by Nadia S. Lee
Charlie rolled his eyes and closed the laptop. “You know me better than that. Want anything for drink?”
“Coke, if you have it.”
“Not a problem.” He brought a can from the fridge, handed it to Sam and took a huge slice of the cheese and pepperoni pizza, his favorite.
“If you want to find somebody, there are plenty in Silver Springs,” Sam said after a sip of his drink.
“I’m not trying to date. I was performing a civic duty.”
Sam squinted at him. “Uh-oh. Civic duty. That sounds bad. What did you do, Charlie?”
“Nothing you wouldn’t do.” Then Charlie quickly added, “If you knew how to do it, of course.”
“Did you hack into an investment bank?”
“No.” He laughed. “What kind of man do you think I am?”
“The kind who does whatever he wants?”
“Point taken. But no. I hacked into a dating site, deleted a profile, then locked out a bunch of losers and outed their embarrassing behavior on social media.”
“Embarrassing behavior?”
“Sending pics of their junk to women online.”
Sam made a face. “That’s nasty.”
“Nastier when you see it. Like I had to.”
Sam choked back a laugh. “That’s what you get for breaking the law.”
“The seeing came first. And I wouldn’t be doing anything if they’d behaved like civilized men. It was pretty gross to lock them out and change their profile pictures to the X-rated photos they sent out. Oh, and I also changed their social media photos too, with a bunch of screen caps. I considered sending everything to their bosses as well, but I thought maybe that would be too much.”
“What are you going to do if they sue you?”
“Hightail it over to your office, Harvard Law. All you’ll need to do is make sure the jury has at least one young woman who’s tried one of those dating sites. Then I’ll get off because she’ll think I’m the awesomest guy in the world.”
Sam was shaking his head and trying not to laugh. “Breaking the law and then hoping for a jury nullification doesn’t seem like the smartest course…”
“Seriously, don’t worry about it, Sam. What are they gonna do? Call even more attention to their…behavior with a lawsuit?”
Sam sighed. “I give up.”
“Yeah, you should. You know you can’t win.”
“No, I’m giving up because your sense of justice doesn’t match the justice I’m supposed to uphold.”
“You wouldn’t be so sanguine if it was Lina who got the photos.”
“No, but…” Sam cocked his head and regarded Charlie thoughtfully. “Do you have a crush on this woman?”
“Who said anything about a crush?” Charlie shrugged, although his neck was getting a bit too warm. And Sam had been his friend too long to miss the cue.
Sam laughed. “All right. Fess up. Who is she?”
“Not telling, since she doesn’t know how I feel about her yet.”
“You haven’t made a move?”
Charlie shook his head.
“You should. If she’s a catch, other guys are bound to notice.”
Charlie tensed. He knew that. It was just that he thought the day might never come, since Molly hadn’t dated anybody in the last few years. “It isn’t that simple.”
“Sure it is. Just flirt with her a little.”
“How?”
“Compliment her. Women love that, and she’ll get that you like her.”
“No, she won’t.”
“Why not?” Sam blinked.
“Because it’s too ambiguous. If I tell her she’s beautiful, I’m not complimenting her. I’m making a statement of fact. Who’s impressed with facts?”
Sam burst out laughing. “Oh my Lord. You are hopeless, buddy. Hope. Less.”
Emilia joined the mirth and giggled, waving her empty bottle. Then she threw it, hitting Charlie’s hand.
Traitor.
Sam wiped tears from his eyes. “Okay, look. If you think complimenting her won’t do the job, just…uh…tell her how you feel. I know you’re going to say that’s another statement of fact, but at least it’s heartfelt, right?”
“You’re no help.”
Sam sniffed. “Maybe not. But you owe me five hundred bucks.”
“For what? You didn’t give me five hundred bucks’ worth of legal advice.”
“You remember our bet.”
“What bet?”
“The one we made about you not mooning over anybody?”
Charlie remembered and made a face. “I haven’t lost.”
“Oh? How’s that?”
“I’m not even dating her. How can you moon over a woman you aren’t even dating?”
“That’s ridiculous. You can totally moon over a woman you aren’t dating. But fine. I’ll let it go, since you’re obviously not feeling well.” Sam laughed again. “But you should tell her.”
“So you can collect your winnings?” Charlie said, not wanting to talk about his feelings for Sam’s baby sister with the man himself.
“Nope.” Sam grew dead serious. “So you too can relearn what happiness feels like. You’ve been shutting people out since you lost your parents. And it was sudden, and tragic…and that can really hit you in ways you can’t even imagine.”
“You trying to psychoanalyze me?”
“Just giving you some advice. I think you hold back because you’re afraid of experiencing that loss again. But I’m telling you… The greatest reward always comes with the greatest risk. I wouldn’t trade my time with Lina, no matter how long or short it turns out to be, for an eternity without her. And this woman you have feelings for…she’s another chance. A chance to have a family and have somebody who loves you on your side.”
They finished the pizza in relative silence, and afterward, chatted about nothing of importance. Sam left around nine to run back to his wife.
