Loving Lily by Marie E. Blossom Read Free Book Online

home,
if he’s willing.   She shivered.
    "I'd be
happy to," he said, taking her hand.
    She threaded
her fingers through his, wondering if she could talk him into staying with her
tonight.   He'd seemed interested earlier,
right?
    ****
    Matt glanced
down at Lily as they walked, wondering if she'd let him stay with her tonight.   He knew they'd just met, but he felt a weirdly
overwhelming urge to protect her.   And
an overwhelming urge to kiss her again , he admitted privately.   When Alex had told her his suspicions about
her car, she hadn't so much as flinched.   She's a hell of a strong woman.
    Apparently, he
had a weakness for that quality and it had gone unnoticed until just now.   Maybe that's why I wasn't interested in
dating.   All the women I know are nice
enough, but they haven't been through hell, he mused.   After everything he'd seen as a SEAL, he'd
instinctively known most of them wouldn't understand him.   They wouldn't understand his need for solitude
and routine.   Wouldn't
understand the nightmares that still kept him up at night occasionally.   But Lily would.   He knew she would get it.
    "It's
pretty here at night," she said, startling him out of his thoughts.
    "Yeah.   Tourism is a big part of the local economy. " He ushered her around a cluster of gossiping women.
    Lily smiled
faintly.   "It would be pretty even
without the crowds of people . "
    He looked
around, trying to imagine it.   "In
the summer, everyone comes for the hiking and shopping.   In the winter, it's skiing. "
He shrugged.   "It's always a
little crowded . "
    "And no one
knows who you are?" she asked, stopping to smell a display of candles set
outside one of the shops on a table.   The
owner winked at Matt from inside the shop, raising his eyebrows at Lily.
    Matt
surreptitiously gave his old high school classmate the finger.   "Uh, no.   I mean, the locals know who I am, but it's not
like I'm going to put out a sign telling everyone I write books. "
    "Because
the last thing you want is a mob of fans trampling their way to your door . " Lily grinned up at him, seeming to have shaken some
of the worry she'd displayed when Alex had given her the bad news about his car.   He wondered how she was able to just put
it aside like that, then he noticed her fingers
nervously twisting the strap of her purse.
    Ah , he thought, not surprised.   He shuddered dramatically in response to her
statement.   "Exactly," he said,
and resumed walking.   “I don’t know what
I’d do with hordes of rabid readers.   It’d be bad, though. ” He chuckled.
    "So, um,
you want to come in? For tea or coffee or something?" Lily asked when they reached the front gate of the bed and breakfast.
    Matt carefully
hid his relief.   "Yeah, I'd like
that . " Was it his imagination, or did she relax
a little when he'd replied?
     
    A few minutes
later, she unlocked the door to her room and flicked on the light.   A soft glow came from the two lamps near the
bed.
    "I think I
saw a coffee maker around her somewhere," she said, dropping her purse on
the table near the window.
    Matt caught her
arm as she turned around.   "Lily . "
    She went very still.   "You can tell I'm freaking out,
can't you?"
    He smiled and
stroked a hand through her hair.   "I
know we've just met, but I'll stay if you want me to . "
    She sighed
heavily, pulling away.   "I'm really
tired.   I don't know what to do. " She began walking up and down the length of the room.
    He watched her
pace, knowing exactly how she felt.   "Here, sit down on the bed . " He pulled the chair tucked against the wall up to
the bed.
    She looked at
him skeptically.
    He held up his
hands.   "Trust me .
"
    She narrowed
her eyes at him, but she walked over and sat down.
    "Kick off
your sandals," he said.   "Lean
back against the pillows . "
    "Why?"
    She was
suspicious.   He didn't blame her.
    "I promise
I won't do anything you don't want me to . " He
sat back, palms up, waiting for her to make a