Unending Devotion (Michigan Brides #1)(50)
His sad expression told her he wasn’t exaggerating.
“Well then, we’re just going to have to tell everyone they’re mistaken.”
“It’s not that easy. Especially not when the rumor has already reached my dad over in Bay City.”
A new kind of horror added to the chaos in her gurgling stomach. Connell’s dad? Bay City? She reached a trembling hand for the chair behind her and lowered herself into it. How completely awful. She’d never expected to meet his parents, never even once considered it. But, even so, she didn’t want them to know her as a prostitute.
A prostitute.
She shuddered and pressed shaking fingers against her temple. She’d always taken care with her reputation. Wasn’t she fighting against the very thing for which she was now being accused?
“That’s why I’m moving out,” Connell said. “If I keep my distance from you, then hopefully the rumors will die down.”
How could this have happened? Had she brought this upon herself with her foolish headstrong ways?
Her heart pounded against her chest. If the townspeople thought she was a prostitute, why would they join with her in trying to rid Harrison of Carr? They wouldn’t trust her. They’d consider her a hypocrite. They’d hesitate to join her efforts to start a Red Ribbon Society—if they would give it any thought at all.
“I’m sorry, Lily,” Connell said softly.
“It’s not your fault.”
“I take full responsibility. I should have moved out earlier in the week.”
“Busybodies will always find ways to spread gossip.” She pushed a hand against her heart, trying to fend off the pain and the shame. She’d never let discouragement defeat her in the past. She’d always stood strong against adversity.
Why should she do any differently now? She couldn’t let a few bad rumors ruin her plans.
With a burst of heated passion, she shoved herself back to her feet. “I don’t care what anyone thinks about me. I won’t let the rumors stop me from starting the Red Ribbon Society.” Her heart thudded forward, not with the usual fervor, but forward nevertheless. She might be having a slight setback, but she couldn’t let it change her determination to do all that God was calling her to do.
She could feel Connell’s gaze upon her, but she couldn’t bear to look in his eyes, not when she knew what people were saying about them—that they were lovers, that she’d lain in his arms and shared intimacies with him.
A flush stole over her. It was a good thing no one had to know she really had lain against him. But even as another wave of embarrassment coursed through her, warmth followed in its wake.
She was ashamed to admit how much she’d enjoyed being with him. And the truth was she couldn’t stop from dreaming about being in his arms again.
Chapter
15
From his second-story office, Connell stared down at Stuart and Lily standing together on Main Street in front of the Harrison Herald. They’d been in and out of businesses for the last hour, passing out the flyer Stuart had printed yesterday announcing the start of their Red Ribbon Society.
With cheeks flushed from the cold, Lily beamed at Stuart, apparently pleased with their efforts. And Stuart grinned back, adoration lighting his face.
Connell’s fingers tightened with the need to run down and pull Stuart away from Lily. His friend obviously cared about her. From the way he rushed to do her bidding every time she uttered a word, it was clear he found great pleasure in being with her.
The question was, did Lily feel the same way about Stuart?
Connell’s gut twisted at the thought. He didn’t want Lily to care for Stu. He didn’t want her to care about anyone—except for him.
Yet, what hope did he have of winning Lily’s heart when they had such different goals and aspirations? On the other hand, she and Stuart seemed to work well together. And Stuart was such a decent guy.
He’d even invited Connell to move into his house with him—at least until Lily and Oren left Harrison.
Connell didn’t have the heart to refuse the kindness of his friend, even though he’d had to wade through the clutter and disarray that covered every square inch of floor in Stuart’s home. Connell doubted the place had been cleaned since Stuart’s wife had last set about the task before she’d become ill.
The modest two-story home sat on the edge of Harrison with a cluster of other residences. When Connell had shoved his bag under the single bed in the room Stuart had pointed him to, he had to fight back a depressing shudder.
A wooden rocking horse sat in one corner, the red paint of the saddle chipped and peeling away. A child-sized cowboy hat and a hand-carved gun lay on the floor next to the horse.
Connell wanted to gather all the reminders of Stuart’s past life and put them into a crate. It was time for the man to move on and find a woman who could make his house a home again, who could clear out the traces of pain and bring him new joy.
A weight pressed against Connell’s heart. Yes, Stuart deserved a good woman like Lily. They were alike in so many ways. She would most certainly bring him joy.
Connell leaned his shoulder against the window frame and watched the way one of her curls tickled her pink cheek.
If only he didn’t want Lily for himself.
“So I talked with Carr last night.” Tierney sat at the desk, pretending to flip through the books and take an interest in the figures. It was the first time his brother had made any attempt to think about business since he’d arrived. Of course, he couldn’t put it off any longer, since he was planning to leave in an hour.