When Molly awakened, the room remained dark. She stretched her hand out to the other side of the queen-sized bed. It was empty. She lay still, staying in that space of dreams between REM sleep and wakefulness, where she could linger with her imagination, a soft, sensual, satisfying place far from the harsh realities of life.
Though he’d gone some time in the night, Molly still felt the pressure of his body against hers. And when she inhaled, the scent of their lovemaking tantalized her senses. If she kept her eyes closed, she could imagine his lips on hers, his hands caressing her every curve...
No man had ever brought her to the heights Pearce had. The storm, once conceived, had turned into a cyclone, taking its prisoners on an escalating spiral that hadn’t subsided until they were both exhausted and spent. Molly tried to recall their passion-murmured words and prayed she hadn’t disclosed her true feelings.
She couldn’t believe she’d let herself get so carried away. What was it about this man that made her lose all touch with reality? All he had to do was smile and her knees morphed into jelly. And his touch, well, that was another thing. Even the idea of him touching her sent shivers down her spine.
It had been a mix of incredible attraction–pheromones, hormones, and just plain lust. They should have been able to resist, should have, but they didn’t. Part of her regretted her actions, but part of her would treasure their lovemaking forever. She now knew what she’d been missing.
Molly stretched out in the bed like a coddled cat. It hadn’t been a bowl of milk she’d gorged on, but cream–rich, thick, and satisfying. Their lovemaking had left her exhausted, yet content. Molly lingered, not wanting to rouse in case it had all been another of her dreams. She lay still, not ready to face the harsh reality of second thoughts.
She should never have let things go this far. She should have said no. Was Pearce having second thoughts? She opened one eye, then the other. It was time to get up and face the day, no matter what misgivings either one of them had.
Dressing quickly, she checked on Gracie. The child slept peacefully, her breathing still quiet and regular. The only noise in the room was the thump of Trooper’s tail on the rug. Molly petted his silky fur. Leaving him on guard, she headed downstairs where she heard Pearce puttering in the kitchen.
Despite her shock at what she had done, Molly couldn’t keep her thoughts from lingering on the previous night. The memory of his fleeting touch, a touch that led to a whisper of a peck on her lips, that led to a sensual kiss, that led to a storm of passion. She couldn’t believe that between the two of them, neither had had the good sense to stop before they’d gone too far. And, caught up in the moment, neither had been prepared for the possible consequences of their actions.
Pearce was making coffee and turned as she came into the kitchen. His smile was warm, but cautious, as if he too wondered about her response to their actions. “Morning.” His voice sounded like silk, rich and deep, tinged with a husky quality that caught the breath in her throat.
He held the pot toward her. “Coffee?”
“Please.” She slid into one the chairs and leaned her elbows on the table, doubt seeping into her mind, plaguing her every thought. Was he regretting his actions, too? Is that why he’d left the bed in the middle of the night? His smile seemed warm enough, but...
“About last night,” she started, then hesitated.
“Yes?” The smile remained, but his face became guarded, unreadable.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have.” She looked up at him, hoping against hope that he would reassure her. Instead, he kept awkwardly silent. She licked her lips, hoping the words wouldn’t stick in her dry mouth. “It wasn’t your fault. I shouldn’t have let it happen. You’re my patient.”
His eyes turned cobalt blue, and his glare speared through her, pinning her to the chair. He reached out for her arm. The touch of his hand on her bare arm was like a hot brand. She jerked away.
“Is that all I am, Molly?” He lowered his head until it was so close the heat of his breath whispered across her cheek. Her heart leapt in her chest as his lips, once again as gentle as a butterfly’s wings, caressed her skin.
He pulled her close. Tipping his head, his lips hovered briefly over hers. Her body leaned into his and molded perfectly, as if they were a two-piece puzzle.
His lips whispered against hers, his breath suddenly hot and heavy. Sparks jumped like a Boy Scouts’ campfire. But the feelings he roused in her would make a Boy Scout blush. His lips closed on hers and her world was suddenly lit up like a fireworks display.
His lips nuzzled her earlobe. “Is this how you react to all your patients?”
Molly couldn’t answer. His lips had captured hers, making speech impossible.
A sharp knocking on the front door interrupted them. Molly went to answer it. Katherine Nesbitt strode through the open door. Pearce came to the doorway of the kitchen, his face dark as thunder. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m back from my cruise and I...”
“You what, Katherine? What do you want?”
“I did a lot of thinking while I was away.”
Pearce interrupted her. “And what?”
“I’m so sorry.” Mrs. Nesbit wrung her hands. “I want your forgiveness. I want to get to know Gracie. I’ve missed out on so much. I want to be part of your lives.”
