Cross My Heart

Five

Hunter sat in Molly’s kitchen, asking her to give him a break because relationships weren’t and never had been his thing. He couldn’t believe he’d laid it on the line that way but he had.

She placed one hand on the counter, her expression a mixture of disbelief and what Hunter wanted to think was hope.

For them.

She studied him. “Is that what we’re doing here? Forming a relationship? Because I have to tell you, I’m lost.”

He let out a groan. “Can I sit?” He couldn’t answer her question until he’d told her everything. Then she’d have to decide what was or wasn’t possible between them. And the story he had to tell her was a long one.

She gestured to a chair by the table and he straddled the wrought iron seat.

She pulled up a chair and warily sat down beside him.

He used the time to steady his emotions since he rarely shared his past. “I grew up in foster care,” he finally said.

Her eyes grew softer. “I didn’t know.”

He stiffened, waiting for the dose of pity women usually offered when they found out. The kind Hunter hated because it meant they felt sorry for him.

Molly tapped her fingers against the table, meeting his gaze. “I wonder if it was better than being carted off to boarding school when the stepfather of the moment was willing to pay the bills.”

He laughed, grateful for her smart-ass reply. He’d sensed she was special. Now he knew for sure.

“So really, how bad was it?” Molly asked.

“Not that bad.” He wasn’t lying. “Especially the last place. You’ve met my friend Ty who works at Night Owl’s?”

She nodded. “You introduced us last time I went with friends for drinks after work.”

“He’s my foster brother. His mother took me in and treated me like family. She did the same with another foster kid in the house. A girl.” Hunter paused a beat, knowing this is where their understanding and bonding would end. “Her name was Lilly Dumont.”

“Marc’s niece?” Molly narrowed her gaze, the connection becoming clearer. “The one who died?”

“The one presumed dead,” Hunter said, correcting her as best he could until he could ease into the truth. He leaned forward to explain. “Most people in town know the story but you didn’t grow up here. And obviously Dumont’s left out key pieces if he never mentioned my name to you.”

Molly drew back, her shoulders stiff. “I’m sure he had his reasons. But since he’s not here, why don’t you fill me in?” she suggested with barely concealed sarcasm.

Already she was treating him like the enemy.

Hunter gripped the cool steel backing of the chair. His only hope of winning her over was with the truth. “You already know that Dumont’s brother and sister-in-law died in a car accident.”

Molly nodded. “They left a huge estate and millions of dollars in trust to Lilly and named Marc as her guardian.”

So far their versions agreed, although Hunter assumed that was about to change. “Lilly was a scared girl when she came to live with her uncle. She’d just lost her parents and she wanted him to take care of her, and to love her. She thought he did, but it turned out that he only loved her trust fund.”

He recalled Lilly’s version of events, told late one night when the three friends had hung out on an old tire swing that hung from a tree in the backyard.

He glanced at Molly. Her expression remained skeptical and wary.

He decided to just continue. “His love and kindness had really been a way to manipulate her to gain access to her inheritance. It was the cruelest twist of fate. That’s when Lilly became angry and rebellious…and Marc became vindictive. When he couldn’t control Lilly with abuse, he had her placed in foster care in order to scare her into submission. It was the fear of going back to her uncle that caused her ‘death’.”

“No.” Molly shook her head.

Hunter could almost see the unwillingness to believe washing over her in waves as she rocked in her seat.

“Marc said Lilly was difficult from the beginning. Unwilling to accept authority or the fact that her parents died. He couldn’t handle her and had no choice but to hand her over to the state.”

Hunter clenched his jaw tight, not surprised at the twisted version of events or the fact that Molly would buy into them. “You said yourself you don’t know Dumont all that well, so you can’t possibly discount what I’m telling you.”

Molly rose from her seat. “I can and I do. Marc said Lilly was wild and uncontrollable. He’d been single and didn’t know anything about kids. He was at his wits’ end when he sent her to foster care. Afterward he felt awful about his decision and wanted to take her back and start over, but she stole his car and-”

“He has no proof,” Hunter said. “No proof that Lilly stole anything. All he knows is that his car ended up in the quarry below the cliffs and no body was ever found.”

