“No. I wanted to make Merrick comfortable. I’ll hand over the church to him Sunday, and then I’ll be free of all my commitments to the church.”
“We need to talk,” Shade said just as Lily pulled into the parking lot. There were a couple of things they needed to discuss.
“Fuck,” Lucky said, his eyes on Lily with a grim expression on his face.
Shade wanted Lucky to enjoy being back at the club, but he didn’t want Lily hurt, either. The brother was going to have to find a happy medium, one which kept Lily happy while also keeping Lucky happy. Shade had kept Beth and Winter out of his business, so Lucky could be circumspect and still have his fun, too.
“Be cool,” Shade warned Lucky.
“Pastor Dean, hi. I was wondering where you were today,” Lily said as she came up to the group.
“I’m outta here,” Jewell said under her breath.
“Coward,” Evie teased.
“I’m a lover, not a fighter. Arguments tense me up.”
Jewell left, but Evie didn’t. The woman loved to sit back and watch drama unfold around her.
“Hi, Lily. I was going to come back and introduce you to the new pastor because you were at lunch with King when I came by the church store earlier.”
“You went to lunch with King?” Shade asked sharply.
“At the diner,” Lily answered.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t aware I had to tell you my every move since the danger is over.”
“We’ll talk about this later.”
“No, we won’t. It was lunch, just across the street.”
“Lily, we still don’t know who Digger hired to hurt you. Until we make sure he’s stopped, you’re not completely out of danger.” Shade knew exactly who the guy was, and he had plans for that motherfucker.
“Oh.” She paused. “Next time, I’ll tell you when I leave the church.”
Lily turned back to Lucky expectantly. “Are you staying for dinner?”
“Actually, dinner and breakfast. I’m moving in.”
“That’s great. I was worried you would move away, and I wouldn’t see you anymore.”
“I think you’re going to be seeing a lot more of Lucky than you ever expected to see.”
Evie just couldn’t help herself, Shade thought. He and Lucky both gave her silent warnings. It seemed their talk wasn’t going to take long concerning Lily.
“Let’s go home, Lily,” Shade said, taking Lily’s arm and moving her toward the pathway to their house.
“Spoil sport,” Shade heard Evie call out as they left.
“What did she mean by that?” Lily asked curiously.
“Nothing,” Shade answered, changing the subject to asking about her lunch with King.
Keeping Lily’s world safe and happy was becoming more difficult to manage than he had anticipated. Lucky and King were both threats. One he could handle without difficulty, while the other would take a little time.
Chapter 71
Shade drove Cash’s old truck with Lily sitting in the middle and Evie by the passenger door. He would rather be going anywhere other than King’s house for dinner. Neither King nor Shade thought the other belonged in Lily’s life, and they were both right. The evening was going to be a fucking disaster, one he had every intention of having Lily make up for when they returned home.
A huge fucker opened the front door for them.
Shade hadn’t lost time by finding out all he could about King. He hired the best, and Henry, his bodyguard, was known to be lethally efficient at his job.
He led them into the living room where King was sitting. Evie and Shade both silently watched as Lily greeted her father, bending down to hug him and brushing a soft kiss on his cheek.
King then turned to him. “Shade.”
“King.” Shade gave a small nod.
Shade had dressed in his good jeans, boots, and a nice black shirt. King’s eyes flicked over Shade’s relaxed attire. Shade stared back just as critically, scanning over the expensive suit and shoes King had dressed in for the dinner. Then the two powerful men glared at each other, neither afraid.
“Evie,” King greeted.
Shade stiffened at the condescending tone King addressed her with. His mouth snapped open to say something, but he was silenced at her own tone. Evie hadn’t earned her rank of being over the women by allowing herself to be pushed around.
“King.”
A twist of King’s lips showed he had received her message.
“Henry, get everyone a drink.”
Shade placed his arm around Lily’s shoulder at her wary look as they sat down on the leather couch. While she was around liquor more constantly at the clubhouse, she would never lose the fear it inspired; her scars ran too deep. She was still uncomfortable being around it, and King had just showed how little he knew about his daughter.
After the doorbell rang again, Beth and Razer were shown into the living room. Beth was much more casual with King, giving him a hug and inquiring how he felt.
“I’m almost back to normal.”
Shade was barely able to restrain his snort. The fucking bastard wasn’t normal when he was in tip-top shape.
“Dinner’s ready.” Henry’s voice broke the silence in the room.
Shade held Lily’s hand as they went into the dining room. The table had been set lavishly. Both Shade and King sat on opposite ends, Lily sat next to him, Evie sat next to King, and Beth and Razer sat across from them.
He was forced to admit to himself that the food was good—a standing rib roast with fingerling potatoes and asparagus tips. Afterward, Henry brought out a chocolate mousse which had Shade wanting to take Lily’s portion. Only the sensuous way she was eating the damned stuff kept him from swiping it.
King was deliberately flaunting his wealth in front of them. Shade could have told him it was a wasted effort. Lily didn’t care about money other than how it helped others.
“Would you like more?” King asked Evie.
“No, I think that was enough,” Evie replied coldly.
While Shade sensed chemistry between the two, she wasn’t a pushover. If King thought she was, he wasn’t as experienced as Shade had read.
King nodded then turned his attention to Lily. “Would you like more?”
“Yes, please. I have a weakness for chocolate.”
Fuck! Shade didn’t know if his dick could take him watching her eat another bowl of that stuff.
After they finished their dessert, they went back into the living room. Shade resumed his seat next to Lily on the couch, sitting tensely.
The dinner had gone well. King had fed them good food in a relaxing atmosphere, luring them in like all good predators did.
“How do you like working in the church store, Lily?” King asked.
“I love it. The Christmas holidays have left our shelves almost bare, though, so we’re having a clothing and food drive this Sunday after church. There’s supposed to be a break in the weather. Pastor Dean—I mean, Lu
cky—thought it would be a good way for the new pastor to meet the congregation.”
“I’ll have to attend. It will be a good time to meet the rest of your friends.”
“That would be nice.”
“You’re content at the store instead of using your degree? After all, anyone can be a cashier.”
And so it begins, Shade thought, stiffening at the indirect insult.
“No, I really like it. It’s more than being a cashier. I have to approve of the needs of the people coming in—”
“I’m glad you don’t feel like you’re settling with the job opportunities available in Treepoint.”
King’s interruption of Lily talking didn’t sit well with Shade, or Beth by her expression. Razer wasn’t much happier, but he was able to hide it better.
“Lily’s excellent at her job. Several families in the community have benefited from Lily working there. She’s also helping them find jobs.” Shade’s arm went around Lily’s shoulder, and her eyes smiled up into his. He smiled back, his thumb rubbing the delicate flesh behind her ear.
“So, how did you two meet?”
“We met at the lake when I was in high school.”
Lily’s choice of words had King straightening in his chair, his indolent attitude disappearing.
“You allowed her to date a man of his age while she was still in school?” His accusation was directed at Beth, who paled at his harsh words.
“Of course not! I started dating Razer when Lily was in high school. As they were friends, naturally she met Shade. However, Lily and Shade didn’t start seeing each other until last summer.”
“A whirlwind courtship?”
“We had known each other for years.” Shade’s voice equaled King’s in attitude.
Lily’s head went back and forth between the men until her eyes settled on King. “I didn’t feel rushed, if that’s what you’re getting at.” Lily took Shade’s hand in hers, gripping it tightly.
“I didn’t mean to insinuate it was. I’m sorry if I implied otherwise.”
Bullshit, Shade thought, gritting his teeth.
“I’m very happy, King. Shade and I are looking forward to a long and happy marriage with children.”