Charlie changed Emilia’s diaper and held the slight weight in his arms. He didn’t want to risk losing the second family he’d found with Sam’s parents and siblings. And that, more than anything else, was holding him back. Maybe some of his fear had something to do with his parents’ abrupt death, like Sam had said. And yeah, some of it was a fear of rejection. Still…as he rocked Emilia to sleep, he couldn’t help but wonder if he should let fear dictate his future.
Because imagining Molly in a white gown standing next to some doofus who wasn’t him?
Just the idea made him want to punch something.
Chapter Ten
Molly got up early the next morning, ready to start her Friday on the right note. Ever since the night before, her phone had stopped pinging with inappropriate messages from the men. Charlie must’ve come through.
Smiling fondly, she sipped her morning coffee. Even though he’d said he was doing it for himself, she should give him a thank-you gift. She looked over her tools. Maybe something small and meaningful, like a handmade pendant. Hmm… Now, if she could just come up with a good design…
On her way to Charlie’s house, Molly went to the baby store and bought a cute little winter onesie in a pretty shade of pink. Emilia only had hand-me-downs at the moment, donations from folks who’d heard about her. Although they were in good condition, Molly wanted her to have something new.
As she parked her car and got out, her phone buzzed with a text. Since she’d sent Eddie three designs she’d created, she checked, her heart pounding with anticipation. They were some of her best work, and she was certain his biggest problem was going to be choosing among the three.
We have to talk. My card was illegally used.
Oh no. Molly stared at the phone, feeling sorry for her client, although she didn’t know why he wanted to talk to her about it. She typed, Sorry to hear that. If the deposit I charged to the card is declined, you can just use another card or send me money via PayPal.
After hitting send, she grabbed the onesie, locked her car and went to Charlie’s door.
“Hey, Charlie! Emilia!” she called out as she stepped inside.
He poked his head out from the kitchen. “Morning. I was just mixing up some formula.”
“You’re a pro now.” She laughed at the way he swirled the bottle to mix the powder and water without creating any bubbles, then checked the temperature against his wrist.
“Learned from the best.” He gave the bottle to Emilia, who took it with a loud sigh of contentment, then gave Molly a sunny grin as he straightened up.
Her insides turned gooey. Whether Charlie ever reciprocated her feelings or not, it was good to see him cheerful, rather than being stressed out like he’d been last week. Somehow his happiness meant even more to her than before, and she stilled at a sudden realization.
Was this love?
People said if you loved someone, their wellbeing and happiness became paramount. Like, even more than your own. She’d never experienced anything of that intensity…she always valued her own satisfaction in life pretty highly. But what she’d felt for him all along had somehow deepened in the last six days, as she spent more time with him and watched him being so protective and sweet with Emilia.
“Want something to drink?”
She blinked, his question penetrating her shock. “Um. Sure. If you have some water.”
“Fresh, cold water, coming right up.” He handed her a glass.
She took a quick sip and placed the cup on the counter. “Hey, thanks for helping out. Those guys have stopped bothering me.”
“Eh, I didn’t do much. Just a small token of gratitude for what you’re doing for me and Emilia. Always here helping out and all. I know that if you hadn’t stepped up, Wayne might’ve taken Emilia away and put her into the state’s care.”
“I did what I thought was best. You’re so patient and loving with her. She’s lucky her mother left her with you.”
The grin on his face slowly slipped, replaced by something serious. “Molly, there’s something I need to say.”
Suddenly her mouth dried, her heartbeat speeding up. The air between them felt thick with words yet unsaid.
Then the shrill ring of her phone shattered the spell. She jumped. “I’m sorry, but I need to check this.” Most people texted her, so it must be something pretty serious.
The screen showed Eddie Rand. With a frown, she answered it. “Hi, Eddie. This is Molly.”
“I know it’s you.” His voice was curt, his words spilling out rapidly. “I said I needed to talk, and I was hoping you’d call or at least let me know when you were available.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was that urgent. But like I said, if you’re worried about your payment, don’t be. You can just use another card or—”
There was a short bark of a laugh. “Do you hear yourself? You only care about number one, don’t you?”
“What?”
“It’s not just the inconvenience of having to call my bank and getting the card replaced. It’s you. That card is brand new. I’ve only used it one time: at your store. So if my card number is out there, being used by thieves, then it must’ve come from your store.”
“Eddie, calm down.” Molly switched the phone to her other ear and started to pace. “My store has encryption and other safety measures to ensure that your information is protected. And there are lots of ways the fraudsters could’ve gotten your information. If my store’s security was to blame, all my other customers would’ve had their credit cards stolen as well, right? But I promise you, I haven’t heard anything like that.”
“Because they don’t know where the leak is. I bet most of them have had their cards for a long time and used them all over the place.”
That was a valid point. “If you’re that concerned, I can send you all the documentation I have on my store’s security. Help put your mind at ea—”
“Forget it. The next time you hear from me is going to be through my lawyer. I want to be compensated for the trouble you’ve caused. You don’t understand how much this has cost me.”
What was he saying? “You can contact your bank and ask them to reverse the charges.”
