A Love Stolen (2 page)

"Hey, Lila."

Chapter Two

Trevor shoved his hands in the pockets of his khakis to keep from touching her; his fingers itched to stroke her cheek, and he had to fight the urge to hug her. She was more beautiful than the girl who'd left six years ago. She'd developed into a stunning woman. Her blonde hair was longer; it fell over her shoulders and down her back. It was a shade darker than it used to be. She looked up at him with those amber eyes, and every minute they'd ever spent together came flooding back, as if not a day had gone by.

"Trevor," she said. "I didn't think you were in Steeple. How are you?"

"Okay." He nodded. "I'm sorry about your dad. I wasn't in town, or else I would have been at the service."

"That's okay." She fidgeted with her keys. "It was small and simple. Just the way he would have wanted it."

"I wanted to be here, but I had to help Mary Grace and Jeremy settle into their new home. They moved closer to Boston."

"I heard," Lila said. "How is your son? I know he was sick. Jenson kept me updated on Jeremy's condition." She seemed sincere. But of course, she would be cordial. That was Lila.

"He's doing much better, thank you." He wondered if she knew he'd gotten a divorce. Jenson probably told her that, too. "He was diagnosed with a blood disorder, so at least we finally know what we're dealing with. We felt it best for him to live closer to the city. The hospital there has a wonderful facility that specializes in his type of illness."

"You didn't want to go with them?"

"Well, I—"

"I'm sorry." Lila cut him off. "It's none of my business."

He shook his head. "Things didn't work out with me and his mom. It was better if I stayed here."

He wanted to tell her everything he'd been through these past few years.

Lila stared at him for a few moments. He wondered if she remembered the long

walks on the beach, the make-out sessions in the back of his old pick-up truck, and the way he could make her scream. He hadn't forgotten any of the things they'd shared.

"Are you staying in town long?"

"Um, I'm not sure."

"Well, maybe we could meet for coffee. Catch up?" He had to start someplace, and coffee seemed as good a place as any.

"Maybe." She shrugged.

He knew he shouldn't hold his breath. She was just being polite.

"I'll be at the station all day tomorrow, if you want to stop by. I'd love to talk."

"It was nice seeing you, Trevor." She smiled. "I have to go."

"See you around." He held the door open for her. "Take care."

"You, too." She lingered in the doorway for a few seconds, making it harder for him not to lean in and kiss her goodbye. "'Bye."

He watched as she walked to her car. He imagined she'd drive straight out of

town and out of his life a second time. Maybe that would be the best thing for both of them. They'd had their moment, and they'd lost it. Trevor couldn't help but think it was too late. Lila didn't given him much indication either way.

He sat down at the bar. It hadn't been the best day. He hated to leave his son in the city, but he didn't have much choice. The divorce was final. Mary Grace hadn't fought him on it. He hadn't expected her to.

"Not on duty, Sheriff?" Cali placed a beverage napkin in front of him.

"Nope," he said. "I'll take a Stella."

"You better leave Lila alone." Cali hit the tap and placed his beer in front of him.

"She's been through enough."

"You're a real gem. You know that." He sipped his drink. "Why don't we let Lila decide for herself?"

Trevor wasn't Cali's favorite person. She blamed him for Lila leaving town.

"Lila doesn't need you," Cali said. "She's doing fine all on her own."

"Cut him a break," Jenson said, and then turned to look at Trevor. "How did Jeremy do with the move?"

"He likes his new room." Trevor smiled when he remembered how excited his son was when he saw the new baseball comforter. "He'll be fine."

Truthfully, Trevor was going to have a harder time adjusting. The divorce was

inevitable. His relationship with his ex-wife ended a long time ago, but he still hated to see his son go.

"Sorry about you and Mary Grace. I know you didn't want them to move."

Trevor always liked Jenson. She was sweet and caring. He could see why Lila adored her.

"Why did you let them go without you?" Cali asked.

"It's really none of your business." Trevor downed his beer. He never got what Lila saw in Cali. She was the complete opposite of Jenson.

