It’d taken three days to wrap up the loose ends. Her possessions were packed, at least the ones she wanted to keep: mostly just clothes and the photo albums she found in the basement. Everything she wanted to take with her would fit in a car.
“Ready?”
She turned and smiled at her husband. His eyes were glowing with love for her, and she knew it was a rare and special love, the kind you find once in a lifetime.
“Yup.” She stretched up to kiss him and fall into his embrace. She wanted to linger there and hold him close, and could tell he wanted that too, but at the same time she felt they both wanted to get out of there and on with life.
When she looked up at his face again, he wiped the tear that was tickling its way down her cheek. She locked the door on the way out and they were on their way.
Starting back up the freeway, this time knowing what awaited her, Molly didn’t look back at Redding. It’d been a bit bittersweet to hug Karen that last time, but she knew they would call often and visit each other. In fact, why hadn’t she thought of inviting Karen up sooner? She’d love to get them together with her friends in Ridge City.
Alicia called and Trent put her on the hands free speaker.
“Want some happy news?” she asked.
“That’d be nice.”
“Mark’s getting serious with one of the local school teachers. Sounds like he finally had enough of Bev.”
Trent glanced over with a smile. Molly laughed. “But who’ll Bev complain to now? Hopefully she’ll leave David alone about me.”
Alicia sighed. “We talked quite a bit about all that, and we told Bev, firmly, to leave you alone and not to spread gossip like that anymore.”
A weight lifted from her shoulders. Molly hadn’t even known it was still bothering her. They chatted for a good half hour, and just a few minutes after they hung up with Alicia, Mark called.
Molly had expected some heavy conversation between her and Trent during the drive, but instead they were catching up with friends.
“Hey, buddy,” Mark greeted. “I’ve got good news and good news.”
“That’s what we like to hear.” There was a lift to Trent’s voice that matched the skip in her heartbeat.
“Quinn called the station and said Atwood confessed to shooting at you. He was just trying to scare you. So they’ve got him on that and stalking.”
Trent let out his breath. That didn’t reassure Molly as much, and she asked, “Don’t we have to worry about him still?”
“Hi Molly,” Mark said. “No. He’s in jail and headed away for a while, and he’s on medication for depression. It sounds like he’s been lonely and isolated, maybe didn’t fit in with others, but he’s getting help.”
She felt bad for Justin but also glad he’d be out of her life.
“So,” Trent asked. “What was the other good news?” He grinned at her because they both knew the good news already.
“The DA isn’t worried about prosecuting anything in connection to the Anderson disappearance.”
She pulled in a breath. That wasn’t what they were expecting him to say but it was even better.
“The case is closed,” Mark added. Trent reached over and engulfed her hand.
They pulled into the driveway just before two o’clock in the afternoon. Trent turned the car off and they both stared at the house. Actually she was looking at the red roses in bloom. Now she knew she planted them just after he had bought the house for them. That broken rose lamp had matched them, too. There were so many tiny little details that fit together, weaving their life story.
“We’re home,” she said. Or, she tried to say. Her throat closed up but he understood her. Suddenly he launched out of the car and ran around to her side to open the door and pull her to her feet.
“Trent, wait,” she said, stopping him. “I’m sorry about what I said before. I didn’t mean it.”
“What did you say?”
“That what we shared was about need.” She laid her head on his shoulder as they stood cheek to cheek, arms around each other. “When we made love. I was confused and scared about what you’d expect from me. And maybe I was a little mad that you didn’t tell me we were married, even though I understood why. What we shared wasn’t just about physical need. I just said that…”
He ran his lips over her cheek. “I know. I knew you didn’t mean it, either.” His chest moved in what felt like a chuckle. Of course he’d known.
She tried to give him an exasperated sigh, but ended up laughing. His lips made it down to her neck, making her laugh more.
“I love you,” she whispered happily.
“I know that, too.” He swung her up into his arms and started for the front door.
She looked back at the car with the passenger door open. “What are you doing?”
“Don’t I get to carry you across the threshold? It’s an old tradition.”
“Aren’t we a little late for that?” she asked as he paused on the porch. The words slipped out, followed by the thought that their timeline didn’t have to match with everyone else. “I mean, who cares?”
She felt an old fire ignite and grinned. She was still that girl that ran to the edge of the hill and yelled to all of Ridge City when she got engaged.
“Exactly. So what if we have our own timing?” He kissed her mouth and carried her in, kicking the door shut behind them. He headed straight for the bedroom.
She squealed in mixed glee and mock protest. “Trent!”
“I think this is part of the tradition.”
They slept in the next morning, snuggling in a blissful dreamlike state. Even when she woke up, Molly lay in bed daydreaming about sharing her life with Trent and maybe starting a family in a few years. Or maybe sooner.
