He nodded. "And I'll be doing a lot of redirecting, because my managers at the other shops--and staff at this one--are used to bringing every problem to me. I want that to change."
"Right. Unless it's a question about which carburetor goes in an '03 Tahoe. I don't know the answer to that one. Not off the top of my head, anyway."
"If anyone comes to either of us with that question, they're fired."
She laughed. "Noted."
He picked up his phone. "It's five thirty. Go ahead and take off. I'm sure you'd like to get home and check on your mom."
"I called her several times today. After the fourth phone call, she said I was annoying her."
He cracked a smile. "Is that right? That must mean she's doing well on her own."
"I think she's been dying for me to get out of the house so she can gain back a little of her independence. I can't say I blame her."
"Well, you are a free spirit. So is she. I'm sure you can appreciate how difficult it would be to have someone watching you like a hawk, babysitting your every move."
"I'd hate it. I know she does. In fact, she insisted on making dinner tonight. It's the first time since her accident. I hope she doesn't overdo it."
"I'm sure she won't."
Molly stood. "I'm going to head on out. Thanks for a great first day, and for the job. It's actually been really nice to work again."
"You're welcome. Thanks for offering to help out."
"You have a good company here, Carter. With my help, it'll be even better. I can't wait to dig in."
"So I'll . . . see you tomorrow?"
"Sure. See you tomorrow."
At home, everything was as normal as it could be. Her mom was excited to put dinner on the table, and seemed to be full of energy. She told Molly and her dad that she'd wandered around the house, gotten her exercise, and rested when she was tired. She hadn't overdone, and she felt good.
Molly was relieved.
After dinner, Molly went to her room and went over the notes she'd taken during the day, thinking about some of the upgrades she'd like to make. She wanted to ask Carter a few questions, but didn't want to call him.
Work time was for work and calling him at night was . . .
Something she wouldn't do if it was work related.
Their relationship was in flux right now, and that was her doing. That night a couple of weeks ago they'd been snuggling on the sofa, she'd felt comfortable. A little too comfortable, too familiar, which had dragged her back to the past, a place she never liked going.
The feelings had overwhelmed her. But they hadn't just been feelings from the past. It was the feelings she had now that had caused her to panic, made her pull back from him.
Since then, she'd missed him. Seeing him today, working with him today, but unable to touch him, kiss him, or do anything about the emotional pull she always felt when she was around him somehow felt unnatural to her.
She knew she had to do it to maintain a level of professionalism at work, but she didn't have to put him in that no touch, no contact zone after work.
She picked up the phone, and on impulse, punched his number.
He picked up on the second ring. "Hey, Molly."
"Hi, Carter. What are you doing?"
"Watching some TV."
"What? Not tearing up a room?"
He laughed. "Nah. A new employee started at work today, and she wore me out. I have nothing left to give to the poor house."
She rolled her eyes. "I hardly think so."
"So what's up?"
Now that she'd called him, she didn't have a plan formulated for what she was going to say. So she was just going to have to go with her gut. "I was wondering if you wanted to go do something."
"What? You aren't tired of me?"
"Shockingly, no."
"That new action movie came out last weekend. It even has romance in it. You wanna go see it?"
She relaxed her shoulders, relieved he'd made it so easy on her. "I'd love to."
"Hang on a second. Let me check my phone."
She waited.
"There's a showing at nine. Is that too late for you?"
"No, that works. How about you pick me up about eight thirty?"
"That'll work. I'll see you then."
She took a shower, did her hair and makeup, then got dressed and went downstairs. Her parents were playing a board game at the dining room table, and she smiled at seeing her mother up and about again.
Her dad looked up from the game. "You look pretty."
She looked down at her jeans and sweater, happy that he noticed.
"Thanks. I'm going to a movie."
"With Carter?" her mother asked, with the kind of smile only a woman would give you when she knew you had a date.
"Yes, Mom. With Carter."
She distracted them both by talking about the game they were playing, so she didn't have to endure questions about her relationship with Carter. She'd filled them in over dinner about her workday, but fortunately they'd left the questions business related, which had suited her just fine.
Technically, she could leave Hope. Her mother was fine, her dad more than capable of taking care of her now, with Emma helping out by looking in on her.
But now she had a new job, and maybe she'd give that job a chance.
Which didn't mean she was staying, nor that she had any intention of falling in love with Carter all over again.
Though her heart skipped a beat when she heard him drive up.
She kissed her parents goodbye and went outside where Carter was waiting for her in the driveway. She slid into the passenger seat of his car.
"I was going to come in and say hi to your parents."
"Not necessary, and we don't want to be late for the movie."
"Okay."
He shifted into reverse, and headed down the driveway.
Molly inhaled. She had no idea what he wore--aftershave, maybe, or his soap--but she loved the way he smelled. All she wanted to do right now was bury her face in his neck--maybe her tongue, as well.
"Are you all right?" he asked as he drove down the main highway toward the movie theater.
"Fine," she said, shifting her gaze to him. "Why?"
