Chapter 5

Chapter

Five

Lily clung to the phone with trembling fingers as she paced Clint’s guest room and Daisy grilled her about Miles and Eva Chevron. She tried to give appropriate answers, but her mind was still clinging to the memory of her leaning against that doorframe as Clint tenderly kissed her forehead, her eye, her cheek, … oh swoon. Each kiss had been off the charts.

She couldn’t envision what kind of fireworks would happen if he kissed her lips. He’d been angling for her lips when her phone rang. Right? Were the two of them still a ‘no’ or did they have a chance?

“Lily!” Daisy sounded indignant. “Are you even upset about this?”

“No,” she admitted. “Miles and I were over a while ago.” Years, if she were being honest. She was a Christian and wanted to have integrity and honesty in her life, but it felt like she was hiding things and telling half-truths regularly. Half-truths? Claiming to be engaged to Clint, the most tantalizing man on the planet, was a full-on lie. She was tired of feeling guilt for the bad situation she was in with Dr. Hampshire. Clint had made her feel understood and valued when she’d shared the truth. Nothing about Clint was a bad situation. It was all good, incredible, alluring.

“Are you serious?” Now Daisy sounded more than indignant. “You are so stinking closed off. Why can’t you even confide in your favorite sister?”

Lily smiled at that, though Daisy wasn’t joking. “I’m sorry, sis. I’ve been dealing with a … rough situation at work for a while now and tonight I had to fake an engagement to Clint to keep the weirdo at bay.” She sucked in a breath. That was the opposite of not letting her family know what was happening. She was so stirred up about Clint she wasn’t thinking straight. Yet how did she think she could hide that she was living in the sheriff’s house? Crazy. It was also possible that Clint and Mark not only believing her but being on her side had given her a boost of confidence and strength. Still, she didn’t want to spill all to her family and cause havoc with Grandma and Dr. Hampshire.

“Fake an engagement?” Daisy screamed into the phone. Lily held it farther away from her head. “To the ultra-hot Sheriff Clint Coleville? Are you joking with me right now?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“You’re afraid not? What are you saying? Any single woman on the planet would give up her firstborn child to have a shot at Clint Coleville, the walking billboard of manly cowboy heroism.” Daisy sucked in a breath through her teeth and then sighed longingly.

Lily smiled. She slid her shoes off and sprawled out on the bed. It felt amazing to stretch out her back after two very long days. Clint’s touch and kisses had felt better.

“I know, right? He is …” How to describe everything that Clint was to her? Joy, light, safety, a rock, tender and thrilling touches, understanding and kindness.

“Dreamy, hot, ultra-hot, tough, impenetrable, unattainable …” Daisy filled in for her. “He’s Sheriff Clint Coleville. That idiotic Sheryl Dracon broke his heart, didn’t she? Sheryl never deserved him. You need to get to the bottom of that whole deal, and help him heal with lots of sweet, sweet kisses.”

Lily’s entire body felt hot.

“Why are you fake engaged? Let’s do this thing right. Get real engaged.”

“Daisy.” Her sister was in a graduate program and almost ready to be a physical therapist, but sometimes she acted like a boy-crazy teenager. “It’s not that simple.” She was not going to spill to Daisy about the disturbing poster hung at their cabin, Dr. Hampshire’s constant come-ons, and Clint and Mark’s worries that there was another man after her. “Miles and I only broke up a week ago.”

The very thought of Sheryl Dracon and Clint together turned her stomach. She’d tried to avoid seeing them together the year they dated and been engaged. Church had been torture. When Miles had tried to break up with Lily six months ago, Clint and Sheryl had been weeks from their wedding day. She’d broken down and sobbed. She and Miles hadn’t resolved anything that day. It was embarrassing to think about her breakdown now. At that moment she’d been in despair, knowing she’d never have Clint in her life.

What about now?

“I know,” Daisy all but yelled. “You’re the lucky duck who gets all the ultra-hot Coleville brothers. Yummy. They are each just … um, deliciousness.”

“Tell me how you really feel,” Lily said, not wanting to respond to her ‘getting all the ultra-hot Coleville brothers’ comment. She only wanted the oldest one.

