Chapter 27
Ryder
Imeet Lily’s brothers in the middle of the stairs between the second and third floors. I see Luna and Isabelle a few steps behind them, and Agatha and Mr. Stone are probably a flight below.
“Where’s Lily?” Adam growls.
“She’s resting in bed,” I say. “She had a panic attack, and now has a headache and is exhausted.”
Adam pushes my shoulder, but I hold my ground. “She needs rest,” I say firmly.
Adam’s eyes narrow at me. “Who do you think you are to tell me if I can see my sister?”
He might think he’s intimidating me, but I’m not afraid of him.
Well, not too afraid.
“I’m the person who recognized that she was panicking and removed her from the situation. A situation, I’ll add, that you exacerbated by creating such a scene at the festival.”
“You little—”
“Adam, calm down,” Isabelle says from behind him. She’s caught up to us now and rests a hand on his shoulder. “Ryder took care of Lily when you couldn’t.”
Adam grunts, but his body relaxes a little.
“Look, I had panic attacks for a while myself,” I say. “So I recognized the signs and knew how to help her. And now she needs rest, not more excitement.”
Adam’s expression softens, and Henry takes over for him. “Thank you for that. I’m ashamed that I didn’t think about her or what she needed. I’m glad you were here.” He shakes his head. “We were just listening to what Mr. Calhoun suggested without thinking about Lily and her needs.”
Adam grunts in agreement. That’s probably the best I’ll get out of him.
Agatha and Mr. Stone have now reached us, a little more breathless than the rest of the group. I explain the situation to them, and Agatha pushes past her nephews to wrap me in a hug. “We’re all so fortunate that you were there,” she says.
At least someone is giving me a warm greeting.
“So, what now?” asks Isabelle. “Lily has been dying to get out of this tower, but if she can’t be in public places, where does that leave her?”
Everyone is quiet for a moment.
“Lily says she wants to try therapy,” I say. “That’s what helped me get through my personal issues, and it’s how I helped her manage this panic attack.”
Everyone nods in agreement.
“I’ll reach out to my contacts and see if we can find someone for her,” her father says.
“And perhaps we can try smaller outings,” Agatha finally says. “Like taking her to Cookies & Kisses. Or the bookstore.”
“I bet Madeleine would open the shop after hours for her,” Luna offers. “That way Lily wouldn’t have to worry about anyone watching her.”
Agatha nods. “That’s an excellent idea. And we should make it a private event, without the whole family in attendance.” She looks sharply at the men of the family, who have the decency to look somewhat ashamed.
“But someone should be there to make sure she’s safe,” Adam huffs.
“It’s Brookhaven,” Luna protests. “What’s going to happen here?”
Adam furrows his brow, no answer ready for her but still not backing down.
“Ryder can do it!” Agatha says, patting me on the shoulder.
My eyes widen. “Me?” I look at Agatha, trying to telepathically say, You think that’s the best idea?
Her eyebrows say, Roll with it, dummy.
I clear my throat and look back at the family, working on my best nonchalant expression. “Yeah, I guess I could. I’d be able to recognize if she’s getting close to another panic attack and get her home.”
The glares coming from Lily’s brothers are almost enough to make me back down and say, Never mind! And by the way, I’m totally into your sister! Before I say anything stupid, Henry says, “All right. Let’s try that.”
Everyone around him nods, except for Adam, who holds my stare like a dog challenging me for dominance.
Keep staring, Adam. I’m not going anywhere.
Finally, Adam grunts and nods, then takes one more step up to meet my eye level. “But don’t you dare think about trying anything with her. If you do, I will rip—”
“Okay, he gets the point,” Isabelle interrupts and gives me an apologetic grin. I like her.
Adam clenches his jaw but once again lets his fiancée calm him down.
His warning also lodges an alert in my mind. If I am spending time with Lily, known by her family but with the intention of “keeping Lily safe,” I need to hold back on my feelings for her. At least until she’s past this stage of living under her family’s watchful eye.
Besides, her panic attack today tells me that she’s not completely healed from everything. I don’t think it’s time for me to push romance on her when she’s still in this stage.
“All right, it’s settled,” Agatha says. “We’ll try that out as soon as Lily’s ready.”
The group nods in agreement.
Henry speaks up. “Aunt, can we stay in your home until Lily’s ready to see us? I don’t want to leave without saying goodbye.”
“Yes, of course,” she says. The family all head down the stairs, but she stays in place next to me.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
“It’s what’s best for Lily,” she says. “These overbearing Stone men and their insistence on listening to this expert, Mr. Calhoun… I’m not sure I trust his opinion.
” She shakes her head. “But you listen to her and know what she needs.” Then she smacks my shoulder and tips her head up the stairs.
“Go say goodbye to Lily. Then climb down the tower. I don’t want to explain why you’re coming down the stairs ten minutes after me. ”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say with a grin. Quirky Agatha has really won me over.
As I walk up the stairs, I remind myself to pull back from whatever is going on between me and Lily. I need to act professionally. I’m basically like her bodyguard now. No romance is going to bloom between us, at least not now.
When I reach the top, I push the door open slowly, not wanting to disturb Lily if she’s asleep. But I’m surprised to see her standing in the kitchen, a few feet away from me.
“Hey,” I say, closing the distance between us but fighting the urge I have to run my hands down her arms and feel her skin beneath my palms. “How are you feeling?”
She shrugs a shoulder. “Still tired and still have a headache. But better than I could have been.”
I tip my head to the staircase. “How much of that did you hear?”
“Pretty much all of it,” she replies.
“How does that sound to you?”
She nods slowly. “Good. Really good. I think you were right about therapy. And if I get my bearings with people in the town on a more individual basis, it won’t be so bad when I go to bigger functions again.” She tilts her head to the side. “Can we still go to the theater after?”
“Of course.” We stand there, staring at each other, and I have an insatiable urge to pull her into my arms and reassure her that she’s going to be okay.
But I can’t do that. I can’t touch her and hold her the way I want.
Because now it’s not just her heart I’m concerned about breaking, it’s my own legs at the hands of her brothers.
Instead, I straighten and nod at her bed. “You should get some more rest. And I should get going.”
“Already?”
“They’re waiting for you downstairs, and Agatha wants me to climb down the tower so your family won’t see me.”
“Ah.” The side of her mouth tips up in a grin. “Agatha’s got our backs.”
“Yeah, why is that?”
Lily furrows her brow. “I’m not really sure. But I’m grateful for it.”
“Same.” I grin at her and shove my hands in my pockets to fight the desire to touch her. “I’ll see you soon. Have Agatha call me so we can arrange our first outing.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you soon.”
I head to the balcony, and as I swing a leg over the railing, I laugh at how I thought I wouldn’t need to climb this tower again.
At the sight of Lily’s sparkling eyes as she waves goodbye, I know in my heart there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. Even if that means keeping myself at a distance, despite the involuntary urge to keep her close.