canât say I know him all that well. The romance or whatever you want to call it happened pretty fast. Then again with my mother, all her romances happened fast. The marriages materialized even faster.â
âIs your motherâ¦â He sought for a delicate way to ask his next question, then decided what the hell. Heâd blown any shot with this woman already. âIs your mother wealthy?â he asked.
Molly burst out laughing. Not the light ringing laughter that usually drew him but a loud, droll sound.
âGod, no. Well, I take that back. My mother marries wealthy men, ends up divorced with a decent settlement, blows through the money and moves on to the next catch.â
âDumontâs her next wealthy catch?â Hunter asked incredulously.
Molly nodded. âIf he isnât now, he will be after he inherits his late brotherâs trust fund.â
Which explains why good old Marc Dumont was the future husband who wanted Molly around. The man needed her legal skills to help him gain his fortune. And what better way to get it than to push his fiancée into renewing her relationship with her lawyer daughter? Heâd endear himself to both Molly and to his soon-to-be wife.
Molly exhaled and pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingertips.
He stepped forward, placing his hand on her shoulder. Her skin felt hot and feverish beneath his palm. âAre you okay?â he asked.
âIâm fine. Itâs just a headache. Iâd really appreciate it if youâd tell me what your connection is to Marc Dumont and why youâre here grilling me about my family. Itâs not like you gave a damn before now,â she said, her voice deep and gravelly.
âI always gave a damn,â he said so low he could barely hear himself speak. âI just didnât know what to do about it.â
âWell, I can tell you that showing up here with a meal and an agenda is one hell of a way to show you care.â
He wasnât surprised by her words. She had a valid point. âYouâre going to have to cut me some slack here. Iâm not exactly a pro at forming relationships.â
She laughed. âYouâd never know it from the courthouse rumors.â
He wanted to treat her to a cocky grin but a real smile was all he could offer. âYou said it yourself. All rumors.â
Heâd never had a relationship with a woman that involved his emotions. Unless he counted Lilly and he realized now that heâd loved her but he hadnât been in love. The truth came as a relief. Heâd always be there for Lilly. Heâd bail her out or help her in any way he could because theyâd bonded years before.
Yet what heâd begun to feel for Molly was stronger than his feelings for Lilly because of what he sensed he could feel in the futureâif he opened himself up to the possibility of being hurt. Heâd betrayed her tonight. At this moment. Because he stood in Mollyâs house, in need of information to help Lilly, a woman Molly thought was dead.
The ironic thing was, the women were very much alike and Hunter could even see them being friends. In another life or in this one, if only things were less complicated.
But they werenât. And theyâd only get more complex when Molly found out the truth.
Five
H unter sat in Mollyâs kitchen, asking her to give him a break because relationships werenât and never had been his thing. He couldnât believe heâd laid it on the line that way but he had.
She placed one hand on the counter, her expression a mixture of disbelief and what Hunter wanted to think was hope.
For them.
She studied him. âIs that what weâre doing here? Forming a relationship? Because I have to tell you, Iâm lost.â
He let out a groan. âCan I sit?â He couldnât answer her question until heâd told her everything. Then sheâd have to decide what was or wasnât