Wrapped in Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 4)

I’m such an idiot.

“You’re a real sonofabitch, Tom,” Brayden mutters.

Tom’s gaze slides between Brayden and me, and his expression slowly transforms into a smirk. “Oh, I get it.” He waggles a finger between us. “I see how you got your job, Molly. Typical.”

The blow strikes as hard as he intended it to, but I hide my flinch. “Jealous?”

“Get the fuck out of my bar,” Brayden growls, and I wonder if Tom notices the way Brayden’s hands have curled into fists.

He sneers at Brayden and shrugs back into his coat. “Word of warning? I’d be sure to wrap it if I were you.”

Tom turns toward the door, and Brayden lunges out of the booth, but I grab his arm and squeeze. “Don’t.”

His muscles bunch under my hand, but he doesn’t take another step, thank God. I don’t need Brayden fighting my battles. I knew what I was getting into when I moved back to Jackson Harbor—knew that a reputation like mine isn’t one you get to escape just because it’s been eight years.

Only when Tom is out the door does Brayden turn to me. He studies my face for a beat before sliding into the booth across from me. “What are you going to do?”

I shake my head. Three weeks to Christmas, and he’s kicking us out. Noah was so excited to be in a house for Christmas—one with a fireplace and chimney so Santa could come in the “right way.” And I foolishly fed that excitement by telling him all the cool things we were going to do. Now I’ll have to break it to him that we’ll be spending the holiday in a hotel.

“The only thing I can do.” I push my food away, my appetite vanishing right alongside my plans for a relaxing evening. “I’m going to start packing . . . and find somewhere else to live.”

“I can’t believe he’s doing this. What a jackass.”

“It is what it is.” I swallow back the emotion threatening to break free. Don’t freak out. “But thank you for sticking around while he was here. It was nice to have . . .” A friend. I don’t say it aloud. I don’t know if Brayden considers me that at all. I’m his employee. I’m the woman he slept with once. I’m his sister-in-law’s stepsister. But friend? Maybe it’s strange that I could jump into bed with him so easily in New York, but the idea of calling him my “friend” makes me feel too vulnerable.

Typical Molly.

Maybe I haven’t changed as much in the last eight years as I’d like to think. Tom obviously didn’t think so, or he never would have tried to make a move on me.

“Anytime,” Brayden says.

I don’t like the way he’s studying my face—like he can see my thoughts and all the broken pieces I keep hidden under this pretty-girl façade. I lift my beer to my lips, but my stomach churns, and I put it down before taking a drink. “I’ll see you at the office tomorrow?” I ask, more to change the subject than anything because, truthfully, it’s a stupid question. Brayden isn’t the kind of guy not to show up. Ever.

He nods. “I’ll be there.”

Slinging my purse over my shoulder, I head to the bar, where I wave at Jake to indicate that I want to settle my tab.

“Molly?”

I turn to Brayden, who frowns at me.

“You don’t have to do this alone.”

I close my eyes at the offer couched inside those words. He’ll help. His whole family will step up and help. That’s what the Jacksons do. He doesn’t owe me that. He doesn’t owe me anything. And yet . . .

“She doesn’t have to do what alone?” Jake asks, handing me my bill.

Brayden turns to his brother. “Molly’s landlord evicted her. He wants her out by the end of the week.”

“What an asshole,” Jake mutters.

Brayden nods in agreement, but I’m barely aware of them, too focused on imagining Noah’s face when I have to tell him our Christmas plans have changed. If my mom hadn’t just sold her house and moved into a small apartment, I could go stay with her.

The idea of sleeping in my stepfather’s house has bile rising in my throat. Maybe it’s a blessing that moving in with her isn’t an option, because I know I’d do it. If it meant giving Noah the Christmas morning he’s been dreaming of, I’d do it. Even if it meant facing demons I’ve spent the better part of a decade running from.

Brayden

“This is it.” I lead Mom into the new Jackson Brews taproom. She didn’t want to see it until it was finished, but after months of construction, we’re finally getting there. Thursday is our grand opening, and I want her to see the space dedicated to our father before we open it to the public.