Cross My Heart (21 page)

“So all roads lead to Uncle Marc.” Lilly's sadness filled the room.

“Had you been holding out hope that he'd changed?” Ty asked.

Lilly shrugged, feeling like an embarrassed child caught wishing for a unicorn on her birthday. “I know it's impossible, it just hurts so much to think someone who is related to me wants me
dead.
”

“I know.” He held out his arms and she crawled right in, snuggling against him. She needed his understanding.

Except suddenly understanding wasn't enough. Just being close wasn't enough. Lilly turned to Ty. “Move to the center of the bed.”

He blinked. “Okay…” He pushed himself to the middle of the bed and slid back against the headboard, shoving the dog out of his spot in the process.

Digger rose, stretched, and jumped off the bed, resettling herself on the floor.

“Now what?” Ty asked. His stare bore into hers, the electricity suddenly crackling in the air around them.

She grinned, unable to help herself. “Take your clothes off.”

He laughed. “We always seem to be in the position of someone wearing too many articles of clothing.”

“I wouldn't think me asking you to get naked would be a hardship.” She crawled over and began to unbutton the collared shirt he'd chosen for his meeting with the new client.

“It isn't.” While she worked on the buttons one by one, he reached for the sash of her robe, freeing the knot.

She parted his shirt. He pushed the collar of her robe aside. She bared his sexy chest. He slid the robe down her arms and she shook it off, leaving herself completely bare to his heated gaze.

He sucked in a sharp breath and immediately unbuttoned his pants. She hooked her fingers into the waistband and slid his pants and briefs down and off his legs.

“
Now
we're even,” she said.

“Not even close.” He glanced down at his erection and she followed his gaze, her own desire growing at the sight of his.

Because she felt safe with Ty, she also felt daring. “So what are you going to do about it?” she asked him, her words more of a
come and get me
dare than a question.

“Lie down and I'll show you.”

Her pulse raced and a heavy thick dampness grew between her thighs. She inched toward the middle of the bed and reclined on her back.

He shook his head. “Flip over.” His voice held a gruff edge.

Her excitement heightened, she did as he asked, stretching out facedown on the bed, her trust in him complete.

He straddled her with his thighs, and leaned forward, then pushed her hair off her neck and kissed her tingling skin.

“Mmm.” She loved the feeling of his lips on her flesh.

He continued to slide his moist mouth over her back while massaging her shoulders with his hands. She shut her eyes and allowed him to take complete control of her body and she wasn't disappointed. His tongue slid over her skin and cool air caused her to tingle with growing awareness.

As he stretched over her, his member pushed deliciously against her backside and his body pressed hers into the bed beneath her. The effect was an erotic thrust of her pelvis into the mattress, causing a sudden rush of sensation to pulse through her, a throbbing awareness and a need for so much
more.

He must have felt the arch of her back and sensed her need because suddenly he eased downwards and slipped his hand beneath her until one finger found her slick opening. She rolled her hips into the mattress, capturing his finger just as it slipped inside of her.

A low groan escaped the back of her throat but now that she had a part of him filling her, she was beyond caring. He began a slow, steady thrust with his hand, each gentle movement bringing her higher and closer to the orgasm that was just out of reach. Finally, everything around her exploded in bright light as she went up and over, into the most spectacular climax she'd ever had—short of having Ty inside her.

As she came back to earth, she became more aware of her surroundings. She rolled over and faced him. “Wow?”

“Was that a question?” He laughed and reached for her.

“No, that was a definite wow.” She grinned and next thing she knew, he'd pulled her on top of him.

He reached for the nightstand. “I stashed a few in here the other day,” he said, pulling out protection and taking care of it quickly.

“Smart thinking.”

He answered with a long, deep kiss, then lifted her hips and thrust himself into her, filling her completely.

She clasped her hands around his face and lowered her lips to his. He began to move inside her, the slow thrusts timed perfectly to bring her closer and closer not just to release, but to him.

