Cross My Heart

Four

While Ty loaded her last-minute things into the trunk, Lacey sat Digger in the back seat for the car ride to Hawken’s Cove. Knowing her pooch, the dog would pace the long seat nervously but after a while, she’d settle in and lie down for the rest of the trip. After sitting in the passenger seat and buckling herself in, Lacey steeled herself, not knowing what Ty’s mood was now.

They hadn’t spoken on the walk down from her apartment and her stomach churned with nervous jitters. Behind them, Digger paced the backseat, just as Lacey had thought.

Ty started the engine, then buckled his seat belt. “Are you sure you have everything?” he asked.

She nodded.

“So you’re ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” she said, her voice quivering.

He reached out and placed his hand on her thigh, surprising her with his touch. She’d thought he’d keep his distance.

“You can do this,” he said in an obvious attempt to reassure her.

His palm was big and warm and his heat seeped through the denim of her jeans, branding her skin with his touch. His effect on her was immediate and electric. She swallowed hard, unable to deny the fiery sensations shooting straight between her thighs. She crossed her legs, which only served to increase the fullness which had settled there.

Needing an escape, she closed her eyes and he took the hint, removing his hand and shifting the car into gear.

Next thing Lacey knew, she woke up and glanced at the clock. Two hours had passed since they’d left the city. She’d shut her eyes in an attempt to escape her feelings and she’d fallen fast asleep.

She looked out the window at the lush green landscape rushing by. No more big buildings, no more hustle and bustle.

She shifted in her seat uncomfortably. “I need to make a pit stop next time there’s a place,” she said to Ty.

Ty lowered the radio which had been playing Top 40 and glanced her way. “She speaks.”

Heat rose to her cheeks. “I can’t believe I slept and you had no company the whole ride up here.”

“Don’t worry. I let Digger here climb in front and she kept me company.” He winked and turned his gaze back to the road.

He’d obviously put her earlier phone conversation behind them and she was glad.

They had some time until the next rest stop, so she bent her knees beneath her and shifted toward him. “So tell me a little more about your life after I left,” she said.

One hand on the wheel, he glanced over. He remained silent for so long she was afraid he wouldn’t answer.

Finally, he said, “Your uncle went on a rampage.”

She winced, pulling her knees tighter against her chest.

“He couldn’t find you, which meant he couldn’t get his hands on your money-not that he said as much. He just ranted and raved to Mom about how she’d obviously been neglecting the children in her care if his niece had been able to run away and get herself killed.”

Lacey let out a sigh. “Then what?” She was almost afraid to ask.

Ty’s knuckles turned white against the wheel. “He pulled some strings and had Hunter taken out of our house.” Ty flipped on the blinker. “There’s a rest stop coming up in half a mile. I’ll pull over so you can go.”

“Thanks. Digger will need it, too.”

Silence followed and she knew Ty was avoiding finishing his story. “What happened next?” She needed to know.

“Hunter was sent to a state-run group home.”

Lacey’s eyes filled with tears and guilt clogged her throat. She’d been so caught up in her own survival, she hadn’t thought about her uncle’s reaction to her disappearance. Even later, when she had, she’d never considered that there was anything he could do to the people she’d loved and left behind.

And she had loved Hunter, as a best friend and as a brother. He’d been so vulnerable back then, though he tried to hide it. And he’d emulated Ty, needing that guidance to keep him from acting on his emotions and not common sense.

“How bad was it?” she whispered.

Ty shrugged. “You know how Hunter was. Without one of us there to temper him, he ended up in one fight after another. It took a mentor program with inmates at the local correctional facility to set him straight.”

Lacey shivered. Reality was far worse than she’d ever imagined. “I could kill my uncle,” she spat.

“Just showing up alive might do the trick.” And to her surprise, Ty laughed.

She appreciated his attempt to lighten the mood, but couldn’t bring herself to feel anything but anger and contempt for her uncle, sadness and pain for her friend.

Yet she recalled Ty telling her Hunter was a lawyer now, which lightened her spirits. “How did Hunter get from delinquent to attorney?”

Ty met her gaze. “With a lot of damn hard work. He set his sights on a goal and worked hard to get there.” Pride tinged Ty’s voice.

