When Hearts Collide (17 page)

Pearce stared at the empty bedroom where Molly had stayed since the accident. The day she’d left, his heart had turned to a block of ice. Even now, weeks later, it ached like a bad case of frostbite. He’d been moping around the house as if he’d lost his best friend. And maybe he had.

But what about Gracie? She was the most important thing in his life, and he was determined nothing would change that. Since he’d found her in foster care, he’d stayed home and looked after her. He’d made a resolution to himself to protect Gracie from ever getting hurt. He’d tried to keep anyone from penetrating the world he’d built for the two of them. The only woman Gracie had in her life was Bridget Flynn, his housekeeper, and she was only at the house a few days a week. After his experience with Rachel, he’d had no desire to get involved with another woman. He and Gracie had been happy. Until Molly.
But you were happy with Molly, weren’t you? Just too damn stubborn to admit it.

He shoved the annoying doubts away. Molly was the one at fault. She should have told him about the charges, trusted him enough to determine the truth. No, she was just like Rachel, with all her lies.

But, look how she’s helped you, helped your daughter. With the injuries he’d sustained in the car accident, he’d had no choice but to rely on her to look after Gracie. Bridget had been away caring for her sick mother, and Molly had been like an angel dropping out of the heavens to save him and take care of his child.

He thought he’d built a high enough wall that no one could breach it. He hadn’t dreamed anyone could arouse such stirrings of passion, passion that had lain dormant for so long. Just thinking about Molly made every cell in his body yearn for her. How could he have let her, no not let her, how could he have cast her out of his life?

And he wasn’t the only one missing her. Judging from Gracie’s reaction to Molly’s departure, his daughter was more attached to her than he’d realized. Gracie had never formed an bond with a woman like she had with Molly. Molly was more her mother than Rachel.

Gracie was more heartbroken now than when he’d gotten her out of the foster care system. Since Molly’s departure, Gracie had retreated back into that shell. Even Trooper had trouble getting a smile out of her. Everyone was following the dog’s lead and moping around like a lost puppy.

Yet he didn’t want to beg Molly to come back for Gracie. He owed it to Molly to make her understand that he loved her the way a man should love a woman. She deserved to be the love of some man’s life.

When Mrs. Flynn returned from caring for her mother and found the two of them sulking around the house pining for Molly, she’d told him in no uncertain terms that if he didn’t go and bring her back, he was a bigger fool than she thought. Pearce reeled at her words, telling her to mind her own business, that he had to worry about Gracie and he couldn’t let someone complicate their lives. But the housekeeper’s words had hit home.

Gracie was his whole world. He wanted nothing more than to make sure she stayed safe and happy. He’d gotten through raising Gracie and their loss of Rachel by dealing with life one day at a time. Mostly he got through by telling himself he would deal with it tomorrow. The time passed, and they coped. But now, he was being forced to think about a time in his life he thought he’d put behind him, a time he’d never wanted to revisit. Molly was making him dredge up all those buried feelings and emotions. He didn’t like it at all.

When was it that Molly had become so important to him, so much a part of his life? She’d snuck up on him like a ripple on a calm lake until his feelings for her had hit him like a tsunami. He hadn’t wanted to get involved with anyone and jeopardize his relationship with Gracie. He couldn’t let it happen. Yet it already had.

Life had been wonderful when Molly was there. He’d been happy, content, and life had been easy. He hadn’t had to worry about Gracie, or the house. She had them all organized. But was that what he wanted? He’d promised never to fall in love again, never to marry again, and never to have a woman come between him and Gracie. But that had already happened. Yet for Molly’s sake, he had to be sure. He had to know that when he went after her, he was going for the right reasons. He had to be sure for all of them.

Pearce thought about what Molly wanted. Love, a family, children of her own.

Did he want more children? He’d told himself years ago that Gracie would be the only child he would ever have. Could he take a chance on history repeating itself? Could he take a chance of losing another wife? He thought about having children with Molly. Suddenly the last bricks surrounding his heart tumbled away. He saw her holding a red-haired cherub, and his heart ached to have her here beside him.

The way he felt about Molly was so different from what he’d felt for Rachel. What he felt for Molly wasn’t just lust, it was something richer, deeper, stronger, something that could last, maybe even a lifetime. Something that made him crave to be with her, to care for her, to grow old with her.

It was time to admit he couldn’t live without her. He had to go to her, beg her to forgive him and come back. What would he do if she wouldn’t?

He tried to sleep, yet all he did was toss and turn until the covers were damp with sweat. Did he really want to lose himself to a woman who could have such an effect on him? Was it too late for any choice? Tomorrow, he would beg her to come back.

He woke with a start. He’d been dreaming of an angel, a red-haired angel. He’d felt her there beside him. His body ached to reach out and mold her to him like a second skin. He stretched his hand out to the empty side of the bed. Was his imagination playing a trick on him? He was sure he could smell the scent of her perfume, even though the sheets had been washed several times. He inhaled again. It was his imagination.

He crossed to the bedroom Molly had used and took the pillow off her bed. Mrs. Flynn had refused to touch her room or change the sheets until he went to get her. He pressed his nose close to the cotton fabric. The scent brought back memories of their night together. Hugging the pillow to his chest, and drawing in her scent, he was finally able to sleep.

