Its not that simple, and you know it. People comingling where they work is never a good idea. Someone gets hurt, and then someone ends up out of a job.
It doesnt have to be that way. If both people are honest with each other and play by the same rules.
You couldnt define rule with a big print dictionary, Flynn. You like anarchy. Everybody doesnt. Some people cant just hop into bed and have everything be the same the next morning.
Actually I wasnt thinking about hopping into bed. Well, not much anyway. But I do respect that youre real strong on that rings and commitment sort of thing.... He motioned with a hand, indicating his unfamiliarity with those alien concepts. Really, all I had in mind was a kiss. To see if the last one was some kind of aberration.
Aberration?
Yeah. You put my knickers in the twist the last time we tried this. And I dont wear knickers. Somehow what I assumed would be a little innocent mischief turned into spontaneous combustion. I wasnt expecting it, and to tell you the truth, I hope you wont do it again. You may not believe this, but Ive been around a few blocks in life
I believe it.
So Im definitely not used to falling in love on a first kiss. Im figuring you must have caught me at a weak moment. When my blood sugar was low, or I was catching a fever, something like that. But the thing is, I cant get that last power-punched kiss off my mind. Maybe if we did it again, and the kiss turned out tepid and dull, we could both quit this nonsense and go back to working like normal.
Flynn...
Flynn used the word love easily, Molly knew. Hed claimed to be in love with her beforeher, hot peppers, a crunchy-leaf autumn day, toasted almonds, a staff member who solved a tough problem and any puppy with floppy ears. That was just yesterday. Flynn was an upbeat, boisterously effusive man. Love was just a word he used on a daily basis. Molly knew perfectly well he didnt mean it seriously.
But he was standing right in front of her by then. It was a butter-soft fall day, with blinds drawn to shutter out the bright mid-afternoon October sun beating in the windows this early in the afternoon. His computer screen was flashing, his fax noisily spewing out paper, the door to his office wide-open. Molly was aware of the sun, the office textures and noises, yet all she really noticed right then was him.
She was no shrimp at five foot five, yet he towered over her by a good six inches. Flynn always looked more like the wild warriors in his Scottish ancestry than anyone respectably civilized. His eyes were as piercing as blue lasers, his shoulders beam-broad, his thick, unruly hair the color of dark cinnamon and never looked brushed. His clothes were disgraceful the same wayjeans with holes, a long-sleeved black T-shirt with a threadbare neckthe man had money to burn, yet couldnt seem to spare a dime to dress conventionally. Doing anything conventional never seemed to occur to Flynn.
He stood there. Within pouncing distance. But he didnt moveand wouldnt, Molly guessed. Flynn was an unpredictable, amoral, immoral rascal, but he never crossed a certain line. Once shed made a teasing comment about sexual harassment, and startling her completely, hed sobered faster than a judge and sat down with her for the next three hours. Hed listened, but Molly could see he honestly didnt get it. That he had power. That he was a boss. He seemed to think of his owning the company as accidental, and unfailingly treated the staff as if they were a team of all equal players, with his vote weighing no more than anyone elses. Flynns management style didnt fit in any rule book she knew, but sexual harassment never even crossed her mind in a teasing way once she knew him. His code of behavior around women was crystal-clear.
Hed never tried that first kiss, never made any sort of move, until shed invited it. He never intruded anywhere near a womans principles or choices.
Unless she were willing.
And let him know she was willing.
Those damn blue eyes of his were waiting. A kiss simmered between them like an untasted stew, the scent tantalizing, the hunger aroused by the possibilities.
Molly mused that shed heard him call himself homely once.
Possibly he even believed itheaven knew, his clothes reflected a total blindness or lack of perception about his physical appearance. Technically the blunt chin and craggy nose and broad-planed bones fit no classic claim to handsomeness... but he was still the sexiest man she knew. Those blue eyes could caress a woman before hed even touched her; the mouth could tempt a nun to jettison her vows and jump him. The problem with Flynnone of manywas that he loved everything about being a man, and it showed. He couldnt seem to help being dangerous. That compelling, earthy sexuality was downright impossible to ignore, and God knew, shed tried.
You stalling, Ms. Weston? he murmured.
Yes.
You thinking about it? Whether you want me to kiss you or whether you want to knock my block off?
