The Geary Series Boxed Set (27 page)

He watched as Lilly stirred in the bed and stretched out full length and then curled back into a ball. She seemed disorientated with the darkened room and looked around for a clock that sat on the bedside table.

“Good, you’re awake, I was wondering how long sleeping beauty was going to sleep for.” Elijah said and stood from the chair.

Padding barefoot over to her he sat on the edge of the bed and gave her a cold drink, he patiently waited as she gulped down the drink and handed back the glass to him. Her satisfied smile was adorable and he wanted nothing more than to kiss her. He was running late for work and with Lilly there was no such thing as a quick kiss so he resisted. Taking her hand in his, he stroked his thumb over the back of her hand and said nothing for a few minutes. He watched as Lilly closed her eyes and smiled gently at the comfortable silence they had.

“Sweetheart I need to get to work, will you be ok here? You can come with me if you want to.” Elijah asked her.

“No,” she said not opening her eyes, “I think I will make some dinner and then go back to bed. You can go off to work, what time is it?”

“It’s just before midnight, why don’t you skip dinner and go back to sleep?” he said.

“I think I might, I feel so tired,” she said and snuggled down deeper into her duvet. “Thank you for staying, I’m sorry you have had to put up with me.”

“It’s not a problem sweetheart, I’m so happy that you’re ok, and I’d never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, this wasn’t your fault, I shouldn’t have carried on talking to him.” She said.

Lilly opened her eyes and looked straight at Elijah and smiled.

“Let’s just leave it there shall we, as we’ll never agree.” Elijah said.

“Ok, are you seeing Jack tonight?” Lilly asked.

“No, I don’t think so, why do you ask?”

“Can you pass on my congratulations, I forgot to say at the hospital.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Olivia being pregnant, I forgot to say congratulations to them both.”

“I don’t think they’re having a baby, I’m sure Jack would’ve said something.”

“Oh, right, maybe I’m wrong, but it’s written all over her face, I thought it was common knowledge.”

“Well, I don’t know much about these things, maybe they’re keeping it quiet so that no one thinks it’s a shotgun wedding.”

“Maybe, go off to work and flirt with gorgeous women” Lilly said.

Elijah reached over and pushed a few strands of her hair out of her face and stroked her cheek. “I’d much rather stay here and flirt with you but I have already had a call to come in.”

“Off you go charmer, let me sleep.” She said and smiled at her words.

Leaning over Elijah kissed her forehead and picked up his socks and shoes and left the room. Lilly was asleep before he closed the door. When he reached the sofa in the main room to put on his remaining clothes he jumped when he saw a shadow in the corner.  There was someone here after all.

Leaping to his feet, he was ready to tackle whoever had broken into Lilly’s home. He was standing in front of the person in three strides and had his hand clamped around the man’s skinny arm.

“Who the hell are you and how did you get in here?” Elijah said, bellowing his question at the strange man.

“Well, I know who I am, who are you and what are you doing in my sister’s apartment at midnight?” William said.

Elijah let William’s arm go and took a step back, he switched on the light that was nearest him so that he could take a look at the man claiming to be Lilly’s brother. He looked thin and scrawny, his hair greasy and matted. He didn’t look like a healthy person and Elijah wondered why he was skulking in the dark.

“My name is Elijah and I am a friend of hers. Why are you hiding in the dark?”

“I’m not hiding, I just got here when you came out of her bedroom. Why are you running off and not saying goodbye to her? She deserves better than that Elijah. What kind of name is Elijah?”

“Oh, I see, you’re an arsehole, well as much as I would like to stand here talking to you, I have a job to get to. Don’t think I don’t know what you do as a sideline either, we’ll have this talk another time when I’m not as angry.” Elijah said and turned to walk away.

William was wise enough to keep quiet and let Elijah leave the apartment. Elijah made the assumption that as William had not broken in, Lilly was ok with him being there and didn’t question him further. Closing the front door behind him, he drove to his bar to sort out the mess that had happened earlier.

