23

 

As Ian had predicted, the doctor released him to go home the following morning. The discharge nurse prattled off a long list of don’ts. “No sexual activity” was all Ian heard. “Bollocks,” he muttered.

Lily smacked the side of his leg in exasperation. “Behave,” she warned, “or you’ll find yourself right back in here. Don’t think just because you’re getting to go home, you’re cured.”

Dan materialized around ten to drive them home and sat on the couch waiting for Lily to finish packing their belongings. “Here’s a thought,” Ian said, feigning sudden inspiration, “why don’t you bring Bella with you? So you won’t have to worry about her being all alone.” He cast a sidelong glance at Dan, who made a soft whistling sound ending in an explosion, his fingers fluttering toward the ground in a distinct crash-and-burn gesture.

Sticking her head out of the bathroom, Lily’s delighted smile made her eyes sparkle. “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind?”

“Positive, sweetheart.” Ian flashed a triumphant grin at Dan, who just closed his eyes and shook his head.

Ian was overjoyed to be home, but still weak and slightly green from the car ride, he made a beeline for the bathroom as soon as he set foot in the door. His elation was short-lived when he returned to the great room to find Lily struggling with the sofa. He watched in disbelief for several moments before asking, “What are you doing?”

Lily braced herself and yanked again to get the stuck pullout bed to unfold itself. “Mmm?”

“What are you doing?” he repeated in a frantic whisper. “You’re not sleeping there.”

She gave him an indulgent smile. “Of course I am. You need your rest,” she said. “I’m supposed to be helping take care of you, not moving in.”

Dan came through the front door, carrying the last of the bags up from the car. He looked quickly from Ian to Lily, then down at the stuck sofa bed and correctly assessed the situation. “Here, let me give you a hand,” he said, grabbing the handles and turning purple from suppressed laughter. “Ian, make yourself useful and grab some sheets. There’s a good lad.”

“Whose feckin’ side are you on?” Ian snapped, making his way carefully past Dan to disappear under the archway, muttering some very uncomplimentary things about his brother-in-law under his breath.

Dan said, loudly enough to carry down the hall to his beleaguered friend, “Right then, Lily–did you want your bags here next to your bed?”

* * * *

The next few days saw the threesome settle into a comfortable rhythm. Lily caught herself smiling more than once at Bella, who took on the duty of escort and tagged along behind Ian wherever he went. It became a common sight to see Ian dozing on the oversized couch, his tousled auburn head on the pillow next to a small black head peeking out from underneath the covers. 

After trying unsuccessfully for several minutes to lure Bella into the kitchen one evening Lily asked, “What’s going to happen when I try to take my cat back home?”

The muffled reply from underneath the quilt was swift. “Am I detecting a note of jealousy?” Ian asked. He waved Lily next to him on the couch, and when she sat, pulled her close for a light kiss. “There’s plenty of room for the both of you here and quite honestly, the thought of two beautiful, purring females in my bed every night sets my heart aflutter.”

Lily’s eyes went wide with feigned drama, but the thought was so overwhelming she kissed him back to keep from replying. “I’m just here to keep you out of trouble,” she said in a frosty Mary Poppins voice. “We’ll just have to see where this leads.”

“We’d best keep an eye on this one,” Ian whispered to Bella. “She’s tricky.”

* * * *

Their days and evenings were spent quietly, reading and watching TV. Ian penciled numerous medieval scenes and Lily spent hours watching in fascination as the beautiful images appeared on the parchment.

“The Castle is expanding next year, so they’re fishing for new ideas,” he explained. When Meg and Dan dropped in to review his sketches, Ian discussed his concepts with great detail, pointing out the advantages and disadvantages for each exhibit. One of his ideas Meg found most exciting was offering the park as a field trip destination for school-age children. “You have plenty of actors who would jump at the chance to do exhibitions for the kids,” he explained, “and the advertising exposure alone would more than compensate for any pricing reduction in group admission…”

“Ian…” Meg’s voice held a tone of warning. She pointedly darted her gaze to Lily, whose jaw had dropped open at the sudden burst of business acumen.

Taking the hint, Ian shrugged. “Of course, it’s just a guess. You’d, erm…know far more about it than I would…”

With an exaggerated eye roll, Dan continued to flip through his sketch book while his friend floundered. He paused at one picture in particular. “Here’s a nice one of Lily.”

Lily leaned over to see and gasped at the beautiful pencil image in what appeared to be a spring meadow. She was lying in the tall grass, hair spread beneath her and wearing a woven circlet of delicate flowers. Her smile was warm and sensual and the likeness was amazing. She and Meg looked questioningly at Ian, who smiled and said in a faraway voice, “It was a dream I had once.”

* * * *

Renaud had been to Ian’s apartment before, but first-timer Beth was blown away when they came to visit on Saturday afternoon. “This place is gorgeous. I can’t even begin to imagine how expensive the rent is,” she gushed then stopped. “Okay, that was tacky. But seriously, I could drop my whole apartment here and lose it. It’s gi-normous!”

