Cross My Heart

Sixteen

Marc finished giving his statement to the police. He’d left nothing out. He had nothing left to hide.

With a stenographer present in his hospital room, he’d admitted everything leading up to the moment of his shooting, from the day he’d fallen in love with Rhona, lost her to his golden-boy brother, Eric, and become guardian to their daughter Lilly.

He’d included his foster care scheme in the story along with his hope that by scaring Lilly, she’d return pliant and willing to sign her trust fund over to him. Of course in his recent sobriety, he’d realized that she probably couldn’t legally sign over anything until after she’d inherited at the age of twenty-seven, but alcohol had dulled his wits, and he’d believed in dreams of money coming his way. He explained how he knew Paul Dunne had embezzled, although not to the extent that he had.

And he admitted to getting trust money from Dunne to pay Flo Benson to take Lilly into her home and claim it was foster care. That one had elicited a shocked gasp from Lilly and a groan from Tyler Benson. Of course Tyler and his friend Hunter had been more than happy to hear him admit to using influence to have Hunter pulled from the Benson home after Lilly’s ‘death’. He’d neglected to go into detail about their role in faking Lilly’s death-information he’d learned from Molly-because Marc had caused enough pain over the years. Everyone assumed she’d run away and as far as he was now concerned, that is what she’d done. Bravo for her.

Part of Marc’s AA program was about apologizing and taking responsibility. It looked as if he was doing it big-time today. He told the police about how Paul Dunne had been behind the near hit-and-run on Lilly as well as the fire at Ty’s apartment. He described the other man’s plan to have Marc do his dirty work and included Dunne’s threat to frame Marc either way. He’d refused, calling the other man on his cell phone the day of the shooting.

Marc’s solution instead had been to go to Lilly and tell her the truth. Unfortunately Dunne had been scared to death that Marc would reveal all of his transgressions. His fear of losing his status as a respected attorney had overwhelmed him. While Marc had been worrying about waylaying Tyler Benson’s watchdog P.I., Dunne had followed him to see Lilly. Marc had been so preoccupied, he’d never seen the man until he felt the burning, searing pain in his back.

Though he’d turned his life around and was actually helping the police capture the guilty party, the woman he was supposed to marry wasn’t impressed with him. Francie’s scowl and cool attitude froze the room. Marc sensed it without looking her way. Their confrontation would come next, he was sure. After which, she would stomp out in her Jimmy Choos that were probably on his current credit card statement. Next time around, he needed to find a poor woman with few needs except love, he thought wryly.

Then there was Molly. She stood behind her mother’s chair. A good woman, she’d taken this hard because in Marc, she’d seen a chance at family. The poor girl had made the mistake of putting her hopes in him. He’d disappointed everyone in his life. The bright-eyed lawyer would be no different. But he’d have been proud to call her his daughter and he needed to tell her so. For all the good it would do.

What a goddamn mess.

The police finally took off, as did Ty, Hunter and Lilly, all without a word. They knew better than to stick around for the show. But he and Lilly had unfinished business to discuss, assuming he was still conscious when Francie was finished with him. Marc didn’t wonder where his sense of humor was coming from. It was all he had left, all he owned, all he could proudly claim.

Francie strode to his bedside, a place she hadn’t visited since his admission. “This isn’t going to work,” she said.

He leaned his head back against the pillows, exhaustion overwhelming him. “What, no how are you feeling? No I’m sorry I haven’t visited?”

“Oh please don’t tell me you’re the wounded party,” Francie said.

He raised an eyebrow-the one part of his body that would work right now. “The only part of you that’s been wounded is your wallet, Francie. The sad part is, I truly loved you. Which shows you how little I think of myself and what I deserve out of life.”

She walked over and braced her hands on the bed. Her position gave him an ample look down her white fitted jacket, into her ample cleavage. Which, he proudly noted, he hadn’t paid for.

“Is that your pathetic way of saying you’re sorry?” Francie asked.

“It’s my way of saying we want different things in a relationship.”

Molly coughed and turned away.

Francie rose and squared her shoulders. “I never lied to you about enjoying money and now that you have none-”

“Please don’t concern yourself,” he told her. Surprisingly, he meant it. He’d been preparing himself for this day since he’d learned Lilly was still alive. “I wish you well.”

She inclined her head. “The same here. I have an eight-o’clock flight tonight for London.”

Molly sucked in a sharp breath. For the first time, Marc felt a real pang of regret. Not for himself, but for Molly.