Lilly woke the next morning refreshed and ready to face the day after showering and dressing. She wandered to the kitchen to make some breakfast. Opening the fridge door, she shivered at the unwelcome cold draft that met her bare legs. She needed to head to work to clear out her office that she should have done two days ago. She was sure Harry would be ok with the delay but she wanted to close the door on that job and get it done today.

Cursing her brother who she assumed had visited last night and eaten her food hadn’t even left her with a drop of milk. There wasn’t enough for a cup of tea. She returned to her bedroom to find her shoes and her handbag. She didn’t know if she was welcome at Blue’s bar after the drama she had caused and she wasn’t entirely sure if she could make it as a bartender.

Lilly didn’t think she could make it as anything right now, she felt a fool for being in the vulnerable position of being given drugs. She still felt awful and her stomach ached from lack of food. She needed breakfast and wanted poached eggs. The problem was that the best place for poached eggs was Blue’s and she didn’t think she was ready to see Elijah just yet.

They had taken things from platonic to intimate in one giant step, she craved his company like no other and wanted to go to his bar just to see his handsome face smile back at her.  Now that she knew his taste and touch she wanted him all the more. It was not healthy to want someone this much. She had never wanted anyone this much before and was at a loss to know if this was infatuation or real affection.

Lilly’s stomach growled again and she ventured outside and see where her feet took her. Wrapping her sky blue scarf around her neck and pulling on her light jacket on she went out for breakfast. She hadn’t noticed the time as she left but soon realised that she had missed breakfast in most of the cafes along the street from her apartment. After the fifth café, she gave up and her feet carried her to the place she wanted to visit all along. Pulling open the heavy door to Blue’s, she walked into the light airy bar and instantly felt at home. She enjoyed coming to this bar, for a very long time it was her hideaway from the job she hated. Her hour of heaven whilst she escaped from her job and what it represented was bliss. Now that she no longer worked at the firm of lawyers, this place was still her haven but from reality instead. She wanted to feel safe, she just wasn’t sure if it were Elijah’s bar or Elijah himself that made her feel safe. She didn’t much care at this stage because she was staring right at him and he was staring back.

Stuck to the spot and unable to move she kept looking at the handsome man before her. He had rescued her from the piece of crap that had fed her the drugs. Stayed with her at the hospital, taken her home and stayed with her until she felt ok. It was more than she expected of him in one respect because she barely knew him but not enough to satisfy her craving of his company.

She didn’t move and Elijah came towards her, he approached her fast and she was unable to stop the enveloping hug her gave her. He lifted her off her feet and kissed her temple.

“Are you ok, is everything ok, are you feeling ok?” Elijah asked her.

“Yes I’m fine I just needed food and didn’t realise the time and everyone seemed to stop serving breakfast at a stupid hour. I had my heart set on poached eggs.” Lilly said and huffed as she straightened her scarf after being lifted clean off the floor.

Elijah took the edge of her scarf and deliberately pulled it so that it was all askew and chuckled at his juvenility, he had an urge to anger her. He needed her to get passionate about something even if it were him. He never wanted to provoke a woman before, but he felt playful and to see how long it would take to see her flare up. He watched as she straightened it again with an irritated pull, he stepped closer waited patiently for her to finish and then pulled it again. Lilly’s head snapped up and the glare he was rewarded with was worth it, the fire he saw in her eyes was all he needed to see. She wanted him and he couldn’t have been happier at the thought.

“What are you doing Elijah?” Lilly asked impatiently.

“I’m trying to make you mad, so that we can kiss and make up.” Elijah said playfully.

“You are such a child,” she scolded but couldn’t help the grin that broke out across her face. She liked that he was playful.

“If you want a kiss you just need to ask.” She said.

