Chapter 14
Molly almost skipped breakfast the next morning.
She was mortified. Telling Leo she wanted to move out right after he’d saved her again was horrible. How could she have been so stupid?
While she could try sleeping and pretend her stomach wasn’t growling, Rose wouldn’t. Her daughter was up and mumbling about something Molly couldn’t quite understand.
But when Rose crawled over to the bed and tried getting Molly’s attention, she knew the jig was up. She had to face Leo.
She picked Rose up, blowing raspberries on her belly and then kissing her cheeks. Good morning, baby. Did you sleep well?
Rose bobbed her head, her curls dancing around her face. I hungy.
Of course she was. Molly tapped her phone’s screen and saw the time. Half past eight. With luck, Leo would have already headed to work.
She took Rose to the en suite bathroom and changed her diaper. She contemplated changing out of her pyjamas, but Rose kicked her legs and repeated, Hungy! I need breakfaf.
So kitchen it was. Not like Leo hadn’t seen her in jammies before. The man spent too much time at their place to not have.
Picking Rose up, Molly headed downstairs towards the kitchen. Rose wasn’t happy, kicking her legs out and trying to jump to the floor. Walk!
Molly wrestled to keep Rose in her grasp. Baby, you’ll fall! But Rose was adamant, so when they reached the ground floor, Molly set her daughter down.
The smell of bacon, toast, and eggs hit her at that very moment, making her stomach growl as if trying to announce to the entire town how hungry it was. Rose ran towards the smell, clearly just as famished.
Molly could hear someone shuffling about in the kitchen working with pots, pans, and glasses. Perhaps this was Leo’s cook? It was far too late for Leo—
At the doorway to the kitchen, Rose thrust her tiny arms out and yelled with all her might, ’Eo!
Molly stumbled to a halt just a foot away from the doorway. The scene in front of her ingrained itself in her mind like a flash of an X-ray. So much so, she almost ran upstairs again.
Leo Buchanan, the man Molly had seen countless times in her flat and kitchen, now stood in this huge space. He had cooked for them in this same kitchen last night. But this morning, he was shirtless. And wearing an apron.
What. The. Fuck?
That six-pack she’d felt before through his T-shirt when they’d hugged were barely visible from the side openings of the apron. But holy fuck.
Molly had to work to pick her jaw off the floor. This man was a tease. Perhaps if he’d been shirtless, it would have been like a shock to the system that cleared out. But this?
As always, Rose jumped into his arms, yapping to him about how hungry she was and that Molly had slept in. If Molly wanted to avoid further humiliation, she wouldn’t do an about-turn and head out, not when her daughter had outed her so easily.
Molly placed her feet carefully, watching where she stepped. Not because the floor was uneven or had stairs, because that was the one way she didn’t have to look straight at a shirtless man wearing a fucking apron as he cooked breakfast. A man she had not even kissed, let alone had sex with.
Maybe she wanted to.
She cleared her throat. Good morning.
Leo set a plate on the kitchen counter. Morning.
’Eo! Rose demanded attention.
He flashed her a dimpled smile. Yes, Rosie Bear, your breakfast is coming right up.
Her daughter, not suffering from any dithering girl syndromes, flung her arms out. Plane!
Leo grinned, then held up the spatula. We’re cooking breakfast for you, remember?
Molly was going to offer to place Rose on the kitchen counter like they’d done last night, but Leo simply used his right hand to flip a pancake while holding Rose with his left as if he balanced children when cooking every day.
The last of Molly’s heart dissolved. Two years ago, this man couldn’t pick out the right size of diapers for Rose, and now he was skilled enough to hold her, chat with her, teach her to cook, and actually cook, all at the same time.
Molly found stools on the other side of the counter and sat on one. We could’ve just had cereal.
Leo looked up from where he’d drooled pancake batter into the pan. And miss making pancakes for this muffin? He kissed Rose’s head. I’m sure she doesn’t understand, but I thought after yesterday, a yum breakfast would be a good pick-me-up.
Molly dropped her head in her hands. The scene in front of her was too much, too domestic. From behind her palm, she said, Won’t you be late for work?
