Her heated touch seared through his body. His heart pounded harder in his chest and he burned for her in a way that was becoming harder and harder to deny. More so since after last night’s kiss, he’d realized she wasn’t going to stop him from going further. If anything, she’d gone into full flirtation mode.

But there was the difficulty of what she was asking of him. “I’d rather not go to some stranger’s family party.”

He could go. After all, he was a grown man and his past was behind him. But he’d skip the event if he could. She stepped closer and met his gaze.

“Why not?”

Hunter hated admitting weakness, but what choice did he have except to explain?

He swallowed hard and found himself unloading on Molly. Again. “When I was in foster care, the families would celebrate the birthdays of their biological kids.” A cake, presents, all things never given to him. He remembered the parties, yet he couldn’t remember even being included in their celebrations. Strangers’ birthdays still made him uneasy.

So did the fact that he’d admitted this to Molly.

Her expression softened. “I understand, but I’ll be with you and you won’t feel like an outsider looking in. Besides, I make a mean chocolate cake.”

“Is that what you were doing in here last night?”

She nodded. “So will you come with me? Pretty please?”

He groaned. Why was it every time he wanted to say no, he found himself saying, “Yes,” instead?


***

MOLLY DROVE THEM to the senior center since there was no way to transport the cake on Hunter’s motorcycle. She’d tossed out the idea of him going with her in order to prevent him from leaving her out of her father’s case, which, judging by his packed bag, she was afraid he’d been determined to do.

Surprisingly she hadn’t had to do much to convince him to accept her help. If anything, he seemed to understand her driving need. He understood her.

The more she learned about his time in foster care, the better she understood him, too. He normally kept his pain hidden, but Lucinda’s party had let him confide in her for a moment. Long enough to stab her in the heart.

Her mission for the day was to show him what being included in a family really meant. She had to admit, the notion was new for her, as well. But Hunter deserved to feel the warmth family could provide. She’d begin with Lucinda and her friends and maybe then he’d be more open to Molly and her family.

She gave herself an almost violent mental shake. Do not go there, she warned herself. Just take one day-make that one moment-at a time. And the coming ones had the potential to be pretty good.

She parked in the spot closest to the entrance and together they gathered her things and headed inside, Hunter holding the cake. She led him through the cheery lobby, decorated with light floral photographs on the white walls, passed by the arts-and-crafts display table with projects made by the seniors and headed straight for the party room on the main floor next to the dining room.

Molly walked in first, Hunter by her side. The party had already begun and all the residents of the home were gathered by the punch bowl. In fact, a line had formed around the room.

“I hope Mr. Trosky didn’t spike the punch,” Molly muttered half to herself. She gestured to Hunter, nodding her head toward the table in the corner.

“Why does Lucinda live here?” Hunter asked. “Isn’t she young to be in a home?”

“Alzheimer’s,” Molly explained.

Nothing more needed to be said. They unloaded their packages with the rest of the gifts and she placed the cake on the food-laden table before turning back to him. “It doesn’t look like Lucinda’s family is here yet since everyone in this room is obviously a member of the AARP.” Everywhere she looked, Molly saw gray hair.

“I can see that.” Hunter hung back, clearly wary of joining in.

The only way to get him into the party mood was to drag him into the fray. “Let’s go find the guest of honor.” She grabbed Hunter’s hand and wove through the guests, most of whom still lingered in line for punch.

She nodded and waved to those she knew and smiled at those she didn’t, finally making her way to the front of the line. “Lucinda!”

“Molly!”

The other woman embraced Molly in a warm hug. “I’m so glad you made it.”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t?”

“You’re so good to me.” Surrounded by wrinkles, Lucinda’s pale blue eyes sparkled with the vibrancy of youth, belying her age.

“I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine,” Molly said, dismissing the compliment with a wave of her hand.

Lucinda was easy to be good to. She didn’t complain and treated the volunteers and workers with respect, unlike some of the more cantankerous residents. She was the same age as the commander but thanks to the early stages of Alzheimer’s, something she refused to discuss or acknowledge, and the fact that her family lived so far away, she’d moved in rather than leave the town she’d been in all her life.

“Lucinda Forest, this is Daniel Hunter.” Molly gestured to Hunter, who stood beside her. He didn’t seem uncomfortable so far and she was glad.