“I’m assuming you charged it?” he asked wryly.

She had the good grace to flush.

He shook his head. “Find yourself a rich one, Francine. You need it.”

She kissed his cheek and sashayed out of the room. Marc’s gaze never strayed from Molly’s pale face.

Francie paused in the doorway. “Molly?”

Marc held his breath.

“Yes?” She held on to the back of the chair with a death grip, her knuckles white.

In her eyes, he saw pure hope and knew the disappointment to come would hurt her worse than anything else today.

“I left a box of things at Marc’s. When I’m settled, I’ll call with an address. Please ship them to me, will you, dear?”

“I’ll see to it,” Marc said, before Molly was forced to answer and probably burst into tears.

She blew a kiss that could have been directed at him or at her daughter before walking out the door without looking back. She didn’t care which of them she’d hurt. Which made him wonder why he’d loved her at all, but he knew. He’d been taken in by his good fortune-he’d had so little in his life.

Marc held out his arms and Molly crawled right in, careful not to jostle or hurt him in any way. After the brief hug, she stepped back.

“I wish you were my daughter,” he told her, knowing somebody had to love this girl.

She smiled, a sad one that broke his heart. “For what it’s worth, I believed in you. You know, about not being behind the attempts on Lilly’s life. You didn’t disappoint me.” She stepped back to the foot of the bed.

“That means a lot.” His eyelids grew heavy, complete exhaustion setting in. “When I’m out of here, what do you say we order in pizza and just talk?”

Molly leaned against the end of the bed frame. “I would love to but I’m not going to stay around. I care about you but now that I know you’re going to be okay, I need to go.”

“Where?” he asked, understanding even if it hurt.

She shrugged. “Anywhere far away.”

“You don’t have a license to practice law anywhere,” he reminded her.

“I know. I haven’t figured out what I’m going to do yet. But I just can’t stay here with all the memories and could-have-beens surrounding me.”

“What about Hunter?” Marc asked. He’d noticed the chemistry between them. He knew the man cared for Molly. He’d seen it in Hunter’s eyes when he looked at her. And as hard as it was for Marc to admit, he knew Hunter would take care of her the way she deserved to be cared for.

“Hunter deserves a woman who has her shit together. I’m a mess,” Molly said bluntly.

Marc nodded. He didn’t blame her for feeling that way. “Give it time. You never know what the future holds. Keep in touch?” he asked hopefully.

She nodded. “I’ll stop by before I leave for good.”

But in Marc’s mind, she was already gone. He’d lost the one person who believed in him. That was okay though. He needed to learn to rely on himself. One of the doctors who’d come to see him had suggested he enroll in private therapy as well as AA. He would, if he could afford it. Once Lilly inherited and threw him out of the house, he’d have to cough up rent, homeowners insurance, all things that had come under the umbrella that was Lilly’s trust fund.

He’d have to live like a grown man. What a concept. And he’d thought he had his hands full fighting the need for a drink. Still, he realized that with his confessions to the police and the people he’d hurt in his life, he wasn’t feeling sorry for himself. Instead he was looking ahead.

And that, Marc thought, was progress.

THOUGH HUNTER HAD listened to Dumont’s statement this morning, he’d been more affected by Molly’s blank expression than he was by the man’s admissions. In Hunter’s mind, Marc Dumont was already a part of his past. But Molly was his future, or so he hoped and despite her withdrawal, he didn’t want her to find it easy to relegate him to her past.

He knew how badly Marc’s description of his actions had hurt her. On the other hand, she’d been right about the man now. He hadn’t been behind the attempts on Lilly’s life. Her faith in him had been rewarded. Hunter hoped that counted for something in Molly’s mind.

He needed to know how she was holding up. He had to know where they stood. And he wanted to see her…just because. He shoved his work aside, rose and grabbed his jacket.

Half an hour later, he pulled up to Molly’s house. He wasn’t surprised Anna Marie was nowhere to be seen. From what Ty had said, the older woman had a rough day and she was probably hiding inside.

As Hunter stepped onto the porch and rang Molly’s doorbell, Hunter was grateful for the privacy. He heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs and Molly opened the door.

She greeted him wearing gray sweats and a white T-shirt with smudges on the front. She looked as if she’d been cleaning.

“Hi,” he said, suddenly incapable of anything clever or smart to say. He was just glad to see her.

She inclined her head. “Hi.”

“Rough morning,” he said.

