Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

Clint drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, trying to avoid looking at the exquisite Lily sitting in his passenger seat, a suitcase of her clothes and toiletries in the backseat, the words ‘fiancée’ and then ‘wife’ ringing in his mind.

Those were potent words. Especially regarding the woman he’d long hidden his interest in. He couldn’t claim her as his; he’d kept his distance for years. Now this crazy situation had thrust them together, and how had he reacted? Growled that she was ‘his fiancée’ and then made it even worse agreeing they should get married.

He passed a hand over his face.

Dr. Hampshire appeared obsessed with Lily, and as Mark had said, who could blame him? What would Lily think if she knew Clint had always been jealous of Miles, and years ago he’d stupidly agreed to let Walker pursue her. He was over Sheryl in that he didn’t want her back, but he still questioned his judgment about women and didn’t want to push his family away or fight with Walker like he had with Cade.

He was upside down and inside out. If he were a drinker, he’d be four sheets to the wind. Mark had noticed he was drawn to Lily. His deputy and friend couldn’t wipe the grin off his face.

Was it transparent to everyone that he longed for his brother’s girlfriend? Okay, ex-girlfriend now, but for all of a week. Miles was more than ready to move on, but was Lily? Would she move on to Walker or some other lucky guy?

Clint couldn’t quite believe what he’d just insisted on, but he had to protect her, as the sheriff and as an honorable man. Hearing the story of manipulation from that jerk doctor, and then seeing her dart to the bathroom to hide her tears, had shaken him.

When he’d proclaimed she was his fiancée, her brown sugar eyes had been warm and alluring. She’d appeared on board with the idea. Why had she protested and run out of the room shortly after Mark said they should get ‘hitched’? It was a brilliant idea. The doctor and anyone else who wanted to hit on her would never dare look cross-eyed at her if she were married to him.

She was used to men hitting on her. Of course she was. She was as caring, approachable, and impressive as she was beautiful.

Clint shook his head. He needed to focus on exposing the doc and keeping her safe from whoever had made that poster. She thought it was him who was in danger, but he didn’t think that was the case. What if it was Miles or Walker the perp had alluded to? He didn’t want to call his brothers with Lily sitting right here. That could be awkward for her. He did have someone he could call for help and a deep-dive on Dr. Hampshire, though.

“Do you mind if I make a phone call?”

“Not at all.”

“Obliged.” He pushed the button on his steering wheel. “Call Aiden Porter.”

“ The Aiden Porter?” Lily asked, her eyes widening.

Clint chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.” He would be the last one to reveal his family’s involvement in high-level security and protection details. If he and Lily were actually engaged and not fake engaged, it would be something they’d have to discuss and swear her to secrecy on.

“Wow,” she murmured.

“Sheriff Clint,” Aiden greeted in his upbeat voice. “How are you? How’s the family?”

“Everyone is well, thank you. How are you and Chalisa?”

“Thankfully in the same time zone currently,” Aiden quipped. “Heaven for me.”

Aiden had homes and security centers throughout the world, but since the criminal Benjamin Oliver had escaped, he’d kept his wife Chalisa protected at her brother-in-law, General Kingston Magnum’s family palace, on the island of Magna off the coast of Spain.

“Glad to hear it. Hey, I’ve got a … friend here with me. Lily Lillywhite.”

“Rose Lillywhite Mason’s sister?”

“Yes.”

“I’m honored, Miss Lily Lillywhite, and my compliments to your parents for your wonderful name,” Aiden said in his charming voice. “Major Bennett Mason is one of the most impressive soldiers and fighters I know. Your sister must be a sassy angel to have captured the gentle giant.”

“She is,” Lily agreed. “Nice to meet you, sir, and thank you.”

“Oh, none of that. It’s Aiden, please. What can I do for you?”

Clint caught Lily giving him an incredulous gaze. He should’ve waited on this call as well. Was he trying to show off that he had friends such as Aiden Porter? He grimaced inside. Maybe.

“Can you have your people run a deep dive on someone?” Clint had learned that Aiden and his team could get answers and insight that not even the law enforcement or FBI’s database could find.

“Of course.”

“Dr. …” He paused, realizing he didn’t know the man’s first name.

