The Heartbreaker (Fighting the Odds Book 1)

by Tricia Andersen

  Lily spun towards Molly’s voice. Standing next to her was Reese, a boxful of pens tight in his grip. The redhead winked at her.

  How much did he tell her? “That’s fantastic,” Lily gushed as she locked the library door. “Thanks for your help, Mr. Cooper.”

  “Anything I can do to help, Miss Dixon.” Reese grinned.

  Lily laughed as she joined them under the tent. The silent auction took up the entire sidewalk and went the entire length on the block. She couldn’t be more grateful for her friends. It would take all three of them and Elijah to keep some kind of control. Looking down the street, she could see people already arriving. Breathing a silent prayer, she picked up her clipboard and tucked it under her arm.

  Reese stopped next to her and whispered in her ear, “You can do this. You’ve worked so hard. Look at what you accomplished. I believe in you. You got this, baby.”

  Lily glanced at him and smiled. The pride in his eyes made her feel invincible. Taking a deep breath, she greeted the first people who stepped under the tent with a confidence she didn’t know she possessed.

  The morning flew by without Lily realizing it, the time only announced by the grumble of her stomach. The three of them worked in perfect harmony, stumbling occasionally over a constantly flustered Elijah. Finally, they sent him off with his friends to get him from under their feet. Lily fought to hide her smile each time Reese grazed his fingers along her butt.

  “Who’s getting lunch?” Molly questioned.

  Lily glanced at the crowd around them. “When it slows down, I’ll go find us something.”

  “Hold on.” Reese whipped his phone from his back pocket and quickly tapped on the screen. He slipped the cell back in his pocket with a smirk then stepped to talk to a couple looking at Buddy’s basket.

  Molly shrugged at Lily then returned to work also.

  Lily shook her head confused.

  It wasn’t ten minutes later when Buddy stepped under the tent, a sack in one hand and a pie in the other. By the stains on his shirt and jeans, it was easy to tell he had been working in the kitchen. “I didn’t realize I had a delivery service.”

  Reese took the items from him. “Thanks. We really appreciate it.”

  “You owe me for the pie.”

  “I know.”

  “Good. You’ll be at the bar at eight?”

  “Yeah.”

  “See you then.” Buddy waved as he wandered into the crowd.

  “You’re going to the bar at eight?” Lily questioned as she took the burger Reese handed her.

  “Buddy needs extra help. Did you need me?”

  “No. It’s all right. I’m sure I’ll be finishing up the auction.”

  Reese handed a sandwich to Molly. “Are you sure?”

  Molly dug into it the second she ripped the wrapper open.

  “Yes. Your plans are yours. You don’t have to answer to me.”

  Reese lowered his face until only she could hear him. “Yes, baby. I answer to you. And only you.”

  She smiled at him as her heart fluttered. Her head turned as he caught a figure out of the corner of her eye.

  Reverend Dixon loomed over them. Even the out of town visitors shied away from him. His eyes locked icily on Reese.

  The younger man glared back at him defiantly.

  “Lily,” Reverend Dixon warned. “Do you remember our talk?”

  Lily wrapped her hands around Reese’s arm. “Dad, Reese graciously volunteered his time to help with the auction. Isn’t that wonderful?” she cooed. “We’ve had visitors all day non-stop. If he weren’t here, I’m not sure what I’d do.” Lily fought back her grin as her father fumed.

  The good Reverend couldn’t refute her claim. The tent was wall-to-wall people examining the baskets. Most of the offerings were on the third sheet of bids. Her father squared himself to her lover. “Reese,” he snarled. “It’s good to see you.”

  “Likewise, sir,” Reese replied coolly.

  The Reverend shot another murderous look from Lily to Reese then stormed off.

  She blew out her breath slowly to calm her nerves.

  Reese laid his hand on one of hers. “Good job, Lilybug,” he whispered.

  She looked up to see that look of pride in his eyes once more. She didn’t get the chance to say thank you before she was dragged off in another direction by more customers.

