Twin Temptations (8 page)

“Nope, not as long as you’re sure of what you’re doing. And before you get all defensive, it’s not because of her age, even though I know that’s a sore spot with you and Ranger. I just need you to be sure this is what you want, because it might not go over very well in town. You need to think a little about what’s good for Lilly and the consequences of your actions.”

“Rawley, we know all of this. Ranger and I have talked about it for years. What it would all mean to our personal and professional lives, and we decided that Lilly had a right to choose for herself. We had a nice talk last night and the night before. I think she knows what she’s getting into. She talked to her momma, so we’re not sneaking around behind anyone’s backs. Just let us deal with it.”

“Deal, huh? What about Lilly’s car?”

Worrying his fingers through his hair, Ryker closed his eyes. “I don’t think that had anything to do with me and Ranger. I’m sure she told you about her almost-date with Jeff.”

“Yeah, she told me. If you’re going to continue this with her it will be your responsibility to make sure she stays safe.”

“Yes, Sheriff, we realise that. Why do you think we’re insisting she come stay with us until this whole vandalism thing is settled?”

Rawley sighed on the other end of the phone. Ryker could just picture him taking off his hat and wiping his brow. “On a brotherly note, if this is what you all want, I’m happy for you.”

Ryker knew his brother meant it. Ranger told him about the talk Ranger and Rawley had a couple of months ago, and it meant the world to them to have his blessing. “Thanks.”

“Be careful, that’s all I ask. Not everyone’s going to be as accepting of this new relationship.”

“We know. Call us if you find out anything about Lilly’s car. Do you think it’ll be totalled out by the insurance company?”

“Yeah, I’d say so. The whole car’s not worth more than a thousand bucks. I hope she has full coverage.”

“Doesn’t matter. We’ll figure something out.”

“Here she comes, do you want to talk to her?”

“If you don’t mind,” Ryker grinned. He heard Rawley hold out the phone and tell Lilly it was Ryker.

“Hi,” Lilly answered.

“Hi, sweetheart. Did you get Mrs. Clemens to agree to go to her sister’s?”

“Finally,” she chuckled. “I’m taking her up to Lincoln in a few minutes.”

Ryker’s body began to stir from the sound of Lilly’s voice. “Make sure you drive safe, and keep a watchful eye out for anything suspicious. I don’t think anyone would be foolish enough to bother you in broad daylight, but it doesn’t hurt to keep your eyes open.”

Lilly laughed. “I care about you, too. I need to go. Mrs. Clemens is standing on her porch with suitcase in hand. I’ll call you before I go to Bunco.”

“Bye, sweetheart. I’ll see you later.” Ryker hung up the phone and closed his eyes. “Life is good,” he whispered to himself.

Lilly went straight to her mom’s after dropping Mrs. Clemens at her sister’s retirement apartment. She pulled up to the old farmhouse with just enough time to take a quick shower and get ready.

After
 
her shower, she dressed in a pair of navy shorts and a floral button-up camp shirt. Pulling the sides of her hair back into a large barrette, she went into the kitchen to find her mom.

“Hey, baby girl,” Debbie said.

“Hey, mom,” Lilly answered, giving her mom a kiss on the cheek.

“What did Rawley tell you about your car?” Debbie asked, putting plastic wrap over the top of a plate of brownies.

Lilly snuck a brownie off the plate before her mom had it completely covered. “That he’d send a report to my insurance company. He went over with me earlier to take fingerprints and wait for me to pack a bag. Ranger and Ryker think I should stay with them until we know whoever did this has got it out of their system.” Lilly pinched off a piece of the dessert and stuck it into her mouth.

Debbie’s eyebrow lifted as she looked at Lilly. “You know you could’ve just come home for awhile. Are you sure staying with them is a good idea?”

Lilly looked at her mom for several seconds. She’d thought about the implications all the way home from Lincoln. “Yeah, mom, it’s what I want. If people are going to have a problem with it, it won’t matter if it happens now or two months from now, because I feel that this thing between the three of us is right.”

Debbie walked over and kissed the top of her head. “Okay.” She looked up at the clock. “You ready?”

Lilly picked up the plate of devilled eggs on the counter while her mom carried the brownies. “Let’s go play.”

Getting out of Ryker’s truck, Lilly grabbed her purse and a plate of food. She looked around at the cars lining the street. “Pretty good turn out it seems.”

“It’s usually a good crowd when we play in town.” Debbie came around the truck to meet Lilly on the sidewalk.

“Maybe I’ll get lucky, and you won’t need me to play after all,” Lilly grinned. She’d much rather be playing with her men than a bunch of old women.

They headed toward the big front porch when a voice like nails on a chalkboard spoke up. “Isn’t that Ryker Good’s truck?” Mary Waters asked. Mary was several years older than Lilly and liked to think of herself as the town beauty.

“Yes, it is. What gave you your first clue? Could it be the Good’s Feedlot sign on the side?” Lilly knew she was being snide, but dammit, she wasn’t in the mood for this holier than thou bitch today.

“Why are you driving Ryker’s truck? I thought you were going out with Jeff?” Mary inquired with her hands on her bony hips.

