Molly lay her head in her hands and waited for the cavalry to return.


***

HUNTER INSISTED Molly drive home with Ty and Lacey in their car. He figured her head must have hurt too badly to fight him because she willingly crawled into the backseat and lay down for the trip.

When they reached the house, all lights but the porch ones were out, so he decided not to invite Ty and Lacey inside. They promised to touch base tomorrow before driving home, and after thanking them and saying good-night, Hunter turned his attention to Molly.

He helped her into the house, stopping short of carrying her inside because if he knew Molly, she’d pull herself together long enough to hit him if he even tried. He led her up the stairs and into her bedroom, careful not to make noise and wake anyone. As they made their way down the hall, she curved her body into his, for the first time since he could remember showing her vulnerability.

He sure as hell didn’t need this now, not when his defenses had to be high and on alert. Still, he eased her into her double bed and followed directions, handing her an old T-shirt to change into. He even helped her, gritting his teeth as his hands brushed her bare skin and he caught sight of her dusky nipples beneath her skimpy lace bra.

She collapsed against the pillows and knowing he had no choice, he undid her jeans, slid down the zipper and wiggled the denim off her long legs. A man would have to be a saint to ignore her pale flesh and tempting scent. Hunter was no saint, but Molly was sick and that had him keeping his hands to himself.

“Well I certainly ruined your night out with your friends,” Molly said to Hunter in a pain-filled voice.

“I can see them anytime. I’m guessing this is a migraine?”

“Yeah.” She hadn’t moved her head an inch since lying down. “Can you do me one more favor?”

“Name it,” he said in a gruff voice.

Ever since Lacey had interrupted their game of pool to tell them Molly wasn’t feeling well, his protective instincts had kicked in. Where there had once been hurt and anger, he now felt a deep caring and concern.

And that worried him most of all.

She didn’t reply right away and he could see it hurt her to talk. Finally, she said, “There’s a prescription bottle in the top dresser drawer. Can you get me one of the pills and a cup of water?”

“You got it.” He took care of her request in record time.

Hunter helped her sit up so she could take the painkiller, then gently laid her back against the pillows.

“Shut the light?” she asked, her eyes already closed.

He grinned. “Bossy thing. Can I get you anything else?”

“No, but thanks for everything.”

“Anytime,” he said, his voice gruffer than he was used to, filled with a caring he didn’t recognize. “Time for you to get some sleep.” He started to rise from the bed.

“Stay with me? Please?”

He couldn’t deny her request as much as self-preservation told him he should. “Sure.” He kicked off his shoes and swung his legs onto the mattress, easing himself beside her. “Why don’t you tell me a little about these headaches,” he said.

“Nothing to tell, really. I’ve had them for as long as I can remember but lately they’ve been more manageable. Tonight’s the first bad one in a long, long time.” She picked up the cold cloth, turned it to the other side and placed it back on her forehead.

He caught her wince with any movement. “I’m sure it’s stress related.” And he wasn’t helping.

Molly was dealing with the possibility of losing her father, a man she’d just recently found and Hunter was punishing her for the choices she’d made regarding the man. Shit. Maybe Ty was on to something when he’d mentioned him having impossibly high standards.

Hunter wasn’t a man who liked being wrong. He didn’t like admitting it, either. Thank goodness Molly wasn’t in any position to be having a long conversation. Which didn’t mean he couldn’t make it up to her another way.

Hunter popped the snap on his pants, loosening them for comfort, and eased himself closer to Molly. “C’mere,” he said.

She snuggled into him, rested her head on his shoulder and let out a long, contented sigh. Hunter was anything but content. He inhaled her fragrant scent and he liked how she felt curled into him. He liked taking care of her. Too much.

They lay that way in silence and soon Molly’s breathing evened out. She’d fallen asleep, but for Hunter, it was destined to be a long, sleepless night.

CHAPTER TWELVE

JESSIE LOOKED at the clock on her nightstand. She knew it was early in the morning but she couldn’t wait another second to talk to Molly. Last night she’d accidentally looked in the bottom of Molly’s closet-okay, she’d been snooping-and she’d found a suitcase full of colorful clothes. Sweaters, scarves, funky jewelry and other really cool stuff. She wanted to borrow some of Molly’s things, but to ask, she’d have to admit she’d been snooping. Jessie weighed her options and decided Molly wanted Jessie to like her as much as Jessie wanted to wear Molly’s things. So she felt sure they could work out an understanding.

