Sealed with a Kiss

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE SEASIDE INN WAS a far cry from the hotel casino Hunter had chosen for them. Molly followed him into the seedy motel. The air smelled like must and mold and the place hadn’t been updated or painted in years.

She felt a keen sense of disappointment in Paul Markham, something that seemed to grow with each new thing they learned about the man. Victim or not, he hadn’t been the person her father and Sonya had thought they’d known.

“I’m looking for Ted Frye,” Hunter said to the female behind the desk.

“I’m Mary Frye, Ted’s sister. He’s off today. Can I help you?” the bleached blonde asked as she turned around to face them.

The young woman, who had to be in her midtwenties, took one look at Hunter and her eyes opened wide in distinct approval. Her hand flew to her long hair, which hung down her back in true beach style.

“As a matter of fact, you can. My sister and I are looking for information on this man.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the photo of Paul that Sonya had given them.

Molly bristled at Hunter calling her his sister and would have said something, but he grasped her wrist and yanked her closer to his side. A clear warning to shut up and let him do the talking if she’d ever known one.

Fine, she thought, but only because she wanted the information as badly as he did, and he obviously had another plan. He’d probably laid eyes on the pretty blonde and decided she’d be more cooperative if she thought Hunter was available.

She smiled sweetly at her brother and dug her fingernails into his hand at the same time, letting him know exactly how she felt about his presumption. Just because he was drop-dead sexy to Molly didn’t mean every woman would find him God’s gift.

The female behind the desk obviously did though, because she leaned toward him, resting her ample breasts on the counter and giving him an upclose view of her cleavage. Which Molly hated to admit was pretty damn impressive, especially compared to hers.

“Let me see.” Mary rested her elbows on the counter and stared at the photograph. “Oh! That’s Mr. Markham. I heard he was murdered,” she said in a stage whisper people often reserved for taboo subjects. “What a shame. His fiancée’s been here for the last week. My parents felt so bad for her, they’re letting her stay as long as she needs to regroup.”

“Fiancée?” Molly asked.

“Lydia’s here?” Hunter cut in smoothly.

The blonde nodded. “The poor woman is distraught, not that I blame her. If the man I was going to marry had been killed, I’m sure I’d fall apart, too.” Her arm deliberately nudged Hunter’s.

“It’s a tragedy,” he agreed. “We’re actually friends of Lydia’s and we’ve been worried about her.”

“Oh, I can call her and let her know you’re here.” Mary reached for the house phone.

“No! I mean, we’d much rather surprise her. In her grief she may not want to see us, but she’s been alone here for far too long,” Molly said, determined to be a part of this investigation.

“My sister’s right. Would you mind just giving us her room number?”

“I’m really not supposed to divulge guest-room information.”

“Just this one time. As a favor to me.” Hunter stretched his upper body across the counter, turning on his potent sexuality. “The truth is, I have some information about what really happened to her fiancé, so if you could just point me in her direction, I’m sure she’ll be extremely grateful. As will I.”

“Well…”

“Please?” Hunter shot her his sexiest grin.

The one he usually reserved for her, Molly thought, unable to tamp down her jealousy, no matter how inappropriate it might be.

“Okay. Room 215. Just don’t tell anyone I told you.”

“Your secret’s safe with me. Thank you.” He squeezed the other woman’s hand tight before turning to Molly. “Let’s go, sis.”

Molly gritted her teeth and followed him out the door, and around back where the rooms were. Typical of a motel, the second-floor rooms were accessible from stairs in the parking lot.

Once they were far out of sight and hearing range of the front desk, she grabbed Hunter’s arm to catch his attention. “Sister? You called me your sister!”

He turned. “And you played the part well. You stayed in the background and let me-”

“Turn on the charm so you could get the information you needed,” Molly said. “It was a good plan,” she admitted.

“Well, thank you.” His lips turned upward in a smile. “You know how I said I liked you in bright colors?”

She nodded warily.

“Well, I especially like you in green. ” Amusement lit his voice as he teased her.

Molly clasped her arms against her chest. “I was not jealous of some bleached-blonde bimbo with big boobs.”

