“Derrick preferred to eat and be seen.” She paused and frowned at him. “You’re wondering why I was with him for so long.”
Drew was curious. From the little he knew, her ex didn’t seem to be a good fit for her. Already Drew was a better partner based on the similar likes and dislikes checklist. He was definitely more interested in seeing Molly for who she was than being seen with her. And if he were honest, he’d much prefer having her to himself—sharing more moments exactly like this one.
But all of that only mattered if Drew was interested in being her partner and if she was interested in him, neither of which was true.
“Derek and I worked together at Loft and Concord.” Molly pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and covered her legs. “We made a good team and had great results. Everyone at the firm was thrilled.”
“Naturally you should’ve been a good team at home too.” Drew set his arm on the back of the couch rather than take her hand.
“We should have been.” She ran her fingers over the soft blanket. “It was nice for a while.”
“What happened?” he asked.
“I got pregnant.” She looked at him. The mix of emotions in her gaze swept into her hushed tone. “You really learn a person’s core values in a life-changing event like that.”
“What did you learn?” He edged toward her. Disliking her sudden sadness. Wanting only to see her joy return.
She considered him. “I learned good work isn’t a good enough foundation for a relationship. I thought he loved me, would stand with me no matter what. Once I realized that wasn’t the case, I left him and the firm.”
“What is a good foundation?” What made him certain she was the right woman? What established a good foundation? What was it about her that pulled him to her? And made him want to seize Reuben’s advice and not ever let her go.
“I’m not sure.” She sat up. Strands of her hair slipped free, curved around her face. Her smile wavered. A trace of humor highlighted her words. “Maybe it’s shared vacation goals, Santa pictures and mystery date bets.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Drew couldn’t push aside his feelings any longer. The pull toward Molly was too strong, too real. He leaned forward and twisted a strand of her hair around his fingers. He curved his other hand under her chin. “Or maybe it’s something like this.”
She met him halfway. And he lost himself again.
The kiss went on. Transitioned from learning to giving and receiving. To simply feeling.
And in that moment, he discovered a connection and the beginnings of the foundation he was looking for.
CHAPTER TWENTY
SEVERAL DAYS AND several good-night kisses on the front porch later, Drew carried an exhausted Hazel through the backyard to Molly’s apartment. Their Sunday had been spent at the park. First, a soccer game with the Sawyer family. Then a walk around the pond to watch the ducks and swans. “I still can’t believe Wesley made that goal against Dan to win the game.”
“It was amazing.” Molly grinned and pulled her keys from the diaper bag. “My teammates were the best.”
“Next time, I’m picking the preteen soccer whizzes for my team,” Drew said. He’d always picked Molly for his flag football team in college. “And you can have Brooke and Dan.”
“I expected better after Brooke’s volleyball play the other night.” Molly shook her head.
“I should have known you had soccer skills.” Drew nudged his shoulder against hers.
“I don’t.” Molly laughed and opened her apartment door. “Wesley and Ben made up for my lack of talent. And they might have shared a few insider secrets with me about Brooke and Dan.”
“Totally not fair,” Drew said. “But I like the boys’ game play.”
“Well, there’s a rematch already scheduled for next Sunday,” Molly said. “I suppose we’ll have to revise our game plan now that I revealed our secret to winning.”
Drew had a few secrets of his own too. Ones that included how much he liked Molly. How much he liked working with her. How much he liked being with her. “Hazel has a secret too.”
“What’s that?” Molly turned around.
Drew handed the baby to her. “In addition to needing a bath, she also needs a diaper change.”
“So, you’re handing her off,” Molly teased. “Just like that.”
“I need to clean up too. I plan to shower in the guest bathroom in the main house.” Drew pulled several blades of grass from Hazel’s hair. “You’d think Hazel had joined us for the soccer game.”
