Daniel's Desire (11 page)

“Where are they sending you, Kendra? I don’t understand,” Joe said, his tone gentle.

When she remained stubbornly silent, Joe turned to Molly. “Do you know?”

Molly shook her head. “She refuses to say another word.”

Daniel regarded Joe with confusion. “I thought you were going to talk to her parents about this. What did they have to say?”

“I tried to talk to them, but they said going away couldn’t possibly be the problem, that Kendra had agreed to all the plans.”

Kendra said, her voice climbing, “They decided. They never asked me! They don’t want me at home, so why should I go back there when I could stay with somebody who does want me?” She turned to Molly. “It’s okay if I stay here forever, right? You want me.”

“Honey, I’d let you stay here in a heartbeat, but it’s not that simple,” Molly said.

“Please, you’ve got to let me stay,” Kendra pleaded. “I could help here, the way I have been, and I can go to school. I won’t be any trouble.”

Molly’s heart was breaking at Kendra’s increasing agitation. It was so plain that she didn’t want to be sent back to her family, but at the same time she cared enough about them not to want them to worry about her. None of it was making a bit of sense, not that thirteen-year-olds were known for the depths of their logic. Too many hormones and not nearly enough life experience.

Molly turned to Daniel. “What do I do?”

“It’s not up to you,” he said quietly.

Kendra regarded him with alarm. “You’re making me go back?”

“No,” he said very firmly, startling Molly and Joe. “Here’s what I think. Joe, you need to go and meet with the Morrows again. Get to the bottom of this. Tell them that without a straight answer, we’re going
into court to explore whether their custody needs to be challenged in Kendra’s best interests.”

“And what if they tell me they’re going to have my badge for not turning her over the second I found her?” Joe asked. “Dammit, Daniel, this limb you and I are on is starting to crack.”

“I’ll call your boss,” Daniel said. “I’ll make it very clear why we’ve handled it this way, that there are some serious questions about what’s going on between Kendra and her parents. I’m not saying they’re bad parents, just that we both saw that there’s an issue that requires some professional intervention.”

“Yeah, that and a million bucks might not be enough to keep me on the force,” Joe retorted.

Kendra’s lower lip quivered. “I’m sorry I’m causing so much trouble.”

Joe looked chagrined. “Kendra, it’s not your fault. This is what I do. It’s what Daniel does. I’d just like to know for sure that we’re on the side of the angels.”

“I think you are,” Molly said quietly.

Kendra smiled. “Me, too.”

Daniel grinned. “There you go, Joe. Two endorsements.”

“Too bad they’re not unbiased,” Joe said as he slid from the booth. “I’ll be in touch.” He feigned a scowl for Kendra’s benefit. “Don’t get lost.”

She shook her head and regarded him with a serious expression. “I’ll be right here.” She sketched a cross across her heart. “I promise.”

He nodded. “Good enough for me.”

As soon as he’d gone, Kendra turned to Molly. “Can I go in the kitchen with Retta?”

“Sure,” she said at once, sliding out to let Kendra out of the booth.

To Molly’s surprise, Kendra wrapped her arms around her waist. “Thanks. You’re the best.” She beamed at Daniel. “You, too.”

After she’d gone, Daniel gave Molly a brooding look. “That kid has a lot of people tied up in knots. I hope to hell we know what we’re doing where she’s concerned.”

“We do,” Molly said confidently.

His expression turned thoughtful. “What about us? Do we know what we’re doing about us?”

Molly shrugged. “Probably not.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

She grinned. “For now, I’m fine with the one-day-at-a-time approach. Can you live with it?”

“If I have to.”

“That’s the only choice I see,” she said, unwilling to commit to anything more, especially when Daniel was the one who was incapable of making the kind of commitment she might want at some time in the future.

“In that spirit, then, how about playing hooky with me this afternoon?” he asked.

Molly glanced worriedly toward the kitchen. “What about Kendra?”

“She’ll be fine with Retta.”

Molly knew he was right. In fact, it wasn’t really Kendra she was anxious about. She couldn’t help worrying about whether
she
would be fine with Daniel.

“I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do,” he said, a teasing glint in his eyes.

“That could leave a lot of room for flexibility,” she noted, thinking about just how badly she’d wanted to make love with him a few hours earlier.

His grin spread. “That’s what I’m hoping.”

