Whoever her date for the evening had been, Blake couldn’t say he was surprised that the dude hadn’t shown up. Tia seemed to know all of his movements twenty-four seven for the last month. The guy probably needed a break from her surveillance mission, and setting up a fake date would have been a good way to do that.
‘I just try so hard…’ Tia said, sliding her hand onto his thigh. ‘I don’t know why they don’t stick around.’
‘Blake.’
The sound of his name from behind him made him want to leap from his stool and embrace whoever was the source of the interruption. Vanessa approached, with Joel loitering not far behind, and from what he could see all the patrons had now vacated.
‘You ok?’ he asked.
‘Can you lock up?’ Vanessa asked. ‘We’re going home now.’
The key that Vanessa held toward him made him frown. ‘Where’s Mol?’
Surveying beyond the main floor to the bar he noted that there wasn’t another single soul on the premises.
‘She went home with Mason,’ Vanessa said. ‘I guess she’ll just stay over there, but he has a key if she needs to get back in.’
‘Mason?’ Blake said. ‘When?’
Vanessa shrugged. ‘Thirty, forty minutes ago.’
‘Sorry, Tia,’ he said, on his feet and heading for the exit. ‘I have to go.’
‘Blake!’ Vanessa shouted after him.
Letting Molly fall into Mason’s arms was the last thing that he was going to let happen. Especially while she was so vulnerable, due to all the goings on. Mason was the prime example of a shoulder to cry on, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out that Mason was crazy about her. Not that Blake blamed him, but he couldn’t give her up. Not now. On top of that, both Mason and Molly were targets, so the two of them being alone together gave Choker a chance for two birds with one stone.
‘Blake!’ Joel’s voice erupted this time.
‘Let her be happy!’ Vanessa shouted. Blake froze. ‘This will all be over soon and she needs someone… someone who will be there for her!’
‘Uh,’ Tia said, gathering her purse and vacating her stool. ‘Maybe I should go.’
‘Yeah,’ Vanessa said. ‘Maybe you should.’
Tia scuttled from the room, tottering on her heels. No one spoke again until the thump of the door confirmed her departure.
‘I hope that wasn’t the killer,’ Joel said.
‘No,’ Blake said, as he scratched the back of his head. The three moved to come together in a group at a central point. ‘What makes you think I can’t make her happy? Why wouldn’t I be there for her?’
‘This is a job to you, Blake,’ Vanessa said. ‘But it’s her life. You might be having fun now, but Molly… she could never spend her life with someone… like you.’
‘A cop you mean,’ Blake said.
‘No,’ Vanessa said. ‘Someone who won’t be dedicated to her. She has no family, she has no one except her friends. Whoever she ends up with will have to be ready to be her whole world, her closest friend, her confidante, her family, and her lover. And that person will have to be willing to take Molly into their world, wholly and completely, no games, no betrayal, no withholding.’
‘Who says I won’t do that?’ Blake asked.
‘Blake,’ Vanessa said, with a tone of amusement that grated his nerves. ‘She and Mason have known each other since they were kids. Their families were close as can be. She is already in his world. She is his world. They’ve shared so much, have the same friends, and he understands how and why this place is so important to her.’ Vanessa half shrugged. ‘Truth be told, it was only ever a matter of time for them.’
‘You think I’m wasting my time? That I’m not good enough for her?’
‘You don’t love her,’ Vanessa said. ‘Not like Mason does. As soon as you have her in your bed… you’ll get bored and you’ll hurt her. She doesn’t deserve that, not again and especially not after all of this… I think you are a great guy and you mean well, but… it’s not enough.’
‘Fine,’ Blake said, marching off toward the bar. ‘She wants him, she can have him.’
‘You really are decent,’ Joel said, incredulous.