He didn’t hesitate in kissing her, wrapping her in his arms, he wasn’t going to waste any time asking. He couldn’t care who saw them, he wanted her and only her. Elijah wanted to taste her, so he pinched her bottom that in turn made her squeal, but he had her firmly in his arms so there was no escaping. Her startled response gave him what he wanted, he touched the tip of her tongue just once, sweeping across her mouth. He needed to stop or else he would carry her off to his office and bend her over the table. He wanted their first time to be somewhere far more private and comfortable. Where they would not be interrupted.

He couldn’t stop, her taste was intoxicating, her body moulded to his, he carried on kissing her in the middle of the bar until he heard a discreet cough. He knew whose cough that was as it wasn’t the first time he had heard it. He broke away from her mouth and kissed her forehead.

“I need to go and take care of an issue, take a seat and I will be back very soon, order whatever you want and the chef will make it for you. Don’t worry about the menu.” Elijah said.

“Is everything ok Elijah?” Lilly asked.

“Everything is fine, I’ll be right back with you.”

He kissed her temple and walked away with Pete, he looked grave as they talked rapidly to one another. She dismissed the conversation as none of her business and took a seat in the soft leather chairs of the day bar. In all the time, she had visited the bar she had always chosen the tall bar stools but now she preferred the comfort of the armchairs. The waiter came over and she ordered poached eggs and coffee. With a curt nod, the waiter left her to her thoughts.

She was in the world of her own when a group of loud women walked in and broke the calm murmur of chatter in the bar. It seemed like the whole bar stopped talking as they walked  by. The group of women didn’t notice the stares of the bar patrons and carried on cackling and laughing as they approached the bar. Lilly knew who they were and hoped that they would not turn around, they were the last people she wanted to see. Silently she prayed over and again that they didn’t turn around and that she could sneak off to another part of the bar.

She was sure the waiter would find her if she moved.

It was too late, she locked eyes on the woman she hated, and she saw the gleam of hatred shine back. The woman started walking towards her and she didn’t have anywhere to turn, trapped in the chair. She had no desire to talk to Jenny now or at any stage. Jenny was about to open her mouth to speak when she was blocked from view.

“Ah, here you are, Elijah said you were here, I’m so glad I got here in time. Are you having breakfast because I am starving? Why doesn’t this town serve breakfast after 10am?” Olivia prattled on to herself more than to Lilly. Lilly had never been so grateful to see a relative stranger in all her life and when she saw Olivia sit down next to her and unblock her view she saw Jenny retreat back to her friends. It wasn’t without a scowl.

“Hi Olivia, its lovely to see you again. I didn’t get chance to say thank you at the hospital for staying with me. You were so lovely and especially with so much going on with the wedding and the baby.” Lilly said.

“Hold on a second, what baby, I’m not pregnant, is that why you think we are getting married?” Olivia asked.

“No, I don’t think that’s why you are getting married, I thought you were marrying because you loved each other. Your love for each other is transparent, the pregnancy I assumed was a happy coincidence. I’m sorry if I upset you, it wasn’t my intention, and I tend to blurt these things out.” Lilly said.

“It’s ok, I’m sorry that I am a little snappy and defensive. I’ve had too many people assume this is a shotgun wedding. I mean to say, who has a shotgun wedding these days, surely they’re a thing of the past.”

“I’m not so sure about that, my parents would make me marry if they found out I was pregnant out of wedlock. It may sound old fashioned, but it is alive and well in my family. I don’t know why my mother is so outspoken on the subject. She is so vehemently against children out of wedlock and lectured me from an early age about it. It was the best contraceptive method she could have made for me.” Lilly’s words hung in the air, Olivia didn’t reply and sat there twirling the edge of her scarf and huffing.

“You see the thing is, I am pregnant but I haven’t told Jack yet. I’m worried about what he’ll say, I haven’t told anyone. It shocked me that you’d guessed.” Olivia said and fiddled with the strap of her handbag. Lilly watched her wrinkle her forehead into a frown. “I’m so scared that he won’t be happy, that he’s just got together with me and now that I’m pregnant he will get bored and go back to his old ways.” Olivia confessed.

