“I don’t think you lack for company, Shade,” Lily teased him wryly as she got to her feet.
“Really, what makes you say that?” His eyes bore into hers.
She speculated, “I’m pretty sure that any of The Last Riders would join you for lunch, not to mention the other women who work here. Several of the women are interested in you. They ask me constantly if you’re seeing someone.”
“Tell them to mind their own business.”
Lily laughed at his disgruntled expression. Opening the door, she glanced back. “I can’t do that, Shade. I wouldn’t presume on my relationship with you to speak for you.” She closed the door before he could say anything else. For once, she actually felt as if she had gotten in the last word.
* * *
Lily worked steadily the whole day, stopping only once for a quick break when she had stepped outside for a breath of fresh air, drinking a bottled tea.
Hardin came outside not long after and they stood chatting casually.
“What are you two taking such a long break for?” Georgia asked as she walked up to them. Lily tried to like the woman approaching them, but she made it extremely difficult. She had made floor manager, and she used her power to intimidate the others. Lily had begun to notice she picked unnecessarily on those she didn’t like, finding fault with their work and often making them redo orders.
“It hasn’t been fifteen minutes yet,” Hardin replied, his face losing the smile.
Georgia’s eyes narrowed in on Hardin. “If flirting means more than your job, then keep on trying to antagonize Shade,” she snapped, jerking her head toward Shade who was talking to Rider as he worked on one of the member’s bike. Without another word, Georgia turned on her heel, walking back into the factory.
Hardin turned to look at Shade who hadn’t turned his attention away from them before turning back to Lily. “If there’s something going on between you two, it would be nice to know. That’s twice today my job has been threatened because I was talking to you.”
Lily shook her head. “He’s a family friend, that’s all. My sister is married to his friend.”
“Uh, huh.”
Lily threw her bottle away in the recycle bin. “That’s all it is.”
“In that case, want to go see a movie with me this weekend?”
Lily paused. She liked Hardin; however, she didn’t want to encourage anything further. “I stay pretty busy on the weekends, but thanks anyway.”
“I didn’t think you would, but I thought I would give it a shot.” He grinned at her, holding the door open for her.
They got back to work and the rest of the afternoon went quickly.
“See you tomorrow, Lily,” Hardin said on his way out the door.
“Hardin, I need to see you in my office.” Shade stood in the doorway, holding his door open.
Hardin cast Lily a glance before going into the office where Shade shut the door behind them. Lily cleaned her workstation and was just putting the last package in the cart when Hardin came out of Shade’s office. His friendly expression was gone and his face was pale.
“Is everything all right?” Lily asked.
Hardin didn’t speak to her, walking past her to leave the building at the same time that Shade came out of his office.
“Is everything all right?” she asked Shade this time.
“Everything is fine,” Shade said with his usual, detached expression.
“Why was Hardin upset?”
“That’s none of your business.” When Lily would have said something else, Shade forestalled her. “But I’ll tell you anyway. I gave him a promotion. We need another driver so he’s going to be working on the trucks from now on.”
Lily looked out the window as Hardin sped out of the parking lot.
“He doesn’t seem to be very happy about his promotion.”
“I’m sure he’s not,” he said grimly. “Are you ready?”
Lily nodded her head and then followed him outside.
“I need to get my clothes.”
Shade waited by the steps as she grabbed her small travel bag out of the backseat of her car.
“Where are we going to work out?” Lily asked curiously, as she walked back to his side.
“In the gym in the basement.” Shade walked up the path that had been laid, leading up to the side of the clubhouse to make it easier for Winter to walk up instead of all the steps. The concrete path had taken them a couple of months to lay and led around the house to the backdoor. Lily had only been to the clubhouse once and that was when Winter had married Viper, The Last Riders’ president.
Instead of going in through the kitchen door, Shade opened another door at the side of the house, leading into what looked like the basement where there was a full-fledged gym inside.
Lily looked around curiously. When she had started work at the factory, Beth had told her there was only one rule: she wasn’t allowed in the clubhouse. Lily had been hurt, but she had agreed, hiding the hurt she had felt. Beth had gone on to explain that the men liked to drink sometimes during the day and they didn’t want her upset if she inadvertently came in while they were drinking. Lily had agreed, not wanting her sister to feel bad since she had used her connection to Razer to get her the job in the first place.
The room was very large with exercise equipment, and there was a pole set up in the middle of the room like the one Lily used in her pole-dancing class at school. There was also a large couch and a flat screen television.
“You can get changed back here.” Shade walked across the room, opening another door. As she approached the room he indicated, she noticed that there was a door on the right, another to the left and then another down at the end of the hallway.
“That room has the hot tub.” Shade pointed to the door on the left. “That’s the restroom where you can get changed. The door at the end is my room. I’ll wait for you in the gym.” Shade left her in the hallway.
Lily went into the bathroom, amazed at the space. It was large, with a five-piece set and a shower.
