Chapter 21
Twenty-One
“ I ’m so glad you’re here. I was hoping we would get to talk more at the picnic, but things got so crazy so fast.” Lily slid into the booth with Sloane.
“I know. It was chaotic there for a minute. How are you doing?”
“Oh, I’m fine. Gunner is in super-protector mode, so I’m glad he was actually okay with me coming out tonight. I know you mentioned fitting into the community when we were talking before. How long have you been in Silver Springs?”
“Just a few years. I’m originally from out west. Oregon, to be exact.”
“I’ve always wanted to make it to the West Coast. Do you go back often?”
“No. There’s nothing back there for me, anyway. My practice is here, and working with the Clarence County Sheriff’s Department and all my individual clients keeps me happy.”
“Wow. So no family back there?” When Sloane gave Lily a blank look, she backtracked quickly. “I just asked because I don’t have any reason to go back east either. Gunner’s mom, Juliette, was more of a mom to me than my own. But now that she’s passed, I guess I just figured his sister Gia will travel down to Texas for visits, at least while Sage is little. I had barely ever left my hometown before Gunner came back, and now I don’t think we’ll ever be going back to Connecticut.”
“Do you feel sad about that?” Sloane asked as she flagged down a waiter. They each asked for a glass of ice water before getting back into their conversation.
“I don’t think I’m sad about not going back. I left behind some things I never want to think about again. Do you feel sad about not going back west?”
“Yes. And no. I know this is the right place for me. But it gets hard around the holidays when there aren’t snow storms to cuddle up inside during.”
“Oh, I love the snow. I hadn’t thought about Sage not getting to experience that.”
“Well, she might not get snow, but she’ll get bluebonnets and cowboys, and I have a feeling she’ll have the fiercest family of protectors surrounding her. Silver Springs is a good town to raise a family in.”
“You have your eye on someone for that?” Lily asked with a giggle.
“Me? No. My practice is my baby. I love being a therapist. It’s enough for me.”
“That’s really great. I miss having a career, but there is no way I could go back into home care, especially with Sage being as little as she is.”
“You know, I’ve been looking for a receptionist. If you were thinking about hopping back into the workforce and were interested, we could start out with a trial run, maybe a few hours a week? Of course, you’re welcome to bring Sage with you. I have a little room off the waiting area that would make a really cute nursery.”
Lily’s smile grew. “You’d do that for me?”
“Of course. That’s what living in a small town is all about. Plus, you can rest assured that you’ll be safe there, and so will Sage. I had Montgomery Defense install some fancy system in the office. Gage showed me all the ins and outs, and they really outdid themselves. I suspect they didn’t want me griping and groaning at them every day.”
“Well, that really is generous of you. I don’t know what to say.”
“How about you come see me in the morning? Or in the afternoon if you need to sleep tonight’s festivities off more.” Sloane laughed, swirling the straw in her water.
“I can do that.” Sweat dripped down the back of Lily’s shirt. She was so excited about the prospect of having an income of her own that she was nearly vibrating in her seat. The loud music and alcohol swirling through her veins was making the air in the bar feel stale. She needed some quiet to reground herself. “I’m going to step outside for just a minute. If the other girls come looking for me, would you let them know I’ve just gone to get some air?”
“Of course. Do you want some company?” Sloane looked nervously at the door.
“No, I’m going to call Gunner and see if he was able to get Sage down for the night. Then I’ll be right back in.”
Lily gave a little wave to Sloane as she scooted from their booth and made her way outside. The crisp night air was surprising. She’d been expecting muggy heat for that time of year, but a cool breeze nipped at her back and she sighed with relief. It was also much quieter in the parking lot, and a welcomed relief filled her mind.
Pulling her phone from her pocket, she dialed Gunner, laughing as he picked up after the first ring.
“Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she giggled at the seriousness in his voice. That was her husband, alright. All business. All bark. Would it be so bad if he was a little bite with her too ?
“Where are you right now? It doesn’t sound like you are in the bar.”
“I’m just standing outside. It’s a million degrees in there and I needed some fresh air. I didn’t know Texas could feel cool at night, but it really is so nice out.”
“Lily Kate. Is someone out there with you?”
“Nope,” she playfully popped the word out of her mouth.
“Go back inside right now.”
“No,” she pouted. “Then I won’t be able to hear that growly voice you use when you get mad at me.”
