Lily's wary look as she sat down on the leather couch showed how little King knew his daughter. She was still uncomfortable being around liquor. While she was around it more constantly at the clubhouse, she didn't think the woman would ever lose the fear it inspired; her scars ran too deep.

Neither Lily nor Shade had ever explained Lily's reasons for her fears, but if it was as bad as the shadows that used to be in her eyes, Evie didn't want to know. She had heard enough on the night the bas.e.m.e.nt had caught on fire to break her heart, and Evie hadn't thought that was possible. She had seen too many tragedies during her lifetime to be squeamish; however, what she had found out that night had been horrendous.

Evie was sitting down on a chair when the doorbell rang again. As Beth and Razer came into the living room, Beth was much more casual with King, giving him a hug and inquiring how he felt.

"I'm almost back to normal."

Normal wouldn't be how she characterized the granite-faced man who sat with his gla.s.s of bourbon in his hand.

"Dinner's ready." Henry's voice broke the silence in the room.

Evie gratefully got to her feet, going into the dining room. The table had been set lavishly. Both Shade and King sat on opposite ends of the table, so Evie took an open seat, unfortunately, the one next to King.

She took a tiny sip of her wine before picking up her water gla.s.s. The food was delicious-a standing rib roast with fingerling potatoes and asparagus tips-making Evie want seconds. She was glad she had restrained herself, though, when Henry brought out a chocolate mousse that was decadent.

She licked the small amount from her lips, feeling King's eyes on the movement. His eyes caught hers before Evie tore her gaze away, looking down at her empty bowl.

"Would you like more?"

"No, I think that was enough." She let her voice carry her warning. She wasn't going to play along with his attempted flirtation.

He nodded his head, turning his attention to Lily. "Would you like more?"

"Yes, please. I have a weakness for chocolate."

Evie finished her water while dessert was eaten, and when they went back into the living room, Evie had started to relax. The dinner had gone well and the night was almost over.

"How do you like working in the church store, Lily?"

"I love it. The Christmas holidays have left our shelves almost bare, though. So, we're having a clothing and food drive this Sunday after church. There's supposed to be a break in the weather. Pastor Dean-I mean, Lucky-thought it would be a good way for the new pastor to meet the congregation."

"I'll have to attend. It will be a good time to meet the rest of your friends."

"That would be nice."

"You're content at the store instead of using your degree? After all, anyone can be a cashier."

Here we go, Evie thought, seeing the others in the room stiffen at the indirect insult.

"No, I really like it. It's more than being a cashier. I have to approve of the needs of the people coming in-"

"I'm glad you don't feel like you're settling with the job opportunities available in Treepoint." King's interruption of Lily talking didn't sit well with Shade or Beth. Razer wasn't much happier, but he was able to hide it better.

"Lily's excellent at her job. Several families in the community have benefited from Lily working there. She's also helping them find jobs." Shade's arm went around Lily's shoulder, and her eyes smiled up into his.

Evie swallowed the lump in her throat. The woman was deeply in love with Shade, and anyone staring at Shade could see he returned her feelings. King, on the other hand, seemed unmoved by the touching sight of the newlyweds.

"So, how did you two meet?"

"We met at the lake when I was in high school."

Lily's choice of words had King straightening in his chair, his indolent att.i.tude disappearing. "You allowed her to date a man of his age while she was still in school?" His accusation was directed at Beth, who paled at his harsh words.

"Of course not! I started dating Razer when Lily was in high school. As they were friends, naturally she met Shade. However, Lily and Shade didn't start seeing each other until last summer."

"A whirlwind courtship?"

"We had known each other for years." Shade's voice equaled King's in att.i.tude.

Lily's head went back and forth between the men until her eyes settled on King. "I didn't feel rushed, if that's what you're getting at." Lily took Shade's hand in hers, gripping it tightly.

"I didn't mean to insinuate it was. I'm sorry if I implied otherwise."

Bulls.h.i.t, Evie thought.

"I'm very happy, King. Shade and I are looking forward to a long and happy marriage with children."

"You're not pregnant, are you? You've only been married a month."

s.h.i.t, here we go. Lily's crestfallen expression had Shade's hand on her jaw, raising her face to his. He leaned over and placed a kiss on her lips that even had Evie blushing. Lily's face was bright red when Shade let her lips go.

"Lily and I are both anxious to start our family, but no, she isn't pregnant. Yet."

King opened his mouth to reply.

"I think that's wonderful, Lily. You're going to make a great mother," Evie said, cutting in before King had the chance.

King's mouth snapped closed at her words, and she saw his hands clench on the arms of the armchair he was sitting on.

Beth rose to her feet. "Tomorrow may be Sat.u.r.day, but I have to be at work early. Lily, you and Evie have to be at the church early, too, remember? The luncheon we're having for Pastor Patterson and his wife?"

"Yes. Rachel is helping, too, and Willa is bringing dessert. You're right; we should go. I don't want to tire you, King." When Lily got to her feet, thanking Beth silently for stepping in, Evie rose to her feet, also.

