by Susanna Carr
“Hey, can we go in there for a sec?” Bridget motioned at the store.
“Sure,” Kyle said as he pulled up in front. “I should warn you that this is the only store on the island.” He saw the panic flash in Bridget’s eyes at the news and hid his smile. He realized she might be outdoorsy, but only when modern conveniences were at arm’s reach.
He got out of the car and looked around as Bridget dragged her husband into the store. The evergreen trees and hills did something to him. Comforted him.
Kyle was about to follow his guests when he saw a familiar figure step out of the store. He smiled at the farmer who had property on the other side of the island.
“Michael,” Kyle greeted. “How’s it going?”
“Good.” The elderly man tipped his baseball cap. “Long time, no see, huh?”
“It has.”
“Congratulations, by the way.” The farmer gave him a sly wink and walked away.
“Uh…” He watched the man leave. “Thanks?” What was all that about? Michael didn’t strike him as the type to read the tech and business section of the newspaper. And it had been a while since he struck a major coup. Kyle shrugged it off and stepped into the store.
“This place is like a hidden treasure,” Bridget whispered to Kyle as she picked up a wooden carving made from a local artisan. “I hope this place takes credit cards.”
“Kyle!”
“Mrs. Whitley.” He stepped away from his guest to meet with the island’s teacher who taught at the one-room school. “It’s good to see you here.”
She gave him a knowing smile, her eyes gleaming with delight. “I’m not surprised to see you.”
“You’re not?” He looked around the store, feeling lost. Bridget and Darrell were wandering around the cramped and cluttered aisles as if nothing was amiss.
“Of course not,” the teacher responded. “Not when you have such a pretty woman waiting for you here.”
“Uh…” Was she talking about Laurie? Kyle thought with growing horror. Laurie was his caretaker. He wasn’t sure if the woman was pretty—he hadn’t really noticed—because she was old enough to be his mother!
Mrs. Whitley patted his cheek. “I told her you wouldn’t be able to stay away. She didn’t believe me, but I was right.”
“Uh, yes…you were right. I’m here.” He had no idea what was going on here.
“Hi, Kyle.”
“Jerry.” Kyle said as he slowly walked to the counter. “You’re not surprised to see me, either. I guess Laurie told everyone I was coming.”
“Laurie? Naw.” Jerry shook his head. “She’s gone.”
“Gone?”
“Her daughter had a baby boy.” The older man’s forehead crinkled with a frown. “Didn’t you know that?”
“No,” Kyle replied. He tried to remember if Sara had said anything and he hadn’t been listening. “I didn’t get the message. So she’s a grandma now?”
“Yep, she’s gone to help take care of the baby. But I’m sure she’ll be back after Christmas.”
He had guests and no food or help. He was supposed to concentrate on making a deal that would bring him billions. Why didn’t Sara tell him? He had a cell phone and a BlackBerry. “When did this happen?”
“I dunno.” Jerry shrugged and clucked his tongue as he gave it some thought. “Couple of weeks ago.”
Something wasn’t adding up. “Then how did you know I would be back? I only decided a few days ago.”
“Kyle, I know you’re a workaholic and all, but you would never leave your fiancée alone on a holiday.”
“What?!”
“You’re just not that kind of guy,” Jerry decided.
“My fiancée?” Kyle repeated. The word kept slamming against his head.
“Oh, right. Right.” Jerry held up his hand. “It’s not official. That’s what she said.”
“Who said?” Laurie? But Laurie wasn’t here.
“Your fian—I mean your…” Jerry stopped and scratched the back of his head. “Well, I don’t know what she is, then. Molly.”
“Molly,” Kyle whispered as questions screamed through his head. Molly Connors was here? On the island?
She hadn’t disappeared. She was still using the name. But why was she here? How did she know he would be here?
“Have you seen her? Molly.” Kyle barely uttered the name through his clenched teeth. “Today?”
“Oh, yeah. She made a quick stop earlier this morning, but she’s always at the house. She loves that place. Good luck on selling that.” Jerry snorted with laughter.
The house? What house was Jerry talk—the noise in Kyle’s head went deathly silent. “My house?”
“Well, yeah, but Kyle, a little advice.” Jerry leaned closer and said in a low voice, “You’re gonna have to stop referring to it as just yours once you get married.”
Kyle turned his back on the older man. The crowded store closed in on him. The colors and sounds swirled like a kaleidoscope.
He curled his hands into tight fists as he battled with the hot anger coursing through is veins. Molly had gone too far this time. When he found that little con artist, she would learn to regret ever trying to make Kyle Ashton her mark.
Molly walked across the landing on the second floor with a pile of folded towels in her arms. She paused when she heard the sound of closing car doors.
Turning toward the big window in the center of the upstairs hallway, she went to check to see who had come to visit. She caught a glimpse of the unfamiliar silver luxury sedan. Which of her neighbors had that car?
Molly set the towels down on the side table and galloped halfway down the steps when she heard the key in the lock. She froze and stared at the door. Who…? What…? Huh?
