Page 64 of An Endless Memory

“You didn’t know?”

She shook her head. “They expect information to funnel up, not down to me. Besides, we’ve all got our own lives.”

I was intensely grateful my family had populated Crocus Valley. Lily would have them if not her own.

“Thank you for helping Jasper.” She leaned in until our shoulders brushed. Heat wicked down my neck, traveling south. I clamped down on the inside of my cheek. A shoulder touch shouldn’t feel that erotic.

But damn. It’d been a long time since I’d been inside a woman. And the need to bury myself in this one grew stronger.

“I think he’s felt a little lost since he got laid off,” she said. “At least that’s the impression I got when they were all here. He thinks he hides it well.”

“As long as he didn’t lie about being able to ride a horse.” I smirked at her. “It won’t matter. We’ll teach him everything. I can’t afford to be that picky.”

“He’s in good hands with you.” That blush returned. “I can tell you’re a good boss.”

“I’ve had worse.” I shrugged. It was my father, but I didn’t say it. The sympathy that lit her eyes told me she’d heard it regardless.

“You and your siblings turned into amazing people.”

“We’ve had our rough patches.” I rested my arms on my thighs. “We also saw how Barns treated Mama. Don’t get me wrong, she didn’t treat us the best, but what she had to deal with in a husband?” I shook my head. I couldn’t imagine behaving like that around Lily. Making her stay with me because she had no choice.

Wasn’t that the position she was in?

Men are poison to women, Eliot. Mom’s haughty voice haunted me. I hadn’t understood her words at the time, but I sure as fuck remembered them as an adult.

“I’m sorry for what she went through.” Lily saved me from starting a comparison chart between my marriage and my parents’. “If the silver lining is a guy who’d drop everything to drive three hours and clean up vomit, I guess there could’ve been a worse turnout.”

“Anytime, Lily.”

Her smile wavered, and she licked her lips like she was nervous. They glistened, not quite as plump as after I’d kissed her. How easy would it be to dip my head down and capture that mouth again?

“I’m sure I pulled you away from something way more interesting,” she said. “I mean, I’m sure Cali did.”

“I was at the bar.”

“Oh.” Those ripe lips of hers stuck farther out. “I’m sorry. You were out having fun?—”

“No, Lily. I wasn’t having fun. I was chatting with an ex of Wilder’s about how in love he is—and always has been—with Sutton.”

“Maybe she was scoping you out.”

“Doesn’t matter.” I wiggled the finger with the ring on it. “Married. Remember?”

“Hmm… I seem to recall something about that.”

“Last night sucked for you, I have no doubt. But it’s one of the most interesting Friday nights I’ve had in a long time.” I stared into the distance to avoid her gaze. Bug was trotting around the yard, ready to investigate any moving thing. The breeze was growing colder, and I didn’t want Lily to catch a chill.

I rose and held my hand out to her. “What movie is next on the list?”

The awe and disbelief in her gaze could give me a complex. I wasn’t her hero. But if she left this marriage knowing how a man should treat her, I’d consider that the biggest success in my life.

Cali opened the front door, blinking. Her hair was messed up on one side. She must’ve slept hard. “Mom, Flakes isn’t in his cage.”

Lily

Flakes was found curled up inside a cabinet his tank sat on. The door had been left cracked open. There had only been thirty minutes of panicked searching. Eliot had blanched like he’d never sleep in that room again. If he didn’t like Flakes, he’d never said, and he’d helped look for him without hesitation. Kellan had awakened when Cali started calling Flakes like he was a puppy.

My heart rate had finally returned to normal.

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