LOVE in a Small Town (Ladies of Legend Boxed Set)

by Janet Eaves

  It was a dance.

  Soft music filled her head making her dizzy, disoriented, needy. Softer lighting showered them from the star-filled skylight overhead. A gentle touch of Jim’s hand to her back, then hip, then a slide upward where he pulled her head to his once more in a kiss so deeply honest it brought tears to her eyes and took the starch from her knees.

  A gentle turn. A backwards shuffle. Then there was no floor as she felt herself lifted into strong arms, pulled against a steel hard chest. He smelled of something dangerous, a faint mixture of cologne and the man himself. She inhaled deeply, loving the scent that was exclusively Jim.

  He lowered her onto his bed, his own feet still firmly planted on the floor. “Are you sure?”

  She reached up and touched his face, loving the feel of newly emerging beard. “More sure than anything.”

  He lowered his head and placed a single kiss on her lips before moving to her feet. One by one he removed her slippers. He bent then and kissed the arch of each foot. She jerked her foot away, laughing. “I’m ticklish.”

  Jim smiled. “Good information.”

  She couldn’t wipe the grin from her face. “Be nice.”

  Jim licked her right instep causing her to jerk her knee to her chest. “Not fair.” She rolled over, and up to her knees, on the opposite side of the bed. She challenged him with her eyes as she slowly unbuttoned her black blouse to reveal a blood red underwire bra. She kept her eyes locked to his as she slowly slid it from her shoulders to fall to the bed.

  “Uh-uh!” she said when Jim made a move to join her. “You,” she said, pointing her finger at him, “stay there.”

  Jim seemed to self-debate before nodding once. “Your show, sweetheart.”

  Lilly grinned and slid the straps off her shoulders before reaching behind her to unhook the bra. She let it fall to join the blouse, watching his face as his gaze wandered to her exposed breasts. She rose to her knees, adjusted her position for balance, and unsnapped the row, one by one, of buttons down the front of her jeans.

  Tingles of excitement urged her forward as his focus now followed the movements of her hands. She placed them inside the hip-hugging waist band and slowly slid the jeans down to her knees, revealing a black and red lace thong.

  Jim’s gaze flew upward to her own. His chest heaved once, his exhale audible. “Nice!”

  Lilly bit her bottom lip. She had never done anything so bold in her life. She backed away more, slid off the bed, and let the jeans fall to the floor.

  He left his spot and moved toward her, around the foot of the bed. “Very nice.”

  Lilly held up a hand. “My show, remember?”

  Jim shook his head, his steady panther-like movements bringing him closer. “No, ma’am. My turn.”

  Lilly screamed and jumped back on the bed with a laugh but Jim caught her ankle before she could get away. He fell on top of her, rolled her over, and stared into her eyes. Lilly’s smile melted at his serious expression. “Game over?”

  That slow slide of a smile coupled with a slight nod stole her breath. “Game over,’ he confirmed. He cupped her jaw gently with one hand, his other sliding to cradle the base of her skull. In slow motion he lowered his head until their lips were only an inch apart. “Serious,” was all he said before taking her lips in a deep, drugging kiss that caressed, cajoled, enticed, and scattered what few functioning brain cells she had left.

  She reached up and cupped his jaw, her other hand grabbing first his hair then ran down his back to his hips. She pulled his Dragons coaching shirt from the waistband and slid it slowly up his back. His lips released hers’ long enough to pull the shirt over his head before he snagged it and flung it across the room.

  When Jim began the decent to her mouth again, Lilly stopped him by flattening her palms and splaying her fingers over and against his chest. At his curious lift of a brow she traced the ripples down his incredibly tight tummy to the single button of his slacks. Lilly watched him watch her as she unbuttoned and unzipped the taut khakis then ran her hand over the newly exposed cotton-covered bulge, making Jim inhale sharply. “These need to come off.”

  Jim moved back from her without a word, his focus on her alone as he slid off the bed to stand at its side. He pushed off the khakis and boxers in one motion. Her heart thumped against her chest, time and again, as she rose to face him.

