SHE’D never seen a man move so fast. Ever.
Even the vacuum cleaner seemed to be huffing and puffing by the time Blake stopped his jerky movements. In less than an hour he’d swept the floors, dusted, straightened the living room and bedroom, and washed a tower of dirty dishes.
Molly looked at what she’d accomplished: making two twin beds and cleaning two bathrooms. She felt like a slug.
He peered around the corner, catching her emptying the trashcan. “Ready?”
That was the third time he’d asked the same question. “What’s the big hurry?”
“Just thought you were anxious to see the rental house. At this rate we won’t make it before dark.”
Her brows went up. “It’s not even one yet. Do you have somewhere you need to be?”
He froze, then said, “No. But you can never tell what the weather here is going to do.”
“True.” She had experienced that firsthand.
Going back into the living room, she checked on Jed. His eyes opened when she touched his forehead, although it was hard to believe he’d been able to sleep with the way Blake had been slinging things around. “Can I fix you a sandwich? I noticed there’s some lunchmeat in the fridge.”
Blake, who’d followed her into the room, groaned. Out loud! She sent him a quick glare. What was wrong with the man?
Her patient shrugged. “My sister should be around pretty soon. She’ll slap something together for me.”
“Why don’t you call and let her know you’ve already eaten? She could probably use a little down time. I’ll leave something in the fridge for the girls as well.”
Jed shifted on the couch. “I don’t want to put you out, Doc. Blake’s right. You’ve got other things to do.”
“That’s all right. Blake’s going to help me get those sandwiches ready. In the kitchen.” She sent him a pointed glance. “We’ll be right back.”
When it didn’t look like he was going to follow her, she grabbed the hem of his shirt and dragged him with her. Once they turned the corner she released her hold and whipped around to face him. “Like I said, if you have somewhere else you need to be, don’t let me stop you. I can call a cab and make it to the house on my own.”
“I don’t have anywhere to be. You heard Sammi. I have the whole day off.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Then what’s with all the little impatient sounds?”
“I haven’t been making…”
Her hands went to her hips, cutting off his denial. Dull color crept up his neck.
Molly opened the fridge and pulled out a pack of lunchmeat and cheese. “You want to make some coffee while I do this?”
He paused, then took a step closer, taking the packages out of her hand and placing them on the counter. “I always seem to make a fool of myself when you’re around, don’t I?”
“Not always.” She softened the words with a smile. “My dad said you have to be careful about using absolutes.”
And although she held onto the smile, it faded away inside. Her mother had often used those exact things when throwing accusations at him.
You always…You never…Why don’t you ever…?
Her father had often caught her mother by the shoulders when she’d been in one of her moods and looked into her face. Be careful with those absolutes, Hannah. More often than not, his words had stopped her mother in her tracks. At least until the year before he’d died. Then he’d grown more distant and his absences longer, according to her mother.
“Come again?” Blake’s question brought her back.
“Nothing.” A warning tingle hovered behind her eyes. Tears.
She missed her father terribly all of a sudden. Turning quickly, she made her way over to the breadbox and peered inside, using those precious seconds to will away the moisture.
A hand covered hers, closing the box before tugging her around to face him. His eyes roamed her face, a frown settling between his brows.
“Hey. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She shook her head, unable to answer.
Still wrapped around her wrist, his fingers tightened a fraction. He pulled her against his chest just as the first hot tear overflowed her eyelids before being absorbed into his shirt.
“Shh.” His hand slid over her back. “I’m sorry, Molly.”
She tried to shake her head and let him know this wasn’t about him, but he just pressed her closer. Taking a deep shuddering breath, she tilted her head back and glanced up at him. “It’s not you. I—I just…” The words wouldn’t come. She swallowed and tried again. “I wish he hadn’t…”
Comprehension dawned in his eyes. “Your dad?”
She nodded, grateful she didn’t need to say anything more.
His index finger teased a strand of hair off her temple before trailing down her cheek. “I know. I miss him too.”
Something welled in her chest. The need for the comfort of a fellow human being, surely. Yes, there was that, but something else hummed along beside it as his warm touch moved to her jaw and stroked gently, leaving prickles of sensation in its wake.
“I’m sorry for blubbering all over you.”
“It’s okay.” His fingers slowed as something in his gaze changed, heated. Her breath caught.
The hand at her jaw moved back, curving around her nape, his thumb settling against the underside of her chin. He used it to apply gentle pressure to tilt her head farther back.
