught sight of herself in the mirror, making her pause before climbing in bed. Her cheeks were flushed and her breasts still felt tight and achy. Her hand went to her forehead, feeling the beginning of a headache.
She opened a door in her mind, thrusting all thoughts of Shade and what she was feeling inside. She couldn’t let herself be attracted to him. Earlier, when she had turned to shut the door, she had seen a look on his face before he could disguise it with his usual inscrutable one. She had no trouble recognizing the darkness in his soul that he kept hidden.
She had no intention of falling for him like the other women that constantly surrounded him. She was going to find her cowboy and bring him back to Treepoint, and they would live happily in this house.
Lily laid down, fantasizing about her imaginary man, trying to drive all thoughts of Shade away. She didn’t realize when she finally managed to fall asleep his was the last image in her mind.
Chapter 8