THE LATE-AFTERNOON SUN shone through the blinds in Ty’s apartment, but not even the bright light eased the feeling that Lacey was shut in. She hated being confined. She’d been on her own for so long, she was used to coming and going as she pleased. Instead, she’d spent the last three days sitting around and waiting for Ty to come home from work. True, she went out with the dog, taking frequent walks with Digger behind the building where Ty lived, but she was more isolated than she’d ever been. Being idle wasn’t her idea of fun but she’d promised. In return, Ty and Hunter had assured her it was only temporary.
They didn’t want her to be recognized by the locals and have to explain her presence just yet. Explanations would come soon enough. Hunter said he’d spoken with her uncle’s lawyer and stepdaughter-to-be. He’d let Molly know that Lilly was alive and well, and he’d left it to the woman he claimed was his friend, to inform Marc Dumont of that fact. Lacey knew Hunter would have some news of her uncle’s reaction soon, but still, she was antsy and on edge while waiting.
She missed her job and her routine. As a means of keeping busy, she’d spent the last few days cleaning Ty’s bachelor pad, which obviously hadn’t seen
She wouldn’t have thought it possible, but she found the whole messy bachelor pad thing kind of endearing, just like Ty himself. Lacey didn’t know if Ty had a woman in his life-nor did she care to think about it right now-but she wondered if there was a female who stopped by and picked up after him when Lacey wasn’t around. Nobody had called since she’d arrived. Nobody female, anyway, though Ty had had more than his share of clients leaving messages.
She picked up his sweats which lay beside his bed and placed them in the laundry basket, then continued with what had become her routine. Normally when Lacey cleaned, she was working for a living and the process was a distant, methodical one. She’d come by her job choice by accident and good fortune, but the occupation suited her. She’d always found solace in organization.
She couldn’t say she found the same comfort here in Ty’s place. Because along with cleaning up here, she discovered an intimacy she couldn’t deny. One she never thought about when she’d taken care of other clients’ homes.
She was learning how Ty lived day-to-day, what clothes he wore…what brand of boxers he preferred. Her fingers tingled when she touched his personal items, something else that never occurred when she worked at home. Ty made her think about the past, about a time when she’d felt cared-for and safe. And he made her think about the heavy-duty sexual attraction that she just didn’t feel for anyone else. Not even Alex.
With that thought, Lacey decided she’d had enough of being surrounded by Ty-his scent, his things, him. A short walk would help clear her head. She whistled for Digger who jumped off the couch where she’d perched her lazy body and within minutes, Lacey started for the door, the dog at her feet.
A loud knock startled her and she glanced at the door warily. Ty used his key and Hunter usually called to let her know he was stopping by. She looked through the small peephole and sucked in a startled breath.
“Uncle Marc,” she said under her breath. She wasn’t prepared to handle him but she refused to run away, either. Those days had passed.
Drawing a deep breath, she opened the door to face him.
“Lilly,” her uncle said, disbelief in his voice.
She folded her arms over her chest and nodded. In the silence that followed, Lacey took in his appearance. He’d aged. His hair had turned a silver-gray at the temples and he had deeper lines and creases in his slimmer, drawn face.
Digger sniffed at his feet, her nose digging beneath his pant leg.
“Would you please get that dog away?” He stepped back to get away from her pet, but each time he moved, Digger went with him, nudging him and begging for attention.
Uncle Marc’s aversion to Digger didn’t say much about the man’s character. Then again, she’d always known he didn’t have much.
She could have initiated conversation but a perverse part of her didn’t want to make this easy on him. She paused deliberately, watching the man squirm.
He glanced at her, his eyes pleading.
Lacey sighed. “Digger, come.” When the mutt didn’t move, Lacey pulled her collar so the dog had no choice but to get behind her. To prevent her from sniffing and further attempting to make her uncle’s acquaintance, Lacey blocked Digger’s way with both her body and the partially open apartment door.
“Thank you, Lilly.”
“I’m Lacey now,” she said to her uncle, feeling more powerful in her new life than she’d been in her old one.
Confusion colored his expression. “Well, whatever name you go by, I’m amazed. I simply can’t believe it. I know Molly said you were alive, but…” He shook his head, his face pale. “I had to see for myself.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it’s true. Here I am, alive and well.” She deliberately remained in the doorway, leaving him outside looking in.
He lowered his head. “I can understand why you’d think I’m disappointed, but it isn’t true. I’m glad you’re fine and I want to hear everything about where you’ve been for all these years.”
“It doesn’t matter now.” She gripped the door frame tightly. Polite conversation wasn’t on her agenda.
“I’d like to talk. Can I come in?” he asked.
“Only if you want Digger in your lap. She’s a people dog,” Lacey said.
He shook his head, resigned. “Okay, we’ll talk this way.”
Just as she’d expected, Lacey thought, doing her best not to grin. She had no desire to be alone with the man. She didn’t care if her feelings were unreasonable or a holdover from childhood. She wasn’t taking any chances.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past.” He reached a hand toward her, then dropped it again. “But I want you to know, I don’t drink anymore. I’m not blaming how badly things went between us on liquor, but it didn’t help. I didn’t know anything about being the guardian of a teenager.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Any idiot could figure out that abuse wasn’t the way to go. Especially since you only wanted my money-”
“That was your perception. I never said that specifically.”
“Maybe not to my face.” She pursed her lips. “If I hadn’t come back, are you saying you weren’t going to claim my trust fund by having me declared legally dead?” Nausea rose to her throat at the thought.
He shrugged. “Practicality dictated someone take over the trust.”
At least he hadn’t denied it.
“Besides, your parents provided that if you passed on, the trust would be divided between myself and your uncle Robert. I was just following their wishes.”
Once again, he reached for her arm, but this time he didn’t retreat.
Her pulse pounded in her throat. Before he could touch her, Lacey immediately stepped out of his reach.
His gaze dulled at her rejection.
She wondered whether he really cared or if he was still an excellent actor. She’d bet on the acting.
“I didn’t come here to talk about the money,” he said.
“Then why did you come?” Ty stepped up behind her uncle, surprising them both.
Lacey had never felt more relieved in her entire life. She’d handled her uncle but Ty’s presence was more than welcome.
TY STEPPED PAST Dumont and came up beside Lilly. He couldn’t believe Dumont had had the balls to show up at his apartment to confront Lilly and Ty was glad he’d come home early and surprised the man.
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
She gave him a curt nod.
Relieved, he turned back toward Marc Dumont and wrapped an arm around Lilly’s waist. From behind, he felt Digger push her nose between them until her head poked out through their legs.
Some protector the mutt turned out to be, he thought wryly. Though Ty wanted to believe Digger wouldn’t have let anything happen to Lilly, he knew the dog was a lover not a fighter. As for Ty, he wanted nothing more than to protect Lilly, but once again she’d held her own. He had to admit, though, she’d looked awfully relieved to see