Daisy giggled. “All right. So let’s talk about this. Why are you fake engaged to that perfect specimen? Why not real engaged?”

Lily rolled over and off the bed. “It’s too much to explain, sis, and I have had the longest day of my life.”

“Are you kidding me? You aren’t going to tell me? If you tell Rose before me, I swear I will … well, I’ll do something really bad to you when I come home next.”

Lily laughed. She needed this. Needed Daisy. It hurt that she hadn’t confided in her sisters, her parents, the people that had her back. She’d simply dealt with it a day at a time and prayed Dr. Hampshire would give up on her and she wouldn’t have to upset everyone by accusing the esteemed cardiologist. Now it was such a convoluted mess—the fear, hopefulness, stuck in an awful situation, and feeling like she was to blame for not prevailing over Dr. Hampshire.

The fake engagement had felt like the perfect solution, but now she wondered what she had been thinking. Had she been acting on her desire to be with Clint? There were so many repercussions and logistics that neither of them had stopped to think about. That wasn’t like the sheriff at all. He was deliberate and smart. Was he as intrigued by her as she was by him? That look in his eyes as he’d leaned in, the soft kisses on her face… Maybe.

“Earth to Lily. Are you daydreaming about your fine fiancé?”

“For sure,” she admitted.

“Yes! Man, girlie, you have the life. First you date the swoony Miles Coleville for years and then within minutes of breaking up with him, bam! Sheriff Clint Coleville. You going after Walker, Rhett, or Easton next? I heard from Rose that Walker has it ba-ad for you. Just so you know, Houston is off limits. I’m breaking out of my shy shell and chasing that ideal specimen the minute we both return to Coleville. Pray he doesn’t find anyone in Omaha.”

“You are too much. When have you ever been shy?”

There was a telling pause and then, “Only around Houston. I stinking can’t talk around him. I get all red and bumbling and argh! Anyway. Back to you. How does it feel when Clint touches you or looks at you?” Rose gave a dreamy sigh.

She got all flushed thinking about Clint touching or looking at her. “I’m going to wash my face and go to bed. I love you.” Lily picked up her suitcase and laid it on the bed, unzipping it.

“You suck. You know that, right? I’m calling you back tomorrow and the next day and the next day until you tell me all about this engagement and how kissing that tantalizing sheriff feels. Ooh. I got all tingly just saying that. Okay. Plan on nonstop phone calls. Unless you want to spill it right now. I do have a busy schedule, you know.”

Lily groaned. Daisy wasn’t kidding. She’d stick to her plan. “I just can’t right now.” She paused. Clint and Mark had been supportive and understanding. Could she tell Daisy? Soon but not tonight. “My brain hurts trying to process it all.”

“Well, process with me.”

It was tempting. Maybe tomorrow when Daisy hounded her again.

“Goodnight, sis.”

“All right. I get the hint. Love you. We’ll chat tomorrow.”

“Is that a threat or a promise?”

“Both. Ha!” Daisy hung up.

Lily smiled and went to get ready for bed. Hopefully she could pray, sleep, and figure things out in the morning.

Sleeping in the bedroom next to Clint Coleville was rough. Lily woke several times and imagined what he might look like stretched out and sleeping. Thankfully she hadn’t taken him up on the offer of touring his bedroom or the images would be even more vivid.

Finally, morning came. She showered and got ready to go to the ranch for the day. It might be argued that she dressed a little nicer and put on more makeup than she usually would. Would Clint balk at her plans? The ranch was safe. Except someone had gotten into her house last night. She’d stay close to Rose and Bennett. Bennett was a one-man army.

What if Clint wanted to stay by her side? Her breathing shortened, but she couldn’t imagine he’d insist on that. Her level of danger wasn’t that high. She appreciated him pretending to be engaged to her and having her stay here—she wouldn’t have felt safe in her house after knowing somebody broke in and hung that awful poster—but he had work to do and so did she.

She walked out of her bedroom and turned at the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. Clint came into view wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and running shoes. No cowboy hat. His muscles bulged beautifully and there was a sheen of sweat on his face. His hairline was damp, and his shirt clung to his upper body.

