I was too young at the time to understand their outrage until my own time came to understand what growing up entailed.
But right now, my mind was reeling not from uncomfortable memories but from Lillian’s confusing statement.
“What … what … pardon?” I stammered like an idiot, positive that my face was a flaming shade of red. What on earth did Lillian mean? Surely, not that she hoped—
“If you are thinking that I hoped my son would finally succumb to his true feelings for you, then yes,” Lillian supplied, answering my silent questions, again surprising me.
All of a sudden flustered, I looked around the kitchen at anything other than the all-seeing eyes of Lillian. Normally her insight was directed at her sons, it wasn’t often she used her powers of observation on me.
“Hen—Hendrixx doesn’t have true feelings for me,” I scoffed, doing my very best to sound convincing and nonchalant. But inside my heart was beating like crazy, the same way it had back in the stables when he took my mouth in the most passionate kiss my mind had ever dreamed up in my most private and sweetest of dreams. Dreams that were always of Hendrixx.
“Of course he does dear, they are the same ones you have for him—feelings you have tucked away and hidden. Since you were a teenager, you and Hendrixx have been at each other’s throats. You push his buttons, and he taunts you, and so back and forth, you both go.”
“The last year it has gotten to the point where Hendrixx has to stop himself from wrapping you in cotton wool or his hands around your neck. And you, Blakey,” Lillian put her hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look at her.
“You have done everything in your power to prove to him you don’t need his protection. Riding your horse like a madwoman, stunt riding, getting in the bullpen putting yourself in danger, acting like he doesn’t affect you when he is within sniffing distance. And let’s not speak of your shenanigans with Lancelot. I swear it is like watching a never-ending episode of Days of Our Lives,” she chuckled, then smiled innocently at me when I practically choked on my own spit.
“Swallow dear, and do close your mouth, it isn’t ladylike to gape like a drowning fish.” Lillian tisked, while grabbed the buttermilk off the bench.
Was she serious! All that she just threw at me, she was worried about proper decorum?
“Lillian! What on earth are you talking about?” I spluttered, finding my voice.
“Which part dear, here give me the bowl you might be an expert cook when it comes to your donuts, but I think you may be a bit off your game tonight,” Lillian said way too casually, but yet I still surrendered the bowl to her because … well because I was in a state of shock.
Lillian Hott might as well be a mind reader, because let’s face it being the mother to three successful and sexy businessmen wasn’t her only claim to fame.
Staring openly at the woman who had played the part of my mother all my life, I fumbled for my next words. I had to choose them carefully as my opponent was deftly accurate when it came to shooting me down.
“Lillian,” I started out slowly. “Hendrixx kissed me, then Mallory walked in, and he is now with her,” I said, each word slow and precise, my eyes holding hers the whole time.
“He. Isn’t. Interested. In. Me.” Just saying those words hurt, my lips were still tingling from the kiss Hendrixx and I had shared, my belly was still fluttering and girlie bits still singing.
“Yeah, right!” Lillian scoffed, “Blakey, you have spent far too much time with the animals and not enough time observing the males on the farm. Hendrixx has spent years protecting you, and not just from the danger you continually put yourself in. Each and every worker on the Triple H knows you are off-limits. My son isn’t the kind to go to such lengths for no reason.”
“Then why is he with Mallory?” I asked, using my trump card.
“Because it’s The Voice night,” Lillian offered, looking at me as if those five words explained the meaning of life or something.
My head dropped to my chest in defeat. What the hell did that have to do with anything?
“So?” I growled, steadily losing my mind with her.
“She always talks during shows, Tim hates it. Drives him nuts.”
I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or cry or pull the pearls from around Lillian’s neck and strangle her with them. She had to get to the point of all this before I lost my mind.
“Lillian, for the love of God, what does all this mean?”
“Driving Hendrixx mad is better than annoying her fiancé, wouldn’t be good for their impending nuptials.” Lillian then touched my face, her hand rubbing at my jaw.
“Hmmm, best tell Hendrixx he needs to be careful with his facial scruff. Your skin is so soft he left some whisker burn,” she said, soothing the area that didn’t even hurt, not in a bad way. I could feel the warmth there from his sexy, short beard, and once again, Lillian’s powers of observation heated my cheeks with embarrassment.
I blinked once, then again, and just because I couldn’t help it, I blinked three more times, speechless and not capable of voicing one comeback.
A kind and loving look replaced the mischief on Lillian’s face, her arms coming around me to pull me in for a hug.
“Oh baby girl, you have been so sheltered since your dad passed away and so loved by all of us.” Comforting hands rubbed up and down my back before Lillian pulled back just enough so she could look right at me.
“Not once has Hendrixx made sure Mallory is okay after being out of his sight for more than twenty minutes. Never has he covertly followed her on