Lacey understood, admiration for Hunter filling her, as well. “Tell me more.”

“There were some things Dumont couldn’t control. Hell, maybe there were things he forgot to care about over time because Hunter lucked out. He had no juvenile record other than misbehavior and he was able to get his paperwork sealed when he turned eighteen. He put himself through college and then law school. He owes more in student loans than he makes in a year, but he’s a damn good lawyer.”

“Thank God he pulled himself together.” Lacey realized she was rocking back and forth and stopped the movement. “What about you? What was your story after I left?” she asked Ty.

“Since we’ve been sitting outside of this gas station for a good five minutes, I think you’ll want to run inside.” Ty pointed to the full service rest area. “I’ll walk the dog.”

She hadn’t even realized they’d come to a stop. She lowered her legs and grabbed her purse. “I’ll be right back. But don’t think you can avoid the subject again,” she warned him.

“My story is nothing as dramatic as Hunter’s. Or yours.” His gaze drifted away from hers.

Lacey shook her head in disbelief as she finally understood what bothered him about himself. “You feel guilty about it, don’t you?” she asked. “Because you didn’t suffer the same way, you feel guilty. That’s why you avoided discussing it last night and you almost threw me out of the car without answering me now.”

Ty ran a hand through his hair. “You’ve been gone ten years. You have no right to think you still can read my mind,” he said, his words suddenly turning harsh and biting. “Especially since I’m not someone who was even worth mentioning to your friend Alex.”

His tone hurt but she obviously had read his mind and he hated knowing she could still see inside him. She’d bet he felt she’d belittled him by never having discussed him with the man she was involved with.

She reached out and touched his hand briefly, enough to grab his attention before pulling back. “Some things, some people are too important to mention aloud.”

Instead, they were to be held close to the heart and treasured, she thought, feeling a lump rise to her throat.

“You saved my life, Ty.” Without second-guessing herself, she reached into her shirt and pulled out the locket he’d given her. “And when I crossed my heart, I meant it.”

His gaze settled on the small gold piece he’d bought with his own money, his eyes opening wide in surprise. “That was a long time ago,” he said gruffly.

She’d embarrassed him with the reminder. But she’d also eased the slap he’d felt over her conversation with Alex and that was all that mattered.

“This got me through some really tough times.” She delicately fingered the treasured piece around her neck. “You got me through.”

That long-ago night, she’d sworn she’d never forget him. And she realized now that no matter where she went or who she was with, she’d always had him with her-his strength, his courage and his caring.

She reached out and touched his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze. “I never forgot you. Cross my heart,” she whispered, before she turned and ran for the safety of the rest stop.

TY AND LACEY MET UP with Hunter at Ty’s place as soon as they hit town. They entered through the back entrance off the bar. There were no awkward hellos when Hunter saw Lacey for the first time, Ty thought, watching stiffly as she bolted across the room and into Hunter’s arms.

“It’s so good to see you!” Her voice rose in an excited squeal.

Hunter pulled her into a tight hug. “You, too.” He pulled back, looking at her with a grin. “You’re still as gorgeous as ever.”

She laughed and punched him lightly in the shoulder. “You’re looking pretty good yourself.”

“He works at it,” Ty muttered.

He hadn’t received such an easy greeting and rationally he understood why. She hadn’t expected to see him, so she’d been caught off guard. Once she adjusted to his presence, he’d dropped one huge bomb about her uncle.

Ty knew he was consoling himself with platitudes and tempering his jealousy, neither of which sat well with him. He was normally a guy who went about his business with few highs and lows. Man, things had changed.

Ty cleared his throat. “Hey you two, break it up. We have some planning to do.”

Lacey turned toward them. “That sounds like old times. So how do you want to handle things?”

Ty stepped toward her. “I suppose the first order of business would be looking into the terms of the trust and finding out exactly what you need to do in order to claim the money.” Ty glanced at Hunter. “Am I right, lawyer man?”

The other man nodded. “You’re right. And I’ll look into that as soon as possible. I’m going to need some help because I’m a criminal attorney.”

“That’s amazing,” Lilly said, her eyes glowing with pride in what Hunter had accomplished.

