At least until Virginie blew into his office that afternoon.
Flynn pulled into his driveway. On cue, as he turned the key, the sidekick in the car seat next to him let out a pithy squawl. He whipped his head around. Yeah, Molly was still there, pulling up behind him. His heart could postpone that panic attack for a little while longer.
Molly popped her trunk, then stepped out of her car and took a quick, cool drink of the view. Humor flashed in her eyes as she hiked past him toward the baby. Honestly, McGannon. I could have guessed this was your house even if I hadnt seen the address.
How so?
Its a castle.
A castle? Actually its pretty small
Size has nothing to do with it. Only a creative-type dreamer would be drawn to this place.
You dont like it? Flynn had imagined bringing her here a dozen times.
Oh, I like itbut Im just chuckling because of how uniquely it suits you. And I hear our rock-star-in-training revving up the volume. Ill get Dylan, if you just unlock the front door and start hauling things in.
Flynn suspected she was subtly trying to suggest that he quit standing there like a dead stick. And while she unthreaded the baby from the car seat torture device, he swiftly fished into his pocket for the door key. Still, as he heaped his arms with bags to carry in, he glanced at his house.
The place was no castle. It was just old. And Mollys dreamer label miffed him. Maybe hed impulsively fallen in love and bought the property on sight, but it had taken months of elbow greasenot dreamsto make the old white elephant livable. The core structure was stone, with a tall, shake-shingle roof and old-fashioned mullioned windows that reflected silver in the moonlight. But a gabled roof and some skinny mullioned windows hardly made it look like some prissy girl castle.
Flynn opened the double front doors, elbowed in with his packages and quickly flicked on an overhead light Molly jogged in behind him with the baby. Maybe youll like it more when you see the inside, he said defensively. I had to have some space. Id get claustrophobic in a city-type apartment. Theres woods out the back, and a creek. And I do a lot of work at home, so I had to renovate some things on the inside
I can see. She was busy juggling The Squirmer, but not so busy that she didnt shoot a look around inside. Again, her eyes danced with dry humor. I wasnt criticizing you, Flynn. Its a romantic house. Ideal for an unconventional dreamer.
Im not a romantic.
Oops. Did I touch a nerve? Ill be careful not to use any dirty words like romantic again...the babys fussing. I think youd better bring in the diapers first.
He brought in the diapersand all the other confounded stuff, heaping it all in the stone foyer just inside the door. On those in-and-out treks, he either caught glimpses of Molly or heard her, talking to the baby, using her nice, warm, sexy-as-sin sensual voicenot like the one shed been using with him all afternoon.
And somehow hed counted on her liking his place. He did. Hell, everything was perfectat least for a guy living alone. Hed put barn beams and a skylight in the great room, bought three giant forest green couches and elled them around the man-size stone fireplace. He wasnt much on pictures and doodads, but the media entertainment center was prime. A thick, fat white alpaca rug made a great place to lay by a roaring fire on a blizzardy night.
As he peeled off his jacket, the goods all carried in, he thought Mollyd look damn near outstanding on that white alpaca rug. Naked. Well, maybe still wearing stockings... if he was going to fantasize, he might as well go whole hog.
The fantasy died a fast death when she stepped through the arched doorway of the kitchen, still holding the baby. Are you done bringing everything in?
Her voice was cool enough to chill champagne. Yeah. Everythings out of both cars...but after all your help and the trouble Ive put you through, Id like to treat you to dinner.
Thanks, but Id better be going. Thats quite a kitchen youve got in there. Every labor-saving appliance known to man and woman both.
You didnt like the kitchen, either?
McGannon, you seem to think Im on your case. You have a fantastic house, ultracool. Every inch of it suits you.
You havent seen the upstairs. I could give you a quick tour.
Maybe another time. Here you go. She lifted Dylan and plopped the wriggling chunk into his arms. I changed his diaper, and I put out some toddler baby food on the counter. The directions said you could microwave it but youll need to be careful its not too hot.
She was trotting for the front door faster than a filly in a sulky race. Youre sure you wont stay for dinner?
Positive. She opened the front door.
Molly, wait. Dylan whacked him on the ear with a baby fist. Flynn heard alarm bells of anxiety clanging in his earsand not just because the baby had given him a boxers whack. I appreciate your helping me out. I owe you a big thanks.
