Snow Angel (The Hope Falls Chronicles) (15 page)

and ‘mot’?”

“Acting the maggot is fooling around and mot means girlfriend. They’re Irish slangs. My dad was born

in Ireland,” Eric explained.

“Yeah, I know,” Lily smiled affectionately. “I probably would have been able to figure it out, but my

deductive skills did not need to come into play since your dad introduced himself as”—Lily took on an

Irish brogue and spoke in a deep tone—“‘Sean Maguire, from Dublin, Ireland. Father of four: Eric, Amy,

Nikki, and Jake here. Husband of almost forty years to my beautiful wife Rosalie.’”

Eric was cracking up at Lily’s impression. She’d nailed his dad’s gestures and speech. Eric pulled out of the Community Center parking lot. “I can’t believe we got first billing.”

“Actually,” Lily pointed out, “Ireland got first billing.”

“Right,” Eric conceded. “I just meant before my mom. Usually it’s name, birthplace, wife, kids, in that

order.”

Lily smiled the most adorable smile, causing the corners of her eyes to crinkle, and Eric wanted to reach

across the car and kiss her. Unfortunately he had to drive.

“I think he gave you kids top billing because I was talking to Jake about Mr. Rickles’s condition when

he came up and introduced himself and your mom,” Lily explained. “Your parents seem amazing.”

“Yeah, they’re all right. I’ll keep ‘em.” Eric tried not to show how happy he was that his parents seemed

to love Lily and she seemed to like them as well.

He wasn’t used to feeling this way. In the past, if he would have seen a girl he’d just started dating

talking to his parents, he would not have been happy about it. He would have been concerned that either his parents or the girl would get the wrong idea. But seeing Lily with his mom and dad just felt right.

---~---

Lily couldn’t believe how much she was enjoying herself. Yes, she’d known she was out-of-this-world,

off-the-charts attracted to Eric, but she hadn’t known how well they would get along. He was hilarious. She had barely been able to catch her breath between laughs the entire lunch. He didn’t have the same in-your-face sense of humor as his brother Jake. Eric’s was more of a dry sarcasm. Lily loved it.

Through the morning, she’d been worried that over lunch Eric would grill her. But he hadn’t. They’d

talked about the incident with Mr. Rickles, which Eric seemed genuinely concerned about and also really

proud of her stepping in and performing CPR.

That had segued into her telling him about the class and how she’d never dreamed that seniors would

be so difficult. He’d shared stories about his job and some of the funnier calls he’d been out on when he

was a patrolman. They’d talked a lot about his brother and sisters and what it was like being the oldest of four.

All too soon Sue Ann was bringing them the check and it was time for both of them to get back to

work. As they walked to the car, Eric asked, “So how about you? Any brothers or sisters?”

“Nope,” she answered briskly.

Well at least this “date” is almost over, so how much can he really dig?

“Did you like being an only child?”

“Ummm… I guess.” She hated when people asked her about her past. She never knew how much she

should say and how much she shouldn’t. She wished people would just get to know her the way she was

now. For who she was today.

Eric didn’t follow up with any more personal questions on the short ride back to the Community

Center. When they stopped, she remained seated, knowing that he would insist on coming around and open

her door. Which she wouldn’t have thought she would’ve enjoyed as much as she did. But she
really
liked the fact that he opened doors, pulled out chairs, placed his hand on her lower back whenever they were

walking anywhere. She felt very much…taken care of.

But after sitting for a few moments, she realized that he wasn’t getting out.
Okay
. She reached for the handle, figuring that his door-opening shtick had come to an end.

Eric’s deep voice stopped her. “Lily.”

She turned.

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” he said sincerely.

“You didn’t.” She felt her eyes widen as she lied through her teeth.

He looked at her with an expression that she was sure had come in handy in his interrogations. One that

told her he absolutely did not believe what she had just said.

“I know you don’t like talking about your past and—”

“Who said I don’t like talking about my past?” she interrupted, snapping defensively. As soon as the

words left her mouth, she wished she could reach out and pull them back in.

