paused halfway to his mouth and he wore a sly smile. “The best things in life usually are.”
Wasn’t that the truth?
15
Hudson
Spending hours with Lilly so close but only being able to watch her from a distance was a special form of torture. The dress she wore made it worse. She was so stunningly beautiful in such an effortless way on a typical day. The effort she put into today made her the most stunning creature I’d ever laid eyes on.
And I couldn’t touch her.
Nor could I speak to her. At least not yet.
Sitting at the head table while my cousin, Shawn, was able to talk to her, flirt with her, a guy who never had problems finding women to be with him made my blood pulse in a way I hadn’t expected.
Shawn was a cop. A good guy and we were great friends. He also lived several hours away in Kansas. He wasn’t competition.
But when he leaned in to speak with her, I was on my feet, giving a toast and a speech well before I was supposed to simply so I could break their connection. The green-eyed jealousy monster made me do it despite the logic telling me to calm down. Unable to take my eyes off Lilly the entire time, even though I was speaking to Brandon and Jenna, I hoped she understood what I meant.
I wanted what they had—and I wanted it with her. Brandon was right. I pushed people away. But I had the experience of losing so many, I typically approached fear of always losing anyone new with one hand up.
During that speech, I lowered that hand. I gave Lilly everything I felt in a speech spoke for others, but with my heart on a platter.
Hers for the taking. Whenever the days finally ticked down and she was willing to give me another shot.
Shortly after the speech was done, Lilly excused herself from the table. I kept my eyes on her until she disappeared out of the reception hall, running toward the restrooms. The desire I had to protect her and love her raised up the overwhelming urge to chase her down and ensure she was okay. It took everything I had in me not to, especially when I saw her swiping tears from her cheeks. I went to the bar to wait for her return, not surprised at all when Shawn saddled up next to me. I pulled him into a quick hug with a back slap before we ordered our drinks. While we waited, he turned to me with a smile on his face that made me know exactly what was going to come out of his mouth.
“So, you and Lilly?”
I shook my head, grinning at him. The guy was nothing but predictable. “It’s a long story.”
“Funny. She said it was complicated.”
Complicated didn’t mean over. I took that as a positive and turned so I was facing my cousin. “Did she?”
“She also went pale as a sheet when I said I was a cop.” The bartender returned with our drinks, gin and tonic for me, a simple Miller Lite bottle for him. My cousin liked simple pleasures. “What’s that about?”
“Long story,” I repeated. Lilly’s story wasn’t mine to share.
“What the hell. You two writing a novel?”
I laughed and took a sip of my own drink. “Any chance you could help me find some people? Get me their address?”
Her parents couldn’t be that hard to find. I wanted that information in case she ever wanted to do anything with it. Just in case.
“Not exactly something I’m supposed to do.” I’d also never asked for his help and by the way he arched his brows, brought his beer slowly to his mouth, he was curious. “Who is it?”
“Some judge in Illinois. Joshua Huntington. It’d be a big help.”
“This have anything to do with Lilly?”
I shrugged. It was answer enough for him. Lowering my voice, I said, “I could really use your help with this.”
“Have you done a property search? Not that hard to find someone if you know what county they live in.”
I’d done that weeks ago. Used Cook County and the surrounding two counties and came up blank. “Tried. Couldn’t find a thing, but this might be a guy who wouldn’t want his home easily found.”
Shawn’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t stupid. It was what made him such a good police officer. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks. How’s work going anyway?”
“Funny thing about work. I’ve got an opportunity to move out to Raleigh.”
“North Carolina?”