Blake didn’t feel decent and he didn’t feel vindicated. The idea of Molly with another man made him want to pummel something. But his desire to have her was selfish. Molly enraptured him, and he wanted to explore what that meant. But he’d already hurt her, and he was everything she hated in a man. Forcing her to be with him, by coaxing and finagling his way into her affections, would be underhanded. Molly deserved happiness in her life, and he hadn’t managed to provide her with it yet.
‘Yeah,’ Blake said to Joel with disproportionate anger. ‘Look where that has got me.’
‘What are you doing?’ Vanessa asked. Blake rounded the bar and bent down only to pop back a minute later with a bottle in his hand.
‘As it turns out, I’m not that decent.’ Showing them the bottle of Scotch he’d retrieved, he fumbled some bills from his wallet and dumped them onto the bar.
‘You’re paying for the alcohol,’ Vanessa said. ‘You’re not a bastard at all. You just play it well.’
‘Not good enough,’ he said, no longer interested in maintaining this conversation.
Heading for the exit, he was prepared for a night of boozing on his couch, watching bullshit TV, and wondering just how much Mason was enjoying Molly that evening.
Vanessa and Joel would no doubt be on his heels, but he didn’t hang around to help them lock up. Running down the external stairway that had been erected just tonight, on his orders, he stormed across the street and climbed into his vehicle, desperate to be free of the clarity Vanessa and Joel had just dished out.
Light emanated from beyond the curtains on Mason’s front window. It tried to draw Blake’s eye, but he forced himself not to look, because he was consumed with the knowledge that Molly was in there, probably on Mason’s couch beside him. Mason would be kissing her and undressing her and promising her his undying love. Blake growled.
Goody-two-shoes Mason would no doubt still break Molly’s heart. Mason was no better than him. Blake might have only known Molly for a couple of weeks, but he was dedicated to her, she occupied his every thought, and her wellbeing was more important to him than anything in his life had ever been before. The dynamic, alluring barmaid had faced a lot of adversity in her life, and now faced everything alone, yet she still smiled. She was playful and optimistic, working to maintain her business and better herself. The world had thrown lemons at Molly Ashton, but she made lemonade and asked for more. That kind of strength and perseverance was rare, especially in a woman who had many good excuses to give up.
Beyond Mason’s window, Vanessa and Joel came out of Ashton’s and walked together to her car. The pair were engrossed in conversation about something and didn’t notice him there, or at least they didn’t acknowledge him. They got into the car together, the lights came on, and the engine chugged into life. The vehicle idled for a few moments and then peeled away from the kerb and disappeared out of the street.
Maybe they were right. Maybe Molly did deserve to be with someone who had been dedicated to her for years instead of just a couple of weeks. Mason was a good guy and as much as it pained Blake to admit it, Mason would give his life to her.
On this little block, facing the park, they could have everything they needed. They could raise a family while running Ashton’s together, just as Molly’s parents had done. Now that the function room was up and running again they could expand the business. Maybe they would celebrate their own wedding here and all of the milestones in their lives together.
Turning the key in the ignition, Blake convinced himself that Vanessa was right, he wasn’t the marrying kind. He had never been with anyone that he would even consider asking. Being with Molly had made him consider new things. He could imagine himself happily turning over his soul to the woman who twisted and tortured him in the way that she did. He had never been so inf
atuated with a woman. But then he had never known a woman like Molly. So strong in the face of misfortune, alone and yet fighting to maintain the family legacy that seemed intent on dying off. She didn’t complain, she did what needed to be done.
Mooning over Molly wasn’t going to change anything. Putting the car into gear, he leaned over to open the glove box so he could stuff the bottle of Scotch inside, and that was when he noticed the box, which wrung another growl from him. If he had to walk away from Molly now, then he had to do it for good.
First thing tomorrow he’d tell Williams that he wanted off the case to let someone with a fresh perspective and clear judgement run things. Giving up on a case hadn’t been something he’d done in his career at any time. But watching Molly with another man would be impossible. Watching her smile and laugh with Mason would allow jealousy to consume him, and that wouldn’t lead to rational decision making.