Molly just wanted to stay in bed and feel sorry for herself. But she’d done enough of that. It was time to forget and move on. To forget that she’d finally found the man of her dreams, but all her dreams had turned into a nightmare. Would she never learn that love was for other people, not her?

Thoughts of her sister’s happy marriage surfaced. Why couldn’t she have someone like David in her life? But she’d had that for a while, even if it was only a pretense. Pearce had been what she wanted, her knight-in-shining-armor, ready to slay the dragons; her prince to rouse her from a somnolent state; her king to share her kingdom. Then, as if by the stroke of a wizard’s wand, her realm had vanished.

At least she was back at her job at Saint Christopher’s Hospital. Randy had been discretely dismissed, and other than initial gossip, everything was as if she’d never been away. Molly felt her eyelids droop, then forced them open again. Every time she closed her eyes, all she could think of was Pearce and Gracie. She’d almost drifted off when she heard insistent knocking at the front door. She ignored it for several minutes, praying the person would just go away. The person on the other side of the door didn’t stop.

Throwing a housecoat over her nightgown, Molly yanked the door open. “What?”

Her knees gave way and she had to clutch the doorframe. “What do you want?”

Pearce stood there, a sad puppy-dog look on his face. “I need to talk to you, Molly. I need to apologize.”

Why had he come? Couldn’t he just leave her alone? “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does, Molly. May I come in?” Pearce pleaded.

She wanted to slam the door in his face so hard it would knock him off his feet, the way she’d been knocked off hers. Instead, she let him slip through the door she still clung to.

He sat on the couch in the living room and waited for her. She curled herself at the far end of the couch, pulling the housecoat tightly around her, as if it might provide the armor she needed. But it was no shield against the emotional havoc his presence created.

“I’m such a fool. I should have believed you, trusted you.” Pearce shook his head. “Molly, I’m so sorry. I want you to come back. I miss you so much.” He grinned tentatively. “Gracie misses you.”

Head reeling over Pearce’s confession, Molly asked, “How is Gracie?”

Pearce looked down at the hands he clenched in his lap, then looked up at her. “She’s not the same without you. We both want you back.”

Molly shook her head. “No. I can’t come back just because you think you need me. Or that Gracie does.”

“Oh, Molly, I don’t just need you, I love you.”

“You just think you love me because I took care of you, saved your life...It’s called The Good Samaritan Complex.”

Pearce shook his head slowly. He smiled, advancing on her, coming so close she felt the heat radiating off his body.

“Is this a complex?” Pearce pulled her into his arms, his eyes smoldering with passion. He locked his gaze with hers. Icy shivers ran up and down her spine, and her cheeks burned with the flame he’d ignited.

His lips descended on hers. Lightly, then the pressure increased. She tried to resist, yet her lips responded. He pulled her closer. Her arms wrapped around his neck, fingers entwining in silky black waves.

“You feel it, too. Your body can’t lie. Oh, Molly.”

He pulled her to mold into him. The soft swell of her breasts pressed against his chest, and she felt the pounding of his heart through his thin cotton shirt. Could he feel her heart racing like a two-year-old filly galloping to the finish line?

“I’ve been so stupid.” Pearce shook his head. “I love you.” He grinned. “Do I need to have another car accident to make you come back?”

She shook her head. He tipped her chin until she raised her eyes to him. “Molly, my sweet angel, will you marry me?”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. After you left, it was torture. It took going through hell to make me realize how much I love you.” His eyes softened. “I couldn’t go through another day without you by my side. Please, Molly, will you say yes?”

Molly nodded her answer. She leaned against him, knowing with every cell in her body, that she belonged right here in his arms. This was what she’d been looking for her entire life. She was finally home.

“When do you want to get married?”

“Would right now be too soon?”

Molly gazed into Pearce’s eyes and studied his emotions. She’d seen the hot, searing lust there before, but now the passion was tempered with the softness of a deeper love, adoration, compassion, and her heart swelled, filling her chest until she thought she might burst. It was hard to breathe, even more difficult to talk.

Several seconds passed before she beamed up at him and whispered, “Right now would be perfect.”

His lips were hot against hers. The kiss was deep, sweet, hungry, taking possession of her.

Finally, their lips parted, and they surfaced for air. But not for long. Pearce started kissing her face, her hair, her neck. Every fiber in her being was aroused and begging for release. She had to know that this was really what he wanted, and that he was ready to let go of the past. Her body protested leaving the security of his arms as she pulled away. She closed her eyes for a brief second, took a quick breath and asked, “Are you sure this is what you want, Pearce?”

“With all my heart.”

“What about not wanting to ever commit to someone again?”

He sighed deeply, then grinned wryly. “That was before I fell in love with you.”

His grin widened and a twinkle gleamed in his eyes; a twinkle that sent her heart on a series of flip-flops. “My beautiful red-haired angel, you’ve made me dare to love again.”

Molly flung her arms around his neck again and kissed him soundly on the lips. She nuzzled into his neck, then became serious. “What about Gracie?”

