Unbreak Me

by Julieanne Lynch

  Connor raced across the street and tried to get to the car as two police officers approached the vehicle from the rear. Connor could clearly see Molly hunched over the wheel, not moving.

  Jesus Christ, he thought as he began to fear they’d already done something to her.

  A long-haired man tried to run from the car, but Barry had his way blocked.

  “Don’t you fucking touch him,” a woman roared as she appeared from the back seat. “Get your hands off him.”

  “Molly,” Connor whispered as he opened the driver’s side of the car, gently touching her, afraid that they’d hurt her.

  Turning her head, she looked at him. Her face was streaked in tears, her nose red and her mouth bleeding. Closing her eyes, she let out a long breath, before lifting her head from the wheel, looking out at the chaos her parents were causing.

  “Are you okay?” Connor whispered as he wiped the blood from her mouth.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Thank God you called. I don’t know what I would have done—”

  “Connor, just shut up for a minute. All the noise is giving me a headache.” Molly closed her eyes again. “I can’t hear myself think.”

  Connor was instantly taken aback by her. But he had to remember that her accident had caused damage. “I just want to make sure you are okay, nothing else. I don’t expect anything from this,” he lied.

  “Okay,” Molly replied as she looked at him.

  Kit and Anna were on the ground, handcuffs being attached, as their rights were read. Molly smiled when she saw the look on her father’s face. Complete satisfaction.

  Molly got out of the car, a bit unsteady as she stepped onto the curb, barefoot. “How does it feel, you sick motherfuckers?” Spitting on them, she turned around, looking at Connor, then at Barry. “The bitch stole my shoes. They were going to rob me, take every penny I’ve saved… I hope they die.”

  Connor couldn’t believe the tone in her voice. She sounded mean and emotionless. Not at all like the woman who had saved him from the bridge. Barry gave Connor a sympathetic look, shook his head and approached the weary Molly.

  “I think we should get you home,” he said as he touched her shoulder, Molly flinching from the touch.

  “Don’t dare come near me.” Her eyes blazed with so much anger Barry drew back his hand, not wanting to cause a scene.

  “Molly,” Connor said as he stepped up to her. Holding out his hand, he offered it for her to take. “There was a time when you stepped into my life, saving me from myself. Please let me do that for you.”

  “I don’t need saving,” she spat, trying not to cry.

  “Then at least let me take you away from this.”

  Glancing down at his hand, Molly stood still. “If I let you do this…it doesn’t mean anything.”

  “No strings, I promise,” Connor replied, desperate for her to allow him to do this one thing for her.

  “Okay.” Molly took hold of his hand, not making eye contact with him, but still touching him.

  Connor’s heart raced from the touch of her skin against his. He knew he wasn’t to get his hopes built up, but damn it, it was so hard when she was there, next to him, looking and smelling like the woman he loved.

  Barefoot, Molly crossed the street, refusing to touch her shoes that her mother had so cruelly taken.

  “I’d rather not, thank you,” she said as she got into Connor’s car.

  “Okay, I’ll leave these right here,” Connor replied as he set them next to a trash can.

  It was hard for Connor not to stare at her. To not reach out and touch her, grab her into his arms and kiss her. Simple things that had felt so natural not so long ago, and now—now he was afraid, even to say her name.

  Pulling out, Connor drove slowly, not wanting to give Molly another reason to get out, or, worse, berate him. There were so many things he wanted to say, yet he couldn’t find the right moment—if there would ever be a right moment again.

  “Thank you,” Molly said out of the blue, staring straight ahead, not once looking in his direction.

  “No problem,” Connor replied as his stomach did a flip. “I would gladly help you if I can.”

  “A real gentleman, huh?”

  “I’m not sure about that, but I do have my moments.” Connor glanced over at her, wanting to step back in time and stop any of the hurt he’d caused.

  “I remember your good moments,” she said. “You’re a good person, Connor.”

