Once Lilly inherited and threw him out of the house, he’d have to cough up rent, homeowners insurance, all things that had come under the umbrella that was Lilly’s trust fund.
He’d have to live like a grown man. What a concept. And he’d thought he had his hands full fighting the need for a drink. Still, he realized that with his confessions to the police and the people he’d hurt in his life, he wasn’t feeling sorry for himself. Instead he was looking ahead.
And that, Marc thought, was progress.
THOUGH HUNTER HAD listened to Dumont ’s statement this morning, he’d been more affected by Molly’s blank expression than he was by the man’s admissions. In Hunter’s mind, Marc Dumont was already a part of his past. But Molly was his future, or so he hoped and despite her withdrawal, he didn’t want her to find it easy to relegate him to her past.
He knew how badly Marc’s description of his actions had hurt her. On the other hand, she’d been right about the man now. He hadn’t been behind the attempts on Lilly’s life. Her faith in him had been rewarded. Hunter hoped that counted for something in Molly’s mind.
He needed to know how she was holding up. He had to know where they stood. And he wanted to see her…..just because. He shoved his work aside, rose and grabbed his jacket.
Half an hour later, he pulled up to Molly’s house. He wasn’t surprised Anna Marie was nowhere to be seen. From what Ty had said, the older woman had a rough day and she was probably hiding inside.
As Hunter stepped onto the porch and rang Molly’s doorbell, Hunter was grateful for the privacy. He heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs and Molly opened the door.
She greeted him wearing gray sweats and a white T-shirt with smudges on the front. She looked as if she’d been cleaning.
“Hi,” he said, suddenly incapable of anything clever or smart to say. He was just glad to see her.
She inclined her head. “Hi.”
“Rough morning,” he said.
She shrugged. “Actually, it got even rougher. Listen, I’m kind of busy—”
“I’d still like to talk. I won’t keep you long.”
She paused, then taking him by surprise, she pushed the door open wide. “Come on in.”
He’d expected more of an argument. He followed her up the flight of stairs, wondering if maybe he’d get through to her after all. Then he stepped into her den and saw the suitcases spread out all over the room, the sight hitting him like a kick in the stomach.
He glanced around. There weren’t just clothes in the suitcases—her personal things were packed into boxes. “This looks like a lot more than packing for a vacation.”
She reluctantly met his gaze. “It is.”
Her words confirmed his greatest fear. “Then there are some things I want to say to you before you go.”
She nodded. “Go ahead,” she said softly.
“You were right about Dumont . I’m sorry I couldn’t believe you.”
Molly looked into his handsome face and saw the truth in his eyes. Hunter’s choice of words had been deliberate. It wasn’t that he hadn’t believed her, he couldn’t. Because Marc had done too much damage. She’d heard it all firsthand today.
But Hunter had been there and supported Molly even if he couldn’t agree with her belief in Marc.
She appreciated his integrity more than he knew.
“Don’t apologize. I understand.”
He walked around, stepping over the suitcases and boxes she’d managed to pack in a short amount of time.
Without warning, he turned. “Damn it, Molly, don’t do this.”
She swallowed over the lump in her throat. “I have to.”
“You do know that you’re leaving without giving us a chance?” he asked, his tone imploring.
Molly closed her eyes. She hadn’t wanted to hurt Hunter. She’d avoided him for years to prevent doing just that, yet here they were anyway. “I need to find out who I am and what I want out of life. I can’t do that here, in a place where all I see are my childhood wishes for the family I never had.”
“I never had family, either. I understand what you’re going through. Why not work through it together? Unless of course, I’m mistaken in thinking you care about me, too.” A flush rose high on his cheekbones and he shoved his hands into his front pants pockets.
Molly knew how difficult it had been for Hunter to lay his heart on the line and it hurt her to have to reject him. But one day he’d thank her for doing it.
“It’s because I care about you that I’m leaving.” She met his gaze, silently begging him to understand her reasons. “I need to grow up.” And to do so, she needed time alone.
Time to heal and put her mother in her past. She absolutely had to learn to stand on her own two feet without old hopes and expectations weighing her down.
He stepped closer. She inhaled and smelled his sexy cologne. Wherever she ended up, she’d miss his wit and his persistence. But until she could look in the mirror and like who she saw, Molly had no choice but to leave.
“I have no ties here, nothing to keep me from leaving. Let me go with you and we can start over someplace new.”
It was so tempting. He was so tempting.
She clasped her hands around his face. “You’re such a good man and I wish I could say yes. But finding myself has to be my priority.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Everyone has baggage,” he told her.
“Mine’s just heavier than most. Or at least too heavy for me at the moment.”
“And there’s nothing I can do to stop you?”
She shook her head. “Just don’t think this is easy for me.” Her voice caught in her throat.
And her lips, mere inches from his, were so close to kissing him and letting him change her mind. Which was why she leaned forward and brushed her mouth over his quickly. Then she stepped back before he could react.
He ran a thumb over his bottom lip. “Good luck, Molly. I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”
So did she, because she couldn’t feel any worse than she did right now.
LACEY LEFT Ty visiting with his mother who was due to be released in another day or so.
Because Lacey had a guard following her, Ty hadn’t questioned her when she’d gone for a walk.
She just hadn’t mentioned that her goal was a heart-to-heart with her uncle Marc.
Lacey found him sitting in a wheelchair in the solarium, an all-glass room donated to the hospital by a wealthy patron.