Lily's Homecoming Under Fire by Anna Celeste Burke

Author:Anna Celeste Burke [Burke, Anna Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-12T05:00:00+00:00

11 A Change of Luck

“Finally, we’re alone!” Austin said when the door closed behind Judy and Dahlia. He swept me into his arms. “Where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?” The kiss that followed took my breath away.

I took a half-step back, coming up for air, and trying to right myself in a world that was upside down. Events from the past twenty-four hours flashed through my mind like a horror movie being run on “fast forward.” It would be easy to lose myself in Austin’s embrace—and his very capable hands as Dahlia had felt the need to point out.

“Rudely interrupted by a bloodthirsty murder you mean? Or by one of my aunt’s oldest friends bringing us the news that someone may have killed the woman who was more a mother than an aunt to me?” I leaned in and put my head on his chest. “This is easily the worst day of my life. That’s saying something, too, after nearly being blown away in a hail of bullets last night.

“I’m trying to make it all better,” Austin said. “Where does it hurt? Here?” He asked, kissing my cheek. “How about here?” Then he kissed me a little lower, working his way down to my neck.

“That’s definitely better,” I said, succumbing once again to the comfort and pleasure I found in his touch. When he reached up and pulled the hairpins from my chignon, my hair tumbled freely down my back. I was on the verge of tumbling, too, toward a point of no return.

Judy’s words came back to me about love being a crapshoot. In my condition, I was in no shape to roll the dice on love. Besides, it was too early in the game to do that. I’m old enough to know that attraction may be instantaneous. Love and all the hefty issues that go with it—trust, commitment, compromise, and sacrifice—take more time to develop.

My breakup with Tony hadn’t been so long ago that I’d forgotten the pain involved when we decided to go our separate ways. That was true even though by then it was obvious to both of us we’d lost at love. At this point, I’m not even sure it was ever about love. I was grateful to Tony because he’d done so much for me. Gratitude felt a lot like love. I was scared too about spending my life alone as I approached thirty without having met my soulmate.

“This is moving too fast for me, Austin. My life is spinning out of control. I wasn’t prepared for any of this when I drove up here yesterday. Not only being caught up in all the murder and mayhem but meeting an incredible man, I…I’ve been knocked off balance.” Austin beamed.

“Me, too. You threw the first punch, remember? I don’t want to waste a minute of the time we have together. On the other hand, there’s no rush since I’m never letting you go.” He pulled me to him and rested his chin against my head, stroking my hair.

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