She shrugged. “Actually, it got even rougher. Listen, I’m kind of busy-”

“I’d still like to talk. I won’t keep you long.”

She paused, then taking him by surprise, she pushed the door open wide. “Come on in.”

He’d expected more of an argument. He followed her up the flight of stairs, wondering if maybe he’d get through to her after all. Then he stepped into her den and saw the suitcases spread out all over the room, the sight hitting him like a kick in the stomach.

He glanced around. There weren’t just clothes in the suitcases-her personal things were packed into boxes. “This looks like a lot more than packing for a vacation.”

She reluctantly met his gaze. “It is.”

Her words confirmed his greatest fear. “Then there are some things I want to say to you before you go.”

She nodded. “Go ahead,” she said softly.

“You were right about Dumont. I’m sorry I couldn’t believe you.”

Molly looked into his handsome face and saw the truth in his eyes. Hunter’s choice of words had been deliberate. It wasn’t that he hadn’t believed her, he couldn’t. Because Marc had done too much damage. She’d heard it all firsthand today.

But Hunter had been there and supported Molly even if he couldn’t agree with her belief in Marc. She appreciated his integrity more than he knew.

“Don’t apologize. I understand.”

He walked around, stepping over the suitcases and boxes she’d managed to pack in a short amount of time.

Without warning, he turned. “Damn it, Molly, don’t do this.”

She swallowed over the lump in her throat. “I have to.”

“You do know that you’re leaving without giving us a chance?” he asked, his tone imploring.

Molly closed her eyes. She hadn’t wanted to hurt Hunter. She’d avoided him for years to prevent doing just that, yet here they were anyway. “I need to find out who I am and what I want out of life. I can’t do that here, in a place where all I see are my childhood wishes for the family I never had.”

“I never had family, either. I understand what you’re going through. Why not work through it together? Unless of course, I’m mistaken in thinking you care about me, too.” A flush rose high on his cheekbones and he shoved his hands into his front pants pockets.

Molly knew how difficult it had been for Hunter to lay his heart on the line and it hurt her to have to reject him. But one day he’d thank her for doing it.

“It’s because I care about you that I’m leaving.” She met his gaze, silently begging him to understand her reasons. “I need to grow up.” And to do so, she needed time alone.

Time to heal and put her mother in her past. She absolutely had to learn to stand on her own two feet without old hopes and expectations weighing her down.

He stepped closer. She inhaled and smelled his sexy cologne. Wherever she ended up, she’d miss his wit and his persistence. But until she could look in the mirror and like who she saw, Molly had no choice but to leave.

“I have no ties here, nothing to keep me from leaving. Let me go with you and we can start over someplace new.”

It was so tempting. He was so tempting.

She clasped her hands around his face. “You’re such a good man and I wish I could say yes. But finding myself has to be my priority.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Everyone has baggage,” he told her.

“Mine’s just heavier than most. Or at least too heavy for me at the moment.”

“And there’s nothing I can do to stop you?”

She shook her head. “Just don’t think this is easy for me.” Her voice caught in her throat.

And her lips, mere inches from his, were so close to kissing him and letting him change her mind. Which was why she leaned forward and brushed her mouth over his quickly. Then she stepped back before he could react.

He ran a thumb over his bottom lip. “Good luck, Molly. I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”

So did she, because she couldn’t feel any worse than she did right now.

LACEY LEFT Ty visiting with his mother who was due to be released in another day or so. Because Lacey had a guard following her, Ty hadn’t questioned her when she’d gone for a walk. She just hadn’t mentioned that her goal was a heart-to-heart with her uncle Marc.

Lacey found him sitting in a wheelchair in the solarium, an all-glass room donated to the hospital by a wealthy patron.

“Are you feeling up to a talk?” she asked, waiting in the doorway. Although she knew he wasn’t the one who’d tried to kill her, she still wasn’t comfortable being alone with him.

He glanced up, obviously surprised to see her. “I’m fine and until the nurses decide to take me back to my room, I’m enjoying the view. Please come join me.”

She stepped inside, careful to sit in a chair by the door. Silly, since she was in an open room with a view. He couldn’t hurt her, not that he’d want to. She just had a difficult time believing it.

“What did you want to talk about?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I’m not really sure. I guess I needed to say thank you for trying to warn me about Paul Dunne.”

