Lily’s expression took Shade’s breath away. He missed a step before righting himself, apologizing to Bliss for smashing her foot under his.
Knox gave him a wary glance as Diamond pulled Lily onto the dance floor. Diamond’s stubborn expression showed she wasn’t giving the brother a choice other than to dance with them both.
The only thing that saved him from Shade decking him was he danced close to Diamond’s side, staying as far away from Lily as the crowded floor would allow.
Lily stayed on Diamond’s other side, dancing with youthful enthusiasm. She was good, her lithe body moving to the music as a rosy glow crept onto her cheeks, her purple eyes sparkling with joy. She twirled when the music ended, laughing at Diamond’s astonishment at her skill, missing Shade’s own awe.
“You’re very good,” Diamond complimented her.
“Beth and I used to dance in our bedrooms when we were little. We were terrible, but it was just us, so we didn’t care,” Lily confessed.
“You’re not terrible now; you’re really good.”
“My roommate has been teaching me. She likes to go to some of the college parties, and she makes me go with her.” Her voice was a little loud, so he could easily hear over the music.
Shade decided he was going to deduct from Penni’s allowance for taking Lily to parties.
She twirled again, and that time, Shade was waiting. Lily immediately tried to shy away from him, but Shade held her close with his arm around her waist.
“You dance with guys at these parties?” Shade asked.
“No,” Lily said, trying to break away.
Shade loosened his grip, letting Lily put some space between them.
“Dance with me,” he said persuasively, loosening his hold.
As Razer and Beth came to dance next to them, Beth sent Lily an encouraging smile. Shade had expected Beth to make an excuse for her sister and provide an escape from him, not encourage her.
Lily slowly began to dance to the music, yet she didn’t regain the fluidity of before. Her hand went to her wrist, but Shade sent her a warning glance and she removed it. As soon as the music was over, she fled from him, leaving him standing alone on the dance floor. He followed slowly.
“It’s time I leave. I’m going back to school tonight. My roommate is picking me up at my house. She’s visiting a family friend. Beth didn’t want me to drive back in the dark.” Lily accepted her sister’s over-protectiveness without complaint herself before they could reach their chairs. She hugged Beth and Razer goodbye. “See you in a couple of weeks.”
“Bye, little sis,” Razer said with his arm around Beth’s shoulder.
Lily turned to Diamond, giving her a quick hug. “It was nice seeing you again, Diamond.”
“You, too, Lily. Drive careful.”
“I will,” Lily murmured, stepping toward the door, avoiding Shade’s sharp gaze.
Each time she left, it was torture for him.
Arms circled his waist as Bliss pressed her breasts to his back. “Can we finish dancing now?”
“I don’t feel like dancing.” He removed her hands from his waist and went inside.
* * *
The motorcycle drove steadily up the mountain road, taking the curves at maximum speed. He passed Rosie’s bar on his way back to the clubhouse, and there was a patrol car beginning to pull out of the parking lot. Seconds later, he saw the flashing blue lights in his rearview mirror. Slowing down, he pulled carefully off the road.
Shade turned off his motor as he watched the sheriff get out of his car. The thought struck him that he was walking slower and his face had become more lined since the last time Shade had seen him, which had been only the week before.
“What are you doing out so late?” The sheriff greeted him with the gruff question.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Knox just passed ahead of you. Something going on I need to know about?” The sheriff always tried to stay alert to possible trouble involving The Last Riders.
“No.”
The sheriff stared at him silently, patiently waiting for more information.
“Nothing’s going on. Knox took his woman home and was going back to the clubhouse,” he explained, knowing he would worry.
“Anyone I know?” he asked curiously.
“Diamond Richards.”
The sheriff whistled. “Never would have guessed that one.”
“You’re looking tired.”
“I am. I’m a deputy short.” The sheriff sighed, raising his hand to rub his eyes. “When Cash asked me to come up here and check on Beth and Lily, I never expected to stay this long.”
“I know.”
“Rach wants to travel. Lost one wife not listening to what she wanted, don’t plan on getting another divorce in this stage of my life.”
“She won’t divorce you. Maybe stop cooking for you, but she wouldn’t leave you.”
“I asked Lucky, if I retired, if he would take over,” his dad said, looking up the dark road ahead.
“What was his answer?”
“He told me to shove it.” The sheriff didn’t try to hide his disappointment at wanting to turn the reins of the sheriff’s office over to someone he could trust.
His dad turned the conversation back to the reason he had made the stop. “Penni stopped by to see us. She was pretty upset about you calling her to jump on her ass.”
“She doesn’t need to be going to parties, and she damn sure doesn’t need to take Lily with her.”
“Go home and go to bed, Shade. You’re looking tired yourself. You’re not going to find what you’re looking for on this mountain road.” The Sheriff turned to walk away, but
then turned back. “And slow your ass down.”
“I will. Night, Dad.” Shade started his motor, pulling out onto the road.
“Night, son.”
No, he was not going to find what he wanted in the mountains; she was sleeping in her room at college. Shade had begun driving down a couple times a week to check on her. Every time he got on his bike for a ride, he swore he wouldn’t go there, yet he would inevitably find himself sitting outside her dorm. It had even gotten to the point he had hoped she saw him.
Penni had come out tonight while he had sat there on his motorcycle.
“Shade, if you don’t leave, someone will call campus security.”
He shrugged. “I’ll tell them I’m here visiting you.”
“Is this how you want her to find out you’re my brother?”
“No,” he admitted.
“Then go home, Shade. Lily’s sleeping, so go home and get some yourself. You look like you haven’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks.”
Penni hugged him as Shade sat stiffly, keeping his hands by his side until she slowly released him then turned to go back inside.
“Penni?” She turned back to face him. “Don’t take her to any more parties.”
Chapter 32
“Where you two going?” Shade asked Knox and Razer, who were leaving the diner as he was entering.
“Diamond called, said she had some news about my case. I’m going to her office. Viper wanted Razer to tag along.” He nodded to where Viper sat, eating in the back.
“You finish lunch?” Shade asked Razer.
“No, the waitress just brought my food,” Razer answered grumpily.
“Go eat. I’ll eat later.”
“You sure?”
Shade nodded, going with Knox.
“Diamond say what it was about?”
“No, only that it was good news.”
Shade hoped so. He let Knox enter the office first while he picked up a UPS box sitting outside her door. He was placing it on the desk of Diamond’s secretary when he saw Diamond run across her private office, throwing herself into Knox’s arms. Shade backed away toward the door, not wanting to interrupt them.