Chapter 7
When the door to the flat shut behind her, Molly realised what a bad idea this was. The man set the bag of supplies and her baby bag on the coffee table in the living room and turned to her. Er…
Was this where he told her to get on her knees or, worse, attacked her?
Molly hugged a gurgling Rose, trying to ensconce her daughter into her arms. I think I—
This is my old place, the man said, then pointed at his chest. I’m Leo.
His place? God, had he just kidnapped her? Of course he had. The massive eejit that she’d become, she’d held a stranger’s hand and followed him. A man she’d met at a pub. And she’d allowed him to hold her wee daughter and lead them to a flat that belonged to him.
I—I don’t have any money to pay you. As rent, I mean.
The man gaped at her and tilted his head as if confused.
I think I should leave, she said.
His eyes bore into hers, like she was some art that could only reveal itself if you stared at it long enough. I’m Leo, he repeated, once more pointing at his chest. Leo Buchanan?
The lightbulb went off in her head. What. The. Fuck!
This was Johnny’s boss. Someone who could shove her arse in a car and drive her right back to Johnny. Had this been some elaborate test Johnny had set up?
Molly took a step back. W-why did you help me r—run away from him?
I hate the fucker.
Molly shuddered at the slight rise in Leo’s voice and ran a hand over Rose’s back.
Leo held a hand up as if in surrender. I’m sorry. I’m not used to being near children. I shouldn’t have sworn.
She watched his posture, the upward turned palm as if he were asking her for forgiveness. The man had just apologised for swearing.
Molly dipped her chin to see Rose, her wee head resting on Molly’s shoulder as she took in the new space. She’s eleven months. She can barely talk.
But don’t they say weans are like sponges that absorb everything?
I’m sure I’ve heard that somewhere. Leo shoved his hands into his pockets.
I’m also sure you must be hungry. There isn’t anything in the house.
I moved out a week ago, and if there is anything in the cupboards, it might be mouldy. Why don’t I get us some food?
He had bought them groceries and now wanted to get them food?
And he’d apologised for swearing? Her heart squeezed at that, her brain playing a loop of those thoughts in her head: She had run away from Johnny.
Leo was his boss. Johnny’s boss had saved her from Johnny.
He’d purchased them toiletries and was now going to get them food.
Her stomach rumbled at that exact moment. A small smile cracked Leo’s lips, showing uneven teeth and a very sexy vampire-like tooth on the left side.
Like he needed another attribute to make him sinfully hot.
Get a grip on yourself!
Molly licked her lips. I don’t want to disturb you. I can call a friend.
Lie. She’d most likely need to find a shelter. But how long would it take for Johnny to track her down to one? He’d found her at a strange pub, for God’s sake!
Leo looked around the house, as if he was a potential tenant looking at it. Won’t this place do?
It will. Would. It’s just that—
You don’t know me, except for the fact that Johnny isn’t a fan of mine. And that I’m a rich bastard. A wince. Man.
Molly shrugged. She didn’t know him, but a man who apologised for swearing was several steps better than Johnny. I’m sure you can rent this place out. And me being here isn’t going to help.
She uttered the words, then realised he was probably just offering her this place temporarily, like a place to rest her head for the night. Her cheeks burned. God, maybe she had been away from normal society for too long. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—
I don’t need more money, Leo cut through what she was going to say.
His face had lost all smiles, turning into hard lines and clenched jaw.
The words he’d muttered had also sounded more like an army general’s order than someone stating a fact.
This place is empty. And it needs someone to clean it.
I’ve been keeping it, because… well, just because. If you want it, you can have it.
Rose started fussing, her wee eyes fluttering as she got bored. Molly walked further into the flat.
It was small, with a living room that had a sofa and an armchair, a kitchen area to the side. In the back, Molly spotted two doors. She assumed those might be for the bedroom and the bathroom.
Leo did a 360 turn. I stayed here for nearly a decade. Bought the place after I received my inheritance. If everything goes away tomorrow, at least I’d have this roof over my head. I’m sure your place with Johnny is much better.
Molly sat down in the armchair, cradling Rose. You never asked why I’m running from him.
The man only shrugged. I’ve met Johnny, and I’ve seen him operate the last couple weeks. Besides, I, er… I saw your bruises.
She felt her cheeks heat. Of course, he’d seen her bruises. What had she been expecting after she’d unclasped her dress to feed Rose?
The people I’ve met in this world so far tend to be unsympathetic ars—people. Leo swallowed the curse. I’m not one of them, although I keep thinking I might be. Not yet there. I still can’t tell a champagne from a chardonnay. Or how a liquid can be dry-like.
Rose let out a low moan. Molly cooed at her, but the girl was squirming, a tell-tale sign of her upcoming plans. If you’re getting us food, you better go. Armageddon is about to explode. Molly was glad for her daughter’s fussing. She didn’t want to talk about the bruises yet.
Leo’s eyes widened as he looked at her daughter. Oh. Oh! Don’t worry about it. He picked up the bag and pulled out a packet of diapers. In fact, he had several sizes of diapers. I didn’t know they varied with age. And I don’t know how old she is. Which one do—
Rose was done. She inhaled a deep breath and let out a wail.
Molly pursed her lips, then had to shout over Rose’s cries. I didn’t mean the smelly explosion. I meant the loud one.
Leo’s face was almost comical. He froze for a minute, then dropped the packets before sprinting out of the flat like it was on fire. Still, Molly had expected him to curse, maybe ask her to get out. Once more, his reaction had been better than Johnny’s always was, towards his own child too.
