“Depends on your definition of okay. She threw me out, if you can believe that.” He set down his oversized duffle bag which Lacey eyed warily.
“What do you mean she threw you out?”
He grinned, that cocky, sexy grin she loved. “She said I was getting on her nerves and cramping her style. Then she told me to get the hell out.”
“She did not!”
He laughed. “Not in so many words, no. But her point was clear.”
She looked from his bag up into his eyes. Eyes that now looked light and free of excess baggage. She didn’t understand what was going on, but she had a hunch she was going to like it. A lot.
She rolled forward onto the balls of her feet, then back again. “So, did you move back into your apartment?” Lilly asked.
“Nope. I told Hunter to camp out there for a while.”
“Doesn’t he have his place in Albany?”
“It’ll be a long trip for him late at night when he fills in for me at Night Owl’s. Besides, he really hates that stuffy apartment he’s leasing. He only did it to make his point that he’s arrived, and he’s past caring what people think anymore.”
“He’s hurting, isn’t he?” Lacey asked.
Ty nodded. “Molly did a real number on him. Did you know he offered to go with her wherever she was going?”
Although Lacey had been in touch with Hunter and she knew he’d withdrawn, he’d left out key parts of the story. “I had no idea,” she murmured. “She turned him down?”
“Flat.” Ty crossed his arms over his chest.
She winced. “Poor Hunter. But at least he had the courage to offer to go with her,” she said pointedly. She wasn’t only referring to the fact that Ty hadn’t offered the same, but neither had she.
“It didn’t get him very far, unfortunately.”
“But at least now he knows where he stands.”
Ty nodded. “Good point.”
They remained that way for a while, at a standstill, neither one of them knowing what to say next.
Lacey took the opportunity to look him over for the first time. He hadn’t shaved in a few days, his hair was as long as it’d been before, and his leather jacket appeared well-worn. He was her sexy rebel, and she was so glad he was here.
“So, your mother threw you out and you gave up not just your apartment, but your part-time job at Night Owl’s,” she said, spelling things out when she couldn’t stand the tension any longer. “What about your P.I. business?”
“Handed that over to Derek.” He shrugged off his jacket, hanging it on a hook in her front hall. “Seeing as I’m licensed in New York State, it didn’t seem like a big deal to start over.”
Her mouth grew dry. “Start over where?”
“Here.” He ran his hand through his hair. “In New York, the city that doesn’t sleep. Seems like a good place for an out-of-work P.I. to start over.”
When she glanced at him this time, she didn’t see the cocky kid she’d fallen in love with at seventeen, nor did she see the man with walls a mile high. Instead, she saw a vulnerable guy who’d come here with his heart on his sleeve and no idea what kind of reception he’d receive.
She had just one question. “Why? Why leave your home and everything you love behind?”
“Because a smart, beautiful woman once told me home is about the people you’re with, not the place you choose to live. Besides,” he said, his eyes gleaming. “I wouldn’t say I left everything I love behind. I came to find the person I love most in the world, and that’s you.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.” With a huge smile on her face, Lacey stepped forward and jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him like there was no tomorrow.
“God, I missed you.” He ran his hand down the back of her head, sifting his fingers through her hair.
“Then what took you so long?” She peppered his cheek with kisses as she asked.
Ty let her slide down the length of his body but kept her close as they headed for the couch in the other room. “I had some things to sort through,” he admitted.
“I thought I was the one who needed to come home, get some distance and think,” she said, teasing him.
He shrugged. “Turns out we both did. All the years you were gone, I held it against you that you didn’t come back. It wasn’t something I verbalized or even realized I thought about until I saw you again. But once I knew, it wasn’t something I could let go that quickly.”
“Because you were afraid I’d leave you again,” she said, catching on quickly and understanding him as she always did. “And what did I do? I turned around and came back home just like you thought I would.” She lifted their tightly held hands and placed them close to her heart. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You had to be independent to have survived at all. I needed to get over my hang-ups.” He nearly choked on the word. “And I have. Because I love you too much not to be with you.”
“I love you, too. So much that I was making plans to leave New York and come back anyway.” She kissed his cheek, letting him know he didn’t have to worry that she’d ever let him go again. “One way or another, we were going to be together. I’m not going to leave you again. Cross my heart,” she said, her words a solemn vow.
As his gaze fell to the locket she’d never taken off, Ty knew for certain. When Lacey made a promise, she knew for sure never to break it.
“I’m never going to leave you, either,” he said. “Cross my heart,” he said and sealed their vow with a long, long, long kiss.
Epilogue
“What do you think about expanding Odd Jobs?” Lacey asked Ty. “The suburbs have an equal need for people to do things they can’t possibly fit into their day. Beyond housekeeping and dog walking, there’s food shopping and cooking…”
Her husband glanced at her over his morning newspaper.
