Martha's Way: Need You Now Part 18

He smiled. "Jason's father and Claire's mother are here as well. What started as us getting together turned into a party."

"I see," she answered, fighting back the sour taste in her mouth.

"The island is small,"" he continued. "We all grew up together and our parents are good friends. Everyone knew they were coming for the wedding."

She nodded tightly. Once again, she was the last to know. "One big, happy family."

His eyes searched hers. "You're part of our family now. Might as well get to know everyone."

Lily drew in a deep breath. It didn't matter that he owned her heart, or that in a sea of people her eyes would always search for him. She wasn't part of the family. They were still in the discovering phase. Baby or in love, she had to keep afloat. Of all people, she knew love was fleeting, merely a madness. It erupted like a volcano and then subsided.

But the little voice that knew she was on the brink of losing all sense of rationality reminded her she lost that power a long time ago.

"Stop thinking." Adam leaned into her; his focus was intense and unnerving.

His mouth swooped down to capture hers. And like every other time everything in her surrendered to him. Pa.s.sion and desire exploded throughout her body, between them, like the twists of a rope, mutually mixing one with the other, and twined inextricably around her heart.

"Come on, my parents are watching us," he whispered against her lips.

What! Her head whipped around to follow his gaze and landed on a couple hugging and smiling in their direction. Lily groaned miserably and Adam chuckled as he stepped out of the car. He came by her side, slipped his hand in hers and led her to his parents.

Lily surveyed them with each closing step. They were a beautiful couple and something about them generated warmth and tranquility. She guessed they were in their mid-fifties. His mother, a former Miss America, looked beautiful in a silk poppy dress and knee-length cowboy boots. She was tall, with a fair complexion, l.u.s.trous blonde hair, and smiling blue eyes. Physically, the two men didn't look that different from each other, and could easily pa.s.s for father and son. They were similar in height, same bronze complexion and dark hair. Only difference, his father's hair was sprinkled with a hint of grey. But as she got closer, she realized, although the man was handsome, the two bore no resemblance.

His mother pulled Adam in her arms and planted a kiss on each of his cheeks. The two men shared a warm hug. She smiled at the obvious love Adam shared with his parents. After he pulled back from their embrace, he reached for her hands and introduced her. "This is Liliana." He nodded at the couple.

Curiosity sparked in their eyes as they appraised her appearance. Smiling, she extended a hand to them, but she was pulled into four arms. Hugs and kisses soon followed. The warm embrace left her rather speechless and a little nervous. But she liked their warmth; it reminded her of her parents.

"What a pleasure to finally meet you, Liliana," his mother said, still a.s.sessing her and smiling. "Congratulations on the upcoming wedding."

A little disoriented by what she heard, Lily chuckled. Surely, there was some confusion. "Oh, we're not getting married. Jason and Minka are."

His parents frowned, their eyes darted between her and Adam.

So that's what a deer felt like when caught in headlights.

After an awkward silence, his father spoke in a slight Italian accent. "Yes, of course. Their wedding is next weekend, but yours is soon after, no?"

Lily's blood boiled in rage. Anger couldn't cover all that she felt. Hurt. Betrayed. Lost. She waited for Adam to set the record straight. When he didn't, she glanced at him, and his jaws clenched. "We are not getting married. Not anytime soon." she said in a flat tone, and then smiled weakly at his parents. "Please excuse me."

Grievously troubled in mind and vexed in soul, she unlaced her fingers from Adam's and slipped away from his touch. He made no attempt to hold her back, and her heart dissolved to her toes.

He just let her go.

With autumn leaves crunching under her feet, she nearly ran toward the converted barn house where Forrest's parents held most of their social functions. Numerous windows and a trim of translucent siding kept the indoor illuminated with natural light. Wood clad walls with local arts in bright bold colors proudly displayed gave the place a warm environment. She scanned the room and the familiar faces. Cheerful chatter surrounded her as Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite played from the built in surround sound system. The singer's sensual, Neo-Soul voice filled the room as he cataloged the stages of adult romance through his songs.

Jason had one arm draped over Minka's shoulder as they engaged in a conversation with his father. Whatever was said between the three of them caused Minka to touch her cheek and beam. The couple looked relaxed, in love, and their apparent happiness pulled at Lily's heartstrings. Claire's mother was laughing with Forrest's mom, Keely and Blake. Distance away, she spotted Forrest talking to his father. Claire was nowhere in sight. With the exception of Adam's parents, she met them all around the same time last year at Jason's art show, honoring his mother's photography.

