Page 69 of An Endless Memory

Kellan let out a cry. It wasn’t an I’ve got to eat now sound, but he wouldn’t last long.

“Who’s visiting this early?” Lily groaned and sat up.

Exactly what I’d like to know. I could’ve been ensconced with her for a few more minutes. The kids might’ve slept in.

I checked the time on my phone. It was after nine. Oh. We all slept in.

Lily rolled out of bed. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and I was captivated by her chest. Unbound tits, full and?—

Knocking resounded through the house.

“I’ll get it.” My morning wood was flagging enough to hide with a loose shirt. I threw on the same one I’d been wearing last night. Lily’s sunshine scent was all over it and goddamn. I might never wash it.

I snuck down the hall. Pebbles meowed and rubbed against the entry to the kitchen. “Cali, can you feed the cat?” I asked as I made my way to the front door. I didn’t bother to check who it was when I opened it.

Linda stared back at me. Her brows lifted. “Oh. Eliot. You’re here.”

The surprise in her voice was like sandpaper on my eardrums. “Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked with more heat than intended. I didn’t appreciate her reminder that I woke up with Lily because it was best for appearance.

She blinked rapidly. “I talked to my brother. He said Jasper was going to work for you. You still work in Montana?”

She might not have heard about the specifics, and she didn’t know about my workforce issues. This was an organic time to play them up. “I’m not around as much, so I need another employee. We’re still trying to figure out the commuting. Having Jasper might help me get away more.”

More freedom wasn’t the reason I’d hired Jasper. The ranch needed me as a full-time employee more than anyone else. I didn’t like faking that I was living with my wife. I hadn’t needed to officially change addresses. Everything I did was under Knight’s Arabians and Cattle Company.

“Hmm.” There was a crease in her brow. She looked past my shoulder. “Good morning, Lily.”

“Aunt Linda? Hi.” Lily appeared next to me. Kellan was getting louder. She must’ve seen her aunt and come to rescue me. “Do you want to come inside?”

I should’ve offered, but I was still cranky about feeling like I’d lied to her.

“No, it’s early. I’m sorry to bother both of you. I was just doing a check-in to satisfy the requirement of the trust.” The corners of her eyes pinched. “Darren and I are heading out of town.”

“No problem.” Lily folded her arms. She’d put on a bra. Another reason to be cranky about the intrusion. “Going anywhere fun?”

“To Rapid City. Just a little getaway.” She let out a heavy exhale. “I’ve been inundated with questions and inquiries regarding…” She waved a hand around. “All this.”

Sympathy filled Lily’s face. She had a big heart. I didn’t feel sorry for Linda.

“Who’s been hounding you?” Lily asked.

Linda’s mouth tightened. “Your father, of course. He’s not used to not being in charge. And Violet. She keeps double and triple-checking my interpretation of the stipulations.”

“I hope that’s a sign she doesn’t want to marry Willis.”

Linda snorted. “I would never sign off on them after a year. I doubt West would either.”

Lily hugged herself tighter. “You wouldn’t? You’d really attest that Violet and Willis didn’t meet the requirements?”

I heard our names instead of her sister and her boyfriend. At the end of our year, would Linda really claim our arrangement was bullshit? My pulse thudded. I didn’t intend to give her a reason to think Lily and I weren’t legit, but Linda had six relationships to sign off on before she got her own inheritance. Most people wouldn’t look beyond the dollars.

“Of course.” Linda blinked owlish eyes. “I care about all of you, and I know your grandma wanted the best for you.” She hesitated. “May I come in after all?”

I stepped back. Lily had already invited her inside. “I can get some breakfast ready for all of us.”

“I won’t be long. I just?—”

Kellan started crying again. Cali came out of her room, fully clothed in a ball gown and a tiara. She scooted behind Lily and eyed her great-aunt.

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