“I do not have a growly voice that I use with you.”
“Oh, grumpy guy. Yes you do,” she teased.
“ Grumpy guy ? How much have you had to drink tonight, wife ?”
Jesus. That sent shivers down her spine, and not the cold or afraid kind.
“Well, husband , if you must know, I only had one sugar cookie shot, but it was strong.”
“What the hell is a sugar cookie shot?”
“You’ll have to ask Emma. Apparently, she invented them. And boy, are they strong. You know, the girls told me they’d loosen up my tongue and get me to spill all of your secrets. And then they want to send me home to use my loose tongue on your rock hard…” her voice trailed off as she realized what she was about to say.
Gunner was silent. Shit. Her mind scrambled to find any words, but her body was taking up all the brainpower she had, swaying with the wind.
“Lily Kate, let’s get one thing straight,” Gunner said, his voice low and raspy. “If anyone is putting their tongue on someone else, it’s me finally getting a taste of you.”
Holy hell. That hadn’t been the response she thought he was going to give her.
“Gunner, I?— ”
“Well, look what we have here.” Lily’s heart jumped into her throat as she tried to place the deep voice. “If it isn’t the whore who’s married but doesn’t wear a ring. You know, the boss wasn’t so happy with me when I turned up empty-handed. Whole fucking family came after me for messing up their plans.”
It clicked in her mind, and her stomach dropped. She hadn’t seen the man who’d tried to take her at the park, but she’d have known his voice anywhere. He stepped into the light streaming out from the bar and Lily tried to memorize everything about him in case she got away. He was her height, heavy-set across the middle, dark black hair, and he had a port wine stain over the right side of his face. Lily wasn’t sure if it was just the lighting, but it almost looked like Crater Lake. Some distant part of her mind wondered if Sloane would agree.
“Lily, who is that?” Gunner’s voice boomed into the phone, snapping her brain out of its fear-induced spiral. The man started making his way towards her as her eyes darted around, looking for an escape.
“Y-you need to leave me alone.” She backed up to the sidewalk, trying to keep herself facing towards the man.
“Enjoying the view, you little tease?” he asked before he lunged at her.
“LILY!!!!” The call with Gunner ended as the man grabbed her arm, twisting it behind her. When her phone fell to the ground, he stomped on it, cracking the screen into a million pieces.
“Listen here, bitch. You’re going to walk calmly over to my car and then we’re going to get out of this god forsaken shit-stain town.” Something cold and hard pressed into her side and she barely allowed her mind to register that it was a gun.
Lily nodded, frantically trying to loosen the man’s grip on her arm. Her shoulder was throbbing from how hard he had her arm twisted behind her body. A million scenarios went through her mind, but she knew there was no way she could get into that car with him.
“Hey!” a voice called out from behind her, jarring the man to a stop for a fraction of a second. And that was all she needed. She threw all of her weight into twisting out of his hold.
Gunner’s boss stepped between her and the man.
“He has a gun.” Lily barely got out the words before he was pounding his fist into the man’s face. Only when the man’s head tipped to the side as he fell into unconsciousness did Sebastian stand and turn towards Lily.
“Are you okay?”
“Mr. Montgomery,” her breath pulled at her chest as the adrenaline roared through her body.
“Please, Lily, call me Sebastian.” The worry in his eyes as he reached for his phone almost made her lose her composure.
“I’m fine. I promise. That’s the second time that guy has tried to grab me, though.”
Sebastian’s eyes instantly flew to the man unconscious on the ground.
“Reap. Yeah, I figured you were on your way to Davney’s…No, she’s fine. Would you fucking listen to me? I’m looking right at her and she’s fine. So get your head on right and don’t get into a fucking wreck on your way here. I’ll explain everything when I see you.”
“You should have let me talk to him.” Her arms, now wrapped around her waist, provided little protection against the cold seeping into her body.
“I think with the way you’re shaking like a leaf, you’d have only made him worry more.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve said that. And I’m sure under the surface you are. But your body has activated its fight-or-flight response, which means you’re going to crash. And I think your husband should be here for that.”
“Oh…”
“Let’s get you back inside with the girls. Gunner is less likely to destroy the place if he sees you’re safe with them.”
“You’re probably right. But what about him?”
Sebastian turned and pulled what looked like zip ties from his pocket.
“Do you always carry those around with you?”
