Page 13

Chapter Thirteen

“ I n here,” Colin whispered when he heard the noise, tugging Lily toward the window and hiding them behind one of the heavy curtains. He jumped out, extinguishing the lamp, and returned to their hiding place just as a key turned in the knob and the door was pushed open.

Footsteps trod on the floor, and the new occupant walked across the room, close to where they had been standing.

Lily’s small body pressed into Colin as though he could shield her from whatever – whoever – was beyond.

He would certainly do all he could.

He held her close against him, enjoying the moment far more than he should have.

He had to remember that she was the daughter of a viscount, a member of society, and that his fortunes depended entirely on her father. He didn’t want to think about the consequences if he was caught here alone with her.

But it was equally challenging to remember all of this when she was also a woman he desired, her bottom pressed against him as he tried very hard not to react to her nearness. He couldn’t remember the last time he had responded to a woman as he was right now – if he ever had before.

He tried to distract himself by peering around the curtain to see who had entered the club’s offices at this time of night, but the occupant didn’t light anything. Interesting.

That told him that whoever was here likely had no more reason to be than Colin himself did.

Perhaps this was the very person they were after.

The footsteps continued down the hall into what Colin knew was a small second room where the club committee held meetings. This was their chance.

He tugged on Lily’s hand, and her eyes met his. He tilted his head toward the door, and she nodded her understanding, his heart warming at her trust in him.

With her small hand still clasped in his, he darted from behind the curtain to the door, which the intruder had, thankfully, left unlocked. They slipped into the dimly lit corridor beyond, although it still seemed bright after the darkness of the office.

They hurried toward the stairs but weren’t fast enough, for the sound of a door opening behind them echoed down the hallway.

Colin turned in one fluid motion, backing Lily against the wall, an arm next to her so that his head, bent low over hers, hid her face.

“Colin?”

He turned, shocked by the familiar voice.

Of all the people he expected to see up here, sneaking around the offices, he would never have anticipated Mickey.

“Mick,” he said, not hiding his surprise. He had known Mickey for years. He was married with two young children and worked on the mill floor with him. “What are you doing up here?”

“Came to check something for Rhys,” he said, his lips turning into a knowing grin. “I’d ask you the same, but I have my answer. I’ve got to say, Colin, you aren’t the one I would have expected to be sneaking around with a woman.”

“Can we talk about this later, Mick?” he asked, hoping that he could keep Lily shielded enough for Mickey not to realize who she was. He didn’t think most club members had seen her closely before, and with her clothing choice tonight, she should be safe, but one never knew.

“Of course, of course,” he said, chuckling as he walked by them. “Have fun!”

It wasn’t until Mickey was at the bottom of the stairs that Colin let out a sigh of relief, allowing his forehead to drop onto Lily’s. She smelled heavenly and fit perfectly into his arms.

But this was an act, he reminded himself as he pushed away from her, keeping one arm on the wall behind her.

“Is he on the team?” she whispered, her wide eyes looking up into his.

“Yes,” Colin said, frowning. “I'm not sure I understand why he’s up here, but who am I to question it? I don’t exactly know what we should do next, but two heads are better than one. Would you meet up with me again to talk it through?”

“Yes, I would,” she said, her eyes bright and eager. I will send you a note to tell you when I could meet, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.”

“I gave you my address?”

She recited it back to him, and he nodded, impressed, before reluctantly pushing away.

“I’ll go downstairs and out the back door first,” he said. “You follow behind me, just in case. I’ll wait for you outside and then see you home safely.”

“You do not need to do that,” she protested, but he was already shaking his head, having anticipated her reaction.

“Of course I don’t have to,” he said. “I want to.”

“Very well,” she agreed, dipping her head, but not in enough time to hide the small smile. So, she liked to be protected. Interesting.

He descended the stairs first, avoiding anyone on his way down, before doing as he said and waiting outside in the damp alley. She joined him a couple of minutes later.

“Did anyone see you?”

“No.” She shook her head.

As they walked down the alley, he naturally lifted his elbow, and she slipped her arm through it.

He would like to tell himself that he was doing so to keep her safe and balanced, but the truth was, he enjoyed having her next to him as if she belonged there.

He couldn’t stop his mind from returning to the moment in the hall when she had lifted her face to him, her expression telling him that she was waiting for him to take action, to show him that he wanted more from her.

Which he most certaily would enjoy. But he couldn’t do what she had been asking of him. She was not his and never could be. To give either of them any hope would only set them both up for disappointment.

“How far do you live from here?” he asked.

“About three miles,” she said. “In Ellesmere Park.”

“Ellesmere Park,” he murmured. “Can’t say I’ve ever been there.”

The neighborhood was more recently developed, holding grand homes and gardens for the wealthy.

He didn’t know anyone who could ever afford to live there.

Until now.

He would have walked the three miles if he were alone, but he wouldn’t make Lily do so.

“We’ll hire a hackney,” he said as they reached the square where one could be found.

“I can go on my own from here.”

As he flagged down a driver and helped her in, he settled in the seat across from her so he wouldn’t be too temptingly close and looked at her with raised eyebrows.

“Do you know all of the hazards that could befall you between here and there?” he said. “I would never allow my sisters to travel such a distance alone.”

“I believe I am slightly older than your sisters,” she said wryly, and he nodded slowly. Of course he didn’t see her as anything close to a sister, but he liked to think that someone would watch out for them as he was for her.

“Still,” he said, tilting his head to the side. “I couldn’t sleep well not knowing whether you had made it safely home. So let me do this for myself, if not for you.”

“Very well,” she acceded before they lapsed into companionable silence for the rest of the way.

The truth was, there was so much that Colin wanted to say to her, and none of it had anything to do with the football club business.

But to ask her all he’d like to know about her, to tell her all he wanted to share with her, would only bring them closer together, which was directly opposed to what he was trying to do – keep distance between them, except for a professional manner.

“You play your first Cup match soon, do you not?” she asked, breaking the silence, and he nodded before he realized that she likely couldn’t see him well in the dark.

“Yes,” he said. “We’re playing Notts County.”

“Oh, yes, my father said we could travel to Nottingham to watch.”

“You will be there?” he said, his eyebrows rising. He liked the thought of her watching him play, but of course, he couldn’t ask her to attend for that purpose.

“My friend, Emmaline, loves football more than anything,” she said, looking down at her lap. “And with my father now being a sponsor…”

“It makes sense for you to attend together,” he finished for her. “For Emmaline.”

“Yes,” she said, slowly lifting her face to look him in the eye, her chin dipping shyly. “I do enjoy watching the games.”

“Do you enjoy watching all of the players?” he couldn’t help but tease.

“Of course!” she said with surprised indignation before her lips softened into a smile. “Very well, perhaps some more than others. Because of the various skill levels, of course.”

“Of course.”

It seemed like no time at all until the hack was pulling to a stop, the driver calling out that they had arrived.

Lily pressed some coins into Colin’s hand.

“Here. Take this for your return journey. Please don’t say that you are insulted again, for the truth is that you are out here so far and this late because you were seeing to my safety. I would feel terrible if you didn’t let me pay.”

“But—”

“Please, Colin?”

It was the way she said his name that did him in.

“Very well,” he sighed, helping her down the stairs until she was standing on flat ground. He would like to walk her to the door, but that would only put both of them at greater risk of discovery.

Instead, he stood there for an extra moment, holding her hands in his.

“Goodnight, Lily,” he said softly.

“Goodnight, Colin.”

He watched her walk away from him toward the door wishing more than anything that she was coming toward him instead.

But that was a wish that would have to remain just that – a wish.