Harrison
“You’re a good cook,” Lily mumbled around the mouthful of scrambled eggs I was hand feeding her. “This is good.”
She looked edible herself, sat cross-legged on the kitchen chair in one of my long sleeves shirts. It buried her; she’d had to roll the sleeves up three times, and half her hands still disappeared up inside them.
“Can I ask you something?” she asked, and I regarded her warily.
“Mm-hmm.”
Taking a sip of tea, she watched me carefully as she asked, “Why did you leave the service?”
I knew she’d ask one day, I just hadn’t expected it so soon. Taking a deep breath, I placed my fork down and sat back. “I made a grave error.”
She nodded but knew there was more coming, and she waited patiently.
“I made a call to enter an area I thought I’d got covered. My action resulted in the death of my partner.”
“Oh, Harry.” She slipped her hand into mine, the sadness in her eyes making the eggs churn in my stomach. “But I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.”
I nodded firmly. “Yes, it really was. Rachel had been my partner for six years.” It still hurt like fuck to talk about it, and luckily, Lily appreciating my reluctance to talk more, changed the subject.
“I need to make you my lamb tagine soon. It’s the only thing I can cook,” she laughed, settling back into her chair, and tucked back into her breakfast. “Although, I’d still up your life insurance first.”
I liked how easy she was to be around. Our sombre mood was now gone, Lily effortlessly leading the conversation back to light and carefree.
“What do you have planned for today?” I asked her as she stole a piece of bacon from my fork and popped it quickly between her luscious lips.
“Rehearsal with the guys and then a photoshoot for the magazine.”
My stomach sank in disappointment. “Shame, I thought we could spend the day together.”
She sighed and rested her hand on my cheek. “Sorry.”
“Not a problem, I could do with getting my guys to take a look at that note you received.”
“I’m sure there’s no rush, Harry. Don’t change your plans for me. Besides, aren’t you working today?”
I shook my head, finally managing to get some food into my own mouth. “Liam’s on duty until Monday.”
Her face lit up, and she grinned. “Oh, so you’re free this weekend?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“Do you fancy getting out of here for a few days? I dunno, somewhere quiet and secluded.”
Leaning towards her, I grinned and nuzzled her ear. “So no one can hear you scream my name?”
“Or scream in general,” she answered with a quiver in her voice. She was so receptive to me and I shivered at the thought of all the great sex coming my way.
Turning her head, she pressed her lips to mine. Her kiss was soft, but the way my belly fired with heat had me deepening it. She groaned into my mouth when I caught her tongue with my own, and I pulled her across onto my lap. Slipping open the top button of her shirt, exposing her bare breasts, I peppered kisses down the centre of her neck.
She wriggled on top of me, my erection pressing against her heat when I sucked on the smooth swell of her breast. “Hungry for more than bacon, huh?” I smirked.
“I don’t know what it is that you do to me…” She was cut off when the kitchen door flew open.
And Ann stood glaring at us. Fuck!
Lily tugged the shirt closed and jumped back onto her chair.
I didn’t have time to respond when Ann flew for me, her fists beating at my chest. “You cheating bastard! I knew it!”
I grabbed her hands and held her back. “We have to be dating for me to cheat on you!”
Her eyes spat as much venom as her mouth. “So what, you just want me to raise this baby by myself, huh? You really are a selfish prick!”
Lily’s gasp had Ann and me both stilling and turning.
“Oh, let me guess!” Ann scoffed. “He didn’t tell you!”
My stomach sank at the look of hurt in Lily’s eyes when she stood mute, merely staring at me. Shaking her head slowly, a fat tear rolled over onto her cheek, and without a word, she walked from the room.
“See, you hurt every single person you come into contact with, Harry!” Ann spat. “You were supposed to meet me at the hospital this morning!”
Shit! I had completely forgotten.
She rummaged around in her bag and flung a piece of paper at me. “Meet your daughter!”
A girl.
I stared at the image of my daughter, not even noticing Ann had left. My chest swelled with pride at the first ever photograph of my little girl. Philly would be overjoyed, not that I’d told her she was going to have a sibling yet. I wasn’t sure how she’d take it, but knowing how resilient she was, I didn’t foresee a problem.
There was someone who wasn’t happy though. I winced, clenching my teeth together at the way Ann had blurted it out. It wasn’t as if I wasn’t going to tell Lily, but I’d have preferred to do it less dramatically.
As I entered the hall to take the stairs up to Lily, I stopped short in surprise when I found her opening the front door.
“Lily. Let me explain.”
Her head shook, more tears spilling down her face. “There’s nothing to explain, Harrison. I don’t do lies or secrets. I thought you’d understand that.”
“I just didn’t have time to tell you!” I argued, approaching her.
She held up her hands, warding me off, and turned her eyes away from me. “Sure you didn’t. It doesn’t matter now. This, whatever it was between us, was never going to work. And I certainly won’t be a bit on the side, Harrison!”
I stared at her incredulously. “You never will be!”
“No,” she fired back. “I won’t! Because we’re finished.”
“We’ve only just fucking started!” I bit out. “Jesus. Just let me explain.”
“I don’t want to listen to your lies.” She laughed bitterly and shook her head. “That’s what that damn note was, wasn’t it? Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. How could I have been so stupid! At least Ann tried to warn me, at least she thought I ought to know something so important!”
Anything I tried to say to her would be a waste. She needed to calm down, and reluctantly I didn’t follow her when she slammed the door behind her.
Couldn’t anything ever run smoothly?
And when my phone lit up with Liam’s name, I just knew it was about to get a whole lot worse