“No?” Hunter stepped closer, challenging her to admit the truth.

She frowned. “Maybe a little.”

“Maybe you have no reason to be jealous. Maybe I like real boobs better than fake ones. And maybe I like your boobs most of all.” He dipped his head and pressed a lingering kiss to her lips, leaving no doubt about who held his interest for now.

Forgiveness is divine, Molly thought and kissed him back, slipping her tongue between his lips, savoring his masculine taste for a long moment before lifting her head. “Sorry I pitched a jealous fit.”

He laughed. “I kind of liked it.”

“Well, don’t let it go to your head, okay?”

“Okay. Ready to go find Lydia McCarthy?” he asked.

“More than ready. What a bonus that she’s actually here.”

Hunter grasped her hand and together they made their way up one small flight of stairs, then followed the signs to room 215.

Molly raised her hand and knocked. To her surprise, the door quickly opened wide and Lydia, her father’s office secretary whom she’d met many times, stood before them.

“You’re not the pizza delivery,” Lydia said, her voice flat.

“No, but we need to talk to you.”

Molly made a move to step inside but Lydia blocked her way. “I have nothing to say to you or your father. I’m sorry, Molly, I like you but we’re on opposite sides now.” She pushed the door shut, but Hunter wedged his foot inside.

“Please, Lydia. We have nothing against you. We know you’re grieving over Paul. We just don’t want an innocent man to go to prison and you might know something that could help us,” Molly said. “Please.”

Hunter placed a supportive hand on her back and she leaned into him, grateful he stood by her side right now.

“A few minutes,” Lydia said in a begrudging voice.

“Thank you.” Molly followed her inside, Hunter coming behind her.

Lydia gestured to two chairs by sliding glass doors that overlooked a parking lot. Molly and Hunter settled in while she took a seat on the bed.

From the other woman’s puffy eyes, she’d obviously been crying. And from her general disheveled appearance, she hadn’t left this motel room in quite a while. Molly almost felt sorry for the woman. But the fact that she’d been having an affair with a married man, that she was willing to believe the general had killed his best friend and partner, and that she’d deserted Molly’s father and his business in their time of need, made it hard.

“Ms. McCarthy, my name is Daniel Hunter. I’m General Addams’s lawyer. I’d just like to ask you a few questions about the night Paul was killed. We already know about your relationship with the victim, so I’m not going to push you for details you aren’t comfortable discussing.”

“I appreciate that,” Lydia said.

“So how long have you been hiding out here?” Molly asked.

Hunter leaned forward in his seat. “What she means is, how long have you been here? It can’t be good for you to be alone right now.”

Molly nodded and decided then and there to bite her tongue. Although she’d wanted to question Lydia, she knew Hunter would have more finesse in handling her. Right now, Molly was too upset to use any tact.

“Paul and I used to stay here together. I came here to be closer to him. I wasn’t much good to anybody at home.” Lydia pulled a tissue from the box on the bed and blew her nose. “Look, I didn’t do anything. I didn’t see anything. I don’t know what you want from me.”

Hunter cleared his throat. “I want you to tell me what happened the night Paul died.”

“Fine.” She rose from the bed and walked around the small room. “You already said you knew Paul and I were involved. He’d been promising to leave his wife for years and marry me. He swore he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.”

Molly opened her mouth but Hunter’s hand clamped down on her leg, clearly warning her to shut up. She did.

“And that night?”

“Well, it all started that day. Paul and Frank had an argument over money. I didn’t know exactly what happened, but they fought badly and Paul stormed out. He returned later that night and he was angry. I’d never seen him so furious.” She paused and glanced at Hunter. “He said he’d had a fight with Sonya. That she didn’t understand him and never would. He told me he’d taken an exorbitant amount of money from the business and he’d gambled it away. All of it.”

“Gambling?” Molly asked, surprised.

“Here in Atlantic City,” Hunter said.

Lydia nodded. “Many of his business trips included side visits here. I’d meet him at this motel for the weekend. He gave me money for spa treatments and massages and he’d go to the casino. I never thought much of it and frankly I didn’t care.”

