“You could change your mind,” she said, looking hopeful. “I mean, we don’t have to really date.”
For the past six years, he’d done a pretty good job of keeping the people in his life at a distance, but there was something about Molly that made him ignore his own rules. “Maybe we can be friends, and I can help you figure this out.”
She narrowed her eyes. “If we’re going to be friends, will you tell me how you got into the witness protection program?”
He couldn’t stop the smile from curling on his lips. “I’m not in the witness protection program. Have dinner with me?” He asked the question before he could consider the consequences.
Getting close to Molly was playing with fire. She was a journalist, just the kind of person who could ruin everything for him. The kind of person who had burned him in the past. What would stop her from using him to get that promotion? But, despite her being a journalist, he liked her, and he hated that he’d messed things up for her.
She shook her head. “I don’t have time for that right now. I need to figure this out. Besides, you haven’t even told me why all the secrecy. Should I trust you? Did you break out of prison or something?”
He liked that Molly didn’t let him off the hook. At one time in his life, everybody seemed to agree with everything that came out of his mouth. He’d been starved for anyone to show him something real. He could tell that Molly wasn’t anybody’s yes-woman. She called life like she saw it.
And even though he should have, he couldn't let it go. “Surely, you have to eat sometime.” His brother had basketball practice after school. Now that he was a teenager, Sean saw less and less of him. Jonas was busy with his own life, his own friends. It was exactly the kind of life Sean had worked so hard to give him.
She studied him for a minute. “Hmm. Unless the Perfect Match site can teleport someone here tonight, I don’t know what else I have to do.”
Not exactly the reaction a man hoped for when he asked a beautiful woman to go out to dinner. “Meet me at The Beach House at seven.”
A tiny wrinkle formed between her brows. “I’ll try. Unless Dawson has come up with a solution. Maybe he found me someone to date.” She raised an eyebrow. “Someone who isn’t living a double life and doesn’t want anyone to know.”
“That’s not it either.” Not exactly anyway. “But I give you credit for your persistence.”
Chapter Four
Molly marched onto the small balcony of her hotel room and stared out over the ocean. She squeezed her phone, tempted to throw it into the pool below. Dawson had said he hadn’t been able to reach the man who didn’t show up for their date, and that he couldn’t get someone else to the island for at least three days. That wouldn’t leave her much time, but she’d told him to set it up anyway. He kept describing the new man as “not right for you” and wouldn’t commit to sending him yet. He’d said the reputation of the website was on the line, and he still thought Sean was her best match. Boy, was he wrong.
Just thinking about Sean made her feel a combination of frustration and what…? Desire? It was infuriating. She wanted to hate him. The fact that he wouldn’t tell her his reason behind all the secrecy drove her nuts. She didn’t believe that two website questionnaires could really predict true love. Dawson probably took one look at Sean and was pretty sure any woman would fall for him. Not that Dawson was wrong. Sean looked like he could be a movie star… Come to think of it, he did look a bit like a movie star, but she couldn’t put her finger on which one.
Her phone rang again, and she felt a surge of hope. Maybe Dawson had found someone else or come up with a different plan. She looked at the number, and her hope turned to fear. Her boss, the editor-in-chief, was calling her. She closed her eyes as she hit the button to answer. “Elaine. How are you?”
“Molly, darling. This is not good.” Elaine had what sounded like a slight English accent, even though no one could actually verify that she’d ever lived overseas. But the combination of her accent, her impeccable style, and the way she called everyone darling when they were in trouble, only made her more intimidating. “I’m scrolling through the photos you’ve posted, and they’re lacking. Where’s the romance? For goodness’ sake, I don’t even see a man.” She’d laughed at her coworkers’ stories of Evil Elaine, as they liked to call her, but that was when Molly had still been on Elaine’s good side.
Panic squeezed at her chest. When she’d left New York to come here, Elaine had warned her not to mess this up or the promotion would go to someone else. “Unfortunately, when I got to the island, my date wasn’t here, but I’m working on a plan B.”
“Darling.” Two darlings in a row. This was bad. “When I hired you straight out of college, it was because I saw potential in your work ethic and talent.”
It was true that Elaine had given her a chance when Molly was young and new to the city. Molly owed Elaine a lot for the way she took her under her wing.
“I promoted you to become the youngest columnist in Gloss and Glitter history because you had a flair for solving problems on your own. For seeing issues and finding ways to make them work for the magazine and the Gloss and Glitter reader. If you can no longer do that, you’re forcing me to re-evaluate promoting you to such a prominent position on our team.”
Feeling as if she were twelve again and being admonished by her father, a successful corporate attorney, Molly swallowed the lump in her throat. “I completely understand, and I assure you I will make it work.” She knew better than to ask Elaine for advice on how to make it work. She had seen the woman fire people who asked too many questions.
“I’m glad we’re clear,” she said. “Now, go and enjoy your trip, darling.”
Yeah, sure. How was she supposed to enjoy her trip when her career and reputation were falling apart in front of her?
****
“Shall I make a reservation for one or two?” the concierge asked Molly.
She shook her head. “I only need directions. No reservation. Thank you.”