Pearce glared at his mother-in-law. “How can I trust you?”
“Please, Pearce, give me a chance. I’ve already helped Miss Tanner here.”
Molly and Pearce stared at the woman, then simultaneously asked, “What are you talking about?”
“I have good news for you, Molly. My lawyer’s been working on your case.”
“Your case?” Pearce looked from one woman to the other. “What case?”
Katherine fluttered her hand. “It’s nothing, just something where Molly worked before.”
His voice was curt. “Did something happen?”
Before she could explain, Katherine jumped in again. “It’s all straightened out.”
“What? When?” Molly couldn’t believe her ears. Everything was straightened out?
She felt her mouth open wide enough to catch flies. “Mrs. Nesbitt, tell me.” Molly heard the harshness in her voice, but couldn’t prevent it. This woman treated her situation as if it was no more than an annoying mosquito. But this was her life, her career, they were talking about!
Mrs. Nesbitt waved her ringed left hand as if shooing the insect away. “David met with the hospital. They found out who the real culprit was.
“Who?” Molly demanded.
“Oh, I don’t know dear, Roger, Raymond...”
“Randy?”
“Yes, Randy something or other. Please, I need to sit down.” Mrs. Nesbitt crossed the hall and entered the living room, leaving Molly and Pearce in her wake.
“What the hell is going on here?” Pearce demanded.
Molly felt too stunned to speak. Randy! How could he?
He was furious with her for breaking off their relationship, but she would never have thought he would be so vindictive as to implicate her in stolen medications.
“Somebody tell me!” Pearce shouted.
“There’s nothing to tell,” Mrs. Nesbitt said. “There was a mix up at the hospital. Some missing drugs. Molly was suspended.”
“Suspended? Missing drugs?” Pearce glared from one woman to the other, his face crimson. “Molly, were you suspended?”
Molly felt the color drain from her face. Perhaps she should have told Pearce before now, but she didn’t want him to think poorly of her and risk that he’d believe all the lies. “Yes, but...”
“But what?”
“It was a mistake. They said I took medications...I didn’t.”
“They suspended you!” He glared at her. “Didn’t you think that was something important to tell me?”
Molly rung her hands, her voice trembled. “I was going to.”
“And just when were you planning on telling me?” Pearce demanded.
Molly looked down at the floor. “I wanted to tell you, but it never seemed to be the right time.”
“And Katherine, how could you have someone in my house, looking after my child, your granddaughter, who’d been accused of stealing drugs?”
“Oh, Pearce, you can’t believe that of Molly?” Katherine Nesbitt shook her head without disturbing one gray hair. “It was all a misunderstanding.” She fluttered her manicured hands. “She didn’t take anything. It was one of her co-workers. It’s all been straightened out. My lawyer...”
“Your lawyer?” Pearce asked.
“Well, yes, David. That was part of the deal.”
“What deal, Katherine?” Pearce demanded. “What deal did you make with Molly?”
“Oh, Pearce, calm down. It was when she first came here. She wanted to be on her way.” She turned and sat on the edge of a high-backed chair, her hands folded as if in prayer. “I mentioned that David had checked her out.”
Pearce interrupted. “Checked her out?”
“You don’t think I would let someone walk in off the street and look after my granddaughter, do you? Of course I had David check her out. He called Doctor Braithwaite. Small world.” She smiled. “They went to Yale together. Doctor Braithwaite told him it had to be a mistake. Molly is an excellent nurse and very trustworthy. He vouched for her and said he would look into the matter himself.”
Pearce advanced on her, and Molly read the anger in his slow, deliberate steps. Towering over her, his stance was rigid, his eyes blazed. His gaze stabbed through her like a lance. She stumbled backwards. Why was he so angry? She hadn’t done anything. It had all been a terrible mistake.
His eyes narrowed. “So when the hell were you going to tell me?”
Molly’s temper flared. “Tell you what? Tell you something that I didn’t even do?”
His chin rose, his facial muscles twitched, and his lips lengthened into a long thin line. “You don’t think I should have known.”
Molly shook her head. “That it was a mistake, that I didn’t do anything. What, Pearce, what should I have told you?”
His laugh was harsh. “You didn’t think it was important that the person I have let care for my child has been charged with stealing drugs?”
“I didn’t steal the drugs,” she said, biting off each word.
“You were suspended from the hospital.” He glared at her, his eyes black with anger. “Can you deny that?”
“No, but...”
“There is no but. You were suspended.” His voice rose to a fever pitch. “And I let you look after my daughter. I let you look after me.” His words were like a dagger to her heart. “To think I trusted you. I left you alone with my daughter, alone in my house. I could have been robbed blind. You could have taken off with my daughter.”