Ty felt the same way.

“What kind of cases?” she asked.

“A little of this and a lot of that,” he said and laughed.

“Don’t be so modest,” Ty said. “Hunter’s well known around town. He’s one of the biggest trial lawyers in the state. His clients are pretty high profile even for upstate New York standards.”

Hunter actually flushed at the complimentary description. “I take those cases to make money so I can afford the pro bono ones for people who couldn’t otherwise afford decent representation.”

Lilly wrapped her hands around her forearms and nodded in understanding. “And I am so proud of you! I should have known you’d end up helping people.”

His cheekbones flushed even redder. “Ty’s the one who played savior while I went along for the ride. I guess I learned from him.”

“Well as far as I’m concerned, you’re both the best.” She grinned at them both. “Thanks for looking into things for me,” she said to Hunter. “I can’t afford to hire anyone without depleting my savings.”

“Which won’t make a difference once you get the trust fund away from the bastard who calls himself your uncle,” Ty said.

She nodded. “Still, having a friend to depend on is so much easier.”

“I’ve got an important trial next month, but I have some time now and I’ll handle it for you.” Hunter hoisted himself onto the kitchen counter, making himself at home, which considering how often he came by, he was. “So what will you do while I’m researching?” he asked Lilly.

Ty raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. “I’m curious about that myself.”

She shrugged. “I thought I’d reacquaint myself with my hometown. I need to relax and maybe feel like I belong here again.”

“I understand how you feel.” And he sympathized. “But you can’t just go walking around in broad daylight and risk alerting your uncle to your reappearance. You need to be discreet, at least until your uncle’s been told that you’re alive, well and intend to be rich.”

“Man, I wish I could see his face when he finds out he’s waited ten years for nothing.” Hunter rubbed his hands together, his anticipation of the other man’s downfall as understandable as it was shared by everyone in this room.

Lilly laughed but Ty heard the shakiness in her voice. For all her strength, she wasn’t quite ready for the reunion. A few days of breathing room would do her some good.

“So how do you think we should let him in on the secret? I can’t just walk up the front steps, ring the doorbell and say, Hi, Uncle Marc, I’m home!”

Ty grinned. “Maybe not, but I’d pay good money for tickets to that show.”

“We’ll have to go about this in a more subtle manner,” Hunter said.

“And I take it you have the answer?” Lilly walked up beside him and leaned, one hip propped against the counter.

He nodded. “That I do,” he said, cryptically. “But I’m not ready to explain just yet. In the meantime, you should lay low and relax.”

“I think I can handle that. Starting now. I’m going to walk around out back. It seemed quiet enough. Digger, come,” she called to her dog, who came running from her spot on the floor.

After hooking Digger to her leash, Lilly gave both Hunter and Ty an obviously forced smile. Then she walked out the front door.

Ty started after her, intending to catch up.

“Let her go.” Hunter placed a restraining hand on Ty’s shoulder. “We can’t begin to imagine what she’s feeling. Give her some time to deal with things.”

Ty clenched his jaw as he turned around to face his best friend. “When did you turn into an expert on Lilly?”

“When did you turn into a jealous son of a bitch?” Hunter asked.

Ty groaned. “Is it that obvious?”

“Only to someone who knows you.” Hunter ran his hand through his hair. “You have no competition from me. No matter how I felt about her once,” Hunter said, shocking Ty by laying his feelings out there for the first time.

“Once and no more?”

Hunter nodded.

“Is that because you don’t want to compete with me?” Ty asked, not comfortable with the direction the conversation had taken.

Hunter shook his head. “I may have felt that way once. Back when we were kids, I knew there was no way I could win against you. I’d never have even tried.” He slapped Ty on the shoulder in a brotherly manner. “But those days are gone. If I had those old feelings, only our friendship would stand in the way. Not my insecurity.”

Hunter’s admission shocked Ty. He gave his friend credit for knowing his mind and admitting the truth aloud. “So what gives?” Ty asked.

Hunter grinned. “My focus is on someone else.”

And Ty knew who. “Molly?”

“The woman’s said no so many times I’m lucky I still have an ego left,” he said, somehow managing a laugh. “But I keep asking her out anyway.”