Molly stood towering over him. Eyes wide, she was obviously fighting against accepting his story, probably because it would upset the fragile peace she’d begun to find at home. A peace she’d probably dreamed about for a lifetime, he thought, understanding her better than she knew.

“Think like a lawyer, Molly. You’re too smart to take Dumont’s word at face value,” Hunter said.

She rubbed her hand against her forehead. “I need some time. A few days to look into all this,” Molly said without meeting his gaze.

He rose slowly from his seat. “You won’t need to look too far. You can just ask the source.”

Molly moved her hand away from her face. “What do you mean?”

Hunter drew a deep breath, fortifying himself for revealing the news. “Lilly’s alive. Any questions you have, you can ask her yourself.”

Instead of looking incredulous, Molly merely shook her head at him. “You’re reaching, Hunter. You may not like Marc, but conjuring up a story of Lilly Dumont’s resurrection isn’t going to work. I know this has to be about the trust fund. There’s no way you can legally stop Marc from filing to claim the money.”

“You’re right. I can’t. But Lilly can.”

“You’re serious.” Molly lowered herself back into her chair. “She’s alive?”

He nodded.

“You’ve seen her?”

“With my own eyes. She goes by a different name these days, but she’s alive and well.” He neglected to mention that he’d been in on the setup all along.

“Wow,” Molly said. “Wow.”

He placed his hand on the chair behind her, careful not to touch her, regardless of how much he wanted to. “So you’ll let Dumont know his quest for cash is over?”

She rubbed her hands over her eyes again. “I’ll tell him what you said. That’s all I can do.”

“Can I get you something? Water?Aspirin?”

She shook her head. “Nothing. I just need to be alone, you know?”

He nodded. She had a lot to process thanks to him, including the fact that he cared-if she chose to believe him.

She walked him back down the long flight of stairs. “Some surprise date,” she said as he reached for the knob to let himself out.

He wasn’t pleased with himself but a lot had come out tonight, at least on his part. What Molly chose to do with that information was up to her.

“You do know I always wanted to get to know you better. I’ve asked you out before,” he felt compelled to remind her.

“But you never pressed the issue until now when you had an agenda.”

“It’s not my agenda.”

Molly pursed her lips. “That’s an interesting point. It’s obviously Lilly’s agenda.”

“She goes by the name of Lacey now.”

“And are you Lacey’s lawyer? Because trusts and estates aren’t your specialty.” Molly’s voice was purely detached and professional, a sign she’d withdrawn completely.

Hunter groaned. Lilly hadn’t officially hired him but he assumed he was all she had. “I may have to get some help but yes, I’m her attorney.”

She perched her hands on her hips. “Which puts us on opposing sides should Marc decide to pursue the matter.”

Hunter raised an eyebrow at that. “He doesn’t have a leg to stand on and I would hope you’d look at the issue from all sides before going in that direction.”

“I’ll discuss all options with my client,” she said stiffly.

She appeared so hurt, so betrayed, he felt compelled to step closer. He wanted to apologize but showing weakness might cause her to think his case and claim were weak, as well.

Alone in the small hallway, she seemed very close and for Molly, very vulnerable. He reached out and tipped her head upwards. “Molly?”

Her tongue flickered out and moistened her lips. He wanted to kiss her and knew he couldn’t.

“Yes?” she asked on a whisper.

“While you’re discussing options with your client, you might want to ask him who he blames for Lilly’s death. And what he did about it afterward.”

She didn’t reply.

“I’ll check on you tomorrow,” Hunter said, dropping his hand before he acted on his desire.

He’d never been farther away from Molly than he was now. The irony was huge. Just as his feelings for Lilly became clear, potentially freeing him for a real relationship, it was Lilly’s return that prevented him from getting closer to Molly.

Without replying she turned and headed back upstairs to her apartment, her footsteps echoing as she went.

Hunter walked out.

Anna Marie had finally gone inside. Although he was relieved not to have to make idle chitchat, he realized she’d probably tried to listen in on their conversation. He hoped like hell her hearing aid batteries had died or else the old glass-against-the-wall trick hadn’t worked. Otherwise she’d be blabbing to the world about his blown date with Molly. And Hunter’s reputation as a stud, such as it was, would be shot to hell by nine-fifteen tomorrow morning.