“Brad Hampshire,” Lily supplied with a bite to her voice. Her cheeks reddened as she clasped her hands together.

Clint really wanted to meet this Dr. Hampshire and explain a few things to the man.

“Got it. I’ll have them send over anything they find within the hour.”

“Appreciate it,” Clint said.

“Anything for the Colevilles,” Aiden said.

“Much obliged.”

“Chat soon.” Aiden hung up.

Clint could feel Lily staring a hole into the side of his head.

“How do you know Aiden Porter?” she asked.

“Cade Miller’s wife Jacey and her sister Elizabeth Oliver are connected to him through their military protection,” was the first response he thought of. Miles should’ve mentioned Aiden at some point. Miles knew the icon much better than Clint did. How distant had her and Miles’s relationship become over the years?

“Oh,” she murmured. “Jacey and Cade have been on some extended honeymoon, haven’t they?”

“Yeah.”

Everyone in the country knew about the criminal Benjamin Oliver and his daughters Jacey and Elizabeth and his son Quaid Raven. The people of Coleville didn’t know the half of how dangerous Benjamin was and that Cade and Jacey were in hiding until he was apprehended. Clint and his deputies watched over Cade Miller’s parents and sisters and Aiden had sent a team to install high-level security cameras, sensors, and alerts on their home.

Neither of them said much as they pulled into town and up to his two-story home at the far edge of town a few minutes later. He liked his country-style home with the wraparound porch, huge windows, and his acre of grass nestled against the forest.

The term ‘town’ was pretty loose regarding Coleville. His sheriff’s office, the church, the post office, a small grocery store, a hometown diner, and a beauty parlor made up the town stretch. They didn’t even have a bar in Coleville, which he was grateful for. There were about thirty homes spread around the town section, most of them with huge yards, and some were even small ranches. He loved the country feel.

The lake stretched from the west side of town toward the mountains, fed by mountain streams.

The lake. The dock. He’d almost kissed her on that dock. His stomach pitched with anticipation of getting to that spot again.

No. That wasn’t what was happening here. Just because Lily was close by, going to stay in his home, fake engaged to him … okay, they might have an opportunity to kiss to prove to somebody they were engaged. His pulse quickened.

He pulled into the garage, hit the park button, shut the garage door behind them, turned off the truck, and said, “Please wait,” when he saw her reach for her door handle.

She leaned back against the seat and looked over at him. She looked perfect sitting there in his truck.

“Do you need to check on something?” she asked.

“No. My house is secure.” He smiled. Only his deputies, his family, and those who had been protected at the Coleville Ranch knew his family was over the top about security. Miles had recently brought the actress Eva Chevron to the ranch to protect her and they’d fallen in love.

How was Lily dealing with the breakup? He wasn’t ready to ask. When he’d come upon her that night on the dock two years ago, she’d had a tear running down her face. He’d wanted to punch Miles for it. Had Miles put it there or had their relationship been lackluster for years like Miles believed?

Clint had punched Miles multiple times last week, angry and defensive for Lily’s sake. Truth be known, he’d been even more annoyed that Miles had Lily as a long-time girlfriend, the woman of Clint’s and Walker’s dreams, and he let himself get distracted by a famous actress. Miles explained that he and Lily hadn’t had much of a relationship in years and he’d tried to break up with her multiple times. What was Lily’s take on it? Was she as damaged by the breakup as Clint had felt when Sheryl dumped him two weeks before their wedding?

“Why can’t I open my door then?” she asked, and he realized he’d gotten lost in his thoughts and staring at her.

“Because I’m a Coleville.” He arched an eyebrow.

She smiled softly. “Miles would never let me get my door either.”

Miles. He loved his brother. He wanted Miles to be happy with Eva. He hated that thoughts of Miles and Walker kept coming between him and Lily. Not that he and Lily had a relationship. This was a fake engagement. He’d do well to remember that. Lily had the power to break him more than even Sheryl had, and he’d never dated Lily. His loyalty to Miles and now Walker wouldn’t allow it.

Jumping out of his truck, he hurried around, opened her door, and offered his hand. She looked at his hand, looked at him, and then back to his hand.