“Mind if I ask why the hell you haven’t pushed her harder to say yes to a dinner?”

Hunter scratched his head. “Because until now, she was sending vibes that warned me to back off. And now that she seems more open to exploring the chemistry we have, Lilly’s back and I have an ulterior motive for wanting to spend time with Molly.”

Ty shrugged. “Explain the situation. Maybe she’ll understand.”

“Sure. And hell will freeze over and maybe she’ll tell me why she’s said no all those times when her body language was saying yes.”

Ty tipped his head back and laughed. “Which means you’ll never figure it out on your own. No sane man can read a woman’s mind, no matter how much they think we can.”

Hunter smiled. “Now that’s the truth,” he said, his smiling fading. “But by the time I get finished pumping Molly for information about Dumont, she’s not going to want to give me the time of day.” He walked to the refrigerator and opened a can of Coke.

“But you’re going to do it anyway?” Ty asked.

“Yeah.” Hunter downed half the can in a long gulp. “We’re the three musketeers. I just keep telling myself that where Molly’s concerned, I can’t lose what I never had. Not that I won’t give it a shot…But let’s just say my expectations aren’t high.” He finished the can and slammed it against the counter.

Ty felt for his friend. The guy hadn’t had any long-lasting relationships in his life, though like Ty, he had his share of women. And now the one he obviously could get serious about, he might lose. “Hey, man, how about we find another way to get information on Dumont and leave the field clear for you and Molly.”

Hunter shook his head. “If she was that interested, she’d have gone out with me long before now. Lilly needs us and that’s that.” Hunter started for the door, then paused and turned. “But when it comes to anything other than my help, when it comes to Lilly, you’re the man.”

Ty groaned. Sometimes Hunter still showed signs of being the idiot kid who spoke up and thought later. Which was why Ty loved the guy like a brother.

He glanced at his friend. “Actually there’s another man in Lilly’s life and his name is Alex.”

Hunter frowned. “Well, damn.”

“Exactly.” And since Ty wasn’t one for deep conversation, he had no idea what to say now.

Hunter glanced at his watch, a gold Rolex he’d bought after winning a huge case for a wealthy guy accused of murdering his wife. It was his first step toward becoming a stuffed shirt hired by the hotshots.

“I need to get going.”

“Molly?” Ty asked, figuring it was a rhetorical question.

He nodded. “I guess she’s the best person to tell about Lilly being alive. I have no doubt she’ll break it to Dumont. We can go from there.”

“Think she’ll just hand us the trust fund agreement?”

Hunter shrugged. “Who knows. Hopefully she’ll tell us which law firm does have it.”

“Good luck. You know where to find us when the deed is done,” Ty said.

“You said us. Lilly’s staying here?”

Ty nodded. “I didn’t think she could afford a hotel. Besides, I didn’t think she’d want to be alone.”

“There you go again. Playing the hero.Making decisions for others. Except in this case, it’s the right thing. The two of you under one roof ought to give you a chance to revisit the past and see what could have been. What still might be.”

Ty shook his head. “Not a chance.” Lilly had been a sweet girl who needed him. Now she was a grown woman who needed no one and had a life and another man waiting for her in the city.

“You know what they say. Never say never,” Hunter said before walking out the door and slamming it behind him.

HUNTER PAUSED in the hallway outside Ty’s apartment. He needed a minute to pull his thoughts together.

Lilly was home and looked better than ever. Ty was as sucker punched as he’d been way back when. And Hunter, well, his questions were answered. He’d been damn glad to see her, but only as a friend.

A friend he’d do anything for, not just for old times’ sake but also because, as a lawyer, he’d become an advocate of the underdog. Faced with Dumont, Lilly was the underdog and Hunter wouldn’t mind sticking it to the man who’d caused him untold pain. He just didn’t want to cause Molly any grief in the process.

From the day they’d met, Hunter and Molly had been on parallel paths that just couldn’t ever seem to cross. Back in law school, Molly barely took time from studying to do much of anything else. Hunter had been the same way, focused on succeeding. He’d been determined to graduate and make something of himself, mostly because his father had told him he never would. Once Hunter had done a one-eighty in juvie he’d decided to prove everyone who ever said he’d never be anything wrong. And he had, despite the father he’d run away from, and the mother who just didn’t want him. And despite Dumont, who’d pulled Hunter out of the only home he’d ever known.