His low groan told her he felt the intensity as well and the climb toward her second climax was even stronger and more spectacular than the first. And this time when she came, she wasn't alone. Everything exploded around her and she felt the moment he joined her for the ride, clasping his arms tight around her back, his hips locked solidly with hers.

Another orgasm hit her, taking her off guard. “I love you, Ty.” Unguarded, the words escaped her lips just as she came back to earth.

The realization struck her hard and she rolled off him, turning away. Beside her, she heard him take care of their protection and she intended to use the time to escape.

They'd never spoken the words, no matter how many times she'd held them deep inside her. She hadn't known if they were reciprocated, hadn't known if he missed her, or thought about her, and hadn't known whether she'd ever see him again, let alone say those words aloud. And then years passed and she'd pushed the emotions away. She'd had to in order to survive.

But she knew now she loved him still. She'd never stopped. Tears began to flow and she started to climb out of bed before he could call her on what she'd said.

Before she could rise, he grabbed her arm. “Don't.”

“Don't what?”

“Don't go. Don't run away. Don't leave without acknowledging what you just said.”

Lacey turned back around and forced herself to meet his gaze. He hadn't shaved today and his day's worth of razor stubble added to his sexy air.

“I love you.” She swallowed hard. “You had to know that without my telling you.”

He shook his head. “Some words have to be said. They have to be heard in order to be believed.”

Ty Benson was insecure about how she felt about him? She couldn't imagine it was true. “You didn't know?”

“I hoped.”

She blinked in even more surprise. “You did? Why?”

“I'd think that would be obvious.” His heated gaze settled on hers.

Lacey ran her tongue over her dry lips. “Are you going to keep me in suspense?” she asked, her stomach tied up in knots.

“Because I love you, too.” He reached out and pulled her into his arms for a kiss that was as long and hot as the first time.

After they'd made love again, her stomach rumbled, interrupting their cuddling.

“You're hungry,” he said.

She laughed. “Yeah. And your mother's going to be back from lunch and the movies soon. We need to get dressed.”

“We're adults,” he reminded her.

“But we're in her house.”

He groaned. “I know, I know.”

Lacey grinned. Even when they'd been together the first time in this house, he'd been careful that his mother didn't walk in on them or find them in a position that would make the older woman uncomfortable. Lacey felt the same way.

“I should shower,” Lacey said, reluctant to get up and leave the warmth and security here in this bed with Ty.

“You start. I'll fix up the bed and join you. Then we can go out and get a bite to eat.”

“Ty Benson, you're going to make the bed? Hell must have frozen over,” she said, mocking his messy habits with a joke and a laugh.

He nodded, a sexy grin lifting his lips. “My mother always said the right woman would have me doing backflips to make her happy.”

At his words, a sense of completeness filled Lacey and she refused to let the niggling fears and doubts enter her mind completely. New York, Odd Jobs, her trust fund and her other life would have to be dealt with but she'd waited ten years to be this happy and she was going to enjoy it for the moment.

In another hour, reality could intrude. But not just yet. These last few moments were for her and Ty alone.

She nodded and forced herself to climb out of bed and hit the shower in the hall. She stood under the hot spray and waited for Ty to join her.

 

L
OVE
. Well, hell. It wasn't like he hadn't known he was in love with her. He'd just never let himself think the words. Did he know she'd always been in love with him? It wasn't something he'd let himself think about, either, because as he knew, love didn't solve everything. There was still long distance, the business she lived for, and the life she'd made for herself in New York. So though he floated for the minute, he also knew better than to think life was settled and perfect, either.

He straightened the bed as he imagined only a guy could, with lumps and messy pillows, and figured his mother wouldn't notice. Then he grabbed his clothes and headed for the bathroom to join Lilly but the ring of his cell phone stopped him cold. He dug into the pocket of his jeans so he could answer, then rushed to pull on his clothes as he spoke to his mother's date.

Less than a minute later, he stood in the bathroom talking to Lilly who stood naked under the stream of water, her hair soaking wet. “Mom's in the hospital,” he said, breaking the idyllic afternoon they'd shared.