No time to think! Molly bolted up the steps as the front door opened. Her heart pounded wildly against her ribs and she couldn’t breathe as her feet hit the top step.
She heard a husky masculine voice drift into the house. “Yes, kayaking is very popular on the island.”
Kyle? Molly squeezed her eyes shut. What was Kyle Ashton doing here? He never used this house. Everyone knew that.
That didn’t matter anymore. She had to leave. Now. Sneak out before Kyle and his friends found her.
Friends. She leaned over the landing rail. How many did Kyle have with him? She didn’t want them scattered around the house as she tried to make a getaway.
Molly took a few steps back and pressed her spine against the wall. She wanted to hide in the farthest room possible, but she needed to know how many she was up against. One friend, for sure. Two? Oops, was that a third set of footsteps. Or did she just add Kyle to the equation?
“This is the living room.”
He was giving them the full tour? Molly covered her face with her hands. Shoot me. Shoot. Me. Now.
“The dining room.”
Kyle wasn’t taking a whole lot of time going through the rooms. He was almost racing through it. Her best bet was for them to reach the media room. That was the farthest distance downstairs from the front door.
“The kitchen…”
Molly took a deep breath and inched her way to the stairs. She took one step. Then another. She did not need this kind of stress in her life.
“Wait a minute. I forgot to show you the study. You guys can use that. Or the library, whichever works for you.”
Molly scrambled for the upstairs hallway again. What was he doing backtracking? He was supposed to take the logical route and go from one side to the other.
“What kind of Internet connection?” a man asked. Molly didn’t recognize his voice.
“Don’t worry, Darrell.” She heard the amusement in Kyle’s voice. “It’s T3.”
“Thank God.”
Molly saw the top of Kyle’s head from where she stood at the landing. She tried to stand very still, but her legs shook as he escorted his two guests to the other side of the entryway.
“There’s also a media room,” she heard Kyle say after he sho
wed them the library and study.
Finally.
“But you guys are probably more interested in the backyard. Let me show you.”
Yes!
“Unless you want me to show you to your room first?”
No! Molly fought the urge to wet her pants.
“I would love to see the beach,” the woman said.
Thank you, whoever you are. She would wait until they opened the back door and then run like the wind out the front. It could work. It better work.
She heard the back door open and the voices trailed off into the distance. Now was her only chance.
Molly hurried down the steps, doing her best not to make noise. She was thankful she had been wearing her shoes.
Backpack. She forgot her backpack.
Molly hesitated on the stairs and glanced in the direction of the master bedroom. Her backpack had her money. Her driver’s license.
No, she couldn’t risk it. And if Kyle found it at the bottom of his closet, he could figure it out for himself.
Molly hurried down the remainder of the steps. She swerved for the front door and screamed when she saw Kyle resting his shoulder against the doorway to the formal living room.
“Going somewhere?” he asked.
“Goodness,” Molly said, placing her hand over her heart. “You scared me.”
If she was looking for sympathy, she better find it somewhere else. Somewhere far, far away from him. “Imagine how I felt finding out that a stranger has been living in my home.”
“What are you doing here, anyway?” she asked, unable to look him directly in the eye. “You don’t use this house.”
“Aw, so sorry I ruined your plans.” He took a step toward her. “Get out of here right now.”
“Okay, okay.” She took a step back. “Calm down.”
“Calm down?” The suggestion riled him further. “Not only are you a liar and a thief, but you also can add breaking and entering.”
“First of all”—she held up a finger—“I didn’t break in.”
“I didn’t invite you in,” he reminded her coldly.
“No, but Diana, your neighbor, gave me the key. Secondly, I don’t steal.”
“Really?” He motioned to the kitchen with the nod of his head. “Who paid for the food?”
She closed her eyes and exhaled. “Okay, I don’t take expensive stuff.”
“That reminds me,” he said as he took another step. “Am I going to need to go through my itemized insurance list?”
Molly gasped. Her shoes squeaked on the hardwood floor as she stopped abruptly. “Take that back.”
“Take that back?” Was she serious? “You break into my home and I’m supposed to assume you didn’t take anything?”
“I’ll have you know that I took care of this house,” she answered, bristling with indignation. “I treated the place as if it were my own—”
“Obviously.”
Her jaw slid to the side as she obviously held on to her anger. “You know, you should really be thanking me.”
His eyes widened at her audacity. “Thank you?”
She smiled. “You’re welcome. I—”
“Why should I thank you for invading my house?”
“I took care of it while Laurie was gone.”
Kyle rubbed his hand over his eyes. “So help me, if you ever suggest I pay for your caretaking services…”
“Hey, I hadn’t thought of—”
“Don’t.” He held his hand up, noticing how it trembled with barely restrained anger. “Just…don’t.”
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” She pointed her thumb toward the kitchen. “I made a fresh pot.”
“Get out.” He pointed at the door.
She squinted at him as if she didn’t comprehend what he was saying. “Excuse me?”
“Get out of my house,” he ordered in a low growl, “and get out of my life.”
“I can’t do that.” She stepped back and collided against the front door.