No sweat. Youre welcome.
Flynn let the baby down, since there was no holding on to the contortionist anyway. Dylan immediately quit squawking, plunked down on all fours and took off again. Molly had her hand on the doorknob, looking as primed to take off and escape from him as the kid had been. He cleared his throat. Look, I can see youre uncomfortable with me. I dont know what to say, how to make that right. But you and I never had a problem communicating before
And we dont now. Theres no reason business should be different than usual tomorrow.
Business, he echoed. There wasnt business on your mind earlier this afternoon. Or on mine. Believe me, I understand that it was Virginies visit that changed that...and its not like Im blaming you for judging me
Im not judging you, she said swiftly. Too swiftly. He saw her swallow hard, and finally she turned to face him. She didnt give up her hold on that doorknob, but her voice turned soft. Molly soft. Im judging me, Flynn. Youre rightwe were becoming close. And that was never a good ideanot for me. Everything that happened this afternoon has underlined for me that I really dont know you.
Youre upset because of the baby, which God knows, I understand. But I dont know that Dylan is mine
The babys not the problem. At least not exactly. I hope Id never tar anybody with a judgmental feather for making that kind of mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. And that particular one, couples have been making since the beginning of time. She hesitated. But if a woman like that attracted you, Flynn, you and I honestly have nothing in common. We couldnt possibly value any of the same things.
Youve lost respect
Yeah, I think thats fair to say. Her eyes mirrored the most uncomfortable kind of honesty. You can be a real trial to work with, McGannon. You bellow and youre stubborn and you tend to railroad everyone in your path. But youve got a huge heart and an incredibly creative mindIve never seen you judge anyone or fail to listen to their point of view. From the first day on the job, I admired you. Respected you. Enormously.
Mentally Flynn dismissed those minor details about his bellowing and stubbornness. Maybe it had taken Molly a couple of months to really believe his bark was worth peanutsand that he really hated people kowtowing to him. But she hadnt been intimidated by him in a blue moon.
Mentally Flynn dismissed those minor details about his bellowing and stubbornness. Maybe it had taken Molly a couple of months to really believe his bark was worth peanutsand that he really hated people kowtowing to him. But she hadnt been intimidated by him in a blue moon.
Respect was a different issue entirely. Flynn hadnt known she felt that enormous respect. But he could feel the loss of it nowhear it, in her velvet-soft voiceand it hurt like a knife stab in his gut.
Instinctively he stepped toward her, wanting to reach her, touch her. He told himself the impulse wasnt sexualand yet he knew it was. When hed kissed her before, all the nuisance life differences between them disappeared. The connection had always been real, honest, and hotter than fire. Something about that chemistry created a strange, alien feeling of belongingand maybe Flynn had never understood it, but he had a dread-sinking sensation that hed never have that feeling again. Not with anyone. Not like with Molly. And if he just kissed her...
But the look in her eyes stopped him. She didnt back away from him. She didnt move at all in those seconds, yet she faced him with this sudden, soft, naked vulnerability in her eyes. It was a look that said Im a strong, tough cookie with a weakness. A weakness for you. And yeah, shed dive undermaybeif he kissed her. But that wasnt the same as her willingness.
It wasnt the same as her wanting him.
His hand fell. Then both hands jammed into his pockets, buried out of sight as if he was trying to bury that impulse to touch her. Molly, this whole story isnt done. There hasnt been time to talk to youI havent even had a chance to try and explain
She shook her head quickly, firmly. You dont owe me any explanations, and Im well aware youve just had your life turned upside down. But so has that baby. Love him, Flynn. And honestly, I need to go. Ill see you tomorrow.
She latched the door closed on her way out. No slam. Not even the sound of a click. She was just gone. Faster than the light bulb switched off, and leaving him with an odd, scratchy feeling in his throat.
Abruptly, though, Flynn heard a crash. He pivoted on a heel and hightailed into the living room. The floor lamp by his leather reading chair was lying on the ground, the shade rolling and punctured. The accident could have happened by osmosis, but somehow he suspected another culprit. As a point of fact, if the baby were hurt, he was going to have to shoot himself. And how could such a tiny kid manage to topple a sturdy five-foot lamp?