Molly nearly snorted, but Hunter hadn’t removed his hand and she didn’t want to subject herself to a hard squeeze that would definitely hurt. Besides, right now she was getting more details than she’d ever imagined from Lydia McCarthy, and pieces were finally starting to fall into place regarding Paul and the money.

“But that night you realized he’d lost everything,” Hunter said.

“Yes, but I didn’t care. I saw it as a blessing and a sign that we were free. I told Paul he should take the chance he was given and run away with me.”

“He refused?” Hunter guessed.

Lydia gave a short jerk of her head. “Not only that, he said he’d never had any intention of leaving Sonya or his son. He said he had a life that he wasn’t about to give up on. Every word was like a dagger in my heart.” She clasped her hands to her chest.

Molly wanted to scream at Lydia’s theatrics, but she realized for all its absurdity, Lydia’s pain was real. Molly didn’t have to like the choices she’d made, but she had no right to judge her for them.

“What did you do?” Molly asked. What did a woman do when the man she loved suddenly turned his back on her?

What had Hunter done when Molly had turned her back on him? He’d retreated into his own private hell, she realized, looking back at the situation she’d walked in on a few weeks ago. The messy apartment, the heavy drinking and the woman in his bed who he hadn’t mentioned since showing up on her doorstep to help her dad.

Wow. Nothing like having the impact of your own actions thrown back in your face, Molly thought.

“What happened after he threw you out?” Hunter asked.

His voice brought Molly out of her painful epiphany. She hoped she hadn’t missed much and shook her head, clearing her mind of personal thoughts, at least for now.

“I left. I honestly believed he was upset over the money and Frank’s anger, and the fight with his wife. I thought he’d change his mind when he realized Sonya probably wouldn’t take him back, but I was still here for him despite everything. I decided I’d talk to him again in the morning, but when I got to the office, the police were there and Paul was gone.” She blinked, forcing back tears.

“Are you okay?” Hunter asked Lydia.

The other woman nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

Hunter rose as she walked to the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

He turned to Molly. “How about you? Are you all right?”

She nodded, surprised and warmed by his concern, especially in light of the comparisons she’d drawn. She didn’t like what she realized about the pain she’d caused Hunter and she hated thinking what the time since she’d left had been like for him.

Nor did she know what to say, so she remained silent.

Lydia stepped back into the room. “Are we almost finished? This really is painful to relive.”

“Just a few more minutes,” Hunter assured her. “What did you do that night, after you left the office?”

“What any woman who’d just been dumped would do. I went home and cried myself to sleep.”

Hunter stepped closer to Lydia. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sure you already told all this to the police. Sometimes it just helps to hear the story from the person instead of reading the statements.”

Molly admired Hunter’s technique. He’d been sympathetic, gaining Lydia’s trust. And even after hearing she’d been alone that night, he hadn’t asked her if she had an alibi. He probably didn’t want to antagonize her and risk her clamming up on them. He was a brilliant strategist.

Lydia, meanwhile, drew a long, labored breath. “I did tell the cops, but they weren’t nearly half as interested as you are.”

Because they already had their man, Molly thought bitterly. The small-town police wouldn’t even consider the possibility that Lydia had shot her lover when he’d rejected her. But it was a notion Molly couldn’t shake.

“One more thing,” Hunter said. “If you can possibly think beyond the fact that Frank was arrested for Paul’s murder, is there anyone else you can imagine with motive? Anyone that had a gripe or an argument with Paul, either personally or professionally? You two were so close, nobody would know the answer to that better than you.”

He was buttering Lydia up, Molly thought. And boy was he good.

“I have to tell you that as much as it pains me to say so, it is possible that Frank did it. He had motive, he had opportunity and he had late-night access to the building. I’m sorry, Molly, but that’s the truth.”

Molly clenched her jaw tight.

“Just humor me, please,” Hunter jumped in before she could reply. “Is there anyone else who had a grudge against Paul?”