  “So are you, Molly.”

  “I should have known they were cooking up some stupid-assed plan,” she said as she rubbed her temples. “It was due.”

  “How do you mean?”

  Molly let out a long breath and glanced over at Connor, her sad eyes observing him. “This is what they do. Disappear for a few months, maybe a year at the most, then show up, blackmailing me. The last time they showed up at the shelter. They made such a scene that I almost lost my job.”

  “I’m so sorry you have to deal with that.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Molly sounded miserable.

  Connor turned onto Molly’s block, taking his time, before pulling over, getting ready to watch her walk back out of his life again.

  “Listen, I know I’ve made a mess of things, but how about we get out of the city for the night? Go to the villa, relax—and I promise, no funny business.” There, he had said it, he propositioned her, but in a way he hadn’t actually planned.

  Molly stared at him for a few moments, then scowled. “You’re un-fucking-believable. Seriously? Like, are you out of your mind?” she roared. “Get a fucking grip, Connor. I mean, how in God’s name am I meant to sit with the guy who broke my heart for near two hours, let alone be together under the same roof? I know I’m the one with the head injury, but, boy, you’re stupid crazy.”

  Connor was completely taken aback. He looked at her, observing how her face twisted when she got angry, but then he saw it, the glimmer of something in her eyes. A small hint of something, but it was enough to convince him that she still loved him, even if she refused to admit it.

  “I am stupid crazy in love with you, is that not enough?”

  “It was once.”

  Connor’s heart sank.

  Looking down at her hands, he could hear her breathing change. “I thought we would be together forever. I was so stupid to ever think that.” Opening the car door, Molly got out, avoiding having to look at Connor at all costs.

  “Molly,” Connor called after her. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I only wanted to spend some time with you, that’s all.”

  Molly stopped, not moving, looking down at her bare feet—her hair hanging over her face. “If I do this, promise me one thing.”

  “Anything.”

  “I don’t want to feel like you are doing this out of pity. I don’t want your pity.”

  “I would never do anything to upset you, you should know that.”

  “Whatever,” Molly chided, then bit her bottom lip. “Give me ten minutes, I’ll go grab a few things.”

  “Okay,” Connor replied as his heart began pounding. He wasn’t sure if it was anxiety beginning to get the better of him or excitement, but whatever it was, he had to lose it fast. He couldn’t risk Molly thinking he had ulterior motives.

  Controlling his breathing, he waited patiently for Molly to come back and just as he suspected, Regina came thundering behind her.

  Opening the trunk, Molly threw in her small overnight bag, ignoring Regina.

  “Molly, this is not a good idea,” Regina said.

  Molly opened the door, got in and glanced over at Connor.

  The way her eyes met his was electric. Still full of the same passion they had had before their world went nuts. Connor was sure that if they were to give each other a chance, they’d surely rekindle the love and wash away all the pain. Their kind of love was worth the effort, he owed it to her and to himself.

  If something was worth fighting for, then you’d die trying.


  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “This is a bad idea,” Regina said as she held open the door, looking across at Connor.

  “Gina, isn’t the decision mine?” Molly asked as she glared at her.

  “Yes, you can make your own decisions, but I am offering you some sage advice. This is wrong.” She made eye contact with Connor. “Connor, this is crazy. What if something happens? Are you willing to risk her health in some crazy attempt at rekindling your romance?”

  “Gina, go back inside, I’ve got this,” Molly said. “I promise the moment I don’t feel well, I’ll call you and Dr. McGraw.”

  Molly knew from the way Regina stood that she was uneasy, and the deep frown she wore made her look more wicked than she actually was. “Connor, if anything happens—”

  Connor cut her off before she could deliver the warning. “It won’t. I’ll have her back here before noon.”

  Regina closed the door, folded her arms and watched as Connor drove away, taking him and Molly back to the one place Molly adored—Capitola.