"You made a sound. Like a groan. Or a moan."
"Did I?" She pulled her mirror out of her purse and checked her lip gloss, smiling at herself.
They got to the movie theater, bought their tickets and purchased a couple of sodas and some popcorn, then grabbed seats. Since it was a Monday night in a small town, the theater wasn't crowded, which was perfect.
"I'm glad you called me," Carter said as they watched previews of upcoming movies.
"I'm glad you suggested a movie. I've actually been looking forward to seeing this one. I've kind of got a thing for Channing Tatum."
Carter arched a brow. "Is that right? Now I'm going to have to watch you closely during the movie."
"For what?"
"Drool."
She laughed. "I think I can control myself with Channing, if you can behave yourself around Mila Kunis."
"I'll try my best. No guarantees. Me and Mila go way back. We're like this." He crossed his fingers.
"So . . . there's another woman."
His lips curved and he put his arm around her. "No one but you, babe."
His words made her tingle. They shouldn't, but they did.
The movie started, and Molly settled in to enjoy the action. But she couldn't help but be distracted by the fact this was the first movie they'd been to together since they were teenagers. Back then, they'd hide in the back, hold hands, and steal kisses.
Now, though, they sat in the middle for a good view, though once they finished their popcorn, Carter grasped her hand.
Some things changed. Some didn't. She was satisfied with that.
The movie was great. Action filled, with a lot of tension and nail-biting scenes where she clenched Carter's hand, hoping the characters would come out of it alive. For a while, she
wasn't certain. Finally, right near the end of the movie, she released her breath as the characters made their escape.
And the romance at the end was swoon-worthy, the hero making such a huge gesture to the heroine. The heroine kicked butt as well. She loved this kind of film. She was pumped and excited as the lights came up.
"What did you think?" she asked Carter as they stood and excited the theater.
"It was good."
"That's it? Just good?"
He shrugged as he tossed the empty popcorn bucket and drink cup in the trash. "Yeah. Good."
She shook her head. "I thought it was fantastic. That scene when they were dangling out of the helicopter--oh, my God. My heart was in my throat the entire time. And when she had to shoot right over his head. If he hadn't ducked a quarter of an inch, she would have grazed him. It was like they had telepathy."
"Uh-huh. Yeah, that part was good."
She slid into the car. "Good. That's all you're going to say about the movie."
"I'll leave the superlatives to the critics."
"You're no fun to go to the movies with. Next time I'm going with Emma, Jane, and Chelsea."
He turned to her. "I like action movies. They hold my interest. But I'm not much for dissecting."
Now she remembered this about him. She'd come out of the movie theater having loved or hated a film and wanting to spend the next half hour discussing it, while he either said he liked it or didn't like it, and that was the end of it. She remembered it drove her crazy.
So disappointing, but she couldn't change that about him.
At least he'd held her hand.
When he drove her home, she was even more disappointed.
"What? No hot sex at your place?"
"Sorry, Miss Burnett, but it's a school night. And it's already late."
She laughed. "I can't believe you're giving me a curfew."
"This is what happens when you're dating the boss. I have a big day planned for you tomorrow, and you need your sleep."
She unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed the door handle. "You are no fun, Mr. Richards."
"Wanna bet?"
He grasped her arm and tugged her toward him. Before she knew it, he'd hauled her onto his lap. His hands were in her hair--all over her actually, as he kissed her. A smoking-hot kiss that left no doubt he was as reluctant to let her go as she was to be let go.
It was like being struck by lightning, this feeling she got whenever he kissed her. He had been the first boy to give her this feeling, and no boy, or man, since, had ever made her feel the same way.
When he let her go, she lifted away only a few inches, both of them breathing hard.
"You sure about that smoking-hot sex thing?" she asked.
He rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip. "Am I sure? Hell no. I think you can feel that. But if I take you home with me, Molly, neither of us will get any sleep tonight."
Damn. Mental visuals of that would keep her up tonight. "All right." She climbed off of him and grabbed her purse. She looked over at him and his delicious erection.
"Last chance," she said.
He cocked his head to the side. "Don't tempt me."
Clearly he was the only one practicing restraint tonight, because she had none. "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night, Molly."
She got out of the car and watched him drive away.
She could deny a lot of things about what was going on between her and Carter.
But the chemistry between them? That was undeniable.
She took a deep, shuddering breath, then walked into the house.
CARTER PULLED INTO the garage, parked Rhonda, then got out, straightening his jeans as he did.
His erection still hadn't gone away and it was goddamned uncomfortable.
He had no idea why he'd decided to play the martyr tonight and take Molly home. She'd looked gorgeous in skintight jeans that showcased her fine ass. Her lips had been glossed and kissable, and all he'd thought about during the movie was putting his hands and mouth on her.
Instead, he'd taken her home. And then he'd hauled her onto his lap and kissed the hell out of her, making both of them hot and uncomfortable.
What kind of a glutton for punishment did that make him?
