She hasn’t moved from the spot in the center of the room, fixed in place from her anger, ready to pounce. In fact, she’s staring at me as if she half expects me to leave.
“What? You really think Silas will agree to your request just because we’ve been knocking boots every chance we get?” I shrug, pat the spot next to me on the couch. “Come on over here and tell the good doctor what ails you, doll.”
Molly sighs and shifts her weight from one leg to the other. I can tell she isn’t in a playful mood. I look at her more closely. Her tiny frame, all of five feet four inches, is stretched out thin. She hasn’t been eating well. There are the beginnings of dark circles forming under her eyes. Those weren’t there the last time I saw her, which was in my room on the second floor of the clubhouse. She frowns and shoots a glare in my direction. She’s actually shaking. The possibility she’s in some seriously dangerous shit sobers me up fast.
I lean forward and wipe the smile from my face, resting my elbows on my knees. “Get over here and sit, Molly. What the hell’s going on?”
She comes closer but still doesn’t take a seat. The woman starts to pace around like a caged-up jungle cat. That in itself isn’t unusual, given her high-energy, no holds barred personality in and out of the bedroom. But her behavior is intense, extreme. She’s liable to start swinging, the way her hands keep balling up into small fists. The woman has a heart of gold, but she’s tough too.
“Save it,” she whines. “This is a business call, Tate. I expect you to be serious and do your goddamn job the right way or not at all. My mom didn’t cough up all that retainer cash for you to treat my situation as a game. We need help.”
“I can see that now, and no problem. Talk to me.” I’m at the edge of my seat, wondering who she could be so scared of that caused her to let her mother hire outside help for protection.
“Molly. Either sit down or get all those clothes off. You’re too fucking sexy to be pacing around like that.”
That comment gets her attention. By now I’m anxious and cagey too, more than ready to hear her lay it out for me so I can do my job instead of thinking with my cock. At the moment it’s jammed tight against the fly of my leathers, hard as slate. My dick really loves it when Molly gets all hot and bothered. That state of mind usually leads to her taking it out on me and leaving me with the marks to prove it for days.
But this is different and I should know better.
My gaze flicks up from the imprint of her nipples pressing against the flimsy fabric of her purple tank top. I lock eyes with her angry death stare. Clearing my throat, I slide my palms down along my jeans. “Sit down. Now.”
Finally, she sighs and takes a heavy seat beside me, leaning her head back until her eyes are staring up at the ceiling. After a few moments, she straightens up on the sofa.
“Are you sure you can handle this, Tate? I wanted someone from your club on the job because I trust your guys, but this,” Molly points back and forth between us without meeting my eyes and adds, “maybe this isn’t a good idea. I thought Silas would’ve sent someone else. Someone more…objective.”
“There’s no one better for the job, Moll. Tell me something. Do you trust me?”
Her head snaps toward me, probably at the sobriety in my voice. I keep my gaze firm on her face as a variety of emotions flicker across her expression. I don’t try to interpret any of them. Not now while she seems so out of sorts.
“Yes. I trust you when it comes down to it.”
“Good, because I do my job well. Otherwise, I wouldn’t waste your time.” I wait for her to say something, but she doesn’t. Whatever the situation is, it’s bothering her in a bad way. I quickly realize that I need to drag the details out of her. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on. I want to know about this stalker problem.”
She clears her throat, then she shifts around nervously in the chair and breathes out a long sigh with her exhale of air.
“It’s an old boyfriend.”
She pauses again, seeming to gather her thoughts. Or maybe she’s weighing how much to tell me. I keep my mouth shut and wait.