Taken Hard (The Hard Boys 2)

“Thank you.”

She sat around the table, surrounded by so much love. It was crazy. She watched the Hard family up close and saw it: family love. They all cared about each other. They were one solid unit.

This was the kind of family she wished for. The one she wanted more than anything.

Caleb sat beside her, and when it came time for presents, Lilly didn’t know if she was going to be able to handle it. The laptop this morning had nearly broken her down into tears.

Rome got her a bracelet. It was sweet and kind with little jewels around. Jane and Theodore had purchased some books for her to write in. Aunt Betty had told them of her love of writing. She loved taking notes, writing down her ideas.

James, Eliza, and Darla had given her a gift voucher at a clothing shop at the mall. She loved it because she rarely bought herself new clothes, and it showed Eliza remembered from all the years ago when she used to babysit.

Caleb’s present was a single envelope.

Lilly smiled, but her hands shook as she opened it up.

She pulled out the letter to see it was an acceptance and welcoming letter at the local college for an English course.

Looking up, she stared at Caleb.

“All paid for. Happy Birthday.”

She was shocked. Throwing her arms around his neck, she held him tightly. “Thank you so much. You really didn’t have to do this.”

“I wanted to.” He rubbed up and down her back and the touch alone set her body aflame.

Jerking back, she noticed his family watched.

Jane clapped her hands. “I think it’s time for cake.”

“Yeah, cake,” Aunt Betty said.

“Can I use the bathroom?” Lilly asked.

Jane told her where it was, and she quickly made her escape. After finding the bathroom with ease, she closed the door. In her hand, she still held the acceptance into the college course. She read it again and felt the tears she’d tried to keep at bay flooding her eyes. This meant everything. The laptop, the paper, the voucher, even the bracelet, they were the best gifts she’d ever had. Even more so was this day. The memory of being remembered.

There was a knock at the door.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” she said.

“Lilly, it’s me,” Caleb said. “I can hear you crying in there. Open the door.”

“I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Friends don’t allow friends to be hurt.”

Lilly opened the door. “I’m not hurt.”

“Why are you crying? Was it too much?”

“No.” She shook her head, wiping at the tears. “It was … I can’t explain it. I will never, ever forget today. It means so much. You all, this was more than I could have ever imagined. Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything I could have ever wanted that could top this.”

Caleb reached out to her, pulling her into his arms. “I hate your mother for making you feel this way.”

“It’s not her fault.”

“Yeah, it is. You should have had lots of birthdays and lots of memories.”

She had both of each, just none that were really worth sharing.

Pressing her face against his chest, she breathed in his scent. Arousal shooting through her entire body as an ache unlike anything she’d ever experienced flooded her.

No man had ever gotten her needy like this.

She pulled away.

Caleb wasn’t just some guy. He was her friend.

There was no way she should be having sexual feelings for a friend. Even as she thought it, she couldn’t help but mourn the chance of being with him.

****

Several days later, Caleb came out of his office, marking off some of the paperwork for the latest vehicle in his shop that needed a lot of work. It had failed so many tests and wasn’t road safe.

“Do you think I’m blind?”

He looked up to see Aunt Betty standing in his yard.

Caleb frowned and glanced at the older woman. “No. Not the last time I checked. Any woman that knows I’m a fine piece of ass is not blind.”

“I know you, Caleb. I’ve seen you grow up and the way you use women. I know what kind of man you are, or at least the one you try to show the world.” Aunt Betty stepped close to him. “What are you doing with Lilly?”

“I’m not doing anything with Lilly. She’s a friend.” He wanted more. So much more. The days she worked at the library, he didn’t always get a chance to walk her home. Most nights, he tried to make it to the bar to walk her home, but twice in the last few days, he’d been called away because of a breakdown.

As a mechanic, he also offered towing service. Most months, he rarely got any business. On rare occasions, he made more money towing than fixing. Especially at night. The rate of pay for a call out was higher. Some of the tight asses in town wouldn’t dream of calling him.