“As soon as she’s bigger, I don’t think there will be any way to keep her off the soccer field or the volleyball court.” Molly laughed and brushed the dirt off Hazel’s cheek. “As it was, Rick got more of a workout than we did following Hazel all around the park.”
“She’s a fast crawler and really starting to get her legs under her.” Dan’s father had walked Hazel around the perimeter of the soccer field, her tiny hands braced inside his. Drew had demonstrated how Hazel preferred to be assisted. Hazel and Drew had been perfecting the best place for him to stand to help her learn to walk the past few days. Not that he was bragging, but Hazel walked the best with him beside her.
“Then it’s trouble ahead for sure.” Molly moved toward the bedroom. “Showers and clean clothes, then we’ll meet back here to discuss dinner.”
“I could definitely use some food.” Drew headed outside and crossed the backyard.
The last four days, they’d settled into a comfortable routine. Nap time and evenings when Hazel was asleep had been spent prepping for Drew’s upcoming hearing. Drew would always return to his loft each night, alone, but no longer feeling lonely. Their afternoons had been spent walking around the park or playing in the backyard with Nala and her puppies. A volleyball rematch had occurred the prior evening. Once again, the women had won, so the tally for mystery dates organized by the men had now doubled.
Sophie had vowed to join the matches after the twins finally arrived, claiming she wanted a few mystery dates of her own.
The entire week had been fun-filled. And Drew had been upbeat. And happy. And every hour he spent with Molly and Hazel only made him want more time with them. He shook his head. He should be getting his head back into work mode. Instead he wanted to enjoy Molly and Hazel and the time they had together.
He supposed he should feel regret or guilt. Work came first. But no matter how deep he searched, he just kept discovering more layers of contentment.
Drew walked inside the Sawyers’ kitchen and called out Brooke’s name. Her reply came from the laundry room. He heard the showers on upstairs and assumed Dan and Wesley had already escaped to wash off the residual stains from their soccer game. “Okay if I use your guest bathroom?”
“Fine.” Brooke kept her gaze fixed on Nala’s puppies.
Brooke’s distracted tone pulled Drew farther into the laundry room. Nala greeted him with her customary tail wag and welcoming whine. “Something wrong?”
“Wish won’t eat her kibble.” Brooke nudged a small bowl closer to the puppy. The tiny dog dropped back on wobbly legs. Her brother Milo waddled over and began eating the water-soaked dry food.
“What now?” Wish, the smallest and most fragile, teetered and lay down beside her brother. Nala licked Wish’s face as if encouraging the puppy to eat, then shifted her all too expressive gaze to Drew as if requesting his help.
“A bottle in a quiet room for Wish.” Brooke opened a cabinet and pulled out her supplies. “When she tries to nurse, her siblings push her out of the way.”
“I can feed her at Molly’s.” Drew knelt, stroked his fingers over Wish’s head, then reached over to stroke Nala’s back for his regular rib-check. The mother dog had finally gained some much-needed weight. He’d been sneaking her extra treats whenever he visited. “It’s quiet and no sibling distractions for her there.”<
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“Would you mind?” Brooke asked. “I’ll get everything prepared while you shower. It’s family dinner night and Rick’s choice. We’re heading to Roadside Burgers soon.”
Family dinner. Drew supposed he was having something like that with Molly. More of that contentment widened his grin. “Get the cookie dough and extra whipped cream milkshake. It’s the best one there.” Drew headed toward the guest room. “I’ll be quick.”
Ten minutes later, his hair still damp and wearing fresh clothes, Drew made his way back to Molly’s apartment. A bottle of warm puppy formula in one hand, Wish cradled in the other. “We have company.”
Molly smiled from her seat at the kitchen table. Hazel sat in her high chair and shoved a macaroni noodle into her mouth.
Drew sat beside Molly at the table. “Wish isn’t taking to her kibble like everyone else. Brooke says she lost weight again.”
“We’ll get her eating.” Molly opened a jar of applesauce. Hazel bounced in her high chair. The little girl tossed her arms over her head, sending bits of macaroni airborne.
