Free Purrfect Paradise (Bayside Tigers #4) by Rachel Real

Chapter One
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    A slip moonlight shone through the boat window as it anchored at the dock. Lilith Summers waited too long for this day. The day she escaped from her husband. With her fingers, Lilly raked back the loose strands from her hair and looped it in a ponytail. Looking in a mirror, her eyes traced all of the old scars along her chin and upper neck.
    No matter what, even if I escape him. I'll never forget what he did to me. Lilly pondered gawking at the dirty work of her ex-husband.
    She'd been trapped in a marriage with her loveless husband Hogan, who made her terrified for her own life. She knew that if she stayed, he’d kill her. Lilly got tired of all of the bruises, the beatings and hearing the drunken sweet nothings in her ear.
    With only the money in her pocket, she asked the ticket agent for the first ticket available from Long Island.
    "Bayside," The agent replied.
    And that's how she ended up here, standing on the docks at midnight looking for a new place to call her home. Lilly trotted down the main path and took a turn onto the Main Street and her eyes squinted at a neon sign:
    Wildcat Diner OPEN 24 HOURS! NOW HIRING!
    After taking hold of her backpack nearly sliding off of her shoulders, Lilly drifted into the diner. The smell of hot homemade food hit her as she took a seat. Lilly grabbed a few napkins, plastic forks and knives and stuffed them deep inside her pockets—just in case.
    She jumped at the sound of feedback echoing in her ears. A young handsome man with forbidding eyes sat on a stool in the corner, tuning the strings of his electric guitar.
    Suddenly, a waiter came around with a pad and pencil in hand. He looked just as delectable as the guitar player. He had smooth golden skin, his biceps flexed easily underneath his sleeves.
    "Hey, ma'am. Welcome to the Wildcat Diner. What can I get for you tonight?"
    Lilly jumped at the lush husky growl in his voice. The waiter had a pair of vivid golden eyes that flashed underneath the light. Lilly never saw anything like it before. He looked young but at distinguished stubble on his face.
    Lilly cleared her throat after being caught off guard. "I, uh. I'd like some coffee with cream—no sugar."
    "Coming right up," he winked.
    Her attention then turned to the man sitting on the stool, strumming his guitar with a soft sultry singing voice. He wore a tight fitting heather gray henley and a black string necklace threaded through a very sharp old tooth. Lilly knew she didn’t have enough money to pay for the cup of coffee. So, she planned to drink half and ditch the rest.
    The customer’s always right, right? She thought.
    The waiter came back.
    "Here ya are..." he smiled and then walked away from the table.
    "Hi, excuse me," Lilly called. "I specifically asked for no sugar."
    "You sure there's sugar in there?"
    Lilly glowered. "Of course, I'm sure. I bet your Manager wouldn’t like the fact that you’re second guessing your customers...” she read his name tag. “... Bodhi Wilder."
    Bodhi chuckled and raised his eyebrows. "I dunno. Let me ask him."
    "What do you think Manager ," the Bodhi pointed at himself. And then Lilly flinched, realizing the mistake she made.
    "Nice try. We get scammers and drifters hoping to get one over on me all of the time...how about instead of trying to get a free meal you work for me?" Bodhi asked. "There's plenty of cleaning to do. And I never mind offering help to those who need it."
    "Who's the guy playing the music?" Lilly looked curiously at the strappingly gorgeous man singing his heart out in the dark low-lit corner.
    "That's my brother, Sage. He likes to play a set here every night—plus the free beers..."
    Sage looked up from his guitar and gave a sharp lustful gaze in Lilly's direction. She looked down immediately, a little confused by what she just saw. He placed his guitar down between songs. A blonde waitress strutted up to him and slung her arm around his shoulders. Lilly rolled her