Yes.
Are you going to let me know before November what you decide?
Maybe she needed that whole month, Molly thought desperately. Her decision should have been cut and dried, but somehow it wasnt. Six months ago, if anyone suggested she could conceivably fall in love with a man like Flynn McGannon, shed have checked herself into a funny farm for immediate shock treatments.
He was a bellower. A man who expressed both humor and temper at the same roaring volume. He worked like a slave, played like a glutton, intimidated strangers and clients both with his booming voice and unpredictable moodsand then invariably acted confounded why anybody would be afraid of him.
Molly knew precisely why she was.
He was too sexy for her. Too sexy, too self-centered, too dare-the-world wild, too everything that she wasnt. She wanted a husband, children, a family. Not an affair with a man who was bluntly honest about his terror of wedding rings. Flynn loved risk. She honestly hated it. He saw every day as a free-wheeling adventure. She was a list-maker.
Nothing could come from kissing him but trouble. Heartache. A woman as sane as she wasand the whole world knew Molly Weston was practical and hopelessly straitlacedsimply had more brains than to hurl herself off a cliff without a parachute.
But he tempted her. Like no man ever had. It was those eyes. It was that nasty, simmering, electric thing that shimmered in the air between them. It was that daredevil zest for life that captivated her, and made crazy ideas fester in her mindlike that shed regret it forever if she never made love with him. Like that she might only have this one chance. Like that maybe everyone should have the right, just once in life, to do something foolish and impulsive....
She heard sudden commotion from outside his office. A door slamming. Voices raised. Pandemonium wasnt uncommon in the workday at McGannons, but something registered in her mind as off-kilter. Still, she couldnt look away from the heat in Flynns gaze. Didnt want to.
He wanted her. Maybe Flynn desired a couple hundred womenpossibly even in the same daybut the whole sensation was new to Molly. Shed never felt washed in the warm liquid gaze of a mans desire, bold, nakedly honest, dangerous, magnetic. Shed never figured out how the patooties shed ever stirred his interest. Most men pegged her accurately and swiftlyshe was a conventional woman, a picture-straightener, an obsessive list-maker, attractive enough but in a nice way. Everyone knew she was nice, for Petes sake. It was probably going to be on her epitaph.
Not him. He looked at her like she was Christie Brinkley whod just popped in to strip for him. Or like she was a succulent choice bit of lobster and hed just come off a weeks fast. She knew that was all nutsbut something went haywire in her perceptions around Flynn. Never mind what was real. How he made her feel was painfully real enough.
Shed been falling in love with him for months now. Denying it. Making excusescalling it hormones, calling it PMS, calling it an affection that had naturally developed from working with a fascinating man every day. Shed been calling it every word under the sun but the one she was afraid was true.
Her hand lifted. Fingers already curving to the shape of his neck.
He saw. That slow, wicked grin of his faded. His face almost turned graveand Flynn rarely took anything in life too seriously. His gaze shifted from her eyes to her mouth, the playfulness disappearing from his expression. This kiss would be different, she sensed.
The other ones really hadnt been without a parachute. But this one might be.
Still her hand raised higher, until her fingers were bare, naked inches from touching him. Her heart was suddenly pounding, pounding.
Until she heard the bellowing wail of a baby.
Molly stepped back, startled, just as a woman barreled into Flynns office. And not just a woman, but a baby a pumpkin-shaped squirt of maybe a year old, who was squirming in every direction and announcing loudly to the world that he was unhappy. The woman was flustered and distraught, trying to juggle the eel of a baby and baby gear and a flapping purse.
Flynn, damn you. No one wanted to even let me see you...I practically had to battle past a nutcase in a bathrobe at the front desk
Molly froze for a second. Flynn whirled around. Bailey shot in just behind the woman, his face flushed like a brickand yes, he was wearing a bathrobe over his clothes. Bailey was one of Flynns brilliant creative nerds; very sweet, just a little goofy. When he had a creative challenge inspiring him, he wore his lucky robe. No one paid attention, not even Molly anymore. Bailey never voluntarily met the public, because nerves brought out his stutterand he was stuttering painfully, trying to explain to Flynn how the lady had barged past him.
Molly heard that conversation, but she wasnt really listening. The intrusion was just so bizarre.