“Maybe we need to find a kibble flavor that Wish likes the same way Hazel loves applesauce.” Drew laughed. Dinnertime had become more than a necessity for Drew. With Hazel and Molly, it was an experience. From the conversation to food trials, he couldn’t remember when he’d looked forward to meals so much.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Molly dipped the silicone spoon into the jar. Hazel hummed. “But first, we need dinner ideas for ourselves. I’m starving.”
“Delivery or takeout?” Drew stroked his finger down Wish’s small head and made sure the puppy was still drinking.
“Delivery.” Molly touched her leg and looked at him. “I’m not the slightest bit ashamed to admit this is the most exercise I’ve done in so many consecutive days. I’m sore.”
“Understood.” Drew stretched the sore muscles in his neck and adjusted his hold on Wish and the bottle. “No judgment from me. I’m feeling the same as you.”
Molly flexed her legs. “Thank goodness I’m not the only one. I take it you weren’t using the treadmill in the office workout room on your breaks either.”
“I belong to the gym across the street from the DA offices.” Drew checked the amount of formula still left in the bottle. Wish was steadily and slowly drinking her dinner. Drew was steadily and slowly realizing he had to make his health another of his priorities. “I can tell you I walked by that gym almost every day, but going inside it did not happen as often as it should have.”
“I told myself I was going to get more fit once Hazel and I got settled here.” Molly scooped a spoonful of applesauce out of the jar and fed Hazel. “I think it’s important to be a healthy mom.”
Drew nodded. A healthy dad. He wanted to be that too. If and when he was a dad. “Maybe we should make an exercise deal.” And he could have one more excuse to spend time with Molly.
“Become accountability workout partners for each other.” Molly grinned.
Or just partners. That contentment leveled up. “Yeah, something like that.”
Molly held out her hand.
He switched his grip on Wish and her bottle to slip his right hand into Molly’s. And he stood and sealed their deal with a quick kiss. As if Molly, deals and kissing were a natural part of his day. “Now back to food. What’s your craving?”
“I’ve chosen the last few nights.” She stirred the applesauce around in the jar.
“And I’ve liked everything you’ve picked.” Just as he liked her. Just as he liked being with her. “I know you have something specific in mind.”
“You can say no,” she said.
As if he wanted to. Molly had very specific food cravings. He found it adorable.
“Okay,” she said. “I really want sushi.”
“I know a place that delivers.” He waited for Molly to wipe her hands on a towel and pick up her cell phone. “Look up Mission Sushi. They have an online menu.”
Their dinner order placed and Wish’s bottle almost empty, Drew settled a sleeping Wish onto the blanket bed he’d fluffed for the tiny puppy between himself and the armrest.
Molly curled beside him, picked up the remote for the TV and scrolled through the movie selection. Hazel babbled in her swing and chewed on a frozen teether. “I picked dinner. You pick the movie.”
Her phone vibrated on the coffee table. Molly picked it up and said a quick greeting to Lorrie Cote. Drew assumed Lorrie was confirming the details for the notary scheduled to take Reuben’s official statement the next morning.
But Molly dropped the TV remote on the floor. Her gaze fastened on Drew’s. Her face paled. Nothing more than a whispered, “I’m sorry,” escaped between her lips into the cell phone.
Drew placed his feet on the ground as if he needed the stability. His heart raced. Dread pooled in his stomach. And that contentment dissolved like vapor.
Molly disconnected her call. Her phone thumped against the coffee table, the sound jarring the heavy silence. “That was Lorrie. Reuben...he’s...”
Drew scooted toward Molly and grabbed her hand. Her very cold hand.
“Reuben is gone,” Molly murmured. “He passed earlier this evening.”
Drew felt numb.
He’d spoken to Reuben only yesterday. Reuben had been in good spirits. No pain. He’d even asked Drew if he’d changed his mind about letting Molly get away. Drew had laughed and confessed, I’m thinking about keeping her.
