“Why did you have to?” Molly asked curiously.
“Because they threatened me.”
Molly’s eyebrows rose.
“Yeah, Kirk was going to handcuff me to the front door and do it all himself. Ryder was going to hit me with a sedative. Simon said he’d lock me in the trunk of my car - like my fat arse could fit in there and still allow the lid to close - and Scott said he’d tie me to the dumb bells in the fire station.” Dee shook her head, though a small smile played around her lips. “Trust me, sometimes it’s just easier to allow them to run free.”
“Can’t reel them in all the time.” Del nodded. “If you want them to keep the illusion of having all the control, you gotta let that lead out a bit now and again.”
“Let them flex their manly muscles and strut around, helping the little women,” Dee added.
“I think you’re being a little harsh,” Ash said.
“Says the woman who has Scott wrapped around her little finger.”
“Those four boys just have a protective instinct, that’s all.”
“Oohh, look. Ash’s gone all cavewoman for her man.”
Molly grinned, she couldn’t help it.
“And I don’t have Scott wrapped around my finger.” Ash tossed her head. “You can’t wind a man like that around anyone’s finger.”
“You give one little bleat and he comes running.”
“He’s just concerned.” When Dee gave a crow of laughter, Ash added defensively, “He’s just protective, that’s all.”
“Girl, whatever you want, he gives you.”
“Does not.”
“Did you ask to be shagged over the kitchen table?” When Ash went bright red, Dee laughed.
“I think maybe he might have initiated that.” Del drained the contents of her can.
“Why is it always about sex?” Ash demanded.
“Because we’re jealous as shit that you’re getting it and we’re not.” Del looked at Molly. “Right?”
“Speak for yourself.”
“Why? Are you and Kirk getting it on?”
“What?”
“Never mind.” Smirking, Del leaned back in the chair.
“There’s nothing between us!”
“You sure?”
“Yes!”
“On your side maybe.”
Molly glared at her.
“She’s just teasing.” Pushing to her feet, Dee started gathering up the wrappers and containers. “By the way, movie night Friday night at Kirk’s. You all coming?”
“Wild horses couldn’t keep me away,” Del replied.
“We’ll be there.”
When Molly didn’t answer, three pairs of eyes turned to her.
“What?”
“You’re coming, right?” Ash asked.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I’m busy.” Standing, Molly picked up the empty drink cans.
Dee looked shrewdly at her. “Look, it’s just accepted that you’ll come.”
“That’d be bad manners.”
“What are you on about?” Del tossed the salad containers and sandwich wrappers in the small bin.
“She means Kirk never personally asked her to come, so she won’t come.” Dee rolled her eyes. “Fine, I’ll get Kirk to ask you properly and-”
“No!” Molly almost leaped across the table, the impulse to smack her hand across her friend’s big mouth nearly overwhelming. “You’ll do no such thing.”
“Why not?”
“Good grief! How would that look?”
“Like he was asking you to movie night because you’re too dumb arse to just come and are waiting for an invitation instead?”
“I’m not waiting for an invitation!”
Dee’s eyebrows rose. “Yeah, right.”
“Look, I’m busy, all right? Sheesh, don’t make more of it than it is.”
“Yeah, but-”
“Don’t make me sit on you.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“I won’t go anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Should I spell it out for you?”
“Yeah.”
“B-u-s-y.”
“Bitchy?”
Molly was saved from giving a caustic reply by the shop’s old fashioned door bell dinging as a customer entered.
“Literally saved by the bell.” Dee gave her a pointed look.
“You ask Kirk and I will be shitty.”
“Huh.” Dee disappeared into the shop.
Molly switched her gaze from Ash to Del. “Please. Don’t do it. It would be humiliating for me.”
“Hogwash-” Del began.
Ash sent her a quelling glance before looking back at Molly. “Are you sure? I know he’d really like you there.”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay.” When Del started to object, Ash sent her a sharper than normal look. “Del.”
“What?” When Ash just looked at her, Del threw her hands in the air. “Fine! Whatever!”
Molly gave Ash a grateful smile. “Thanks.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure these two don’t ask Kirk.”
Del rolled her eyes but stopped insisting.
Ash stood. “I have to go back to work.”
“Me too.” Del walked out into the shop.
Molly followed, passing Ash who stood at the counter talking quietly to Dee, who shot Molly an annoyed glance but didn’t say anything. Obviously whatever Ash was saying to force the exuberant blonde to keep her mouth shut in regards to an invitation from Kirk to movie night was working.
Molly gave her a smile and wave and walked back to the car. But driving back to the boarding house, she couldn’t help but wish that Kirk had asked her. Okay, she might not like his ways - what ways? What didn’t she like? Oh, right, his way of making her blurt out secrets she didn’t want anyone to know. And his way of making her so aware of his presence. And his just being a dominant man, that she mustn’t forget.
“I am single, a free woman. No one dominates me, no one tells me what to do. I am single, I am free,” she chanted to herself.
But his presence, she had to admit to herself, was calming. As soon as she’d felt him behind her, any unease she’d felt at the growing aggression shown by Brand had disappeared. She’d felt safe. Protected.
