“No, I need to see her now.”
“Sir, please take a seat and someone will be with you shortly,” she insisted.
“Please, I need to see her,” he begged.
“Sir, do I need to call security?”
Not saying another word, Connor walked to the seating area and sat down. The anxiety began to get the better of him as his palms became clammy. He couldn’t believe it when the call came through. Running his right hand over his fist, he felt sick to his stomach.
Some motherfucker tried to hurt my Molly, he thought over and over, torturing himself with the visuals. Shaking his head, he didn’t hear the nurse approach.
“Sir, are you here for Molly Rice?” she asked.
Connor jumped to his feet. His heart began thumping again. This time he could feel the pounding beat in his throat, almost choking him. “Is she okay?”
“Yes, just come with me and I’ll take you to her.”
The short walk to one of the small cubicles had Connor on edge. His insides twisted in knots as his mouth became dry. He was afraid and angry. Afraid of what the son of a bitch had done to her, and angry that he wasn’t there to protect her.
The nurse pulled back the curtain. His eyes filled with tears when he saw her sitting on the gurney. His heart calmed down, but only enough to let him breathe a little.
“Molly!” he said as he raced to her side, taking her in his arms.
Molly cried as she held on to him. Her soft body trembled in his embrace.
“Baby, it’s okay, I’m here now,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
A voice came from the other side of the bed. A short, older woman, with tight black curls, stood from her chair. “She’d been crying for you. So I insisted on making the call,” she said.
Connor could feel the heavy weight on his heart. He was thankful that Regina had called him but so angry that Molly had been subjected to the attack.
“What happened?” he asked.
Molly sat back on the bed, still holding his hands, her eyes puffy from crying.
He saw the sutures in her lip and his face vexed. “I’ll kill the—” only for Molly to cut him off.
“What’s the point?”
“Molly—”
“No, Connor. You can’t think that you can suddenly fight all my battles for me.”
Regina stepped in. Her face was warm and calm, but her voice firm. “I think Connor has every right to express his anger, honey. We’re all shocked and angry.”
Molly looked at Connor as her eyes filled with tears. “I really thought he was going to… I didn’t mean to hurt him, but…” She cried. “I didn’t want it. I begged him… He just wouldn’t stop.”
“Baby, I’m so sorry.” Connor felt terrible. “I can’t believe this has happened.”
Regina stepped up next to the bed, touching the side of Molly’s face. “I’m going to step out for a while, sweetie. You and Connor need some time, and the officers want to ask me some questions, but if you need me, just call, okay?”
Molly nodded, giving a halfhearted smile as Regina closed the curtain, leaving them alone.
“I really want to go home.”
“I know…but we’ve got to make sure you’re okay,” Connor said as he touched her face. “You’re coming home with me either way.”
“Why?”
“So I can look after you.”
“I’m not a baby, Connor,” Molly said.
“I know you’re not.” Connor’s hand rested on the bed as he leaned his head against hers. “But I’m here to protect you, and you’re not leaving my sight.”
Sighing, Molly shrugged.
Connor could sense she didn’t have the energy to fight. He knew that deep down inside, she needed him—his love, his protection—his heart.
Connor never knew how much he had to live for, not until Molly walked into his life. And now she was there, he couldn’t imagine his life without her. It was crazy, it was unpredictable, but it was everything he wanted and needed.
When he had gotten the call from Regina, and the details had emerged about the attack, he had never felt rage like that. In all the times he’d read about attempted rape, or seen news coverage highlighting such subjects, Connor had never batted an eyelash. He’d never come face to face with anything like it before, and though he knew that he had to be strong for Molly, the sheer thought of another man abusing her like that made his skin crawl.
“As soon as you’re given the all clear, we’ll escape the city for a few days.”
Molly gazed at him, her face pale. Connor noticed how she fidgeted on the edge of the blanket, running her thumb over the coarse material. He wanted to protect her more than ever.
The officers who took Molly’s statement were decent. They were aware of how sensitive she was and didn’t press her for too much detail. It was Connor who had a hard time listening to the woman he loved giving an account of what happened.
Every time she mentioned Eugene’s name, Connor’s stomach recoiled in disgust. The very thought of the creep touching his girl sent a shock wave of adrenaline pumping through his veins. He had to stop short of going up to ICU and smothering the motherfucker to death.
“Mr. Ellison,” the officer pulled him out of his reverie.
“Yes.”
“Miss Rice will be staying with you?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
The officer wrote on his pad. “Can we have your number just in case we need to make contact?”
“Sure,” Connor replied, giving him two different numbers.
“We’ll be in touch, Miss Rice, please try to get some rest,” the officer said.
“Thank you,” Molly muttered.
“Thank you,” Connor followed with a gentle smile. “You ready to leave this place?” he asked Molly, who was in the middle of getting off the bed.
“Yes, please.”
A nurse came in with a discharge letter. “Here you go, honey. Now don’t hesitate to come back, okay?”
“Don’t worry,” Connor said. “Any sign that she’s not well, I’ll bring her in myself.”