The woman dropped a diaper bag on the carpet. Then she plunked down the baby with the same kind of exasperated attitude. The baby, let free, quit bellowing and squirming and promptly took off on all fours.
What on earth... ? Flynn reached behind him to yank the blinds open further. Cheerful sunlight instantly poured in, but didnt seem to illuminate anything that was going on. Flynn wasnt easily thrown by any brand or flavor of surprises. His bushy eyebrows lifted in question, but initially his expression showed more intrigue than concern over the mystery womans arrival.
Molly didnt catch the ladys face until she straightened back up. Golden hair billowed around her shoulders then. A red sweater hugged a top-heavy bust; poured-on jeans showed off several miles of slim legs. Her face might have been strikingly pretty, if there hadnt been huge shadows under the eyes and drawn lines around the mouth.
Dont you What on earth me, Flynn McGannon. And dont even try claiming not to recognize me. Either fury or nerves made her voice shrill. Molly could see the skilled effort with makeup, but it didnt conceal the pallor of her skin or the exhausted dark eyes.
I didnt claim anything. But I honestly dont know... Flynn was frowning now, studying her hard.
Virginie, she snapped. Tuscon. The Silver Buckle. Add up thirteen monthsthe age of your sonand the nine months I carried him, and maybe that nightll come back to you. You were with some party. I was with some party. But the only party that mattered was the one that ended up back at my place. Chivas was your drink that night, as I recall. Unfortunately, I recall more than that. You were a hell of a lover, you cretin. But no mans worth the price you cost me.
Son? Flynn echoed blankly, and then wildly shook his head. That isnt possible. You said you were protected
Ha. So suddenly you do remember that nightand if it isnt just like a man to remember the part that gives him an excuse. And at the time, I was. On the pill. But I missed a coupleand before you tell me that was my fault, let me tell you that I dont give a damn. That doesnt make the baby any less your responsibility
Look, if youd just try to calm down...you cant just show up out of the blue, making claims that you seem to expect me to instantly believe
Virginie didnt try responding to that. She seemed on a one-track road, the words spilling out of her at cyclone speed. Your sons name is Dylan. And hes all yours as of this minute. You dont know what Ive been through. You cant even guess. My lifes been a nonstop nightmare from the instant this child was conceived. I was sick. Lost my job. He had colic and he doesnt sleep and Im about to lose my apartment and I cant do it anymore. Right now I dont even have a way to feed him
Wait a minute. Wait a minute, just slow down
The hell I will. And dont waste your breath offering me money because this isnt about money. Its about everything. I never figured youd want to know you were a father, but thats just tough. Every woman on earth isnt cut out for motherhood. I gave it a shotyou dont know how hard I gave it a shotbut nothings working out. I cant do it anymore, and youre responsible for this. It took me forever to find you
Molly had never seen Flynn lose color before. Normally when he was upset, he got noisy, not quiet. But he raked a hand through his hair and looked dead-quiet now. Surely you realize this is impossible? You cant just barge in here and claim Im the father of a child. I can see youre upset, but if youd just calm down
Im not calming down. Im leaving. You. With your son.
Its not my son. Flynns baritone could have carried to the next county. So could the blondes shrill soprano.
Oh, yeah it is. I know it is. And if youll look back twenty-one months ago, youll know it is. If not, there has to be some blood test or something thatll prove it to youbecause believe me, it will. She snatched up her tote-size purse again, but withdrew a folder from it and tossed it on his desk. Pictures spilled out. What looked like medical records, maybe a birth certificate. I need a job. I need a place to live. I need a chance at life again, and Im going after it The baby ruined everything I ever had. Hes your problem from this minute on.
When she spun around, Flynn lurched toward her. Wait a minute. For Gods sake, you cant just walk out of here
Watch me.
Molly couldnt seem to unfreeze. The whole scene was just so unreal. The frantic-faced woman and the whole yelling match couldnt have taken five minutes. She stormed back out of the office as fast as shed stormed in.
Flynn hiked after her. Molly had never seen his complexion turn that ashen gray before. She heard his booming voice from the hall, fading as the two of them reached the front doors. There wasnt another sound in the entire officenot because Flynns handful of staff werent there, but likely because everyone had been listening as intently to the whole scene no differently than she had.