"Whatever." Cali walked to the other side of the bar.

"Ignore her," Jenson said. "We've just been worried about Lila. She's going through some hard times."

"How's she holding up?" Lila had looked sad. He'd wanted to hold her and comfort her.

"She's as good as she can be with her dad's death. She knew it was time. He suffered for a while."

Trevor hated to think about Lila going through any of that alone.

"Is she planning on staying in Steeple?" He tried not to sound desperate, but he wanted to talk to her. They hadn't spoken in years. Now that she was back in town, he wanted a chance to make things right with her. He didn't have high expectations, but he wanted to apologize, at least, for the way things ended between them.

"She's not sure. She got laid off in June, so she doesn't have to rush back to Boston. She's struggling with selling her parents' house."

"Jenson, Lila will tell him what she wants him to know." Cali placed another beer in front of Trevor. "You're walking home, right?"

"Yeah, it would do me no good to get a DUI." He rolled his eyes; as if he'd drink and drive. "Don't worry, Jenson's not betraying Lila. I just wanted to make sure she's okay."

"She will be," Cali said. "Are you planning on contacting her?"

"I'd like to." Trevor knew there were so many things that needed to be said.

"Give her a day or two," Cali said. "She's had a rough few months."

"I'm sure she'll get in touch with you." Jenson hopped off the stool. "You ready, Cali?"

"Yeah." She nodded toward the end of the bar. "Kirk's on now. He'll take care of you."

"Thanks," Trevor said. "Have a good night."

They both said goodbye and headed out on their way. Trevor had a feeling

neither of them wanted him to have anything to do with Lila. Not after the way things had ended between the two of them. There wasn't a day in the past six years he hadn't thought about her and what might have been.

* * * * *

"Trevor!" Lila screamed as he threw her over his shoulder and ran her down the beach. "Where are we going?"

"Someplace a little more secluded." He carried her to the cove behind the dunes because he was having a hard time keeping his hands off her.

"We'll miss the party."

"We can have our own party." He placed her on her feet, then spread out the blanket he'd swiped from the bonfire party. He sat down before pulling her into his lap.

"I don't want to share you with all those people."

It was a warm June night. Lila had graduated from high school a few days

before, and her classmates were celebrating on the beach.

"What do you want to do with me?"

"Hmm." He slipped his hand under her sundress and ran his fingers over her panties. "I want these off."

She bit her lip, and hesitated at his request.

"Don't say no to me." He kissed her as he tugged on the white lace. "Take them off."

She lifted her hips and allowed him to slide her panties down her legs. She

slipped them off with her toes as she sought out his lips.

"Good girl." He pressed his lips to hers, then spread his legs, turned her around and positioned her between them.

"I'm going to have sand everywhere." She rested her back against his chest and let his hands explore her body.

"It'll be worth it." He ran his palm over the thin material of her dress, squeezing her breasts and teasing her nipples with his fingertips. As he played with her breasts, he moved his other hand between her thighs to push his fingers inside her warmth.

"God, Trevor." She thrust her hips, causing his fingers to slide deeper.

"You're so wet," he whispered against her ear.

"You make me wet." She rocked against his hand. "Kiss my neck, leave marks."

"Your father will kill me." He lowered his lips to her soft, warm skin.

"I'm eighteen." She wiggled her ass against his hard cock. "What's he going to say?"

He moved his fingers in and out of her, pressing his thumb against her clit as he sucked on the side of her neck.

"Trevor . . . ." She spread her legs wide and let him finger her until she came.

He looked up at the clear moonlit sky as he continued to stroke her. He knew

they didn't have a care or worry in the world. The future held so many possibilities.

"Still want to go back to the party?" He kissed her neck.

She turned and reached for his belt buckle. "Your turn."

* * * * *

"Sheriff?" Trevor heard a voice in the distance. "Trev?"

"Yeah?" Trevor looked up from his beer, shaking the memory from his mind.

"Can I get you another?" Kirk pointed to his empty glass.

"No." Trevor reached into his pocket and pulled out a twenty. "I'm done."