The red roses in bloom in front of the house kept popping up in her visions. She was thinking about their life blooming now as they headed toward summer. She’d been thinking about the money she’d get when the house in California sold. Probably not a large sum, but enough to start her own business. She’d surprise everyone by finally picking something – something she’d loved all along: growing plants. She could see her nursery and smell the plants growing and blooming.
Trent leaned up onto his elbow to see the clock. “We should probably get up since everyone will be here in about an hour.”
She opened her mouth at him in disbelief. “You invited everyone over for our first day back?”
He grinned. “Yup. Well, okay, it got planned and I didn’t say no. You know how those guys are.”
And the funny and wonderful thing was, she did.
Soon they were up and ready and Trent was firing up the grill. He came in when he heard a car outside. Even though she’d complained, she was anxious and excited to see their friends. When David and Alicia came inside, Molly met them with hugs and a question. “So, have you thought of any names yet?”
Alicia’s hand went to her stomach without any thought. “No, it’s harder than I thought.”
David smiled when his baby was mentioned and squeezed Alicia’s shoulders. Alicia still reminded Molly of a flower, a small bloom but a bold, bright flower blooming in a desert. David must see it, too. Both their faces were shining with their renewed love and excitement about their coming baby.
They would flip when she shared her news. That thought, along with the smell of barbeque coming in the back door, made her stomach clench up.
“Mol?” Trent took her arm. “What’s the face for?”
She mumbled, “morning sickness,” and rushed to the bathroom. She was sitting on the rim of the bathtub as her stomach settled down again.
Trent knocked on the door, although it wasn’t completely shut. “Mol?”
“I’m okay, I think.”
He pushed the door open and came in to ask, “Really?”
She hadn’t expected to see such hope in his eyes. It took her breath away and filled her with new, strange emotions.
“I’m pregnant.” She tried for a smi
le, a laugh, but didn’t feel too great. Looking up at him, though, she felt loved and excited all at once. “We’re pregnant, Trent. Think we’re ready for this?”
She had just found him, and her gotten her memory back, so this seemed like too much, as if she was tempting fate. He knelt down in front of her, his eyes still shinny. “We wanted a baby, remember? We decided to wait a few years back then. Well, it’s been a few years, and I don’t want to put anything off ever again.”
With his reassurance, her fears dissolved like a bad memory. They were in this together. Molly nodded and took a deep breath. Joy spread through her.
He grabbed her, wanting to lift her off her feet, but was overly gentle instead. Whirling, he yelled out to their friends, “We’re having a baby too!”
Alicia and David met them in the hallway where Alicia grabbed Molly in a hug. “Oh, I’m so happy we get to be pregnant together. I used to dream about this and I secretly worried you’d never come back. But now…”
“Now we moan and complain together through morning sickness!” Molly said, and they both laughed. The front door shut and more people called out a hello.
“Oh, I hope it’s okay that Mark’s bringing Melinda.”
“Of course!” Trent called for Mark. He wanted to share the news. “We need to celebrate everything.” His voice caught because he was smiling so hard and had a shine in his eyes.
“Trent, everything’s perfect.” Molly embraced her husband, the father of her baby. They gazed into each other’s eyes and she felt so thankful for finding him again. He rested his forehead against hers, holding her tightly, both of them caught up in their emotions. She had her memories now, but more than that, she had her friends, her love, and her future back.
The End
Return to Table of Contents, or a different story:
A Cowboy For Christmas
More Than Memories
The Enemy’s Son
Embers of Hope
The Enemy’s Son
Go to Table of Contents
Cora discovers her father is in trouble… and the only person who can help her is the enemy’s son, Nick Holloway.
Her father couldn’t have stolen a million dollars, so how is he going to replace it? In one week?
Nick is ordered to take Cora out into the wilderness to a remote cabin to keep her father in line. He claims he wants to help Cora and says he’s deceiving the Hollways to keep her safe…but what if he’s playing both sides? He could be using her attraction to him against her. Cora can’t allow herself to trust Nick, no matter how sexy he is.
Nick isn’t the only one offering to help. Alexander Pierce could scare the devil but he can also track down anyone in a day. He warns Cora that if she wants to find her father alive, he’s the way. Is it possible both Nick and Alexander have secret feelings for her? With her dad's life on the line, she might have to play her own little game.
Soon she’s running from her feelings for Nick, running from creepy Alexander and the rest of the Holloways, and trying to find her father somewhere in the city of Eugene. To make matters worse, everyone thinks she has access to the missing money.
The clock is ticking…
One
Cora tapped her nails on the table and glanced at her watch. While other people were laughing and talking over dinner all around, her temperature rose. She hated waiting for anyone, and this instance was especially irritating because she was worried about her father. He never ran late. Never. She called his cell and office once more and left another message when he didn’t answer.
Jerry was her only living family member and she knew she worried too much about him. He did the same with her. It’s me and you. That’s what they always said.