“Okay, then. Let’s say I were to agree to go out with you this afternoon. Where are we going?”

“Now that’s the quandary, isn’t it? Your place is pretty much out of the question, given the likelihood of unexpected traffic. Mine’s a total mess.”

“You’re assuming that my agreement to play hooky requires privacy,” she teased. “Did I give you that impression? Maybe I just want to go someplace for a burger and a game of pool.”

He scoffed at that. “We could do that here. Retta makes a great burger, and the pool table’s not in use. I think we need to improve on that plan.”

“Steak, a glass of wine, maybe a chocolate mousse?”

“You’re getting warmer,” he said. “I hear they have excellent room service at the new inn on the outskirts of town.”

Molly considered the suggestion. She’d heard about that inn, seen pictures of it in the local paper. No question about it, it was an idyllic romantic hideaway.

“Have I met the owners?” she asked.

“I doubt it. They lived in Portland till they bought the property.”

“What about you? Do you know them?”

“Nope.”

“That ought to eliminate the gossip factor, especially if you pay cash and register under a phony name.” She grinned. “Sounds intriguing.”

“You just like living dangerously. I knew the whole sneaking around bit would appeal to you.”

She sobered at that. “It’s not that I’m ashamed of what we’re about to do, Daniel. It isn’t.”

He reached for her hand. “I know that. You just don’t want to answer a lot of prying questions.”

“Exactly, and there are bound to be a slew of them. From Retta. From your brother. Even from your folks. We’re not ready for that yet. I don’t even have all the answers for myself.”

He lifted her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “Maybe we can start to figure out a few of them this afternoon.”

“Maybe so.” She grinned, getting into the spirit of things. It had been a lot of years since she’d had to slip out of the house to avoid her grandfather’s questions about some boy. “Wait for me in the parking lot. I’ll sneak out in about five minutes.”

He laughed. “As if that’s going to keep Retta from suspecting a thing.”

“It’s worth a try,” she insisted. “Now go.”

After he’d gone, she slipped into the kitchen and casually picked up a sliver of carrot intended for the vegetable soup Retta was making for dinner. Kendra was dicing potatoes with total concentration.

“Everything okay in here?” Molly inquired.

“Doing fine,” Retta said, glancing up from the biscuits she was rolling out. “Daniel gone?”

“Uh-huh.” She picked up another sliver of carrot. “Do you need me in here? I thought I might go out for a while.”

“Kendra and I will be just fine,” Retta assured her. “You go on and do whatever you need to do.”

“I shouldn’t be too long,” Molly said. “A couple of hours, max.”

“No problem.”

“That’s okay with you, Kendra?”

The girl blinked as if she hadn’t even realized Molly was in the room. “What?”

“I’m going out.”

“Okay, whatever.”

Molly gave them a wave and headed for the door, convinced that no one was the wiser about her intentions. She was just congratulating herself on her subtlety, when Retta called out to her.

Molly glanced at her. “What?”

“I’m gonna want to hear
all
about that inn when you get back, you hear me?”

Molly regarded her evenly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Retta laughed. “We’ll talk about you fibbing to me, too. Now go on and have yourself some fun. It’s been a long time coming.”

“It has been, hasn’t it?” she said mostly to herself.

As for Retta and her ESP, Molly had known the woman her entire life. She should have realized she’d never be able to put anything over on her. Maybe it was for the best. Somehow it felt better going to meet Daniel and knowing that she had Retta’s blessing. She knew full well that it wasn’t something Retta was likely to give lightly, which meant she’d seen the same thing in Daniel that Molly had seen—a changed man, who was no longer afraid of love.

D
aniel watched Molly emerge from Jess’s, her cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkling with once-familiar excitement. How long had it been since he’d seen her in a carefree mood like this? Maybe she’d had happy times in the years since they’d split up, but he didn’t think so. Nothing he’d heard suggested that she’d allowed herself to do something or to go out with someone for the sheer enjoyment of it. He had apparently robbed her of the free-spirited joy she’d always found in trying the unexpected. It was one more regret he’d have to live with.

He turned on the engine as she climbed into the passenger seat and faced him with pure, uninhibited mischief in her eyes.

“What?” he asked.

“I got caught,” she said, grinning and sounding not the least bit repentant.

“Caught?”