“I am single, a free woman. No one dominates me, no one tells me what to do. I am single, I am free.” She scowled as she turned into the driveway to the boarding house. “Damn it, I am free!”
Oscar met her at the foot of the steps.
“I don’t need a man,” she informed him as she got out of the car.
He blinked.
“Even a nice man like Goldie, because he thinks…well. Okay, he apologised, I know. That’s mighty big for an alpha male.” Taking several grocery bags in her hands, she started up the steps. “What do you mean I’m holding a grudge?”
Oscar trotted after her, jumping up on the sink to stick his head into one of the grocery bags.
“Because he managed to coerce what happened out of me?” She went back outside.
Oscar didn’t follow her.
Carrying several more bags inside, she sighed. Why did Goldie get on her nerves so much? What was it about him that had her senses tingling when he was near, that made her so aware of him?
Cripes, Scott was as dominant as Kirk, and so was Simon and Ryder, yet of all of them, it was only Kirk who bothered her.
“It’s because he made me tell him,” she informed Oscar.
The big tom lifted his head from the box of cat biscuits he was trying to investigate.
“Okay, he was really nice and he held me when I kind of got upset.” Wincing, she could still remember how she just melted into his embrace after he ignored her initial resistance. “Okay, okay! Cripes, Oscar, you’re dragging confessions out of me!” She opened the cat biscuits and filled his bowl. “Okay, he made me feel safe when I didn’t, because you know, finding out Hal was tryin
g to get my phone number rattled me. Kirk made me feel safe.” She scowled. “But that doesn’t mean anything except he’s cunning. Now that should make me feel unsafe.”
Yet oddly, it didn’t, which just made her feel more scrambled emotionally than ever. Not to mention the fact that he’d been amused at her show of independence outside the supermarket, yet his amusement wasn’t aimed at her, but more with her, which was really odd because at the time she sure as hell hadn’t been laughing. And when he’d winked at her…yeah, for a few seconds she’d felt like they were sharing a secret. Just the two of them.
“Damn.” Leaning back against the sink, Molly sighed. “The man is doing my head in.”
“Who?” a cheerful voice asked from the doorway.
“Holy crap!” Molly jumped, hand going to her chest as she saw Scott enter.
“Now why do you look so guilty?” Grinning, he gave her a hug, a very gentle hug.
She looked up at him suspiciously. “What was that for?”
“Does it have to be for anything?” He peeked into the grocery bags. “Oohh, is that the makings of some yummy meals I see?”
“Are you saying Ash doesn’t cook well?”
“Don’t even think of spreading that rumour.” He tweaked her nose. “Now, that sideboard-”
“I can do it, Scott.”
“Over my dead body.”
“That can easily be arranged.”
He grinned crookedly. “Want the local law here, do you?”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Smile, chickie, I’m here to help, not take over.”
Reluctantly, she smiled back. “Okay. Truth be told it is a little heavy.”
“I bloody knew it.” He ruffled her hair, avoiding her hand when she slapped out at him. “Where do you want it shifted?”
She looked at his uniform. “You’re working.”
“I’m on lunch break.”
“Me, too.” Simon strolled into the kitchen. “So you owe me lunch.”
“You’re helping Scott?”
“Actually, I hear you make great Anzac biscuits.”
“You hear a lot.”
“I also hear you have some in a biccie jar.” Crossing the room, Simon opened the lid of the biscuit barrel and peeked inside. “Awesome!” Taking three out, he started munching.
“Good grief. You really are a bottomless pit.”
“Don’t believe the gossip. It’s all malicious lies.” He grinned suddenly. “By the way, Henry has some interesting new words.”
“Oh?” Feigning innocence, she raised her eyebrows.
“Yeah.”
“What’s he saying?” Scott asked interestedly.
“You gotta go out and listen for the full effect.”
“No, you don’t,” Molly said immediately.
Scott cut his eyes to her. “Have you been a bad teacher?”
Primly, she turned back to the grocery bags. “Are you going to shift the sideboard or keep yammering?”
“Hmmm.” She could feel his thoughtful gaze on her but refused to turn around. “Okay. Where do you want it?”
“If you can shift it into the hallway, it’ll give me a free run here in the dining room.”
It didn’t take the men long, and she had to admit she was glad they’d insisted. The sideboard was old, big and heavy, and she doubted she’d have been able to do it herself, not when she saw the effort the men put into it, though to be truthful they made it seem a lot less.
They left, Simon carrying a bagful of Anzac biscuits.
Or at least, Molly thought they’d left until she heard Henry squawk out, “Bastards!”
“Listen to this.” Simon’s voice floated through the window. “Goldie!”
“Bad cop!” screeched Henry. “Goldie! Bad cop!”
“Oh, that’s a new one,” Scott said admiringly.
Molly groaned.
“Gets better,” Simon said.
“Condom!” Henry screeched.
“That’s old,” Scott said.
“Wait for it.”
Molly crossed her fingers. Don’t say it, don’t say it, please don’t say it.
“Goldie! Prick!”
“Whoa.” Scott started laughing.
“Wait until Kirk hears it.”