  * * * *

  Sitting in silence for almost an hour, Molly rummaged through her bag, pulling out a small bottle of pills. Popping one in her mouth, she helped herself to Connor’s water before swallowing.

  Connor looked over at her. “Are you okay?”

  “Just a headache brewing. I’ll be fine once I eat.”

  “Oh, if you’re hungry we can pull over somewhere, get something to eat.”

  “Stop fussing, Connor. I’ll survive,” she replied as she rested her head back and closed her eyes. “You have no idea how stir crazy Regina and Jenna were making me.”

  Connor smiled as he listened to her.

  “Seriously, the two of them have driven me nuts,” she said as she turned her head and looked at him. “You know, I took my car without getting the green light from McGraw.” Her eyes glistened when she said it.

  Connor glanced at her and frowned. “Wait, you weren’t meant to be driving?”

  “Nope,” Molly replied. “I just had to get out of there, go pay Aggie a visit, then those two fucktards showed up and… Well, you know the rest.”

  “Fucktards?” Connor asked surprised. “Since when did you use that terminology?”

  “No idea, but it suits them, right?” Molly laughed, then her tone began to sound more serious. “I don’t know… I think the bang in the head has fucked me up in a way. Everything gets so jumbled sometimes. Like, I want to say something one way, but it comes out all wrong, or, worse, I cut those who care for me with some pretty nasty things.”

  Connor slowed down as he pulled up outside the gates of the beach house. Molly smiled when she saw the palm trees and the small water feature as they drove up the driveway. There was something about being at the beach house that brought a sense of calm over her. She could never pinpoint what it was, but it was almost like coming home.

  “I love the smell of the air,” Molly said as she closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. “I sound stupid, don’t I?”

  Connor lifted their bags from the trunk, observing her the whole time. “No, not at all. One day I’ll leave city life behind me and settle here for good.”

  Molly turned to look at him, really taking in everything he’d just said. She’d never heard him talk about settling down before, not here or in the city.

  “I didn’t know you had those kinds of plans.”

  “I’m a dreamer.” He beamed and Molly’s heart did that involuntary flutter that made her cheeks blush and her palms sweaty.

  “Sometimes dreams are all we have.”

  Walking into the house, Connor took Molly to the guest bedroom on the other side of the hallway. “I hope you’ll be comfortable in here. There’s a nice view of the beach and the balcony is all yours if you feel like listening to the waves if you can’t sleep.”

  An awkward silence cut through the air. Neither of them knew what to say next.

  “I think I’ll take a shower, then maybe we can eat,” she said as she slipped off her shoes, more or less gesturing for him to leave the room.

  “Oh yeah, sure, take your time,” Connor said as he moved toward the door. “Maybe we can order in. I’m not in the mood to cook. Would that be okay with you?”

  “Yup!”

  Molly closed the door and her heart sank. She knew deep down inside that being so close to him was killing her in a way she had never expected. All the anger, the hurt, the disappointment was gone. She no longer dwelled on his indiscretion with Marissa. Yes, it had hurt her, but she knew that if she was ever to move on, she had to let go of the resentment.

  Looking in the bathroom mirror, she rubbed her hair from her face, fairly conscious of the small patch of hair that was no more than tiny sprouts. “This was a bad idea,” she said as she looked at herself. “Big mistake.”

  Turning on the water, she stepped in, letting the sting of the cool water prick her senses, letting her know this was, in fact, real. She was there, again, and didn’t have a clue what she was thinking.

  As the water touched her skin, she washed away her father’s touch, the disgusting stain he’d left on her. Closing her eyes, Molly tried to find a happy place to focus on, the one place where she felt safe, and in all the mixed-up confusion, she smiled as she rested her head against the tiles.

  Molly brushed her hair and tied it up on the top of her head, trying to conceal the patch that made her feel ugly, then slipped on her shorts and tee. She wanted to be comfortable, but knew it was going to be hard being around Connor.