The nurse smiled at them both and gently touched Molly before she left the cubicle, giving Molly the privacy to get dressed.
“As soon as we get to your house, can we burn these?” she asked as her face paled, touching her clothes.
“You bet.”
* * * *
They’d stopped by Molly’s place to gather a few of her belongings before taking the road trip to the beach house in Capitola. Molly welcomed the escape. She needed to be away from everything that reminded her of the attack. She needed to feel safe again.
Molly rested her head against the seat rest, listening to the wind as it blew her hair wildly over her face. Connor took it easy. In his eyes, she was precious cargo and he wouldn’t risk hurting a hair on her head.
Once they arrived at the beach house Connor ordered in Chinese after running Molly a bath.
“Go soak for a while, I’ll sort the food out when it gets here,” he said as he lit the candles around the huge tub. “Call me if you need anything.”
Molly nodded. “Connor!” she called after him. “Thank you.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
Closing the door, he left Molly to relax. He had this primeval need to protect her. It was an all-consuming feeling that resulted in him removing all traces of liquor from the house. He didn’t want the temptation sitting in front of her. To keep her safe, he had to make small changes, and if that meant making sacrifices of his own, then so be it.
Molly was more important to him than a glass of wine. She was the real deal, and there wasn’t a thing in the world that was going to change that. Promising himself that if someone dared touch her again, he’d walk to the ends of the earth to kill them.
That was a fact. She was now his, fuck the rest of it.
Chapter Eighteen
The hollow ache inside made it impossible to sleep. Twisting and turning, she was a
fraid of disturbing Connor, who was now fast asleep. Staring at him, she observed his unshaven face, the dark stubble that made him deliciously irresistible, the full lips that knew how to kiss her and the way his eyes moved as he dreamed.
It was hard to believe that for two people who were only getting to know each other, they had fallen quickly into the kind of love that was only ever seen in the movies.
Guilt washed over Molly. She felt dirty. She believed that she didn’t deserve Connor.
“Stupid idiot,” she muttered to herself as she turned to lie on her back, staring at the ceiling as the tears fell down the side of her face.
Just knowing that she had dragged Connor into her nightmare, the more the shame consumed her. All of a sudden there was an aura of gray around her. It was a mist that refused to lift. A state of despair that she couldn’t see herself through.
Her mouth ached and the sutures were tight as they knitted her wound together. Not able to lie still another minute, Molly sat up, resting her hands on either side. Her heart was heavy, like it was being pulled down into an empty pit of darkness, giving her the impression that she would never recover from the ordeal. She knew the same old gloom was creeping in and she wasn’t sure if she had the resolve to resist it.
Molly began to cry when she glanced over at Connor.
He stirred from his sleep and reached out for her. “Hey!”
Gazing at him, Molly felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. She could no longer see the light at the end of the tunnel, and the scariest thing of all was knowing that the craving for booze was beginning to take hold of her.
“I…don’t think I can do this.”
Sitting up on the bed, Connor moved over to her. Touching the small of her back, he kissed her shoulder. “I’m here for you no matter what.”
“The road may get a little bumpy,” Molly replied, her tears leaving their streaks on her face.
“I’m not afraid of a challenge.”
Connor pulled Molly back into his arms. They lay down together, gazing at each other. “Two weeks ago I’d never have believed it if someone had told me that I would have met a beautiful woman who would save my life, enriching me in a way I never thought possible.”
Nuzzling her head in under his chin, Molly wrapped her arm around his waist, holding on for dear life.
“What happened today proved to me how much you mean to me,” Connor whispered as he closed his eyes. “I love you, Molly Rice.”
Molly felt like she was floating on air. Her heart fluttered. She was dizzy from hearing the words. Yes, they’d both been feeling it, but wow, he’d said it.
Not waiting a second longer, Molly shifted her head back so she could look at him. His beautiful, sleepy green eyes gazed at her, absorbing her, allowing her to become his. “I love you too.”
The words slipped off her tongue, sounding like sweet music to Connor. The two of them gazed at each other in silence, realizing how far they’d come in a short period of time.
“Are we nuts?” Molly asked as she held on to him tight.
“If we are, at least we’re in it together.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For waking you.”
Running a finger under her chin, Connor placed soft kisses on her lips, being careful not to hurt her. “You are silly sometimes.”
“Really?” She sounded surprised.
“Yup, but it only makes me fall deeper.”
“You’re adorable.”
“I’m glad you noticed.” He winked at her.
All of a sudden, the pain from mere moments ago began to evaporate. Being with Connor seemed to make all the bad things disappear, and if he was the kind of medicine she needed to have in order to recover, she was happy to indulge.
“You’re a dork.”
“Yup. Now get some sleep.”
Smiling, Molly sank into his arms, listening to the tender beating of his heart. Right then, at that moment, Connor and his strong arms washed away all the pain from the attack and her insecurities. In its place came something more—hope.