“It won’t do you much good, but here goes. Mayor Rappaport had a business deal go bad a few months before Molly moved to town. The Rappaports had land on the far side of town that they’d owned for generations. Paul caught wind of the fact that some developers were interested in the property. They’d been sniffing around but hadn’t contacted the mayor yet and he was knee deep in a reelection campaign, running against a young opponent who was gaining on him. He wasn’t paying attention to anything except his career, and he needed more money to finance his campaign. So when Paul offered to take the property off his hands, Mayor Rappaport jumped at the chance, just like Paul knew he would.”

“Let me guess. Paul got the land for a steal,” Molly said, barely able to contain her disgust. The more she learned about her father’s best friend, the less she liked him.

Lydia inclined her head. “Right. Then he contacted the developers and sold the land for a huge profit. Much more than the piddly campaign cash Paul paid the mayor for the land.”

“And the mayor was furious,” Hunter said.

“Do you blame him?” Lydia asked.

Molly shot the other woman a confused glance. “And you loved this man?”

Lydia shrugged. “All’s fair in love, war and real estate. Paul’s business dealings had nothing to do with me.”

Just like his marriage had nothing to do with you? Molly silently asked. She knew not to voice her question aloud. Hunter would kill her. Besides, Lydia was being punished plenty for her role in Paul’s dirty dealings and ruining the man’s marriage.

“Do the police know about the mayor’s grudge against Paul?” Hunter asked.

“I do know the subject came up in the early days after Paul’s…murder,” she said, tripping up on the word. “But the police never followed through.”

Hunter immediately grasped Molly’s hand as if to make sure she didn’t start an argument with Lydia now. Little did he know she wouldn’t think of it. As far as she was concerned, they had two alternative suspects. Lydia had no alibi and she’d fought with her lover the very night of the murder and the Mayor had been swindled by the victim.

“We can’t thank you enough for talking to us,” Hunter said.

Lydia nodded. “You’re welcome for whatever good it did.”

Hunter paused by the door. “Can I give you some advice?” he asked, then continued before she could reject his offer. “Leave this motel room and the memories behind and go home to rebuild your life. There’s nothing good that can come of you wallowing here.”

“Goodbye, Lydia,” Molly said softly.

The other woman raised a hand in goodbye.

They stepped back out into the fresh air and heard the lock of the motel-room door behind them. Once in the stairwell, Molly turned to Hunter, unable to contain her excitement. “Do you realize what we found out? We’ve got two more possible suspects!”

Hunter leaned against the stuccoed outdoor walls. “It’s not that simple.”

“I don’t understand.” She fought against the panic about to swamp her. She didn’t want to hear anything negative that would dampen her spirits or threaten what she thought was positive news for her father.

“We’re on the same side, Molly. But you need to be both realistic and objective. We’d like to see alternative suspects. The police refuse to consider them. You see Lydia not having an alibi. I’m afraid the jury will see a woman who made a mistake by having an affair with a married man, but who was swayed by his false promises. I’m afraid they’ll sympathize with her and if we use her as a witness, she’s obviously going to go after your father as the murderer. She’s not going to help our case.”

Molly swallowed hard. “And the mayor? Why isn’t he an alternative suspect?”

“Because as far as we know, he caused no trouble for Paul. He lost his land but won the election. This situation merely compounds Paul’s bad character, but it doesn’t exonerate your father. And frankly I don’t see how we could ever get it admitted in court unless we find evidence the mayor threatened Paul.” Hunter ran a hand through his hair, obviously frustrated. “I’m sorry,” he said, reaching for her.

Molly allowed him to pull her into his arms and hold her tight. “Sometimes I hate you for being so professional.”

His hand slid up her back. “I’m hoping it’s the objective professional who’s going to find the key that’ll free your father. We’ll figure it out,” he promised her.

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

“Just like I’m going to hold you to your promise to put the case behind us until we get home tomorrow. We spoke to Lydia, we talked about what we found out. Now we take the rest of today and tonight as ours. Tomorrow, once we get back, we’ll figure out what to do next. But tonight is ours. ”

Molly had no desire to argue-she was in desperate need of his arms around her and his ability to make her forget her problems, at least for one night.