“Pearce, please,” Molly pleaded.
He turned away, her words bouncing off his retreating back as he limped toward the open door. “I want you gone today.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. How could he believe she was a thief? She loved him, and he wouldn’t even hear her side.
Molly felt the air seep out of her lungs. She couldn’t breathe. Grasping the back of the chair, Molly tried to coax her collapsed lungs to expand again.
A lump the size of an ostrich egg seemed to be stuck in her throat. Her mouth gaped open, but the lump remained. She couldn’t believe her ears. She’d put her life on hold to look after his daughter and care for him. The arrogant ass! The lump dropped like a lead balloon to the pit of her stomach.
“Damn you. How could you believe that of me?” She ran out of the room and up the flight of stairs. Slamming the door behind her, she turned the lock, and leaned against the smooth surface. She wondered why she’d bothered closing it. It wouldn’t matter if she’d left it gaping like a barn door. He wasn’t coming after her. He didn’t care if she walked out of his life and never came back. Grabbing her suitcase from under the bed, Molly stuffed her clothes into it.
What about Gracie?
Should she wait until the child woke and say goodbye? She thought of the trauma Gracie had suffered with her mother’s abandonment. She’d been a baby. But even infants knew their mothers and suffered when they left them. Molly knew it wouldn’t be fair not to say goodbye to her, but Pearce wanted her out of his house, and she had no desire to be here one minute more than necessary.
Tears running down her cheeks, Molly tugged clothes out of drawers and threw them into the suitcase. There was nothing left for her now. Her life had gone into a tailspin. She’d come here with nothing, had fallen in love with a man and a child, and now she was leaving with nothing but a broken heart.
Molly pulled her hair back in a ponytail, pushing some of the thick unruly strands behind her ears. She glanced in the mirror. Her usual peaches and cream completion was marred by two bright red ovals. The tears flowed again when she bade a silent farewell to the sleeping child she had come to love. As she threw her suitcase into the car and sped down the driveway, her heart felt as if it was being ripped into tiny shreds.
There was little traffic, and she had to keep reminding herself to keep to the speed limit. She was desperate to get as far away from Pearce as she could, and the needle on the speedometer kept creeping up. A few miles outside of town she veered with the curve of the road. She automatically eased her foot off the gas as she did every time she passed this spot in the road.
Her thoughts flew back to the night that had changed her life forever. She felt as if she’d just finished a marathon. Her heart rate galloped and her breathing came in a series of short gasps. She forced her body to calm. She couldn’t go on like this. She was leaving, and she wouldn’t be coming back.
Molly forced her attention away from the site of the crash and back on the road. She pressed her foot on the gas and the car shot forward. She grasped the wheel as the car veered for the asphalt. It was several seconds before she got the car under control, and several seconds more before her adrenaline stopped pumping. Her fingers knuckled the steering wheel until she was well past the site of Pearce’s accident.
Maybe it was for the best. Pearce was almost back to normal. He would be totally recovered within the next month and back to working full-time. What about Gracie?
Molly tried to reassure herself the child would forget her. She knew she would never forget Gracie. But what else could she do? Pearce didn’t want her there, besides she couldn’t stay in the same house with a man who couldn’t trust her, who couldn’t love her.
The tears streaming down her face made it difficult to drive. Who would have thought she could learn to love a child not her own, and in such a short time? Molly swiped at her tears.
Part of her wished she could swallow her pride, turn the car around, and go back. Go back and beg Pearce to listen to her, beg him to believe her, beg him to love her. But she couldn’t do that. She deserved more. She deserved a man who would love her enough to trust her.
The image of Pearce’s frozen face and the slap of his harsh words struck her again. Her hands tightened on the steering wheel, and a new stream of tears flowed down her face. Her vision was clouded. The honk of an angry horn brought her attention back to the road. She hadn’t been paying attention and had wandered over the white line. Molly nodded to herself. She’d wandered over the white line with Pearce, too. Now, with her name cleared, it was time to got back to the hospital and get her life back on track.
She pulled into the driveway of her condo in record time and was relieved to find a note from her roommate. Carmen would be gone on vacation for several days. Leaving her suitcase in the hall, Molly headed for her bedroom. She was exhausted. The lack of sleep in the past few nights and the emotional ride she’d been on, had caught up with her. She just wanted to curl up in her bed, pull the covers over her head, and escape from the world.
When she finally woke, the sun had set, leaving the house in darkness. The silence was eerie—no child’s laughter, no dog barking, no male voice to send her heart hurtling out of control. No sound at all, just the hush of hollow spaces. She let the pillow absorb her tears.