23. Molly
Chapter 23
Molly
“A re you sure you want to run away with your tail tucked between your legs? I mean, if you do, then I will totally support you.” Only Toni could make being a coward sound like a totally reasonable solution.
I sighed and shook my head, barely biting back a smile. “Gee, Toni, tell me what you really think.”
“If you insist,” she forged ahead as if sarcasm was totally lost on her. “I think you should stay and explore this thing with the hot cowboy, and I think you should remember who the hell you are: a sexy, badass any man would be lucky to have.”
“But is it fair to subject Colton and Hunter to whatever Travis might do next?”
“Fair? No. But is it fair that you should have to fight him all alone when you’ve already done the hard part by ending the relationship? Also no.”
“But—”
“No buts , Molly. You want this man, don’t you?”
“I do.” More than anything.
“Then don’t let anything or anyone, not even Travis, stand in your way. He’s not worth it, besides, it’ll piss him off even more to see you loved up and happy.”
I nodded, feeling buoyed by her words. Then again, maybe it was just because she was telling me what I wanted to hear. “Yeah, sure, Toni.”
“Great! Let me know how it all goes. Good luck.” She ended the call before I could ask for more advice.
Loved up and happy sounded wonderful, but was it possible? I didn’t know, it was something I had to think about, even though it was what I wanted more than anything. But Colton hadn’t said anything about that, so I swallowed down those hopes and focused instead on Hunter. And my garden. And enjoying the peaceful life I had here.
Far, far from Travis.
I didn’t need to be greedy. I had a job that I loved, a sweet and precocious little boy to care for, and his gorgeous father whom I could admire from a distance. That was enough. For now.
“There you are.” Colton’s deep voice boomed in the quiet kitchen where I rolled out biscuits.
“I’m here,” I said, working hard to sound light and carefree. “Is there something you need?”
“Where’s Hunter?”
“Rolling biscuits tired him out, so he’s upstairs having a siesta.” I continued to roll out the dough until I had the exact thickness I wanted. “What’s up?” I turned to find Colton standing less than a foot from me, rubbing his hair nervously as his gaze darted all around the kitchen.
He was dirty and dusty from spending all day on the ranch, but to me, he’d never looked handsomer. Hotter. “I’d like to take you out, Molly. On a date.”
A date. It was everything I wanted, but still, I couldn’t help the suspicion that tore through my chest. “A date? Why?” It didn’t make sense. He’d had sixty days to ask me out, and he hadn’t. Then it clicked. “I already spoke to Serenity and told her I’d stay for the next twelve months.” I still wasn’t completely sold that it was a good idea, but Hunter needed me, and this was my job. I’d spent too much of the past couple of years hoping for a placement like this, long-term with a lovable kid who needed me, and now that I had it, I wouldn’t throw it away.
Not even to cure my broken heart.
Colton sighed, taking a step back. His eyes flashed with offense, which I didn’t intend, and instantly, I felt guilty. “I’m not asking you on a date to get you to stay on as my nanny, Molly.” His gruff tone revealed the depth of his hurt.
I frowned, unsure what was actually happening. “You’re not?”
Colton shook his head, a slow smile gathering at the corners of his lips. “No, I’m not. It was recently brought to my attention that I hadn’t given you a proper reason to want to stay, so that’s what I’m doing.”
My head spun as his words landed on my ears and slipped down into my heart. “A proper reason?”
He nodded and closed the gap between us, gathering his arms around my body and pulling me so close against his chest I felt the beat of his heart against my own. “Yeah, a proper reason.” His thumb and forefinger gently grazed my chin, tilting my head up so we were eye to eye.
I couldn’t look away from the gorgeous, seductive look in his gaze. The sultry smile that pulled his lips into a tantalizing grin. “Then how can I say no?” My heart raced, and the blood made an underwater sound as it pulsed through my veins.
His smile widened. “I’m hoping like hell that you can’t.”
He was right; there was no way I could turn down the opportunity for a night out with Colton. “What about Hunter?”
“He’ll spend the evening with Wyatt. It’ll just be me and you.”
That sounded heavenly. “In that case, I would love to go out on a date with you, Colton.” A squeak escaped when he hooked an arm around my waist and pulled me close.
“Yeah?” In that moment, he looked more than gorgeous; he looked sexy and vulnerable, as if he wasn’t sure I’d say yes, which only made me want to say yes all over again.
I licked my lips and nodded, and when Colton’s gaze landed on my mouth, my throat went dry. My heart pounded against my chest, and longing pulsed through my veins. “Hell yeah.”
“That’s good,” he growled. “Really fucking good.” And before I could even smile, his lips were on mine, soothing the ache that gathered deep in my chest and sending a different ache down my belly and between my thighs.
He kissed me like I was his whole world, and I didn’t know what to make of that, but my poor, battered heart was too happy, too overwhelmed to do anything other than revel in the moment.
I wrapped my arms and then my legs around Colton, and I gave myself over to the moment, to the heat that swirled between us. To this moment with this man. And even if it was just for this moment, I pretended that he was mine.
All mine.