His heart pounded hard in his chest. Fear raced through him, as it had since he'd hung up on his call with Dr. Andrew Sanford.

Lilly dropped the bar of soap in her hand. “What happened?”

“Dr. Sanford said she was light-headed in the movie theater and next thing he knew, she'd passed out on the floor. He was following the ambulance to the hospital when he called.”

“You need to go. I'll call a cab and meet you there,” she said.

He raised an eyebrow. “Did you forget someone is just waiting for an opportunity to catch you alone? I called Derek. It'll take him five minutes to get here. I'll wait for him outside and as soon as he gets here, I'll leave. You can finish up and he'll bring you over.”

She frowned. “Is your mother conscious?” Lilly asked.

He shook his head, unable to answer that one verbally.

“Then get out of here, Ty. I'll be fine in the five minutes it takes Derek to get here. And I promise to wait for him, okay?”

Ty was torn, but Dr. Sanford
had
said her vitals weren't stable—

“Go,” Lilly said, already shutting the water and reaching for the towel.

He nodded, then pushed open the sliding glass shower door and gave her a too-brief kiss before running down the hall and to his car, hoping he'd get to the hospital in time.

T
y paced the hospital emergency waiting room. Though he was immediate family, the doctors needed time with his mother, who, thanks to the paramedics, had regained consciousness on the way to the hospital. In all likelihood she'd had a heart attack, at least according to Dr. Sanford but since the man was a psychiatrist, Ty wasn't convinced. He needed to know his mother would be okay.

He rubbed his hands over his eyes and checked his watch. He figured Lilly would be here with Derek any minute, which would ease one of his concerns.

He glanced up in time to see Dr. Sanford walk out of the back room where they'd taken Ty's mother. “What's going on?”

“They've stabilized her,” the other man said, placing a hand on Ty's shoulder. “She's out of the woods but she needs to be admitted so they can monitor her.”

Ty nodded. “Can I see her?”

“In a little while,” he promised. “They aren't letting me in, either, in case that's bothering you.” The older man spoke with the understanding of someone older, someone with kids of his own.

Ty tried not to squirm or show his discomfort with the conversation. “I appreciate you saying that, but I'm glad you were with my mother when she…you know.”

Dr. Sanford nodded. “I'll come out as soon as I have something to report.”

While the other man headed back through the double doors, Ty stepped outside into the cool fall air and opened his cell phone, turning it on. He'd tried to keep it on while inside but even with vibrate mode, a nurse had caught him and made him shut off the instrument.

He glanced down at his phone and realized Derek had called him more than once. He dialed the other man's cell phone. “What's up?” he asked as soon as Derek answered.

“The cops came by to question me. Seems Dumont called them and reported a stalker outside his home.” Derek paused, then said, “I think he's got a friend on the inside because this guy's stalling me.”

“You're telling me you haven't left for Lilly's yet?”

“No, but I bet Dumont has.”

“I'm on my way.” Ty slammed the cell closed and headed inside to tell Dr. Sanford he'd be back, and to keep him informed by phone of his mother's progress.

Then he sped toward his mother's house where he'd left Lilly alone.

 

L
ACEY PACED
the floor, periodically looking out the window for any sign of Derek's car. Derek had promised Ty he'd be there in fifteen minutes. Almost twenty-five had passed since Ty left for the hospital which was only five minutes away. Uncle Marc's place was ten minutes by car. Derek should have been here by now. Five more minutes and she'd grab the car keys on the kitchen counter and take Flo's car to the hospital herself.

She tapped her foot against the floor, then unable to stand around and do nothing any longer, she called for Digger who hopped off the couch and ran to her, tail wagging.

“Come on, girl. You need to go into the kitchen.” Lacey walked toward the room where they'd set up gates, locked the dog in for her own safety, and snagged Flo's car keys.

With a last pat on Digger's head, Lacey grabbed her purse, opened the front door and came face-to-face with her uncle Marc. Fear rose in her throat and she tried to slam the door in his face but his foot stopped her.

“Go away.” She pushed the door again but he was stronger.