She paused outside Molly’s room and only debated for a second before deciding to walk in without knocking. Molly wanted them to be like real sisters after all.

She swung the door open wide, stepped inside, saw Molly under the covers, Hunter lying beside her and…Holy shit! she thought as everything registered.

Hunter stirred.

Jessie bit her bottom lip and wondered what to do. Didn’t take a college degree to figure out she should back out quietly and pretend she hadn’t barged in, but what fun was there in that?

“Ahem,” she said loudly.

Hunter groaned and turned over so his face was buried full in the pillow. Molly, however, jumped halfway to the ceiling.

“Jessie!” She lowered her voice when Hunter grumbled, still asleep. “What are you doing in here?” Molly hissed.

Jessie took a long look at Hunter, who’d begun to snore. “What’s he doing in here?” she shot back. “I was just trying to figure out a way to get you to let me borrow some of your funky clothes in the suitcase in the closet. Suddenly, I’m thinking blackmail.” She clasped her hands behind her back and grinned at her half sister. “What do you think?”

Molly closed her eyes for a quick second. “I think you’re a pint-size brat and we’ll talk about this later. Now shoo.” She waved her hand toward the door.

Jessie frowned but she was sure she’d win in the end since Molly looked annoyed but not angry. “Can I take the bright yellow cardigan first?”

“Out!” Molly said, this time pointing a finger.

Jessie rolled her eyes. “I’m going, I’m going.” She walked out the door, laughing as she went.

Suddenly, living with Molly was actually fun.


***

MOLLY FLOPPED BACK against her pillows, realizing her head was sore but the throbbing was gone. “Tell me that didn’t just happen.”

“It happened.” Hunter rolled to his side and propped himself up on one hand.

“You’re up?” She turned to Hunter.

His hair was rumpled, razor stubble darkened his cheeks and he looked extremely sexy lying in her sheets, staring at her with dark, bedroom eyes.

“I’m up but no way was I going to let Jessie know it. How’s your head this morning?”

“Not perfect but better. Thanks for staying with me,” she said softly.

His heavy-lidded gaze met hers. “My pleasure.”

She ran a hand through her hair, wondering how bad she looked. The damp washcloth had probably left her hair standing on end and her makeup in dark circles beneath her eyes. It couldn’t be pretty but Hunter didn’t seem to be running for cover, she thought wryly.

“I guess we should get up,” she said halfheartedly and didn’t make an attempt to move.

“How about we talk first instead?” He levered himself against the pillows as if settling in for a long conversation.

Her defenses immediately went on high alert. “About?” she asked warily.

There were any number of subjects he could choose to tackle, from her lie about her father and Sonya, to Ty’s news about her father’s case. Coming off the migraine, Molly wasn’t ready to have an argument with him.

“Your clothes. Why are they packed away in the closet?”

She blinked. “What? Why in the world would you care about that?”

“Back when we were in law school, do you know why I noticed you in the first place?”

She shook her head. She only knew why she’d noticed him. Like her, he’d been the one to close the law library night after night. His study habits and determination to succeed had matched hers. That, and his brooding good looks.

“It might have had something to do with the miniskirts you wore to class.” He tipped his head and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

She grinned. “When we started classes it was ninety something degrees!”

“It also might have had something to do with the hot colors you wore on top. Or the matching bright colored scarves you tied around your neck or your waist. No matter what outfit you wore, you had one piece that stood out in a bold color. When you walked into a room, you made a statement.”

She knew where he was going with this conversation and she didn’t want to talk about how she’d changed since last year. She also knew he wasn’t going to let the subject drop. “Color is fun,” she said defensively.

“Then why have you buried your more colorful things in a suitcase in the closet?”

“My headache is coming back,” she muttered.

“Liar.” He spoke softly. Gently. His tone was so understanding a lump rose in her throat. “Molly, I fell for the woman who made a statement. Who wasn’t about to let anyone dictate to her at all, including her choice of clothing. So what happened when you moved here?”