Page 56 of The Lady and the Footballer
Colin was fine in defending himself, but when the man’s eyes narrowed on Lily with such hatred, he had to restrain himself from lashing out and showing him how this would have been handled in his neighborhood.
“Very well,” Colin said. “You have a deal.” He hated that he had to trust this man’s word, for he didn’t think it would be one that amounted to much. “Now, let us pass.”
Lord Nathaniel nodded and stepped out of the way, although he kept his eyes on Lily as she passed him. Colin wanted to wrap his arms around her, holding her close against him to shield herfrom the man, but he knew to do so would only add more fuel to Lord Nathaniel’s case against him.
And so, he had to allow her to walk on her own will, reminding him that, as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t protect her from all that threatened.
For there was no way for him to be by her side with every step she took.
Not here.
Not ever.
The minute they were out of the door and Lord Nathaniel’s sight, Lily couldn’t stop herself. She turned and threw herself into Colin’s arms, wrapping her own around his waist as she breathed in deeply. She was drawing more from him than he should have been able to give, but he tightened his arms for just a moment.
“Oh, Colin, I am so sorry,” she said, her voice muffled as her face pressed into his chest. “This is all my fault. I never should have asked you to come here. Or help me. Or?—”
“Lily,” he said, leaning back and gently cradling her face. “I wanted to be here. With you. Helping the football club. I never do anything that I don’t want to, including this. I am glad I was there with you, that you were not left alone overnight or discovered by Lord Nathaniel.”
He shuddered at the thought of how the man would have acted if he had found Lily in his father’s offices instead of the two of them.
“What are we going to do now?” she asked, biting her bottom lip.
“Right now, we are going to get you home, safely into your bed before your parents realize you are gone,” he said.
“And what about the club? If anyone else is injured because we didn’t say anything just to protect my reputation, I would never forgive myself.”
“We are going to have to determine who we can trust,” he said, setting his jaw in determination. “And then find a way forward together.”
He needed to protect her, but she was right. There were so many others who were affected by this.
That would have to be a problem for later, however. Right now, he had to return her home.
Away from him.
Where she was safe.
Chapter Twenty
Lily spent the next two weeks waiting in anticipation.
Of Lord Nathaniel seeking retribution and telling her father about finding her with Colin at the Montgomery Mill.
Of wondering if anything would happen to any of the players or the workers at her father’s mill.
Of wishing to see Colin again.
She couldn’t get him off her mind.
Every time she remembered what had happened between them, her entire body flushed, from her cheeks down to her very core.
Thanks to Emmaline and her discovery of her parents’ naughty prints, Lily had known what could happen between a man and a woman, but she hadn’t been aware of just how it could make herfeel.
Colin had taken her to a world that she hadn’t known existed, and now all she wanted was to return to it again.
But not just with any man.
With him.