Jealousy already burned inside him, caused by just the thought of what was going on behind that veiled, lit window. How could he possibly stand in a room with them knowing that Mason had what he dreamed of having?
Yanking the car out of gear, he cut the engine and dropped the Scotch onto the passenger seat. Retrieving the gun case from the glove box, he began to make his way back toward Ashton’s. Putting back the weapon, which belonged to her, was the only choice. The risk that she might use it, or be endangered by it, existed but it wasn’t his place to regulate that risk anymore. Returning the gun would ensure that she had no reason to get in touch with him to ask for it back. Mason would hopefully recognise the hazard it posed and take appropriate action, though Blake wouldn’t bank on it.
It wasn’t until he got to the top of the function room stairs that he remembered he didn’t have a key. In his frustration, he kicked the door then paced the width of the narrow landing. Leaving it here in the open wasn’t an option. The weapon was registered to her father, and if it was found and used for anything sinister then the trail would lead straight back to this moment.
Picking the lock on the door was another option, but he didn’t want to loosen the catch. So that left returning to Ashton’s tomorrow during opening hours. He could sneak in, put the weapon somewhere safe and then leave, so Molly wouldn’t have to lay eyes on him.
Descending the stairs, he picked up his speed because now he all he wanted was to be away from here. Reaching the bottom, he rounded the corner of the building, and crashed into someone coming the other way.
Her reflex was to gasp and leap away when he put out a steadying hand and it took him a few seconds to pick out her features through the darkness.
‘Molly?’ he said. ‘I thought you were with Mason.’
‘Where are you going?’ she asked. ‘What’s that?’
‘It’s yours,’ he said and thrust it toward her. ‘I was trying to return it, except I didn’t have a key to get in.’
‘Return it? Why would you return it now?’
‘It’s not my place to keep it,’ he said. ‘I can have it destroyed if you don’t want it back.’
‘Do whatever you want with it,’ she said. ‘I promised you I wouldn’t touch it and I meant it.’
He scrutinised her slouched figure and lowered head, and noted that she hadn’t met his eye in the time they’d been standing here. His fingers twitched at his sides. It wasn’t his place to question or console her. But then again it could be argued that it never had been, and that hadn’t stopped him before. With a curled finger he elevated her chin and immediately he noticed the damp streaks on her cheeks.
‘What happened?’ he demanded.
‘Nothing.’
‘I don’t believe you… Did he hurt you?’
‘No! He would never… This has nothing to do with him.’
‘Talk to me,’ he said. ‘If you don’t tell me, I’ll get it from him.’
‘Can we just forget it?’ she said, taking his wrist in both hands. ‘Please, just for tonight.’
‘I’ll worry about you,’ he said. ‘I always do.’
‘Don’t,’ she said. ‘Don’t say things like that, please!’
‘You don’t want me to be honest?’
‘I’m so tired of hearing that from you!’
The misery was joined by anger, and she shoved around him and ran up the stairs, fumbling with her keys. ‘Wait, Mol,’ he said, and darted up behind her.
With quivering hands she tried to find the right key. She struggled until they fell with an unceremonious clang to the metal landing.
‘God damnit!’ she screamed, and crouched to retrieve them.
Squatting at her side, he covered her trembling hands with his to try and steady her, but she recoiled, fell from her crouch and ended up sitting on the cold metal.
‘Molly,’ he murmured.
‘What? Please! Just go away! I need you to go! Now! Please!’
The mix of anger and misery made her sob into her palms. Whatever had happened with Mason, it had left her more emotional than he’d seen her. Even during the fire she’d merely shut down, but this was genuine grief. Leaving her like this was unthinkable, so he retrieved the keys and unlocked the door to swing it open.
Enveloping her in his arms, he swept her off the ground and carried her through the property until he reached her bedroom and laid her down. He removed her shoes and drew the folded blanket from the bottom of the bed up and tucked it around her.