Yes. One big, happy family. Adam's family. Not that anyone had ever made her feel less than welcome. If anything, she was greeted with a warm reception from day one. But it wasn't about everyone in the room. Her problem was with the man she loved.

Baby or not, no love, no marriage, she reminded herself. And the first step to achieving love was to establish trust. Call her selfish, but wanted it all from Adam. His intensity and vulnerability.. While she was drawn to his unguarded way of living, the reality was Adam had surrounded himself by walls.

"Every time I see you, you look miserable."

Claire's voice startled her. Lily turned and smiled weakly at the other woman.

"What did Adam do now?" Claire chuckled. "Still no s.e.x?"

In spite of the bitter taste of sadness inside of her, Claire's question brought a smile to Lily's lips. "You look beautiful, Claire," she remarked as Claire spun in full circle to give her a complete view of the modern, yet ethereal indigo backless dress. "Wow! I love it!"

On any other, it might have come across as trying too hard, but the pretty singer looked effortlessly beautiful and elegant.

"Thank you." Claire smiled. "So what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Lily answered with a slight shake of her head. "Everything, I guess. Adam's parents think we are getting married."

"It could be a misunderstanding," Claire answered, her eyebrows furrowed. "But what would be so bad about that?"

"Would you marry someone just because you find yourself pregnant?"

A smile touched Claire's lips. "You're in love with him."

Lily remained quiet.

"And you want him to love you, except Adam, like most men, is slow in the love department."

The slow part wasn't the problem. Their relationship was in a transitional phase, and she had been willing to go for the ride. That is, until the nightmare occurred. Lily peeked at Forrest, still engaged in a conversation with his father; his mother and Jason's father had joined them.

Claire chuckled. "There's nothing going on between me and Forrest. We are friends."

"Right." It was clear Claire had no intention to divulge whatever was going on. At that exact moment, the hair on the back of her neck p.r.i.c.kled. Lily turned toward the door and her gaze collided with Adam's. He gave her a long calculating look, but didn't come to her. Instead he headed to where Jason and Blake were now engaged in a conversation. "He has these dreams that he won't talk to me about," Lily said in a whisper. "I'm mad at him."

"You need to give him time, my friend," Claire whispered. "Has he opened up to you yet?"

Lily's gaze dropped to the floor as she shook her head. "Quite the opposite. He has completely shut me out."

Claire squeezed her shoulder. "You know I love all of them, right? But," Claire continued, "Adam is being really stubborn right now." She paused for a breath. "However, let me say, the baby is a complete curve ball. For both of you. The only difference is you've already fallen for him."

"It's not enough. His walls are so high, I can't reach around them."

"I'm going to tell you a little story, and then we have to go mingle," Claire said, her gaze on the couple now talking to Keely and Minka. "I once did an interview for this premier magazine in Europe, the reporter thought he was clever and shifted the topic to Adam. It was then I learned there is no record of his life from the age of eight to ten."

Lily's mouth opened but words couldn't find their way out.

"Naturally," Claire continued, "I immediately became guarded and asked that we kept the conversation on my upcoming record." She shrugged. "I love each one of them as they are. They've done the same with Jason after his mother's death. Anyhow, the point to me telling you this is I warned Adam and the next day the reporter was a.s.signed to cover fashion or something. Last I checked, he was still calling Adam for an interview."

Lily peered at Adam. He smiled at something Blake said and patted Jason's back. On the outside one could never tell he carried wounds. She was still clueless of their depth.

"His parents are very influential in Europe," Claire informed. "They love him very much and would protect him at all cost," she said with admiration.

"That was pretty low of that reporter to try to get information through you." But even she had to admit Claire's words had piqued her curiosity.

Claire shrugged and seemed undaunted. "People are always snooping. I'm going to mingle. Are you going to stay here sulking over Adam's dumb-a.s.s move or enjoy the night and get to know his parents? They are a nice couple. I love them."

Lily chuckled. "You love everyone. Even Charles," she said, referring to Jason's father.

Claire smiled. "Hey, he raised me. And he's a good guy. Just made a stupid mistake. We all do. And look." She tilted her chin in Jason's direction, who was once again talking to his father. "It seems all is well between the evil father and the angry son."

The two women chuckled. For someone she only met recently, Lily liked Claire's easy confidence and att.i.tude. "You're back in L.A. tomorrow?"

Claire nodded. "I'll be back for the wedding. After that I have a year of touring ahead of me to support my movie and new record drop." She rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "By the time I see you again, your little bundle of joy will actually be a couple of months old."

Lily admired Claire's talent and was a fan of her music, but the idea of spending a whole year on the road made her cringe. "Do you love the whole thing that comes with the fame?"