MOLLY CLOSED HER DOOR and leaned back against the wall, exhausted and wound up at the same time. She’d always had a thing for Hunter and she’d enjoyed the sexual tension that came along with their verbal sparring. Back in law school, she hadn’t gone out with him because she’d been a woman on a mission.

She had no time for a real social life since she’d been determined to work hard, focus on school and become a self-supporting attorney. Unlike her mother, who needed a man to validate her existence and keep her afloat financially, Molly intended to be independent. Unfortunately her success had come at the expense of any real relationships.

But now that she’d moved to Hawken’s Cove in an effort to renew ties and family connections, she’d mentally begun to open herself up to the possibility of a social life, a sex life.

With Hunter. But his walls were as high as hers. Even though he’d repeatedly asked her out, he’d never pushed. Now she thought she understood why. Foster care. She shivered. The reserve in his demeanor finally made sense to her. She couldn’t see someone who’d been raised as he had, being willing to put himself on the line for rejection.

And Molly was by no means certain she could move forward, either. Since she’d been a little girl, Molly had dreamed of a relationship with her mother. She’d wished for a mom who’d take an interest in her life, her friends, her schoolwork. Someone to talk to about boys, and hard times. Unfortunately, her mother had been too self-absorbed to worry much about Molly, who had been a mistake with husband number one. Her father was a wealthy California vineyard owner who Molly knew of but didn’t really know. And he had another family.

But since meeting Marc, her mother’s attitude toward Molly had changed and warmed, something she didn’t want to risk losing. And she knew Marc would feel betrayed if she started anything with Hunter. She’d lose the beginnings of her newfound family closeness.

Which brought her back around to the quagmire she suddenly found herself in. Marc had definitely left gaps in his story about his past with his niece. Hunter’s name had never come up, nor had Tyler Benson’s. Yet both had apparently played a big role during that time. She bit down on her lower lip, wondering how Marc would handle it if she questioned him.

Then there was Hunter, who’d finally stepped up and brought her dinner-an assortment of choices no less-yet had an agenda. He’d wanted to dig for information about Marc, as well as let her know Lilly was alive.

Where had Lilly been for the last ten years, Molly wondered. And why had she suddenly resurfaced now, just in time to stop her uncle from claiming her fortune?

Molly drew herself up and headed toward the telephone to call her mother and Marc, to see if they were up for an evening visit. Because she wouldn’t have any answers unless she asked the right questions.

THE LATE-AFTERNOON SUN shone through the blinds in Ty’s apartment, but not even the bright light eased the feeling that Lacey was shut in. She hated being confined. She’d been on her own for so long, she was used to coming and going as she pleased. Instead, she’d spent the last three days sitting around and waiting for Ty to come home from work. True, she went out with the dog, taking frequent walks with Digger behind the building where Ty lived, but she was more isolated than she’d ever been. Being idle wasn’t her idea of fun but she’d promised. In return, Ty and Hunter had assured her it was only temporary.

They didn’t want her to be recognized by the locals and have to explain her presence just yet. Explanations would come soon enough. Hunter said he’d spoken with her uncle’s lawyer and stepdaughter-to-be. He’d let Molly know that Lilly was alive and well, and he’d left it to the woman he claimed was his friend, to inform Marc Dumont of that fact. Lacey knew Hunter would have some news of her uncle’s reaction soon, but still, she was antsy and on edge while waiting.

She missed her job and her routine. As a means of keeping busy, she’d spent the last few days cleaning Ty’s bachelor pad, which obviously hadn’t seen clean in ages. On the first day, she dusted, vacuumed, washed a stack of dishes piled high in the sink, and then straightened up. The man obviously never picked up after himself. On day two she worked on the closets and today, she was starting the picking up process all over again.

She wouldn’t have thought it possible, but she found the whole messy bachelor pad thing kind of endearing, just like Ty himself. Lacey didn’t know if Ty had a woman in his life-nor did she care to think about it right now-but she wondered if there was a female who stopped by and picked up after him when Lacey wasn’t around. Nobody had called since she’d arrived. Nobody female, anyway, though Ty had had more than his share of clients leaving messages.

She picked up his sweats which lay beside his bed and placed them in the laundry basket, then continued with what had become her routine. Normally when Lacey cleaned, she was working for a living and the process was a distant, methodical one. She’d come by her job choice by accident and good fortune, but the occupation suited her. She’d always found solace in organization.

