Rescuing Lilly (13 page)

The rest of dinner was extremely quiet as Lilly picked at her food. She hoped the 'talk' she and Jake were supposed to have would be real conversation as opposed to him expressing his opinion with his hand connecting to her bottom. She didn't think she could take any more of that today. Sara and Sylvia excused themselves to return to their house while Lilly still pushed her food around her plate.

"Honey, why aren't you eating?" Jake asked after the aunt and niece left. Lilly shrugged her shoulders. "I really hope you're not pouting about your punishment earlier," he said leaning down next to her ear as he picked his plate off of the table.

Lilly shook her head. "I'm just tired." She moved to take her plate to the dishwasher.

Jake looked at her plate, seeing maybe two bites of food eaten, and leaned down to look at her face. She turned her head away as he lifted the plate out her hands. "I'll save this in case you want to finish it later," he said, grabbing the saran wrap from the drawer.

"I'm going to go to bed," she said quietly, turning for the hallway.

"What about our talk?" he asked, clearing the rest of the table.

"It's okay. I don't need to go to town with them. I'll just stay here and do my chores," she said sadly and walked down to the bedroom.

Jake berated himself for making her upset again. He didn't want to prevent her from having a good time, but he wasn't comfortable with her leaving the ranch with everything that was going on with Lance. At least if she were here, he could keep an eye on her. He finished cleaning up the kitchen and made his way to the bedroom. Lilly curled up on her side in bed watching TV whilst wearing one of his t-shirts. He took his boots off and sat against the headboard on his side of the bed.

"Lilly we still need to talk," he finally said after a couple minutes of silence.

"When you say talk, do you mean actually talking? Or is that code language for saying you're going to spank me?" she asked, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Jake turned to her with a raised eyebrow, trying to suppress a laugh. "No this time I actually meant mouth to mouth communication, but that doesn't mean that expression in the future will mean the same thing. I like to use code language for discreetness."

Lilly let out a small giggle at his admission. "Okay good. I didn't think I could handle one of the other talks," she said, rubbing her bottom.

Jake pulled her up to lie on his chest. "Alright, here's the deal. You may go with them tomorrow," he began as she turned and gave him a tight hug around his waist, "but you two are not to go anywhere alone. Sylvia must stay with you at all times and I want you to check in with me at lunch and before you leave to come home. You understand?"

"Yes! Yes! Thank you! Thank you!" she answered excitedly, still hugging his chest.

Jake kissed the top of her head, praying Lance and his dirty little ranch hands wouldn't be anywhere near town tomorrow.

The next morning, the three ladies loaded into Sylvia's van. Sara stowed her wedding magazines in the pocket behind the passenger seat while Lilly asked questions about what she was thinking about getting in town.

"Have you decided on bridesmaid dresses?" Lilly asked as they pulled in front of a dress shop.

"My only bridesmaids are my step-sisters and Andrew's cousin. They picked out coordinating dresses already. Andrew and I want a small wedding. What I really need to get today is table arrangements and get some ideas for decorations around the church and reception hall," Sara answered as they made their way down the sidewalk in front of the downtown shops.

Before Lilly could respond, her eye caught two men across the street staring at her. The guys looked like young ranchers. In fact, both of them were pretty attractive in a bad boy kind of way. She gave them a half smile when they nodded at her.

"C'mon Lilly, check out this store with me," Sara said.

Lilly followed Sara into several stores, wondering about the two good-looking men she saw on the street.
I wonder why they were looking at me like that. I guess because I'm new in town. Of course this town doesn't get many newcomers
. Sara showed her several different glass bowls filled with marbles and flower petals to use as table centerpieces. Lilly nodded her agreement with Sylvia when Sara exclaimed her liking for the bowls. While they stood at the purchasing counter, Lilly looked around, wondering where the nearest bathroom could be. It was always like her to have to go at the most inopportune moments.

"Where is the closest restroom?" she asked the clerk.

"There's one in the pub around the block," he answered.

Lilly nodded. "I'll meet you guys outside. I'll only be a minute," she said, rushing out the door and around the corner. As she walked into the bar, she was overcome with the smell of old beer and stale cigarettes. Immediately it reminded Lilly of her bartending days. God, how she had loved partying with the customers and talking to the regulars; she wished she could go back and live it again. Before she made it halfway to the restroom, she bumped into a man. When she turned to look at him, she noticed it was one of the men from the street.

"Oh excuse me," Lilly said, stepping to the side.

"Oh no, excuse me ma'am," the man said sweetly. "I don't know how I could've missed such a beautiful lady walking in front of me. I do apologize for running into you."

Lilly blushed at his compliment and polite manner. "Oh no, it was my fault, I wasn't paying attention."

"No worries, ma'am," he said, glancing down at her face. "Would you be willing to let me make it up to you and buy you a drink?" He gestured toward the bar.

Lilly glanced around, seeing only two other customers who were playing pool in the back. She looked back at the man in front of her. His biceps were large, with several tattoos around his biceps and forearms. There was something about this bad-boy image that attracted Lilly. And the fact that he also seemed very polite and gentlemanly made her want to agree to his offer.

"Sorry. I wish I could, but I have to meet my friends outside. I just came in to use the restroom," she said apologetically, taking two more steps toward the back hallway.

The man nodded. "Maybe another time then. I'm sorry but I didn't catch your name."

"It's Lilly," she smiled as she walked to the bathroom and shut the door. She knew she shouldn't be thinking about this guy, especially with Jake mentioning the whole relationship thing just the day beforehand. And she cared for Jake, so much. But part of her wanted to be able to go out and party again, something she knew Jake would not condone. As she made her way back out of the bathroom, she stopped by the man and his friend, leaning in between their barstools.

