Cross My Heart (Ty & Hunter 1)

“So you admit you love her?”

He rolled his eyes much as he’d done when he was a child. “Don’t read anything into my word choice,” he warned her. “I think I’m going to turn in, as well.”

Flo nodded. “Whatever you say. But I can tell you one thing. Few people receive second chances in life. I suggest you don’t let this one pass you by.”

“I’ll take it under advisement,” he said wryly.

Clearly he was humoring her. “So how long before your apartment is ready for you to move back home?” she asked.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Good question. I’m hoping four or five days max. It needs to be aired out, then I have a cleaning crew coming in.” He shrugged. “We’ll be out of your hair soon enough.”

She grinned. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. I’m happy to have you for as long as you need to stay. But I’m guessing the couch is going to be uncomfortable after a night or two.” Her perceptive gaze met his.

“Quit fishing for info rmation,” he muttered, shaking his head.

He leaned down to kiss her good-night and strode out through the doors leading to the small alcove where Lilly’s bed had once been. Flo had long since replaced it with a pullout sofa.

With both Ty and Lilly under one roof, life felt full again. It felt right. In Flo’s experience, life never stayed perfect for very long. She shivered and headed up to bed, hoping against hope this time would be different.

HUNTER PICKED MOLLY UP at seven o’clock and together they headed to The Pizza Joint on Main Street . Anna Marie wasn’t sitting on the porch swing and with a little luck, Hunter hoped she wasn’t home to watch them leave. He was pleased to see not only was Molly wearing jeans and a long-sleeved black V-necked shirt but a pair of red cowboy boots that did amazing things to his libido.

Because he liked touching her, Hunter kept his hand on her back as they walked into the old-fashioned restaurant. He passed the sign that said Please Be Seated, choosing an empty booth in the back. He had his first time alone with Molly in years and he didn’t want to be disturbed.

He gestured for her to slide into the booth first, then instead of sitting across from her, he edged in by her side.

“Make yourself comfortable,” she said, her eyes gleaming with questions at his seating choice.

“I intend to.” Not only did he want to take full advantage of whatever time they had together, he didn’t want her to mistake his intent. He’d decided to gamble on Molly and he wasn’t going to do things halfway.

“Can I get you folks something to drink?” a waiter asked, pad and pen in hand.

“Molly?” Hunter glanced her way.

She wrinkled her nose in thought. “Light beer. Whatever you have on tap is fine,” she said.

“Regular for me. Tap’s fine for me, too.” Hunter couldn’t help but notice the choice had flowed off his tongue easily.

For the first time in a while, he’d given no thought to ordering a martini or one of the premium vodkas he’d begun drinking as a statement maker. One that said I’ve arrived.  With Molly, Hunter didn’t feel the need to prove anything to her other than the fact that he cared. That said something important, he knew.

“I heard what happened at Ty’s apartment today.” Molly shifted in her seat, too aware of the man sitting beside her. She could barely concentrate thanks to the tingling in her leg where his thigh touched hers.

Hunter inclined his head. “It wasn’t pretty. I got there just in time.”

She placed her hand over his. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what you must have gone through thinking your friends…..” She shivered, unable to continue.

The waiter interrupted with their beers, placing them on the old wooden table and handing them menus, as well. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said.

“I love their pizza.” Hunter flipped the menu over to the back, focusing on the words and not on her. “I’ll eat any topping you like, so just choose.”

“Someone doesn’t want to talk about the fire.” Molly reached out and placed a hand over his.

“Just know that I’m glad your friends are okay.”

“My family is okay.”

His words settled in her belly, telling her as nothing else could that he didn’t have feelings for Lilly. At least not the kind that were a threat to Molly. Her stomach flipped with excitement and relief.

Taking his cue to change the subject, she picked up her menu. “So how do mushrooms sound to you? And maybe some onions and pepperoni?” she asked.

“Sounds delicious.” He pulled the menu out of her hand and placed their order.

Then he turned his full attention her way. They shared a large pizza and relived old law school stories. They laughed about professors Molly had forgotten all about and by the time he’d paid the check, she realized she’d smiled more than she had in ages.

He drove her back to the house and walked her to her front door. Her stomach fluttered making her feel like a teenager on her first date.

“Would you like to come in? I could make a cup of coffee or we could have an after-dinner drink,” she offered. When they weren’t discussing his past or Marc Dumont, they had a lot in common and she didn’t want her evening with him to end.

Hunter placed one hand on the door frame and looked into her eyes. “I’d like to.”

“But?”

He let his fingertips trail down her cheek. “But I don’t think we should push our luck.” A sexy grin tipped his lips. “We had a good time. Let’s do it again soon.”

She smiled. “I’d like that.” A lot, she thought.

She dug into her purse and pulled out her keys, glancing up at the same time he leaned down and brushed his lips over hers.

His mouth was warm and enticing, his kiss as sweet as it was arousing. She reached up and cupped his face in her hands, the new position allowing a deeper kiss. The minute her tongue touched his, he groaned and took over, sweeping inside her mouth with demanding energy. He kissed her like he cared and she’d had too little of that in her life until now.

She heard a scraping noise and then Anna Marie’s voice. “Isn’t that what’s called an inappropriate public display of affection?” the older woman asked.

Hunter jumped. Molly stepped back and hit the wall.

“It’s only considered public if you have an audience. We didn’t,” he said to the older woman.