Molly froze. Oh shit! At the time she hadn’t thought of it - well, she had, but she hadn’t thought about the consequences. Oh damn. Would he laugh? Get angry? Or…she bit her lip. Would he be hurt?
Damn it, she didn’t want to hurt him. Not now. Well, she hadn’t then, either, she’d just been so annoyed and…damn.
Scott and Simon were still laughing when they got onto Simon’s car and drove off down the driveway.
Molly dropped her forehead onto the kitchen bench and sighed. Some days it just didn’t pay to get out of bed.
~*~
Kirk turned up with Scott the next day to shift the sideboard back into the dining room, his smile quiet, his expression its usual calm one, but his presence seemed to fill the kitchen as he leaned against the doorway munching on an Anzac biscuit, listening to Scott talking to her.
His gaze never left her for long, sliding away to gaze out the window behind her, going down to where Oscar was lying on one of the kitchen stools, but always his gaze returned to Molly.
It made her edgy. Made her skin tingle. Made her shift her feet slightly. Made her want to suck her belly in and straighten her shoulders. She stayed as she was, leaning back against the kitchen sink as she chatted to Scott.
When they left, she slumped back against the sink. Damn, what was it about Kirk that made her so damned aware of him? Was it because she couldn’t guess what was going on behind his inscrutable expression? The man had a handsome face, almost ruggedly so, yet he had the maddening talent of giving nothing of his thoughts away.
What was he thinking when he kept looking at her? What was on his mind?
One thing was for sure, he didn’t invite her to movie night. That made her feel, well…let down, actually.
“Cripes.” She shook her head. “What is wrong with you?”
“Bastard!” Henry shrieked.
Molly froze.
“Goldie! Bad cop!”
Oh shit. Oh shit shit shit! She ran out onto the back veranda and almost leaped down the steps into the yard. At the corner of the house she peeked around to see Kirk standing there, hands on hips as he watched Henry.
The damned cocky was parading up and down one of the branches in his huge cage, happily screeching out obscenities.
“Bastard! Henry wants a condom!”
Scott was grinning from ear to ear, the drongo, as he urged on Henry. “Bad cop!”
“Bastard!” Henry screamed.
Kirk didn’t move an inch and she couldn’t see his face. Molly bit her lip. Was it too much to hope for that the bloody bird would have forgotten what she’d taught it? After all, he’d only said it a couple of times, and she’d done her best to teach him other things. Nice things. Mostly in the hope he’d forget what she’d taught him out of spite.
“Goldie!” Henry screeched. “Bad cop!”
“Come on,” Scott urged the bird. “Say it.”
“Scratch cocky? Scratch Henry?”
“No, feather brain. Goldie!”
“Goldie!” Henry obligingly squawked. “Bad cop! Prick! Goldie prick!”
Moving out of sight, Molly leaned back against the back wall of the house and covered her face with a groan. That bloody bird!
“Goldie! Moron! Here, kitty kitty kitty!”
Scott was laughing so hard she hoped he did bust a gut. She had no doubt her useless moron of a cousin had dragged Kirk around to hear Henry’s increasing vocabulary.
“Flowers!” Henry screeched. “Basket!”
“Eh?” Scott stopped laughing. “What kind of words are those?”
“Dance cocky, dance cocky!”
“Guess that’s about it,” Scott said.
Kirk had yet to say anything, and Molly couldn’t b
ring herself to push away from the wall to check.
“Goldie! Prick!” Henry squawked, then just to make Molly’s life even more unbearable, “Goldie wants a condom!”
“Oh my God.” Molly clapped her hands over her eyes again.
She felt him before he even said anything. First her skin tingled, then heated as his warmth reached out to her, his presence filling the air, and she could only gulp when something landed lightly beside her ear.
Separating her fingers, she saw Kirk leaning close to her, which made her heart beat faster.
Lowering her hand slowly, she realised that he was so close because his arm was near her ear, his hand braced on the wall behind her.
Mouth dry, she could only look up into his eyes, because even leaning down he was still taller than her.
As usual, his expression gave away nothing of his thoughts. His eyes looked directly into hers before wandering over her face, lingering on her lips before sliding back up to once more lock with her gaze.
God, she felt that look as though he’d trailed his fingers across her skin. What was wrong with her? It had to be his closeness, the fact that yes, he was a handsome man, and he exuded authority even when he was just leaning against the wall.
In front of her.
Imprisoning her with his body.
Or at least one arm.
No sooner had that thought registered than she started to slide sideways, only to have his other arm appear in a move that while quick, seemed leisurely. His hand landed on the wall on the other side of her head.
Now she was imprisoned by his body.
Her heat thumped, her head swam.
“Do you think we need to talk?” His voice slid through her like chocolate, all warm and dark.
“Um…”
“Molly.” His gaze slid to her lips, back up to her eyes.
“About…” She licked her lips, her heart rate kicking up a notch when the gold flecks in his eyes suddenly seemed more brilliant against the slight dilation of his pupils. “About what?”
“Me being a prick?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Henry.”
“That - that bird has a foul mouth.”
“None of us taught him that.”
“So…” She cleared her throat as the muscles flexed in his forearms and he leaned a little closer. “So who did?”
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