Uncle Marc shook his head. “If it weren’t for me, none of this would have been set in motion in the first place. Paul has a gambling problem. I have a drinking problem.” Uncle Marc adjusted the blanket on his lap as he spoke. “I did things that if not illegal, were unethical and immoral to say the least. He’d rather I inherit than you because he thought he could blackmail me and keep me from informing the police about the embezzlement. You, on the other hand, would have turned him in. He wanted you dead and he wanted me to kill you.”

He repeated the same things he’d said to the police, but Lilly had been so overwhelmed at the time, she hadn’t processed it all. She appreciated hearing it again.

“So he shot you because you refused to kill me.” She nearly choked over the word.

“And because he believed I was about to warn you. He was right.”

She glanced down at her trembling hands. “When will they let you go home?”

“Possibly tomorrow but don’t worry. Once I have the strength to pack, I’ll move out of your house. I called my brother and asked if I could move in with him for a while.”

Lacey opened her mouth, then closed it again. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she’d be inheriting not just the money but her childhood home. Paul Dunne had told her as much during their meeting. She’d just never let herself think about the fact.

Now that she was forced to face the truth, she realized something important. “I don’t want the house,” she said, the words coming out before she could stop them.

“Your parents would want you to have it.”

“I want you to stay there. It’s your home, not mine.”

He wheeled his chair closer to her. “That’s awfully generous.”

Lacey wasn’t sure she’d call it an act of generosity. It was more like one of necessity. When she’d attended his engagement party, she’d shut the door on that part of her life.

“It’s not part of who I am anymore and you’ve lived there for so long, I can’t see any reason for you to move.”

“Well, I have one. I can’t afford the house anymore.”

“Uncle Marc…”

“Please. I’m not trying to make you feel bad. It’s just a fact. And you know for the first time I do believe I’ll survive.” He shook his head and laughed, then winced in pain.

“This isn’t a pity party, you know. It’s called moving on in life.”

Lacey rose from her seat. “I don’t know what’s left of the trust fund but doesn’t it cover the house?”

“If you’re living in it, then yes. It’s your money, Lacey. Starting soon.”

She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. She didn’t know what the future held, but she did know she had very little left in the way of family beyond Uncle Marc. Although the man had been the cause of her childhood trauma, he may well have just saved her life. She didn’t know if they could ever have a relationship, but as gestures went, he’d made a start.

She raised her gaze to meet his. “You can stay in the house,” she said. “As I said, it’s your home, not mine. Whatever basics the trust has always covered, well that can continue as far as I’m concerned. I’m sure my parents would want it that way.”

“I doubt it after all I’ve done to you.” His gaze shifted out the window, his embarrassment and humiliation clear.

“Actually I think my father would be grateful you saved my life, so let’s just start from here, okay? From where I stand, you don’t have any more family than I do.”

He blinked. “Your parents would be proud of the woman you’ve become,” he said. “Through none of my actions, that much is for sure.”

She thought his eyes were moist but she couldn’t be sure. Before she could reply, a knock at the door startled her. She turned to see Ty and the chief of police standing in the entry to the solarium.

“We didn’t want to interrupt, but I’m glad you’re both here,” the chief said.

Beside him, Ty scowled but said nothing.

Lacey felt sure he’d overheard at least part of her conversation with her uncle and didn’t approve, but the money was hers to spend as she wanted. Or it would be soon.

“What’s going on?” Marc asked.

“Paul Dunne was arrested at the airport before he could board a flight to South America.” Don’s grin told a story of his own. The man was obviously pleased they had caught their suspect. “You’re now both safe. You can relax and things can go back to normal,” he said.

“Whatever that is,” Ty said as he shook the man’s hand and thanked him for his hard work.

Lacey studied the man she knew she loved. However would she handle what had to come next? She could no longer avoid returning home to New York, but was that what she really wanted?

They walked out of the hospital and headed for Ty’s car. A cool breeze blew around them and the sun shone bright in the sky.

Avoidance and procrastination. Two things Lacey had never considered herself an expert in before now. She had a business waiting for her in New York but she couldn’t bring herself to bring up the subject and tell Ty she had to leave.

He knew, of course. Her leaving was like the pink elephant trailing behind them. The more they avoided talking about it, the larger it loomed. But now that the reasons for her return had been resolved, she couldn’t avoid her responsibilities back home any longer.

He paused by the car, leaning against the passenger side door. He studied her with those intense eyes and she couldn’t tell what he was really thinking.

“My apartment’s been cleaned. I can move back in anytime,” he said, obviously choosing a safe topic of conversation.