Precisely fifteen minutes later, the door buzzed. Molly had just managed to soothe Rose. Now, she stared at the phone mounted beside the entrance with its buzzer button.
Who could it be? Surely Leo had a key to this place.
The buzzer rang again, longer this time, as if someone was pushing down on it.
Would they get suspicious if she didn’t answer? Molly got up, still holding Rose, her legs trembling.
She bit her lip. The flat was on the third floor. And this was an old tenement building, which meant it didn’t have a lift. If she wanted to run, she had to go down the same stairs Johnny or his cronies would use to come up.
When the buzzer rang the third time, she picked up the phone and held it to her ear.
Hey, it’s me.
The relief at hearing Leo’s voice almost made her sob and drop to the floor. Without a word, she pressed the button to let him in. She walked to the door to open it when she realised the door wasn’t an automatic one. She’d need a key.
Had he left the key here? She whirled around, roving her eyes across the sofa, the coffee table, the kitchen table. There, he had left it on the kitchen counter. Molly set Rose on the floor, ensuring she was far away from the coffee table not to tip it over, then grabbed the keys.
He knocked on the door a second before Molly pulled it open.
God, would he be angry at her tardiness? He’d also offered to buy them food, and she hadn’t asked if he needed help carrying it up the stairs. The Sorry sat on the tip of her tongue, but his smile and that vampire-like tooth cut the apology and turned it into a blush.
He walked into the kitchen and dropped the bags on the counter. Sorry, I should have told you I left the keys. I thought in case you wanted to leave, you could.
Molly shut the door. Do you want us to go? I know a bairn is too much—
Leo looked up, almost startled. Fu—hell. No, no, I just… I thought if you felt obligated to stay and if I railroaded you into it, or if you felt overwhelmed, you had a way out. The last thing I want is for you to feel trapped here.
Molly narrowed her eyes at him. Most men didn’t think so deeply or care, especially when it was a stranger they were helping. How did you know I might want to leave?
If I were in your shoes, I might want to, he said as he pulled out containers of food. I got us two fish suppers. My guess is he… she can’t eat solid food? I went to the supermarket, and they had some baby food, but I also bought potato mash. And mushy peas at the chippy.
So he wasn’t just thoughtful, he acted on his thoughts too.
Molly felt her lips break into a smile. She’s a girl. Rose.
At the mention of her name, Rose, who had managed to crawl her way towards Leo, paused and looked up. She tilted her head as if asking him how he didn’t know who she was.
Leo blushed as he stared at Rose. Er, sorry, Rose. Are you… um… are you hungry?
Her answer was to crawl further towards him.
He looked scared, like he contemplated jumping on the kitchen counter.
Molly took mercy on him and plucked Rose up from the floor.
He was being too kind; the last thing she wanted to do was upset him.
He hadn’t demanded she serve him food either.
Of course, this could all be a ruse or a novelty.
Men usually showed their true colours when they got what they wanted from a woman.
She held out the flat keys to him, balancing a squirming Rose on her hip. You should keep them with you.
Rose reached for the keys and, when Molly held them out of her reach, made a grab for Leo.
He shook his head at the keys before shooting an uncertain smile at Rose. You’re staying here, not me.
So you’ll just hand me the keys?
He huffed, then crossed his arms. Shall we eat first?
Molly pocketed the keys before Rose got her hands on them. Let me feed Rose first. She must be hungry.
I’ll wait for you.
She didn’t ask him to go ahead and eat nor did she fill the silence by asking him about his private life. This man contained multitudes, she had gathered that, but they were strangers, not bosom buddies enough to share their life stories with each other.
Molly focussed on her daughter. Rose enjoyed the peas because they were green but shook her head at the white mash. You need to eat more than a small bowl of peas, baby.
Rose wouldn’t budge.
So Molly tried distracting her. Look, this spoon’s a plane! It didn’t work. Without a feeding chair, holding a squirming Rose and performing tricks was a bit beyond Molly.
Can I help? Leo asked, crouching in front of them. He grinned at Rose. So you’re one of the unusual people who enjoy mashed peas over mashed potatoes, are you?
Rose blinked at him.
He raised his brows. Okay, you’re a hard one to crack. Let’s see. Po-ta-toh, can you say it?
Molly used the distraction to bring a spoonful of mashed potatoes to Rose’s lips. She merely shoved the spoon away and turned away from Leo.
Leo pouted, then used his finger to burst the air out of his mouth. Puh.
He waved. Ta.
Then pointed at his foot. Toe.
Rose giggled and pointed at her own feet. To.
Leo popped the air out of his mouth again, but this time, he grabbed the spoon and held it up. Rose mimicked him, looking adorable as she tried to hold the air in her mouth and reach for the mashed potatoes.
When Leo poked his cheek, she blew a raspberry, showing him her toothless gums, and laughed. Puh-ta-toe.
Molly’s heart squeezed at that cuteness overload. When was the last time Rose had laughed like this, carefree?
Leo didn’t seem fazed by the grin. He offered the spoon. Potato?
Rose accepted it, smacking her lips as she ate.
You’re good with children, Molly said, watching him feed Rose. Even if he had purchased all the diapers from the store.
Leo laughed. Will you believe me if I say I have never spoken to a toddler, let alone held one before today?
She didn’t know what to believe when it came to him. But sat there in his living room as he fed her baby, Molly felt something rattle inside her, calling for her attention. But she didn’t know what it was.