Divine Phoenix(Divine Creek Ranch 10)(28)

Emma chortled. “Clay said what?”

“He told me I’d like you.” She held up the pamphlets and the card. “I’ll give this some thought.”

“Get in to see the counselor. I think she’d do you a lot of good.”

Lily walked out of Emma’s clinic feeling more alive and stronger than ever. Clay leaned against his truck, talking on his cell phone. It had been a long time since Lily had paid attention to a man’s physique because if JT had caught her there would’ve been hell to pay.

Now, every time she was around Clay, she noticed little things about him, like the way he held his phone just now. His hands looked strong and capable, yet gentle. His faded jeans fit his muscular body in a way that made her cheeks grow warm, and she couldn’t stop her eyes from scanning his groin area, which seemed very nicely proportioned judging by what she could see.

He gave her a warm, affectionate smile and opened her door when she approached. She was almost overwhelmed by the urge to go straight to him, knowing he’d wrap his strong arms around her if she did, but something held her back. She didn’t want him to think she was a baby who needed coddling.

“All right, Jack. I’ll tell Lily.” He ended the call and put his phone in his pocket.

“Tell me what?” She pulled herself up into the seat with hardly any discomfort at all.

“First tell me how your appointment went,” he said as he started the truck. The stereo played mutedly in the background.

“Emma said I could start work, and I could begin exercising at home, but no weights yet. She also suggested a counselor.”

She smiled when Clay turned up the volume for her as Kelly Clarkson’s “Mr. Know It All” began to play. He knew she liked that song. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever get used to him doing nice things just because he wanted to. Deep down, she hoped she had a chance to get used to it. Down the road. First things first. Tattoo removal and weight loss had to come next, then finishing her education. A whole new me.

“I think the counselor would be a good idea, Lily. You’ve done great with your journaling and it’s gotten easier for you to talk about what happened in the past. It would probably speed you on the road to recovery. I’m starving. You want to grab some lunch in town with me?”

Lily nodded enthusiastically and sang along with the song quietly, “You ain’t got the right to tell me, When and where to go, no right to tell me, Acting like you own me lately, Yeah baby you don’t know a thing about me, you don’t know a thing about me…”

Clay clasped her hand in his, and she smiled at him, feeling like she could handle just about anything. “Once I know my schedule and get the appointment with the lawyer out of the way, I’ll get in touch with the counselor. My funds are limited right now so I need to be careful.” Clay looked like he wanted to say something but then simply nodded and kept driving. “What did your friend want you to tell me?”

“Jack Warner can meet us one day early next week at the house to take a look around. He’s bringing Adam Davis with him.”

“Who?”

“Adam Davis. He’s a heating and air-conditioning contractor. He does electrical work, too. He’s also Grace Warner’s…”

“What?”

“I never finished explaining the other day. I keep forgetting that you’re new to the area.”

“I am not,” she said as Clay smiled at her playfully.

“Some aspects of Divine you’re new to. Adam is also Grace’s husband.”

Huh? “I thought she was married to Jack.”

“She is. I was going to tell you all about this when I showed you Lydia’s statue. There are a number of polyamorous groups in Divine. They’re discreet about it, though. I have a feeling you’ll know a number of them soon enough.”

“Grace has two husbands? All that extra cooking and housework…keeping up with two men?”

Looking like he was bracing himself, Clay replied, “Actually, it’s three husbands.”

“Huh? Is that legal? That’s not legal.”

“It’s not legal to be married in a state-sanctioned ceremony to more than one person. Theirs is more of a…spiritual union  . They bound their hearts to each other. She is legally married to Jack, but as far as they’re concerned, they are all four, men and wife.”

Lily had a hard time wrapping her mind around that concept. “And she agreed to this willingly?” What kind of loon takes on three husbands? Wonder Woman? The dirty laundry alone would kill me!

Clay grinned and nodded. “Yes. She did. I actually designed and created all their rings.”