They’d married soon after she claimed her trust fund in a small, private ceremony in his mother’s house, with just Flo and Dr. Andrew Sanford, Hunter and Lacey’s uncle Marc present. The unique group could have made for an awkward family unit, but everyone had been on their best behavior. Only Molly had been missing. Though Lacey had received a postcard from California and knew the other woman was traveling—make that running—she hadn’t put down roots anywhere.
Poor Hunter had thrown himself into his work and women—too many women—to the exclusion of everything and everyone else.
“Are you suggesting we move out of the city?” Ty asked, bringing her focus back to him, not that it had strayed far.
She still loved looking at him every morning. His sexy razor stubble and sleepy-eyed grin never failed to stir her desire. Fate had brought them together again, and she didn’t plan to take their second chance for granted.
“Wouldn’t you like more space and fresh air, not to mention room for another dog,” she said, teasing him and gauging his reaction at the same time.
“Somehow I don’t think Miss Smelly Breath would appreciate the competition.” He petted Digger’s head. The dog lay on his lap where she always happily perched herself, choosing Ty over Lacey, given the choice.
Lacey laughed. “What about you? You could do detective work in Westchester County, or you could keep this apartment as your base and use it as an office and still work in the city. It’s an easy commute by train or by car.”
He laid the paper down on the table. “You’ve looked into this already, haven’t you?”
She grinned. “I thought it would make sense to have all the facts before I presented my case. I checked out all the possibilities, and the fact is the traffic on Long Island is horrendous and would drive you insane. Of course, you could take the train from there, too. In either case, there are good schools and different cities we can look into. Of course, if you’d rather—”
“Why now? All of a sudden you want to move? I thought you loved the city and this neighborhood. You thought this apartment cozy and perfect.”
“I d
o think it’s cozy and perfect for the two of us and the dog.” Lilly rose and walked over to his chair, giving Digger a gentle shove. The dog was forced to hop onto the floor so Lilly could settle into Ty’s lap and wind her arms around his neck. “But if we were to expand this family then this place is too small, don’t you think?” she asked.
Hint hint, she thought, snuggling in closer to his warmth.
“Hey, are you trying to tell me you’re pregnant?” he asked, clearly surprised and a little nervous if his roughened voice was any indication.
She shook her head. “I’m trying to tell you I want to be. That is if you’re game, too.”
He wrapped his hands around her waist. “Oh, I’m game.” He shifted his thighs beneath her, letting her feel exactly how ready he was to make her dreams come true.
She laughed. “What about in here?” she asked, lightly tapping his chest. “Is a family something you’ve thought about?”
He nodded. “I just knew we’d been using protection and so…”
“No surprises,” she assured him, understanding now what had caused his nervous reaction.
Ty liked things planned and thought out, as she’d been learning about him the longer they were together. It was what made him such a great P.I., that he could pull the strands of different things together and figure out possibilities other people might otherwise miss.
“Not to worry, you’ll be in on this project from the very beginning.” She wiggled her bottom against his erection and let the waves of desire wash over her.
Not just desire, she corrected herself, but love. She loved him with all her heart and soul.
“We can start looking at houses anytime you want.” He planted a kiss on her lips. “Happy?” he asked.
She nodded. “Very. It’s just that I feel guilty being so blissful when Hunter is so miserable.”
Ty tipped his head back and met her gaze, understanding in his eyes. “There’s not much we can do for him until he gets his act together and gets over Molly.”
Lacey raised her eyebrows. “Would you get over me so easily?”
His lips turned downwards in a frown. “It’s not the same thing.”
“You don’t know that. I saw how they were together. He loves her.”
“And she betrayed him. He put his heart on the line and she stomped all over it,” Ty said in true defense of his best friend. “People get involved with the wrong person and they move on. Look at you and Alex.”
Lacey’s ex had called her not long after Ty’s arrival. Ty had answered the phone and passed it to her with a growl, but at least he hadn’t hung up on the man. They’d had a brief talk, and to her surprise, Alex had apologized for his behavior when she’d broken up with him. He’d nursed his wounded pride just long enough to get over the idea of them, he’d said. And though they both knew they’d never be friends, at least their relationship hadn’t ended on a sour note, for which Lacey was grateful. Alex played a defining role in her life, and she believed he’d allowed her to realize how much she missed and loved Ty.
Lacey sighed. “Alex and I had a meaningful relationship,” she said carefully. “But I never loved him, and he admitted he’d been in love with the idea of marrying more than he’d been in love with me.”
“That makes him an idiot and me a lucky man,” Ty said. “As for Hunter, let the man find his own solution. You can’t fix this for him.”
She pursed her lips in a pout. “But—”
“But nothing. You’ve already done all you can for Hunter, starting by paying off his student loans.”
Lacey winced, recalling Hunter’s angry tirade, but underneath his pride, she knew he appreciated the gesture. It was the least she could do for the man who’d done so much for her. “He’s still working too hard, going from woman to woman, it’s—”
“None of your business,” Ty insisted. As he spoke, his hands found their way beneath her T-shirt.