She changed quickly, not wanting to keep him waiting. Taking off her dress and putting it in her bag, she took out her clothes. She would just wear her workout clothes home; she didn’t feel comfortable keeping him waiting while she showered.
Her stomach clenched with butterflies, not quite believing she was going to go through with letting him teach her self-defense. Only her determination to become a social worker had her going through with it. If she was going to try to protect others, then she first had to learn to protect herself. Yesterday had proved her vulnerability when she had locked the door against whatever had been following her. If they had gotten in, she wouldn’t have known what to do.
She put on her sweat pants and oversized sweatshirt and then her tennis shoes. Taking out a rubber band, she gathered her dark hair into a tight ponytail on the back of her head. Gathering what confidence she had, she picked up her bag and went back outside where Shade was in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.
She came to a stop. She hadn’t realized he would be changing also.
Lily felt his eyes run over her as he took in her clothes.
“What kind of workout clothes are those?”
“It’s what I always wear,” she said.
“Then you need to get some different ones. Those won’t do.” Shade motioned for her to stand on the mat. Lily came to stand in front of him where he was pointing. Shade was taller than her, but he was actually the smallest in size of The Last Riders. He was lean, but Lily noticed his tattoo-covered arms were muscular.
Shade had her warm up first by stretching, which he also did, and then he moved her again to where she was standing in front of him.
Shade showed her how to kick out at him, which he blocked over and over again.
“Come on, Lily; you can do better than this.”
Lily tried to move, striking out with her foot several times.
“That’s enough,” he said when she stopped to catch her breath.
“At least you’re in good shape physically, but you need to do some weight training.”
Lily nodded her head. “I agree. Thanks, Shade.”
“When we’re in here, you call me Sir.”
“Okay.” Personally, Lily thought he was taking his role of instructor a little too seriously, but she wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it. The few tips he had shown her today were enough to make her see that she would be easily victimized as she had been in the past if she didn’t continue. Maybe, if Shade taught her well enough, she would be better prepared.
Picking up her bag, she turned to leave, surprised when Shade walked her back out to her car.
“Bye, Shade.”
“Later.” Shade closed the car door and watched as she pulled out of the parking lot. Lily shivered as the air conditioner kicked on, cooling her overheated flesh. She was not sure what the look she had caught on Shade’s face in her rearview mirror meant, yet a sense of foreboding overcame her.
On her way home, Lily decided to stop at the local discount store for a different workout outfit. She was going to the checkout when she saw her friend, Miranda, who was pushing a cart with her young daughter in the basket.
“Hi, Lily.”
“Hi, Miranda.”
They chatted pleasantly for several minutes before Miranda brought up her sister. “Kaley quit her job at the pharmacy in town. I’m really worried about her.”
Lily didn’t tell Miranda she had seen Kaley at The Last Riders’ clubhouse. She didn’t like gossips and made it a point not to do it herself.
“I’m sure she’ll be fine. I’ve got to go, Miranda. It was nice seeing you again.”
Lily checked out, feeling guilty for not telling her friend, yet Kaley was a few years older than both Miranda and Lily, and she was sure that the woman wouldn’t be happy if she knew her sister was spreading her private business around town.
Lily drove home and took a quick shower before getting dressed and fixing dinner for herself, Beth and Razer.
When they arrived home, they ate dinner before going into the living room to watch a movie. It was times like this, as they sat and watched television, sharing popcorn, that Lily would miss.
Later, as she got ready for bed, she turned off her bedroom light, leaving her bathroom light on. Snuggling under her covers, she stared at the light coming from the bathroom until she fell asleep.
* * *
The next day was uneventful with Hardin gone. His company had made the time go by faster. None of the other workers made any attempt to talk to her, despite her friendly overtures. Georgia especially would send the workers to do odd jobs if she saw anyone lingering, talking to her. By lunchtime, Lily was beginning to get upset.
She ate her lunch quietly, unaware of the speculative looks she was receiving from Shade.
“Anything wrong?”
Lily shook her head, picking at her hamburger and fries. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Lily said glumly.
Shades lips twisted. “You’re very emotional, aren’t you?”
Lily stiffened in her seat. “I’m sorry if I can’t be emotionless like you. I get a little upset when people run like the plague when I approach them.”
“Who’s running?”
“The other workers. If I try to talk to them, they ignore me and move away.”
“I’m sure you’re exaggerating,” Shade said, eating his own food with a hearty appetite.
“I’m not exaggerating. I asked Gaige if he knew where the pocket flares were, and you would have thought I had asked for condoms. I asked Trent to help me find a packet of seeds, and he walked off while I was still talking to him. And, in case you didn’t know, Georgia is a reincarnated Attila the Hun.”
Shade burst out laughing and Lily’s hurt feelings disappeared a little. When Shade laughed, his appearance softened and he was a very handsome man. Lily had never really noticed before and she wasn’t happy about noticing now. She carefully opened the imaginary door in her mind and thrust the thought inside; then her hand went to her wrist, snapping the red rubber band.
“Why did you do that?” Shade snapped.
