Sealed with a Kiss (Ty & Hunter #2)(44)
Author: Carly Phillips

A look of confusion and disbelief crossed Ty’s face. “Explain.”

It figured his best friend wouldn’t take him at his word. Hunter explained the situation between himself and Molly, her lack of faith and trust and Hunter’s opinion that Molly was too tied to her need for family to allow herself a real relationship.

Ty listened, and blinked in thought. “And you think she doesn’t care? Doesn’t trust you? I saw how she looks at you. That’s a woman who’s gone, my friend.”

Hunter shook his head. “The proof is in her actions and those say, given the opportunity, she’ll choose her family over me every time.”

Ty glanced over Hunter’s shoulder. “The women are coming back, so listen up. You’ve got your own share of hang-ups and the last eight months without Molly weren’t worth much to you. I suggest you think about it before you throw away probably the best woman who’ll ever want you because you have impossibly high standards she can’t meet.”

Hunter frowned. “That’s a load of crap. Wanting her to put me first and trust me isn’t impossibly—”

Ty kicked Hunter’s shin beneath the table.

“We’re back,” Lacey said at the same time, her voice ringing with too much cheer.

They’d probably overheard the end of the conversation. Shit, Hunter thought. Things just got better and better.

Still, it was good to see his best friends and they looked happy together.

“So tell us what your source found out in Jersey,” Hunter said. He figured he was better off focusing on the case, the one and only place he seemed to have his footing these days.

Molly settled back into her chair beside Hunter, far enough away that no body parts touched, but close enough that when he inhaled, he smelled the fragrant scent of her hair. “And please tell me it’s good news,” she said to Ty.

“It seems like it is. According to Ted Frye, whose family owns the Seaside Inn in Atlantic City and who works there most days, Paul Markham was a fairly steady visitor.” Ty pulled out a notepad from his back pocket and flipped pages. “He ID’d him from the head shot you sent me, because he used a phony name. Called himself Paul Burnes, paid cash and usually met up with a woman for at least one night. A redhead, the guy said.”

“Lydia McCarthy, Paul’s secretary. The one he was having an affair with,” Molly said.

“I don’t understand something. Why didn’t the police look into all this?” Lacey asked.

Hunter stretched the tight muscles in his neck. “That’s easy. They had their collar and didn’t much care what else Paul had been up to. We do. It would be nice if we could figure out what happened to the money. It might lead to someone else with motive and opportunity.”

Molly smiled. “You see why I wanted him on my father’s side?”

Ty shot Hunter an I-told-you-so glance.

“So what does this mean for your case?” Lacey asked.

Molly shrugged and looked to Hunter for answers.

He groaned loudly. “It means,” he said to Molly, “we’re going to Atlantic City.”

Molly took one look at the mixture of pain and reluctant acceptance on Hunter’s face and knew traveling to A.C. with her wasn’t high on his list of things he wanted to do. Apparently he also knew she wouldn’t let him go without her. She just wished he’d look a little more pleased at the prospect. Her head still hurt and fighting their uphill battle with Hunter wasn’t helping. She’d hoped dinner would help but the pain had only gotten worse.

After dinner, Ty and Lacey suggested they have drinks at their hotel bar. Molly couldn’t bring herself to disappoint them, so she smiled and went along.

Hunter and Ty gravitated toward the pool tables while Lacey and Molly sat at a table overlooking the gaming area. The trip to the hotel on Hunter’s bike hadn’t helped Molly’s headache and once seated, she ordered a cola, hoping the caffeine would do the trick.

She and Lacey sipped their drinks while looking over the railing at their perfect view of Ty and Hunter as they made their bets and chose their cues.

“I can’t believe we’re sitting here together after all this time.” Lacey smiled at Molly, then reached for her hand. “Of course, I wish your father hadn’t been arrested, but I know Hunter will get him off.”

Molly glanced heavenward. “I hope you’re right. In fact, I’m banking on it.” She took a long sip of her soda through the straw and watched Hunter, unable to deny the hunger he inspired in her.

She’d gotten nowhere with him earlier despite her attempts to flirt, then bully him into forgiving her and moving on.

Molly needed a friend, a shoulder to lean on, someone to give her advice, and she had nowhere to turn. She couldn’t burden her father with her own problems right now. She hadn’t been around her friend Liza often enough lately to keep her up-to-date on the situation with Hunter, the commander wasn’t in a position to understand the nuances of their relationship, Robin was away at school and Jessie was too young.

She turned to Lacey. Molly had always liked and respected her, even when her fondness for Lacey’s uncle had put them on opposite sides. She’d kept in touch with her after leaving Hawken’s Cove and Hunter last year, and Lacey hadn’t judged or condemned her for her decision despite being one of Hunter’s best friends.

“Can I talk to you?” Molly asked, leaning forward, elbows on the sticky bar table.

Lacey nodded. “You know you can. And I will not go back to Ty or Hunter with anything you tell me. Promise.” She crossed her heart.

Molly nodded. Her gaze strayed toward Hunter. He was racking the balls at the far end of the table, giving Molly a glimpse of his tight behind in worn denim. Without warning, a low sigh of appreciation escaped her lips.

“I don’t have to guess what the subject is,” Lacey said, laughing. Her gaze was also on Hunter and Ty, although it was clear she only had eyes for her dark-haired husband.

Molly shook her head and smiled. “No, you don’t.” She couldn’t tear her eyes from Hunter’s smooth moves. “He’s good,” she murmured.

“He’s the best, Molly. And I have a hunch you already know that, so what’s the problem?”

Molly leaned back against the chair, focusing on Lacey. “Ever hear the expression two steps forward, one step back?”

Lacey nodded.

“That’s us. I break through his reserve, I think we’re moving forward in our relationship and boom! I blow it again. This time I didn’t tell him something crucial about the case. I was protecting my father but he didn’t see it that way.” Thinking about things between her and Hunter caused the ache in her temples to get worse and she massaged her forehead with her fingertips.