She couldn’t say she found the same comfort here in Ty’s place. Because along with cleaning up here, she discovered an intimacy she couldn’t deny. One she never thought about when she’d taken care of other clients’ homes.

She was learning how Ty lived day-to-day, what clothes he wore…what brand of boxers he preferred. Her fingers tingled when she touched his personal items, something else that never occurred when she worked at home. Ty made her think about the past, about a time when she’d felt cared-for and safe. And he made her think about the heavy-duty sexual attraction that she just didn’t feel for anyone else. Not even Alex.

With that thought, Lacey decided she’d had enough of being surrounded by Ty-his scent, his things, him. A short walk would help clear her head. She whistled for Digger who jumped off the couch where she’d perched her lazy body and within minutes, Lacey started for the door, the dog at her feet.

A loud knock startled her and she glanced at the door warily. Ty used his key and Hunter usually called to let her know he was stopping by. She looked through the small peephole and sucked in a startled breath.

“Uncle Marc,” she said under her breath. She wasn’t prepared to handle him but she refused to run away, either. Those days had passed.

Drawing a deep breath, she opened the door to face him.

“Lilly,” her uncle said, disbelief in his voice.

She folded her arms over her chest and nodded. In the silence that followed, Lacey took in his appearance. He’d aged. His hair had turned a silver-gray at the temples and he had deeper lines and creases in his slimmer, drawn face.

Digger sniffed at his feet, her nose digging beneath his pant leg.

“Would you please get that dog away?” He stepped back to get away from her pet, but each time he moved, Digger went with him, nudging him and begging for attention.

Uncle Marc’s aversion to Digger didn’t say much about the man’s character. Then again, she’d always known he didn’t have much.

She could have initiated conversation but a perverse part of her didn’t want to make this easy on him. She paused deliberately, watching the man squirm.

He glanced at her, his eyes pleading.

Lacey sighed. “Digger, come.” When the mutt didn’t move, Lacey pulled her collar so the dog had no choice but to get behind her. To prevent her from sniffing and further attempting to make her uncle’s acquaintance, Lacey blocked Digger’s way with both her body and the partially open apartment door.

“Thank you, Lilly.”

“I’m Lacey now,” she said to her uncle, feeling more powerful in her new life than she’d been in her old one.

Confusion colored his expression. “Well, whatever name you go by, I’m amazed. I simply can’t believe it. I know Molly said you were alive, but…” He shook his head, his face pale. “I had to see for myself.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it’s true. Here I am, alive and well.” She deliberately remained in the doorway, leaving him outside looking in.

He lowered his head. “I can understand why you’d think I’m disappointed, but it isn’t true. I’m glad you’re fine and I want to hear everything about where you’ve been for all these years.”

“It doesn’t matter now.” She gripped the door frame tightly. Polite conversation wasn’t on her agenda.

“I’d like to talk. Can I come in?” he asked.

“Only if you want Digger in your lap. She’s a people dog,” Lacey said.

He shook his head, resigned. “Okay, we’ll talk this way.”

Just as she’d expected, Lacey thought, doing her best not to grin. She had no desire to be alone with the man. She didn’t care if her feelings were unreasonable or a holdover from childhood. She wasn’t taking any chances.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past.” He reached a hand toward her, then dropped it again. “But I want you to know, I don’t drink anymore. I’m not blaming how badly things went between us on liquor, but it didn’t help. I didn’t know anything about being the guardian of a teenager.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Any idiot could figure out that abuse wasn’t the way to go. Especially since you only wanted my money-”

“That was your perception. I never said that specifically.”

“Maybe not to my face.” She pursed her lips. “If I hadn’t come back, are you saying you weren’t going to claim my trust fund by having me declared legally dead?” Nausea rose to her throat at the thought.

He shrugged. “Practicality dictated someone take over the trust.”

At least he hadn’t denied it.

“Besides, your parents provided that if you passed on, the trust would be divided between myself and your uncle Robert. I was just following their wishes.”

Once again, he reached for her arm, but this time he didn’t retreat.

Her pulse pounded in her throat. Before he could touch her, Lacey immediately stepped out of his reach.