“So this is the handsome man living under the same roof with Edna.” Lucinda openly eyed Hunter, looking him up and down. “I’ve heard so much about you, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person.”

Hunter hadn’t known he was the topic of Edna’s conversation with her friends and he didn’t want to imagine what the commander had said about him. Instead, he focused on Lucinda. “I can assure you the pleasure’s all mine.”

Molly was right. He felt comfortable here and he liked Lucinda already.

At his compliment, Lucinda giggled like a teenager. He had to admit he’d never had that effect on a woman of her age before.

“You’re a charmer,” she told him.

“I try.”

“So where is your grandmother?” Lucinda asked Molly.

“She had to run some errands but she said to tell you she’ll be here in time for the cake.”

“Oh, thank goodness.” Lucinda placed a hand over her heart in true dramatic fashion. “I couldn’t bear it if she missed the highlight of our night.”

Molly narrowed her gaze, obviously confused. “Well, I’d hardly call my cake the highlight, but I brought it like I promised.”

Lucinda clapped her hands, once again showing the exuberance of a teenager as opposed to someone who’d just turned seventy-five. “Double-fudge chocolate?” she asked.

“That it is,” Molly said with a smile. “We put it on the table on the other side of the room.”

“Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. It’s even better than Christmas when you rented It’s a Wonderful Life and brought a DVD player so we could all watch.”

As he listened to Lucinda, Hunter’s throat filled. Molly truly cared about this woman and her friends, and they weren’t even related to her by blood. And the older woman obviously reciprocated Molly’s feelings. Showing up here today, such a simple gesture by Molly in the midst of her family chaos, had made Lucinda’s day. It touched even Hunter’s hardened heart.

He shifted on his feet, uncomfortable in ways he hadn’t counted on when he’d fought coming here today. He’d discovered he and Molly had a common bond. The people closest to Hunter weren’t blood relatives, either. Lacey and Ty were people he’d been lucky enough to meet and now called family. Molly had spent a lifetime searching for a place to belong and she’d found it with her biological father, but it hadn’t stopped her from making a space for others in her heart. In fact, maybe finding her father, the reason she’d left Hunter behind, had helped her learn how to reach out to others.

“I should mingle, but you two go on and enjoy yourselves.” Lucinda’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “You can start by having some punch,” she said.

“What’s with the punch anyway?” Molly asked. “Why is everyone lined up for it?”

“Irwin Yaeger made it especially for me.” The older woman patted her freshly done hair as if she was primping for the unknown Irwin.

Hunter tried not to smile at the thought of Lucinda lusting for the man.

“Did you know that he was a bartender for years before his family urged him to give up his job and move in here? He’s got the touch. ” Lucinda nodded knowingly.

“In other words, he’s heavy-handed with the liquor?” Hunter asked.

“You catch on quick.”

Molly rolled her eyes at the other woman. “Well, any man who makes a punch just for you has very good taste.”

“As do you, by the way.” Lucinda eyed Hunter approvingly.

He actually felt himself flush under her gaze.

Suddenly Lucinda’s eyes opened wide and a flash of pure joy crossed her face. “There’s my family!” she said, her voice rising as she waved at the group entering the room.

“Go on.” Molly shoved her away.

“Okay then, I’ll catch up with you two later.” Lucinda took off in a flurry of excitement, leaving them standing near the crowded punch bowl. At some point they’d lost their place in the line.

Hunter turned to Molly, happy to have her to himself for a while.

Her blond hair framed her flushed face and it seemed she’d put her father’s troubles behind her, at least for now.

“Can I get you something to drink?” he asked.

“Soda would be great.” She treated him to a warm smile.

“What, no punch?” he asked, teasing her.

“I’m afraid to even try it, but something tells me this will be the most fun they’ll have until Christmas when Irwin spikes the eggnog.”

“So who is this Irwin guy anyway?”

Molly pinched the bridge of her nose. “He’s a resident here, too. He’s also a discipline problem.”

“A what?” Hunter asked, deciding he’d heard wrong.

Molly gestured to two open chairs and he followed her so they could sit and talk with no one overhearing. “Irwin is a nice man but he’s a discipline problem. He flashes the women as they walk down the hall and when they report him he claims not to remember doing it.”