Molly's Man (Haven, Texas 4)

He gave her a serious look. “That’s me. Glad to see you haven’t forgotten me.”

“It’s been less than a week. Of course, I remember you.” What was his point? What was he doing here? And why did he have to be here when she was feeling so goddamn terrible?

“Really? Because you seem to have forgotten to say goodbye to me. To tell me you were leaving. That you were breaking our contract.”

She winced. “Can I have the water please?”

He held out a bottle of water immediately. She cautiously sat up, biting back a groan. She stared at the water in her hand. Might not be a good idea considering how nauseous she felt. A memory hit her. Her vomiting, crouched over the toilet feeling like she was going to die . . . and Jake . . .

“Oh, God, tell me I didn’t throw up in front of you.”

“Afraid I can’t tell you that. I don’t know what you were drinking, but most of what came out was a disgusting purple color.”

“Purple People Eaters,” she groaned, holding her hand up to her head. “Why did I drink so much?”

“That’s my question. Here.” He took the bottle from her and opened it, handing it back. “Drink.” He grabbed some painkillers and handed them to her. She took them gratefully. “Why would you drink that much when you were on your own in a bar filled with strangers? Some idiot was hitting on you, and you were barely conscious. He could have taken you home with him and you probably wouldn’t have realized until it was too late, and he was raping you.”

“You’re being a bit dramatic, aren’t you?” Surely things hadn’t been as bad as that. Except she did have a vague memory of being pressed up against some guy that smelled like garlic. Eew.

His face darkened. “I can assure you I am not. You were reckless with your safety, Molly. And I think we both know what sort of consequences come from that.”

She stilled. “The contract is void. I left.”

“Without telling me. Yes, I remember. I had no idea where you were. You promised to get in contact with Laken and you never did.” The disapproval in his voice hit her hard. She’d intended to call her friends.

“They’re concerned about you. I was worried about you.”

“How did you find me?”

“Saxon.”

She didn’t bother asking for details. She figured she probably didn’t want to know how he’d found her.

“I’m sorry all of you were anxious, but, as you can see, I’m fine.”

“Fine? You call this fine?” He waved his hand over her. “If I wasn’t there you could have gotten into real trouble, Molly.”

“Jake, I—”

“I know I was an asshole and I cut myself off from you, something I promised I wouldn’t do. I pushed you away when I should have pulled you closer. I came to explain everything to you a few nights ago, to tell you about Rebecca. But you were gone.”

He’d come? She blinked back tears. Would she have stayed if he’d caught her before she left?

“I felt guilty.”

“Guilty? About what?”

“My feelings for you. I thought I was betraying Rebecca.”

“Oh, Jake.” She had to fight against the urge to reach for him. What she wouldn’t give just to bury her face against his chest, to be surrounded in the sense of security that came from being close to him. “She wouldn’t want that.” She hadn’t known Rebecca, but it was the way she felt. When she was gone, she would want him to find happiness again. She had to blink to keep back her tears, the lump in her throat grew to the point she could barely swallow.

“Yeah, I finally realized she wouldn’t want me feeling that way. I’ve mourned her for two years. I blamed myself for her death.”

She knew how hard it would have hit a man like Jake to realize he couldn’t protect those closest to him. She pushed aside her own grief to help him. “In the end, we all make our own choices. You can’t be responsible for hers.” She couldn’t resist any longer. She reached out and took his hand in hers.

He gave her a small smile and turned his hand over, squeezed hers tightly. “When I think back, I realize that Rebecca and I had been drifting apart slightly. We had an argument before I got deployed. She hated my job, hated being alone, worrying about me. It was the first time we’d really fought. Because I was away so much, I think we both pushed aside our fears and frustrations when we were together and they’d all boiled up into that massive argument. I said some nasty things before I left. And although I spoke to her on the phone and we made up before her death, I can still hear all those horrible words we spoke to each other.”

“Oh, Jake. I’m so sorry.”