“Mornin’, Lily,” he said, looking her over.

“Good morning.” Her heart raced, and the tachycardia made it hard to talk without sounding breathless. “Did you go for a run?”

“No.” He kept his distance, but the look in his eyes was potent. “I didn’t want to be too far away from you. I have weights and a cable machine in my garage.” He smirked. “Plenty of room in there with only my truck and Harley.”

She could envision him on that Harley. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to ride it with him. “Oh, that’s … nice. Well, I’ll go make breakfast while you shower, and then can I beg a ride to the ranch from you? No car.” She lifted her hands and smiled.

“I can’t let you go to the ranch.”

“Excuse me?”

His blue eyes looked deadly serious. “Not unless you agree to talk to Bennett and tell him what’s going on so he can watch out for you and keep an eye out for anyone or anything out of place. Or …” A glint came into his blue eyes. “I stay by your side all day.”

She swallowed and let her gaze sweep over his muscular upper body again. She was a huge fan of well-developed pectoralis and deltoid muscles. He had both. In spades. And she needed to stop staring. “Don’t you have things to take care of?”

“I have a long list of things take care of,” he said. “But you, Lily Lillywhite, are at the top of that list.”

It should’ve sounded cheesy, but nothing could sound cheesy coming from Clint’s well-formed lips. She was at the top of his list? As someone to protect, a case to solve, or the woman he could love?

“If you would come with me, that would be fabulous.”

The glint in his eyes became more pronounced. Could he read her thoughts?

“Then I won’t have to tell Bennett, Rose, and my parents what’s going on,” she clarified.

Clint sobered and studied her. “This is all going to come out at some point.”

“I know, but if Aiden finds something nefarious about Dr. Hampshire, or Mark finds fingerprints that match somebody, or … something, then we’ll have proof and I won’t just look like a silly ninny.”

“Lily. Nobody would think of you as a silly ninny.”

Lily had never felt so validated. She wanted to run to him and hug him, sweat and all.

He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall as if settling in to talk for a while. Her thoughts scattered and her fingers itched to trace the definition in those arms. Maybe biceps and triceps were as high on her list as pectoral and deltoid muscles. “Your lock being picked last night and that poster is plenty of proof that something is going on.”

She nodded. She’d never been one to cause a stir. Her sister Rose was similar; she’d hidden an attack by one of their security guards from their parents and sisters, and an attack in college from her sisters. Lily wanted to be independent and not give her parents any trouble. They were great parents and loved her and would help her, but things were going well for her family right now. Why stir up problems?

“I’ll go make breakfast. You shower, and then we can talk more,” she said. They needed to figure out how they were playing this fake engagement and she needed to beg him to pretend it was real for everyone, including their families, until they could resolve the issues with Dr. Hampshire and whoever had left that banner. The issues with Dr. Hampshire had lasted five years. Could she keep being fake engaged to Clint for that long? No. That wouldn’t be fair to him. He didn’t love Lily, and they had no relationship.

She couldn’t excuse stringing Miles along like she had, but at least they’d fallen in love as high school seniors and Miles had chosen to be in the relationship. Clint had been semi-forced into it by her claiming they were engaged. Though as she looked him over, she knew … nobody could force Clint into anything. Why was he doing this then? The need to protect and serve or could he be wanting to take a chance on her?

“Bossy,” he teased, his lips curving into an irresistible smile. He straightened away from the wall, looking glorious and a little imposing. “You do realize nobody bosses the sheriff around.”

She’d just thought something similar. Her breath came in fast pants. Did he realize how enticing he was? Even sweaty from his workout, she’d gladly kiss him for a very long time.

“I’ve seen Mama Millie boss you around.”

He chuckled at that. “Okay, you got me.” His smile became meaningful, deep, smoldering with intensity. “I’ll let you boss me around too.” Her stomach gave a happy lurch, and her palms got sweaty. “Since you are my fiancée.”

“I think I’m going to like this fake fiancé gig.”

“Yes, ma’am, I think you will.” The smolder in his blue eyes and the smirk curving his lips compounded the allure of his words.

