“You girls go straight to the house. Cade will drive you to Gram’s to get some of your things.”

15

Luke

I stood on Lily’s parents’ front porch and stared at the doorbell with memories of ringing it at age sixteen blasting through my head. I took a deep breath to try to calm my out of control nerves. I’d been nervous back then too, but with happy anticipation rather than the feeling that one misstep could cause me to lose everything. I blew out a breath and pressed the doorbell.

Rose answered. “We had an incident today.” I shook off the memories and focused on Rose as she explained. “Your job is to distract Lily and keep her mind off all this crap going on. Don’t let her freak out.”

I had assumed I was picking her up here because the kids were here. “Is it safe to go out?” I asked.

“I don’t have to tell you to keep your guard up. From what I’ve seen, it’s always up now.” Rose smiled softly. “A car followed us today, bumped the back of us, and he had her phone. Dad is taking care of it. Ash was supposed to take the kids out, but we’re all going to hang here tonight instead.” She stepped aside to let me in. “Everyone is out back, grilling and swimming. I’m going to head out there.” On her way out she yelled for Lily to come downstairs.

I stood at the foot of the stairs to wait. When I glanced up, I saw her foot, clad in a strappy black high heel, hit the top of the staircase, followed by a beautiful leg that went up, up, up to reach the bottom of a tight silvery black dress. My eyes trailed up and down her beautiful body, her tiny waist, her curvy hips. Then she bent to adjust the strap on her heel and treated me to a view of the locket I’d given her as it fell from her cleavage. I blinked and took a deep breath. I looked up again to her beautiful face framed by soft red curls that fell in a cascade over one bare shoulder. I smiled at her, and she returned it. She had always been beautiful to me, always. But now, she was breathtaking. I smoothed down my shirt and straightened my tie as she approached.