Tristan is too polite to contradict her, even though we can all smell the fear still clinging to her clothes. “Well, Ot gave Della a tongue-lashing he won’t forget in a hurry.”
She pulls a face, but Otley steps forward and gently cups her arm. I watch him closely, since he’s the hardest to read of the packmates. I’ve looked into his background, and while there are plenty of articles online about his business dealings, there’s not a lot about his personal life. But there’s no mistaking the heat that throbs between them as he studies Lily’s face. She seems just as entranced, and their scents thicken in the air until the room smells like a cherry pie bake-off. “I wish this wasn’t happening to you, Lily,” he murmurs, “but I’m glad you’re coming with us.”
“Thanks for offering,” she says in a husky voice I feel in the pit of my gut. “We’ll just stay until things die down.”
Otley frowns like that’s not part of his master plan, but Tristan steps into the breach. “Cooper has the cars waiting out back. Leo, you want to sneak out with me? I wasn’t an official boy scout, but I think I’ve earned my ninja badge over the years.”
Leo grins and abandons his suitcase into my care. “Yeah, let’s go before anyone catches us.” He starts to creep towards the door in what I assume is stealth mode but then glances back at Lily. “You okay, Mom?”
“I’m fine, hun.” She stands up straighter, the moment of vulnerability wiped from her face. “You go with Tristan while we lock up.”
She shoots the beta a grateful look as he steers Leo outside, but as soon as they’re gone, she steps back into my arms. Her head rests against my chest, and there’s no mistaking the look of envy on Otley’s face as she murmurs, “What do I need to do, Logan?”
“Nothing,” I tell her, stroking a hand over her hair. “Clay is staying at my place, and he’ll take care of Bloomer and the chickens until we’re back.”
He’ll also scare the shit out of anyone who trespasses on her property, but I figure she doesn’t need to knowthatabout the guy our unit calls The Smiling Assassin.
She stays nestled in my arms as Otley grabs the bags and turns off the lights. I’ve already double-checked the locks and had a terse conversation with the security guys Otley is leaving behind. The property is as safe as we can make it, and Lily only lingers long enough to grab a photo album off the bureau before we head out the back. Cooper is waiting in the SUV, engine running but lights off, and we stow the luggage while Lily climbs inside. We’ve agreed to use the service road that runs behind myhouse for our getaway, and we sit in a charged silence until we hit the highway.
“This is so surreal,” Lily says quietly, her gaze turned to the window. She’s tucked under my arm, with Otley in the front with Cooper, and Tristan and Leo in the wayback seat behind us. “I was so worried about how we were going to manage the summer rush and now it’s just…”
Her voice fades and Otley turns to meet her gaze, his expression fierce. “We’ll fix this, Lily. Tristan’s cancelled the Eros contract and Ellis’ agent will release a statement that he’s taking a break from acting and will be in San Francisco for the rest of the summer.”
“What?” She sounds dismayed as she twists in her seat to face Tristan. “But you really wanted this job! You were so excited about it.”
“It’s not worth making your life harder,” Tristan replies, looking resolute. “You’re too polite to say it, but this mess is on us. I’m sorry Della turned up and made it worse.”
“No.” Her voice catches, and she has to clear it before she can go on. “I mean, the balloon thing wasn’t great, but if he promises to park it in someone else’s field, you can use the farm for your campaign.”
“Seriously?” Tristan bites his lip, clearly torn. “Don’t let Della pressure you into anything.”
Lily gives a weary laugh. “Tristan, the guy is a pain in my alfalfa, but he offered me crazy money for a week of shooting. I’d kick myself if I let a chance like that go by.”
He still looks conflicted, but a small smile slowly peeks past his hesitation. “Well, that would be amazing, obviously. But we can see how things go, okay? It’s not a problem if you change your mind.”
“Just as long as everyone’s safe, I’m good with it.” She flicks a glance at Leo, who’s watching her with an angelic expression.“That means be on your best behavior, and maybe Tristan will let you watch him work sometime.”
“Promise, mom,” Leo chirps, already wriggling with excitement. “I’ll be so good, no one will know I’m there!”
Lily just gives a rueful shake of her head and subsides back against my side, her hand creeping into mine. “I’ll believe that when I see it,” she murmurs.
I can’t resist kissing her head. “He’s a great kid. Between us all, we’ll keep his wings clipped.”
“No, I want him to fly,” she says softly, her eyes meeting mine in a look that settles in my bones. “We just need to make sure he always has a soft landing, okay?”
“I’ll make it my mission, LeeLee.”
She smiles at me, but we’re distracted by the security check as we pull up to the private road leading to Willow Manor. Cooper buzzes down his window to check in with the guys stationed on the gate, and then we’re cutting through black cottonwoods and coyote willows until the lake comes into view. There’s another couple of guys waiting on the porch of the rambling house, which looks like something out of a Tim Burton movie with its pointy towers and quirky windows. I’ve never been this close to the place, and I have to admit, it’s impressively large and twice as creepy as I thought it’d be.
“I can’t believe I get to sleep in a haunted house!” Leo crows, his nose pressed to the glass. “Wait until I tell Cody. He’s gonna be so bummed he’s not here too.”
While I’m scolding him for his language, Tristan looks at him in astonishment. “Did you say haunted?”
“Uh-huh.” Leo’s face glows with glee. “This place iscrammedwith ghosts!”
He’s already opening the door and scooting out, and Lily gives a weary chuckle at the look Tristan shoots Otley. “Did your realtor forget to mention that minor detail?”
“I didn’t really ask her a lot of questions,” Otley mutters, his stiff pose betraying his discomfort as he climbs out. I’m tempted to laugh at the thought of Sue Ellen with the apple pie smile getting one over the property tycoon – until Lily slides off the seat and almost falls out the door. Otley, luckily, is there in a flash, cradling her in his arms, and I feel a stab of that jealousy Leo was talking about. It only grows stronger as I join them and get another whiff of their mingled scents, like warm cherry pie and vanilla ice cream. But then Otley is shifting Lily towards me, his gaze dipping to her pale face as I lift her into my arms. “Hey, I got you, sweetheart.”
