The Divine Creek Ranch Collection Volume 4

by Heather Rainier

  Dirk wiped his boots thoroughly on the mat, and stepped into the house. He looked around, evidently feeling awkward judging by the way he fidgeted and wadded his hat.

  Seeking to break the ice, Lily said, “Dirk, I was just about to make a pot of coffee. Do you still take yours black?”

  For some reason that seemed to affect Dirk in a way she hadn’t expected, and his chin lowered guiltily. “Sure, Lily. That’d be great.”

  She gestured for him to go into the living room, noting that he seemed to feel very ill at ease. “Come in and sit down.”

  Clay gently circled her upper arm with his hand. “Lily, are you sure you’re up to this? I can talk to him, find out what he wants, and send him on his way.”

  Lily smiled to reassure him. “I never had a problem with Dirk. Granted, he never intervened with JT but he never hurt me either. I want to know why he came all this way.”

  Clay nodded and went into the living room while she stepped into the kitchen and got the coffeemaker going. She could hear them in the other room as Dirk answered his basic questions and filled him in about what he did for a living.

  She stepped into the living room and asked, “Dirk, did you eat supper? Are you hungry?”

  Dirk shook his head. “I stopped at a drive-thru on the way here.”

  She nodded and went back in the kitchen. Her heart rhythm galloped as she pondered all the different reasons he might’ve made the long drive from Durst to Divine.

  When she joined them and handed Dirk and Clay their mugs of coffee, it was obvious by the tension in the room that the subject of Lily’s disastrous relationship with JT had already been broached.

  Lily sipped from her mug as she looked over the rim at Dirk. He smiled when he sipped the coffee and said, “Lily, you always made a good pot of coffee.”

  “Thanks.” Hoping to set him at ease, she admitted, “I’ve been in the kitchen, worrying over all the reasons you might’ve driven this far to see me.”

  Dirk nodded and rubbed his hands on his jeans. He’d cleaned up before coming here, but she recognized the dirt and grease crusted permanently under his nails. The fact that he’d gone to the trouble to try to clean up a little meant something to her. “It’s about this whole situation, Lily. I thought there were some things you needed to know. I don’t know…”

  Lily smiled at him and nodded for him to continue at his own pace.

  “I don’t know if it’s against the rules for me to have contact with you, or if I could get in trouble with the lawyers, or you could for agreeing to see me. But, Lily, you need to know what’s goin’ on.” He leaned forward with the last few words, setting his mug on the coffee table.

  His suddenly urgent tone made her heart pound. “What’s going on?”

  Dirk groaned and ran his fingers through his hair, making it stand up in places. His eyes seemed a little red-rimmed. “I only just found the letter you wrote to me today. It must’ve gotten shoved back in the drawer somehow. For a while, I just thought that you’d gotten fed up and lit out of Durst. I was actually kinda mad because I felt like you’d abandoned him…and me. I realized after you’d gone, what all you did for us, for no pay and no appreciation either.” He stopped and let out a shaky sigh. “I’m getting this all screwed up, I’m sorry. I don’t know how much you know about what’s going on with your dad, but me and JT were in Gil’s Place a couple of nights ago. We were sitting in one of the booths and Les and some of his coffee buddies came in and sat in the booth next to ours.”

  “Yeah?” Gil’s Place was the bar her father and his buddies had stopped at on occasion for years.

  “Remember those booths have those high backs so unless you’re looking it’s possible to not see who is in the next booth when you sit down. Anyway, he was talking to his friends and we recognized his voice. I’m sorry, Lily, I didn’t know he had cancer, or if you ever told me, I didn’t remember.”

  Lily shook her head. “I never said anything about it, Dirk.” Expressing sorrow over something like that in JT’s presence would have earned her more trouble than Dirk’s sympathy would’ve been worth.

