Fall for You

by Angela Verdenius

  “I have to go to work this morning and my uniform is back at the house.” Crossing to her, he smoothed the hair back from her face and kissed her cheek. “Go back to sleep, kitten. I’ll see you later.”

  Reaching out, she lay a hand against his arm. “Be careful.”

  Oh man, did that ever touch him deep in his heart. The only person who’d ever said that to him had been his mother. No woman since had ever said those words, and as sleepy as Molly was, he could see she meant it. “I will.”

  By the time he’d crossed to the bedroom door and looked back, she was fast asleep, the quilt moving up and down in time with every even, deep breath she took.

  Smiling, he left the house, ensuring the front door was locked behind him.

  ~*~

  “You dog.” Ryder took one look at Kirk’s face. “You did it.”

  “Did what?” Scott asked from behind the fire truck.

  “Defiled your little cousin.”

  “Thanks,” Kirk said as Scott walked around the front of the truck. “Thanks a lot.”

  “Hey, don’t mention it.” Ryder proffered the cup of coffee. “You want this before or after Scott kills you?”

  “I’m not going to kill him.” Grinning, Scott punched Kirk in the arm. “Unless you hurt her. Then I’ll have to rip your head off.”

  “Duly noted.” Kirk took the cup from Ryder. “And never going to happen.”

  “Oh, I’ll rip your head off, don’t ever doubt that,” Scott stated seriously.

  “I mean, I’ll never hurt her.” He took a sip of the steaming liquid. “I’m going to marry her.”

  Ryder choked.

  Scott’s grin widened.

  As Ryder coughed and hacked, trying to clear his airways, Kirk smiled in satisfaction.

  The day just kept getting brighter.

  Chapter 11

  The cleaning had finally been completed, every nook, corner and cranny of the house scrubbed, wiped and polished on the inside, the walls hosed and windows washed on the outside.

  Standing in the yard with her hands in the pockets of her apron, Molly was pleased. The house was done, Aunt Julia would arrive any day, and life was looking good.

  She and Kirk had settled into a relationship, no doubt about it. They went out on dates together, met with their other friends and had fun, and she’d stayed overnight at his home several times, he doing the same with her.

  Which, he told her seriously, he wasn’t going to do when Julia came home. It would mean that Molly would have to stay overnight with him, no way could he have her screaming his name with her Aunt just a few rooms away.

  Yeah, he did make her scream his name, no doubt about it.

  Grinning, Molly started back up the veranda steps. Now that everything was finished it meant it was time she seriously considered the job offer from the local bakery, who wanted her to cook cakes and pastries for them as well as tend the counter. Not that she really had to consider it as she had every intention of taking the job.

  Going back inside the house, she showered and changed into clean clothes before flopping onto the sofa and ringing Sherry. Turning the phone on speaker, she lay back on the cushions, resting her knees over the armrest.

  “Guess what?” she said as soon as her friend answered. “I’m going to stay here and work in the bakery.”

  Sherry was incredulous. “Work in a bakery?”

  “You say that like working in a bakery is the worst thing to ever happen.”

  “But it’s a country town, Molly, you’re a city girl!”

  “Might have been once, but I love it here. You should come and check it out.”

  “Are you kidding? I’d be bored out of my brain.”

  “Keith will bring his travel toys with him, I’m sure.”

  “No way.”

  “He could dress up as a Sheriff and you could be his prisoner. Break out the handcuffs he likes to use on you so much.”

  Sherry giggled. “When you put it like that...”

  Molly rolled her eyes.

  “Besides,” Sherry grew serious, “I think there’s something else that’s holding you in Gully’s Fall.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “A certain golden-haired cop.”

  Molly wasn’t going to lie. “He’s special.”

  “Special enough to put your life on hold?”

  “Special in that he is a part of my life,” Molly corrected. “A big part.”

  “Maybe this is all just new, you know? A novelty.”

  “Being in a country town?”

  “No, you nong, having a boyfriend.”