His gaze settled on her mouth. Oh, man, was he going to kiss her?
Unable to stop herself, she licked her suddenly parched lips.
“Molly.” The word was whispered. A statement, not a question, but she heard the request nonetheless.
She opened her mouth to answer when a voice came from the other room. “You two okay out there?”
Blake stepped back as if shot in the chest, his hand falling away from her face. He looked toward the doorway, clearing his voice. “We’re fine. Just getting things together.”
It was going to take a few seconds to do just that: get herself together.
What was she thinking? This was crazy. She needed to stop this before it was too late.
Rather than attempt to speak, she gathered the rest of the sandwich makings in silence, not daring to look at him.
He must have been doing the same thing because she heard the sound of water hitting the bottom of some kind of receptacle. A minute or two later the scent of fresh coffee drifted by her nose as she sliced the roast-beef sandwiches she’d made into diagonal halves.
Rummaging through the refrigerator, she was glad to find a supply of fresh-looking apples in the fruit bin. His sister’s work, probably. She took a couple out and cut them into slices, putting some of them on the plate with Jed’s sandwich. She tossed the rest of the slices with a bit of lemon water to keep them from turning brown and put the bowl in the refrigerator for the girls. “How do you like your coffee, Jed?” she called.
“Black and strong.”
She glanced in Blake’s direction and found him looking back at her. He held up a mug, indicating it was ready.
“Let me see if I can find a tray,” she said.
Behind the cabinet doors she found nothing but a motley array of dishes, as well as pots and pans.
“I saw a set of TV trays in the front room. If you’ll carry his plate and a napkin, I’ll take in the mug and the coffeepot.”
Once they got to the living room, Molly handed Jed the plate and set a metal tray on its feet in front of the couch. “Do you want me to turn on the news?”
“Thanks.” He pulled himself a bit more upright, and she bunched the pillow behind him to support his back while Blake set down coffee.
“Why don’t you two at least join me for coffee?”
The same impatient look he’d worn earlier slid across Blake’s face, but at least there were no accompanying vocalizations to go along with it.
He doesn’t want to stay. But why? Does he have something against Jed?
Or was it because of what had just happened between the two of them in the kitchen?
Whatever the reason, she didn’t want to push her luck—or her self-control—any further.
“Coffee sounds great, but Sammi found a rental house I need to look at. I did leave some sandwiches and apple slices in the refrigerator for the girls.”
The furrows between Blake’s eyes disappeared instantly. So it wasn’t her imagination.
Jed’s glance went from her to Blake. “Thanks for everything you’ve done.”
“You just work on getting better.” Molly forced herself to smile at him, trying to forget that Blake would be the one taking her to see that rental house. Soft wings fluttered across her tummy. She and Blake alone? Without Jed or anyone else to interrupt them?
Oh, Lord, why did that prospect excite her?
Get a grip, Molly. Who said Blake was looking for anything? She certainly wasn’t. She might have even misread his intentions a few minutes ago.
Jed, totally unaware of the thoughts whirling around her head, picked up the sandwich and took a bite. His eyes shut for a second and he gave a low grunt of approval as he savored the bite. “Roast beef with horseradish sauce. How did you know?”
She laughed, glad to be pulled back to the present. “Easy. No one has a half-empty jar of it in their fridge—especially when the expiration date is still ages away—unless they really like it.” She gave him a wink. “I should know. I use the very same brand.”
When Blake’s glance jerked from the sandwich and landed on her, she cocked her head. “What’s wrong, flyboy? You prefer something with a little less kick?”
“If by kick you mean having my tonsils shoved through the back of my throat, the answer is yes.” His eyes narrowed in on her mouth. “Other than that, I like plenty of spice.”
His words gave that scene in the kitchen a whole new meaning.
She swallowed, trying to bring some moisture to her suddenly dry throat. “If you’ve got everything you need, Jed, I’m going to take off. You’ll be okay?”
Still chewing, and looking as if he could float away at any minute, he gave an I’ll-be-fine wave of his hand.
On the way to the door Molly turned toward him one last time. “Don’t forget your meds. And I’ve left my card on the table. Call my cell if you need me.”
At his nod she stepped outside, Blake right on her heels.
He glanced at his watch for the umpteenth time just as a car pulled up in the driveway. Molly thought he swore under his breath when the girls piled out of it, rushing toward her, followed by Mark.
