* * *

Orders were coming in at so fast a rate that many of the members were working overtime, trying to get them out in time. Lily felt guilty taking off Wednesday to work at the church store, but Shade told her to go. He even drove her into town, telling her to call when she was finished and he would pick her up.

“Do not leave, even to go to the diner to pick up a drink.”

“I won’t,” Lily promised, going inside, but she was unable to resist a final look at him riding off the lot on his bike.

Rachel was already hard at work once Lily got inside. The woman was amazing in what she had gotten accomplished.

“I can’t take all the credit. I called Willa on Saturday when you couldn’t make it. She worked a couple of hours until Pastor Dean showed up. I can’t understand why she doesn’t like him.”

“Oh, I think she likes him,” Lily said.

“You think so?”

Lily nodded her head. “It would be hard having a crush on your minister, don’t you imagine?”

“Especially Pastor Dean. Every single woman in the city, whether she goes to this church or not, is chasing after him.”

“Ouch, I know how that feels,” Lily admitted—for the first time—out loud to herself and someone else, her feelings for Shade.

“Shade?” Rachel asked, stacking the dishes someone had donated, putting them on a shelf next to the rest.

“He’s not exactly the type of man I pictured myself with.”

“A biker?”

“No, not that, either,” Lily said ruefully. “I meant someone who doesn’t take part in church regularly. It’s a big part of my life. Razer goes to church frequently with Beth. He takes the time because it’s important to her.”

“You don’t feel Shade would do the same for you?”

“Shade in church? No, I don’t see him sitting in church every Sunday like Viper and Razer.” Lily packed another stack of dishes to the shelf.

“My mother went to church three days a week. Other than her children, it was the most important aspect of her life. The day we buried her, Lily, it was the most beautiful day I had ever seen. The sky and the mountains looked like they could be a picture on a calendar. I think it was God welcoming her home.” Lily turned as Rachel recounted that day. “My father, on the other hand, had a little bit of the devil in him.” Her voice turned rueful.

Lily laughed. That was putting it mildly. Rachel’s father had been the meanest man in the county before he had died. He sold pot to anyone, anywhere, outsmarted the law on numerous occasions, and bragged about it. His three sons were determined to follow in his footsteps.

“My mother would beg him to go to church with her, but he would just laugh and say life was for living, not spending time in church praying about dying. It was just as pretty the day my dad died. I think God was looking forward to some payback.”

Lily laughed so hard she almost broke the cups she picked up while Rachel laughed with her. After their laughter died down, they both got back to work; they were getting closer to the store being ready to open.

At lunch, Rachel went across the street to the diner, bringing back burgers and fries, which they demolished. As they were getting up from the table, Lily reached out and touched Rachel’s hand.

“I want to thank you for what you did.”

Rachel’s own hand covered hers. “If you want to talk, I’m always here for you.”

“I know you are. You’ve been a good friend to me. I remember everything now,” she continued, turning away from Rachel’s compassionate gaze. “I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t know if I ever will, but at least now I’m not hiding from the memories.”

“Don’t lock them away again, Lily. Sooner or later, you need to talk to someone.”

“I will, eventually. Just not today.” Lily smiled, repeating Rachel’s own words.

“Not today,” Rachel said. “I can agree to that.” She raised her face to the sun.

“What are you doing?” Lily asked, stunned by the serene peace on Rachel’s face.

“I was saying a prayer, Lily.”

“What about?” Lily got up from the table in the backyard of the church, ready to go back to work inside.

“That God gives us the strength to face that basement again.” Rachel smiled at her. Lily turned to go into the basement, missing the words she spoke beneath her breath. “And to grant you the peace you deserve.”

* * *

Pastor Dean came down just as they were finishing for the day.

“Shade called and said he was still tied up at the factory. I offered to give you a ride home.”

“That’s all right; Rachel can give me a ride. She won’t mind and I need to make a stop on the way.” Lily sent Rachel a pleading glance.

“That’s right. I can take care of it and make sure she gets home safe,” Rachel agreed, giving Lily a questioning glance.

“I don’t know. I told Shade that I would.” Pastor Dean seemed uncertain.

Lily kept organizing the boxes, keeping her face averted from Pastor Dean.

“We need to take care of some girl things,” Rachel confided, earning Lily’s gratitude.

Pastor Dean kept his eyes on Lily, yet she refused to look at him. Her fingers whitened on the box she was holding.

“That will be fine then. I’ll see you two Saturday”

Lily let out a sigh of relief when Pastor Dean left.

“What was that about?” Rachel asked.

“I need to make a stop at my house on the way home. I didn’t want to inconvenience Pastor Dean. Do you mind?”

“No.”

“Thanks.” The women finished for the day, shutting and locking the door behind them.

Rachel drove Lily to her house where Lily went inside while Rachel sat in the car. Lily hastily gathered her toiletries and her favorite pajamas. She then rushed back outside, not wanting to keep Rachel waiting any longer than necessary.

The ride to The Last Riders’ house was spent with Rachel talking about Logan’s adventures since his moving in with them. They were laughing when she described Logan showing his dad his new pet kitten when it had actually been a baby skunk he had found in the bushes.

Their laughter died when they pulled into the lot and found Shade waiting.

Chapter 27

Shade opened the car door as soon as the vehicle stopped, taking the bag out of Lily’s hand.

“Thanks, Rachel,” Shade said. Before the stunned woman could say anything, Shade shut the car door, ushering Lily up the steps to the house and straight to the bedroom they were sharing, shutting and locking the door behind them.

“What’s the matter with you?” Lily asked at his pushy behavior.

“Didn’t Dean tell you I asked him to give you a ride home?”

“Yes, but—”

“But what? Someone almost killed you the other day! I asked Dean to bring you home because I knew he would be able to handle anything that could happen. If I had wanted you to ride with Rachel, I would have called Rachel.”

Lily twisted her hands together as he continued in his rant.

“Not only did you not come straight here, you went by your house and Rachel sat in the car. Someone could have been waiting and killed you inside the house and Rachel wouldn’t even have known.”