Chapter 2
HEATH
“Lily?” Jesus, when did she grow up? And did I just use a pickup line on her?
“Heath,” she breathes out, her wide blue eyes sparkling with disbelief.
Her soft curves press against the hard planes of my chest while her silky red hair spills over my shoulder, where she’s resting her head.
She smells like cinnamon and sugar, and fuck me, it shouldn’t feel this good to hold her.
Is this really the girl who chased Hayden and me around growing up?
I suppose she was too young for me to look at in that way, but now… Well, Lily is no girl. She’s all woman.
She clears her throat, and I realize I still have her locked in my embrace. I set her down, though my chest does something funny when we’re no longer touching. It’s almost like I gave a piece of myself to her in the few short moments she was in my arms.
What the hell does that even mean? I’m probably feeling sappy and romantic because of Sullivan and his new woman. My old friend from high school went and found himself a city girl to bring back to our small home town. They had their struggles, but the two of them are nauseatingly adorable now.
“So, um, hi,” Lily says once she’s composed herself a bit.
I clear my throat and try to say something, but no words come out. My mouth opens and closes like a brain-dead fish, and for the first time in my life, I’m completely speechless.
“Thank you for catching me,” the stunning woman in front of me says. “I was sure I was going to break an arm or leg, which would make running this store a bit difficult.”
She tears her eyes away from me, leaving me cold and almost agitated now that her focus isn’t on me. Why am I so awkward right now? I’m having trouble processing the fact that my best friend’s little sister is the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
“Are you okay?” I ask, finally finding my voice.
“That was a long fall. You could have gotten seriously hurt.” The more I think about it, the more upset I become.
Not at Lily, but at the situation in general.
I’ve never had such an overwhelming need to protect someone, and I’m not sure how I feel about that person being Lily.
“I’m fine. I mean, I had a happy ending, right?” I blink at her choice of words, watching a deep red blush bloom across her cheeks when she realizes what she said. “Oh my god, not like… not, um… wow, I just meant I’m okay.”
A smile curls up one side of my lips at her flustered words. She’s definitely adorable. How she can be irresistibly sexy and heart-meltingly cute at the same time is a mystery. One that I absolutely cannot investigate further.
“Good. I’m glad I was here,” I tell her with a smile.
“So, how long are you in town for?”
“Trying to get rid of me already?” I tease.
Lily shakes her head no. “Not at all. I’m so happy to see you.” Her voice is so sincere, it catches me off guard. My chest does that funny thing again, where I feel like she’s somehow stolen a piece of me. “I’ve thought about you over the years,” Lily adds.
“Oh, yeah? You remembered me all this time?” I shouldn’t be flirting with Hayden’s little sister. I sure as hell shouldn’t enjoy making her blush.
Her blue eyes drop from my face to my chest, trailing over my arms and down my torso. Jesus, I swear I can feel her gaze every-fucking-where, as if she’s teasing me with the tips of her fingers.
“I definitely remember you,” she whispers before swallowing thickly.
I don’t think she meant to say it out loud, much like her comment about being in heaven. It’s endearing and, honestly, kind of charming. I won’t ever have to guess what’s on her mind.
Lily shakes her head as if forcibly removing her inappropriate thoughts.
Or maybe that’s wishful thinking on my part.
I’m ten years older than she is. I’m sure she already has a boyfriend her own age.
Fuck, I don’t want to think about her with another man.
I’m not a possessive person, but with Lily…
“So, are you in Hope Mountain on leave from the Army?” she asks.
“Actually, I’m back for good. Just moved here last week.”
“Really?!” The spark of excitement in her eyes makes me feel some kind of way. I can’t remember the last time someone was so happy to have me around. Lily is looking at me like I just gave her the best gift in the world.
Slow down, I tell myself. Where are these crazy, obsessive thoughts coming from?
“Really,” I confirm. “I’ve been staying at Willow Tree Inn with Sullivan and his woman, Gabby.”
“Oh, my gosh! Aren’t they the cutest? Sullivan loves her so much.
” Lily sighs and stares off into the distance.
A small smile plays on her lips, but it’s more sad than joyful.
Without her saying a word, I can tell she desperately wants what they have.
Why do I have a sudden and urgent need to be the one to give it to her?
“Yeah, they seem really happy. Like they can’t keep their eyes off each other.” I capture Lily’s gaze, unable to look away. The moment stretches on and on in my mind, but in reality, only a few seconds have passed. Time seems to slow down when I’m around her.
“So, are you looking for a place here in town? Or maybe you want to join Cutter further up the mountain?”