WHEN HUNTER HAD CALLED and booked the suite, he’d asked that a few simple luxuries be waiting for them. Sure enough, when they walked into the room, the lights had been dimmed and his request had been filled.

Molly strode around him, taking in the setting. A bottle of champagne sat chilling in an ice bucket, and a platter of fruit and an assortment of sandwiches and desserts had been left by the window, next to a large arrangement of flowers.

“This is great. I’m starving and there’s food waiting.” Her gaze swept over the rest of the goodies. “And champagne. Expensive champagne,” she said, turning to Hunter. “You shouldn’t have.”

He shrugged, embarrassed. When he wasn’t sure what to do, he had a tendency to overdo. Like ordering enough food for half a dozen people because he hadn’t been certain what Molly would like.

He slipped his hands into his front pants pocket and shrugged. “I wanted you to enjoy.”

Her lips curved up in a sensual smile. “I’m with you. How could I do anything else?” Walking closer, she pulled up to her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips. “You’re generous and kind,” she murmured. “Not to mention sexy.” She ran her fingers through his hair, taking obvious pleasure in just touching him.

That easily, Molly chased his embarrassment away and desire filled Hunter instead. “You said you were hungry,” he forced himself to remind her.

“I am hungry. For you.” She slid her hands around his waist, letting her fingertips dip into his pants. Her warm fingers splayed against him.

A low growl escaped his throat. “You’re playing with fire,” he warned her.

“That’s because I want to get burned,” she said as she undid the closure on his slacks.

His pants slid to the floor and he stepped out of them, then kicked off his shoes and socks. He pulled off his shirt and added it to the pile.

Hunter looked up and met Molly’s steady gaze. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes filled with yearning for him alone, and his heart did a crazy flip in his chest. He ought to heed that warning, he thought, but he was too primed and ready to listen to anything that resembled common sense.

Without warning, he lifted her into his arms. She squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t need you to carry me,” she said, but her laughter told him she enjoyed his display of masculine dominance.

“I know. You’re an independent woman.” He strode to the bedroom beyond the outer suite and lowered her onto the bed. “But just this once, you’re going to submit to me.”

Though he laughed, he hadn’t realized how much he wanted just that. Her submission. He needed Molly to admit how much she cared, that she could trust-not just any man-but him.

“Oh, come on. You don’t want me to submit. You want me actively participating.” She practically purred as she slid her fingers beneath his briefs until she clasped his erection in her hands and slid her thumb over the sensitive head.

He groaned, growing thicker in her grasp. “You do have a point.” She lay on the bed as he stood over her, but he had to admit that as long as she cupped him in her hand, she had control. And he didn’t mind a damn bit.

“You planned everything else, so please tell me you brought protection?” Her voice forced him to open his eyes.

“I did. In the outside zipper of my duffel.”

“God bless men who think ahead.” She released him and waved toward the bags which had been set in the corner.

He gritted his teeth and walked over to find his stash of condoms, returning to the bed to find she’d already kicked off her shoes, tossed her shirt, and was wriggling out of her faded jeans.

When she finished, she was clad only in a skimpy bra and matching panties. His hot gaze swept over her and he shook his head. “Damn, you are sexy.”

“I’m glad you think so.” She came up on her knees so she was level with him and braced her hands on his shoulders.

He thought she was going to kiss him again but instead her lips found his cheek. Whisper light, warm and enticing, she trailed a path to his neck, ending by nibbling softly on his earlobe. The soft biting sensation sent a shock of awareness straight to his groin.

“God,” he muttered. “What you do to me defies description.” His body shook with raw need.

She arched her back and her breasts brushed his chest, her hard nipples pushing through the flimsy fabric of her bra. Her light teasing touches aroused him to the breaking point. “Molly?” he asked through his clenched jaw.

“Hmm?” Her face had nestled in his neck and he felt her soft breath against his fevered skin.

“I like foreplay as much as the next guy, but I think it’s going to have to wait until next time.” If she teased him anymore, his cock might break in half, Hunter thought.