“Retta’s on to us. She figured out what we’re up to.”

Daniel stared at her, not sure he was comprehending what she was telling him, especially since she didn’t seem particularly upset. To the contrary, she sounded like a kid on a lark. “Retta knows we’re going to the inn to sleep together?”

“She does,” Molly confirmed.

“How could she? She never heard a word we said. She was in the kitchen the whole time.”

“What can I tell you? She’s always had a sixth sense about these things.”

“Then I’m surprised she didn’t come charging into the parking lot with a meat cleaver,” he said, barely able to contain a shudder as he glanced worriedly into the rearview mirror, not entirely sure that he wouldn’t see Retta chasing after them, apron flapping, deadly cleaver in hand.

“Apparently she doesn’t disapprove,” Molly said.

He got it then. He understood why Molly looked so remarkably happy and at ease. “And that makes you feel a lot better about things, doesn’t it? I mean things between us.” He couldn’t hide his own relief, either. Retta’s approval meant everything to Molly, and a lot to him, as well.

She nodded. “I know it’s ridiculous at my age to care about anyone’s opinion, but I do. Retta was like a mother to me when I was growing up. She knows how badly you hurt me, so I know she doesn’t take our relationship starting up again lightly. More than that, she’s my one link to my grandfather. I guess it’s a little like having his blessing, too.”

“Then I can stop worrying about the meat cleaver?”

She grinned. “Unless you hurt me again.”

“Then I will definitely try not to do that,” he vowed. He glanced sideways at her. “Retta’s approval aside, are you okay with this? We don’t have to go to the inn. We could just go somewhere and talk. We haven’t had a lot of time to catch up. Most of our conversations have been about Kendra.”

She laughed. “I’m a modern woman, in case you haven’t noticed. I can multitask. I can talk and have sex at the same time.”

Daniel barely managed to bite back a smile. “Good to know. In fact, that’s excellent.”

Her expression suddenly sobered. “Daniel?”

“What?”

“Do you really think we can get it right this time?”

“We’re going to try like hell,” he told her. “Because this time losing you is not an option I can live with.”

Apparently satisfied by his declaration, she settled back against the seat and closed her eyes. A minute later she was asleep.

Daniel sighed. Apparently, exhaustion from her all-night fishing adventure had caught up with her. A nap would do her good. It was a forty-five-minute drive to the inn. As he recalled, Molly could revive pretty quickly after even a brief catnap. Given his own state of near exhaustion, he would be doing well to keep up with her, but he intended to give it one hell of a shot. He’d been waiting way too long for this chance not to give it his all.

The inn looked as if it had been around for a century or more. The owners had done a fabulous job of cre
ating a sprawling white clapboard country home that looked as though it had welcomed thousands of guests, even though its doors had been open only a few months.

Filled with guilty anticipation, Molly stood back while Daniel registered, then asked if it was possible to get room service at this hour. The young woman working behind the counter grinned.

“We’re always willing to see that our guests’ requests are met,” she assured Daniel. “There’s a menu in the room, or if there’s something special you’d like, our chef will do his best to accommodate you.”

“Two steaks, medium, a bottle of champagne and chocolate mousse,” he said at once. “Is that possible?”

“Absolutely.”

He turned to Molly, winked, then turned back to the counter. “Extra whipped cream?”

Molly nearly groaned aloud. She could feel the heat climbing into her cheeks, but the young woman didn’t bat an eye.

“Not a problem,” she said. “Will a half hour be okay?”

Daniel caught Molly’s gaze again, held it, then said, “You’d better make it an hour.”

The young woman remained completely unflustered. “Certainly, sir. Shall I have someone show you to your room?”

Daniel glanced at the key. “Third floor,” he said. “Elevator’s right there. I think we can find it.”

“Then enjoy your stay. If there’s anything else you need, call the front desk. My name’s Colleen.”

“Thank you, Colleen. I’m sure we will,” Daniel
said as he turned toward the elevator, suddenly being discreet enough to keep his hands to himself as Molly preceded him inside.

When the doors were closed, she poked him in the arm. “Tell the world, why don’t you?”

“Tell the world what?” he asked innocently.

“That we’re here for a secret assignation.”

He laughed. “I thought we were here for sex and a nice lunch.”

“I’m rethinking the sex part,” she said, though even she could tell the claim was a little too halfhearted to be taken seriously.