“No one. It’s just really obvious,” he answered calmly, not at all addressing the rude tone she had just

spoken to him in.

His answer immediately, diffused the bombs of self-protection that were exploding inside of her. How

had he been able to calm her down and break past her defenses with six words when others had spent

months, even years, trying? He just couldn’t be for real.

She stared at him, trying to figure out what his angle was. Guys just didn’t come as good as him. If he

was a player then he would only be in it for the sex. But if that was the case, he would have tried to stay the night or at least continue their kiss last night. Instead, he’d let Shadow spend the night and he’d gone home.

If he was a nice guy then there was no way she would have been attracted to him. Not once in her life

had she ever felt tingles for the ‘nice guy.’ Plus, several times in her past she’d tried to date the good guy, and it hadn’t ever worked out because there was just no chemistry. No spark. And nice guys didn’t kiss the

way Eric kissed.

She just couldn’t figure Eric out. He felt dangerous and safe all at the same time. She decided she would

try to break it down pro versus con style but the categories would be bad boy versus good guy.

He
definitely
kissed like a bad boy. He made her heart race and her panties wet like no good guy she’d ever met had. He hadn’t really said if he was interested in her or not, which was definitely in the bad boy category. He also opened doors, let his dog have a sleepover, listened to her, asked her out on dates, picked her up on time, and loved his family, which was totally good guy behavior.

Bad boy? Good guy? She couldn’t call it. He was quite the conundrum.

They sat in his SUV staring at each other for what felt like an eternity. She searched his gorgeous blue

eyes for some hint of what lay beneath them in his soul. Would he hurt her if she let him in? Was he the

guy he seemed to be? Was he really interested in her?

None of the questions running through her head like wild horses on a pasture were going to be

answered in the next two minutes, and that was when she was supposed to meet Karina in the rehearsal

space.

“Thanks for lunch. I had a nice time.” She reached for the handle on the side of the door.

“Wait there.” His authoritative tone left no room for argument and caused her core to pulse with pleasure.

She removed her hand as a chill ran down her spine. He unhurriedly walked around the front of the

SUV to open her door. When he pulled it open, she began to step down and felt his hands on her hips,

causing her to pause. His fingers roughly dug into her, and she heard his labored breathing in and out

through his nose.

She looked up into his baby blue eyes and what she saw there caused a fire of passion to ignite in her

unlike any that she had ever experienced. Flames of arousal spread through her like a flash.

“Lily.” Her name on his lips sounded like a threat, a warning, and a promise all in one.

They were in a parking lot in broad daylight. Anyone could walk by or drive by and see them, but with

Eric surrounding her, she felt as if they were in their own world. She reached up and threaded her hands

around his neck, her fingers running through his silky hair.

“I’ve been thinking of the way your soft, full lips feel against mine all day,” he growled, his voice

smoky with passion as he leaned his forehead against hers, his lips brushing hers as he spoke.

She loved when he did that. When his lips rubbed against hers while he was just talking, not actually

kissing her. It was one of the most erotic forms of foreplay she’d ever experienced.

Lily felt her chest rising and falling at a rapid speed. His fingers firmly gripped her waist, and the

strength and size of his hands made her feel like he could easily maneuver her body into any position he

desired. Every place their bodies touched was on fire with need, and that need spread to the places where

they weren’t touching.

Finally, he pressed his warm lips to hers and she heard a soft whimper of need escape her as her hands

knotted in his hair. His kisses weren’t rushed. He took his time savoring her.

Just as she opened to him, a loud honk caused her to jump up off the seat.

Eric smoothly looked up as if they hadn’t just been caught making out in the middle of the parking lot.

He smiled and nodded his head, not removing his hands from her hips. “Hey there, Henry.”

Oh great, the mayor.

She looked up sheepishly to see the mayor sitting in his bright blue Cadillac at a red light on the corner

of Main Street and Lake Drive.

