Taking the Fall (20 page)

Even if her wishes crushed him, he would abide by them.

Her silence felt like a life sentence being handed down as if all he could hear was the ticking of the old clock on the wall each second passing with another click of the hand.

“No, I want this.” She wrapped her hands around his waist, where he welcomed her with open arms. “My inner fifteen-year-old is getting to act on her crush. Now tell me a girl who wouldn’t jump at such a chance.”

Dennison, process her words slowly. Maybe then you will be able to understand them.

“You mean?”

“I mean, my dreams were the same as yours, even when you were being all righteous.” She stood up on tiptoes and placed a kiss on his lips before saying, “I suppose we should finally get to it.”

Now it was his turn to blush.

“Thank God! I’ve been waiting decades.”

Hunter wrapped his arms around Molly, bringing her slight body even closer to his. She fit perfectly and it felt so right. He looked at her eyes, wanting to see a smidge of the same level of want that was reflecting in his, and it was granted. He bent her backward just a bit as his hands took liberties. They settled at her waist but soon became impatient, extending his fingers so they brushed against her ass. He could feel the rigid points beneath her blouse press into him and he wanted to moan. But then she raised her arms, letting her hands settle on his shoulders before slowly sliding them around to the back of his neck. There, her fingers tickled the spot where skin met hairline and he was sure one of his legs was going to start to shake in reaction.

Finally, he lowered his mouth the scant inch that separated the two. Her upturned face not only accepted his silent request but also made one of her own.

This time there was no gentleness, just hot demanding arousal. His tongue swept in and insisted on the dance that she was eager to share. Each scraping the other with their teeth, both were caught up in the sensuality of the moment. Hunter walked her backward so her back rested against the counter. He pulled his arms away from her derriere, which was no easy feat, and gripped the counter for strength that if he faltered he knew would result in him taking off her clothes.

That was how in over his head he was. One taste of Molly and he regressed back to Neanderthal status.

“Molly, you taste better than I ever could have imagined,” he murmured as his lips took a detour to her neck. One of the two places he sought to taste most.

His lips easily found her pulse point, and her skin was soft and her life beat tickled his lips. His tongue licked a trail from just below her ear down to where her neck and shoulder met. She smelled like the vanilla scent that always clung to her, but here it was stronger and he reveled in it. Tempted to mark her for the sheer masculinity of it, he found the strength to refrain as his lips memorized every inch of her sexy throat.

The expectation paled in comparison.

By the time he returned to her eager lips, he was close to taking her right her on the counter, to hell with the consequences.

“Mom?” Jess’ voice came from the kitchen. Molly pushed Hunter away and he stumbled while she quickly fixed her tousled appearance.

Against everything screaming inside of him, he stepped away from her giving her the space she silently asked for.

Molly stepped into the kitchen before appearing another moment later.

So much had happened and he was still trying to wrap his brain around it. He wanted to drive to Allison and physically throttle her. But he knew any such notion would squander any hopes to see Leah. Over the years, the reality of Allison being truly evil was not lost on him but never did he even question the possibility of her spinning such lies during their first meeting.

He knew his reactions thereafter were all his own, but the defamations she laid were the foundation for his going astray.

Ultimately, changing his life.

Whatever helps you sleep at night, buddy.

You never questioned it. You never sought any confirmations of the falsehoods, and that, my friend, is all on you.

Molly returned and Hunter knew he needed to shelf his self-crucifixion.

I will not allow another moment to pass by that she doesn’t have my full and undivided attention.

“Everything all right?” he asked, noticing she chose not to return to his side but to use the counter as a barrier between them.

A barrier he felt all the way down to his soul.

He took slow calculating steps toward her, stopping when the counter was at his stomach. If he extended his arm, he would be able to touch her, and he wanted to badly, but he knew he had put her through enough tonight.

Molly’s cheeks were still red, although she was not sure if it was from their shared moments, them almost being caught or something altogether different. Her hair was slightly awry, either from where his hands had run through her silky locks or from when she had nervously tried to fix her appearance. He had to say she looked sexier because of it.

That opinion went straight to his groin.

“Yeah, Jess just reminded me of a ride she needs tomorrow to a friend’s house.”

Trying for nonchalant and friendly, he gave a slight smile and offered, “Well, that sounds like progress?”

The ironic quick chuckle she gave proved it was anything but.

“Not really, my daughter, I’m sure, would have preferred having a root canal than to ask a favor of me.”

He wanted to hold her to offer comfort, hell just to do it because he could and had a right to, but given their positions, it would have to remain a thought.

“Beautiful?”

She closed her eyes and smiled slightly at his name for her and hope surged through him once more.

Molly lifted those incredible green eyes of hers, and he thought he had been rewarded the greatest prize ever. She smiled, and he knew he was, in fact, a lucky man. She stepped closer to the counter and placed her hand down on the middle of it, which he quickly covered with his own.

Physical connection—proof that this all wasn’t a dream.

“As much as I don’t want this to end, I have to go upstairs.”

He wanted to beg her not to—to stay with him in their private cocoon of the moment—but he knew he couldn’t ask such a thing of her.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t beg for something else.

“Please let me see you tomorrow.”

“I’d like that.” She smiled, placing her other hand over his.

“I’m off for the next thirty-six hours. I don’t care if it is five minutes; whenever you are free, I want to spend whatever amount of time with you, please . . .” He knew he sounded desperate, but he didn’t care. The truth was he was desperate. Desperate for her.