Usually she found her Dad waiting at a table for her, with dinner ordered and the most expensive bottle of wine available and ready to serve. Because he had lived most of his life with limited resources, he enjoyed splurging on her. Keith Holloway paid him way more than his accounting job warranted, but that was something Cora had been grateful for when they desperately needed the money back when she started college. Now she was a top reporter in the area and making her own money.
I should go. She grabbed her purse and threw a twenty on the table, even though she hadn’t ordered anything.
Outside, warm June air washed over her as she walked past the blooming rhododendrons lining the building. Summer had exploded into full bloom, turning her home in central Oregon into a paradise. The sweet smell of flowers and freshly cut grass filled the air. A soft breeze brought the relief of escape, as silly as that was. Cora filled her lungs and exhaled, trying to send the stress out with her breath. She’d go home and wait for her dad to call. Of course he’d feel horrible for making her worry; that thought dissolved any lingering anger.
“Cora Evans?” A voice from behind stopped her as she pushed the unlock button for her red Miata. She turned and found a tall man watching her with intense, rich light brown eyes that were set in a chiseled face. His dark hair looked almost too long. Almost.
They stared at each other like teenagers going on their first date, both trying not to smile. It was that perfect moment when you catch a stranger’s eye and share a second of blatant appreciation for each other. Except this wasn’t a passing look on the street. He wanted something.
A sportscaster? Then again, not everyone worked in her industry. And what did it matter what he did, when he was focusing on her as if he’d found the lost city of Atlantis?
She couldn’t look away either, even while she felt her body temperature rising.
“Miss Evans?” He raised one eyebrow as he waited for her to answer. She managed to pull her eyes away from his face, and focus on his striking blue dress shirt, just long enough to collect herself.
“Yes?” Cora hesitated, looking up again and drowning in his warm, appreciative gaze. His eyes had a glow to them. Almost by habit, she took a mental picture of him. She kept a detached gaze while taking in his surprised eyes, full lips, and bronze complexion.
Oh, he’s a model! He wanted some press.
Strangely enough, he acted as mesmerized as she felt.
“I didn’t expect. . .” He searched for the words to finish his sentence, but by now the pause had grown too long to cover.
“You didn’t expect me?” she asked, amused. The semi-sharp angles on his clean-shaven face gave him a determined, focused look. His eyes were focused on her as if he’d never seen a woman before.
“You’re breathtaking.”
Now he could be the amused one because his words put a rose blush on her cheeks. She had no idea of how to answer that, unless she wanted to say “Are you busy tonight?”
Wow. After an hour of staring at each other over dinner, maybe she’d let him steal a kiss. They could take a walk to the park where he could gaze into her eyes and tell her how beautiful she was. He would ever so slowly lean in for a kiss. He’d pretend to be shy, of course, but knowing. She could picture his bedroom eyes and the unspoken question…
Wait! She needed to figure out where on earth her father had gone.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass or scare you just then, but I needed to let you know your father can’t meet you tonight.”
Then why didn’t he call? And who are you? Come to think of it, that line sounded like he had practiced it.
“You know my father?” she asked. He didn’t answer her question, and Cora wondered if he would prefer for her to stare at him and forget she asked. His sure, sweet smile made her want to smile back at him, but she dug down deep for some self control. Something was off here. “I don’t believe I’ve met you before.”
He flashed a smile; a bright, friendly and sexy-as-all-get-out smile.
“No, you haven’t. I’m Nick.” He extended his hand, and she hesitated, but took it in hers. She let go quickly, feeling nervous about the small amount of physical contact. “I just stopped by to let you know your father’s tied up at work.”
She had s
pent hours interviewing people and practicing active listening and eye contact. So why did this feel so awkward?
“I tried to call him.” How ridiculous. Why did her father send a stranger to relay the message? Several questions having to do with Jerry’s work and Keith Holloway began running through her mind. People throughout the city applauded Keith as a hero for donating money in all the right places, but she just didn’t trust the Holloways.
Her reporting skills kicked in, even while she laughed inwardly. Not everything was a scandal waiting to happen.
“Why didn’t my dad just call me?”
With a helpful expression, he said, “He’s busy at the moment.”
He’s lying, but why? Three details about the man intrigued Cora: his hesitance, his looks, and the fact that she had never met or heard of him. Nick… the name didn’t ring a bell at all. She wanted to know more, but also felt a pressing need to get out of there.
“Well, thank you for driving over here to let me know.” She turned and opened her car door.
“I don’t want you to miss dinner. Since you’re already here, I’d love to accompany you. It’s an excellent restaurant.” He tilted his head and displayed a poor-little-puppy look. She’d bet few women said no to that face.
Maybe he had read her mind a bit ago. She wanted to fall into his wonderful trap, but this just felt too weird.
“Thank you for the invitation, but I’ll be fine.” She said the words with a smile although she wasn’t too happy about leaving him behind.
License to Love: Holiday Box Set (Contemporary Romance) Page 29
