“I walked over from the clinic. I’m headed to the teashop now, so I won’t keep you.” She made to go around him but he reached out and touched her arm, a hard glint entering his eyes.
“If you give me his name, I can contact the authorities in Salt Lake City, make sure he won’t come after you.”
Lillian thought of Bryan, Brad’s cop brother, and how he’d covered for Brad’s bad behavior, doubting anyone Grayson talked to would take him seriously. As long as she kept hold of those pictures, she didn’t worry about Brad trying to track her down. “Thank you but that’s not necessary. He’s not a problem anymore. Have a good day, Sheriff.”
“You too.”
Awareness of his eyes following her all the way to the teashop rippled down her spine, but instead of getting under her skin, the same pleasant rush she’d experienced with Gertie and Willa’s thoughtfulness washed through her. An older man she didn’t recognize waved to her from across the courtyard as she reached Nan’s teashop. She returned the friendly gesture thinking Liana would have liked this small town. Her sister had been more of a homebody than Lillian, preferring takeout and movie rentals to dining in public or going to a theater. But she could see her enjoying the laid-back atmosphere and people at Dale’s Diner and spending an evening at the small cinema housed in what appeared to be the original, decades old theater. With a tight clutch around her heart, she remembered how Liana would compromise whenever Lillian insisted they try a new place to eat or view a certain film on the big screen. Their mother always said Liana was much better at give and take than Lillian.
God, I miss you, sis. Sucking in a deep breath to ward off the encroaching melancholy, she stuck her head inside the teashop, spotting Nan wiping down the table closest to the door.
“Hi there. I just wanted to accept that offer of a ride out to the barbeque, if you’re sure they want me.”
Nan nodded without hesitation as she lifted the small tray holding empty cups and plates. “I’m sure. Sydney called first thing this morning double checking the head count and is looking forward to meeting you. Do you have time to come in?”
“No, sorry. I’ve been out all morning and want to paint while the sun is still coming through the window at the apartment.”
“Catch you late
r then.”
Much to Lillian’s annoyance, Mitchell’s bothersome step back from doctoring her himself wasn’t enough to deter her from continuing to watch for him first thing in the mornings over the next few days. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t stop thinking about the ‘lesson’ he’d heaped upon her butt or prevent the memory of her response to those slaps from becoming fantasies flitting through her mind as her traitorous body heated eyeing his tall, loose-limbed stride out to his vehicle. By Friday, she was forced to admit she lusted after the damn man despite his dominant nature going against everything she’d ever thought she wanted, or didn’t want, in a man.
Maybe it’s time to move on, she considered as she saw an SUV pull into the drive and disappointment gripped her throat when she realized it wasn’t Mitchell but Nan’s husband arriving to pick Lillian up. She wondered if Mitchell would be at the Dunbar’s tonight, was working late or had gone to his club without coming home first, and then wanted to kick herself for thinking about him. Gratitude for being there for me that night at his cabin, that’s all this obsession is. That’s what she’d been telling herself lately, disregarding the thirty minutes he had tormented her over his lap a week ago and she’d exploded from the pain-driven pleasure.
Snatching her coat, she skipped down the stairs, looking forward to the evening.
Twenty minutes later, Dan parked behind a row of several other vehicles in the circular drive in front of a sprawling ranch home and Lillian got her first look at a working ranch. A herd of black cattle foraged for dried grass in the pasture behind the barns and beyond them, the Dunbar land stretched as far as the eye could see. Snow still blanketed over half of the prairie and the artist in her craved to see the landscape strewn with spring foliage.
The ride down the long narrow road leading up to the house and other structures was a lot bumpier than the snow-cleared highway they’d taken when leaving Willow Springs. Lillian slid out of the back seat with the urge to rub her butt, but considering what she’d heard about the men she was about to meet, not to mention Nan’s husband, she didn’t think that was a good idea.
“You look nervous,” Nan pointed out as the three of them reached the front door.
Lillian flicked a glance up at Dan before saying, “I’m hoping I don’t stick out like a sore thumb tonight since I’ll be the only one who isn’t a member of that club.”
“You won’t,” Dan assured her, placing a hand on her back as he opened the door.
She wanted to argue how he could be so sure and then let it go as she remembered the futility of questioning Mitchell after he would utter such an assertive comment. Entering the warm house, a pair of collies bounded up to her, tails wagging in greeting, followed by a smiling, pregnant red head with bright green eyes.
“You’re Lillian. Thanks so much for coming. I’m Sydney and this is Spike and Sadie.” Sydney reached down to stroke Spike’s black head.
Lillian returned her smile as she scratched Sadie behind the ears. “Nice to meet you, and these two.”
“Dan, the guys are in the den.” Sydney beckoned Nan and Lillian to follow her. “Avery and Tamara are in the kitchen with me.”
Following her host and the tantalizing aroma, Lillian caught a glimpse of several men gathered around a corner bar in a massive great room and recognized the back of Mitchell’s salt and pepper head. She shouldn’t feel so relieved at seeing he was here and not at his club, especially after the way he’d pawned her off on another doctor. Squaring her shoulders, she looked away and hardened her resolve to stay immune to his presence.
“You have a beautiful home,” she told Sydney as they entered a kitchen with every modern convenience, her mouth watering at the pan of homemade biscuits another heavily pregnant woman was sliding out of the oven.
“Thank you. Tamara, this is Doc’s Lillian.” Sydney flicked her a teasing grin as Lillian shook her head.
“No, I’m not. There’s nothing between us. Nice to meet you, Tamara.”
Tamara laughed and took the bottle of wine Lillian handed her. “You sound just like Connor a year ago. I swear, if that man had denied what was obvious to everyone else one more time, I would have washed my hands of him. Thanks for this.” She grabbed an opener off the counter. “I’ll pour for you and Nan.”
Avery smirked at Tamara as she handed her a glass of juice. “No, you wouldn’t have, and you know it. You might have smacked some sense into him, but you would have hung in there. Besides, once he caved to the inevitable, he’s hardly let you out of his sight for long.”
Tamara’s gray eyes shone with pleasure as she released an exaggerated dreamy sigh. “Yeah, I know.”