Lily leaned against the door jam. She needed something to support her. His smile grew. He knew exactly how he was affecting her. Was he healed from that awful Sheryl and ready to give Lily a chance beyond this fake situation? She didn’t know how to discern what was real, what was part of their ruse, and what was simply Clint teasing her.

When she didn’t respond, he tipped the cowboy hat he wasn’t wearing to her. “I’ll be quick.”

She could only nod. She watched him turn into his bedroom. His rhomboid, trapezius, and latissimus dorsi muscles were every bit as glorious as his anterior muscular structure. His shirt clung to his back but was too thick for her to see through. She really wanted to see if he had any tattoos.

He glanced over his shoulder and caught her staring. His smile grew again.

Lily blushed and looked away.

As soon as his door shut, she turned toward the banister and let out a soft sigh. She’d been so focused on Clint that she hadn’t spared a glance for any view but him. The two-story windows along the back of the house showcased a well-kept yard complete with a gazebo and a water feature. The forest beyond was thick and beautiful. Clint’s house fit him—impressive and gorgeous.

She hurried down the stairs. Rounding the corner toward the huge open room, she had to stop again. So pretty. Did Clint ever hike or trail run through the mountains? She wanted to propose they do that tomorrow morning.

Hurrying into the spacious kitchen, she pulled open the fridge door and found eggs and sausage links. Opening cupboards, she found pans and started the sausage sizzling. There was a fresh loaf of pumpkin bread on the counter. Mama Millie. That woman could bake as well as Lily’s own mama. She sliced the bread and some fresh peaches then pulled out orange juice and milk, turning the sausage and finding plates, cups, and silverware.

Her mind was far away from cooking breakfast. Clint was all that consumed her. Once they resolved her dilemma, could they become real engaged? She already felt at home in this beautiful house, but that was just a bonus to the complete package that was Sheriff Clint Coleville.

She’d scooped the sausage onto a paper-towel covered plate and was cracking eggs when she heard footsteps. Her heart pitter-pattered. She didn’t know how long she could last with this fake engagement deal. Hopefully Aiden Porter or Mark’s work from last night would yield something.

Clint came around the staircase and into the living area. He paused and his gaze trailed over her. He looked incredible in a simple T-shirt and jeans. No boots or hat yet. Seeing him in his socks somehow made this all the more intimate.

He swallowed and said, “That’s a vision I never thought I’d see.”

Lily’s pulse sped up and her palms got sweaty. “Me cooking for you?”

He grinned. She had to look away or declare her yearning for him. She cracked an egg and dropped half the shell into the mixture. “Oh, shoot.” Using the edge of the shell, she scooped it out as Clint approached.

She threw the mess in the garbage, rinsed her hands, and hurried to salt and pepper the eggs.

“Looks delicious,” he said, his blue eyes focused on her, not the food.

“Thank you. It was hard work.”

He chuckled at that. “What can I do?”

“Just give the eggs a minute. Scrambled okay?”

“Perfect.”

She imagined he’d say that if she had poached, fried, or boiled them. She stirred the eggs and asked, “Do you lift weights every day?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He folded his arms across his chest as if to reemphasize the obvious muscles.

“Oh, my.” She concentrated on stirring the eggs, biting at her lip so she didn’t say something she shouldn’t. “Do you ever go on hikes or trail runs?”

“A couple times a week.”

“Could we go tomorrow morning?” She managed to meet his gaze again.

“I would love that.”

Something passed between them. Fake engagement? The draw between them was as real as the floor she was standing on.

“Thank you.” She wasn’t going to be the first one to let down her guard and tell him what she was feeling. Not this time.

You … me … it’s a no.

She couldn’t handle hearing that again.

She turned the eggs off. “Dish up.”

“Ladies first.”

She nodded and hurried to fill her plate and a cup with juice. She settled onto a barstool and he sat next to her. He offered a prayer, and they started eating. It was a little easier not to stare at him—she could stare at the gorgeous view instead—but his elbow brushed hers.

“Did Aiden Porter or Mark find anything?” she asked to distract herself.

“It might be days before we know anything on the fingerprints.”

“He did find some? That’s good news, right?”