Despite it all, Hunter had succeeded. And he resented like hell the fact that Dumont would once again cause him to lose someone he cared deeply about. He and Molly never had a chance before and tonight Hunter’s actions would ensure they never would. It wasn’t that he put Lilly and Ty above Molly-he just could never betray his family. They were all he had.

He stopped at The Tavern and picked up a variety of things for dinner, including a bottle of wine, before showing up on Molly’s doorstep. He walked up the driveway.

Just as Hunter had anticipated, Anna Marie, the court clerk and Molly’s landlord, sat on her porch swing. Her graying blond hair was pulled up in a bun. Wrapped in a sweater, she enjoyed the cool September night air-along with the ability to scour the neighborhood for good gossip. Which Hunter knew he was providing.

Still, he strode up the walkway, stopping outside Molly’s door. “Nice night out,” he said to Anna Marie before he rang the bell.

“It’s getting cold. There’s a chill in the air.” She pulled the heavy knit sweater tighter around her.

“Why don’t you go inside then?”

“I might miss-”

“A shooting star?” Hunter asked.

“Something like that.” The older woman winked at him and eased back in her swing. “What are you doing in town this late in the evening? I thought when you weren’t in court or at work, you preferred your swanky apartment in Albany.”

Hunter laughed. “I’m sure you already know why I’m here, so let’s get it over with.” He reached out and rang the doorbell with Molly’s name beneath it.

Under Anna Marie’s prying eyes, Molly opened the door, her eyes widening at the sight of Hunter and the grocery bag tucked under one arm. “Well, this is a surprise.”

“Because I finally decided not to take no for an answer?”

She nodded but pleasure lit up her gaze and for a minute, he let himself enjoy it.

He leaned against the siding of the house, admiring her formfitting jeans and fitted long-sleeved shirt. A far cry from the suits she wore in court, she looked more like she had when he’d first met her at Albany Law. Except now that she was home alone, the bright colors that defined her were nowhere to be found. Hmm. Another intriguing part of Molly to figure out…Wouldn’t that be a pleasure, assuming he was given the chance.

“Well, I can be persistent when I decide to be. So are you going to let me in? Or are you going to keep giving Anna Marie over here a free show?” He winked at the older woman who waved as she continued her swinging.

“When you put it that way, I have no choice.” Molly pushed open the screen and Hunter stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. “Honestly, sometimes I think she’s listening with a glass to the wall,” she said, laughing.

“Do you live the kind of exciting life she’d find entertaining?” he asked.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” A sly smile curved her lips. “So what’s in the bag?”

“Food.”

She motioned for him to follow her up the stairs and into her home, stopping in the little kitchen area.

“I didn’t know what you liked, since you’ve never allowed me the privilege of buying you dinner, so I’ve got a variety of specials from The Tavern.” He proceeded to unpack a fully cooked steak dinner, a Tilapia fish entrée, and chicken Marsala. “I covered all the bases,” he said.

Hunter knew he’d come a long way from the embarrassed, awkward kid that Ty had taken under his wing. Still, sometimes he was thrown back to the state of insecurity he experienced before he’d overcome juvenile detention.

But Molly didn’t laugh at him. Instead she looked over each platter and inhaled deeply. “I’d love a little of each. How about you?”

That easily, she broke through his anxiety and they shared a meal. He asked about her parents and her life, but like a lawyer, she deflected his questions with ones of her own. They sparred and he enjoyed her company. But none of their conversation offered him any openings to ask about Dumont.

“So Anna Marie tells me you know my soon-to-be-stepfather,” Molly finally said, as Hunter handed her dishes and she rinsed them clean.

She’d made it easy on him after all, giving him the entry he sought. He shook his head and laughed. “I forgot gossip runs both ways.”

Molly slanted her head his way. “Meaning?”

“Anna Marie was only too happy to feed me information about your mother’s upcoming marriage. Then she turned around and told you about Dumont and me.”