“Why do I hear a ‘but’ there?” she asked.

He laughed. “You know me so well. But I thought I’d stay at Mom’s for a while at least until she’s back on her feet.”

“I think that’s a really good idea.” Not only for his mother, Lacey thought. Now that she had her opening, she drew a deep breath and dove right in. “It’ll be easier for you when I-”

“Leave?” he asked.

She exhaled hard. “Yes. With things here resolved…” she trailed off, knowing she and Ty were anything but resolved. “What I meant was with my uncle no longer an issue, I can return to New York.”

“I notice you didn’t say return home.” He folded his arms across his chest, looking smug even for Ty.

She stepped closer. “It’s where I live. It’s where my business is.” The problem for Lacey remained though. Ty was where her heart was.

“Okay then.” He nodded, his easy agreement taking her off guard.

She blinked. “Just like that? You’re going to wave goodbye and say have a nice life?”

“It sounded to me like that’s what you wanted.” Already, he’d erected an invisible wall of self-protection.

“I don’t know what I want,” she said, not bothering to disguise her frustration. “Maybe you could split me in two. That would be a nice easy resolution.” She could run her business and live life in New York while a part of her remained here with Ty. Upset and confused, she ran a hand through her hair, tugging at the windblown strands.

Ty grabbed her hand and lowered it to her side, never letting go. “You need to go back to New York. You need to live your life and with distance, maybe then you can decide what you want. I can’t do that for you,” he said in a gruff voice.

He was right, something she’d sensed deep down in her heart. She forced a smile and squeezed his hand tighter. “I lived for ten years on my own. I defined myself by my business. After a short time back here, I barely gave my old life a thought. I don’t understand how that could have happened.”

And it scared her, especially since most of what remained in Hawken’s Cove was a host of bad memories. Not that she could discount the good ones, but the past still held on tight, choking her.

“Which is exactly why you should go back. It’s what you planned to do. It’s what you need to do.”

Lacey swallowed hard. “You’re right. I do need to go home.”

Everything that had happened since Ty had shown up on her doorstep had occurred too fast for her to process. She needed time away from here so she could think clearly. She just wished she didn’t have to leave Ty to do it.

“I can drive you back after my mother is released from the hospital,” he offered.

She shook her head. “Thanks, but I can rent a car and drive home myself.”

“You’ve obviously thought this through,” he said, his words sounding like an accusation.

“Not really. I just don’t want to be a burden and driving three hours back and forth to Manhattan is a hassle you don’t need right now.” She turned away so he wouldn’t see the tears forming in her eyes.

She might have to leave, she might understand her reasons for doing so, but that didn’t make it any easier to do. “It’s still early in the day. I can take care of the car and still spend some time with your mother before I leave. I want to see Hunter and Molly, too.”

“Actually Molly’s gone.”

His words took her by surprise.

“Hunter called earlier to tell me she packed up and left.” Ty unlocked the car doors and held hers open for her.

“Just like that?” Lilly asked. Stunned, she turned back around. “Didn’t Molly have her law practice here? Her mother?Her life?”

Ty shrugged. “It seems her mother took off, as well. There’s a lot of leaving going on,” he said, wryly.

Lacey knew he wasn’t as cavalier about the subject as he sounded. “Poor Hunter,” she murmured and climbed into the car.

Ty shut her door without responding. He’d had to bite his tongue not to remind Lilly that Hunter would have Ty to keep him company soon. He didn’t want to come off sounding pathetic in any way.

He’d held on to his sanity by a thread as he and Lilly walked out of the solarium, her words to her uncle ringing in his ear. Giving her parents’ home to her only relative didn’t bode well for Ty’s hopes that she’d developed ties to her hometown. Ties to him.

Although he’d only heard part of the conversation and he knew nothing she’d said to Dumont took her feelings for Ty into account, his gut had been churning ever since. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t push her for answers until the threat to her life was over.

Now that the time had come, he couldn’t bring himself to push her at all. Once before, Lilly had chosen not to come back and he couldn’t just forget how easily she’d put him in the past and left him there. If he hadn’t shown up and begged her to reclaim her trust fund, she’d still be living her life in New York, without him.

So if Lilly wanted to leave again now, far be it from him to stand in her way. No promises had been exchanged and he was glad he’d reminded himself of this possibility all along.

Not that knowing made the inevitable any easier to handle, he thought. But he’d survive without Lilly. Just as he’d done once before.