Just Perfect (3 page)

Sam stood at the bay doors watching Lily's car disappear a
little too quickly down the road.  Why didn't she recognize arousal when she
felt it?  She had a kid so she obviously had sex before.  She was young but not
so young to be entirely innocent.  He'd find out soon enough.  He wanted to
know everything about her.

His brother's voice cut into his thoughts.  “Who was that
sweet thing?”

Sam narrowed his eyes at him.  “None of your damn business. 
Are you done eating yet?  We have work to do.”

“Touchy, touchy big brother.  Just curious.  She looked a
little young for an old man like you.  Just right for me, though.”  Dean said.
“I can't believe how good lookin' her mom is either,” he let out a whistle,
“Good genes in that family.”

“Stay away from her, Dean.” 

Dean paused just before shoving a big chocolate cupcake in
his mouth.

“And don't eat all the cupcakes.  I know for a fact you were
raised with manners.  Use them.”

Dean took a bite and moaned in bliss.  “Holy shit, this is
good.”

“Finish that and get to work,” Sam growled.  He walked back
to the Fleetwood he'd been working on before Lily showed up.  He wondered what
she would think of Dean.  Women thought he was handsome and charming.  He loved
his brother but wouldn't hesitate to beat the shit out of him if he turned his
charm on Lily.  Dean was closer to her age.  He could probably find the right
words to get her to relax. 

“I won't come on to her Sam.  I promise,” Dean said in an
unusually solemn voice.

“Good to know.”

“So... you’re really interested in her, huh?”

“More than interested. Let’s leave it at that.”

Lily re-lived her humiliation during the ride home.  What
was wrong with her body?  Both times that she had been around Sam, her nerves
went haywire. 

“Sam seems interested in you.”  Her mom said casually.

Ya think?
  “I'm not interested in him, though.”

“It's alright if you want to date.  It's been-”

“I don't want to date, Mom, I just want us to get on solid
ground with bills so we don't lose the farm house.” Lily was determined not to
lose the house she grew up in.  The house Johnathan is growing up in.  It was
more than a house. It was a sanctuary.

“Speaking of dating,” she began, turning the tables on her
mom, “Glen seemed pretty taken with you.”

Her mom blushed. “He was very nice.”

Something in her mom's voice made her worry.  “You're not
interested in him, are you?”

“I just met him, Lily.'

“Mom, it's too soon, I don't want to see you hurt.”

“I'm all right honey, and, believe it or not, I'm a grown
woman.”

“I remember what it was like after Daddy died, Mamma.”  Lily
reminded her.

A far off look came into her mom’s eyes.  “I loved him so
very much.  I still miss him every day.”

“I know.  I've never seen two people more in love.  I'm
sorry.  I don't know what's wrong with me lately.”

“I think it has something to do with Sam,” Sarah said as she
patted her daughter's knee.

“I told him I wasn't interested.  Hopefully, I won't have to
see him again after next Friday.”  Her mom became silent and became overly
interested in the scenery out the window.  Lily began to feel uneasy “What? 
What's wrong?”

“Well,” she began, “I invited Glen out to the house for
Sunday lunch and asked him to bring Sam.”

“What!  Why would you do that?  I don't want to see Sam
again at all.  Let alone at our house.  What about Johnathan?  He's going to
see men parading in and out of our house!”  She was panicking.  Her sweet
mother had the audacity to chuckle.
Chuckle!

“Oh please, Lily.  When your Dad was alive people came over
all the time.  Johnathan is used to it.”  She waved her hand. “It'll be nice to
have company.”

No no no no.
 “I really wish you would have spoken to
me first.  We're supposed to be in this together.”  She knew she sounded
pathetic.  Lily pulled the car up next to the house.  Taking a deep breath, she
turned to her mom.  As she started to speak her mom held up a hand.

“I could never ask for a better daughter.  We never would
have made it if it hadn't been for you.  We will
always
be in this
together.  However, we have been living like hermits since your dad died.  We
need to interact with other people for more than cake orders.  You haven't had
a friend since John died.  It's time to live again.  It will be good for
Johnathan to see us do things besides work and worry.”  Then she patted Lily’s knee
again and left the car, stopping any possible argument.

Lily stared after her mom.  She got a tight feeling in her
chest.  Things were changing and she hated change.  Hated not knowing what was
going to happen.

Sam in their house?  How was she going to get through a meal
with him at the table?  She could picture it now.  She'd be a red-faced
stuttering idiot unable to carry on an ordinary conversation.