  The afternoon raced by just as fast as the morning did. Lily laughed as Reese dug into his piece of brandied pecan pie, moaning just how good it tasted. It made her want to go bake a pie of her own just for him. She turned as a group of young men stepped into the tent.

  One sauntered away from the crowd and approached her with a huge grin. “Hey, Lily.”

  She smiled cordially at him. “Hi, Lane.”

  “You look really pretty today. I like your dress.”

  “Thank you.” Lily looked across the basket laden tables to where Reese was sitting.

  His eyes were narrowed, the pie plate sitting on the table beside him. He hunched over his knees looking like a lion about to pounce.

  “I’m going to the street dance tonight. I’ll save a dance or two for you.”

  Lily ripped her gaze from Reese, turning back to Lane. “I’m not going tonight, Lane. I’m sorry.”

  “Maybe some night I can take you out to Buddy’s for burgers then a drive to the lake.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Lane’s face beamed as he waved and ran off to join his friends.

  Reese stood and crossed the tent to her. “And that was?”

  “Lane. He works at Austin’s farm. He’s not a threat.”

  “I saw how he looked at you. He seems like a threat to me.” He stormed away back to his chair, slumping into it.

  Lily frowned. She wanted to go to him in the worst way, kiss him and tell him just how much she loved him. Crowds of people gathered around them. She could see her father in the distance. It couldn’t happen now.

  As the band set up in front of Buddy’s Bar, Lily shut down the bidding. Elated winners arrived to pay for and take home their baskets.

  Molly tugged on Lily’s arm as she pointed. “Reese is gone.”

  Lily searched the street for her lover. She caught his figure for a second before he disappeared into the bar. He didn’t say goodbye. She forced a smile on her face as she accepted a check from an excited couple. Once all the baskets were gone, she hugged Molly goodbye then gathered all of her things to retreat into the library.

  The music and laughter floated into the library. The folks of Braden were having a good time. Lily curled up in her favorite overstuffed chair in the corner of the library. She silently claimed the chair when she was a child, settling in it every chance she got. Piles of checks and cash sat on the floor around her but she just couldn’t force herself to count it.

  All she could think of was Reese. She had hoped to spend the night in his arms. Instead, he was serving drinks at Buddy’s talking to who knows who. She heard Lauren Booth and her girlfriends chattering not too far from the silent auction. It was loud enough for Reese to hear. Lily sighed as her imagination ran wild picturing Lauren and Reese reuniting over a couple of beers.

  “Seriously, Lilybug. You need to stop leaving your keys in the lock,” Reese chided.

  Lily slowly sat up, then folded her hands in her lap. “I thought you were working?” she questioned softly.

  The notes of a ballad drifted into the room. “I asked the band to let me know when they were going to play a slow dance. I wasn’t about to miss dancing with the most beautiful woman in Braden.” Reese reached out his hand to her and pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arm around her waist. He took her hand in his and led her as they swayed to the music.

  Feeling his body so close as they danced, laying her head on his shoulder was the most romantic thing she could ever dream of. The smell of alcohol on his clothes somehow just made it more perfect. “You didn’t say goodbye,” she murmured.

  “The crowds were still
thick and you were busy. I didn’t want to interrupt. But while we’re at it, what’s going on with this Lane guy?”

  “He’s no one, Reese. He likes to flirt. I’m not interested in him. I love you.” She glanced up at him. “You’re not jealous, are you?”

  “Of course I am. You’re mine. I’m not sharing you with another guy.”

  Lily’s breath shuddered at his words. His. She wandered her fingers to his brow, brushing his thick, dark hair from his forehead. “Yours until you leave Braden and go home to Vegas.”

  “No. Mine forever. And home isn’t Vegas for me. Home is in my arms wrapped in a blue sundress while her touch is comforting and driving me wild all at the same time. I thought I was a man stepping into a cage. I wasn’t. This, holding you, makes me feel invincible, makes me feel like a man.”

  Lily lost herself in the kiss that followed. This wasn’t a fantasy anymore for her. This was love, pure and simple. And she was tired of hiding it. She wanted one thing and one thing only. Him. She just couldn’t let him go. She was going to have to find a way to make her dad see. She couldn’t imagine a life without Reese.