Urging her hair back from her temple, he did his best to memorise her every feature. She wouldn’t look at him. Twisting onto her side, she slipped her clasped hands under her cheek and stared directly ahead. The sobbing had subsided now, but he didn’t sense that the sorrow had passed.
‘Do you want to tell me?’ he murmured. She shook her head against the pillow. ‘I’ll leave then.’
Pressing a kiss to her temple, he closed his eyes in an attempt to imprint the moment on his memory. Then, allowing himself one last glance at her form, he then headed for the door.
‘Wait,’ she said.
The word made him stop and turn to see her roll onto her back and look at him through reddened narrow eyes. His heart broke to see her so dejected when she’d always been resilient. So he stood here, waiting, and he’d wait as long as she wanted him to. He would do anything she asked of him. Admitting that to himself allowed the strength of his emotion for this woman hit him with full force for the first time. Beyond sex, he cared about her. She had wheedled her way deep into the centre of his identity, and he wanted to be a part of hers. He didn’t want her to ever be alone again.
Chapter Twenty-One
Seeing him there by the bedroom door, with one hand on the handle ready to depart her home and her life, she somehow knew that if he left now he wouldn’t be back. The blonde he’d spoken to had invited his attention and he’d gratefully bestowed it. Molly could only deduce that Blake hadn’t known she was still in the room.
When she’d been downstairs with Mason, she hoped that Blake wouldn’t seduce the blonde in her bed. Blake must have discovered that Molly was in the home of another man, and yet he hadn’t come for her, so she was left to wonder if he wanted to be free of her. Maybe Blake was happy for her to be with Mason and be out of his life.
‘You want to talk?’ he asked.
‘Was it her?’ Molly asked. ‘The blonde, was it her?’
Dropping the door handle, he shook his head. ‘No.’
‘Did you…? I mean, you didn’t have to seduce—‘
‘No. I didn’t have to go that far.’
‘Good,’ she said. ‘I didn’t want to have to change the sheets.’
‘Even if I had, Mol, I wouldn’t have done it here… I wouldn’t disrespect you like that.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, returning to her side.
‘Did you and Mason?’
She shook her head. ‘He kissed me… I hate myself.’
Burying her face in the pillow, she thought of what had transpired downstairs. Mason had admitted his feelings for her. Feeling the same w
ay would have made things so much easier for her. On the surface, they fit together. They knew each other backwards. But when he had kissed her she had been completely thrown off guard, and it just felt wrong.
As he’d tried to take things further than the kiss, she’d had to stop him. She couldn’t let him do what he wanted to do just to be polite, just because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. The whole experience felt entirely wrong. His heart broke in front of her as she tried to explain that her love for him wasn’t anything beyond platonic. Breaking his heart would change the way Mason saw her, and she could never look at him in the same way. Their relationship would never be the same again. Guilt consumed her already, and she would never get over that.
‘How can you hate something so perfect?’ Blake said, returning to her.
When his hand ran through the length of her hair, guilt and shame exploded within her. ‘Don’t,’ she said, shifting onto her back. ‘Don’t sit there and sweet talk me. Don’t touch me unless you mean it. Stop playing with me, Blake! Please!’
‘I’m not playing,’ he said. ‘Molly, I told you that everything between us was real. I wish I had never had to lie to you. I didn’t want to. As soon as I realised who you were and how I felt I… I didn’t want to be a part of it anymore. I didn’t want to lie to you. I wish none of it had ever happened, Mol.’
‘I don’t,’ she admitted, adjusting herself into a seated position. ‘If you had never been sent in here to lie to me… we would never have met. Even if we had, I wouldn’t have looked at you twice if I knew the truth of who you were.’
‘But now?’ he asked.
‘Now I… I don’t know.’
‘What happened with Mason?’
‘I hate myself… I couldn’t do it…’ she stuttered, her ducts warming with moisture again. ‘I didn’t want him…He didn’t make me feel—‘ She swallowed down her rising tension.
‘Make you feel what?’
Reluctant Suspicion Page 25