His gaze dulled at her rejection.

She wondered whether he really cared or if he was still an excellent actor. She’d bet on the acting.

“I didn’t come here to talk about the money,” he said.

“Then why did you come?” Ty stepped up behind her uncle, surprising them both.

Lacey had never felt more relieved in her entire life. She’d handled her uncle but Ty’s presence was more than welcome.

TY STEPPED PAST Dumont and came up beside Lilly. He couldn’t believe Dumont had had the balls to show up at his apartment to confront Lilly and Ty was glad he’d come home early and surprised the man.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

She gave him a curt nod.

Relieved, he turned back toward Marc Dumont and wrapped an arm around Lilly’s waist. From behind, he felt Digger push her nose between them until her head poked out through their legs.

Some protector the mutt turned out to be, he thought wryly. Though Ty wanted to believe Digger wouldn’t have let anything happen to Lilly, he knew the dog was a lover not a fighter. As for Ty, he wanted nothing more than to protect Lilly, but once again she’d held her own. He had to admit, though, she’d looked awfully relieved to see him.

Now she leaned into him, her flesh soft and pliant, her fragrance sweet and tempting. He was proud of her for not showing any weakness in front of Dumont, he thought.

The older man cleared his throat. “I came to see for myself that Lilly-I mean Lacey-is really okay,” Dumont said.

“You’ve done that and now you can leave.” Ty stepped back, intending to shut the door, even if it was in Dumont’s face.

“Wait. There’s one more thing.” Dumont reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a rectangular envelope. “It’s an invitation. Two, really.One to my engagement party this Friday night and the other to my wedding next month.”

Lacey accepted the invitation with trembling hands. She was obviously shocked, gripping the invitation so hard her fingertips turned white.

“I don’t expect an answer now. Just know I’m glad you’re alive. I’m sorry about the past and I hope you’ll accept my invitation to start over.”

“I’ll think about it,” she said, surprising Ty.

From Dumont’s wide-eyed expression, Ty would guess she’d taken him off guard, as well.

“Thinking about it is all I can ask. I don’t even deserve that much. But I’m going to have a new family and a fresh start. I’m hoping we can have that, too.” Dumont shifted his gaze to Ty. “The apology and invitation includes you, as well,” he said a bit more stiffly.

Ty merely nodded. He had no intention of acknowledging anything the man said. He figured that made Lilly a better human being than him. He didn’t care.

In the wake of the silence that followed, Dumont turned and walked away.

“He’s full of crap,” Ty muttered, shutting the door behind them.

Lilly nodded. “How could he expect me to forget he had me placed in foster care at seventeen?” she asked, her voice shaking.

And Ty knew that foster care was one of the nicer things Dumont had done to her. None of them would ever get past the shift all their lives had taken as a result. “At least one good thing came out of it. You met me,” he said trying to lighten the mood.

“And my life was never the same.” Lilly turned toward him, a smile on her lips. “It seems that once again, your timing was perfect.” She stared at him with wide eyes that were less vulnerable than when she was younger but no less compelling.

“I’d been running DMV searches all afternoon.” The department of motor vehicles was computerized but no less bureaucratic.

He’d been searching for a missing husband and running checks on an alias his wife thought he’d use in various states. If Ty wasn’t already jaded by life, his missing persons and cheating spouses cases would leave him sour on romance. Instead he was just ambivalent in general and wary of the damage Lilly could do to his heart-again.

Ty was a textbook case-fear of abandonment and rejection, caused by an unreliable father who’d taken off and a gut feeling that Lilly would do the same.

“Good thing it was damn boring work. I thought I’d surprise you and come home early to keep you company.”

In truth, work that should have taken him no time had extended itself for hours because he’d been preoccupied wondering what Lilly was doing back at his place, knowing she couldn’t possibly find much more to make sparkle and shine.

“Well you definitely surprised Uncle Marc. You should have seen his expression when he heard your voice behind him. His whole face turned pale.”

Ty had wanted to take her mind off waiting for her uncle’s reaction. He’d wanted to get her out of the stuffy apartment and make her smile. He still did. But first he had to take care of her uncle. So to speak.

