Catching Lily(8)

She glanced at him, the furrow in her brow easing. "Okay." She nodded. "You're right. It might work." After dabbing some lipstick on, she met his gaze in the mirror. "Does your sister live close by?"

"No." He sighed. "She lives in Seattle. So do my parents."

"Bummer. That's so far."

"Yeah. They visit a few times a year, though."

Thirty seconds later, they were in the hallway, racing down the stairs.

"Zia's going to see right through me."

"And you wouldn't have told her about this later anyway?"

She pursed her lips and then giggled. He loved the sound. "I would have. Eventually. But not right now."

"Don't worry. I told you, no one's going to be the wiser."

As soon as they hit the first floor in the kitchen, he tugged open the back door and ushered her outside.

She shivered against him in the chilly evening air. It was Miami, but it was November. "How is this going to help, exactly? It's just making us later."

He smiled. "Trust me for a minute, would you?" He led her toward the grill of his outdoor kitchen, grabbed her hands, and set them on the surface.

"Shit. That's cold."

"Yep. Put your cheeks on it too." He did the same next to her.

Seconds later, he was truly cold. He glanced at Lily. Red cheeks. Flushed. She grinned.

He pointed toward the backyard. "Greenhouse is down that path. Flowers and plants line the right side. Herbs and vegetables line the left. You love roses, right?"

She nodded, giggling now. "Of course. I would want to spend a long time smelling them. And I would probably try to talk you into letting me come paint them another day." 

"Perfect. We've been out here for quite a while, then. Let's go."

Lily followed him back inside and down to the basement. When they reached the bar area, not one of the guys paid any attention.

Zia spun around on a bar stool. "Geez, girl. I was about to send a search party."

Lily picked up the glass of wine she'd left next to her friend and seamlessly met the eyes of five women. "Have you seen the greenhouse Dominic has?"

Zia shook her head. "No. Should I?"

"Absolutely. It's spectacular. Totally going to want to shoot some pictures or sketch his roses one day." She set her hand on Zia's.

Zia jerked her fingers out from under Lily's. "Yikes. You're freezing. How long were you out there?"

Lily shrugged. "Not that long."

He was damn proud. Excellent performance.





Chapter Three





Three months later …

"I can't believe you're getting married on Wednesday." Lily leaned back on the love seat and propped her feet on the coffee table. "No. That's not exactly true. I can't believe you're getting married on a Wednesday."

Zia giggled. "It's February fourteenth. Why not? All the days are the same when Brett's in the off-season. The same is true for most of his friends."

Lily stiffened at the mention of Brett's friends. Included among that crowd would be Dominic.

Zia continued, "It just worked out that way. I thought it was romantic."

"It is. You're right. And I bet you didn't have any trouble finding a venue on a Wednesday."

"Actually, you'd be surprised how many people want to get married on Valentine's Day. No one seems to care that it's the middle of the week."

"I bet no other wedding in Miami is going to be stacked with as many hot guys as this one, though."

"You mean as many rich guys?"

"That too." Lily stuck her hands under her thighs to keep from shaking. Ever since Zia had announced the wedding date and then asked Lily to be her maid of honor, Lily had been sweating bullets.

Of course, the best man would have to be Dominic.

"Why do you look so nervous? I'm the one who should be freaking out here. I'm getting married." Zia rocked forward. "Can you believe it? I never thought I would get married, and certainly not to a baseball player."

"I'm so happy for you."

Zia tipped her head to one side and frowned. "You look more like you're being led to the gallows. Something going on?"

Lily tossed her head back and sighed toward the ceiling. She needed to fess up and tell Zia what happened three months ago before she found herself face-to-face with Dominic and things got awkward.

"Lily …  What's up with you?"

Lily sucked in a breath and faced her friend. "I need to tell you something."

"If you're going to incriminate Brett in some way, keep it to yourself. I don't think I could handle it." Zia went totally white.

"No. Oh God. No. Nothing like that. Remember the day you got engaged and you two dragged me along with you to that Monday night football party?"