They had served in the military together when Lucky was a chaplain and Shade had seen firsthand the commitment Lucky had for what he had said he had been called to do.

The change in Lucky had started slowly, beginning with Knox’s first wife Sunshine’s death. By the time his service had ended, Lucky had been replaced by another man in the same body.

No, Lucky wouldn’t violate the trust others placed in him. However, women tended to think of Lucky as a sheep—mild-mannered and easy-going—when, in reality, he was a wolf biding his time. Shade recognized it because he was a wolf, too; he just didn’t pretend.

Lucky and he were alike yet different. Lucky would attack you and leave you staring at a missing hand with nothing except a bloody stump remaining while you wondered what in the fuck just happened. Shade would simply rip it off while you screamed for mercy.

Lily came out, taking Lucky’s arm as they crossed the street. Shade unconsciously stood as she laughed happily up at the man, making Shade’s hands clench at his sides.

Viper and Razer broke off their conversation, turning to see what he was staring at out the window.

“Fuck!” Viper yelled, getting to his feet and taking Shade’s arm.

“Shade, she’s coming inside. Do you want her to see you acting this way?” Razer asked.

“I don’t give a fuck. I’m going to tie his dick around his balls,” Shade snarled, trying to break Viper’s hold.

“Shade! For Christ’s sake, it’s only Pastor Dean!” Beth snapped.

Shade started to snap back at her then caught the warning looks from Viper and Razer. Gathering his control, he blasted a threatening glare at Lucky as he came inside the diner.

Lily looked up at Lucky with happiness shining in her eyes before reaching up and hugging him. Shade tried to knock Viper away, but he pulled him back.

“Cool it. You’re going to scare the shit out of her. Look, Dean’s running for his life. Calm down and paste a smile on your fucking face before she realizes you’re a crazy motherfucker.”

Viper kept his restraining hand on Shade’s shoulder as Lily approached.

“What happened?” Lily immediately went to Shade’s side, her hand going to his forehead.

“He’s fine now. He choked on his breakfast,” Viper said, resuming his seat by Winter.

“Thanks, Viper. I’m glad you were here,” Lily said with concern.

“Me, too,” he said grimly.

Lily told everyone the good news about “Pastor Dean” letting her run the church store and received their congratulations. Shade listened as he took out his cell phone, texting Lucky, “Later.” It was only one word, but Lucky would get his message.

“Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” Beth asked, leaning closer to Lily’s side.

“Yes, I do. I’m happy we settled it before Christmas. Do you think we have enough time to push for another toy drive? The store is already running low.”

“I’m sure we do,” Beth said above the groans at the table.

“I’m going home and hiding my wallet. Not only do we have Winter constantly after our money, now we have Lily after it for toys. Jeez,” Rider moaned.

“It could be worse,” Lily suggested.

“How?”

“If I don’t get enough toys, I was going to ask Killyama if she could help take donations,” Lily said, taking a drink of her hot chocolate.

“How much do you need?” Razer asked, reaching for his wallet.

Shade felt his tension slowly easing. Lily had steadily become more comfortable with the men, able to talk and joke with the brothers where before she would only talk with the women.

After lunch, Shade asked Lily to go furniture shopping with him while the others went back to the clubhouse.

The local furniture store had a vast assortment to choose from. After only a couple of hours, he had managed to find furniture for the entire house and appliances Lily had approved of. He would pretend to look at the different furniture, but the ones she would gravitate toward, he would buy. The ones he couldn’t tell which she liked, he would pretend to be uncertain about and ask her help to choose. It took two hours to accomplish, yet he finally had enough to furnish the house.

“Is that all I can help you with today?” Leonard asked, carrying the handheld computer which had rung up the purchases he had made. The sales clerk had lost his snobbish attitude after the first ten minutes, although his new kiss-ass attitude was just as annoying.

“That will be it,” Shade replied, putting his arm around Lily’s shoulders when she would have kept looking at the furniture.

“But you haven’t picked out your bedroom furniture,” Lily reminded him.

“I don’t need bedroom furniture. I have bedroom furniture.”

“The set in the basement?” Lily questioned, looking up at him.

Shade nodded before turning to follow the clerk to the cashier. Lily hung back, though, her feet not moving.

“But that furniture won’t match the furniture in your house,” Lily protested. “Just look at the bedroom furniture. You might find something you like better.”

“I like what I have,” Shade said, again trying to follow the sales clerk.

Lily refused to move, looking down at the floor. “It won’t match.”

Shade gave a frustrated sigh, motioning for the clerk to wait for him at the register.

“Eyes to me, Lily.” She reluctantly raised her eyes to his. “Are you crying?” he asked, stunned.

“No, I don’t cry anymore. Haven’t you noticed?”

“I can’t say that I have,” Shade replied drily.

“Well, I don’t,” she snapped back.

“Okay. We’ll debate that later. Why won’t my bedroom furniture match the rest of the furniture I bought? That happens to be an expensive set, which I custom-ordered,” Shade explained. He loved that fucking set and had been forced to wait three months for it to be made and delivered.

“I don’t care how expensive it is; it’s still different from the rest of your furniture.”

“How?”

“It isn’t new.”

“It isn’t new?” Shade repeated.

“It’s not freaking new!” Lily whisper-screamed so no one would hear her.

Understanding came to Shade, and he bent down to whisper in her ear. “I bought that bedroom set after you were hurt last summer, Lily. It’s still new.”

Lily’s eyes widened. “It’s all new?”

“All of it, including the mattress and sheets. And, before you can ask, everything in my cabinet.”

She turned red yet didn’t try to avoid his amused gaze.

“Then I guess it matches after all.”

Chapter 64

A knock sounded on the door.

“Come in,” Lucky said, setting his pen down on the desk.

Shade walked into the room, dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt along with shiny, new, expensive shoes.

Lucky sat, uncomprehending exactly what he was staring at. As understanding dawned, an unholy grin came across his face, and he sat up straighter in his chair.

“Before we start, I’m warning you that, if you make one wisecrack, you’ll be giving your own eulogy,” Shade threatened.