  He was beautiful… every hard inch of him. His well-maintained, large muscles were lightly dusted with fine curly hairs, then thicker, darker hair at the juncture of his sex. His arm and chest muscles were not the only body parts that were large and hard. Lilly licked her lips as her eyes sought his. “You are in great shape.”

  Jim made his way back to her on the bed. “Thanks. So are you. Beautiful, in fact.”

  She swallowed. “I don’t have much experience at this.”

  A look of relief flashed over Jim’s face. “Good.”

  She had little time to ponder his reaction before he took her lips and with them all thought. His hands were everywhere, touching, molding, cherishing. His lips followed those hands, or took other equally wonderful paths as he started at her mouth and moved down, inch by inch, until nearly all of her body was on fire.

  He moved slowly, methodically, increasing her desire, pulling moans and growls of need and frustration as he paid homage to body from face to neck to breasts. Moisture filled her eyes even as laughter hitched her breath when he so sweetly touched one spot on her tummy only to tickle another with lips and tongue. She sought his head with both hands when he reached the soft curling hairs south of her navel. “Wait,” came out breathless.

  “No.”

  Lilly chuckled. “I’m not sure.”

  “I am.”

  And she was, too, only seconds later as he clasped both thighs and held her still as he lowered his head to taste her center, then delved in with gentle bites, suckling, sharing the magic of his tongue. A hum built in her head with the intensity of her desire, a desire so painful she couldn’t help but arch into it. Jim held her immobile, continuing his increasingly wild assault of her core as she fought against the aching need building inside. The hum grew louder with each restrained breath until finally she couldn’t take any more and crash after crash of sensation had her bucking against him, screaming his name.

  Jim released her, slid up her body, and slipped into her as fantastic waves rocked her to her very depths. The raw intensity tore her to shreds inside, making her fight to pull him closer, to push him away, to somehow ease the sensation that was magnificent pleasure and breathtaking pain. She needed him to make it stop before it completely consumed her. Yet she never wanted it to stop at all.

  But Jim wasn’t interested in easing her pain. Rather he worked successfully to increase it, ignite then fan the flames higher with his combustible kisses turning their mating into an inferno as he pulled her tongue into his mouth, tangling it with his own, and then mimicked the motion of his hips as he entered her time after time. She turned her head away, breaking the kiss, needing more of something, anything to fill this ravaging, unknown need.

  She sank her teeth into his shoulder and was rewarded with his growl, then clawed to hold on to his sweat slickened back as he pumped harder. She met him thrust for thrust until she once again screamed out in the most pleasurable pain she had never imagined existed. Jim threw back his head and with one final thrust he groaned long and low as if in pain, too, as he emptied himself into her.

  As aftershocks followed the eruption, Lilly held him tight, riding the waves to completion. Finally he collapsed and rolled to his side, taking her with him. He pulled her close, their sweat-covered bodies one as he lowered his lips to take hers again.

  He released her lips and adjusted her to lay with her head against his chest. “I’m in love with you.”

  She couldn’t help the thrill or the sharp intake of breath. “You hardly know me.”

  The room was silent but for their slowing breaths. Jim ran a finger down her cheek, his smile gentl
e. “I know you. My soul knows yours. I know that sounds stupid, but I also know this is right.” He lifted her chin, studied her eyes. “I don’t expect you to feel the same way. I know we just met, but I want you to know how I feel. Be my girl, Lil. For now that’s enough. And later, if you feel the same way, I want you to be my wife.”

  Tears slid down her face as she moved to take his lips with her own. She kept the kiss gentle then pulled back. “I am in very deep like of you. I don’t know yet, really, if it is love, but I think it could be. I just want to give us time.” She searched his face, wondering what held her back. But whatever it was she would listen. Her instincts had served her well over the years and this was too important to make any rash statements.

  “I have all the time in the world. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Lilly sighed and settled back at his side. “Good. By the way, Coach. Touchdown!”

