mean me in particular, Clay. But I am sorry about the incident at the hospital the other day. So…you have a vindictive ex-girlfriend running around Divine?”
Clay curled his lip. “Presley Ann Woodworth. Her daddy owns Stigall’s and a few other retail stores in the area.”
“Were you not compatible?” Duh, Miss Obvious!
“More like she didn’t get showered with the gold and jeweled trinkets she evidently thought were her due.”
“Really?”
Clay shrugged. “She didn’t like my hours, and she talked an awful lot, too. She moved on after her parting gift.” He gestured to the window in the direction of the driveway where there had indeed still been black tire marks marring the concrete surface when they’d arrived.
Clay directed her into his spare bedroom. The drapes and sheer curtains had been parted to let in light, which shone brightly on the old pine floorboards.
“It’s wonderful, Clay.” She felt like she’d been shown into a romantic bedroom in a bed-and-breakfast. He’d obviously spent time cleaning and sprucing up. There were dark-green rugs located on either side of the queen-size wrought iron bed. A fresh blue, white, and green patchwork quilt adorned the bed and created the focal point for accents around the room, on the antique washstand and dresser and a chest of drawers in the corner.
“All those drawers are empty and ready for you to put away your belongings and there are plenty of hangers in the closet. I thought about hanging everything for you so they wouldn’t be wrinkled but didn’t want to invade your privacy.”
Lily grinned and said, “Trust me, there are no corsets, garters, or bustiers tucked in those suitcases, Clay. It’s all just basic stuff.” So boring, in fact, she hated the idea of wearing any of it. There was no money for shopping for a new wardrobe, though, so she’d have to suck that up, too.
“Well, I’ll leave you to get situated. Let me know if you need anything.”
Lily returned his smile as he left the room. The clothing, mostly floppy polo shirts, T-shirts, and old blue jeans, was put away in a matter of minutes. She then set to unpacking the items in the boxes.
Her small jewelry box and a keepsake box from a friend occupied a spot on the dresser, and what few books she had took up less than half a shelf on the bookcase. JT had never been a reader and had criticized her for being a book lover, so there had seldom been money in the budget to afford them. Over the years her collection had gotten damaged or simply disappeared. She found the container of old photographs in a box her father had packed for her. He’d kept the mementos her mother had saved from her growing-up years with the intent of passing them on to her. Thinking she needed to check in with him again, she pulled her phone from her purse and discovered the battery was dead. She plugged her cell phone charger in, wondering if JT had cancelled her from their account yet.
She was tempted to open the box of photos but decided against it. Her emotions were so volatile right now, and she didn’t want to waste any more time crying about the past and things she couldn’t change. The steady throb from the incision site intensified. She’d been ignoring it since they’d left the shambles of her house because she was used to pushing herself under stressful circumstances, but now she grimaced at the fresh dart of pain.
After retrieving the pain medication from her handbag, Lily retraced her steps to the kitchen where she found Clay starting the meal prep for supper.
“From now on I’ll help you with the chores and meals.”
“That would be great but I don’t mind. I usually keep it pretty simple. I hope you like stir-fry. You relax and let me do the cooking for now. What can I get you?” There was genuine inquiry in his warm green-gold eyes. It was odd the things that were taking her by surprise. JT had never asked what he could get for her.
“Just a glass of water. I forgot to
Clay curled his lip. “Presley Ann Woodworth. Her daddy owns Stigall’s and a few other retail stores in the area.”
“Were you not compatible?” Duh, Miss Obvious!
“More like she didn’t get showered with the gold and jeweled trinkets she evidently thought were her due.”
“Really?”
Clay shrugged. “She didn’t like my hours, and she talked an awful lot, too. She moved on after her parting gift.” He gestured to the window in the direction of the driveway where there had indeed still been black tire marks marring the concrete surface when they’d arrived.
Clay directed her into his spare bedroom. The drapes and sheer curtains had been parted to let in light, which shone brightly on the old pine floorboards.
“It’s wonderful, Clay.” She felt like she’d been shown into a romantic bedroom in a bed-and-breakfast. He’d obviously spent time cleaning and sprucing up. There were dark-green rugs located on either side of the queen-size wrought iron bed. A fresh blue, white, and green patchwork quilt adorned the bed and created the focal point for accents around the room, on the antique washstand and dresser and a chest of drawers in the corner.
“All those drawers are empty and ready for you to put away your belongings and there are plenty of hangers in the closet. I thought about hanging everything for you so they wouldn’t be wrinkled but didn’t want to invade your privacy.”
Lily grinned and said, “Trust me, there are no corsets, garters, or bustiers tucked in those suitcases, Clay. It’s all just basic stuff.” So boring, in fact, she hated the idea of wearing any of it. There was no money for shopping for a new wardrobe, though, so she’d have to suck that up, too.
“Well, I’ll leave you to get situated. Let me know if you need anything.”
Lily returned his smile as he left the room. The clothing, mostly floppy polo shirts, T-shirts, and old blue jeans, was put away in a matter of minutes. She then set to unpacking the items in the boxes.
Her small jewelry box and a keepsake box from a friend occupied a spot on the dresser, and what few books she had took up less than half a shelf on the bookcase. JT had never been a reader and had criticized her for being a book lover, so there had seldom been money in the budget to afford them. Over the years her collection had gotten damaged or simply disappeared. She found the container of old photographs in a box her father had packed for her. He’d kept the mementos her mother had saved from her growing-up years with the intent of passing them on to her. Thinking she needed to check in with him again, she pulled her phone from her purse and discovered the battery was dead. She plugged her cell phone charger in, wondering if JT had cancelled her from their account yet.
She was tempted to open the box of photos but decided against it. Her emotions were so volatile right now, and she didn’t want to waste any more time crying about the past and things she couldn’t change. The steady throb from the incision site intensified. She’d been ignoring it since they’d left the shambles of her house because she was used to pushing herself under stressful circumstances, but now she grimaced at the fresh dart of pain.
After retrieving the pain medication from her handbag, Lily retraced her steps to the kitchen where she found Clay starting the meal prep for supper.
“From now on I’ll help you with the chores and meals.”
“That would be great but I don’t mind. I usually keep it pretty simple. I hope you like stir-fry. You relax and let me do the cooking for now. What can I get you?” There was genuine inquiry in his warm green-gold eyes. It was odd the things that were taking her by surprise. JT had never asked what he could get for her.
“Just a glass of water. I forgot to
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