She stared at me, her mouth open a bit. “What? No way. I can’t—”
“It’s not like I can make use of it anymore, Ruby. It’s already paid for. You and Grace can get the fresh start you deserve.” I dropped the keys onto her coffee table. “The neighbors are nice. You’ll like them.”
“But you love New York.” Her expression of disbelief and sadness was not making this whole conversation easy.
“But I love you more.” I smiled weakly.
Of course, Ruby burst into tears.
Good grief. You try to do something nice for a person.
She put down her wine glass and wrapped her arms around me. I awkwardly patted her head, silently pleading with her to stop crying.
“It’s not like I can’t come back to the United States to visit,” I said. “Hey. How d’you feel about Hoboken, New Jersey?”
* * *
A weird sense of calm filled my mind as I took yet another flight across the ocean. When I reached the airport on the other side, my phone buzzed. My eyebrows went higher and higher on my forehead as I read the text message.
Dad: I found the guy who Ezra sold most of that treasure to. He has a massive collection. We’re going to become partners and open a museum in Key Largo to showcase it.
Molly: …Are you for real?
Dad: I know. It’s very exciting.
Dad: Sorry. I forgot you had an assignment to do for Ezra. Is that tonight or when is that happening? Is Rhys still doing OK?
Molly: It’s done. We’re all good. I’ll call and explain later. I think you can stop hiding though. That’ll be helpful with your new career and everything.
Dad: Good to know! Will also be helpful since I’m seeing someone.
Molly: Oh really? Who?
Please don’t say Audrey. Please don’t say Audrey.
Dad: Um, Audrey.
Molly: Daaaaaaad, whyyyyyyyy?
Dad: She’s awful perdy. Anyway, careful out there, punkin. Talk soon. Love you.
Molly: I love you too, Dad.
I hailed a cab, my heart slamming into my ribcage. My stomach turned and my brain was a little fuzzy. That was the longest cab ride of my entire life, I swear. Eventually, I arrived at Rhys’s place in West Kensington.
I knocked on the door. No answer. I knocked again.
I stared angrily at the door. How is someone supposed to make a romantic gesture when nobody will answer the damn door?
The cabbie was still behind me, which made this whole thing even more awkward. “Can I take you somewhere else, love?”
“No, that’s okay,” I said with a clenched jaw.
Piss off, dude.
“Suit yourself,” he grumbled before driving away.
I heard footsteps on the other side of the door before it was unlatched and opened.
Rhys had looked better. His eye and lip were bruised, and he had dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. He looked more like a raccoon that had been in a fight than the man I’d come to adore.
He gave me a snarky smile and stepped closer to me. “Hello there.”
“Hi,” I said. I swallowed, struggling to remember the words I’d been practicing in my head for hours. “I just wanted to come here to let you know that I love you too. I should have said it a long time ago, and I’m so sorry I didn’t. But that’s how I feel.” I nodded, my throat aching as emotion gushed from my heart and into my mouth. “And I think that’s how I’ve always felt.” I paused, remembering the early days of our relationship. “Except for before when I hated you. But then I … I didn’t.”
Rhys nodded, his face like a stone. “Okay.” He stepped backward into his house and pulled the door closed.
“Hey!” I yelled, pushing the door back open.
Rhys burst out laughing. “Gotcha. Come ‘ere, you.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me, lifting me off the stone step by half an inch.
I never want to stop kissing this man.
While he was still squeezing me tightly, I put my lips close to his ear. “By the way, I’m moving in with you.”
Rhys’s raised his eyebrows. “Are you?”
“Yuuup.”
He nodded. “Alright then.” He kissed me again as my feet returned to the front step. “Molly Miranda, you’ve stolen my heart.”
“Oh yeah?” I said, following him inside, my suitcase in hand. “Well, I’m about to steal your pants.”
THANK YOU FOR READING
Thank you so much for reading Molly Miranda: Honor Among Thieves. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, iBooks or the inside of a sketchy bathroom stall. Ya know, wherever. I would appreciate it. Your positive vibes would really help me out.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jillianne Hamilton is a writer and graphic designer. Molly Miranda: Thief for Hire was short-listed for the 2016 Prince Edward Island Book Award. She studied Journalism in college and her writing has been published in The Truro Daily News, The Sackville Tribune-Post, Macleans OnCampus and the PEI Writes 2013 Anthology. Jill grew up in Nova Scotia and now lives in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on Canada's east coast with her husband.
You can follow Jillianne on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram or on her website.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER—WHOA, HOLD UP
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
THANK YOU FOR READING
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Honor Among Thieves Page 14