* * * *
Molly stood on the sand, a hot cup of coffee in her hand, the noise from the sea refreshing. Connor ran in the distance, looking like a black dot, moving closer to her with each stride.
The morning sun, warm with a rosy glow, was amazing against her skin. She felt almost renewed standing under its magnificence. There, in that moment as she watched the man she loved run toward her, her heart skipped a beat, and the ash from the day before scattered away, leaving enough room for her to ingest the new phase of her life.
Hot and sweaty, Connor ran up to her, planting a kiss on her cheek.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” he breathlessly greeted her.
“Yeah, yeah, you old charmer.”
“Less of the old,” he said as he took the cup of coffee from her and sipped the creamy contents.
The two of them began walking back toward the steps that led to the beach house. There was no denying the love between them. It was new, radiant and inspiring.
Breakfast consisted of crispy bacon, waffles, eggs and coffee. The smell in the house was divine and Molly enjoyed every last mouthful, sitting back, feeling full and content. Connor was more than happy to wait on her hand and foot, but Molly wasn’t having any of it.
“Oi, let me help,” she insisted.
“If you wish, but we have plans today.”
Winking at her, he carried the two plates to the sink, knowing she was curious as she followed him with their coffee cups.
“What kind of plans?”
“It’s a surprise.”
There it was again, that deliriously enticing smile of his. The smile that melted her insides, making her crave him.
“Surprises and me don’t go well together,” she pouted.
“Tough luck. Go put on something that’ll keep those knees warm, we leave in forty minutes.”
“Connor…what have you done?”
Holding his hand on his chest, he smiled at her. “I promise, it’s nothing bad, or one that requires us doing anything naughty—not unless you want to of course.” He winked at her again. “But this little excursion is for the soul, nothing more.”
“And by keeping my knees warm, you mean?” she queried, raising her eyebrows.
“Something comfortable.”
Molly’s stomach did a somersault. She knew he was up to something, but what, she couldn’t quite put her finger on. But one thing was for sure, she knew that whatever he had planned, she’d love it regardless.
* * * *
Connor was full of mischief as he drove them along the coastal route to God knows where. Molly kept asking for clues, but Connor was pretty tight lipped. He didn’t want to ruin the surprise.
“Then is it something I can eat?” Molly asked, determined to break him.
“Nope. But we are going to have a bite to eat on it.”
“Oh, c’mon, you’ve gotta give me more than that.”
“Later on, baby.” He winked at her, earning himself a jab in the arm.
“You’re such a meanie.”
Molly pouted, looking every inch the cutest thing he’d ever seen. Even the sutures on her lip and the bruising, which was now developing, couldn’t put him off.
“Trust me, you will love it—or at least I hope you do.”
Butterflies began to flock inside her stomach. A good nervous sensation, one filled with anticipation and excitement, ran through her. It was like being a kid again, full of the wonder of what was going to happen. The heightened adrenaline was good. It meant that although the attack from the day before flashed its dirty memories once in a while, Connor was doing an amazing job of creating new, fresher memories. Ones filled with love, and that was the kind of therapy she needed.
Chapter Nineteen
Connor found it hard to hide his excitement. He used his powers of persuasion to get him and Molly fitted in at the last minute. Of course,
with a name like Ellison behind him, he could get what he wanted any time he felt like it, but rarely used his prominent name to get things his way. Everything in moderation was his motto.
Connor pulled into the lot of Heron’s Head Park. He stopped the car, got out and ran around to Molly’s side. Being a gentleman, he opened the door.
“Madam, if you will join me,” he said, all smooth and confident, as he held out his arm for her to take.
Giggling, Molly gave him a curious look but played along.
Connor wanted Molly to be comfortable around him. His overzealous confidence made it easier for him to open his heart and soul to her.
“What are we doing here?” she asked, looking around.
From the back of his pocket, he took out a black handkerchief, dangling it in front of her face, teasing her. “Not so easy, little lady, you gotta wear this first. I promise it’s nothing bad. Do you trust me?”
Molly nodded and swallowed a little anxious breath. “Yes, of course I do.”
Walking behind her, Connor gently placed the cloth over her eyes, blinding her for a few moments, just to make sure the surprise was worth the wait. Once he was happy that she couldn’t see, he took her by the hand, leading her up a little path to their awaiting ride.
Connor could not hide his happiness. The smile swept across his face, as he carefully led Molly toward the balloon.
“Connor, where are we going?” she asked.
He took her hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze before holding her still. “Are you ready?” he asked, his voice full of mischief.
“Erm, okay!”
“I just need to lift you for a second, okay?”
“O-kay,” she muttered, sounding more nervous than he thought she would.
Connor took Molly into his arms with ease and walked the last few feet until he popped her over the side of the basket, then jumped in beside her.
“Can I take this off?” Molly asked, holding on to Connor’s arm for dear life.
“Nope, not yet, just a few minutes more,” he said, gently holding her close to him. “When you’re ready.” He nodded his head at the man in the balloon and before they knew it, the whoosh of air in the burner made Molly jump.
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