Lily handed him her partially untouched plate, preparing to get to her feet.
“Sit down.” His hard voice had her bottom immediately returning to her seat, her eyes going to her hands which were on her lap.
“Eyes to me, Lily.”
Lily’s eyes reluctantly returned to his.
“Answer my question. Why did you snap the rubber band?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a habit. Sometimes I do it without knowing why,” Lily said softly.
“I see. I only give instructions once, Lily. The next time you snap that rubber band around me, you better be able to explain why. Do you understand me?” Shade’s hard, blue gaze stared directly into hers.
Lily nodded her head. Her hands clenched to prevent herself from snapping the band again.
“I need to get back to work,” Lily said, this time succeeding in getting to her feet and going out the office door.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she went back to work, going through the orders so fast that Georgia looked at her strangely, though thankfully, she stayed off Lily’s case for the rest of the day.
At quitting time, Lily cleaned her workstation and went to her car to get her workout bag. She reentered the factory to see Shade leaning against the doorway to his office with Georgia talking to him. The usually grouchy expression was gone from her face, replaced with one of flirtation.
Lily didn’t interrupt; she personally thought the two of them would be a match made in Heaven.
Shade talked for a few minutes longer before ending the conversation, walking toward Lily. Georgia’s face behind Shade’s back changed into one that made Lily agree that they were made for each other, and then she felt guilty for wishing Georgia on anyone. The woman wasn’t in the least way nice, and while Shade wasn’t the friendliest person, he had always watched out for her.
“What has you looking so guilty?” Shade asked.
Lily, as always, tried to be honest. “I was thinking that you and Georgia would make a nice couple.”
Shade’s face closed off. “Really?”
“That’s when I felt guilty. In case you didn’t know, she’s really not a nice person.”
Shade gave Lily a look she couldn’t interpret. “I think I can handle Georgia,” he said, walking to the door of the factory and holding it open for her.
“That’s good to know. Then I think you should go for it. She obviously has a thing for you,” Lily said helpfully.
Shade stopped in his tracks. “Lily, have I given you the impression I want to be your BFF?”
“Noo…”
“Good.”
Lily followed behind Shade’s quick strides, trying to hide her hurt feelings. When he opened the door to the basement, waiting for her to enter, Lily avoided his eyes as she went inside.
“I’ll go get changed,” Lily said, heading straight to the restroom. It didn’t take her long to get changed, but Shade still beat her, already working out on the weights.
He paused when she entered the room, his eyes going to her new workout outfit. Shade didn’t say anything, but Lily could tell he didn’t like her choice of clothes.
The black leggings were several sizes too large, and the top was spandex but was also too large with long sleeves.
Shade placed his weights down. “Come here.”
Lily moved toward him.
Shade spent the next hour with her weight training, making sure the hand that had been broken started with minimal weight.
“Two more, Lily.” She was lying on the bench, lifting weights, when Shade’s hand went to the inside of her thigh.
“Keep your legs straight.” Shade’s hand guided her leg to where he wanted it.
Lily stiffened, almost dropping the weight.
“Keep your arms steady.” His hand glided up the length of her arm, stea
dying it.
Lily forced herself to straighten her trembling arms then almost dropped the weights when his hand lay flat on her stomach. The thin material of her shirt was no barrier against the warmth of his hand.
“Breathe, Lily.”
Lily took a deep breath then released it. She was beginning to feel surrounded by Shade.
“That’s enough for today.” Shade straightened, standing above her.
Lily felt him take the weights from her as she hastily got to her feet. She was thankful that the awkward experience was over.
“Two days a week we’ll work on weight training. The other three we’ll work on your defense moves.”
“That sounds good,” Lily said, not looking at him as she picked up her workout bag. “I appreciate your help, Sir.” She made herself refer to him the way he expected before she went to the door, not waiting for him, but she was very aware of him watching her as she made her way to her car.
Lily drove home, debating calling an end to their workout sessions. Her hand constantly snapped the rubber band against her wrist all the way home.
At dinnertime that evening, she was loading the dishwasher when Beth gasped. “Lily.”
She looked at her sister, seeing her horrified look, then looked down at her wrist. It was an angry red and was becoming inflamed.
“What have you done to yourself?” Beth exclaimed, becoming upset with tears in her eyes.
“Nothing,” Lily demurred, continuing to load the dishwasher. “I hadn’t even noticed that I was doing it.”
“Something must have upset you. What was it?” Beth asked.
“Nothing. Honestly, I don’t understand it, either,” Lily said truthfully.
Beth took a deep breath. “Okay, but next time be more careful.”
“I will.” Lily didn’t miss the concerned look that passed between Razer and Beth.
She had to get herself back under control, she thought, glancing down at her wrist. Whatever was triggering her anxiety had to be faced. She couldn’t keep avoiding it. Sooner or later, she was going to have to face her fears. Hopefully, she wouldn’t lose her mind when she did.
Upstairs, she changed into her pajamas, turning off her light but leaving the bathroom light on.