The moment our eyes meet, her expression lights up. She grins widely at me, and all the anxiety I saw from a distance fades away. “Hi, Ryder. It’s good to see you again.”
A knot loosens in my chest, and I grin back at her. “Hi, Lily. You too.”
We stand there staring at each other for a beat too long, but Gwen saves me. “Lily! So good to see you.”
Lily passes through her brothers to give Gwen a hug, and her brothers stiffen at her approach.Ease up, guys.I don’t think they realize how much worse they’re making it for Lily by acting like she’s royalty entering society for the first time. The more they tense up, the more people notice what’s happening. In fact, the crowd around us is openly gawking now.
“It’s good to see you, Gwen,” Lily says. She pulls back and glances at me, then at her brothers, and finally she looks around at the crowd. Her smile falls as she notices all the people noticing her. Her eyes meet mine again, the worry evident to everyone.
“Ryder, Gwen, why don’t you join us?” Agatha asks. She pats me on the shoulder. “Ryder here has been a stunt double in Hollywood. I bet he can keep Lily safe.”
Adam and Henry exchange a glance, one I read as sayingLike he could do anything we can’t, and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck raise up. My hand balls into a fist, but Gwen squeezes my shoulder to stop me from doing something stupid. “We’d love to join you,” she says.
“Fabulous!” Agatha cries, throwing her hands in the air. “Let’s go!”
Adam and Henry push past me. “Come on, Lily,” Adam says,his voice gruff and his eyes narrowed at me. She shoots me an apologetic glance and follows her brothers, flanked on either side by their fiancées.
Agatha hangs back with me and Gwen. “Sorry for the cold greeting,” she murmurs.
“They really take this seriously, huh?” Gwen asks.
“Lily is the eternal reminder of the mother they loved and lost,” Agatha replies. “They guard her with their lives.” She shoots me a warning glance, then follows behind.
“You’re sure you want to get involved with this family?” Gwen asks.
I sigh. If it were any other woman, the answer would be no. I don’t like this macho energy, especially coming from Adam.
But for Lily? Sweet, kind, sincere Lily, who deserves the world?
I tip my head in their direction and start walking. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
CHAPTER 25
Lily
FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN — FANTAISIE-IMPROMPTU IN C-SHARP MINOR, OP. 66
The flower festival is just as stressful as I expected it to be.
Maybe worse.
I assume the flowers around us are beautiful. But all I see is people looking at me. Whispering. With a single glance, they recognize who I am. I’m sure my imposing brothers and entourage aren’t helping the situation. Add in my long blonde hair, and there’s no question who I am.
I hear the words floating around me. “Lily Stone,” “Tristan Jackson,” “married,” “Vegas,” “disappeared.”
So much for a positive experience. What was Mr. Calhoun thinking? I’m not acclimating to my environment here at the festival. I’m surrounded by reminders of the stupid decisions I’ve made and the way I publicized them for the world to know.
My palms are sweaty and my heart is racing, but I keep walking through the stalls, my eyes fixed forward.
Behind me, I sense Ryder’s steady presence. It’s the only thing that’s keeping me from making a run for it back to the tower.
“Agatha!” Gracie calls out to her from a stall full of peonies.
“Gracie, dear.” Agatha glances at me, then heads over to give her friend a hug. Of all Agatha’s friends, at least it’s Gracie. She’s the most conscious of her surroundings and aware of social propriety.
Gracie looks at my family with a smile. “You have your whole family with you today. That’s so lovely.” She picks me out, and her grin widens a little, but she doesn’t make a production out of it. “Lily. It’s so nice to see you.”
“Thank you,” I say, but my voice barely comes out in a croak. I clear it and try again. “Thanks. It’s good to be out.”
