Bidding Wars (Love Strikes)(26)

“But why? At the time, you thought that if you got the house, it would help your chances with your custody case. It seems silly you would have given that up to take a chance with someone you hardly knew.”

“You’re right, but deep down I think I knew the house didn’t really matter. When my agent first contacted me about the highest and best offer, I wasn’t going to up my offer any. But then, you came and visited me and it changed everything.”

“I was a bit hot-headed that day.”

He smiled. “You were, and it was hot.”

“OK, you’re a nut if you like psycho women.”

“Why have you been ignoring me?”

“I don’t see how this can work between us.”

“It seemed to be going pretty well, in my opinion.”

“Yes, when we pretended the house didn’t exist.”

“Does what I just told you not mean anything? I told you, I gave you the house.”

“But what if it doesn’t work out between us? You’re going to regret it. And then you’ll hate me.”

“What are you worried about? That I might sue you for the house and claim to the judge, ‘She made me fall in love with her just so I’d give her the house, and now I want it back’?” He cocked an eyebrow at her.

Did he say the word love…and about her? She bit her bottom lip, unsure of what to say.

“I’ll be honest, it’s crossed my mind that if things work out between us, I get a pretty sweet deal—you and the house. But that’s in the far future.”

She still didn’t respond. She’d had the same thoughts, but didn’t know what to say to him. She cared for him a lot, but she hadn’t opened herself up yet to the idea of love. Gazing at him, she wondered if she could love again. Over the past year, during her pity-fest, she never took the time to actually heal. Was she ready for the type of relationship he was looking for?

Of course, she could be overthinking things again. She was about to start a new life, and having him in it would be great, but she had to know she was ready. And that was one thing that held her back all along in their time together. She still wasn’t certain she was at that point in her life where she was ready to open her heart. And if she opened her heart, it wasn’t only to Luke, but to Sammy as well.

“I need some time.”

“For what?” His tone was laced with irritation.

“To figure it all out. I’m sorry this isn’t as easy for me as it is for you.”

He raked his hands through his hair. She was hurting him. He’d basically told her he loved her, and she wasn’t reciprocating.

“If I’m going to enter into a serious relationship with you, then I need a little time to sort things out. Can you give me that?”

He huffed. “Do I really have a choice in the matter? If I told you no, then it would be over. If I agree, you could still choose this to be over. The ball has been in your court this entire time. I’ve been walking a fine line around you, hoping I’d showed you how much I care. Yet I still haven’t gotten through to you. I wish you’d just throw caution to the wind and stop thinking so much and do what feels right.”

Molly didn’t know what to say back to him. Taking life by the reins was easier for him than it was for her. Yes, she deliberated a lot—maybe more than others—but it was who she was.

“Please, just give me some more time.” She looked down at her hands. “You need to concentrate on Sammy right now anyway.”

“I can handle you and Sammy.”

She moved closer to him and took his hand. At first he was tense, but as he gazed into her eyes, she could feel it leave his body. His eyes changed from hurt to love in a heartbeat. She knew right then that if she took a chance with him, she wouldn’t regret it.

She tugged on him. He came right away. His lips claimed hers and once again, the world felt right. Even though they were just kissing, she had never felt more whole in her life. A tear began to form behind her eyelids. She wasn’t going to cry, she told herself. At least, not in front of him.

Pulling away, she lifted his hand and left a light kiss on it. “Please be patient with me. Give me some time to sort my emotions out.”

“It doesn’t look like I have much of a choice, does it?”

“Thank you.”

He stood and headed toward the door. She followed right behind him. “Luke, take this time for Sammy. I have a feeling things are going to be hard for him. I don’t know the details of what happened with his mom, but Sammy’s going to need you a hundred percent.”

He nodded. He likely agreed, even if he didn’t want to admit to it. Before he left, he leaned forward and placed his lips to her cheek. He lingered a moment before he finally left without a backward glance.

She stood in her doorway and watched as he drove away. She had to keep faith that if it was meant to be, he’d wait for her.





Chapter Twenty





A few weeks had passed and Molly was days away from getting the keys to the Maple Street house. She’d been so busy training the new nurse and packing that she really hadn’t had time to think about the move. But when she did, her mind clouded with Luke. How was he? How were things going with Sammy? God, she missed them both like crazy.

She’d texted him once, over a week ago, to say she missed him—and he said the same. She missed her dinners with him, their lunches, everything. But she made a promise to herself that she was going to get through the move and into the house before she attempted a relationship. She also had to come to terms that if she and Luke did marry, they could never have kids. She’d had a therapy session earlier in the week to discuss that very issue. She talked the entire time and, by the end of it, it was like a light had switched on. She wasn’t a failure as a woman or any less of one. Even if she was a stepmom to Sammy, that was fine. She could adopt a child and be happy with that as well. You didn’t have to carry a child to be its mother. And yes, finally, this was her thinking. Not someone telling her how to think. It was finally sinking in.

Even though she felt like a brand new woman, she still resisted running to Luke. She might have a whole lot of begging and making up to do with him when the time came, but in the end, this time would be worth it—she hoped.

Her cell phone rang, pulling her from her thoughts. “Hey, Sandy.”

“Get your shoes on. Theresa and I are picking you up in ten minutes.”

“What?”

“You heard me. You’ve either been at work or locked away in your house surrounded by boxes. You need a night of fun. We’re grabbing dinner at a local hibachi place. Ten minutes, girl. Be outside or else we’re breaking down the door.”

Molly laughed. “OK, see you in a bit.”

She hung up and went to change out of her scrubs. Once she was dressed, she quickly checked an auction on eBay before she found shoes, fed the cat, and went outside to wait. Just as she shut the door and locked it, they pulled up in Sandy’s car. Molly quickly put her shoes on and jogged to the car. Climbing into the backseat, she smiled at them both.

“We’ve missed you. Between training and packing, it feels like we’ve had no Molly time.” Theresa poked her bottom lip out.

Molly rolled her eyes. “Like I’m all that exciting.”

“When you were bringing that hot man around, you were our favorite person.”

Sandy smacked Theresa and gave her a look. Theresa looked back at Molly. “Sorry, I forgot, that topic is off limits tonight.”

“It’s fine. And I agree, seeing him did make life a little more fun.” Molly gazed out the window.

“Fun is what you need,” Theresa said.

“That’s what we’re about to have,” Sandy chimed in.

The restaurant wasn’t far. One of the perks of her current place was its close proximity to the center of town. She’d have a little more of a drive from the new address. She was fine with that though.

Inside, the hostess sat them down at one of the tables with another couple. At the table next to them, a cooking show was going on, and the fire was high. Molly loved hibachi and having the food cooked in front of her.

“Do we want wine?” Sandy looked at the other ladies.

“We could share a bottle.” Theresa shrugged.

“I don’t know. With all the excitement lately, I’ve been feeling queasy. I’m worried the food and wine won’t mix well. I think I’m going to have a water.”

Sandy pouted. “You’re no fun. Hope you’re feeling better once you move in. We’re having a party.”

“By then, the stress I’ve been feeling will have melted away. I’m positive I’ll be good for a party.” Molly couldn’t wait to have a housewarming party. The thought of all her close friends coming by for dinner and oohing and aahing over her place made this whole thing worth it.