  Chapter Eight

  Reese strode down the streets of Braden whistling contently. The therapist had been extremely happy with his progress. She even hinted that he soon would be introduced to weights again. Not that he did it alone. Nearly every night in the past week, Lily gently massaged cream into his shoulder. He stopped his tune long enough to grin. Almost every night after he, Lily and Molly worked on the baskets, Lily would sneak over to Buddy’s house to sleep with him. Waking up with her every morning was the most incredible feeling he ever had. He never knew love like this. It put doubts in his mind of going back to Vegas.

  He reached for the door handle of the bar when Jenny, the waitress, appeared at the door. Her own big blue eyes were wide and her long brown ponytail brushed her shoulders as she shook her head in warning. She motioned for him to go to the back kitchen door.

  Reese frowned. Howard’s back? Fantastic. He jogged to the kitchen and slipped inside. Waving at Carl, the cook, he snuck down the short hall listening carefully. The voice he heard wasn’t his father’s but Daryl Cox.

  “Right there. I kid you not. He was banging the librarian against the bookshelves. I saw the whole thing. Sure made her scream when he knelt at her feet and…”

  “Have you told anyone else?” Buddy demanded.

  Reese felt his stomach flip flop as he slumped against the wall and slid to the ground.

  “Well, no.”

  The sound of the cash register opening rang throughout the bar. “Here’s two hundred dollars. Keep your mouth shut. If you start running your mouth you’ll ruin Lily Dixon.”

  Reese peeked at them from around the corner of the hallway.

  Daryl stared hungrily at the money. “Make it three.”

  Buddy pulled free another wad of cash and handed it to Daryl.

  The old man clucked happily at his newfound gain.

  Buddy slammed his fist on the bar to get Daryl’s attention. “You break our deal, Daryl, and I’ll kill you. And that’s if Reese Cooper doesn’t get to you first. If he does, there won’t be any pieces of you left to bury.”

  Daryl’s stared at him panicked. He nodded silently then stood, scuttling out of the bar without another word. The door chime announcing his departure.

  Reese stepped forward into to the bar.

  Buddy cocked him a grin. “The library, huh?”

  Reese pulled out his wallet. “I’m paying you back.”

  “Put your money away.”

  “You have to stop taking care of me like this. I’m a grown fucking adult.”

  “I didn’t take care of you there. I took care of Lily.”

  “Same thing. She’s my responsibility.”

  “She’s my friend. So park it. Or do something useful.”

  “Like what?”

  Buddy tossed the bar towel in his hands at him. “Run the bar. Pour drinks. Talk with folks.”

  Reese laughed. “You’re hiring me?”

  “I’m testing you.”

  “For what?”

  “How bad do you want to go back to Vegas? At this moment?”

  Reese stared at him silently. Of course, the thought had rumbled in his mind. But to be questioned point blank about it? He could only offer the truth. “I don’t want to. I don’t want to leave this life. I have Lily. Leaving means letting her go.”

  Buddy motioned to the bar. “Well, you’re not going to find any professional fights in Braden. So you better find a living here to support the woman you love, right?”

  “A bartender isn’t going to make me much money.”

  “Not a bartender. A co-owner.”

  Stunned, Reese gaped at him.

  Buddy continued, “You’re my best friend. You’re closer to me than my own flesh and blood. Why wouldn’t I want to share this with you? Besides, it’ll free me up to take a vacation or two, without having to shut everything down.”

  Reese slowly grinned. He slipped behind the bar with Buddy, using the rag to wipe down the bar.

  Buddy patted him on the shoulder affectionately before walking to the kitchen for more glasses.

  He glanced up in time to see Jenny snap a photo of him with her cell. Giggling, she dashed out the front door towards the bakery.

  Reese’s first day as an employee of Buddy’s Bar went surprisingly fast. Chatting with the patrons made time fly by.

  Jenny poked and teased him any chance she got. She had since they were kids. There were the occasional times she just beamed at him with pride, wrapping him in a big hug and planting a kiss on his cheek.

