*
The next day was uneventful with Hardin gone. His company had made the time go by faster. None of the other workers made any attempt to talk to her, despite her friendly overtures. Georgia especially would send the workers to do odd jobs if she saw anyone lingering, talking to her. By lunchtime, Lily was beginning to get upset.
She ate her lunch quietly, unaware of the speculative looks she was receiving from Shade.
“Anything wrong?”
Lily shook her head, picking at her hamburger and fries. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Lily said glumly.
Shades lips twisted. “You’re very emotional, aren’t you?”
Lily stiffened in her seat. “I’m sorry if I can’t be emotionless like you. I get a little upset when people run like the plague when I approach them.”
“Who’s running?”
“The other workers. If I try to talk to them, they ignore me and move away.”
“I’m sure you’re exaggerating,” Shade said, eating his own food with a hearty appetite.
“I’m not exaggerating. I asked Gaige if he knew where the pocket flares were, and you would have thought I had asked for condoms. I asked Trent to help me find a packet of seeds, and he walked off while I was still talking to him. And, in case you didn’t know, Georgia is a reincarnated Attila the Hun.”
Shade burst out laughing and Lily’s hurt feelings disappeared a little. When Shade laughed, his appearance softened and he was a very handsome man. Lily had never really noticed before and she wasn’t happy about noticing now. She carefully opened the imaginary door in her mind and thrust the thought inside; then her hand went to her wrist, snapping the red rubber band.
“Why did you do that?” Shade snapped.
Lily handed him her partially untouched plate, preparing to get to her feet.
“Sit down.” His hard voice had her bottom immediately returning to her seat, her eyes going to her hands which were on her lap.
“Eyes to me, Lily.”
Lily’s eyes reluctantly returned to his.
“Answer my question. Why did you snap the rubber band?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a habit. Sometimes I do it without knowing why,” Lily said softly.
“I see. I only give instructions once, Lily. The next time you snap that rubber band around me, you better be able to explain why. Do you understand me?” Shade’s hard, blue gaze stared directly into hers.
Lily nodded her head. Her hands clenched to prevent herself from snapping the band again.
“I need to get back to work,” Lily said, this time succeeding in getting to her feet and going out the office door.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she went back to work, going through the orders so fast that Georgia looked at her strangely, though thankfully, she stayed off Lily’s case for the rest of the day.
At quitting time, Lily cleaned her workstation and went to her car to get her workout bag. She reentered the factory to see Shade leaning against the doorway to his office with Georgia talking to him. The usually grouchy expression was gone from her face, replaced with one of flirtation.
Lily didn’t interrupt; she personally thought the two of them would be a match made in Heaven.
Shade talked for a few minutes longer before ending the conversation, walking toward Lily. Georgia’s face behind Shade’s back changed into one that made Lily agree that they were made for each other, and then she felt guilty for wishing Georgia on anyone. The woman wasn’t in the least way nice, and while Shade wasn’t the friendliest person, he had always watched out for her.
“What has you looking so guilty?” Shade asked.
Lily, as always, tried to be honest. “I was thinking that you and Georgia would make a nice couple.”
Shade’s face closed off. “Really?”
“That’s when I felt guilty. In case you didn’t know, she’s really not a nice person.”
Shade gave Lily a look she couldn’t interpret. “I think I can handle Georgia,” he said, walking to the door of the factory and holding it open for her.
“That’s good to know. Then I think you should go for it. She obviously has a thing for you,” Lily said helpfully.
Shade stopped in his tracks. “Lily, have I given you the impression I want to be your BFF?”
“Noo…”
“Good.”
Lily followed behind Shade’s quick strides, trying to hide her hurt feelings. When he opened the door to the basement, waiting for her to enter, Lily avoided his eyes as she went inside.
“I’ll go get changed,” Lily said, heading straight to the restroom. It didn’t take her long to get changed, but Shade still beat her, already working out on the weights.
He paused when she entered the room, his eyes going to her new workout outfit. Shade didn’t say anything, but Lily could tell he didn’t like her choice of clothes.
The black leggings were several sizes too large, and the top was spandex but was also too large with long sleeves.
Shade placed his weights down. “Come here.”