Chapter 86

- LILY -

Lou turns bright red when I finally meet her downstairs.

"I'm so sorry," she says. "I knocked, I swear. I thought maybe you'd overslept or something."

"It's all right," I assure her.

"Not if I scarred Calder for life."

I smile at her astute analysis of her brother. He might not be opposed to feeling me up under a boat with reporters all around or playing a sexy game in the bathroom of a roadside sex shop, but he's still trying to figure out this whole family thing, and having his sister catch him in the act doesn't make that any easier.

Lou, at least, for all her blushing, seems to see the humor in it.

"I saved you some bacon, if you're hungry," she says with a little laugh. "I imagine you are."

"I'll be fine. We're already late." I smile and indicate the door, and we head outside together.

Now that Lou knows I'm not angry, and that things aren't going to be awkward between us, she's right back to her usual self.

"In my defense," she says as we walk around the house