He took another step toward her, wanting to crowd her. Crowd her out. “Do it now.”
Her hand fumbled against the doorknob. “There are no hotels on this island.”
“Leave the island.” He took another step. He was close enough to lunge and catch her.
“The ferry will have already left,” Molly told him.
“I will find a boat and escort you off the island.”
“Okay, that’s it.” She stomped her foot. “Now you have gone too far.”
“I have?”
“You have no right to kick me off this island. It’s not like you own all the land.” She paused. “Do you?”
“Why do you want to stay?” Molly was up to something. He could feel it in his bones.
She swallowed roughly. “I like it here.”
“What’s really keeping you on the island?” He stood in front of her. “You’re trying to get the blueprint, aren’t you?”
Molly groaned and slumped against the door. “Are we back to that again?”
“Sorry, babe. I didn’t bring the blueprint with me. You’re out of luck.”
“Kyle, I don’t care about the stupid green book.” She rolled her eyes. “Drop this obsession. Move on.”
“No, you move,” he told her through clenched teeth. “Move out. Now.”
“But…but…” She looked wildly around the entry hall.
“On the count of three,” he warned softly. “One…”
“What will the neighbors think?”
He could care less. “Two…”
“Not to mention, we have guests.”
“Three.”
“Ack!” Molly turned around and whipped the door open. She ran out of the house and scurried down the steps.
Kyle was right behind her, determined to get Molly off his property. His pace didn’t falter when he saw his neighbor walking along the circular driveway.
“Oh, hi, Diana,” Molly said breathlessly as she tried to pass the older woman. “Can’t stop and chat.”
“I heard Kyle was back. Kyle!” Diana smiled, the wrinkles along her cheeks deepening. “So good to see you again.”
“Hello, Diana.” He saw Darrell and Bridget turning the corner of the house. He had to get Molly out of here before she opened her mouth and told another whopper of a lie. “If you can excuse me for a moment, I need to see Molly off the—”
“I understand.” The older woman positively beamed and looked at his guests. “Engaged couples only have eyes for each other, you know.”
“Engaged?” Kyle heard Darrell’s surprised voice directly behind him.
“Oh, right.” Diana snapped her fingers. “It’s supposed to be a secret.”
Chapter 11
Kyle grabbed a hold of Molly’s arm, his mind working at rapid speed. He had hoped Darrell and Bridget wouldn’t overhear. He thought he could have gotten rid of his “fiancée” before they set eyes on her. No luck. He now had two choices.
He could oust Molly Connors. In front of his guests and neighbors. Have her either arrested or thrown off the island and get her out of his life for good.
But that was the problem. He lost track of Molly last time. If she was working for his competitors, he wanted every move documented.
So that left his second choice. Go with Molly’s lie. Keep her close until the week was over. Real close.
“Yes.” He forced a smile. “Darrell and Bridget, this is Molly.” He swallowed. “My fiancée.”
“I didn’t realize you were engaged,” Darrell said.
“We haven’t announced it yet.” Was that the story Molly fed the islanders? He felt like he was playing catch-up, and he hated that feeling.
Kyle wrapped his hand around Molly’s shoulder and gathered her resisting body close to him. When her heat nestled against his side, his muscles tensed.
Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. But it was too late. He’d committed to this course and he’d finish it.
“Molly, this is Darrell Fields and B
ridget Howell of plaza+tag.” He watched Molly shake their hands, noticing the tense edges of her friendly smile. “I brought them down for the week to handle negotiations.”
Bridget’s eyes widened. “You didn’t know we were coming?”
“Kyle gave me some notice today,” Molly replied. “And I’m thrilled to have extra company.”
Oh, yeah. Kyle reluctantly admired his “fiancée’s” technique. She’s good.
“And this is our neighbor, Diana,” he told his guests. As he watched them exchange greetings with the older woman, he felt Molly inch away from him.
He gripped her shoulder. His arm locked. Not so fast…If she made a run for it now, it would make him look worse. Damn, he should have gone for the first choice.
Molly glanced up at him. He slowly turned and met her gaze and found her brown eyes flashing with warning.
She was warning him? The woman was audacious. He couldn’t have that. It might be the attitude he wanted in his bed, but not when he had a major business deal on the line.
Kyle slid his hand down her arm and allowed it to rest on the curve of her hip. Molly went rigid as he patted her bottom. The others might take it as a possessive claim and not as the warning it was.
“I just made some coffee,” Molly announced to the group. “Would you like some? How about you, Diana?”
She stepped away, ready to bolt into the house. Kyle knew she was trying to get some distance and a few bodies between them. He moved like lightning and clasped his hand around her wrist.
“That would be wonderful,” Diana replied.
Molly gestured to the front door with one hand and jerked her other hand away from Kyle, but he wouldn’t let go. He rubbed his thumb against the pulse point. It fluttered wildly under his touch.
“So, Darrell, Bridget, where are you from?” Molly asked with a touch of desperation as she made another attempt to break away.
Kyle lowered his hand and speared his fingers through hers. He worked his fingers between hers and held on tight.