“It isn’t that easy. You see, my card is actually a Visa debit card linked to my savings account, and when I woke up this morning, I had less than two hundred dollars left…out of over two hundred thousand! And my bank tells me I have to fill out a mountain of paperwork to prove that it wasn’t me who went on a shopping spree!”
She stopped pacing, stunned at the amount that had vanished. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, well, you’re gonna be sorrier when my lawyer is through with you. I’m going to make you pay!” He hung up.
“Molly? Everything okay?” Charlie said, peering into her face. When she didn’t move, he helped her sit at the dining table. “I thought you were going to pass out there for a minute.”
“Um…what?”
“Who was that? What happened?”
“Oh my God, Charlie, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said, her mind still processing what Eddie had said.
“Talk to me. Start from the beginning.”
“It’s that custom jewelry customer. Eddie. He said my store caused his card information to leak, and now he’s out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. I think he’s going to sue.” The last sentence came in a hysteria-tinged cry.
“Whoa, what? That’s insane.” Charlie put his hands on her arms and looked her in the eye. “Okay, take a deep breath. Don’t forget you have two lawyers in your family. I tease Sam all the time about his fancy Harvard Law degree, but it comes in handy for stuff like this.”
“Right. Right.” She nodded. Of course—her father and her brother would never let anything happen to her. On the other hand, she’d never been threatened with a lawsuit before, not like this, not over something a small part of her couldn’t help but wonder was partially her fault.
“And second, if you have an issue with cybersecurity, I’m the man for that. I can help you figure out if it was really something at your store and fix it.”
“But what if I messed up?” She clenched her shaking hands. “Oh my God, Charlie, what if it really is my fault?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. You don’t know what happened. For all we know, he could be just ranting because he’s missing money and looking for someone to blame.”
She gulped in some air. “Yeah, okay. You’re right. You’re totally right. He’s probably just freaking out, and I have to make sure there’s nothing going on with my store. Can I hire you as a consultant, Charlie? I don’t know how much you charge per hour, but I’ll figure something out. An installment plan or some—”
“I don’t want your money.”
“But—”
“You came to my rescue when I was floundering with Emilia.”
“But that’s different, Charlie. Almost everyone knows how to take care of a baby.”
“Yeah, well, ‘almost everyone’ didn’t offer to help me out, did they?”
“But I feel like it’s probably better if I pay. So it looks more…” She mentally grasped for a word, and came up with something that seemed close enough for what she wanted to say. “Professional.”
“Professional?” He frowned. “You want to talk about making our relationship appear professional?”
He was looking at her again with that odd intensity. Her stomach immediately began to feel like a million ants were crawling inside. Her brain was no help either; it hadn’t been able to process anything since Eddie had started ripping into her. “Um… Yes?” she said finally.
He got a pained expression that slowly morphed into determination. “Oh for Pete’s sake,” he muttered. Then he cradled her face before she could move and covered her mouth with his.
* * *
Molly let out a soft squeak as he slanted his head over hers, but she soon relaxed under his palms. Her lips were softer than anything he could’ve imagined, her taste sweet and intoxicating. He could kiss her all day long.
> This close, he could inhale her scent better—the light floral perfume of her shampoo, the apple of her body wash and the pure woman-ness of her. Suddenly he felt starved for her warmth and company and just…being together. His heart galloped like a thoroughbred, and heat seared through him until he thought he’d combust.
An empty bottle hit his head, bounced off and smacked Molly. She gasped and pulled back, her mouth moist and red. He frowned slightly because his glasses were fogged, but the lenses cleared rapidly once that he wasn’t close to her anymore.
Emilia laughed.
Sigh. Foiled by an infant…
“Um…” Molly pressed her lips together. “Uh… What was that about?”
“I don’t want us to look professional.”
“You don’t…?”
“The kiss not clear enough for you?”
“But Charlie… Everyone knows you don’t date.”
“So? Let me make sure we’re communicating here: I don’t want to be a guy you talk to when you have a problem.”
Her face clouded. “I’m sorry.”
Ugh. He knew he’d botch it if he talked…which was why he’d kissed her. “I mean, I want more. I want to be the guy you come to when you have a great day so we can be happy together. I want to be the guy you come to when you have an infuriating day so I can listen while you rant. I want to be the guy you come to when you have a sad day and need a shoulder to cry on.”
She was gaping at him.
Argh. He’d probably messed up even further. He really wasn’t good at talking. Shoving his hands into his hair, he said, “I know you’re Sam’s younger sister, which makes things complicated. Maybe you don’t want to date me because you don’t want to get between me and Sam…or maybe your dad’s going to punch me in the face for daring to want to date his precious baby girl, but I’m tired to pretending I don’t feel anything for you. Just…tired of it.”
“You have feelings for me? Since when?”
“Since you were eighteen.” Saying that out loud made him feel singularly stupid—a sensation he hadn’t experienced since…well, ever—but why not just tell her the truth? She was bound to find out sooner or later. “It was when you were telling your parents you wanted to design jewelry rather than go to college, and asked them to set aside the money they’d been saving for your tuition so that you could open a business when the time was right.”
