gave up all the details I wanted.”
Based on Hunter’s request, Molly had pumped the older woman for information about a stranger just for the hell of it.
“Tell him if Anna Marie gave up that kind of information to me, she’d have no problem revealing Hunter’s information to her brother.” Molly gripped the receiver hard, knowing that each step she took brought her closer to some kind of revelation that would either clear the man who’d given her the beginning of a family-or destroy her hopes of ever having one.
“Molly?” Lacey asked.
“Yes?”
“You’re the best,” the other woman said. “And I know Hunter feels the same way.”
Molly didn’t know what to say, so she merely said a soft goodbye and hung up the phone.
Her throat hurt from holding back the tears. From knowing that in promising Lacey she’d get the information she needed, Molly had given her more than she’d ever given Hunter. At this point, Molly wouldn’t blame him if he gave up on her. The thought stung. She knew she wasn’t helping her own cause, but right now she didn’t feel as though she could.
TY LET HIS NEWEST CLIENT, an older woman who wanted to find the daughter she’d given up for adoption years ago, out the door. He promised her he’d begin at least a preliminary search now and he’d be in touch as soon as he had any leads. Ty knew he’d have to turn part of the workload over to Frank Mosca until he had time to resume his normal schedule. His life, Lilly’s life, were both on hold until she claimed her trust fund. After that, who knew what would happen next.
Ironically while they were in limbo, they were getting reacquainted. A part of him was overjoyed, another part cautious and wary. Because while they remained here in Hawken’s Cove, they were living Ty’s life. He didn’t know how she felt about the future and with all the turmoil in her life at the moment, it would be unfair of him to ask.
If and when they ever had that kind of conversation, there had to be nothing pulling them together except mutual desire. No trust fund, no death threats, no Alex, he thought, wondering if the other man was really a nonissue or if Lilly’s feelings for the guy would return when she did. He refused to think about that while he had her here with him.
He walked into the bedroom she was using at his mother’s and found her deep in thought, papers spread out around the bed. Digger lifted her lazy head up off the mattress, eyed Ty with a bored stare and laid her head back down again. The dog no longer fawned over Ty as if he was a new and exciting treat. Apparently his newness had worn off. Ty hoped Lilly didn’t get tired of him as quickly.
She wore a white robe she’d bought during their quick trip to Target for basics. In the time she’d been here, he’d learned she loved to lounge in a terry bathrobe, giving him a good view of her long legs. The tie cinched her waist and the deep V in her cleavage drove him mad. Just because he’d grown used to the sight didn’t mean it had stopped affecting him.
Each time he viewed her in that fluffy robe looking soft and ready, he grew hard immediately. His desire for her never ceased to amaze him, along with the deep feelings she dredged up from places inside him he thought long shut off from the rest of the world.
“Hey there,” he said, letting her know he was there.
She glanced up at him and she smiled wide, her pleasure at seeing him obvious. “Hi, yourself. Good meeting?” she asked.
He stepped inside and shut the door behind him. “Actually yes. I’ve got myself a new client.”
She nodded. “Excellent!” Her eyes glittered with excitement, then suddenly dulled without warning. “Wait. You can’t devote yourself to a new case if you’re worried about me all the time. Neither of us planned such a long stay and we certainly didn’t count on having your apartment destroyed all because of me.” She began to gather up her papers in a frenzied state as she continued. “I’m going to go back to New York until my birthday. My uncle won’t follow me there. Now that the fire department has declared the fire arson and not an accident, he must know the police are keeping an eye on him. He’d be a fool to go after me now.”
Ty wasn’t letting her go anywhere, but first he needed to calm her down. “Stop for a minute and listen.” He sat down beside her, then placed a hand over hers, stilling her movements.
Slowly, she raised her eyes to meet his.
“First, the police have our statements but they have no proof your uncle is involved with anything. We’re watching him, but they’re only in the background if something happens again. It’s not the same thing as round-the- clock police surveillance. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
She nodded. “That you don’t think I’m safe back home alone.”
“Correct. Second, we’re in this together. We always have been. Have I given you any reason to think you need to go it alone now?”
“No, but-”
He silenced her by leaning over and placing his lips on hers. He lingered there, savoring the minty taste of toothpaste and Lilly, his body reacting to her nearness, the desire for her building by the minute.
“No buts,” he said, as he pulled back. “Now what did I interrupt when I came in?” he asked, wanting to change the subject.
“Work. Everything’s running smoothly but I was just going over some changes in scheduling for next week and making sure it clicked with the amount of girls I have on hand.” She stacked the papers and put them on the nightstand. “I have other news,” she said, the light returning to her eyes.
“And what would that be?” he asked, glad for any subject that didn’t include her going back to New York.
“I called Molly this morning. We had a long talk and she revealed a few interesting things. First, you and Hunter were right. Anna Marie could have been feeding information to her brother Paul. Probably not as a way to intentionally derail us, though. But it is possible that her brother used her love of gossip to further his own ends. We just don’t know what those are.” She pounded her fist against the mattress in frustration.
Ty thought for a moment. “It could be as a favor to Dumont. There’s really no other reason for Paul Dunne to want to get Hunter out of the way.”
“So all roads lead to Uncle Marc.” Lilly’s sadness filled the room.
“Had you been holding out hope that he’d changed?” Ty asked.
Lilly shrugged, feeling like an embarrassed child caught wishing for a unicorn on her birthday. “I know it’s impossible, it just hurts so much to think someone who is related to me wants me
“I know.” He held out his arms and she crawled right in, snuggling against him. She needed his understanding.
Except suddenly understanding wasn’t enough. Just being close wasn’t enough. Lilly turned to Ty. “Move to the center of the bed.”
He blinked. “Okay…” He pushed himself to the middle of the bed and slid back against the headboard, shoving the dog out of his spot in the process.
Digger rose, stretched, and jumped off the bed, resettling herself on the floor.
“Now what?” Ty asked. His stare bore into hers, the electricity suddenly crackling in the air around them.
She grinned, unable to help herself. “Take your clothes off.”
He laughed. “We always seem to be in the position of someone wearing too many articles of clothing.”
“I wouldn’t think me asking you to get naked would be a hardship.” She crawled over and began to unbutton the collared shirt he’d chosen for his meeting with the new client.
“It isn’t.” While she worked on the buttons one by one, he reached for the sash of her robe, freeing the knot.
She parted his shirt. He pushed the collar of her robe aside. She bared his sexy chest. He slid the robe down her arms and she shook it off, leaving herself completely bare to his heated gaze.
He sucked in a sharp breath and immediately unbuttoned his pants. She hooked her fingers into the waistband and slid his pants and briefs down and off his legs.
“
“Not even close.” He glanced down at his erection and she followed his gaze, her own desire growing at the sight of his.
