Lily’s only response was to slam the door.
Chapter 33
After Church on Sunday, Lily had told Beth and Razer to go on to the diner ahead of her. She wanted to talk to Pastor Dean in his office where he readily agreed to give her the job of running the church store. When they walked together to the diner afterward, she was so happy she felt like she was walking on air.
She slipped her arm through her pastor’s as they crossed the street, heading into the diner where she thanked him again, hugging him enthusiastically. Laughing, he pulled away at the same time that Lily invited him to sit with them for lunch and saw him pale as his eyes went over her shoulder. He said he remembered leaving something in his office and left her, practically running out the door.
Lily stood with her mouth open as she watched through the diner window as her pastor sprinted across the street. It must really be important, Lily thought. Turning back around, she walked to her table, seeing Viper standing behind a red-faced Shade with his hand on his shoulder.
“What happened?” Lily went immediately to Shade’s side, her hand going to his forehead.
“He’s fine now. He choked on his breakfast,” Viper said, resuming his seat by Winter.
“Thanks, Viper. I’m glad you were here,” Lily said with concern.
“Me, too,” he said grimly.
Lily told everyone the good news about Pastor Dean letting her run the church store and received their congratulations.
“Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” Beth asked, leaning closer to her side.
“Yes, I do. I’m happy we settled it before Christmas. Do you think we have enough time to push for another toy drive? The store is already running low.”
“I’m sure we do,” Beth said above the groans at the table.
“I’m going home and hiding my wallet. Not only do we have Winter constantly after our money, now we have Lily after it for toys. Jeez,” Rider moaned.
“It could be worse,” Lily suggested.
“How?”
“If I don’t get enough toys, I was going to ask Killyama if she could help take donations,” Lily said, taking a drink of her hot chocolate.
“How much do you need?” Razer asked, reaching for his wallet.
Lily felt comfortable joking and sitting around the table. In a few weeks’ span of time, she had grown more relaxed among them; though she didn’t participate in their parties and made sure she avoided the sexual aspects of the club unless she inadvertently blundered into one of their sessions.
After lunch, Shade asked her to go furniture shopping with him. The others went back to the clubhouse as she and Shade went to the only furniture store in town. Luckily, they had a vast assortment of furniture to choose from.
After only a couple of hours, he had managed to find furniture for the entire house and appliances, too. She had liked most of his choices, but when he had been unsure, he would ask her opinion and invariably go with her decision. The sales clerk looked like he was in seventh heaven and Lily was sure he was with the commission he was most-assuredly making.
“Is that all I can help you with today?” Leonard asked, carrying the handheld computer that had rung up Shade’s purchases.
“That will be it,” Shade replied, putting his arm around her shoulder when she would have kept looking at the furniture.
“But you haven’t picked out your bedroom furniture,” Lily reminded him.
“I don’t need bedroom furniture; I have bedroom furniture.”
“The set in the basement?” Lily questioned, looking up at him.
Shade nodded before turning to follow the clerk to the cashier. Lily hung back, her feet not moving.
“But that furniture won’t match the furniture in your house,” Lily protested. “Just look at the bedroom furniture. You might find something you like better.”
“I like what I have,” Shade said, again trying to follow the sales clerk.
Lily refused to move, looking down at the floor. “It won’t match.”
Shade gave a frustrated sigh, motioning for the clerk to wait for him at the register.
“Eyes to me, Lily.” She reluctantly raised her eyes to his. “Are you crying?” he asked, obviously stunned.
“No, I don’t cry anymore. Haven’t you noticed?”
“I can’t say that I have,” Shade replied.
“Well, I don’t,” she snapped.
“Okay. We’ll debate that later. Why won’t my bedroom furniture match the rest of the furniture I bought? That happens to be an expensive set, which I custom-ordered,” Shade explained.
“I don’t care how expensive it is, it’s still different from the rest of your furniture.”
“How?”
“It isn’t new.”
“It isn’t new?” Shade repeated.
“It’s not freaking new!” Lily whisper-screamed so no one would hear her, though she noticed Leonard turn his back so she wouldn’t see him laughing at her.
Understanding dawned on his face, and he bent down to whisper in her ear. “I bought that bedroom set after you were hurt last summer, Lily. It’s still new.”
Lily’s eyes widened.
“It’s all new?”
“All of it, including the mattress and sheets. And, before you can ask, everything in my cabinet.”
She turned red but didn’t try to avoid his amused gaze.
“Then I guess it matches after all.”
* * *
Lily locked the door after the last customer had left, looking out the window. It had been a long day giving out the Christmas baskets and turkeys. She watched the snow flurries struggling to fly; the tiny ice flakes were more granules than anything else.
“Ready?” Beth asked, coming to her side and looking out the window with her.
Beth had told her Shade had asked them to pick her up because he had something important to take care of. Razer was waiting for them at the diner while Lily closed.
“Yes.” Lily turned to Beth. “I have a favor to ask. I know we’re supposed to go straight
home, but I want to run by the store and pick out Shade’s Christmas present.”
“I’ll call Razer and tell him.” Beth reached into her pocket, pulling out her cell phone. While she made the call, Lily put on her coat and took her purse out from under the counter, going back to Beth at the doorway.
“He says that’s fine. He’ll wait outside the store in the SUV.”
“Thanks.”
They went outside and Lily locked the door behind them.
“Have you decided what you want to get him?”
“It took me a while to figure it out, but yes, I know what I want to get him,” Lily said, unable to hold back her smile.
* * *
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” Pastor Dean said, setting his pen down on the desk.
Shade walked into the room, dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt. His expensive shoes were shiny and new.
Pastor Dean sat, uncomprehending exactly what he was staring at. As understanding dawned, an unholy grin came across his face, and he sat up straighter in his chair.
“Before we start, I’m warning you that if you make one wisecrack, you’ll be giving your own eulogy.”
“Shade, you have to at least give me one.”
A warning gleam appeared in his deadly eyes. “Like I said, it’s your funeral.”
“It might just be worth it,” Pastor Dean replied, hastily raising his hands in surrender when Shade took a step forward. “I promise I will behave to the best of my ability.”
“You do that,” Shade said, still not relaxing his threatening manner.
Pastor Dean stood up, coming from around his desk. He reached out his hand for Shade to shake. “I told you I didn’t think you deserved Lily. Let’s see if you can change my mind, John.”
* * *
Lily woke on Christmas Eve filled with excitement. She had always loved Christmas and this one was no exception.
The day before, she had finished her Christmas shopping and had come home to find Shade still gone. She had eaten dinner and gone to bed all alone, wondering where he was, and had only woken briefly when he had finally slid into bed with her, pulling her to him.