“Lilly, we need to talk.
I
need to talk to you. It's important.”

She shook her head. “I've seen your definition of talking. Hit and run and arson. Thanks but no thanks.” Her heart rate sped up and she grew nauseous just looking at him.

“It wasn't me.”

“Is there anyone else who wants my trust fund badly enough to put me in foster care to scare me so I'd come begging for you to help me and sign my birthright over to you? Is there someone else who'd inherit if I were dead?” She kicked uselessly at his foot which remained wedged in the door.

Where the hell was Derek?
she wondered, panic racing around inside her.

He leaned his shoulder against the door frame. “Lilly,
please,
listen. It looks like I want you dead and I understand why you think I'm behind these things, but it isn't me. I can explain. Just let me inside—”

“So you can kill me in the house and not on the street?”

He shook his head. “You always were a stubborn one,” he muttered. “Fine, we'll talk here.”

Before he could say another word, a car screeched down the street. Her uncle turned, and a loud bang echoed around her, like the backfire of a car.

“What was—”

Her uncle jerked, falling backwards onto her, nearly knocking her over. “Uncle Marc?” she asked.

Then she saw the blood.

Lacey screamed and glanced up from her uncle's body to the sight of the car door opening. She didn't stop to see who was climbing out. Unable to shut herself safely in the house because her uncle's prone body blocked the door, she scrambled over him and ran back inside.

Digger barked from inside the kitchen and Lacey ran in her direction, nearly tripping over the gate in her rush to get to the dog. At the edge of the kitchen was a door leading to the backyard. Just as she flung the door open and let Digger run out, she heard the sound of footsteps inside the house. Outside she'd be easy target practice but inside, she realized she had a chance.

Beyond the small alcove where her old bed used to be was a pantry door that Lacey used to use as a closet. It wasn't a full walk-in, but it was large enough for her to crouch inside, and not be seen. In seconds, she was able to duck into the alcove, jump behind the couch and slip into the small closet.

Whether or not she was spotted remained to be seen.

She hated tiny, dark spaces because they reminded her of the old places she'd slept during her early days in New York City. The bugs, the rats, the awful smells. She shuddered, wrapped her arms around her knees and waited.

Loud knocks and thuds sounded outside the door. Whoever had shot her uncle was looking for her. Shaking, Lacey hugged her legs tighter. She brought her hand up to the locket around her neck, thought about the man who'd given it to her, and she prayed the guy outside wouldn't think to look for her in here.

As she sat huddled in a ball, once again she was reminded of old times. This time she recalled her first real apartment in New York. The one with the broken lock. She'd drag her dresser in front of the door to keep the drunk next door from making good on his promise to join her at night. She'd sit huddled in bed, listening to him banging around his apartment. Only when he'd pass out and it grew silent, would she catch a few hours of sleep each night.

The same fear and nausea filled her now, only worse because instead of a drunk who made rude suggestions, outside was a man with a gun who wanted her dead. And she didn't know why.

Footsteps sounded louder. He'd obviously left the kitchen and she realized he'd walked toward the couch that blocked her hiding spot.

Shaking, she held her breath as the footsteps grew closer.

Closer.

She waited for the door to creak open before she shut her eyes, kicked her feet out, hoping to come in painful contact with any part of his body, and let out a scream.

 

T
HE KICK
to his shin took Ty off guard. He sucked in a sharp breath. “Lilly!” He called her name loudly.

She didn't acknowledge him in any way. Her eyes were wide and unfocused, and she looked ready to barrel out of the closet and tackle him to the floor. His leg throbbed where she'd nailed him with her boot and he wasn't about to take a hit to the stomach or the groin next.

“Lilly!” he said again, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her until she opened her eyes and focused. On him.

“Ty? Ty. Oh my God.” She threw herself into his arms, shaking and sobbing hysterically. “I thought you were him. When you opened the door, I thought you were him.”

“Shh.” He ran his hand down the back of her hair, his body trembling as badly as hers.

“Uncle Marc!” She pushed herself away from him and ran for the front door.