  Gulping, she bit her bottom lip before walking down the stairs, and saw Connor sitting out on the deck, his feet resting on another chair, just watching the setting sun glow in the horizon.

  Inside, her nerves were so close to bursting her seams. She was sure she wasn’t going to cope with being near Connor.

  “Hey,” Molly said as she awkwardly made her appearance, trying her best not to be overly confident, but also not wanting to give away too much.

  Glancing up at her, he patted the cushion next to him. “Come chill. I love this part of the day.”

  Molly slipped down beside him, crossing her legs as she looked at the beauty before her. “Me too. Kinda gives me hope. Sounds silly, right?”

  “No,” Connor replied as he smiled. “I think hope is the one thing that connects us all. Without hope, we’d all have given up a long time ago.”

  Molly listened to him. Wondering if he had lost all hope that night. “So that night, on the bridge…what changed?”

  “You… You gave me hope.”

  “Connor, I—” she tried to find the right words.

  “Let’s order. I’m starving,” Connor interrupted her. She knew it was a ploy to avoid having to face reality, the severity of their ‘break-up’—he didn’t want to have to deal with it.

  Nodding, Molly followed him to the kitchen as he set out a few menus. “You choose, but I can totally recommend this place,” he said, holding up a Thai menu. “Their salmon panang is real good.”

  Molly read through a few of the menus, not knowing what she wanted. Then decided on Connor’s recommendation.

  “So, how’s work?” she asked as they sat on opposite sides of the kitchen island, one as awkward as the other.

  “Work’s been interesting.”

  “Really? I thought there was the whole huge fallout because of that failed deal thingy,” Molly said as she folded the side of the menu, giving her hands something to do.

  “There is, so right now it’s a case of cleaning things up. Trying to salvage my reputation, and of course find the leak.”

  “How do you mean?” Molly asked as she made eye contact with him, her cheeks burning a little as his gorgeous green eyes devoured her as he watched her.

  “Someone gave their shareholders some information. Pertinent info that only my department had access to.”

  “Ooooh,” Molly replied. “So basically, you could be working with someone who is essentially an enemy. Someone who doesn’t really give a shi
t about you or Ellison Enterprises.”

  “Yup, more or less,” Connor said as he smiled at her. “So my job is damage control.”

  Molly held her breath as Connor got up from the stool and walked to the refrigerator. Finally exhaling when she realized he wasn’t coming anywhere near her. Good, she thought. She didn’t want to have to deal with trying not to want him. Because the fact remained—she did want him. She did love him.

  The doorbell chimed and Connor practically ran to pay for the food.

  Connor set out the plates as Molly unpacked the food. “This smells so good,” she said as her stomach decided that the food was a good option after all.

  “Just wait until you eat it.” Connor’s face beamed.

  There it was again, the gorgeous smile that made her insides go all mushy. How she’d survive the night was scaring her by the second, yet the more they interacted, talked, enjoyed each other’s company, the more she realized how she couldn’t live without him.

  Sometimes, fate had a peculiar way of stepping in.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  It felt good to be able to hear the musical lilt of her voice again. It calmed him, bringing him a sense of happiness that he’d almost forgotten, yet the fear that there was no going back to that perfect place they had scared him. Connor was, at times, his own worst enemy. He could never pinpoint it, but there was this air of darkness that seemed to absorb all the joy, suck it dry and leave him gasping for some kind of escape. A release, a place where he could just close his eyes and all the bad would be gone. The emptiness of not being close to Molly cut him in a way he thought not possible. The guilt being his biggest enemy.

  “Sometimes, I get this whole sense of déjà vu, like, I’ve done this all before. It’s so weird that it stops me dead in my tracks and I try to make sense of everything,” Molly said as she finished her meal. “I sound nuts, don’t I?”

  Connor lifted her plate and set it in the dishwasher. Turning around, he rested his hands on the counter and smiled. “No, not at all. I think we all experience that at some point in our lives. Sometimes many times over.”