"So, when is a good night to come out here and get some drinks?" she asked, hoping a girls night might be in her near future.

The two men glanced at each other, smiling. "We're here almost every night, but it gets real crowded on Thursdays and Fridays. Maybe you could bring your friend up here this weekend?"

"I might just do that," she flirted. "And what might your names be, since I've already given you mine."

"I'm David," the muscular, tattooed one said with a wink.

"Taylor," responded his friend.

"Well maybe I'll see you this weekend, boys. It's been a while since I've been able to go out for a drink," Lilly said, smiling as she walked out the door.

Once outside, she ran around the corner to catch up with Sara and Sylvia. They were loading the purchases into the back of the van.

"Well ladies, what would you like to get for lunch?" Sylvia asked, throwing her purse back over her shoulder.

"How about the deli?" suggested Sara.

All three nodded and made their way across the street to Samson's Deli. Both girls started on their turkey subs while Sylvia waited at the counter for her hot steak sub.

"Sara, have you ever been to that bar down the street? Where I used the restroom," Lilly said as she glanced back to make sure Sylvia wasn't in hearing range.

"Oh yeah, I went a couple of times when I was younger. It's pretty fun. It's pretty much the only bar in town so everyone goes there, especially on the weekends."

Lilly nodded, wondering why she wanted to go there so badly. Was Jake becoming overbearing? Did she feel smothered at the ranch?
No, I just haven't had a chance to go out and have a good time
.

"Why, do you wanna go?" Sara asked curiously, giving her a wink.

Lilly looked up excitedly and nodded. "You want to? I know Jake wouldn't want to go."

Sara snorted. "Not only that, I doubt he'd let you go."

"Why? It's just a bar. I don't see the problem if you and I want to go have some drinks together on Friday to celebrate your engagement."

"I don't know," she paused as Sylvia made her way to the table. "We'll figure something out," she whispered.

"I better call Jake before he flips out," Lilly joked as she slid her trash into the trashcan and pulled out her phone.

"Yes, we're fine. We're eating lunch," Lilly said to Jake. Sara and Sylvia looked as Lilly's face grew bored listening to what they figured was one of his lectures. "Yes sir. I promise. Bye, Jake," Lilly said, hanging up the phone with a sigh. "I swear that man is determined to not let me have any fun."

Sylvia and Sara laughed as they finished their lunch. The three made their way through several more shops, talking to florists and photographers, before heading back to the ranch.

---oOo---

"I knew we could get her alone," David said to Taylor as he lit a cigarette. "This weekend we'll take care of the issue. She couldn't have made it any easier for us."

"What about Jake?" Taylor asked.

"What about him?"

"You really think he is going to let her come up here by herself? I really doubt that," Taylor said, taking a sip of beer.

"Somehow I'm sure she is going to find a way to come without Jake knowing. She doesn't seem all goody-goody to me. I bet that girl likes to party," David answered with arrogance, an evil smile forming on his face, thinking of what he could do to Jake's sweet little blonde girl.

---oOo---

Lilly didn't want to push the issue of going out the bar, so she kept quiet about it on the way back to the ranch. It had been way too long since she had a chance to go out and party, and she really didn't want anyone to put a damper on her idea.

Sara and Sylvia returned to their house after dropping Lilly at the ranch. They all said their goodbyes and Sara promised to think of some ways to convince Jake they needed to go to town on Friday night.

The next two days, it was all Lilly could think about while she was doing her chores. She didn't know why, but since she had been to town, she was craving a cigarette. She had stopped smoking two years beforehand because she knew how bad it was for her health, but thinking about drinking and dancing made her want to revert back to her old ways. Just as she was about to ask one of the ranch hands if she could bum one from him, Jake stalked around the corner.

"Lilly are you done with your chores?"

Flustered by his presence, she forgot what she was doing and stuttered, "Uh..um. No, not yet."

Jake quickly noticed her change in disposition. "You alright?"

Lilly quickly grabbed the brush and began brushing Raven, hoping he wouldn't notice her nervousness. "Oh yeah, I'm fine. You just startled me is all."

Jake's face firmed, looking much sterner than when he first entered the stable. "Well dinner is almost ready. Finish up, okay?"

Lilly's body sighed in relief. "Okay." She gave him a small encouraging smile and quickly moved back around the horse.

Jake walked toward the house, wondering if he was missing something. Lilly had barely talked to him since they'd gone into town two days ago. He didn't think he'd done anything to make her upset or scare her. But he knew from her body language she wasn't telling him something.

"Sylvia, what's going on with Lilly?" he asked when he entered the kitchen.

"What do you mean?"

"She's been acting weird since you guys went to town on Tuesday. Did something happen?"

Sylvia paused for a second, thinking about their trip. "I don't think so. We didn't really do much besides shop and eat lunch. And we talked to some flower shops."

Jake frowned. "Hmm. Maybe I'm just on edge then."

"Have you heard anything else from Lance?" she asked, leaning close to him to speak quietly.

Jake looked around to make sure they were alone. "No, nothing yet. I still don't feel right about that situation though. I feel like they are waiting to do something bigger this time. It worries me."

Sylvia nodded and turned around when she heard the back down shut. "Hey, Lilly. You ready to eat?"

"Starved!" Lilly exclaimed and sat down at the table.

"Young lady, don't you think you want to go wash your hands and clean up?" Jake said, giving her the raised eyebrow.

Lilly looked at his face, knowing it was the warning she got before he was about to start using his twitching palm. That look automatically made her feel more submissive to him. She dropped her glare at him and stood up by the table, mumbling, "Yes sir," as she walked to the bedroom.