Lily laughed. “The master bedroom and bath alone are the size of my whole place, and you’ve got to see how it’s painted,” she said, pulling her friend by the hand.

Ian watched the girls disappear into the bedroom then turned his attention to his visitor. “So how long’s that been going on?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Renaud flashed a purely French grin and waved the question off. “Mais non. We’re just friends.” He leaned over to make sure the girls were out of earshot before asking, “You and Lily are getting pretty serious, oui?”

“Peut-etre, we’ll just have to see how it all goes,” Ian said. “No sense rushing into these things, you know.”

The ladies returned moments later from their inspection of the master’s chambers, and Renaud stretched and stood. “We need to go if we’re to make it to work on time, cherie. And you,” he said to Ian, “need to hurry and get better. Last night I rode that black devil of yours and he very nearly took a bite out of me.”

“Enbarr? You’ve got to take a firm hand with him,” Ian advised. “He’s a beauty, though. He cuts quite a figure on the field if you can get him to cooperate.”

Lily slipped her arm through Ian’s. “Hmm…a handsome, but uncooperative male. I’ve never heard of such.”

“Are you implying, madam, that I’m inherently difficult or reminding us of your failing eyesight?” he asked with a bemused smile. After Renaud and Beth left and the door had closed, Ian snatched Lily up into an intoxicating kiss, whispering against her lips, “Do you think I need a firm hand too?”

Lily gasped at his boldness then dissolved into a fit of giggles and pushed him away. “Yes, indeed. You need a tight rein, I think. How about some soup?” she said en route to the kitchen.

Falling in step behind her, Ian reached out to caress her bottom. She whirled around and poked a finger into his chest. “You heard what the nurse said. You have not been released yet.”

Ian started to protest, but thought better of it. Instead, he broached the subject on his mind for the last few days. “Em…sweetheart?”

“Hmm?” she said, pulling a plastic container of Meg’s homemade potato and leek soup– the Kelly CureAll, she called it–out of the refrigerator, and poured it into a saucepan to heat up.

He gazed unseeing out the window. “When did you plan on going back to the agency?”

“About that…” She hesitated then blurted out, “I’m not going back. I quit.”

Ian let out a whoop of delight and snatched her up, spun her around in a dizzying circle. “Put me down before you hurt yourself!” she squealed.

He pulled her to him and kissed her again, but this time it generated enough heat to incinerate them both on the spot. “You’ve no idea how happy that makes me, sweetheart.” He dipped his head and lightly nipped the sensitive pulse point at her throat.

“You’re still not well,” she whispered.

“I’m well enough,” he murmured, deliberately grinding his hips against hers so she could feel just how happy he was about her announcement. “Please, my sweetheart. Let me love you.”

“Mmm…so am I to assume you’re all better now?”

Ian froze, every fiber of his masculine being screaming Trap! Unable to pluck a coherent thought from his mental train wreck, he wisely opted to err on the side of caution. “Well, not completely,” he admitted, “but it’s difficult being this close and not touching you. I miss sleeping next to you.”

“I miss sleeping with you too but I don’t want you to do any more damage to yourself.” She turned back to the stove and said, “The soup should be ready in just a few minutes.”

“Wonderful,” sighed Ian. “That gives me time for a quick shower.” Another cold one, he thought miserably.

* * * *

Monday morning, Ian checked his messages in his office and returned the call from the police first. His next call was to Dan. “His alibi is solid, they said. Lucas didn’t do it.”

“So what happens now?” Dan asked.

“I’m guessing they’ll call if they find something. It’s rather unsettling, though, can’t think of anyone else who wants me dead. Well, in this country anyway,” he joked then added in a more serious tone, “There’s no way he’s not connected.”

After an uncomfortable pause Dan asked, “So…how are things going there with you two?”

“Oh, everything’s grand,” Ian lied, “couldn’t be better.” His head had started aching again and he knew he should take something before it got worse. He hung up the phone and headed for the kitchen but in the hallway overheard Lily talking and stopped short.

“He’s doing well, Mom, getting better every day.” The water splashed in the sink while Lily rinsed out the breakfast dishes. “No, we’re not sleeping together. I sleep on the couch and he sleeps in his bed.” She paused again to listen and said, “As soon as he’s well enough to be on his own, I’m moving back home.” Ian cleared his throat to let her she wasn’t alone and she turned toward him when he came into the kitchen. She gave him a radiant smile.

“Don’t mind me,” he mouthed, getting two pills and a bottle of spring water from the fridge. Blowing her a kiss, he headed to his office and sat at the drafting table. You knew that was coming, he brooded, absently twirling a graphite pencil in his fingers. She won’t sleep with me if I’m not well, and if I am well, she’ll leave. Where’s that get fair? Reaching for his water, he overshot it by several inches and succeeded in spilling the half full bottle all over the table.

