CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX – LILY #2
I look at Rosie in surprise. Is this her way of forcing his head out of the sand, even though I told her I wasn’t comfortable with that yet?
“Well, we’ll have to see,” I say slowly, while Rosie gives me her most innocent look.
“Your dad should be arriving tonight, and he might have other plans with you,” I say, playing the trump card up my sleeve.
“He is?” Leo pops to his feet, excitement bright on his face. “When will he get here?”
“Dinner time,” I tell him, frowning at the puzzle. It’s a doozy, with at least three hundred identical blue pieces, and a whole lot of snow-capped rock. They haven’t got very far, and I snort as I drop onto the couch next to Tristan. “I take it Rosie hasn’t started cheating yet?”
Rosie scoffs, but Logan laughs as he and Otley place bowls of corn chips and salsa on the side table. “Oh, yeah! Remember that time we came home to find her snipping at the puzzle pieces with a pair of pruning shears?”
“It was a cheap puzzle!” Rosie protests, although I can tell she’s biting back a smile. “I was just smoothing out the rough edges.”
Leo giggles, and I watch every eye in the room settle on him as we all soak up the sound. I catch Logan’s gaze as he leans on the back of an armchair, the usually hard lines of his face softened into something that looks like contentment.
Is that how he really feels, or have I just caught him in a happy moment?
The warm glow of our bond is still pulsing in my chest, but the Logan I know is restless, always looking ahead to the next challenge.
Getting his gym off the ground has been his focus for the last couple of years, a goal to channel all his energy and ambition into.
But now he’s so close to having it, I haven’t just disrupted his plans, I’ve dragged him right out of the state.
Is he distracted by the novelty of ranch life, of having us close by and happy, or is resentment bubbling away somewhere that our bond can’t detect?
“It will get easier,” Tristan murmurs at my side, and I look at him in surprise. “To trust your instincts,” he tells me with a soft smile.
“Mmm. I’m more of a logical planner than a trust-my-gut type of gal.”
“Another mating bite will help with that,” he says, his voice a tempting lick against my ear. “I can smell Ot all over you, sweetheart, but I think he paid special attention to your neck.”
“Aren’t you just full of helpful observations,” I tease, even though my heart is back to a frantic gallop in my chest. To distract myself, I glance at the laptop open on his lap.
I’m relieved to find he’s looking at work stuff instead of gossip columns, although I feel a pang of guilt as I realize it’s the Eros Chocolates’ storyboard.
“I’m really sorry this mess has screwed up the ad campaign. ”
“It’s not messed up,” he tells me, reaching over to squeeze my knee. “I’ve got some great shots already, and Della is happy to finish the rest when things settle down.”
I nod, but I’m not sure it matters anymore. I mean, Tristan needs to finish the project, obviously, but Della’s crazy money doesn’t have the same lure as it did a few days ago.
“Well, we should probably talk to Rosie about that, because I think she’s decided to sell the farm to her sister.”
“Really?” Tristan studies my face, his hazel eyes concerned. “And how do you feel about that?”
“I’m not sure.” I look over at Rosie and Doc, who are squabbling over two identical pieces of blue sky.
Rosie might be rolling her eyes and running her mouth, but it’s clear as a summer’s morning that she’s happier than she’s been in years.
“I think it’s probably the right thing to do, but it just might take a little while for it to feel that way. ”
He hums in sympathy, and I tip my head back, my eyes sliding shut as the quiet chatter in the room becomes background noise.
A soft throw covers me, and while I manage to murmur my thanks, the next thing I know I’m waking up in Tristan’s lap.
His fingers are gently stroking my hair, but when he sees that I’m awake, he nods across the room.
The puzzle is still on the coffee table, unsorted pieces lumped next to his laptop.
Rosie and the other guys have left, but Leo has moved to the table by the window.
To my surprise, Catherine is at his side, peering down at a book spread between them.
Jenny, the carer, is perched on an armchair in the corner, and when she sees that I’m awake, she gives me a small smile.
I push back the throw and sit up slowly, as if sudden movement will break the spell.
“Ellis?” Catherine murmurs, a wrinkle in her brow as she traces her finger over something in the book. I crane my neck and realize it’s our family photo album, and Catherine is studying a picture of Leo in elementary school, a gap-toothed grin splitting his face.
“That’s me!” Leo chirps, pointing to another picture. “See? I’m Leo, and Ellis is my dad. Well, Logan is too, but you don’t know him, even though you’re my grandma.”
“I’m Catherine,” she says with a quiver of hesitancy in her voice. “I’m not a grandma.”
Leo bites his lip, obviously unsure about correcting her.
I’m relieved to see that there’s no disappointment on his face, only concern.
“Nice to meet you, Catherine,” he says, shaking her hand with a solemnity I haven’t seen before.
“Do you want to see more pictures of me? Mom has taken a whole bunch, and Tristan has slipped some in here, too.”
Catherine gives another uncertain nod, and Leo guides her through the rest of the album, telling her about Bloomer, our camping trips, and the current social hierarchy of the fifth grade at Knotty Falls Elementary.
“Who’s that?” Catherine asks, a spark of excitement in her voice.
“That’s my old horse, Hercules. He died, but dad – I mean Ellis - has bought me a new horse. Moondance. Do you want to come see him?”
