Colters' Lady (Colters' Legacy #2)(45)

“Yeah, I could take her and go by to fill out all the necessary paperwork for the new job. At some point this week, I’m going to have to go back to Denver to give notice at my house and move my shit.”

Dillon rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “What if we got Mom to go with her? It would accomplish a few things. One, Lily might be uncomfortable over the nature of the visit if one of us goes. Plus, I know she’s ashamed of the fact that she can’t foot the bill. If Mom took her, she might relax a bit about it all. It would also give Mom some time with her, and I want Lily to feel like she’s part of the family.”

“Not a bad idea,” Michael said. “Why don’t you give her a call while I call Dr. Burton. It might be later this afternoon when he can work her in, but I’m sure he’ll do it if I ask him to.”

“I could run Lily over to Mom’s so she wouldn’t have to tag along with me to fill out paperwork,” Seth said. “She’d probably be bored out of her mind, and if Callie’s around, she might like to go riding again.”

Michael scowled. “She’s not going riding until I check her arm again and make sure the wound isn’t showing signs of infection. I swear everyone acts like she didn’t just get shot a few days ago.”

“I didn’t see you worrying about that last night,” Dillon drawled.

“Fuck you. I was very careful with her.”

“Cut it out, you two,” Seth said.

Dillon and Michael both held up their middle fingers at the same time, and Seth just shook his head.

“I swear you two always did share the same twisted, demented brain.”

Michael raised an eyebrow in Dillon’s direction. “I think he just tried to insult us.”

Dillon shrugged. “I suppose we’re going to have to put up with him since he did bring Lily to us. I’m sure he’ll be smug about the fact that if it weren’t for him we’d never have met her.”

“I hadn’t even thought about that, but you’re right,” Seth said with a grin.

“You and your mouth,” Michael grumbled in Dillon’s direction.

Slight movement from the corner of Michael’s eye had him turning in the direction of the doorway of the kitchen. Lily stood there looking delectably rumpled. Her sleepy eyes took in the three brothers, and she fidgeted nervously in the doorway. It was obvious she’d dug out one of Dillon’s button-up shirts. The problem was it hung clear past her knees and she had rolled up the sleeves several times just to get them over her wrists. She looked so darn cute that Michael had to smile.

“Good morning,” he called out to her. He held out his hand and waited for her to come to him.

Dillon and Seth both turned to look in Lily’s direction, and she gifted them with a shy smile.

She walked barefooted across the floor and slipped her hand into Michael’s. He pulled her into his side and gave her a long, leisurely kiss.

When he pulled away, he stroked the hair from her eyes and trailed his fingers down the strands, tucking them over her ears.

“Sleep okay?”

She blushed. “Yes. Wonderfully. The bed is like sleeping on a cloud. I didn’t want to get out of it.”

At that, Dillon and Seth both frowned at the subtle reminder that just days before she’d been sleeping on thin cardboard. Hardly a barrier to the rough concrete of an alleyway.

Michael’s own jaw twitched because he remembered all too well the sight of her huddled in the alleyway, scared out of her mind. As God was his witness, she’d never spend another day unprotected from the harsher realities of life.

“I have to go soon,” he told her regretfully. “I have a full day of appointments.”

She snuggled into his chest and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight to her. “I’ll miss you. Will I see you tonight? I mean, I don’t even know where I’m staying or where you’re staying.”

“You’re staying here,” Dillon growled.

“Yes, you’ll see me tonight,” Michael said, ignoring Dillon’s outburst. “You’ll be here as will Seth. It’ll take me a little time to arrange things with my house, but I’ll be around for sure.”

“I have an appointment with my accountant that’s going to tie me up for most of the day,” Dillon said to Lily. “Michael’s going to get you in to see the doctor at the clinic, and I thought Mom could take you so Seth could get all his paperwork started for his new job.”

Lily stiffened against Michael, and she chewed nervously at her bottom lip. “I don’t want to bother her. I could go myself. I mean if I could ride into town with Seth, I could just wait there.”

Michael rubbed his hand up and down her back, soothing away some of the tension. “First of all, you’re not a bother. Mom will be thrilled to get to spend some time with you. If I know her, she’ll have you spoiled in no time at all with the dads’ help.”

“We’ll take care of all the arrangements, honey,” Seth cut in softly. “There’s not a damn thing you need to worry about. I thought I’d run you out to Mom’s. If Callie’s around, you two could go riding again, and then Mom can take you in to town when it’s time for your appointment.”

Michael felt her hesitation, but he also saw the longing in her eyes. He squeezed her to him and kissed the top of her head. “Our mom’s going to love you, Lily.”