  “We both heard him tell his friends that when he kicks the bucket, you stand to inherit the money he and your mom saved over the years as well as being the beneficiary on his life insurance policy. He told his friend that you would be taken care of financially, probably for life if you were careful and invested. He felt bad for taking you away from Divine when you were little and even worse that you’d gotten tangled up with JT because of it. He blamed himself for how hard your life’s been. He said it was the least he could do for you. Lily, JT was listening to the whole conversation. He heard Les when his friend asked him how much you were getting.”

  “Oh, crap,” Clay groaned. “And he answered him?”

  Dirk nodded. “Yeah. Seventy-five thousand dollars plus a five hundred thousand dollar life insurance policy. I saw JT’s eyes when your dad said that. Les must’ve been drinking because he was talking a little louder than he probably meant to. His friend shushed him but…JT knows now. I got a bad feeling about this whole deal. When he got the divorce papers he threw them in a file drawer and they were still there the other day. I know he hasn’t been cooperating about that.”

  “It doesn’t matter whether he cooperates or not. All I have to do is wait out the sixty day period and make it to the hearing. I can prove domestic abuse if he makes a big enough stink.”

  “That’s not all, Lily. Your dad…your dad said that his doctor told him that he had less time than he had hoped for. He said he just prays that he makes it until after your divorce is final so the money doesn’t get tied up.”

  The words in the note he’d included with the deed to the house came back to her.

  “… If you can just make do for a while, everything will be okay. You’ll see…”

  It all made sense now. He’d known then that he was running out of time and wanted her somewhere safe before he died. Fresh grief assailed her at the news. He’d never wanted her to come with him to any doctor’s appointments so she’d never known the doctor’s prognosis. Her thoughts shifted back to the reason for this conversation. If he saw dollar signs, JT was unlikely to give up and walk away. “JT’s not going to let me go, is he?”

  Clay growled and said, “Fuck, that. Lily, you’re safe from him and you’re going to stay that way. He’s not getting his clutches on you again.”

  Dirk nodded like he agreed but held up his hand. “Mr. Cook, with all due respect, when JT latches on to an idea he doesn’t let go. He’s like a pit bull terrier, especially about Lily. I think this whole time he figured that she’d come crawling back. He may try to get her back by force now. That’s what I came to tell you, Lily. Actually, I came to warn you. You know how he is.”

  Borderline psychotic? Yes, I remember.

  “You think he will come here? Wait—How did you know where I live?”

  Dirk raised his hands from his knees and replied, “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I found the address on your—your old desk, his desk now. He must’ve hired someone to get the information for him because he’s been at the shop every day.”

  A cold chill ran up her spine at the news that JT might’ve hired an investigator to find her. “So you didn’t find the letter until today?”

  “Yeah. I worried when I saw the look on JT’s face when he found out how much you stand to inherit. He said you were coming back home, if it was the last thing you did. When he said it he had a scary look on his face. I found the letter this morning, and…” Left unsaid by Dirk was that he must’ve decided to get up the guts to thwart his brother and warn her.

  “Does JT know about it?”

  He patted his shirt pocket. “No, I have it. I told him I had business to take care of and I’d be gone all day. I went home and packed all my stuff and left Natalie. It’s all in the back of my truck. That was a decision that I’ve been putting off for a while now. I knew she’d cheated before, but I didn’t know she’d cheated w
ith my own brother. I’ve put up with a lot from him over the years, because he’s my blood. But I can’t keep from you the fact that he’s planning something. Watch over her, Mr. Cook, because JT isn’t the kind to give up easily.”

  Lily asked, “Dirk, what are you going to do now?”

  “Find a motel to check into for the night then go back home, rent a motel room or someplace to put my stuff until I can get settled somewhere, then…well, you know…”

  Lily finished the thought for him. “Go in to work and pretend like none of it happened?”

  Dirk looked ashamed as he nodded. “I can’t walk away from the shop. I’ve invested too many years in it. But I promise I won’t tell JT I saw you. You deserved to be warned, Lily. You look happy. I almost didn’t recognize you because you’ve lost a lot weight. Have you been sick?”