You think too long and you will lose her, Reuben had replied. Remember, there’s a time to think and a time to risk. Could be it’s the best risk you’ve ever taken.
Now, Reuben was gone. Reunited with his Trina. And Drew was... “I’m going to be found guilty.”
A man—a friend—had just passed and all Drew could consider was his own future. He scrubbed his palms over his face. Selfish. One hundred percent selfish. Yet, Drew couldn’t stall his thoughts or the full impact of Reuben’s death.
Molly shivered beside him and rose. “You haven’t been proven guilty of anything.
“The video won’t be admissible without Reuben’s testimony,” he argued. “Reuben was the one who could verify that it was him and Cory Vinson in that video. We both know the other person in the video could be anyone.”
Molly wrapped her arms around herself as if holding herself together. Her palms ran up and down her arms.
He should be holding Molly. Except, he was falling apart himself. “That other person could even be me.”
He pushed off the couch and stared blankly at the wall. He was lost all over again. Set up, with no way out.
“We need to pivot.” Molly shook herself and pressed her hands against her temples. “Gina Hahn needs to testify on your behalf.”
Drew shook his head. “We promised not to involve her any further.”
“We can protect her.” Resolve firmed Molly’s voice.
“How are we supposed to do that?” Drew grabbed the bag of workout clothes he’d set on a kitchen stool and twisted the canvas in his hands. Frustration and disappointment, sadness and grief swallowed him whole. He headed for the door. The nearest exit. “I can’t even protect myself.”
“Where are you going?” She rushed after him.
“I need to go.” He kept his gaze fixed on the door.
“We need to discuss our strategy.” Molly jumped in front of him, blocking his path. “We need to talk this through.”
“I can’t right now. A friend just passed away.” As had his freedom. All the while, he’d been having fun and pretending he had a new foundation. That he could have a different kind of future. The truth buckled his knees. “I need to be alone.”
“Drew. Listen to me.” Molly set her hands on his shoulders and locked her gaze on his. “This isn’t over. We haven’t even really started the fight.”
“That’s what I a
lways tell my clients after a setback.” How hollow his words had been. How empty and insincere. “Then I tell my clients to check their emotions.”
Molly’s face closed down. No doubt she had told her clients the very same thing.
“Funny, I never understood exactly how hard that was until this case.” He pulled her hands off his shoulders, released her grip on him. His grip on himself was harder to maintain. “I need a moment alone. I can’t do this right now.”
Molly opened and closed her mouth. He saw the desire to argue flitter through her gaze. Finally she stepped aside and let him leave.
Drew slipped out the side gate, ran into the delivery woman from Mission Sushi. He paid for the food and directed her to Molly’s apartment. Then he climbed into his truck and let go of his emotions.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
MOLLY PRESSED THE button for the twenty-fourth floor inside the elevator and watched the glass doors slide shut. She had no stroller this time. No Drew beside her. And Brad Harrington wasn’t expecting her. But she doubted Brad would be surprised to see her in his office this early on a Monday morning.
Drew’s truck had barely pulled out of the driveway last night when she’d picked up her phone to call Brad and fill him in. She’d wanted someone to talk to Drew and get him to listen. Even more, she hadn’t wanted Drew to be alone.
Molly smoothed her palms down the front of her suit jacket and tugged on the sleeves. Her briefcase, not the diaper bag, hung from her shoulder. She wasn’t the part-time mom, part-time attorney discussing strategy in her yoga pants.
Today, she was Molly McKinney, top-notch criminal defense attorney. From her favorite black heels and courtroom suit to her controlled composure. Today was about business and doing the best job for her client.
She offered a tight don’t-question-me smile to the receptionist and pointed down the hall to Brad’s office. “I’m here to see Mr. Harrington.”
The receptionist opened her mouth and nodded.
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