His brows rose. “It is a very romantic restaurant.”
Romantic? This was supposed to be a friendly dinner. Sean was the most confusing man she’d ever met. “Thanks again for the map.” She held up the sketch he’d drawn for her.
Molly headed for the front entrance of the hotel lobby. Why was she even doing this? Sure, Sean was sexy and fun to talk to, but every time she saw him, she got lulled into forgetting he was the reason she was in this mess in the first place.
But what else was she going to do tonight? Maybe she could get Sean to change his mind, or maybe he had a friend he could set her up with. They’d just pretend like he was from the dating site. But she wasn’t sure Dawson would go for that, and if he told Elaine the truth, Molly wasn’t sure how she would react.
As she neared the entry, two women approached her. “Excuse me,” the brunette called out.
Molly stopped. She’d seen these women before. They’d been talking to Sean the morning she’d been stood up. The morning he’d stood her up. She’d overheard them asking him to take them out, and he’d refused. At least she wasn’t the only one he had rejected, and they were both beautiful. Maybe Sean was a spy or an undercover police officer. Maybe that was why he was turning women away. Or maybe he was married and had second thoughts about cheating on his wife using a dating site. Or maybe he just didn’t want to get caught cheating on his wife. If that were the case, she wouldn’t be having dinner with him tonight—friendly or not. She’d definitely need to ask him about that theory.
“Sorry to stop you,” the brunette said, “but we noticed you talking to the surf instructor at the pool today.” The woman’s friend nodded behind her.
Molly shifted, unsure what was coming. “I saw him today.” She wasn’t going to offer up that she was headed to meet him right now.
The brunette turned and looked at the woman behind her before she focused again on Molly. “This might seem strange, but my friend and I have a bet that maybe you can se
ttle.”
She shook her head. “A bet? What kind of bet?”
“I’m convinced he’s Teddy Thomas, but she thinks I’m crazy,” she said, pointing her thumb over her shoulder.
Teddy Thomas. Was that the kid from the space sitcom? He had a famous dad who’d died in some mysterious way, but she couldn’t remember the whole story. “Didn’t he have red hair?”
“Yeah, but otherwise, he looks exactly like him. He even has that dimple on only one cheek.”
The other girl laughed. “How do you remember all this?”
The woman turned and spoke to her friend. “I had a really big crush on him, okay?”
The both looked to Molly. “So, is it him?”
They really thought this was a possibility, didn’t they? “Sorry to disappoint you, but the surf instructor’s name is Sean. And wasn’t Teddy Thomas’s dad a multi-millionaire? Why would his heir be a bartender?”
“I told you so,” the friend said.
The Teddy Thomas fan pulled out her phone and swiped the screen. “Hang on. Look at this. At least admit that they could be related.”
She held up the phone, and at the sight of the photo, the hair on Molly’s arms stood up. The boy in the picture did, in fact, look exactly like a younger version of Sean. Doing her best to hide the adrenaline rushing through her, Molly forced a laugh. “I see the resemblance, but you must have the wrong guy.” The woman shrugged and walked off. Apparently, Molly had convinced her. But Molly knew the truth. This woman had just given away Sean’s big secret.
Chapter Five
Sean glanced at the door and then to his watch just as he’d done a dozen times since he’d been seated. He had suggested they meet at this quiet restaurant farther down the beach from the hotel so he wouldn’t risk running into any of his coworkers or people he knew from around town. It had white tablecloths and little candles on the tables. He hoped the atmosphere hadn’t scared Molly off.
He’d been able to tell by the look in her eyes that she wasn’t convinced dinner with him was a good idea. Who could blame her? He’d lied to her and refused to help her. A few hours ago, he’d beat himself up for even suggesting he and Molly have dinner together. He knew he needed to keep his distance from her, just like he’d done with everyone else he’d met on the island, but despite his reservations, he wanted to get to know her better.
Molly walked through the doorway, and her gaze searched the room. Heart racing, he jumped to his feet.
Her nose and cheeks were sun-kissed from her time in the pool, and her blond hair fell in soft waves. She wore a blue wrap around her shoulders. He took in a deep breath. She’d shown up. He had dated a few women over the years, carefully choosing how much to share about his past, which usually wasn’t much, but something about Molly made him want to spill every detail about himself, and that was dangerous. Molly was a reporter, and she could tell the whole world where he was in a matter of minutes.
She gave him a tentative smile. “Hi, Sean.”
“You look beautiful.”
She looked down, seemed to relax a little, and then looked back up with a smile. “Thanks. You do too. This is the first time I haven’t seen you in swimming trunks or your Hawaiian shirt.”
He had on slacks and a lightweight button-up shirt he hadn’t worn in months. Around here, he didn’t have much to get dressed up for. He split his time between the water, the Surf Hut, the bar where he worked, and his little house a few blocks from the beach.
“Sorry I’m late. I got caught up in the hotel.”
He pulled her chair out for her. “It’s no problem. I’m glad you came. I worried you wouldn’t show.”
After the waiter had delivered their drinks and taken their orders, Molly blew out a long breath and put her napkin in her lap. “I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to jump right in.”