I’m the boss, Molly. And I have some work I need to do from home. He set a plate in front of her. Besides—
Is this how you plan to protect us? Stick to us the whole time? She was being a bitch, just like last night. What she should have done was thank him for the breakfast and for opening up his home to them.
Leo placed Rose on the floor, then walked to the back where the pantry was. He emerged with a highchair. This came today.
And the man had already set up the pink highchair. Rose rushed over to it, demanding he plonk her in. Pink! She patted the chair’s plate-like desk when she was strapped in.
Leo grinned at her. I couldn’t get a Peppa Pig one, but I figured pink was the way to go.
Molly shook her head, but before she rebuked him for spoiling her daughter, she stuffed some of the eggs in her mouth and groaned. These are heavenly.
I’m glad.
When he fixed his own plate and came to sit on the stool beside her, Molly knew she couldn’t stall anymore. Leo. She waited for him to turn his attention on her. I’m sorry about last night.
He had picked up a spoonful of eggs, which now hovered over his plate as he looked at her. Molly chided herself for not waiting until he’d eaten to say that. Did she possess no social skills?
Leo set his fork down. No, I’m sorry. You need to have a life for yourself after all this is over. Especially after what you’ve been through. And you’ve worked so hard to build your life up again. I am no one to stop you.
Molly set her spoon down. That’s not what— She picked up the spoon and took another bite of the eggs. These are delicious. Aye, that was much safer to say than what she’d been about to say: You’re important to us. We’re a family.
Leo looked at her, at least she felt his gaze on her until her cheeks turned pink.
Molly, you’ve known me long enough to know that I respect you and your thoughts. You need to tell me what you’re thinking.
That you’re too good for us.
I’m not like him. I won’t hurt you for being another human being with opinions. When she didn’t move, Leo reached out and touched her hand. I mean it, Molly.
Fuck, she knew that. She knew she and her daughter were as safe as they could possibly be with this man. But she had been too opinionated. The very personification of a hot-headed redhead. Johnny had beaten that out of her, had flushed that personality out of her system.
Now she didn’t know how to voice her opinions. It’s hard.
Leo’s fingers intertwined with hers. Tell me, honey.
Molly dropped her chin. The flat. I want to get our belongings. That’s what I wanted to do last night.
He turned their hands so that they were palm to palm, his warmth seeping into her cold hands.
That small comfort gave her the courage to go on, state what she needed.
After I ran away with Rose, I left everything behind.
All the boxes of my past life. All of Rose’s toys and memories from when she was a baby.
We lost everything. I will never see any pictures of my pals from before I met Johnny, or the baby blanket Rose used.
Leo nodded. Johnny is currently watching the flat with cameras. He’s also probably watching this house. The man has too much time to spare and too many goons who would happily do his bidding. I will get you your stuff, but we just need to do it bit by bit.
Molly looked over at Rose who was busy eating. I can’t keep her home forever. She needs to go to nursery. She’s been so reluctant to go, and if we keep her home, she’ll only ever know the two of us and be too comfortable with that. It’s not healthy.
And Molly wasn’t going to let Johnny rob his biological daughter of human connections.
Having finished her own breakfast, Molly headed towards Rose. Her daughter was busy chomping on a pancake. Slow down there, darling.
Leo stood up. Shite, I forgot to make coffee.
Unexpectedly, a giggle slipped out of Molly. Guess you’re not perfect then. Taking care of a bairn and making breakfast was indeed too much for you. She slapped a hand over her mouth at that.
But Leo chuckled. It’s not Rose as much as it’s you. You had me flustered with that rosy glow you have going on. He bumped his hip into hers, then reached over her to take out two mugs. Latte? Tea?
Molly looked at him, his arms stretched out above her head as he reached for something in the cabinets.
Still shirtless and wearing an apron. Fuck, the man was glorious like this, those strong arms and forearms on display, the apron like a striptease showcasing a hint of his other delicious muscles.
She licked her lips before pressing her back into the counter. Leo?
Yes? His voice had dropped into a husky whisper. His eyes darkened. She knew he could see her nipples harden through her white top, even through her bra.
Molly curled her fingers when she found them reaching out towards him, wanting to touch his skin and untie the apron from around him. And her mouth to—
The fuck?
The male voice jolted them from the haze. Leo turned, using his body to hide Molly. Watch your language, you eejit.