  “I’ve had a couple of boyfriends before.”

  “Molly.”

  “All right. I’m saying Kirk is a great boyfriend.”

  “Great enough to make you stay in a hick town?”

  “Gully’s Fall is a great place, I told you that.”

  “Molly!”

  Laughing, Molly twirled a lock of hair around her finger.

  “Don’t you think this is a huge decision to make right now?”

  “Sherry, I know you’re worried, but trust me, I’m in a great place right now and I don’t just mean the town. I mean my life.”

  “But it’s so quick…”

  “Quick? It’s not like I fell into his bed within a couple of days.”

  “I just meant after what you went through with Hal and that other dickhead. I’m just a little worried that you’re falling again.”

  “Kirk is as far removed from Hal as you can imagine, and he’s not pushy. We’re just taking this at our own pace. Besides, you were so happy when we started going out. What happened?”

  “Nothing happened.” Sherry sighed. “It’s just….once friends move away and get married, everything changes.”

  “Get married?” Molly grinned. “We’re dating, not marrying. Not yet-” She clapped her hand over her mouth, pushing herself up on one elbow to stare at the clock on the mantle. “I - I mean-”

  “You mean what?” Sherry almost wailed. “You’re falling for him!”

  “Wait. I didn’t - I haven’t-”

  “Molly Travers, don’t you lie to me. You’re falling for this cop hook, line and sinker!”

  Swallowing, Molly opened her mouth to refute it, only to shut it again. Cripes, was it true? Sure, she liked Kirk. Really liked him. Really, really liked him. But falling for him? That was a huge step. Wasn’t it?

  “You mean ‘falling’ as in ‘love’?” she asked cautiously.

  “Crap on a stick, Molly, of course I mean ‘falling’ as in ‘love’!”

  “That - that’s a bit strong.”

  “Are you listening to the way you’re stuttering instead of laughing?”

  “You can’t see my smile.”

  “I know you, Travers. You are not smiling. I bet right now you’re stunned because you didn’t realise you’d fallen for him.”

  “Hey, when did it go from present tense to past tense?”

  “When I found out you’d already fallen for him. Geez, Molly, it’s clear in your voice.”

  “I think you need your hearing checked.”

  “No, I think you need a reality check. At least be honest with yourself.” Sherry paused. “Not that it’s totally a bad thing.”

  “What?”

  “You know, he’s so nice to you.”

  “Good grief, are you listening to yourself? You’re swinging from one end of the pendulum to the other.”

  “Huh?”

  “One minute you’re warning me off him, the next you’re saying it’s a good thing!”

  “I’m saying it’s not totally a bad thing.”

  “I feel like we’re going in circles.”

  Sherry sighed. “I just want you to be happy.”

  “I am happy. Well, until you made me start worrying.”

  “About what?”

  “Falling for Kirk.”

  “You’re worried about falling for him? Bit late, Molly, you’re already t
here. It’s time to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and face things.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to face things.”

  “You want to meander around in a dream?”

  “I want to take this nice and slow.”

  “No one said you had to take it fast.”

  “I’m getting dizzy.”

  “You know what? So am I. Let’s change the subject.”

  Relieved, Molly looked up at the ceiling. “So, what’re you doing?”

  “Trying to keep food down.”

  “Caught a wog?”

  “Pregnancy is an illness?”

  Molly jerked upright. “What?”

  “I’m pregnant.” Sherry started laughing. “Can you believe it?”

  “You’ve got a bun in the oven?” Molly had a hard time closing her mouth. “Holy crap, what does Whip Man think of that?”

  “Keith is over the moon. He also won’t play rough anymore.” Sherry was obviously pouting. “Says it’s too dangerous. We only do rope and-”

  “Okay, that’s enough. Don’t take that any further.” Molly grinned. “But a baby? Sherry, I’m so happy for you both.”

  “Thanks. So you’ll come and see me soon? Like before I pop like a balloon?”

  “Absolutely. I’ll see if Kirk will come so you and Keith can meet him.”