“Feckin’ hell,” he snapped, scrambling to rescue his sketch pads from the spreading puddle. He dropped them on the desk and headed to the kitchen for paper towels to mop the mess up.

****

“No, I didn’t tell Ian about it,” Lily said. “I didn’t want to upset him.”

Footsteps sounded, and Lily turned to see Ian standing in the doorway again, arms folded across his chest and wearing a fierce scowl. “I’ll talk to you later, Mom,” she said, ending the call. She smiled and moved toward him to encircle his waist with her arms. He neatly avoided her arms and grabbed a roll of paper towels from the counter.

“Keeping secrets, are we?” Ian said, his tone clipped. He turned and strode to the office where he slammed the doors with a resonating crash. Lily blinked in confusion before following him down the hall. After a moment’s hesitation, she rapped her knuckles lightly.

“Sweetheart?” No answer. She knocked again, and it was several moments before he spoke.

“Yes?” he called, his voice flat.

Lily pushed the door open to find Ian seated at his drafting table, his back to her. “Something you wanted?” he asked, unmoving. When she didn’t answer, Ian spun his chair around to face her, his face tight. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“I just…” Lily paused, considering her options. “I just feel like all this is my fault,” she blurted. “Your fall, I mean.”

Ian’s glittering eyes narrowed. “Ah, so there we have it. You’re staying here with me because you feel guilty. And if that’s the case, perhaps you’d best pack up and go home now.” He regarded her a moment. “I don’t want your pity, thanks. I managed well enough before you got here and I’ll do the same after you’re gone. I’ll be just fine on my own.”

Lily went stock still until his harsh words made landfall, then uttering a choking sound, spun on her heel and left.

From her curled up position on the couch, Bella watched with sleepy eyes as Lily barreled into the room and began shoving clothes into her canvas bag, muttering non-stop under her breath about pig headed, ungrateful men. Ian wobbled into the room behind her with one hand braced against the wall for support. “Sweetheart, wait–”

 “No, you wait. I stayed here because I love you and I was worried about you. Since you’re fine now, I’ll just be on my way.”

He put his hands up in supplication. “I want you to stay. I need you to stay. I didn’t mean it, truly I didn’t.”

“Sure sounded that way to me,” she grumbled, biting her lip to hold the tears back while she continued to pack.

“Please, darlin’, forgive me. It was wrong of me to say. I’m so sorry,” he said, tilting his head with a charming smile. “Please? I’m begging here.”

The corner of Lily’s mouth twitched in spite of her anger. “Don’t you dare smile at me like that. What you said was downright mean.”

His chin dropped to his chest. “I understand,” he said in a tiny, forlorn voice, “if you feel you have to leave. I’m sure I’ll…manage somehow.” He lifted his head just enough for her to see the mischievous twinkle in his eye. “Bella and I will miss you, though.”

“Bella,” she gasped. “You wouldn’t dare…”

Having heard her name, Bella’s ears twitched with interest and he patted his thigh in invitation. “Hungry, Bella cat? Come on.”

“You leave her out of this,” Lily snapped, clapping a hand over her mouth to catch the absurd giggle threatening to escape.

“Come on, pretty girl…I’ve got tuna,” Ian crooned. Bella dove off the couch, streaked past Lily and ran toward the kitchen. Ian turned and with a happy grin disappeared through the archway.

“Ian…” Lily warned.

“Sorry, can’t hear you,” he sang gleefully, banging around in the pantry.

She heard the sound of a can being opened. “Don’t give her tuna. It’ll ruin her for regular cat food,” Lily scolded, jumping to her feet.

“Albacore,” Ian shot back, “in spring water. She loves it.”

“Damn it,” Lily growled, threw down her clothes and stalked toward the kitchen. “Bribery might work on the cat, but it won’t work on–”

Ian caught her in his arms when she stormed through the doorway. “I am so sorry I hurt you. I love you more than life itself, sweetheart, don’t you ever for a moment doubt it. And I know,” he said softly, his finger tilting her face up to meet his, “that none of this is your fault. Well, other than me falling in love with you. That’s definitely your fault.”

Lily glared at Bella, who industriously wolfed down a can of the forbidden delicacy then at Ian, whose lips were now suspiciously close to hers. “How long have you been slipping her tuna?”

Ian flushed a guilty pink, . “I…well, maybe a couple….”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to know.” She sighed, slid her arms around his neck and met him half way for the sweet please forgive me kiss.

“Come lay with me,” he whispered. Lily opened her mouth to protest, but he put a finger to her lips. “I don’t mean making love. I just want to hold you. Please, darlin’, let me fall asleep with you in my arms.” Hand in hand she walked to the bedroom with him and got under the covers fully clothed. Ian wrapped his arms protectively around her. Bella joined them a few minutes later, and it wasn’t long before all three fell asleep.