Now he was going to be hard all night, and no doubt lie awake and think about how she could have been in his bed, and the two of them could have gotten the release they both wanted.
He threw his keys on the kitchen counter and grabbed a beer, popped it open and downed a few quick swallows, hoping it would cool his libido.
He took a seat in the living room and turned on the television, flipping through channels as he drank his beer. By the time he'd emptied the can, he realized he was still thinking about Molly, and still wished she was here with him. She'd be naked--and so would he--and he could be tasting her, touching her, sinking inside her.
Fuck.
He got up, crunched the beer can in his hand, and tossed it in the trash.
Since it wasn't likely he was going to be sleeping anytime soon, he might as well do some paperwork, and maybe spend the next hour or so mentally cursing himself for being a moron.
The next time he had Molly on his lap, ready and willing, he wasn't going to be stupid and send her home.
Chapter 28
BETWEEN WORK, THE approaching holidays, and town square committee meetings doubling up because the project was almost finished, Molly had her hands full. Good thing she liked being busy.
After work tonight they'd meet with the town square committee, likely for the final time. She'd been buried in her laptop all day and Carter had been at one of his shops in Tulsa, so they hadn't had a chance to sit down and go over the agenda, but he promised he'd be back in time for them to have a discussion over dinner.
She picked up her phone. It was five thirty. She'd told her parents she'd likely go straight from work to dinner to the meeting so they shouldn't expect her home until late.
As it was, Carter was already running late since he'd told her he'd be back by four.
She busied herself for another ten minutes with setting up the new accounting system when she heard the front door open. She looked up to see him coming in.
He opened the door to her office, a grim look on his face.
"Bad day?" she asked.
"Jack Peterson gave his notice."
She leaned back in her chair. "That's not good. He's one of your most competent managers. Did he give a reason?"
"His wife's been wanting to move back to Minnesota, where her family lives, so her dad's offered him a job up there in St. Paul with the family business."
"Oh. Well, not much you can do about that."
"They're moving in a month, so at least that gives me time to find a replacement. And Jack said he knows someone that works at Best Auto in one of the Tulsa locations. He's currently an assistant manager and Jack says he's really good, so I'm going to give him a call and see if he can come in for an interview."
"At least you have a start."
"True. Anyway, I'm sorry I'm late. Jack and I spent a lot of time talking. He's not happy about this move, but his wife has been miserable living here. I think their relocating is a matter of saving the marriage. So I had to listen."
"Understood. It's not an easy situation for him, I can imagine."
"No, it's not. I got the idea that his wife issued an ultimatum that he either went with her, or she was going to take their three kids and move without him."
Molly frowned. "Ouch. That's ugly."
"Yeah."
"I hope they can work it out."
"Me, too. I hate losing him, but family has to be a person's number-one priority."
She couldn't imagine doing that to her as yet nonexistent husband. But she knew those kinds of relationships existed. "Would you do that for the woman you loved?"
He frowned. "Do what?"
"Leave Hope."
"Yes."
He didn't even hesitate. She wa
s surprised. "Really. You've built a business here, Carter. Your family is here. Everything you know."
He shrugged. "I can build a business anywhere. You don't just walk away from a relationship."
Which was exactly what she'd done. Only she hadn't walked. She'd run. She started to say something, but then he continued.
"Like Jack. He's got fifteen years invested in his marriage to Eileen. They have three children together. To him, it's more important to stay together as a family than fight over a job. Location? That's nothing."
"I suppose."
"I would think you'd see it his wife's way. Why does it matter where you live? You move around all the time."
"But I don't have children."
"That's true."
"I don't know. I think she emotionally blackmailed him into seeing things her way."
"We're not in their marriage, so it's hard for us, as outsiders, to judge."
She took a deep breath and let it out. "You're right. I'm sorry. I guess I feel bad for Jack, because he has to give up a job and a town he loves in order to keep his marriage together."
He stood. "You don't have to apologize to me. I guess he's content enough to do that because he loves his wife more, ya know?"
"You're right. It's a hard choice, no matter what."
Carter nodded. "I'm hungry. How about we grab a quick bite to eat at Bert's before the meeting?"
"Good idea."
A quick bite was right. Time was ticking, and as they ate they went over the agenda for the meeting. Molly barely had time to finish her soup and salad before they had to dash out the door.
She didn't mind being busy, but this was crazy busy. And she didn't even want to think about all the holiday shopping she had left to do, which meant she was going to be stuck braving the mall soon.
They were the last to arrive for the meeting.
"I was afraid you two were going to be no-shows tonight," Mavis said as they walked in and shed their coats.
"Wouldn't miss it," Carter said, rubbing his hands together.
The wind had picked up outside. It smelled like snow, and Molly couldn't wait. She'd bought new boots, though she worried about George--he wasn't equipped for winter weather.
One of these days she was going to have to buy a new car.
Not this year, though. And probably not next year. George was just going to have to suck it up and deal. They'd weathered a lot of winters together. She was sure--okay, more like hopeful--they'd make it through this one, too.