Lilly really didn’t want to get into this before she even stepped foot in the door. “No, I’m not dating Jeff. Someone vandalised my car last night so Ryker said I could borrow his truck. Is that okay with you? Or should I have phoned first?”

Mary narrowed her eyes. “What, you going out with Ryker Good now? I thought he was in that perverted relationship with his own twin.”

Lilly took a deep breath. Her mom tried to pull her into the house, but instead, Lilly handed Debbie the plate of food. “You go on in. There’s something I need to clear up with Mary.”

Debbie looked at her and finally sighed. “I imagine this means you won’t be staying?”

“Sorry, mom. I’ll set the bitch straight then I’m outta here.”

Her mom gave her a kiss on the cheek, “You don’t need to run away just because one person doesn’t understand.”

“No, you’re right, I don’t. But I’m also not going to spend my free time around people who think like Mary does. Life’s too short to put up with the bitches of the world just to be polite.”

Debbie nodded and went inside. Lilly turned toward Mary and started walking. She had no plans of hitting the woman, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t scare her a little. Mary took a step back for every one Lilly took toward her. When she was finally backed against the porch railing, Lilly leaned in, her face inches away from Mary’s. “Now you listen here. If I ever hear you say another bad word about Ranger and Ryker, I’ll kick your scrawny ass from one end of Main Street to the other. They’re very private people and you need to learn to respect that. Whether I’m dating Ryker or Ranger or both of them, it’s no business of yours. Now get your own life and leave the people I care about alone.”

Mary looked shocked. “So, you’re just as perverted as they are?”

“Look, Little Mary Sunshine, if I were you, I wouldn’t talk about perversions. Not with all the talk I’ve heard around town about you. I’ve never mentioned what I’ve heard because it’s usually just a bunch of drunk guys talking at the bar, but if you push me, believe me, I’ve got enough ammunition on you to make both your folks disown you. Now, back the hell off.” Lilly didn’t wait for Mary to reply. She turned on her heel and walked back to the truck. At least she knew of two sexy men who’d be happy to see her.

Chapter Nine

Ready for their usual evening ride, Ranger finished cinching Pete’s saddle and looked over at Ryker. “You about done?”

Hoisting his long frame into the saddle, Ryker reached down and pet Magic. “We’re ready.”

Their attention went to the front of the house when they heard a vehicle pull up. Ranger groaned, “Sounds like company.” He mounted Pete and they rode toward the front of the house. Ranger was surprised to see Lilly still sitting in Ryker’s black pickup with her head on the steering wheel.

Riding over to the window he knocked. Lilly’s head sprang up and she smiled. The window rolled down and Lilly leaned her arm on the door. “What are you two cowboys up to?”

“Just going for our usual evening ride. What happened?” He could tell by the look on her face she wasn’t happy, though he didn’t see tears so at least he knew she hadn’t been crying.

Lilly smiled and waived away his concerns. “I just realised that I’d rather spend my evening with the two of you.”

Ranger knew she wasn’t telling them the whole truth. He suspected she’d had her first brush with the ladies of the town and their attitudes toward him and Ryker. “Well, lucky you caught us. Care to slip up behind me and go for a ride?”

“I’d love that.” Ranger moved Pete back and Lilly opened the door.

Looking over his shoulder, he could see Ryker and Magic waiting patiently by the corner of the house. Evidently Ryker was giving him a few moments alone with Lilly. It said more than words could have about Ryker’s hopes the two of them would fall in love as well.

It wasn’t until Lilly climbed out of the truck that he saw her white shorts. Smiling, he pointed toward them. “You might want to change into some blue jeans. If you don’t those pretty shorts will be brown by the time we get back.”

Lilly looked down and blushed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Give me a second?”

“Sure, let me just get your bag for you,” Ranger said. He dismounted and reached in the truck bed to heft out the large suitcase. Walking toward the house, he gave Ryker a wink. “I won’t be but a minute.” Without the actual words, he was assuring his brother he wouldn’t take liberties with Lilly while in the house.

Ryker surprised him with a wide grin. “Take your time. Magic and I will graze the lawn.”

He narrowed his eyes at Ryker. “Keep Magic away from my grass.” He’d worked for years to try and get a nice lawn to grown in the thick shade of trees that surrounded their house, and Ryker knew damn well he didn’t want Magic grazing.

Following Lilly into the house they walked through to the bedroom. Ranger sat the suitcase on the end of the bed and turned toward the closet. “We emptied out half this dresser and a good amount of closet space.”

Unzipping her suitcase, Lilly rifled around for a pair of jeans. “The dresser space I can definitely use, but I didn’t bring many hanging up things. I’m a pretty casual girl.”

Ranger couldn’t resist and stepped up behind her. Pressing himself against Lilly’s back, he kissed her neck. “My kind of woman. Although, I’ll admit, I sure did enjoy that pretty dress you wore the other day.” He reached down and unbuttoned her shorts. Sliding the zipper down, he let the white cotton shorts fall to the floor as he ran his hands over the pretty white lace of her underwear.

“I brought a few. I wish I had something sexy to wear for the two of you, but I’ve never really had a need for such clothes.” Lilly dropped the jeans in her hand and reached back to place them on the back of Ranger’s neck.