Ty grabbed her hand, yanking her back. “He's alive. I checked him when I got here and the police and ambulance are on their way.”

“What about
him?
Where'd he go? The guy who shot Uncle Marc?” She visibly gagged at the recollection before steadying herself.

Ty exhaled a long breath. “Derek pulled up at the same time I did. The guy had just run out the back door. He probably heard us pull up, panicked and ran.”

“I don't understand how you knew to come back.” She wiped the moisture off her face with her hands.

“Derek reached me on my cell phone at the hospital. Dumont called the police and reported a stalker. Obviously it was a ruse to get Derek waylaid so your uncle could come here to find you.”

Ty still recalled the panic he'd felt getting the call, but that was nothing compared to the gut-wrenching fear he'd experienced when he'd pulled up here and seen Dumont lying in a pool of blood, the front door wide open and Lilly nowhere to be found.

“He got away.” Derek walked in from the entry off the kitchen, breathing heavily. Frustration was etched all over his face. “The bastard went through the back bushes before I even got outside.”

“Where's Digger?” Lilly asked, panic-stricken. “Where's my dog?”

“Safely in the kitchen,” Derek promised her.

She slumped against Ty in relief.

“Did you get a look at the guy or his car?” Ty asked her.

She shook her head. “I never saw him at all. I think the car was a tan sedan of some sort. That's all I saw before he shot Uncle Marc.”

Ty nodded. “I noticed the same color car parked in front of the neighbors', but nothing more. Derek?”

“Same here.”

Ty's frustration grew since they'd lost their last link to finding out who the guy was.

Lilly grabbed Ty's hand suddenly and pulled him toward the front door.

Derek followed close behind.

She bent down beside her uncle who lay facedown with a bullet in his back. He didn't move.

Ty checked the pulse in his neck once more. “Faint but he's alive.”

Sirens blared, sounding closer by the second.

“Uncle Marc?” Lilly asked, leaning her face close to his.

Ty put his hand on her back which was damp from sweat and fear. “He's unconscious.”

“Who shot you?” Lilly asked the old man. “Who wants you dead? Were you telling me the truth when you said you weren't behind the attempts on my life? Were you?” She couldn't help demanding answers to the questions that haunted her.

Ty lifted her away from the man just as the paramedics ran up the front lawn, cleared them away from the area and got to work.

Seconds later, the police followed. The paramedics moved Dumont into the ambulance and transported him to the same hospital where Ty's mother had been admitted. Though he was anxious to get back to her, they sat through an hour of questioning in his mother's family room. Lilly answered everything she could while Ty and Derek did their part to help. Finally, the officer ran out of things to ask, at least for the moment.

“We need to get back to the hospital,” Lilly finally said, still trembling.

The cop who'd been taking notes snapped his pad shut. “I'll need you to come by and give official statements, but you can go now.”

“Those statements might not have been necessary if one of your men hadn't stalled me, giving Dumont the chance to get to Lilly and get himself shot,” Derek muttered. “I'm licensed and he knew it the second I showed him my badge. He should have just let me go.”

The cop, a guy who knew both Ty and Derek, nodded in understanding. “We'll look into what happened. I promise. In the meantime, I suggest you stick close to Lilly until we follow up any leads that come from the investigating team.” He gestured to the rest of the house, indicating the forensics team who were checking footprints, interviewing neighbors and checking on other possible leads.

Guilt rushed through Ty for leaving Lilly alone in the first place. But with his mother in the hospital and Derek on his way, the decision had seemed like a safe one at the time.

“She's not leaving my sight again,” he said, reaching for her hand and pulling it tight against his side. “Right now I'm getting her out of here.” She didn't need any more time in the house with the frightening memories.

“Derek, can you take the dog?” Lilly asked. “I don't want to leave her here with all these strangers coming in and out.”

The house had been designated a crime scene, something that would worry his mother sick—so he didn't plan on telling her just yet. When she was stronger, he'd fill her in on everything. And she
would
get stronger. She'd be fine. He had to believe that.