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I directed every ounce of focus I had to Lily. I knew exactly how to kiss her, to touch her. Not because of her sighs, or the way her muscles tensed and relaxed in response to me, but because I was wrapped in her emotions. Everything I gave, she returned.
Pleasing her pleased me. I stopped the second she was unsure.
“Tiger,” I said, pulling away, “I’m not in a hurry.”
Her cheeks were flushed, her hair dark and tangled against the pillowcase. Exhaling shakily, she said, “I know.”
“Do you?”
She nodded.
“People underestimate the benefits of taking their time. Slow is just as good as fast.” I grinned, running my fingertips across the exposed skin between her jeans and the bottom of the camisole. “Usually, it’s better.”
I saw the sadness in her eyes as much as I felt it.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Taking our time.” She traced the outer edge of the tattoo on my bicep. Her touch was warm. “I wonder how much we have.”
I didn’t want to think about that.
Leaning over, I kissed her forehead. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Trusting me enough to let me in. With Cuba, your parents. With this.” I gently placed my hand just above her heart. “I know how many risks you’ve taken, how hard it is for you to trust me. Why do you?”
“I’ve watched you go from stumbling to sure, and you’re getting even stronger. You consistently take risks for people you care about.” She covered my hand with hers. “Also, maybe I’m in love with you a little. But that doesn’t mean I like you.”
This girl was a miracle. A miracle in love with me.
“I don’t like you, either. But I’m a little in love myself.”
“We’ll find Jack. You’ll take your parents’ memories back, and then we’ll turn him in to Teague. We just have to—” Light flickered across her face, and she sat up quickly, pointing out the window.
Shock.
Ivy Springs was going up in flames.
Chapter 45
The sound of sirens bounced off the buildings lining the corridor of Main Street.
“We need to get out of here.” I scooped Lily’s sweater up and handed it to her along with her boots. “There’s too much smoke to see well, and I don’t like being on the second floor when I don’t know where the fire is.”
Lily pushed her arms into her sweater sleeves as she took off for the door. “I have to check on the shop.”
“Wait for me.” I shoved my feet into my shoes and pulled on my shirt as I followed her.
I felt the back of the door. It wasn’t hot, but when I opened it the acrid smell of smoke billowed through. It burned the inside of my nose. Lily started coughing immediately, and I slammed the door shut.
“We need towels.”
In the kitchen, she pulled open the drawer beside the stove and took a handful of dish towels. I turned on the water, and she held them under the faucet until they were soaked.
This time, we covered our noses and mouths before we went out the door. We hurried down the back steps, and I watched as Lily fumbled to unlock the back door of the coffee shop. “My key won’t work.”
She handed it to me and I tried.