“No,” he smiled. “I was teaching Emma how to break free from them earlier today. We got a little…distracted. I meant to take them out before we drove over here, but I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t.”
Lily’s face flushed at the implication of what he was saying. From the short time she’d been around Emma, and now Sebastian, it was clear the two of them had a very feisty love life.
“He’s secure for now, and I’ll just make sure you get inside. Then I’ll come back out and wait for Gunner.”
And true to his word, Sebastian did just that. Except when she went inside, he stood at the door and demanded to speak to the manager. Lily didn’t know what else he said as she walked back towards the girls, but a few minutes later, someone made an announcement for everyone to clear out. When Lily grabbed for her purse, Emma explained the announcement wasn’t for them.
Mae came rushing back towards the table. “Oh my gosh, I heard the announcement from the bathroom. What happened?” When all eyes at the table turned to Lily, Mae blanched. “Are you okay, Lily?”
“I’m fine. Sober as hell now, which stinks. But yeah, I’m okay.”
“I think maybe she could use something warm to drink,” Grace said as she stood, walking away from them towards the bar.
“I’m going to take little ears here on a walk to help her Auntie Grace.” Emma walked away from the group with her daughter in tow.
“What happened?” Mae still looked concerned as she sat next to Lily and pulled her into a side hug. “You’re white as a ghost. Are you feeling sick? I could bring you home. Maybe call Stone over?”
She shook her head. “Gunner’s on his way. I imagine girls’ night is about to end. The same guy who tried to grab me in the park just tried to take me again while I was outside.”
Gunner pulled into the parking lot of Davney’s as his stomach soured from the sight of all the flashing blue and red lights. The deputies were there because someone had almost taken Lily again.
Hopping down from the driver’s seat, he took a minute to calm himself before reaching in the back and removing Sage’s car seat. There was something to be said for his little girl; she could sleep through just about anything.
His eyes immediately went to the deputy placing someone in the back of their vehicle, and Gunner stormed towards them.
“Whoa. No. You can’t go over there right now, Reaper.” Sebastian stepped in front of him with his hands raised.
“Get out of the fucking way, Cap.”
“You have your baby in your hands, Gunner. Are you going to let her throw a punch at the bastard too?”
He held out the car seat to Sebastian.
“Take her for a minute.”
“No. Let the deputies get him out of here and go to Lily. ”
Fuck. Lily. The whole reason he was ready to pummel some asshole to death in front of half the sheriff’s department.
“Where is she? Is she okay?”
“She’s inside with the girls. I asked the manager to have everyone else leave, so it’s just them inside. Hawk and Stone were around the corner and got here before you, so they’re in with them now.”
“You’ll talk to the deputies for me so I can check on her?”
“Of course. Go.”
“Thanks, Cap.”
Gunner turned and carried Sage up the steps, trying his hardest not to rip the doors off the hinges as he stormed in.
“Lily?!” Gunner’s voice filled the bar. His eyes locked immediately on the women who were sitting huddled around Lily, while Hawk and Stone stood next to the table.
He rushed towards her, placing the baby’s car seat into Stone’s hands before he lifted Lily up out of her seat and pressed her tight to his chest. Her arms wrapped around his waist and he felt her relax into the hug.
“Gunner, I’m fine.” Her voice sounded wonky, most likely because her cheek was pressed so tightly to his chest. She’d just have to deal with it. He wasn’t going to let her go.
“What the hell happened, Lil? Did he touch you? God, I’ll go out there and kill him myself right now if he did.”
“Hey.” Her hands gently pushed away from his chest and then found their way to his face. “Listen to me. I’m fine.”
“Tell me what happened, and I’ll decide if you are fine or not.”
“Stubborn man.”
“Tell. Me.”
Lily stood with her arms across her chest, looking like she was waiting for him to calm down. Fat fucking chance of that.
“It was the same guy from the park.”
Gunner’s vision darkened. He turned to Hawk and Stone .
“Stay here with her and Sage. Do not let them out of your sight. I’m going to go rip that bastard out of that fucking cop car and end his life.”
“Gunner, no,” Lily gasped.
“He tried to hurt you twice now, Lily. TWICE. And I wasn’t there to stop him either time. But I sure as fuck can make him talk now. I can make sure he can’t ever hurt you again.”
“The deputies have it under control. I just want to give my statement and take Sage home. Can you do that for me? Can you take me home?”