Lily went to King, reaching up to brush his cheek with a kiss. "I hope to see you Sunday."

When Lily would have turned away, King took her hand. "You haven't called me Dad since I was shot."

Evie could tell from the expression on Lily's face that the woman didn't know how to respond. Evie took a step forward, reaching her hand out for King to take. He released Lily reluctantly to take her hand.

"Thanks for dinner, King." Evie maneuvered her body, giving Lily the opportunity to slip away. King tracked her movements before coming back to hers.

"Will I be seeing you Sunday, too?"

"I'll be at the church," Evie confirmed. She would be there, but she didn't know why it mattered to him.

"Good, I'll look forward to it."

Evie nodded, unable to bring herself to say the same.

She took a deep breath of fresh air when she was finally outside. It could have gone worse. It didn't take a genius to figure out King wasn't happy with Lily's choice of husband, but Lily and Shade were leaving Monday for Alaska and King would be headed back to Queen City.

Evie walked to the truck, sliding in next to Lily. It was quiet on the way back to the clubhouse.

The sooner he left, the better. What damage could he do from Queen City?

Chapter 6.

Evie placed the large cake on the center of the dessert table where they had set up the recreation room.

"Willa, the cake is too pretty to cut." Evie turned back to the woman who had brought the cake.

Her friendly face flushed from the compliment. "Thank you for helping me carry it in, Evie."

"I didn't mind. I managed to swipe a taste or two along the way." Evie smiled, licking the tip of her finger.

"That just makes a man want to miss lunch and go straight for dessert."

Evie braced herself before replying to King. He had managed to come up to them when she wasn't paying attention. d.a.m.n cake. Her sweet tooth had managed to get her in trouble more than once.

As soon as Willa noticed a man was near, she closed down her smile, becoming more contained.

"Willa, this is King, Lily's father," Evie performed the introductions. If the a.s.shole says one thing out of place to her, I will smack him upside his head, she promised herself.

Willa was extremely shy and self-conscious of her weight. Personally, Evie didn't think it was anyone else's business but her own, yet the woman had received many ugly comments from people who were insensitive and uncaring about hurting her.

"It's nice to meet you," Willa murmured.

"Did you bake the cake?"

Willa nodded.

"I've been to several large cities and a variety of states, and that cake is one of the most beautiful ones I've seen."

"Thank you."

"Do you own a shop?"

"No, I bake at home. It keeps me busy enough."

"Well, if you decide to open a store, let me know. I would invest not only my money, but my stomach, to opening one."

Even Evie had to laugh at his expression staring at the cake.

"I'll keep that in mind." Willa lost her self-consciousness, asking King where he was from.

"Did you bring a cake?" Lucky's voice filled with disbelief, interrupting King's description.

"Yes." Willa's startled eyes flew to Lucky's.

"You baked a cake to greet the new minister, but never made me one?" Lucky's accusing eyes were on Willa's embarra.s.sed face. Evie wanted to kick the dumb man.

"I wouldn't have baked you one, either. Do you remember when you took over? There were three tables of food and four for desserts."

"There was?"

"Yes, there was," Evie confirmed.

"I actually made you a cake when you arrived." Willa's soft voice was filled with embarra.s.sment.

"Georgia packed it in. When you saw her, you a.s.sumed she had made it."

Lucky was the one turning red now. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It doesn't matter; you ate it. I brought it for you to eat, not for the compliments." All the single women in the parish had filled the tables, trying to get his attention, but Willa had let someone else take credit for her cake. "Excuse me. I haven't met the new pastor yet." Willa moved away toward the new minister, whose wife was standing by his side.

Pastor Patterson was handsome and the same age as Lucky. If he hadn't been married, the women would have been all over him. From his wife's glare, Evie sensed she wasn't going to tolerate any women becoming too friendly with her husband.

Brooke Patterson's rounded belly showed she was pregnant, although Evie couldn't imagine her being a mother. The cold b.i.t.c.h hid her true colors from Merrick, but Evie was fully aware of who she really was.

When she had walked into the church and saw Brooke, she had been stunned, almost leaving. The only reason she had stayed was because Evie knew the manipulating woman would find a way to use it to her advantage.

Brooke's eyes swept Willa from head to toe. After Willa introduced herself she held her hand out to Pastor Patterson, who took it, greeting her back. When he released it, he then introduced her to his wife.

"Dean told me you teach bible study for the youth on Wednesday. I'll be taking it over if you don't mind. I consider it my duty as the Pastor's wife. I hope you don't mind?"

"No."

It wouldn't matter if she did, Evie thought, since Brooke hadn't really given Willa the choice.

"Anything I can do to help you settle in to your new church-" Willa began.

"We have an abundance of volunteers. Of course, they're all women," Brooke broke in snidely.

True to form, her frostbitten greeting to Willa proved too much for her to handle, and soon after, Evie saw Willa leaving. King and Lucky noticed, also.

"Where's she going?" Lucky asked.

"She's leaving," Evie said sadly. She would be surprised if Willa came back.

"Why?" Lucky asked. "She's not even going to give him a chance?"