Molly unlocked the door. “That was fast….”
“Hey there.” Dan smiled drunkenly down at her.
“Go away!” Molly tried to shut the door.
Dan blocked it with his hand. “Moll’s, come on.”
“Come on, what?” She shoved her hands in her pockets.
“I want to talk to you.”
“Not in the mood.”
“But I miss you.”
“You miss me?” She fisted her hands in her pockets, her resolve scattering like ashes in the wind.
“I do.” He took a step forward.
“What the hell, Dan?” For once, she made herself hold her ground.
“I made a mistake.”
“What mistake might that be? That you dumped me for a tramp and now that she kicked you to the curb you are coming after me again?” She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Not this time.” The familiar tightening in her chest subsided a bit.
“But I’m sorry.”
She let out a self- deprecating laugh. She had heard his half-hearted apologies for two years. “You’re sorry?”
“I am…” He grabbed the belt of her robe and pulled her forward. “I love ...”
She shirked away from him. “Gross, Dan. Don’t even start that shit with me.”
“What the fuck, Molly? People make mistakes.”
“Yeah and from first-hand experience you seem to make them all the time where I am concerned.” She couldn’t believe she was actually standing up to him. And it felt good—really good.
“Moll’s….” He slouched against the doorframe.
“Don’t Moll’s, me.” She pushed against him but he didn’t move. “Go to bed, Dan.”
“Thanks.” He pushed past her, making his way to her bed.
“Don’t you dare!” She grabbed hold of the back of his shirt and steered him towards the door. “I meant for you to go to bed in your own room.”
“I can’t.”
God, he was getting on her nerves. “Why can’t you?”
“I lost my keycard,” he grumbled.
Molly tensed.
Seriously?
Now she knew why he was trying to be nice to her. He just wanted a place to crash.
Not going to happen.
“Here,” she said, pulling him towards the adjoining door to the connecting room. “Go this way.”
He looked at the door. “Is that my room?” He turned his glassy eyes on her.
“It is now.” She undid the lock and was relieved when the door opened for her.
Dan swayed on his feet. “Are you coming with me?”
“No.”
“God,” he complained. “You are such a bitch.”
“And you are a dick.” She grabbed his hand and dragged him forward through the opening.
Dan stumbled inside.
“So that makes us even.” She slammed the door in his face and locked it before he could say another word. Leaning back against the closed door, she took deep breaths, trying to calm down.
“I am such an idiot.” She was upset that she had almost believed him, again. Shaking her head, she shoved off the door and checked the mini bar for something to drink. There was a row of miniature bottles of Jack Daniels inside and even though she knew it would probably cost her ten dollars she didn’t even care. Breaking the seal, she unscrewed the lid and dumped the amber contents into a small glass on the dresser. The little paper attached to the bottom of the glass drifted absently to the carpet.
She had the glass halfway to her mouth when a knock sounded at the door, again.
Pissed, she slammed the glass back on the dresser and walked over to the door, jerking it open. “Now see here…” her words caught in her throat.
“Hey.”
Molly’s belly flipped at the sight of Lucian standing in her doorway. “Hey.”
“Can I come in?”
“Of course.” She opened the door wider.
Lucian pushed off the doorframe and stepped inside. He shoved his hands in his pockets as he looked around her room. “I wasn’t interrupting you, was I?”
“Not at all.”
He smiled as his eyes met hers again. “Good.”
“I thought you left.”
“No.” He shook his head and a piece of his hair fell forward over his brow.
Molly had a sudden urge to fix it.
“I passed out.” He gave her a sheepish look.
Relief washed over her at his admittance. “Oh.”
“Did you get the bouquet?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Sorry.”
“No biggy.” She crossed the room to the dresser and lifted up her drink, suddenly feeling parched. “You want a drink?”
“Sure.”
Bending over, Molly reached into the mini bar and grabbed out another miniature bottle of whiskey. “This good?” she asked.
“Perfect.”
Breaking the seal, Molly unscrewed the lid and poured the amber contents into another glass, repeating her earlier ritual.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Lucian took the proffered glass. “To us,” he said, lifting his glass in the air.
Molly picked up her glass and lifted it in the air as well. “To us,” she said smiling from ear to ear.
Lucian took a sip.
Molly took a sip too and then lowered her glass again. “You want to sit down?” She had jelly legs. And if she didn’t sit down soon she was afraid she might just fall down.
“Sure.” Lucian walked towards the bed and then stopped. He turned towards Molly. She looked so damn cute wrapped up in a white oversized robe with her damp hair curling around her face. He felt the familiar tightening in his loins at the sight, realizing just now that she was probably naked under that robe.
Molly swallowed hard. Was he going to sit on the bed? Was he going to ask her to sit on the bed with him? Feeling heated, she tugged on her robe, her mind straying to what she was doing on that bed just a short while ago and more importantly, who she was fantasizing about. And now he was here!
Lucian pulled at his collar and sat down in one of the overstuffed chairs near the fireplace. He wanted to do nothing more than climb into that big soft bed with Molly, pull her into his arms, explore what she had on under that robe, but he couldn’t. Not after he had sex with Tracy. That wouldn’t be fair to her or to him. And that thought alone made him realize something about himself. Maybe he wasn’t a lost cause after all. Maybe, just maybe, Lucian had some redeeming qualities after all. Maybe…