Colters' Lady (Colters' Legacy #2)(38)

Lacey sighed. “I’ll be right there.” She rose and walked around her desk but stopped to hug Seth. “I’m glad you’re coming home. I’ll feel a lot better about leaving if I know the town is in your hands.”

He hugged her back and felt the first tingle of excitement snake up his spine. His town. It had a nice ring to it. He knew everyone here. Had grown up a part of a tight-knit community. The idea that he’d come back home and have not only this job, but Lily… How quickly things changed. He found he didn’t mind one bit.

Chapter Seventeen

Michael pulled into Dillon’s drive and parked beside Seth’s truck. He was running late and it was nearly dark. It figured that on an evening when he was hoping like hell to get out early, he’d been flooded with last-minute “emergencies”.

He mounted the front steps, and not bothering to knock, he pushed open the front door. He was instantly flooded with the smell of good food. Whatever Dillon was cooking, Michael couldn’t wait to eat. His stomach rumbled as he glanced over to see Seth and Lily on the couch.

Seth was reclined on his side and Lily was nestled in his arms, her eyes closed as Seth stroked his hand up and down her hip. Michael didn’t want to wake or disturb her, but he wanted to be the one wrapped up with her.

As if sensing his presence, Lily stirred and opened her eyes. Her bleary gaze settled on him and her eyes widened in pleasure as recognition dawned.

“Michael,” she whispered.

She pushed herself upward and Seth caught her hand to help her. She was off the couch and hurrying for Michael in the next moment. Surprise and pleasure swept over him when she flew into his arms and hugged him fiercely.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said close to his ear. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

He brushed a short curl over her ear and kissed her temple, letting his lips linger there for a long second. It crushed him that she was here and so happy to see him. That she’d waited for him. Had worried he wasn’t coming.

“I wouldn’t miss it or you,” he murmured. “Sorry I’m late.”

“I see the doctor made it,” Dillon drawled from the kitchen door. “Why don’t you let Lily lie back down and you come help me a sec.”

Michael cast a wary glance in Dillon’s direction. When Dillon was in the kitchen, it was his domain. No one entered.

Dillon tossed his head toward the kitchen, and Michael leaned down to kiss Lily again.

“Go get comfortable. I’ll just be a minute.”

She clung to him a moment and returned his kiss before backing toward the couch. Michael stood long enough to see her settle next to Seth before he headed into the kitchen to see what was up with Dillon.

“Damn that smells good, whatever it is,” Michael said.

“Crawfish étouffée courtesy of the Cajun cooking show I watched last week,” Dillon said as he stirred the contents of the skillet. “It’ll be ready just as soon as the rice is done.”

Michael took a seat on one of the barstools and leaned on the granite countertop. He had to hand it to Dillon. It had taken him two years to build the place, but it was exquisitely crafted and looked high end and custom from top to bottom.

“So what’s up? You don’t ever let anyone into your kitchen when you’re cooking.”

Dillon cast a glance toward the doorway and stopped stirring. “You’re friends with Dr. Burton over at the clinic. Think you can pull some strings and get Lily an appointment ASAP?”

Michael frowned. “What’s going on? Is her arm worse? Damn it, I knew no one was taking it seriously enough.”

Dillon held up his hands. “Whoa. Slow down. Nothing’s wrong. She needs birth control.”

Michael’s mouth formed an O.

“She insisted I, or I guess we use condoms. She seemed stressed about the possibility of getting pregnant. I can’t say I blame her. She was worried because she doesn’t have insurance, or money for that matter.”

Michael swore under his breath. Dillon held up a hand again. “I took care of that. Told her we’d damn sure take care of her and we’d make sure she had everything she needs. I don’t want her stressed so I was hoping you could get her into the clinic quickly so we have that out of the way.”

“Yeah, I’ll make a call in the morning. Are you working tonight?”

“I was supposed to be behind the bar, but Callie’s covering and I have Kenneth pulling bouncer duty. I don’t want Callie mixing it up with any more customers. We’re lucky it was just a bunch of stupid college students and she didn’t get hurt.”

“I was hoping Seth could talk to her, but obviously we’ve been focused on Lily.”

“I’m not sure she’d talk to him anyway. She’s been tightlipped ever since she got home. I know she and Seth are tight, but Callie and I are buds and she shuts me down every time I start asking questions.”

“I wish to hell I knew what happened to her.”

“You and me both, bro.”

Dillon picked up the lid on the rice steamer and then let it fall shut again. He clapped his hands together and then hollered toward the living room, “Soups on!”

“Anyone ever tell you how subtle you are?” Michael asked.

Dillon grinned. “Subtlety is for pussies.”