She lifted her head and sealed her lips over his mouth, sweeping her tongue back and forth over his.

Unable to take it, he grasped her hips and pushed her back onto the bed.

“I like it when you’re forceful.” Her eyes laughed but her expression told him her need was equal to his own.

While he shucked his briefs and began to make fast work of the condom, she wriggled her panties off first, then unhooked her bra and shimmied out of the garment.

Her nipples were peaked and hard and the blond triangle of hair beckoned to him. Before he could react, she swung one leg around his hips, rolling him onto the bed and under her, teasing the head of his erection with her slick heat.

His body shook and he gripped the bedcovers to keep from thrusting his hips upward. He needed to be inside her now. She levered herself until she was sitting over him.

Her gaze locked on his. Never breaking eye contact, he grasped her hips and together they rocked their bodies in unison until her body slid down over his and she encased him in her tight, wet sheath.

He felt her body pulse and tighten around him. He watched her face as she closed her eyes while accepting him deep, deep inside her until their bodies ground together at last. He clenched his teeth and breathed in, fighting his body for control.

He focused on Molly. Her hair tossed wildly around her shoulders and her lips were damp and full. He loved seeing her like this, wanton and wild, just for him.

His hips thrust upward without his consent and she moaned, arching her back and clenching her inner walls around him.

“Molly?”

She forced her heavy eyelids open. “Yes?”

“I know I said I wanted you submissive but I’d rather have you be in control.” As if to argue, once again his hips jutted upward of their own volition and his erection swelled inside her.

A slow sensual grin took hold of her lips. “Are you sure about that?”

He nodded. “Whatever you want. Whatever you need.”

Her eyes glittered with a combination of desire and delight. “If you say so.”

And then she began to move her hips in a circular rhythm. Deliberately slow and teasing, she clenched her thighs tighter and milked him for all he was worth. She gyrated her hips first in circles, then from side to side, finally rocking her body forward, then back, forward-then back again.

That was the motion that did him in. She knew exactly how to make him hotter just when he thought he’d reached his limit. With each motion, she proved she could ride him harder, take him further than he’d ever imagined. Each time she rolled her pelvis forward, her body clenched him inside her and her breath came faster and faster still.

His climax was building quickly but so were the feelings inside him he’d been working so hard to keep at bay. It wasn’t just his body involved. His hips thrust upward to satisfy his body’s need for release but his heart pounded in his chest, declaring his emotions with each and every beat. And each time he heard her soft moan, his throat swelled with a feeling he could no longer deny.

He’d loved her once.

He loved her still.

Hunter knew it and had fought against it since seeing her again. But it didn’t matter that she was destined to hurt him in the end, he’d give everything to have this for as long as he possibly could. He must have known it, too, or else why set himself up for a night he’d never forget?

She clenched him in her damp wet heat, rocking her body against him, moaning and calling his name as she built closer to release. He couldn’t wait much longer and he damn sure wanted to make certain they came together.

He reached out and touched his index finger to her mound, above where their bodies met. The moisture they’d created dampened his fingertip and he pressed against her. She let out a soft cry and tried to grind more deeply against him. His rock-hard member created intense friction between them, and her sensual noises told him she felt it, too. All the while, he worked his fingertip up and down, increasing the force on her clitoris, driving her into a frenzy.

Without warning, she leaned down, flattening herself against his body, so she could not only ride him but gain more pressure against her most sensitive spot.

“That’s it,” he whispered in her ear. He thrust his hand into her hair and kissed her cheek, pumping his body up and into hers. “You’re in control, you make us come,” he urged, knowing he was seconds from doing just that.

Her breathing quickened, her hips thrust against him and she groaned. “Now, now, God, Hunter, I-” She immediately buried her face in the pillow beside him, muffling whatever she’d begun to say as her massive climax hit.

Her body stiffened and he let himself go then, pumping hard and fast against her body until the quaking spasms finally took hold and rocketed through him over and over.

No sooner had her orgasm seemed to end, than she suddenly squeezed her thighs, clenching him tight and convulsing against him once more. She called out his name again, her voice weaker this time but no less sweet to his ears.