  Chapter Ten

  Lilly hummed to herself as she unpacked and shelved the latest shipment. The multiple colors of the crib sets complemented the soft pastels she had painted on the walls. Finally her last shipment had arrived and she was ready for her grand opening slated in three days. Come Monday morning she was officially in business.

  New Beginnings had already generated a lot of interest from expectant mothers, new mothers, grandmothers, and friends of mothers. It seemed nearly every woman in Legend had stopped in at one time or another to express their excitement over the new shop.

  And to gossip.

  Apparently, Jim Hood was a common subject of discussion in Legend. And she, three wonderful weeks into their relationship, was now clearly additional fodder for the gossip mill. At least the women didn’t gossip behind her back. They actually included her to her face. It was more fun than she would have ever imagined.

  “Is this where you want these?”

  Lilly glanced up from the quilted Peter Rabbit comforter she was folding to see what Macy needed. The young woman had recently broken off her engagement, according to the gossip mill, because she caught her fiancé in the act with an older woman. One of the Dragon cheerleader’s mothers to be exact. One Candy Clark, the same woman who sent her evils stares anytime they crossed paths.

  According to the mill, which was in full force on this issue, as they all seemed to despise the woman, Macy had walked in on a kinky situation involving chains and whips and her fiancé wearing her make-up and underwear. It was no wonder the poor girl was traumatized.

  Macy held up a figurine that complemented the Peter Rabbit decorations. “Yes. Thank you. If you would, put all those out and we’ll see how they do there.”

  Macy nodded and went back to work. She was a quiet girl before her breakup, but now she wore silent despair like a cloak. Lilly sighed. “Macy? Do you want to ride with me to the State game tomorrow night? I’m taking Jim’s SUV. There’s plenty of room.”

  “No thank you, Ms. Lilly. I don’t go anymore.”

  Lilly expected the answer and was determined to change Macy’s mind. She started to open her mouth but closed it again as the tiny cow bell she’d strung up on the door rang and Suzie walked into the shop. She hadn’t seen or talked to Suzie since being hung-over that day at the B&B three weeks earlier.

  Suzie had made herself scarce when Lilly packed up and moved out of the B&B and into her new rental home. And Suzie hadn’t been in town, that Lilly knew of, since. Curious as to the purpose of the unexpected visit, Lilly laid the comforter down on the half-emptied box and walked to the front of the store. Pushing aside the instant hurt, she lifted her head and planted a pleasant smile on her lips. She was a professional now, and would act accordingly.

  “Welcome to New Beginnings. I’m afraid we aren’t open yet.”

  Suzie licked her lips, rolled her eyes, and shook her head. “I’m sorry. Look, I was an idiot. It was so stupid to think you were a prostitute that killed some man named Big Daddy. I should have known all along it was the alcohol. I can’t take any more of this. We were friends. Jim is completely pissed at me. He hardly speaks to me at all anymore. And everything is off balance. I actually had a cake fall. Do you know how many years it’s been since I had a pastry come out wrong? So I am here to apologize.”

  Lilly forced herself to take a breath as black dots danced before her eyes. She sent a quick glance to Macy but the girl seemed lost in her own world of misery and wasn’t paying attention. She approached Suzie. “What are you talking about?”

  Suzie exhaled loudly. “You were drunk. I’m not surprised you don’t remember because you knocked back a lot of liquor for someone who claimed to never drink.”

  Lilly didn’t bother to correct her. She glanced at Macy again. This time the girl was paying rapt attention. She licked her lips. “Macy, this would be a good time for you to take your lunch break.”

  Macy stared at her for a moment then shrugged. “Okay, Ms. Lilly.”

  She went to the back of the store and retrieved her purse before leaving. Lilly locked the door and turned to Suzie. “What exactly did I say to you?”

  Suzie studied her for a moment. “I don’t remember word for word, but it was something about a man named Big Daddy, your father, someone died, and a Madame. I thought…well I thought you were a hooker that killed your pimp.”