  His words were reinforced by Clay’s raised eyebrow as she caught him glancing her way. “No, I’ve been working and trying to lose weight.”

  Dirk shook his head like she was loony. “I don’t know why. I mean, I know JT hounded you, but I think it was because he was afraid you’d leave him for someone else if you had better self-esteem. I’m really sorry I never stood up for you. I was like an ostrich with my head stuck in the sand, not wanting to see the truth. Mr. Cook told me what kind of shape you were in by the time you made it here. JT has spread rumors that you ran off with Mr. Cook and that you were living in sin here. He didn’t say anything about you almost dying. I didn’t know about that until just now when Clay told me. I’m glad you lived, Lily.” Dirk’s face reddened, and he rubbed his hands on his thighs again. “My brother is a first-class bastard and I feel very guilty for never taking up for you. I hope you can forgive me someday. I’m really sorry.”

  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.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Why?” Duh!

  “Because then I’ll know you’re safe.”

  “Oh.” Damn!

  “And also because this could be the last night you spend here for a little while and I intend to make love to you. No lights, on your terms, but I’m making love to you tonight. Go do what you need to do.”

  His expression was serious, not playful or uncertain. This more demanding side of his heretofore easygoing nature made her want to throw herself at him. Lily couldn’t even feel her feet as she nodded and walked to her room.

  Pulling open her closet door, she removed several tops, folded and stacked them on the bed, then went to the chest of drawers. The shower came on down the hall, and she sighed when the bathroom door closed without him ordering her into it with him. Refusing him would’ve felt awful. Oh, but saying yes would feel wonderful!

  She pulled out one of her suitcases and filled it with the clothing and other items she would need. She heard him moving around the bathroom, and she pictured him lathering his wide chest with the soap and washcloth, his strong hands efficient and quick in their work.

  Her pussy warmed as she thought of how she’d take her time washing him. She’d lather her bare hands and smooth the soap over the wide expanse of his shoulders, following every dip and curve of his muscular frame. Hot moisture seeped from her cunt as she imagined sliding her hands down his chest and his abdomen to the cock insistently jutting out at her.

  She would wrap her hand around his rock-hard shaft and stroke its length to the bulbous head. She shuddered, and another wave of longing heated her core.

  With JT, she’d never reached this level of heig
htened arousal. In the beginning, lovemaking with him had been incredible, but it had gradually turned into something ugly. He’d grown demanding and she’d believed if she just tried a harder, she’d be able to make him happy. The night before she’d left him she remembered feeling guilty for turning down sex because she’d been nauseated and achy. He’d looked her dead in the eye.

  “You know that if I really wanted to fuck your lazy ass, it wouldn’t matter if you wanted it or not, right?” His lip had curled in disgust. “I don’t know why I stay with you. You don’t take care of me or the house worth a shit. You’ve let yourself go.” He’d known exactly where her most vulnerable areas were, namely her body image and full figure.

  “Except for the fact that you could suck a golf ball through a garden hose and Dirk would get all pissy if I got rid of our bookkeeper without providing a replacement first, I’d divorce your ass. You got your reprieve. I’ll jack off in the shower, but the next time I tell you to spread ’em and make those tits bounce, you’d better fucking do it.”

  She’d known he’d meant it, too. His words had been designed to cut her to the bone, and they had, with laser-like precision. Any other woman might feel proud to know that she excelled at oral sex, but JT said things like that because he knew it would hurt her feelings. She’d tried hard for years to please him, and all she’d ever received were backhanded compliments. And like a fool, she’d promised herself that she’d fuck him so good, so hard the following night that he would appreciate her for once.

  The knock on the doorframe startled her from further ruminations, and Lily slammed the door once more on those memories. Clay stood there, hips wrapped in his towel, droplets of water glistening on his shoulders. His tremendously thick sex was upright and lying against his hip at an angle, clearly outlined behind the damp towel.

  When she drew near, he lifted her hand to his lips, then murmured, “Don’t forget your robe. I’ll be waiting in the bedroom.”