“Actually all she mentioned was that you shared a past. Care to elaborate?”

“Not really.” He braced his hands on the white Formica countertop. “But I suppose if I want information from you about Dumont, I’m going to have to share what I know.”

Hunter knew the minute she realized his dinner had been more of a ploy to question her about Dumont than a ruse to get that long-sought-after date.

Disappointment clouded her eyes. “So you’re not here just for the company.” Molly placed the dish towel on the counter and turned to face him. “You know what, Hunter? You suck,” she said, plainly. “We may have spent years tiptoeing around dating each other but I never pegged you for a guy who wouldn’t just outright ask for something he wanted.”

Unless he cared about the woman he wanted something from, Hunter thought. He had no answer for Molly. Not one she’d want to hear, anyway.

“So what do you want to know about Marc Dumont that’s so urgent you showed up here tonight?” she asked, her disgust with him clear.

“Do you like the man?” He figured he’d start with basic questions and lead up to his big revelation.

Molly shrugged. “He seems like a decent guy. He may be my mother’s soon-to-be fifth husband, but he’s the first one who’s brought me into the family instead of pushing me out.”

The same man who’d thrown Lilly out of her own home now chose to give one to Molly. What a goddamn mess. Hunter hadn’t known about Molly’s history with her mother but now he had a clue. Like Hunter, Molly’s family proved that sometimes having parents didn’t guarantee a good life.

“Why do you ask?”

Hunter inhaled deep. “Let’s say my past with Dumont doesn’t paint him in a favorable light. But you like him?”

“Like I said, he seems decent. He makes Mom happy and he’s been nice to me. But I can’t say I know him all that well. The romance or whatever you want to call it happened pretty fast. Then again with my mother, all her romances happened fast. The marriages materialized even faster.”

“Is your mother…” He sought for a delicate way to ask his next question, then decided what the hell. He’d blown any shot with this woman already. “Is your mother wealthy?” he asked.

Molly burst out laughing. Not the light ringing laughter that usually drew him but a loud, droll sound.

“God, no. Well, I take that back. My mother marries wealthy men, ends up divorced with a decent settlement, blows through the money and moves on to the next catch.”

“Dumont’s her next wealthy catch?” Hunter asked incredulously.

Molly nodded. “If he isn’t now, he will be after he inherits his late brother’s trust fund.”

Which explains why good old Marc Dumont was the future husband who wanted Molly around. The man needed her legal skills to help him gain his fortune. And what better way to get it than to push his fiancée into renewing her relationship with her lawyer daughter? He’d endear himself to both Molly and to his soon-to-be wife.

Molly exhaled and pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingertips.

He stepped forward, placing his hand on her shoulder. Her skin felt hot and feverish beneath his palm. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine. It’s just a headache. I’d really appreciate it if you’d tell me what your connection is to Marc Dumont and why you’re here grilling me about my family. It’s not like you gave a damn before now,” she said, her voice deep and gravelly.

“I always gave a damn,” he said so low he could barely hear himself speak. “I just didn’t know what to do about it.”

“Well, I can tell you that showing up here with a meal and an agenda is one hell of a way to show you care.”

He wasn’t surprised by her words. She had a valid point. “You’re going to have to cut me some slack here. I’m not exactly a pro at forming relationships.”

She laughed. “You’d never know it from the courthouse rumors.”

He wanted to treat her to a cocky grin but a real smile was all he could offer. “You said it yourself. All rumors.”

He’d never had a relationship with a woman that involved his emotions. Unless he counted Lilly and he realized now that he’d loved her but he hadn’t been in love. The truth came as a relief. He’d always be there for Lilly. He’d bail her out or help her in any way he could because they’d bonded years before.

Yet what he’d begun to feel for Molly was stronger than his feelings for Lilly because of what he sensed he could feel in the future-if he opened himself up to the possibility of being hurt. He’d betrayed her tonight. At this moment. Because he stood in Molly’s house, in need of information to help Lilly, a woman Molly thought was dead.

The ironic thing was, the women were very much alike and Hunter could even see them being friends. In another life or in this one, if only things were less complicated.

But they weren’t. And they’d only get more complex when Molly found out the truth.