  “Do that. I’m dying to meet the man who did the impossible.”

  “Don’t start that again.”

  After a few more minutes, Sherry hung up.

  Turning off the speaker on the phone, Molly stared up at the ceiling.

  Sherry really thought Molly had fallen for Kirk. Wow, that was unreal. Really, Kirk was great. Kind, sweet, loving, funny, and a total man. He wasn’t a control freak, but he was no push-over either, she’d learned that pretty quickly. Quiet, strong, determined, he was able to yield when the situation called for it, but just as easily stood unwaveringly when he knew he was in the right.

  And he’d stand beside those he loved and cared about against the world if it was needed.

  Who wouldn’t love a man like that?

  Oh shit, she was falling for him.

  Her heart fluttered, a tingle going through her as she turned that revelation over in her mind. Wow, she was actually falling for a man after swearing off men forever, ironically. But then Kirk wasn’t like her previous boyfriends.

  Kirk was one-of-a-kind.

  And he wanted her.

  Molly hugged herself, grinning. Yeah, he wanted her.

  But was he falling for her?

  Okay, that was a sobering thought. What if she was falling for him, but he wasn’t falling for her? He hadn’t mentioned love, hadn’t mentioned forever.

  “Cripes.” She pushed upright, swinging her feet to the floor. “Don’t get carried away, girl. He’s dating you, he’s got you in his bed, what more do you want right now? It’s only been a couple of months, that’s all. Just over six weeks, really.”

  Six weeks and she was falling for the calm, controlled cop. The calm, controlled man.

  Oscar wandered in, sitting on the floor to shoot up his back leg and start washing his bum.

  “Now that’s class,” Molly muttered. “Are you trying to tell me something?”

  The grey tom ignored her.

  “You’re right. I’m an arse for worrying. I need to take this one day at a time.”

  Getting up, she wandered into the kitchen. For the first time since she’d arrived she really had nothing to do. The house was clean, everything spic and span. Maybe it was time she caught up on some reading.

  Taking an apple from the ‘fridge, she bit into it, her gaze going around the kitchen. A bit of plastic stuck up from behind some magazines on the far bench and remembering the post satchel, she crossed to the bench and pulled it out. Getting a pair of scissors, she cut open the top and pulled out a long, thin box wrapped in black paper and tied with a flattened, silver ribbon

  “Not my birthday.” She searched the satchel for a card but nothing accompanied it. “Weird.”

  After double-checking for a non-existent return address, Molly undid the ribbon and tore off the paper, opening the box curiously.

  “What the…” She pulled out the cane rod inside, turning it over in her hand. Noticing that it was folded in three, she straightened it out, hearing it click into place.

  Checking inside the box again, Molly saw a little note tucked into the tissue paper and she picked it up, holding it at an angle to read the unexpected bold strokes. Better than a belt?

  Oh Jesus!

  Molly dropped the cane, her heart beating wildly as she looked around. Oh God, it was from Hal. She recognised the handwriting, and the belt reference was a no-brainer.

  He’d found her.

  Hands trembling, she ran to the window, peering out, half expecting to see him standing outside.

  The yard was empty except for a couple of mud larks sitting on the bird bath.

  Wait, he’s in the city. He posted this. He isn’t here.

  Taking several deep breaths, Molly picked up the cane along with the black paper and silver ribbon. Hurrying outside, she opened the wheelie bin and threw the lot in, almost slamming the lid, sending the mud larks into the air with startled cries.

  Running a hand through her hair, she closed her eyes. It was nothing. Nothing. The satchel had been forgotten for several weeks, sitting on the bench, and he hadn’t contacted her, he hadn’t - a thought hit her, making her blood run cold.

  The phone call where there was nothing but silence on the other end. Oh shit, he’d thought to ring the boarding house, he’d known she had an Aunt in Gully’s Fall. She’d answered. That was how he’d known where to send the satchel.

  The satchel that had appeared so soon after the phone call.

