“Why do you think you lost me?”
“I don’t know. You were my friend, then I saw you with Evie and Rider and I know that...” Lily took a shuddering breath, “I don’t know you.”
His thumb traced over her high cheekbone. “You know me, and you sure as fuck haven’t lost me, even though I know you want to. Go take a shower then change into your workout clothes. I’ll lay them out for you while you’re in the shower. I’ll meet you in the gym.”
“Okay.” Lily gratefully moved away, relieved his questions were over.
She closed the bathroom door behind her, leaning back against it. She would get through the day and talk to Beth tonight. She would convince her sister that she could go back to school. She couldn’t stay at the clubhouse, and she was not about to stay another night in Shade’s room. Whoever it was out there who wanted to hurt her wasn’t as frightening as the man on the other side of that door.
Chapter 14
Shade was waiting for her on the mat.
“Ready?”
“Yes,” Lily replied.
“Today, I just want you to stretch then work on your weight training.”
“Okay.” Lily warmed up then moved over to the weights.
Shade handed her some weights. “From now on, when you feel uncomfortable trying something or you get scared, I want you to say a word that lets me know you’re getting scared and want me to stop.”
“All right. What’s the word?”
“You make one up. That way you’ll remember it better.”
“Blueberries.”
“Blueberries?”
“Yeah, I like blueberries. Even saying it makes me happy.” She smiled at him.
“Christ.” Shade returned to work on his own weights.
“What’s wrong with blueberries?” Lily asked curiously.
“Nothing,” Shade stated, his jaw clenched.
“Then why are you frowning?”
“I don’t know. Most women would pick a color or an object, not a fruit.”
Lily continued lifting her weights. “I can pick a color. I like pink.”
“Lily, blueberries is fine,” he snapped.
“Why are you getting angry?”
“I’m not getting mad, you’re just distracting me.”
“Oh.” Lily lifted the weight again. “I like baby blue.”
Shade stopped and glared at her. “If you don’t quit bugging me, you’re going to be using your safe word in the next sixty seconds.”
Lily shut up.
By the time they finished, she was tired and needed another shower.
“You finish up while I get showered and changed,” Shade told her.
Shade left and Lily did some more stretches, cooling down. It didn’t take Shade long to return, dressed in faded jeans, boots and a black t-shirt. His dark hair was still wet.
“Get showered. I laid out another outfit for you.”
Lily ignored his last words, going to his room. The sooner Beth showed up, the better.
She went into the bedroom, seeing a pale blue dress lying on the bed with her flat shoes beside it.
Lily showered before dressing. She was brushing her hair when Shade came back into the room.
“Dinner’s ready,” Shade said. “Let’s go.”
“We’re going out to eat?” Lily asked hopefully. She could get him to drop her off at her house afterwards, surely he wouldn’t mind leaving her with Beth there.
“No. We’re eating upstairs like everyone else.”
“But I’m not allowed upstairs,” Lily argued, trying to pull away as Shade took her hand, leading her to the steps.
Shade stopped and looked down at her. “If you’re going to get used to living here, that means you get used to going upstairs. You don’t want to stay down here all the time, do you?”
“No, but I don’t want to go up there, either,” Lily insisted.
“Come on.” Lily tried to pull away again, her hand going to the rubber band on her wrist.
“Remember our deal,” Shade warned.
“I already told you, I don’t want to go up there.”
“Lily, the club isn’t going to hide itself from you anymore. That cat’s already out of the bag. At first, you’ll be uncomfortable, but then you’ll become familiar with how things work around here.”
As Shade pulled her up the steps, Lily was afraid to attempt to yank herself away, not wanting to fall. Coming to the head of the stairs, he opened the door to the kitchen, which was full of The Last Rider members. Lily tried to hold back, yet Shade pushed her forward into the big room.
Evie, Jewell and Raci watched in amusement as Lily was then tugged forward to get in the food line.
“Hello,” Lily greeted them.
“Hi,” they greeted her in return.
Shade pushed her forward when the line moved and she stayed still. Lily gave him a frustrated look.
“I’m hungry. Unlike you, I haven’t eaten.”
“I’m sorry,” Lily said, stricken with guilt that she was being difficult while he just wanted to eat.
“I was joking, Lily. You take everything literally.”
Lily lowered her head, her feelings hurt.