"You okay, man?"

"I'm good." He threw the money down on the bar. "I'll see you around."

"You know she's back, right?" Kirk and Trevor had been friends since high school. Kirk was there from the beginning of Trevor's relationship with Lila. He was Trevor's best man at his wedding to Mary Grace. Kirk stood by Trevor, even when Trevor doubted his own decisions.

"I saw her."

"What'd she say?"

"Not much." Trevor headed toward the front door. "I didn't expect her to."

Chapter Three

Lila spent the next morning running errands. She'd hit the supermarket, the post office, and the hardware store. The weatherman said they were gearing up for a late summer storm, possibly a hurricane, so she wanted to get flashlights and extra

firewood. She didn't want to get caught up at the house all alone and without the proper supplies.

She tried to make her way out of town and back to her house as fast as she could.

She didn't want to run the risk of bumping into Trevor. She hadn't been prepared to see him yesterday. She'd hoped he'd stay with Mary Grace and Jeremy in the new house long enough for her to make the decisions she needed about her father's house.

"Lila." Jenson caught up to her. "What's the rush? I thought you were going to stop in the bookstore."

"Sorry, Jenson." Lila looked around the street. "I ran so many errands this morning, and now I'm beat."

"Didn't sleep well again last night?"

Lila shook her head. Her restless nights made her days long and miserable.

"You don't have to stay out there alone, you know. You can crash at my place."

"I know, Cali offered the same thing, but I'm fine."

"The house is so secluded. Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm not afraid of the woods." She laughed as she glanced at the police station.

"But, you're afraid you'll run into the sheriff?"

"Kind of."

"He wants to talk to you. He told me last night. Maybe, if you heard him out, you might get some resolution."

"I don't need resolution."

"I think you do." Jenson was sincere. "Six years is too long to carry all that negative energy around. You left, and didn't give him a chance to make things right."

"How was he going to make anything right? He chose her."

"He chose to do the right thing. He wanted to take care of his responsibility. You left before he even had a chance to tell you if he
wanted
to be with Mary Grace. You don't know who he would've chosen."

"I knew." Lila watched as Trevor came out of the station. "Damn it."

Now she'd never make a clean getaway.

"You can't run from him forever." Jenson headed back inside the The Book Nook.

"Hear him out."

"Don't leave me." Lila pleaded with her friend, but Jenson waved just as Trevor approached.

"Hey." He walked over, dressed as impeccably as she'd remembered his own father looking, when he was sheriff. Only Trevor was cuter, and way more muscular.

He removed his wide brim hat and smiled.

"Hey." He'd gotten more attractive with age, but she'd spotted the lines under his eyes as soon as she'd seen him the day before. She'd imagined they'd come from

worrying about his sick son. He looked tired and frustrated.

"How's it going?" He stepped closer, almost as if he wanted to kiss her, but when she didn't respond, he moved back.

"Good, but I'm not really in the mood for small talk." She didn't mean to be short, but she was on emotional overload. Seeing him brought back memories she didn't care to rehash.

"Sorry." He nodded. "I just wanted to say hello. You know where to find me if you want to talk."

He turned and headed back toward the station, looking defeated.

"Trev." She took a few steps to meet him. "I'm dealing with a lot, and I wasn't prepared to see you. I'm sorry if I'm being a bitch."

"You're not. I understand. It must be hard to have to come back here after so many years. I'm probably the last person you wanted to see."

"I knew it was unavoidable. It's a small town."

"Jenson said you weren't sure if you were going to stay. I just wanted to tell you I won't cause a problem for you. If being around your friends is what you need now, please don't leave Steeple because of me. I'll keep my distance and stay out of your way."

"You don't have to do that." She wasn't sure she wanted him to stay away altogether. "Maybe, in a couple of days, we could meet for coffee. I mean, if you still want to."

She was transported back to that seventeen-year-old girl. The one who gushed

when the older college kid asked her out on a date.

"Very much." He looked relieved. "I'd love to hear about your life."

"It's pretty boring."