“Looks like you found something else to keep your hands warm, Miss Lily.” A huge grin spread across

his face as he tipped his hat just as the light turned green and he sped off.

As Lily came back to her senses, she looked down at her watch. “Crap! I’m late,” she announced as she

grabbed her bag.

As she brushed past Eric, he asked, “What time will you be done with your book club meeting tonight?”

She looked over her shoulder as she continued to head towards the front entrance. “I’m not sure. It

starts at seven so probably no later than ten.”

“I’ll see you then.” This time there was no threat, no warning—only promise in his deep, sexy voice.

A shiver ran through her as she smiled before turning around and jogging into the Community Center.

Oh yeah. He was definitely a bad boy.

Chapter Thirteen

“So is he okay?” Amy, Eric’s sister, asked with furrowed brow as she sat beside Lily.

“I called the hospital before I came here and they said he was doing much better,” Lily assured her.

“Serves the old goat right,” Karina said as she joined Amy, Nikki, Lauren, and Lily on the large couch

surrounding an incredible fireplace that currently had a roaring fire.

Sam, a really pretty redhead who is one of Karina’s best friends and also whose beautiful home they

were at, swatted Karina’s arm. “He didn’t deserve to have a heart attack because he’s a big flirt.”

Karina shrugged as she took a drink of her wine. “Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t,
but
one thing’s for sure. It was definitely Lily’s fault. I don’t know what Henry was thinking, having her teach the seniors

class.”

Lily wasn’t sure what Karina meant by that or if she should be offended.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sam’s tone indicated she wasn’t sure either as she came to Lily’s

defense.

Thanks, Sam.

Karina’s hands flew up in a gesture of innocence. “I just meant how is any man above the age of eighty

not
supposed to have a heart attack when they watch Lily dance?”

“She’s got a point. I am a perfectly healthy woman below the age of thirty and it almost stops my heart

when her hips start going,” Nikki joked.

Amy, Lauren, and Sam laughed as they enthusiastically voiced their agreement.

“Stop it. It wasn’t because of my hips. Jake said Mr. Rickles hadn’t taken his heart medication this

morning,” Lily explained as embarrassment rose up inside of her. She knew the way she danced was a little

sexy but she never meant it to be. It’s just when the music started and her hips started moving they had a

mind of their own.

“Well your hips might not have been the entire reason, but I maintain that they were a contributing

factor,” Karina smiled.

“Is Amanda still on her honeymoon? I was hoping to see her tonight,” Lily asked, trying to change the

subject.

The room erupted in laughter.

“What?” Lily had no idea what was so funny. “What did I say?”

Lauren, who had merely smiled with amusement, said, “You see, Amanda is 'the nice one'—if she were

here, she would totally be defending your hips and the fact that no one had a heart attack because of them.”

“Oh, I was just asking because I haven’t spoken to her since the wedding and I wanted to thank her for

inviting me.” Lily felt her cheeks become hot and her eyes widen as she told a bold-faced lie since she had really just wanted turn the conversation in a different direction.

Karina, perhaps sensing Lily’s embarrassment, said, “Actually, she and Justin will be back in four days.

Just in time for your mom and dad’s anniversary dinner.” Karina directed that to Amy and Nikki.

“Awesome. It’s going to be amazing! I just finished the slideshow. There won’t be a dry eye in the

house,” Nikki declared confidently.

“How dressy is it going to be?” Sam asked. Lily got the feeling that Sam, who was a retired Olympic

snowboarder, was really hoping that the answer was ‘Not at all.’

“Black tie,” Nikki said with a straight face, but Lily was pretty sure she was pulling Sam’s chain.

Lily looked at Sam, who, Lily had to admit, was doing a pretty good job of trying to hide the

disappointment in her face, as she said, “Oh, that’ll be nice.”

Nikki’s face broke out in a wide smile and Sam hit her with a throw pillow. “That’s not funny, Nikki!

You know how much I hate dressing up.”