The older woman’s laughter illuminated her sharp gaze behind a pair of trendy horn-rimmed black glasses. Rather than a handshake, Evie introduced herself and embraced Molly in one of her all-encompassing hugs. “Pleasure to meet you, Molly, and your precious daughter.”
“I’m sorry for the last-minute ask,” Molly said. “I hope we didn’t intrude on your Saturday night plans.”
“I can’t think of a better way to spend the evening.” Evie leaned into Hazel’s view and let Hazel take her glasses off. “Now, can I hold this darling baby girl? We need to get acquainted.”
Molly lifted her arms as if preparing to snatch Hazel back. Then she quickly dropped her arms to her sides. Drew considered Molly, noted how her bottom lip disappeared and her eyebrows creased together. Hazel wasn’t the only one who needed to settle in. He smoothed his tone to guarantee it would be reassuring. “Evie is like my second mom.”
Molly’s smile wobbled. Her words tumbled out. “I won’t be too late. I don’t plan to be late, that is.”
Drew was stunned. He’d never known Molly to be flustered. Or insecure. Over anything.
“You take all the time you need, dear. Have fun.” Evie swapped Hazel a squishy ball for her glasses, then produced a stuffed unicorn. “Hazel and I have a full evening ahead. We have treasure baskets to explore, bubbles to blow, a sing-along and reading books to get to.”
“That sounds more entertaining than a ballroom full of tuxedos and artificial small talk.” His mother smoothed her hands over the neckline of her floor-length emerald green dress. “Save me some of those bubbles.”
Hazel dropped the ball, babbled and stretched both arms toward Evie as if ready to begin her fun-filled evening. As if she had no reservations about Evie at all.
Molly clenched her hands together as if her uncertainty had multiplied.
Uncertain about Evie or simply leaving, Drew wasn’t sure. He could try again to alleviate some of Molly’s concerns. “Between Evie and my niece, Ella, they are our resident authorities on all things baby.”
Evie knelt on the large blanket stretched across the carpet. Hazel scooted into Evie’s side, her babble continuing at a rapid rate. The pair busied themselves pulling plastic shapes from a bucket. Evie grinned. “I’m more the co-captain. Ella is the leader of the baby knowledge brigade.”
“My brother and his wife are expecting twins in a few weeks,” Drew said. “Their daughter, Ella, has been instructing us all in proper baby care from infant to toddler and every stage along the way.”
“With Evie—” his mother touched Molly’s arm, her gaze soft, her voice soothing “—Hazel couldn’t be in better hands tonight.”
“I’m sorry. It’s not Evelyn, it’s me.” Molly pressed her palms to her cheeks. “Our day-care experience hasn’t been overly positive. I’m just really anxious about leaving her.”
Drew stuffed his hands into the pockets of his dress pants to keep from taking Molly’s hand in his. Then he pressed his lips together. She wasn’t his to reassure. Or to soothe. Or to hold hands with. She was his legal counsel that he needed to fire. “To avoid the messy leaving thing, when I was a kid, my parents used to sneak out of the room when my brother and I weren’t looking.”
“We coordinated every exit with the babysitter beforehand.” Drew’s dad stepped into the playroom, kissed his mom’s cheek and turned to greet Molly.
Evie set a purple plastic cube in the bucket. Hazel followed her lead. The bucket was soon refilled and Hazel set out emptying it again. Squealing and babbling with every new discovery she made. With each bounce and cheer Hazel released, Molly’s smile slowly returned. “Did sneaking out work?”
“Every time.” His mom grabbed his dad’s hand and backed toward the French doors.
Evie shifted Hazel, keeping Hazel’s back to them and her attention on the array of toys spread out around her.
His mom continued but in a pensive voice. “Of course, the guilt from leaving tiptoes right out of the room with you.”
Molly blinked and whispered. “What am I supposed to do with the guilt?”
“Accept it.” Empathy tinged his father’s words. “It’s part of being a parent.”
“Along with the constant worry.” His mother squeezed Drew’s arm as she passed. “A parent always worries about their child, no matter how old they get.”
Drew nodded, acknowledging his mom’s words. His parents were worried about his situation. That worry had pushed them to seek out Molly. He understood. Would they understand he wanted to protect them? And that to do so, he had to represent himself and keep his enemy’s focus only on him. Would Molly understand when he refused her counsel later tonight?
Molly glanced at Drew. Her voice low. “I know I need to network. To make connections. I have to build up my practice.”
And he knew having him as a client would certainly help her do just that. But he had to refuse her counsel. Still, he could help her in other ways. Drew kept his hands inside his pocket and angled an elbow for Molly to grip if she chose to. If she chose to accept his assistance, at least in this instance. “I can bring you back here in an hour or whenever you want to leave the gala. Promise.”
Molly hesitated. Looking to Hazel, then back to Drew. Finally she curved her fingers around the sleeve of his tuxedo jacket. Together, they eased out of the room. Hazel’s giggles trailed after them.
And the sense that his world would never be the same trailed after Drew.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE LIMOUSINE PULLED up outside the Silver Monarch Hotel in less than twenty minutes. Molly walked beside Drew as they entered the lobby of the luxury hotel. The kid-sized table and chairs, rainbow colors and babyproofed playroom at the Harrington home had been replaced by the surroundings of a five-star hotel, its impeccable but no doubt discreet staff and multiple crystal chandeliers. An elevator ride to the fortieth floor granted Nancy Harrington the opportunity to