“Yes, he found some on the fence like he hoped. Which leads us to believe the perp isn’t quite as smart or thorough as we feared and makes me even more suspicious that it’s not the doctor.”

“Why?” She took a bite of eggs and looked at him.

“Dr. Hampshire is ‘brilliant’ in your words. Do you think he’d forget to wear gloves climbing over a vinyl fence and leave prints all over?”

Her shoulders slumped.

“Maybe he believes he’s too smart and a county sheriff won’t catch him.” His blue gaze radiated confidence. Lily was grateful he was on her side. “The other problem is often there isn’t a match for fingerprints as not everyone is in the database. Many people have never had their fingerprints taken.”

“Okay.” She drank some juice. “What about Aiden checking into Dr. Hampshire?”

“He’s coming up clean so far, but if anyone can find something, it’s Aiden’s people.”

They finished eating and cleaned up together. Passing Clint in his kitchen, him smiling every time she looked at him, messed with her mind.

Lily loaded the last dish in the dishwasher, washed her hands, dried them, and turned to face him, leaning against the sink near the dishwasher. Clint finished wiping down the counter and stovetop and then walked toward her. Her eyes widened as he came right into her space.

“Pardon me. Needed to rinse out the dish towel.”

“Oh!” She sidestepped and he smiled.

He rinsed out the towel and hung it up, rinsed his hands and turned to her.

“You don’t mind taking me to the ranch?” she asked.

“I thought we agreed I’m staying with you at the ranch.”

She drew in a breath, debating whether to protest.

He eased closer and rested his hand on the counter next to her hip. “If this perp is after you and wanting to slit my throat,” he grinned as if that were a joke, “being together will keep you safe and might draw him out.”

“Please don’t talk about somebody slitting your throat.” She put a hand to her own throat.

His gaze dipped to her hand and back to her eyes. “That bothers you?”

“Of course it does.”

“Why?”

She was tempted to explain all the reasons someone slitting his throat bothered her, but she settled for, “We’ve been friends since we were toddlers. It would more than ‘bother’ me if someone hurt or especially killed you.”

He studied her and then straightened away from the counter and folded his arms across his chest. The move gave her some breathing room. “If you don’t want Bennett to know what’s happening, I assume you don’t want to share with any of your family.”

“Can we wait? There’s no reason to stress them until we know more, right?”

He shrugged. “I think your family would want to know what is happening and would be more than understanding.”

“I know. There will just be so many questions and issues. Dealing with all of this…” She gestured to him but meant the deal with Dr. Hampshire and the poster leaver as much as fighting to resist him. “Is a lot.”

“All right,” he said evenly. “It’s your choice.”

“Thank you.”

“What’s our cover story then?” He arched an eyebrow.

“Cover story? About me staying here?”

He nodded. “And us being engaged.”

“Well, only Dr. Hampshire has to believe we’re engaged. I told some other co-workers I was dating someone seriously. If you’re coming with me to the ranch today and tomorrow, we can just say that we’ve started dating and you wanted to spend more time with me. My family will love that.”

His eyebrows rose. He nodded.

“Hopefully no one will know I’m staying here. I can leave a lamp on in my house and the doors locked. I’m often staying at Grandma’s down in Kalispell.”

“All right. So the story is I came to check on you after your co-workers played a prank at your house last night, and you cornered me in the kitchen and proclaimed your lifelong love. Of course I couldn’t resist you, so now we’re spending every minute together.”

His gaze was probing. What on earth was she supposed to say to all of that?

“Um … that’ll work. Excuse me while I brush my teeth and grab my phone.” She raced around him and for the staircase. Lifelong love? Did he see straight through her? She could only pray that with Clint, Mark, and now Aiden Porter helping her, they could get to the bottom of the poster and get Dr. Hampshire to leave her alone without hurting her grandma.

Lily might have felt like she belonged in this house as she cooked breakfast, but nothing could be further from the truth. She didn’t belong here. She was going to make a fool of herself and ‘proclaim’ her love if she spent much more time around Clint.

This entire fake engagement was a lot more involved than she’d foreseen. Clint staying by her side day and night … her esophagus closed off and her lungs constricted. She couldn’t breathe or think straight around him.