She threw him a funny look before the girls reached her, then she knelt down to embrace each of them. “Hi, you guys! How was school?”
“Great. We got out early because the teachers are making plans.”
She laughed. “They are, huh?”
The younger one giggled. “Are you coming to visit Daddy?”
“I already did. I left you some lunch in the refrigerator. Sandwiches and apple slices.” She glanced up at Mark. “Would you mind getting the food out for them once you go inside?”
“I’d be happy to.” He reached down a hand to help her up. “I’m glad you’re back,” he murmured.
She smiled, removing her hand from his. “It’s definitely good to be back on solid ground.”
Mark glanced at Blake, who hadn’t said a word. “This guy hasn’t been trying any funny stuff, has he?”
“Excuse me?” Shock rolled through her. Had he seen something in her face?
“He likes to pretend he’s a stunt pilot from time to time, waving his wings and stuff like that.”
“O-oh, no. Nothing like that.” Along with a sense of relief came surprise. She couldn’t imagine Blake, who’d proved himself to be anything but Evel Knievel-like when in the air, pulling anything crazy. Knowing how her father died, maybe he was being extra-careful when she was on the plane. Although he didn’t always play it safe, according to Mark.
A shiver went over her.
If anything, that should make her more resolute than ever. Stick to being on a professional footing with Blake, both in the air and on the ground.
As if he’d heard her thoughts, Blake finally spoke up. “Don’t you need to get inside? I’m sure Jed’s wondering where the girls are.”
Mark answered with a lift of his brows before shifting his attention back to Molly. “What are your plans for the next couple of days?”
“I don’t know. I’m looking at a house to rent this afternoon, then tomorrow I start at the clinic.”
“Sammi doesn’t waste any time, does she?” There was a slight edge to Mark’s voice that he covered with a smile. “In that case, I need to ask while I have the chance. Are you doing anything for dinner, or has this guy monopolized all your free time?” He hooked a thumb in Blake’s direction.
She blinked in surprise. Blake had mentioned he might ask her out.
Opening her mouth to refuse, she stopped short. What better way to get it through her own thick skull that she wasn’t interested in a serious relationship?
Mark is kind of a ladies’ man. Blake’s words came back to her. If that was true, she didn’t have to worry about him taking things too seriously. They could go out and have a good time. No strings attached. And Blake would know she wasn’t looking to him to entertain her…in any way. “I don’t have plans.”
Blake shifted beside her, but she didn’t look his way. The girls were starting to get impatient as well, grabbing at Mark’s hand and trying to pull him toward the front door of the house.
“Great. How about a quick dinner then I can show you what Unalaska has to offer?”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll pick you up, say, at seven?” He allowed himself to be dragged away, calling over his shoulder, “Where are you staying?”
“At the UniSea.”
“See you there.”
With that, the trio disappeared through the door of the house, leaving her alone with Blake. When she finally dared to look his way, his face was blank, not a hint of emotion crossing it. Disappointment filtered through her.
Guess you didn’t need to get your point across after all, Molly. The man isn’t interested.
* * *
“Do you have the address?”
“Somewhere.” Molly fished around in her purse, until she found the envelope with the key. The address was typed across the top. “118 North Wharf Drive.”
“I know where the street is. It’s not too far from here.”
Neither one of them mentioned what had happened at Jed’s house or Mark’s dinner invitation. Maybe it was better this way.
Heat crawled over her face. And yet if Blake had kissed her back at Jed’s she wouldn’t have turned away. How could she have faced him after that?
Thank God none of it had happened. And by accepting Mark’s invitation, she’d made sure it never would.
“The street should be right around…”
Molly spotted the sign. “There. Off to your right.”
“I see it.” He made the turn into a modest residential area, the clapboard houses adorned in a wide array of pastel colors. “What was the number again?”
“One-eighteen.” Her eyes scoured the buildings. “The even numbers are on the right.”
“Three hundred block, so we’re close.”
“There. The light blue house.”
Pulling into the gravel driveway, she noted the “For Rent” sign pushed into grass that was just starting to turn brown. Blake made a strangled sound.
“What’s wrong?” Her voice drifted away as she stared at the front of the house. Sammi had said the outside needed a little work, but she didn’t notice any of that. She couldn’t. Her eyes refused to budge from the words stenciled in bold black letters across the left portion of the building.
SCENTS OF PLEASURE: AROMATHERAPY AND MASSAGE OILS.