Divine Phoenix(Divine Creek Ranch 10)(73)

Lily placed her cup on the coffee table and patted the top of Dirk’s hand. “I forgive you. I never should’ve stayed as long as I did. I made it and I’m alive. Thank you for warning us. By chance did you hear my father say why he kept that news from me, that his time was shorter than he’d led me to believe?”

Dirk shook his head. “No, but if I were him I wouldn’t have told you because you’d never have left if you knew the time was that short.” He rose from the couch. “Well, I need to go find a motel room before it gets any later. Thank you for the hospitality. You remember my number if you need anything, Lily.”

Lily nodded and gave him a hug this time. “I wish you luck finding a place in Durst. The pickings are pretty slim.”

He’d have to choose between one of the rental mobile homes in the Happy Acres mobile home park or a rented room at the Big Rock Motel. Either choice was unappetizing. Clay gave him directions to a clean motel in town.

Dirk said, “This is a pretty little town y’all live in. Maybe I’ll just stop here permanently.”

Lily laughed and said, “You’d be welcome, Dirk.”

Dirk gave her a sad smile and shook his head. “I got a business I can’t walk away from. It’s a nice thought anyway.”

When he’d said his good-byes, Lily stood looking at Clay in the doorway. He gazed at her with sympathy and wrapped his arms around her as she went to him.

“I’m so sorry about your dad.”

“I knew we were on borrowed time and that there were no guarantees. If I’d known I would’ve insisted he come with me.”

“We can have him brought here. You could convince him.”

“I don’t want to upset him, or do anything that could shorten the time he has, but I’ll talk to him. Maybe he’ll change his mind.”

“Do you trust what Dirk said? JT could’ve sent him, Lily. This meeting could’ve been planned by him. I wouldn’t put anything past him.”

Lily smiled and shook her head. “If you got to know Dirk, you would know that couldn’t be. He’s a simple kind of guy and would never have been able to pull a rehearsed meeting off like that. He was sincere. In some ways, he’s trapped in Durst, too.”

“I think we need to talk about moving you out to the ranch.” He didn’t look pleased when he said it.

“What? But we—”

“He knows where you live, baby.”

“I don’t want to leave here.” She meant it when she said it, too. “Just when I think I’m free to live my life, I have to uproot again.”

Clay squeezed her. “It’s only temporary.”

“Will you stay out there, too?” She searched his eyes with hope.

Clay seemed both pleased and conflicted but then shook his head. “No. If someone is watching the house then we need to not disrupt the routine. We’ll keep your car here and Del can drive you in to the shop and pick you up.”

“I don’t like inconveniencing him like that.”

“The distraction would probably be good for him. So will the hog hunt this weekend. I think he’s in need of a break anyway. Every time I call him he’s sounded like I’ve interrupted him in physical labor. He’s probably pushing himself too hard. Sound familiar?”

Lily pulled back and looked at him. “That’s changing now. I had a big ‘Aha!’ moment earlier. You can take the machine out of my room, but I hope you don’t get rid of it. I’ll only use it every so often.”

“I think you should go see Emma and give your knee a rest for a while. You can ride to work with me in the morning and I’ll call Del and have him pick you up after work tomorrow.” Clay sat down in his big chair, invitation in his eyes. “You were about to tell me something else when the doorbell rang.”

Lily knew herself well enough to know she wouldn’t be able to resist him tonight if he wanted to make love to her. Suddenly the idea of him knowing about the tattoo was more than she could handle.

Enough already, for one evening!

“Oh, it was no big deal. I just…have to get this test over with and…check in with Jack and Adam about the house. It’s nothing really.”

That was totally lame! A two-year-old would know you’re lying!

“You sure?” he asked, skepticism showing in his eyes as she inched backward toward the hallway.

“Yes. I suppose I should pack.” She hated disappointing him, especially since she wouldn’t see as much of him if she stayed at the ranch.

“Lily?” She was slammed with a wave of lust as she looked in his green-gold eyes. “You’re sleeping with me tonight.”