Uh-oh. His mind swam. “Say what?”
“I know who you are.” She looked at him, her expression sympathetic.
He gave a nervous laugh. Was this another one of her ploys to figure out why he was so private? “It’s really driving you crazy, isn’t it?”
But she didn’t smile. Instead she pulled out her phone, hit a few buttons, and held it up to him.
Fear squeezed at his throat. He did his best to laugh again, but this time it came out strained. “That kid?” He didn’t want to lie, especially to Molly.
She put the phone down. “Sean. I know.”
And by the determined line of her mouth, she did.
“It’s not just me,” she continued. “One of those women you were talking to yesterday is pretty sure it’s you. I tried to convince her otherwise, but I don’t know how good a job I did.”
He’d been worried about them. “They’ll be gone soon, and it’ll blow over.” He’d dealt with this before.
“So why the big secret? I’d been worried you were a serial killer. Instead, you used to be an actor? That’s great.”
He shook his head. “It’s a lot more complicated than that.”
She leaned forward. “Okay. Tell me about it.”
He hadn’t talked to anyone about his family since he was a teenager, but now that she knew who he was, he needed to convince her why she should keep his secret. Maybe he’d be able to trust Molly with the details of his life. “My father was also an actor. He died in a plane crash, and a lot of people like to make his death out to be this big mystery.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
The original investigation had stated that the airplane could have been tampered with before his father, who had his pilot’s license, flew it. After that, all kinds of conspiracy theories came out, including him being murdered by the mob or Sean’s mother hiring someone to kill him. The theories were ridiculous and painful for their entire family. “Before my mother passed away, she asked me to take care of my brother and made me promise to protect him from the limelight.” He shouldn’t be telling her this, but he was so tired of the lying and the denying, and maybe it would help her understand why his privacy was so important to him.
She took his hand. “How old were you?”
“Twenty when my mom died. My brother was nine.”
“So you walked away from your career for your brother? You decided to move down here and change your names and dye your hair?”
He gave a strained laugh. “Teddy Thomas was a stage name, and I don’t dye my hair. I had to color it for the show when I was a kid. I moved down here because it was time for a fresh start.”
“Doesn’t it get lonely? No one knowing anything about your past.”
It did, and maybe that was why he was telling Molly now. “That’s one reason I took the job teaching surf lessons and working at the bar despite the inheritance and the money from the show. Being around people every day helps a little, but none of those people really know me.”
Her brow wrinkled. “Oh, I didn’t even think about the money.”
It was surprising because in his old life his money had been the first thing most people thought about in. Sean had some money from his acting days, but when he and Jonas had inherited his dad’s substantial estate, people’s intentions suddenly became murky. It had been overwhelming to figure out who he could trust and who he couldn’t. It was easier to disappear and live like the money wasn’t there. He’d left it in investments, secure in the knowledge that his brother could go to college anywhere he chose and do anything he wanted with his life.
Sean felt a combination of relief and worry that telling Molly was going to open up Pandora’s Box for him and his brother. “So now you understand why I couldn’t have my photo all over the internet. I have a couple of family members I stay in touch with, and just recently there was a documentary film crew trying to find us. I’m not going to put my brother through that. He’s happy here. He has friends and goes to school. Those are things I never had growing up.”
“I get it.” Her gaze locked onto his. “I promise I’ll never tell anyone your secret. Thank y
ou for trusting me.”
In his experience, promises didn’t count for much. After his father’s plane crash, so many people in his life turned on his family. If they could profit from the lies and theories going around, they were more than willing to betray the trust they’d had in them. He wanted to believe that Molly was different, but maybe it wouldn’t hurt to have some assurance. Maybe if he helped her in return for keeping his secret, she would have a reason to keep her word. “You know what?”
Her brow wrinkled.
“If I did the dating thing, could you get by with no photos of my face?”
She straightened. “I swear. I would make sure no one could tell it was you.”
“We would have to be careful.”
“So careful.” She clasped her hands together in front of her chest. “I’m running out of time. This would mean so much to me.”
“I’ll help you.” He told himself this was only about returning a favor from Molly, but that was a lie. It also meant he’d get to spend the next five days with her. He just hoped he wouldn’t end up regretting this.
****
Molly walked from the back of the hotel, across the beach, and toward the Surf Hut just as she’d done two days ago. This time she had butterflies in her stomach, and they had nothing to do with saving her job. Yes, she still needed this to go well to keep her boss happy. She’d called Dawson and told him not to send her a new match, so she was banking on this working out. But more than that, she couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that she would be going on a date with Sean.
The fact that he’d confided in her meant a lot. Sure, she’d found out he was Teddy Thomas, but he had told her about his family on his own. It also didn’t hurt that he was nice to look at. She could understand how it would be hard for someone to recognize him. His boyish good looks had given way to something much more masculine. She could remember him being cute in a boy-band kind of way, but between the tan, the muscles, and the maturing in his face, he’d turned into something off a cologne commercial. If his goal had been to blend in, he was definitely missing the mark.
Molly (Perfect Match Book 3) Page 3