  Going back into the house, she went into the hallway, picking up the phone and starting to dial, only to stop and lower the phone back into the cradle.

  Cripes, what was she doing? Ringing Kirk to tell him - what? That her ex had sent her a distasteful present awhile ago and she’d only just opened it and it was giving her the heebie-jeebies? That he’d possibly made one phone call but didn’t identify himself?

  And Hal hadn’t contacted her since. How dumb did that make her look?

  No. No, she had to take care of this, she couldn’t go running for help every time something bad happened.

  Shaking her head at her own cowardice, she strode into the kitchen, only to have a knocking at the front door making her turn and walk back into the hallway.

  The male silhouette at the door had her breath catching slightly, but the figure was taller and leaner than Hal.

  Opening the door, she looked up and smiled, only to falter to a halt when she realised Jason Dawson stood in front of her. “Oh…um…hello.”

  Dressed in a ratty jean jacket over top of an oil-stained t-shirt, his jeans ripped at the knees and his boots planted heavily on the veranda, Jason looked down at her with a decidedly unfriendly face.

  A little uneasily, Molly glanced around, relieved that his brother wasn’t with him. Returning her gaze to him, she raised an eyebrow. “Something I can do for you?”

  Abruptly, he shoved a package into her hand. “This is from Mum.”

  Taken aback, Molly looked at the package covered in lunch wrap and then layered in Gladwrap. “For me?”

  “I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

  “Oh.” Uncertain what to say, she turned the package over. “What is it?” When he didn’t answer, she looked up at him.

  He was studying her with a curious expression on his face as though trying to fathom her out.

  “Jason? Is everything all right?”

  “Why do you ask that?”

  She shrugged. “You’re looking a little oddly at me.”

  He frowned. “Nothing’s wrong, okay?”

  “Okay.” She smiled tentatively. “Thank your Mum for this.”

  His gaze dropped to the package. “It’s some of her fruit cake. S
he makes good fruit cake. She wanted you to have some.”

  “That’s very kind of her.”

  “Yeah. She’s like that.” Jason rubbed his nape, clearly uncomfortable. “She wanted you to have some for offering to help her at the shop the other day.”

  “Oh.” Realisation dawned. “Oh, look, that was nothing. That-”

  “It was something,” he interrupted brusquely. “You offered help, not many people would do that with us.” His frown turned darker. “Most’d try to pretend they didn’t see that.”

  “Well, you did kind of ensure most people would pretend-” She stopped when his gaze snapped back up to her’s, his mouth tight. “Right.” She held up the package. “Thank her for me. I look forward to sampling it.”

  “Yeah.” Swinging around on his heel, he strode down the steps and over to his old ute.

  Molly watched as he got in and drove off without looking at her. Hefting the package, she smiled, feeling a lot better. Lora’s kindness was sweet, a testament to the fact that kindness was catching.

  Returning to the kitchen, she placed the package on the sink and opened the pantry door to find a cake container. Closing it, she turned around, only to freeze when she saw the man standing only feet from her.

  Medium height and build, wavy brown hair trimmed short, good-looking, Hal stood in her kitchen. In his hand he held the cane, and his gaze lifted from it to fasten on her, his eyes cold. “I see you finally opened your present and didn’t like it.”

  “Hal...” Gripping the cake container, she stared at him, fear creeping through her. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve come to take you home.” He snapped the cane through the air, the vibrating sound loud. “You’ve had your free time, Molly. It’s time you came back under some control.”

  Oh shit. She could feel her knees tremble as his meaning sank in. For a second she contemplated trying to make a run for the door, only to bite the urge back. That would only inflame him more.

  Swallowing, she kept her gaze on him. “We’re over, Hal, you know that. I’m not going back with you.”

  “Are you back-chatting me?” His eyes narrowed. “Are you trying to be in charge?”

  “What? No, of course not.” She sought to soothe him. “But we’re two different people, you must see that. I have my life here and you have your life in the city.”