  Working with her was an added perk of the job. Reese could count the things he missed about Braden with one hand. Jenny was on that short list. He did see a problem with working the bar at Buddy’s though. The first time a customer treated her wrong, he’d be eating Reese’s fist.

  The sun was setting before Reese said his goodbyes and made his way down the Main Street of Braden towards the library. He loved spending the day at Buddy’s but his thoughts were constantly on Lily. They had been since he kissed her goodbye that morning. Pulling open the large oak door, he stepped inside the cool building.

  He was met with an even icier glare from Molly.

  “Where’s Lily?” Reese questioned.

  “Why do you care?” Molly snapped.

  “What’s wrong with you?”

  “You’re a bastard.”

  Reese glared at her. “I don’t know what’s crawled up your ass. I’ll go find her myself. Thanks for your help.”

  “Go to hell.”

  Reese snarled as he popped his head into Lily’s office then wove his way through the library shelves. What could have possibly gotten into Molly? He’d never seen the redhead act like such a bitch. He sighed happily at the sight of Lily. “Hey, Lilybug. How was your day?”

  Lily’s outstretched arm stopped him from pulling her into his arms. She kept her gaze locked on the floor. “Go away.”

  “What’s wrong, Lily?”

  “What’s wrong?” She spun at him, her eyes daggers. Beneath them was a shimmer of tears. “What’s wrong is that you came back to Braden. I let you into my life and my heart. I was so, so stupid. I knew better than to trust you. I couldn’t help falling in love with you. It was the biggest mistake I ever made.”

  “Whoa. Wait. Lily, where is this coming from?” Reese pleaded.

  “Go. Get out of my life, Reese Cooper. Go back to your little tramps! We’re over.”

  “Lily, please!”

  He saw her lower lip quiver as she turned and disappeared around the corner. He couldn’t move. He was completely confused. This morning she woke him up with kisses, telling him how much she loved him. Now she threw me out of her life. I don’t get it.

  “You heard her,” Molly snarled. “Get out.”

  Reese growled at her as he stomped out. The sound choked in his throat as he made his way through the libra
ry. He swallowed hard to fight back the sob that took its place. Lily was the only love he had known his entire life. She was his life, his soul, his world. Now she was gone. He wiped a tear from his eye, then slammed the old oak door open. What the hell am I going to do?

  ~* * * *~

  Lily shuffled down the sidewalk, her eyes trained to the cement beneath her feet. She never felt so lost and lonely in her life. Sleep eluded her. Tears fell at the drop of a hat. She forced herself to keep busy so she wouldn’t think about Reese. Because if she did…

  Wiping a stray tear from her cheek, she picked up the pace. The last place she wanted to go was her father’s church. However, it was the one place in Braden where people left her alone, including her father. And at the moment she just wanted to be alone.

  “Well, if it isn’t Lily Dixon.”

  Lily glanced up to find Buddy leaning against the wall of his bar, his arms crossed over his broad chest. The summer sunlight made his shaggy blond hair almost white. He shoved himself off the wall and stormed across the street until he was standing in her way. He glared down at her. “Where are you going, Lily?”

  “What does it matter to you Buddy?”

  “I want to have a little chat with you. Why don’t come over to my bar so we can talk?”

  Lily cast a wary glance at the bar. Reese is in there. Probably with her. “I don’t want to talk. And I don’t drink.”

  “Bullshit. I know how much wine you and Molly drink. Who do you think she buys it from?”

  “I’m not interested in talking.”

  Buddy grasped her arm. “I am.”

  “Don’t bully me.”

  Buddy chuckled. “I’m not bullying you. I just want to talk to the bitch that broke my best friend’s heart.”

  Lily stared him in amazement.

  Buddy pulled her slowly up to him until they were eye to eye. “I know Reese can handle himself physically. He’s an MMA fighter. But his heart is fragile. He’s had no love, no family his entire life. No one has ever wanted him. So when you fuck with his heart, you fuck with me. Get it? Now, shall we go have a chat?”

  Lily slowly nodded.

  Buddy lowered her back to her feet then pointed to his bar.