Something crossed over Claire's delicate features, but once again it was quickly buried. "It comes with sacrifices, but I love what I do." She pulled a hand on Lily's back. "Come on. Let's go join the fun. One more thing, have you told Adam you're in love with him?"

Just the thought made Lily cringed. "Oh, G.o.d no."

"Well, don't look, but the big bad wolf is coming this way."

She looked of course and caught sight of Adam's imposing figure approaching them, holding her gaze prisoner the whole time.

"I'll leave you two alone," Claire said as Adam closed the distance between them.

"Come with me," he summoned in a controlled tone and took her hand in his. The gesture was filled with such an innate claim that she could only follow as he led her outside. He turned to face her. "All right, say what's on your mind."

The authority in his tone removed Lily from the spellbound trance she was under. She gazed up into the sky; the light of day had oozed away. "Your parents." She paused and cleared her throat. "You told them we are getting married."

He released her hand and took a few steps away from her. "You already know that's what I want."

Lily exhaled and glanced at him. Adam was leaning against the wall, one foot planted on it. Eyes closed, he tilted his head back to rest against the wall that braced his back. Static electricity vibrated off his body.

Her brain pulsed agonizingly. Her heart followed. "Yes, but..."

"We're dating, Liliana. We're getting to know each other."

Only they weren't. He was shielded in his armor.

"You've shut me out since that dream. You didn't sleep next to me last night." Lily paused and swallowed the loneliness inside. "You don't trust me enough to share your pain with me." She walked over to him and slid her hand over his face.

He opened his eyes only to narrow them at her.

"Why can't you just tell me what you feel?" Her fingers traced his lips. "I need to know what's inside you, Adam."

He caught her hand and held her still. "Liliana," he said in a gruff tone.

She shook her head and watched him. "How you act is confusing me. I need you to trust me." Under the evening sky, she searched his face, the pained expression that met her. "You don't trust me enough to let your guard down and be vulnerable."

Adam straightened himself to his full height and turned his head away from her piercing stare. "Let's go eat."

And just like that he closed the door on her once more. One strong hand came to rest on her lower back as he guided her back to the room.

The aroma of the dinner prepared by Forrest filled the house. Lily followed Adam to where his parents sat. They smiled at her and she caught a hint of concern in both of their eyes. As Lily sat, she caught a glimpse of Claire walking over to where Forrest was working a bottle of wine. She uncorked another bottle and the two fell into a natural routine.

Adam leaned into her, his lips brushed against her ear, and Lily trembled with awareness. "For the record, I do trust you," he whispered in her ear. "But all of this is new to me."

Chapter Eighteen.

"Let's misbehave."

Anonymous Lily adjusted her eyes to the glaring morning sun seeping into the bedroom. Realizing she was still in the dress she wore for last night's dinner, she glanced at the empty s.p.a.ce on the bed. Another night of sleeping alone. Sighing, she pulled her weight to a sitting position. Images of the drive back to the house were a blur. They had stayed out late and fatigue had taken its toll on her body, but she remembered Adam's voice gently telling her to close her eyes as he carried her to the bedroom. She asked him to stay but he slipped out of her grip and left the room.

She took a deep breath and exhaled.

On the nightstand, I'm s.e.xy and I Know It ringtone echoed in the room, immediately causing her heart to skip a beat. "You didn't come to bed again."

"I left you coffee," he said, ignoring her words. "Decaf."

Lily would never understand decaffeinated coffee; it was like s.e.x without the o.r.g.a.s.m. Oh yeah, she wasn't getting that either. "Thanks."

"One cup," he warned. "Forrest said-"

"Adam," Lily interrupted. "I never have more than one cup, and my doctor said I can drink regular coffee, you know. It's not like it's a drug."

"I would rather you didn't," he said after a beat.

The strain in his voice tore at Lily's insides. "I won't," she whispered. "I promise. Where are you?"

"At Vapor right now."

The bar normally didn't open until lunch time. Lily scrubbed her hand over her face. "You're avoiding me?"

"I have a meeting with the guys to go over Vineyard Sound for a couple of hours." Vineyard Sound was the center the five of them opened in Vineyard Haven to support abused children. "Then the four of us are going to test the cold water in a paddle boarding race. Nothing serious."

He meant nothing too dangerous. His way of rea.s.suring her that he would not flirt with death today.

"You're feeling okay? You were pretty tired last night."

"Yeah," she answered with a chuckle. "I'm always tired, but I'm okay." She paused, wanting to say the words bottled up inside her, tell him she loved him, or worse ask him to spend the day with her. "I guess I'll see you later."

"Yes. Take it easy today."