She dropped her head onto the steering wheel.  She was
uncomfortable with the way her body came to life with Sam near.  It wasn't a
gradual awakening as it had been with John, but a lightning strike.

Again, she tried to conjure John's face and his memory. 
With frustration, she squeezed her eyes shut and gripped the steering wheel
tightly willing the memories to come.  They were just kids.  Seventeen and
eighteen.  She was at the lake with her friends and John was working in the
bait shop at the marina.  She and her friends went into the bait shop to get some
drinks.  One of her friends, Alison, kept flirting with him but he only had eyes
for Lily.  She thought he was the cutest guy she'd ever seen.  Blond hair, blue
eyes, killer smile and a
job
.  They spent as many days together as they
could.  Which wasn't an easy thing since her dad didn't like the idea of her
spending so much time with a boy who was going away to college.  He thought she
would get her heart broken.  He dad was right.  She did get her heart broken. 
Lily never so much as looked at another guy since that summer.  It was her
fault John died.  She would never forgive herself.

“Mamma?”  Lily jerked her head up at the sound of her son’s
voice.  “What are you doing?”  He asked as he opened the car door.

“Oh...nothing.  We just got home from delivering cupcakes,”
She said a little too brightly. How long had she been sitting here?  “I didn't
hear the bus.  How was your day?”

His concerned eyes studied her face for a moment and then he
touched two fingers to her cheek.  She didn't realize she'd been crying.

“What's wrong Mamma?”  Voice to serious for a
seven-year-old, he leaned into her side seeking comfort and reassurance.  She
hugged him to her side.

“I'm all right honey.  I promise.”

“Why were you crying?”

“I guess I'm missing your dad and Papa today.  But this hug
is making me feel so much better.”

Johnathan put his arms around her and squeezed.  “I miss
Papa too.”

He never met his father so he didn't miss him.  What he
missed was the absence of a father figure since his Papa died.  “Are you
hungry?  How about we eat a snack and then the two of us can take a walk?  We
can count all the different colored leaves.”  Lily loved fall and the trees
around the farmhouse put on a colorful show of leaves.  A walk was just what
she needed.  The fresh air would help clear her head.

“Okay,” he said pulling back to look in her face.

“I love you, kiddo,” she said “don't worry.  Everything is
fine.   I promise.  I think I have a few cupcakes left over from the batch I
took to Sam.  You want one?”

“
Before
dinner?”

She laughed at his shocked face, “Just this once.  Let's
go.”  A measure of peace filled her chest.  This was all she needed.  Her son,
her mom and this house.

***

Lily woke up early Saturday morning to fill six cake
orders.  With any luck, the ladies would have their cakes picked up and gone by
two.  The growing cake orders were helping, but to make real money she needed a
commercial kitchen.  If she could get enough money together to rent one in the
vacant building in town things could really turn around for them.  She had the
talent and the clients and even received several requests for wedding cakes in
the spring.  Unfortunately, she didn't have storage or working space for big
cakes. 

Her mom came in the kitchen ready to help and the two of
them knocked out the cakes in plenty of time before they were picked up.  When
the final cake had been taken away, they sat down with coffee to make a grocery
list.  Two of the women placed big cinnamon rolls orders for church functions. 
It meant less sleep but more money.

“Lily,” her mom began “I'm thinking of selling the house.”

Lily's stomach dropped “
What?
”  was all she could get
out.

“I think we should sell it before we lose it.”  Her mom’s
gaze was steady on her....and her look was determined.

Lily realized she'd been thinking about this for a while and
was waiting for the right time to tell her.

“No Mom.  We can-”

“No Lily.  It's too much.  We're going to have to let it
go.  We can move to town and get out from under some of this debt.”  Her gaze
never wavered.

“I'll get a job working nights.  You're better now.  You can
watch Johnathan and get things ready for orders and I'll start baking as soon
as I get home-”

“Lily!”  her mom grabbed her hand with surprising strength. 
“You’re already spread too thin.  We need to take some of the pressure off. 
Your father worked and worried himself to death.  I won't watch you do the
same.  I'm putting it on the market next week.  We'll find something more
manageable and concentrate on the baking business.”

“It's my home too Mom.  And Johnathan's.”  She pleaded
weakly.  She felt everything slipping away.  She couldn't let this happen. 
They worked so hard to save it, they couldn't give up now.

“I know honey.  But your dad would hate to see us struggle
like this.  We have to stop hiding here and move on.”

'I'm not hiding.”