“Well, I was looking forward to a walk tomorrow morning,” she offered, and he felt his heart grow, “with a friend. I can arrange it so I don’t have to be here until the afternoon. So if you are sure you don’t have any other plans, I see a good solid five hours that I will have available.”

A sly smile overtook his face, and his thoughts immediately went dark . . .
oh, the thing I could do with five hours.
But he knew it was too soon. He would at least give her twenty-four hours before he begged her to let him pleasure her in ways he had only ever dreamed about.

Yes, he cared enough about her to give her twenty-four hours.

Now, if he could just get through the one day, they would be golden.

“Then I will see you tomorrow,” he said, lifting both her hands before placing a kiss on each one and then leaning over the counter and placing a few kisses to her lips.

After many attempts at goodbye, he finally succeeded in walking out on the eighth effort. He watched as she clicked the lock shut and twisted the blinds to the restaurant closed.

He walked to his Jeep, thinking of all the things he needed to prep before tomorrow morning. She was gracious, and with hope eager enough, to give him such a window, he wouldn’t waste it. He had decades to make up for, and like his mom always used to say, there was no time like the present.

When Hunter had reached his Jeep, he was eager to get home and start making sure everything would be perfect for Molly tomorrow, but he found himself detouring in another direction than the one that would lead to his home.

Hunter pulled into the private road, looking at the way the full moon cascaded amazing white light on the large newly finished home. To the left still stood a darkened original cottage common to the area but its only neighbor was anything but original.

Where a comfortable two-bedroom renovated cottage had sat, now a four-bedroom family home remained. Keeping with the décor of a log cabin, large wood siding covered the outside as well as the four window dormers that could be seen from the front. Large pillars extended upward with knotted wood railings around the large and spacious front porch, which extended around three sides of the home.

Hunter parked next to the front stairs, thinking of the days he helped Gage lay each one of these treads down as he climbed them. When he reached the mighty mahogany door, he hesitated to ring the bell. Assuredly, his nephew and niece were asleep, so he settled for a light wrap of his knuckles.

The etched cut of the glass obscured Gage’s form, and Hunter scolded himself for not calling and just showing up. His brother opened the door with his curious wife behind him.

“Hunt? Everything okay?” Gage asked as he held the door open for his brother to enter.

With the look of concern on Delaney’s face, Hunter really felt like an asshole for just showing up, but it was as if he subconscious knew he needed to discuss his anger in regards to his newfound knowledge.

Hunter closed the door behind him, taking his cap off and twirling the rim in his hands.

“Oh yeah, everything is great. I just needed an ear for a moment.”

God love Delaney, she never meddled. She walked to where he stood, placed a kiss on Hunter’s cheek, turned to her husband placed a more leisurely kiss there and then excused herself upstairs.

Gage walked into the living room, shut the television off, and waited for Hunter to follow.

Hunter sat down on the leather sofa, rid himself of his suit coat, placed his elbows on his knees and dropped his head into his hands.

“That good, huh?” Gage remarked from where he sat on the other end of the couch.

“I think I came here for you to confirm the extent of idiocy you already think I am.”

Gage smiled and sat up straighter. “Oh, I like how this conversation is starting out.”

Hunter just looked at him with complete annoyance.

“Okay, I will try not to gloat . . . too much.”

Unable to sit, Hunter stood and began to pace the living room. With his hands in his pockets, he knew he was going to wear a trail in Delaney’s new carpet if he didn’t stop.

“So, I just had a Come to Jesus conversation with Molly.”

Unabashed smugness quickly covered Gage’s shock.

“Oh, do tell.”

“It was all a lie,” Hunter muttered, stopping his motion and just hanging his head in shame as he stood in front of his brother.

Gage thankfully had enough class not to rub salt into Hunter’s already bleeding wound.

“The whole thing . . . everything Allison told me . . . none of it was true.” Hunter walked back to the couch, sat down, and leaned back, throwing his arm over his eyes. “Twenty years of anger over nothing but complete and utter deceit.”

Hunter waited for Gage to start his “I told you so” bit or to laugh at his foolishness, but neither came. Instead came wisdom that Hunter realized was the real reason he had come to his older brother.

“So? You fucked up. Name a man who hasn’t.” Gage hit Hunter in the shoulder with the back of his hand.

Hunter looked at Gage, who sat there with his brow high as the rhetorical question hung in the air between them.

“That’s it? That is all you are going to say? Not ‘you are a fucking asshole?’ or ‘you were dumb enough to believe her,’ perhaps? Something? Anything to that effect?” he expressed exasperated.

Gage smiled at the obvious frustration on his brother’s face and said simply, “Nope. I don’t need to beat you any more than you are already beating yourself.”

Gage placed a hand on Hunter’s shoulder and shook it slightly, telling him without words that he felt for him.

“What did Molly say when the truth came to light?”

Hunter thought back and still couldn’t believe the graciousness she showed. “Nothing, she was more concerned about my feelings than revealing her own.”

“Sounds like Molly.” Hunter couldn’t help but agree.

“All that time and she could have been mine,” Hunter mumbled as he stared out into the darkness through the outdoor sliders.

“Just look at this way. Some things are better aged. I’m not saying you are . . . you are definitely worse as you get older.” Gage winked before adding, “But maybe it was meant to be for you and Molly to be together at this point in your life. Believe me, the second half is much better than the first.”

Hunter knew immediately what Gage was saying. The man before him and their surroundings was proof positive of that. Delaney brought Gage out of his tailspin and recovered the brother Hunter missed so desperately. She restored him to all levels of existence. And for that, the entire Dennison family would forever be in her debt.