“Gracie wanted to come with me to bring her Molly Mommy home.”

“Do you think Grace would like a brother or sister?”

Pearce chuckled. “She would like ten of them.”

“Ten?” Molly’s jaw dropped open, and heat prickled every red root on her head. The thought of making one baby with Pearce quickened her pulse and stirred sparks of arousal, but ten babies? The heat spread like wildfire until it reached her toes. A lump had formed in her chest and it took several seconds before she could breath, and a few more before words crossed her lips.

“What about you?” Breath hitched up her throat. Molly watched Pearce carefully for any sign he wouldn’t want a larger family. Yes, she loved him, but she wanted the whole package.

He crushed her lips to his. “I’d love to have children with you.” He laughed lightly against her mouth. “Though, maybe not ten.”

Relief swept through her, bringing a wide smile to her face. “Let’s start with one.” Molly suggested with a wink. “Shall we start now?” She tightened her hands around his neck and pulled his face close to hers. Her lips met his, and they sealed their pledge with a kiss that Molly wanted to go on forever.

It was a beautiful July day. The afternoon sun beat down on the cedar slats of the back garden’s pergola and filtered through the luxurious foliage of silver lace and clematis. Molly relaxed back into the chaise lounge and basked in the heat.

She couldn’t believe how perfect life was now. It had been over a year since she’d first come to this house, a house she now called home. The year had seen so many wonderful changes.

She’d become a wife, a mother, and an aunt, all within a few months. Sometimes, she had to shake her head to realize it wasn’t a fantasy. Never would she have believed life could be this good and that she could love someone as much as she loved Pearce, or that he could return that love. Molly gazed across the lawn to where the loves of her life cavorted.

Pearce had totally recovered. He’d worked hard at his physiotherapy and regained his strength and mobility. His only reminder of the accident was slight pain in his left leg before a rain. Watching his sun-kissed physique as he raced across the grass with such grace and virility sent her pulse spiraling. And Gracie, growing like the proverbial bad weed, had come out of her shell, and chattered non-stop. Even her nightmares were a thing of the past.

The wedding had been small. Her choice. Lani, her sister, and Dave had stood up for them. Molly had worn a mid-calf antique lace creation she’d designed herself. She carried a dozen long stemmed red roses. Gracie’s princess-style dress was trimmed with matching lace. Mrs. Nesbitt had even smiled in the wedding photos.

That had been another surprise—the change in Mrs
.
Nesbitt. She’d lost her austere demeanor and had taken to visiting often. She’d even been found giggling with Gracie over some shared secret.

Molly remembered finding Katherine sitting in the garden watching Gracie, a discrete Kleenex dabbing her eyes. She’d turned to Molly. “Oh, Molly, I’ve wasted so much time hating Pearce, and missing out on knowing my granddaughter.”

But the biggest shock had come when Mrs. Nesbitt, or Grandma Kate, as she now asked to be called, offered to mind Gracie while she and Pearce went on their honeymoon. And it was just as big a shock that Gracie was delighted to spend time with her new best friend. When Pearce and Molly returned, she talked non-stop for a week about their adventures.

Molly had never been happier. Their love had grown and expanded to heights of contentment and passion she’d never thought possible. As proof, she patted her protruding abdomen. Soon, the baby would make an appearance. Molly refused to be told the sex. It didn’t matter. Gracie had names for either sex.

“Mommy, look at me.”

Gracie perched on Pearce’s shoulders, her plump arms spread wide, waving wildly as he swung her in a wide arc.

“I’m an airplane!”

Molly’s heart swelled to bursting as she watched father and daughter. She didn’t know which one of them had the bigger grin. Tears of happiness threatened at the corners of her eyes.

The new life growing inside her was evidence of their love. Her pregnancy had been a surprise, and her initial concerns about Pearce’s reaction were quickly quashed. He was ecstatic, as was Gracie. Both excitedly awaited the event.

Molly massaged her swollen belly. She loved Gracie with all her heart, but she could never have imagined how this seed of hers and Pearce’s love could change her life. Nor could she have imagined the maternal feelings that had escalated as the fetus developed inside her.

Gracie climbed onto the lawn chair and cuddled against her. Her eyes were luminous with childhood glee and the contentment of being well-loved and secure. Molly thought of her own unsettled childhood, and it filled her heart to know that she could be a part of giving this child the safe haven that all children deserved.

Gracie stroked Molly’s abdomen. “Baby coming soon, Mommy?”

“Yes, love, the baby will be here soon.”

Pearce pulled his recliner next to hers and kissed her gently. His eyes softened, pride glowing in their depths as he laid a hand on her abdomen. “How is junior?”

“Doing belly-flops.” Molly laid her hand over his and guided it along her belly. Within seconds, he felt the baby kick and his mouth burst into a boyish grin. Molly gazed tenderly at him. He was such a good father to Gracie and now they would have another child to share their love with. A tear slid down her cheek. She reached up to brush it away, but Pearce’s fingertips were there first, caressing the moisture away.

“Are you happy, Molly?”

Her smile and the contentment in her eyes said more than words could. His lips met hers with a tender possession.

Yes, life was good.