His palms were hot against her skin and his desire for her was very evident, pressing against her thigh, distracting her. Which she knew was his intent. She did her best not to moan aloud and send Digger running to interrupt.
“Hunter will fix his own future,” Ty said in a determined tone that instructed her not to meddle in their friend’s life. “In the meantime, let’s get started working on ours.”
And how could Lacey argue with that?
Thank you for reading Cross My Heart. I hope you enjoyed.
Order Molly and Hunter’s story, SEALED WITH A KISS, by clicking HERE.
For a super sexy series you can binge read my Billionaire Bad Boys starting with GOING DOWN EASY by clicking HERE.
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SEALED WITH A KISS
On the outside, Molly Gifford had it all—a hot legal career and a hotter boyfriend. But what she really wanted was a family. So when she discovered her real father, she didn’t hesitate to pack her bags. Even though it meant leaving her old life behind.
Daniel Hunter’s still trying to get on with his life after losing Molly. Then she shows up at his door, begging for help. Her newfound father is under arrest for murder, and she’s convinced Hunter is the only attorney with the skill and reputation to get him off.
Hunter can’t resist helping an innocent man and he’s still drawn to Molly. Although he can’ resist her, he won’t be hurt again. This time he’s determined to be the one who walks away with his heart and emotions intact.
Order SEALED WITH A KISS by clicking HERE.
SEALED WITH A KISS
Molly Gifford packed the last of her suitcases and boxes into the trunk and slammed it shut tight. Another door closing, she thought. Her life here in Hawken’s Cove was over. Finished. Time to move on. She spared a last glance at the house she’d lived in for the last year, a year she’d spent grasping for that elusive thing called family that was always just out of reach.
She should have known better. Shouldn’t have gotten her hopes up that this time would be different. That her mother would marry, settle down and make a family that included Molly instead of excluding her. And at the ripe old age of twenty-seven, Molly should be way past caring. But she wasn’t. She was still the kid shuffled from boarding school to boarding school, the quality of which depended on the size of her mother’s current husband’s checkbook. Her real father wasn’t good for more than a couple of cards a year, her birthday and the punch-in-the-gut Christmas card with the photo of his family.
Just a week ago, her mother had broken her engagement, then dumped her suddenly broke, scandal-ridden fiancé and taken off for Europe with barely a goodbye to her daughter. Molly finally got it. She was on her own and always would be. So she was leaving in search of herself and a life that didn’t include unrequited hopes and expectations weighing her down.
“Molly? Molly, wait.” The voice of her landlady, make that ex-landlady, Anna Marie Costanza, called for Molly’s attention.
“Don’t worry, I was going to say goodbye,” Molly assured the older woman and headed up the driveway to meet her.
“Well, of course you were.” Anna Marie’s faith in Molly was unwavering.
Molly smiled and watched Anna Marie make her way down the porch steps. She would miss her nosy neighbor.
Anna Marie walked up beside Molly. “You don’t have to go. You could stay here and face your fears.”
Pearls of wisdom, but she couldn’t heed them. She looked into the older woman’s face. “Here’s the thing. My fears will follow me wherever I go.”
“Then why leave?” She reached out a hand and touched Molly’s shoulder. “I know for a fact I’m not the only one who wants you to stay.”
“Listening in on my talk with Hunter earlier?” Molly’s stomach lurched at the reminder of a man she’d been trying not to think about as she spent the last few hours packing up her old life.
>
Anna Marie shook her head and thin gray strands fell from their binding. “This is one time I can say emphatically not. I’ve learned my lesson about eavesdropping and passing on information that isn’t mine. It’s just obvious how much that man wants you around.”
Molly opened her mouth, then closed it again. She swallowed over the lump in her throat. “I can’t stay.” But she’d thought about it.
She still did, especially when she remembered the hope in Hunter’s eyes when he’d asked her to stay with him in his hometown of Hawken’s Cove, New York, and the pleading edge in his voice when he’d offered to go with her wherever she needed to run in order to escape the pain.
I never had family, either. I understand what you’re going through. Why not work through it together? Hunter had swallowed his pride and handed her his heart.
He tempted her, and her heart had begged her to change her mind, but she couldn’t. Because she didn’t know who she was or what she wanted out of life, she’d rejected him. She opened and closed her fingers in useless frustration. She was a woman without ties, without real friends, without an anchor. She needed time to figure it all out. Yet her throat swelled with longing and emotion just the same.
“He loves you,” Anna Marie said.
Molly inclined her head. She swallowed hard, the pain growing with each passing minute because she loved Hunter, too. Enough to know she wasn’t whole enough to offer her sometimes friend, sometimes nemesis, not yet lover, anything worthwhile.
“I made my decision,” Molly said, the words feeling thick and uncomfortable, nearly lodging in her throat.
The other woman nodded. “I already know you won’t change your mind. You’re like me that way. But I had to have my say anyway.” She treated Molly to a sage smile.
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