Catherine looks stricken for a moment and when she glances helplessly at Jenny, I decide it’s time to step in. “Maybe later, hun,” I say, giving him a gentle smile so his feelings aren’t hurt. “Why don’t you go and wash up before dinner?”
“Okay.” He pops out of his chair, but pauses to say, “It was nice meeting you, Catherine.”
She murmurs something under her breath, but as soon as he’s gone, she looks up at me with confused eyes. “Who are you?”
“I’m Lily, Leo’s mom.” I nod towards the couch. “And that’s my friend, Tristan.”
Her cloudy green eyes drift over to him, and her face softens. “Ah, a very special friend. I can smell the soulmate bond from here.”
“Soulmates?” It’s on the tip of my tongue to laugh, but her gaze snaps back to me, a sharp kind of wisdom in her stare. “I j-just…” I stammer, then pause to take a breath. “Well, I’m crazy about him, that’s for sure.”
Tristan makes a happy humming sound, but I can’t quite look at him just yet.
A soulmate is a beautiful concept that romantics insist is spun out of stardust and chemistry, but it’s as intangible to me as the soul itself.
I mean, the thought of walking away from Tristan makes my heart ache, but that could just be because he’s the most perfect person I’ve ever met.
“Well, these things can take time to show themselves,” Catherine says, a hint of sympathy in her voice. But in the next moment her hands are roaming restlessly across the table, her eyes wide with distress. “I think I’ve dropped my blanket. Can you help me find my Baby Blue?”
“It’s right there, Catherine,” Jenny says, hurrying over to tuck the soft blue blanket more firmly over her lap. “See? It’s now nice and snug.”
I’ve stepped forward to help, but I’m distracted by the swirl of caramel spices suddenly flooding the room.
Ellis looks like he’s run all the way from California, but he stops abruptly in the doorway, taking in the room with wide eyes.
When Catherine catches sight of him, her distress is quickly replaced by a fond, dimpled smile.
“Ellis, I was just looking at pictures of you! How much fun you’re having, camping and riding…
” Her voice fades away, and she clutches her blanket tighter as she runs an unsteady finger over the photo album.
“No… that’s not right. They’re Leo. Such a perfect name for a perfect boy. ”
Ellis smiles, although I can see him swallowing from across the room. “You met Leo?”
“He looks so much like you, but he has his mama’s sweet smile.” She turns in my direction, her brow crinkling. “Can you please tell him I’d like to meet that horse of his? After I’ve taken a nap, perhaps.”
I can feel Ellis’ gaze burning into the side of my face as I nod, but then he crosses the room to offer Catherine his arm. “Let me walk you to your room, Mom.”
She sighs, leaning on him while Jenny quietly follows them towards the door. “You look tired,” Catherine murmurs, patting his arm. “I hope you’re not pushing yourself too hard for those vultures. Remember, Hollywood pays a million dollars for a smile, but a penny for your soul…”
Their voices drift away, and I let out a breath as Tristan joins me, his hands sliding around my waist. “Soulmates, huh?”
I laugh and rest my head on his shoulder. “I already knew you were a unicorn.”
He hums as he backs me towards the kitchen, propping me against the marble island while he gets a bottle of wine from the fridge.
He grabs three glasses but leaves the third on the counter as he saunters towards me with the bottle in hand.
“I don’t know if I’m that special, but the way I feel about you definitely is. ”
Those wings are now fluttering against my ribcage, and I lean against him as he pours our drinks. “Ditto.”
“The truth is,” he purrs, handing me a glass and clinking them together, “I want to taste you more than this very expensive bottle of wine.”
I take a sip and moan, because the wine is delicious. He smiles at my reaction, and I can’t resist tracing the curve of his lips with my finger. “Why can’t you have both at the same time?”
“Now who’s full of helpful observations?” He places his drink on the counter and presses his wine-chilled mouth to mine. As always, I melt under the touch of his lips, and he groans as he pulls away. “I think this is doing the opposite of quenching my thirst.”
I smirk at the hungry look in his eyes. “Maybe you should have some more wine.”
“Maybe.” He plants his hands on my hips, backing me towards the walk-in pantry. “But I think I’d prefer to get drunk on your delicious slick.”
I groan, equal parts shocked and aroused. “Who knew such a pretty mouth could be so naughty?”
Heat and amusement dance in his hazel eyes. “You like my dirty talk, sweetheart? Then you better brace yourself, because I can get kind of chatty when I’m really turned on.”
I groan and he smirks, kissing me so deeply I stumble against a shelf of canned goods. As he redirects me towards a small counter, I grip the edge and glance at the door. “Shouldn’t we wait for Ellis?” He chuckles, low and suggestive, and I roll my eyes. “I mean, to check that he’s okay.”
He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes tinged with sadness. “He’ll probably stay with her a while. It’s rare for Catherine to be lucid for so long.”
I grimace in sympathy. “It’s so hard. She’s got such a light about her.”
“Yeah.” He rests our foreheads together for a moment, then presses his hand to his heart. “I can feel his pain through our bond, but there’s excitement there, too.” I look at him curiously and he nods at the door. “My guess is he’ll come looking for us, sooner rather than later.”
I bite my lip, thinking of everything Ellis has been through. Right now, he’s dealing with a loss I can’t even fathom, and I wonder what it would take to ease even a little bit of that hurt.
Smiling into Tristan’s eyes, I turn him until he’s leaning against the counter and slowly lower myself to my knees. “Then maybe we should give him something to smile about.”