“I don’t bite,” he tried to tease.

“You sure?”

He grinned and didn’t move.

She put her hand in his. He enfolded her smaller hand in his grip. It felt right—like her hand was meant to be there.

He helped her out of the truck, but he didn’t want to release her hand. He also didn’t want to scare her. Alone. In his house. And she was dealing with an odd manipulation situation with a doctor who had authority and clout. He never wanted her to see him as manipulating her because of his position.

Releasing her hand, he stepped to the back door of the truck, opened it, and retrieved her suitcase. He walked her to the door leading into the mud room, pushed it open, and stepped back.

She walked through, glancing around. “This is beautiful.”

Clint smiled, taking his hat off and setting it on the counter. Rhett had built his house, and his brother did fine work. The laundry and half bath had knotty alder wood cabinets with gray swirled granite countertops. The floors throughout the main level were distressed hazelnut. “You haven’t seen anything yet,” he teased, gesturing her through the mud room area and saying, “Living area lights, medium.”

The lights in his open living space came on and he heard Lily take in a breath as she surveyed the large room. The entire back of the house was an open two stories. The leather couches, cherry wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops were all top of the line. A floating staircase ran from the front entry to a loft area above. There were two bedrooms arranged at the front of the upstairs, stacked above the front office and formal dining room. His spacious master suite was above the three-car garage. He was proud of his house and his brother.

“My goodness.” Lily did a second take. “First of all, I can’t wait to see the view out of all those windows in the daylight.” She pointed to the back of the house and the two-story wall of windows that showcased his backyard and the forest beyond. “Second of all, the sheriff’s salary must be twenty times what I make as an RN.”

He chuckled at that. His sheriff’s salary wasn’t what had built this house. “I worked on the ranch from the time I turned eight, raised and sold cattle and bulls on my own, and my dad is a genius at investing.” His dad had real estate ventures throughout the West and had given each of his sons opportunities to invest. Clint’s monthly dividends were five times what he made as a sheriff.

“Oh.” She studied him for a moment and then looked away. “Well, this is gorgeous. Thank you for letting me stay.”

Clint should have used some restraint, but he released the suitcase handle and stepped closer to her. “I’m not just letting you stay. We’re engaged now, remember?”

The pulse point in her neck became more pronounced. Clint had dreams of lowering his head way, way down and tasting that sweet neck of hers.

“How could I forget?” She gave him an unsteady smile. “Thank you for being willing to protect me. You and Miles are cut from the same cloth.”

That cooled his desire to kiss her neck. How many times had his little brother kissed it? That thought turned his stomach over.

If Walker dated her, it would be another little brother’s privilege to kiss Lily. Never his.

“Yes, we are,” he said, then he gestured. “Bedrooms are all upstairs. Let’s get you settled.”

It was only nine-thirty. Would she want to rest after a two-day shift at the hospital and all the stress and worry over what had happened tonight? Probably. He’d love to stay up and … eat a bowl of ice cream, play a card game, watch a show, talk away the night, tug her close and kiss her until she knew this engagement did not need to be fake.

Please help me, heaven above.

How on earth was he going to honor what he had promised Walker all those years ago? He thumped his fist against his leg.

She walked toward the entry and the staircase, peering into his home office and the formal dining area up front. “Exceptional,” she said as she started up the stairs. “Rhett built this?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Impressive.”

“He is. Have you been through any of the homes he’s built in Kalispell?”

“No, but I’ve heard some of the physicians brag about him being their builder.”

“He’s done well.” Clint was proud of Rhett. Of all his brothers. Well, except for Easton. That blockhead needed to stop riding bulls, risking his life, and thinking he was the charmer of all women.

Then he thought of Walker. This ‘engagement’ would hurt his brother. No matter how he justified his actions tonight, Clint was swooping in and taking away Walker’s opportunity to date Lily. He didn’t want to ruin Walker’s chances for happiness, and loyalty to his family was everything to him.

But why did he feel deep down that Lily was meant to be his? Lily had named him as her fiancé, chosen him. He couldn’t change that. Had she only said his name because, like she’d said, he was the sheriff and would intimidate Dr. Hampshire? Or was there an underlying need for him like he felt for her?