“You've been hiding since John died.  And we let you.  We
certainly didn't do you any favors.  Now you're scared of anything that's not
your son, this house or me.  I'm sorry it hurts, but it's time to let go.”

Lily sat at the table feeling hollowed out and sorry for
herself long after her mom left.
Tired
,
so
tired
.  She got
up from the table and walked to the kitchen window to watch Johnathan and her
mom playing on the swing set. Her son was laughing and the sun glinted off his
golden curls.  Her heart hurt.  He was so happy here.  Would he be happy
somewhere else?  Her shoulders slumped.  She needed to take a nap.  Just a
short one.  Maybe she would think better with a fresh brain.  Lily trudged up
the stairs to her room to rest for just a few minutes.  That was her last
thought before her head touched her pillow.

A delicious scent roused her from a thick haze of sleep. 
Lily turned over on her back and attempted to orient herself.  What time was
it?  The sun streaming through the curtains was too bright for it to be early morning. 
She couldn't believe she slept from yesterday afternoon all through the night. 
She was running low on energy and her body was trying to recharge.  Forcing
herself to sit up she brushed the wild twists of curls from her face.  She even
slept in her clothes.  She rolled out of bed and stripped out of yesterday’s
clothes and pulled on her favorite baby blue drawstring cotton shorts and a
fresh white t-shirt.  With a zombie-like walk, she headed for the kitchen for
much-needed coffee.

At the bottom of the stairs she called out to her mom, “Mom,
I'm so sorry I slept in.  I guess I was more tired than I thought.  Whatever
you’re cooking smells wonderful.” Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she rounded
the hall to the kitchen “Is there any coffee left-”  When she dropped her arms
she stopped mid-step at the sight of Sam sitting at their kitchen island.  He
stood up and turned to face her.  Lily’s brain barely registered the other
people in the room.  Or that her mom was talking.  Sam held her eyes captive for
several heartbeats.  She heard a roaring sound in her ears and her hands
started to shake. 

Johnathan wrapped his arms around her waist and it brought
her back to her surroundings.  Pulling her eyes from Sam, Lily looked down at
her son.

“You slept all morning.  You even slept longer than
me
,”
he said with wide eyes, “you never sleep longer than me.”  Still unable to find
her voice she hugged him close.

“Lily, honey, It's afternoon.  I was getting ready to come
check on you.  Are you feeling alright?”

Her mom was at the standing in front of the stove stirring a
pot.  She looked pretty wearing a short sleeved pink blouse and
comfortable-looking blue jeans.  It was just then that she noticed Glen
standing next to her.  A little too close.  Lily frowned.

“Lily?”

She jerked her gaze back to her mom and saw the worried look
in her blue eyes.  She couldn't summon up enough sympathy to care, though.  All
of the sudden, she was angry.  It seemed like overnight everything changed. She
swung her eyes to Sam.  He might not be the entire reason for her anger but it
all appeared to come to a head since meeting him.  He looked tall, strong and
capable of handling her irritation.  And for some reason, that just added fuel
to the fire.  In dark blue jeans and a blue long sleeved button up shirt that
complimented his deep blue eyes, he looked so handsome it pissed her off even
more.  Her eyes narrowed on him and his eyes narrowed back.  She wanted to lash
out at him but she couldn't.  Her son was here as well as her mom.  It was
overwhelmingly frustrating that she couldn’t tell him to get the hell out of
her house without horrifying her mother.

“No, I'm not feeling well today, I'm afraid.  Please go
ahead and enjoy your lunch.” Turning to Johnathan, she said, “Be good for Gramma
and her company.  I'm going back upstairs.  Don't forget we still have your
reading homework to do today.”  She avoided looking at anyone else in the
room. 

“I already did it this morning, Mom.  I had to because guess
what?”  His arms squeezed her tighter in his excitement, his blue eyes
dancing. 

“What, honey?”

“We're going to the movies!”  He announced with a jump that
jostled her. 

Her gaze met her mother’s.  Why had she made these plans? 
They couldn't afford the movies.  Her mom looked just as excited as her son.

Glen cleared his throat, “I wanted to take everyone.  I
haven't been to the movies in years.  I thought it would be fun.” 

Lily felt her temples throb. “Please check with me before
inviting my son anywhere.”

“Lily-” her mother’s voice reprimanding but she ignored her.

Turning to Johnathan, she touched a finger to his nose and
forced a smile.  “You be good at the movies and don't stay out too late you
party animal.”  He giggled and she hugged him tight before kissing his blond
hair.