  Lilly wanted to laugh, as if what Suzie was saying was foolish, but all she could do was slide to the floor, her legs gone, her stomach ill. She looked up then lowered her gaze as Suzie joined her on the floor.

  “Lilly, I know it isn’t any of my business, but was I right?”

  She shook her head. “No. I was never a hooker, but I knew some. The people who raised me were not good people. Big Daddy…you can never say that name again. Please, it’s dangerous.”

  Suzie reached out and grasped Lilly’s cold hands. “Can you tell me what happened? Is there anything I can do?”

  The need to tell, the desire to unburden herself was so strong she could barely breathe. But if she did she was placing her whole existence in Suzie’s care. For once in her life she wanted to take that chance. “What I am about to tell you can go no further. If you tell anyone, and I mean anyone, I will have to disappear.”

  “You’re scaring me. It almost sounds like you are in the federal witness protection program.”

  She stared silently at Suzie.

  “Oh, my, Gosh! Are you serious? Lilly, what… I mean can you tell me? Should I go? What do you want me to do?”

  Her lower lip trembled. “I want to tell you, but I could endanger us both if I do.”

  Suzie sat straight up. “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. But if I can help you in some way….”

  Shaking, Lilly got to her feet and pulled Suzie up. She wandered around the store touching all the pretty things babies needed, or their parents wanted. She glanced back at Suzie who was watching her. “The day I turned eighteen I ran across a news article in the study of the man I believed to be my father.”

  “Big Daddy?”

  Lilly shivered, nodded. “I kinda knew my life was different. I saw other people from the window of our hired car when I was little. I saw children playing in the streets, people walking down them, and was allowed to walk down them myself with escorts on the rare occasion.”

  “Escorts?”

  Lilly snorted. “Body guards.”

  “Why?”

  “Big Daddy and Madame, who I thought to be my mother, told me people would want to hurt me because we were so rich. I didn’t really care when I was younger, but as I went through puberty and then my early teens I resented having wealth since I was basically a prisoner in a gilded cage.”

  “The marble Grecian style home with the gold faucets?”

  Lilly closed her eyes and groaned. “I’ll never drink again!”

  Suzie laughed. “Yeah, I’m thinking that would be smart. Loose lips sink ships and all that.”

  “Yeah. Well,” Lilly continued, “the day I turned eighteen I’d had enough. I confronted Big Daddy and Madame. I told them tha
t I wanted a regular life and that I didn’t want to be watched over all the time. That I wanted to date like a regular girl.”

  “And?”

  “He locked me in his study.” Lilly picked up a silver rattle and laid it back down. “I think he did it on purpose so I would find what I found. He didn’t make it all that hard.”

  “What are you talking about? What did you find?”

  Lilly swallowed. She hadn’t purposely revisited that day in the last ten years. Her eyes welled up as she spoke. “There on his desk was an old newspaper article about a couple who had been brutally murdered eighteen years earlier. The man was missing several body parts, the woman had been sliced open and a baby removed from her womb. Neither one had a head or fingers.” She placed her hand on her own stomach. “I was that baby.”

  “Oh, my, Lilly, no!” Suzie crossed the room and pulled Lilly into a hug.

  She nodded and stepped back. “Please, don’t touch me right now. I need to finish. I need to say it all.”

  Suzie backed away. “Say whatever you need to. It will never leave this room.”

  “Thank you.” Lilly cleared her throat. “When I read the article I knew. I knew it was about my real parents. No one knew who they were. There was no way to trace them without teeth for dental records, or fingers for prints. They didn’t come up in any of the police files for DNA. There was nothing. To this day I don’t know who my real parents were. What their names were. What they would have named me.”

  “I feel sick.”

  Lilly nodded. “I know. Even now, after all this time, it still makes me want to puke.”

  “What happened?”

  She shrugged. “Pretty much what you would expect. Big Daddy decided I was no longer his daughter so he beat me, took away all the luxuries I had been raised with and put me in the apartments of the prostitutes he owned. I’ve never used Daddy when thinking about him since. Now I just think of him as BD. I try not to think of him at all.”