“Give me one second.” Ty pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed Derek’s phone number. “It’s Ty,” he said when the other man answered. “I need you to do me a favor. Call our friend Frank in Glen’s Falls. Ask him to cover our active cases. I have something pressing I need you to handle.” Frank Mosca owned a P.I. agency in the next town over. His business was larger than Ty’s and he’d have the extra manpower.

“Name it, boss.”

“I want you to tail Marc Dumont. Morning, noon and night. Get one of Frank’s men to help if you have to, but I want to know what the guy’s up to.”

“Surveillance. I’ll get right on it. I’d rather be out in the field than doing paperwork and traces anyway.”

“It’s all part of the game. You need to get comfortable with both.” Although Ty agreed with Derek. He secretly preferred being out and about to sitting behind a desk. But until they found someone to hire who enjoyed the more routine aspects of their business, Derek was it.

“Maybe I can snag one of Frank’s guys to come work with us.” Derek laughed.

“No poaching. Call me at the slightest sign of anything out of the ordinary.” Ty flipped his cell phone closed and turned his gaze toward Lilly.

“You’re doing it again. You’re protecting me.”

He felt the heat rise to his face. “I’m doing what comes naturally. It’s my job to be suspicious. Especially of that bastard,” he muttered. “And especially when he’s suddenly doing a one-eighty, acting like a repentant old man instead of the prick we know him to be.”

Lilly grinned. “Well, I like seeing you in action.” She smiled at him, her lips curved in a sensual pout, her mouth begging to be kissed.

He stepped forward. The years melted away, the desire for her was suddenly as real as it had once been. The light in her eyes told him the feeling was mutual. Something that strong and lasting couldn’t be denied, despite all the obvious reasons they should both walk away.

But he didn’t. From the moment Ty had laid eyes on Lilly again, he’d known he was a goner. Why bother fighting what he wanted so badly?

Putting the consequences aside for later, he lowered his head and let his lips touch hers for the first time. The old spark caught fire and burned between them. He kissed her, brushing his lips back and forth over hers, moisture and friction building. The play of his mouth, the eager movements of hers tempted him to take it further.

He slipped his tongue inside her mouth, filling his senses with everything she was. She let out a soft purr from the back of her throat and his body tightened with need and overwhelming desire. Sweet and warm, sensual and feminine, she curved her body into his, fulfilling every dream he ever had. And some that he hadn’t.

Suddenly, Digger began to bark, jumping up and down on her stubby hind legs, begging for their attention. It wasn’t the best way to be brought to his senses, but it did the trick.

He stepped back fast, still dazed but much more aware of what was going on around him. “That was-”

“So long overdue,” she said, jumping in before he could get his actual thoughts together.

“That it was.” Though he doubted those would have been his words of choice.

Mistake probably would have been more like it. He sure as hell didn’t need to search hard for the reasons why. She had a guy named Alex at home and a life that didn’t include him. Yeah, he’d known those facts going in, but in the heat of the moment, he hadn’t cared.

He should have.

She laughed, but the sound was more of a tremor.

He felt certain she had her own share of regrets.

“You have to admit, we’ve been curious about what that kiss would be like for over ten years. And now we know.” She turned and started to straighten up, fixing the blanket which already lay folded on the couch, obviously avoiding looking him in the eye.

Okay, so deep down she agreed with his unspoken assessment. The thought didn’t make him feel any better.

“I’m thinking of taking Uncle Marc up on his invitations.” She glanced over her shoulder as she fluffed a pillow.

His eyes widened. “You’re kidding.”

She shook her head. “I came back here to face the past and move on. I need to gauge his sincerity.”

“I thought we agreed he’s full of crap,” Ty said, not wanting to think about her moving on any more than he wanted her getting anywhere near her greedy uncle or any other relatives who’d never lifted a hand to help her when she was a child.

She picked up the pillow, holding it against her chest. “We did. We still do. But I need to go, for my parents as well as for myself.”

“You aren’t going alone.”

A relieved smile spread across her beautiful face. “I was so hoping you’d say that. So you’ll be my date?” Her cheeks flushed red the minute the word flew out of her mouth.

Ty didn’t think Alex, whatever his last name was, would appreciate the label, either. But Ty didn’t touch the comment any more than he’d take the word date seriously. Once again she needed him, nothing more. Even if the kiss had been everything he’d ever imagined and one helluva lot more.