She glanced briefly around the room and avoided Sam's eyes
but saw his jaw clenched tightly. “Excuse me, everyone.”  She turned to go back
upstairs barely containing the childish urge to stomp all the way to her room.

Once she reached her bedroom, she heard someone enter behind
her.

“Lily, I'm sorry you’re upset but you were not very polite
to our company.”

“They're not my company, Mom,” she snapped “you could have
woken me up so I would have at least been dressed.”  Oh God her body felt wound
up tight.  She just wanted to be left alone before she said something
regretful.

“Glen showed up early and Sam came just a few minutes
later.  Johnathan deserves to go to the movies, he's been such a good boy.”

“Well,
Glen
should have cleared it with me before
asking
my
son to go somewhere,” she said, still unable to control the
anger in her voice.

“Glen asked
me
and
I
told Johnathan.  I am
still his grandmother in case you forgot.”

Taking a deep breath, Lily rubbed her hands down her face
and closed her eyes. “I know. You're right.  I trust you to make decisions. 
I'm just feeling a little...off right now.  Please go have fun.  I could use a
little time alone anyway.  I'll apologize to Glen when you get back.”  She
dropped down to sit on the mattress and put her face in her hands.  What was
wrong with her?  Was she really trying to keep her son and mom from enjoying
life?  God, she was shameful.  She felt the mattress dip slightly and her mom’s
warm arm came around her shoulders.

“Oh Lily, I’m so sorry you’re so stressed out.  I blame
myself.”

“No, Mom.  You and Dad took care of me when I had
Johnathan.  That's what families do.  I guess I don't like change.”  She said
dryly.

“I love you, honey.  Maybe you are coming down with a bug. 
Are you sure you don't want me to stay home?  I hate to leave you alone.”

Yes. Stay home.
  “No,” she sat up and took her mom’s
hand, “go enjoy a movie.  I would go it I felt up to it.”  She lied.

“Well, if you're sure.”  She hesitantly stood.

“I'm sure.” Waving her mom out of the room.

Once alone she stood to grab her robe and went to the
bathroom for a much-needed shower.

***

Sam sat through a short lunch trying to set his anger
aside.  Sarah, Glen, and Johnathan talked easily.  He wished Sarah's daughter
was as accommodating.  Lily was angry that he was there, no doubt about that. 
However, her anger only made him want her more.  She was so pretty with her
flushed cheeks and brown eyes throwing sparks at him.  He also saw the
vulnerability she was trying to hide behind the anger.

“Sam do you want to ride with us?”  Glen asked.  He looked
happy.  He was a good guy.  They'd become good friends since becoming business
partners of sorts.  He was completely taken with Lily's mom.  Anyone could see
why.  She was very attractive with a sweet, genuine smile.  Her daughter was
beautiful also but she looked at him like she wanted to carve out his eyeballs.

“I think I'll stay here for a while and make sure Lily's
okay before I leave,” he turned to Sarah, “if that's alright with you.”

“I think that's an excellent idea, Sam.  Make yourself at
home.”

Glen looked doubtful.  He obviously noticed the evident sense
of Lily's dislike of him.  But she didn't dislike Sam, she was just angry at
him. Sam wasn’t sure why she was so mad at him but he would find out shortly.

“You think Mamma is sick?”  Johnathan's worried gaze turned
to Sarah.

“She might be coming down with a bug but with some peace,
quiet and rest she'll be good as new.  Promise.”  She reassured him.

Sam was irritated with Lily for making her son worry. “I'll
make sure she's okay, bud.  If she's not, I'll fix her up good as new.”  He was
confident about that.

The worry faded out of his eyes. “Okay, Sam.  Ice cream
helps.  It always helps me when I'm sick.”

Ice cream wasn't what she need. “Good advice.” 

The lunch dishes were cleared and the three of them grabbed
their jackets.  Sarah stopped at the door as Glen and Johnathan walked out to
Glen's truck.  She looked up at him with knowing eyes.

“Sam,” she murmured “Lily has been through so much the last
few years.  She also hasn't gotten much sleep.  She hasn't dated or spent any
time with men other than her father since Johnathan's dad died and he was just
a boy.”

Those words helped put some pieces together.  Grateful to
Sarah for giving him a little insight he said, “I wouldn't do anything to hurt
her.” He assured.

After watching them leave the driveway he closed the door. 
Sam decided to go on upstairs to talk to her.