They reached the top of the staircase and the balcony overlooking the great room area. He set her suitcase down, turned and pointed at the area running along the front of the house. “Two bedrooms here with a Jack and Jill bath between them. Take your pick.”

“Thank you.” She tilted her head to the right and the far end of the balcony. “Your bedroom?”

He nodded, folding his arms across his chest and leaning against the banister. “Would you like a tour?” His heart thumped faster thinking about her walking through his bedroom, walk-in-closet, and large bathroom. What would she think? Would that feel too intimate for the situation they were in?

Her eyes said she would like the tour. “No thank you. I’m … exhausted. I’ll just get ready for bed and rest. Don’t worry about me. Thank you for everything. G’night.”

She grabbed her suitcase and all but ran for the bedroom closest to his. Pushing through the door, she paused in the doorway and glanced back. Her brown sugar eyes all but begged him to come after her. Was he reading that correctly?

He was Easton Coleville’s brother. He’d never in his life utilized Easton’s charming lines, but he knew how Easton’s charisma—or ‘rizz’ as his brother called it—was accomplished.

Straightening away from the banister, he strutted toward her, focused on her and her alone.

Lily released her suitcase handle and leaned into the doorframe. Her mouth parted and her lips looked insanely kissable. Clint’s heart raced.

He should turn around, lock himself in his room, and cool off.

Instead he pushed all his obligations and restraints away as he reached her. Nothing short of an earthquake could stop him as he rested a hand on the doorframe above her head and leaned in. Her gaze held his until he got close enough and then her eyes fluttered closed. Those long lashes resting on her cheek and her full lips ready just for him. They were engaged, after all. A simple goodnight kiss wouldn’t be out of order. They should … practice to make the fake engagement look real.

He pressed a kiss to her brow, and she let out a sweet whimper. His stomach pitched and he lowered his mouth just enough to kiss the softness of her closed eyelid. Her breath was coming in fast pants, the taste of her lips only a few moments away. All his suppressed fantasies regarding Lily were about to come true.

She clung to the doorframe behind her as if trying to restrain herself. Clint wanted her to forget about restraint and throw those arms around his neck. They could deal with all the repercussions later.

He lowered his mouth and kissed her tantalizing cheek—smooth and perfect.

Another lingering kiss on the cheek, and then …

He couldn’t stay strong or hold back for one more second.

She gave every indication she would welcome his kiss. He pushed all the junk between them away and angled toward her mouth.

Her phone rang.

Lily jolted and their noses bumped.

“Sorry,” she burst out with, moving out of his reach and into the bedroom, tugging her suitcase with her. “Goodnight.” She shut the door behind her, and he heard her say, “Hello?”

“Night,” Clint said to the closed door. He stared at it for a beat.

The phone had rung. It wasn’t a rejection.

It sure felt like one, and sadly it was for the best.

He turned toward his room and let his thoughts run. Lily was here. In his house. What would tomorrow look like?

He’d take the day off, they’d go on a long hike in the morning, make breakfast together, flirt and tease as they cooked, ate, and cleaned up, and then he’d pin her against the counter and finally get a taste of those lips. No. A taste would never do. A long, fulfilling, drawn out kiss or series of kisses. Then they’d pack a picnic and go to the lake. They’d lay on a blanket and talk, jump in the water when they got hot. He’d kiss her while he held her close in the water.

His heart thumped out of control as his hopes and visions blew out of proportion.

Finally, he trudged to his room. Was Lily truly his dream woman like he’d always envisioned and each touch and look confirmed? Or was he simply lonely and making something out of nothing, going back on the ‘dibs’ he’d agreed to years ago, and selfishly ruining Walker’s chance with her?

Sheryl had shattered his heart, his pride, and his trust in his own judgment. His family had seen ‘red flag’. He’d pushed his own family away and battled a close friend for a woman who had dumped him and left him weeks before their wedding day.

Lily was genuine, and already Clint was more drawn to and invested in her than he’d ever been with Sheryl. Lily could easily rip his heart from his chest.

Even more concerning than his own heart—how would Walker react to all of this?

Clint needed some serious time on his knees. He couldn’t see or think straight when Lily was around.