“I don’t know either of you at all but I do remember watching you in my hospital bed.  You two adore each other. He is besotted with you and I don’t think for one second that he will be unhappy about this news. I suspect that once you tell him, he will wrap you in cotton wool and will suffocate with all the affection he is going to drown you in.” Lilly said.

“I know you’re right but it’s still eating me up inside that we are moving too fast. Oh, hell he’s here Lilly.” Olivia said and beamed at the person over Lilly’s shoulder.

Lilly turned around to see Jack walking towards them, his eyes only on Olivia. Olivia had nothing to worry about, Lilly was sure of it.

“You need to tell him Olivia and tell him now.” Lilly whispered to her, “I promise it will all be ok.” She added.

Jack arrived at Olivia’s side and held out his hand to her, as soon as Olivia’s fingers were entwined in his, he had her standing and in his arms in one swift move. Kissing her soundly Lilly looked on and wondered if she would ever have that. The kiss was slow, passionate and mesmerising to watch.

“They’re a hot couple, aren’t they?” Elijah whispered into Lilly’s ear. She wasn’t sure if the shiver that ran through her was from the warm breath of Elijah, the hot kissing scene in front of her or the daydream she was having of Elijah kissing her so soundly in public.

“They are a very passionate couple, I don’t know why she doesn’t tell him.”

“Tell him what,” “Tell me what” Elijah and Jack said in unison. Lilly hadn’t realised that she had spoken so loudly and that Olivia and Jack had stopped their passionate embrace.

Lilly looked at Olivia making a face of apology, grimacing, hoping that she was forgiven. She watched as a wave of sadness crossed Olivia’s face. She watched in horror as Olivia slipped off the purple diamond that rested on her engagement finger.

“Jack I can’t marry you, I’m sorry.” Olivia said and placed the ring in Jack’s open hand and grabbed her bag and ran out of the bar sobbing.

“What the fuck did you say to her, I kissed her twenty minutes ago and she couldn’t wait to marry me. Ten minutes with you and she is calling it off and you know why. So Lilly, tell me now why has she decided that I am now not good enough for her.” Jack bellowed at Lilly. The entire bar had silenced by the third word Jack had spoken, his deep voice carried through the bar.

Lilly stood up and shook off the hand that tried to pull her back to her seat. She was in no mood to be yelled at or be quietened down.

“Now you listen here Jack, I didn’t say anything to her, I guessed at something that she has yet to tell you. Don’t you dare yell at me because she has changed her mind. Do you think for one moment that I am capable of changing Olivia’s mind about something as serious as marrying the great Jack Geary?” Lilly said, her arms in animation at standing up to Jack. She was fearless for five minutes and while she wanted to stand up to the arseholes that had drugged her, her parents who had shunned her or the gaggle of bitches now staring at her, Jack was getting both barrels.

“You have known her for a short period and she doesn’t know how you are going to react to some news she has to share with you. You need to give her five minutes and then go after her and beg her to tell you what is worrying her. Let me tell you right now, if you are not on your knees begging forgiveness for not realising what is going on with her then you will have me to answer to.” Lilly promised.

Lilly pulled down her jumper that had ridden up while she was waving her arms in the direction of the door and then pointing back at Jack’s chest. She was deadly serious about him making sure Olivia knew it was ok to tell him anything.

“Well Elijah, it seems you have discovered quite a firecracker here. Maybe you will get rescued this time. You’ll have to excuse me while I run after my future wife and convince her that she is not going anywhere.” Jack said, he winked at Elijah and kissed Lilly’s cheek and left them to it.

Lilly found herself staring at Elijah and still breathing hard from her rant at Jack, she didn’t plan on being so direct but she felt that they had a relationship worth fighting for and wanted to make sure someone was championing them. Elijah walked the few steps towards her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Have you any idea how horny that made me, someone standing up to my brother, completely unfazed that they are talking Jack Geary. You need to apply that same fiery temper to other areas of your life.” Elijah said.