He came to the top of the stairs at the same time Lily came
out of another door.  She froze when she saw him, eyes going wide.  He liked
the wide-eyed look on her.  She was wearing a pink terrycloth robe that came to
mid-thigh.  Her hair was wrapped up in a towel sitting on top of her head.  His
eyes left hers to drift down her body.  Her slim legs were still rosy and damp
from her shower.  He wanted those legs wrapped around his waist.  His hands
clenched into tight fists.  Restraint was killing him.  His blood started
simmering and his body became instantly hard.

“Wh-what do are you doing up here?”  She was slowing backing
up.  His eyes traveled slowly back up lingering on her hips and breasts before
meeting her eyes again.  He took one step toward her and she quickly stepped
back.

“Don't-” She started and took in his clenched fists.  When
her gaze flicked over his groin, she froze.  She instantly began to panic.

“Where's my son and mother?”  she demanded.

“They all left for the movie.  Your mom agreed I should stay
here and keep an eye on you.  Make sure you're not sick.  But you’re not sick,
are you Lily?”  His voice sounded rough, even to him.  He took a step closer to
her.  She flinched and made a lunge for a door across the hall.  She was quick
and was through the door before he could reach it and turned to slam it in his
face.  He stuck his boot in the door and gently forced it open not wanting to
hurt her.

She backed quickly to the center of the room clutching the
sides of her robe together.  Her holding her robe so tightly together brought
to his attention she was naked underneath.  He watched her in silence as the
towel in her hair slowly slid down to the floor.  She didn't try to stop it. 
He doubted she would ease the death grip on her robe to hide her hair. 

She looked scared and he just pushed his way into her room
with an obvious hard on.  Shit, he gritted his teeth and took a deep breath
trying to calm his body.  He felt like he was burning alive.  All he wanted was
to lay her down and taste every inch of her body before sinking into her so
deep she would never get out.  Damn he wanted her, but she didn't seem to
realize this was attraction between them, not anger. 

“I'm not going to hurt you, Lily.  I just want to talk,” he
said taking another step.

She licked her lips nervously. “Please don't come any
closer,” she whispered.

He took another step closer and she took another step back. 
The tension between them grew and he felt the hair on his neck stand up.  If he
didn't say something to calm her down soon, she would lose it.  He could
practically hear her nerves crackle.  Words were not his strong suit.  He knew
many other creative ways to get her to relax but he doubted she would be open
to that. Yet.

Lily wouldn't believe Sam just forced his way into her
room.  And why wasn't she screaming bloody murder?  His eyes changed to a darker
blue and he seemed to watch her like she was prey.  His aggression had an
embarrassing effect on her body.  Her breasts grew heavy and she felt a
slickness and throbbing between her thighs.  Her stomach clenched and she
couldn't hold back a tiny moan.  Oh God, what was wrong with her?  She squeezed
her eyes shut and dropped her head forward.

“I promise I'm not going to hurt you, but I just can't leave
you alone,” his deep voice was strangely.... calming.

“Why?” she asked a desperately.

“Damned if I know,” he let out a rough breath and she
brought her head up in time to see him run a frustrated hand through his short
hair.

It made her feel a little better to know he was feeling out
of sorts too.  Lily tried to reason with him.  “Why don't you go home, Sam, I
don't need you to stay.”

His gaze sharpened on her face and her breath hitched when
he took another step closer.  “I want to stay.” 

She could feel his body heat from a few feet away.  She kept
wondering what it would be like to press her body against him to ease the ache
she seemed to have lately.  She pressed her thighs together and shuddered.  She
turned her face away trying to shut him out. 

“Lily,” he reached out and touched her cheek with strong,
calloused fingers.  “So soft.  I knew it would be.”  His voice seemed to
vibrate through her body and she shivered again.

Would she be betraying herself if she rubbed her cheek
against his palm?  She just wanted a little touch or caress.  He stepped even
closer and touched his body to hers.  The brush of his hard body made her
breathing speed up.  Stepping away from him she groped behind her for the bed. 
Needing to sit down before she fell since her legs turned to jelly.  She rubbed
a hand over her face and then looked up at him from the foot of the bed.  It took
about a second before she was aware she was eye level with his thick arousal. 
Heat climbed from her toes to the roots of her hair.  She scrambled up the bed
to put some space between them.

Sam’s hand snaked out and wrapped around her ankle.  Her body
went liquid and she didn't even try to pull away.  Her eyes met his and she saw
raw possession and satisfaction glittering in his eyes.  Her breath caught when
his thumb started rubbing circles on the inside of her ankle.  His hands were
warm and sent and electric shock up her leg straight to her most sensitive
places.