Lily did as he’d asked, coming face to face with Shade.
He held out his hand with keys in the palm. “Rider fixed the battery in Beth’s car.” Lily wondered why he hadn’t just left it at the clubhouse—Beth could have simply driven it home tomorrow—yet she stayed silent about that.
“Thanks.” Lily reached out, taking the keys from his palm, careful not to touch him.
“Do you mind if I come in? I want to order some Chinese and they won’t deliver to the clubhouse.”
“Of course not.” Lily opened the door wider, letting Shade inside before closing it behind him.
He pulled out his cell and then Lily heard him ordering his food as she retook her seat on the couch. Picking up her book, she started reading again, ignoring the man that had her jumpy again.
Shade took a seat on the couch beside her, looking at the book she was reading. Unconsciously, she stiffened, about to get up from the couch, but Shade’s hand on her thigh pressed her back into the cushions. Taking the book from her, he turned it so that he could look at the pages.
“You like Alaska?”
“Yes,” Lily said, remaining still.
Shade turned another page. “What do you like about it?”
“The snow. I love snow. I like how pretty it looks on the mountains in the winter.” Lily was aware of how silly she sounded.
“It snows in Kentucky,” Shade said absently.
“Not deep like it does in Alaska.” Lily looked at the pictures as he turned the pages, sinking back onto the couch.
“I’ve been to Alaska,” Shade commented.
“You have?” Lily asked, staring at Shade in surprise. She had never met anyone who had ever been there before. “Is it as beautiful as the pictures?”
“Yes, but I was too busy freezing my ass off to appreciate it at the time.”
Lily laughed at his expression.
He began flipping the pages of the book, describing the places he had been to in Alaska. He was describing Juneau when the doorbell rang.
Lily started to get up, but his hand on her thigh pressed her back down onto the couch once more. He went to the door, opening it to the delivery driver, who handed Shade a large bag after Shade pulled out the money to pay him.
Lily watched as Shade closed the door behind the delivery driver. He set the food down on the coffee table before going to the kitchen where he pulled out plates and forks then took out two bottled waters from the fridge.
He returned to the couch, setting the plates down. He then opened the bag of food and began dishing it out onto the two plates.
Lily sat stunned, not knowing what to do except to take the plate he had made for her out of reflex.
“But I thought—” Lily had assumed that he would take the food and leave.
“Eat, Lily. The food would have been cold before I got it back to the clubhouse.”
Lily immediately began eating, satisfied with his explanation. Chinese food was actually one of her favorites, but because Beth didn’t care for it, she didn’t have it often.
Curiously, Lily questioned Shade. “What other places have you been to?”
Lily ate while Shade talked about the different countries he had been to when he had been in the Navy. Listening, she was amazed that he had traveled as much as he had.
“My dad was in the service so we constantly followed him from base to base.”
“I bet that was fun.”
Shade shrugged. “I didn’t mind, but my mother got tired of it quick. That was the main reason they divorced.”
“I’m sorry,” Lily said sympathetically.
“Don’t be. They both remarried and have happy marriages.”
Lily finished her food, setting her plate on the table before curling back on the couch, watching as Shade loaded his plate with food again.
Lily picked up the book about Alaska, flipping through the pages while Shade finished eating then took their plates to the kitchen.
“I was going to do that,” Lily protested.
“Finish looking at your book. I’ll take care of them.”
Lily went back to looking through her book, only half-aware when Shade resumed his seat on the couch, looking through the other books on the couch.
“You have several books here on Texas and Arizona,” he said.
“Um, hm.” Lily turned another page before stopping. Her hands tightened on the book and her stomach turned. She gasped as a blinding pain struck her head again. She dropped the book to the floor as she tried to get to her feet to run to the restroom, feeling as if she was going to lose the food she had just eaten. That was the last thing she remembered.
Chapter 2
Lily woke to a concerned Shade leaning over her. She was briefly disoriented at finding herself lying flat on the couch, but the realization of what had happened came back quickly.
“Lily, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” She rose up, embarrassed, and Shade helped her back into a sitting position on the couch.