“I actually just signed the papers on a new place yesterday. I came in here for a cookbook. I’m afraid my time in the military didn’t teach me how to make a proper meal, and I can’t be eating MREs for the rest of my life.”
“I can’t believe you’ll be back in town. That’s great news.” She looks away from me, but I can see the smile she’s trying to suppress. Is she really this happy to have me back? I didn’t think I made that much of an impression on her.
“So, is your brother here? We talked a few weeks ago, but he told me he would be out on a security job for a while and hard to reach.”
Lily’s shoulders drop slightly, her blue eyes dimming ever so much. I don’t think anyone else would notice, but I can’t seem to help myself from studying everything about her.
“He stopped by for one day last week, but then he was off to Arizona for another freelance job. It keeps him busy, which I think is something he needs right now.”
I nod, wanting her to tell me more. What she doesn’t say is that while he needs his space, she needs her brother. I don’t know how I know that, but I feel it in the very depths of my soul.
“Is he working a lot?”
“Yeah,” she says with a sigh. “I mean, it’s good. I’m glad he has work to do, and Hayden seems to enjoy it. Well, as much as he enjoys anything these days.”
A shadow passes over her face, and I know she’s thinking about the roadside bomb that almost took his life.
Hayden wanted to be in the military until retirement, but his career was cut short.
My best friend didn’t know what to do with himself after his surgeries and an honorable discharge. Seems like he still doesn’t.
“Did you say you own Between the Covers now?” I ask, hoping to change the subject to something lighter.
In an instant, Lily’s face brightens as she beams up at me with pride. She’s so damn beautiful and radiant in this moment. I remember the little girl who always carried a book with her wherever she went, and a fierce pride rises to the surface knowing she’s doing something she loves.
I hope Hayden has been supportive of her, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s been too wrapped up in his own shit to worry about Lily. She’s perfectly capable of handling anything, I already know that. But she doesn’t have to do everything on her own. I’ll make sure of it.
“Yes!” Lily exclaims, breaking into my thoughts. “Can you believe it? It’s all I’ve ever wanted, and now it’s all mine.” She holds out her arms, gesturing to the store around her. I want to pull her into my arms and taste her smile.
“I absolutely believe it,” I tell her with a grin. “You always loved books, and you have a good head on your shoulders. It doesn’t surprise me at all that you’re a business owner.”
Her eyebrows are raised nearly to her hairline as she stares at me. “Really?” she whispers.
“Of course. It’s amazing that you’ve managed to make your dreams a reality. You must be so proud. I know your grandma would be, too.”
When her eyes fill with unshed tears, I want to punch myself in the nuts for bringing up her grandma. Of course, it still hurts. From what I can tell, Hayden hasn’t processed the loss, so I can’t imagine he’s been much of a comfort in the years since her passing.
“Thank you, Heath. That means a lot to me.” The curvy goddess blinks a few times, clearing the tears before they have a chance to fall.
The way she soaks up my praise makes me think no one’s told her how amazing she is in a long time.
Damn. I really need to catch up with my best friend.
He hardly ever talks about Lily, which, now that I think about it, tugs at my heart.
Ideally, he’ll be back in town soon so I can say all of this to his face.
“So, um, anyway,” Lily says, clearing her throat. “You mentioned a cookbook?”
I nod.
“Right over here.” She leads the way, and I follow like the lovesick puppy I don’t want to admit I am.
“I suggest starting with the basics. Pasta dishes are a good go-to, and casseroles are nearly fail-proof. But… you probably don’t eat carbs.
” Her eyes dart to my chest and arms before returning to the bookshelf.
She likes what she sees? I’m a filthy motherfucker for wanting to show her more.
“I enjoy carbs as much as anyone,” I tell her. “Thank you for the suggestions.”
She rings me up for the book, blushing when I hand her my card, and our fingers touch. I swallow the urge to wrap my hand around hers and tug her close enough to kiss.
Instead, I gather my purchase and wave at my best friend’s little sister. That’s all she is. That’s all she can be.
“Heath?” she calls out when I’m halfway out the door. I turn and look at her over my shoulder. “I’m really glad you’re back in Hope Mountain.”
And just like that, my resolve to keep her at arm’s length crumbles to the floor.
I can’t help the cheesy grin spreading across my face.
“Lily? I’m really glad I’m back here, too.
” I give her a wink and then get the hell out before I do something truly insane, like throw her over my shoulder and take her to our new home.
Seriously, what has gotten into me today? How can one woman rattle me to my core? One thing’s for sure; my return to Hope Mountain just got a lot more interesting.