“Bet I can change your mind,” he said, already reaching for her.

“Daniel.” The whispered protest died on her lips when he backed her against the wall of the elevator and brought his mouth down on hers in a kiss that could have convinced a saint to sin. She was vaguely aware of the elevator doors opening and closing, but the heat from Daniel’s body managed to fog her brain. He was hard against her, ready for that sex she’d insisted she was going to deny him. And the truth of it was that she was every bit as ready as he was.

She’d missed this—the feel of his mouth on hers, the way her body molded to his, his woodsy, masculine scent, the sandpaper texture of his cheeks within hours of shaving. She’d been a tomboy as a kid, and she’d missed feeling surprisingly small and feminine next to his more powerful build.

It felt so damned good to lose herself on a sea of sensations, to be swept away to a place beyond thought.

This time, though, the sound of the elevator doors opening and closing was accompanied by a shocked
gasp. Molly’s eyes flew open to encounter the startled look of an elderly woman whose pursed lips suggested she was not amused by their behavior. Molly nudged Daniel and tried to extricate herself from his embrace.

“Sorry,” she murmured, totally chagrined.

Daniel finally caught on. He recovered quickly. By the time he turned, he was wearing his most charming smile, the one that could win the heart of his sternest detractor.

As Molly watched, the woman’s lips softened and a twinkle lit her eyes. Another conquest was clearly in the making.

“Honeymoon?” she inquired dreamily.

Daniel grinned. “Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“Not a word, but, young man, I do think you should take your bride into a room. Public displays of affection are so gauche, don’t you think?”

Daniel looked suitably chastened. “You are absolutely right.” He grabbed Molly’s hand and hauled her from the elevator. “Have a lovely afternoon, ma’am.”

“You do the same, young man,” she said, the twinkle back in her eyes. She winked at Molly. “Much happiness, my dear.”

“Thank you,” Molly said, all but tripping over Daniel in her haste to get away before she burst into laughter.

She held her breath until the elevator doors closed and the woman was safely descending to the lobby before whirling on Daniel. “Is there any chance at all that the universe won’t know about this little rendezvous of ours by nightfall? The story will be all over Widow’s Cove, if not the entire state of Maine.”

He grinned unrepentantly. “So what? Everybody
loves a romance. Besides, no one here knows our real names.”

“We may be anonymous in the gossip, but Retta knows we’re here,” she reminded him. “She can withdraw that blessing of hers, just like that if she knew we were making a public spectacle of ourselves.” She snapped her fingers.

“But she won’t,” Daniel said confidently.

“Why not?”

“Retta’s the biggest sucker of all for romance.” He leveled a look at her that made her tremble. “You can always back out.”

Molly glanced at the key in his hand, then at the numbers on the doors. “Doesn’t seem much point to that, since our room is right here and it’s paid for.”

When she would have taken the key and opened the door, Daniel held it just out of reach.

“Before we go inside, there’s something you should know,” he said, his expression suddenly serious. “I love you, Molly. I know you said you didn’t want me to say that, but you need to hear it. You need to believe it.” He gestured toward the room. “That’s what this is about. It’s not just sex, not for me. I’m making a commitment to you, here and now, this afternoon. I’m not asking you to do the same, but I won’t deny my own feelings.”

Molly’s heart pounded at the conviction in his voice. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to say the words back to him, but she’d done that once. She’d offered him everything, and it hadn’t been enough.

She reached up and touched his cheek. “I believe you,” she said. “It’s about more than sex for me, too.”

She stumbled over the idea of commitment, but
Daniel seemed to understand that she wasn’t ready to commit beyond this moment. She was a little surprised that he was so eager to talk about the future, but given the sad expression on his face, she couldn’t deny that he seemed genuinely disappointed that they weren’t on the same page.

He managed to put aside whatever dismay he was feeling, though. He grinned at her as he put the key into the lock, opened the door, then swept her up and carried her inside, kicking the door shut behind him.

“Here and now,” he murmured. “That’s all that matters.”

Molly gazed into the troubled depths of his eyes. “It really is, you know. We can’t control any of the rest, but we can make this moment count.”

Daniel glanced past her at the clock on the bedside table, then grinned. “Especially since we only have about forty-five of those precious moments left before that lunch I ordered turns up.”

Molly kicked off her shoes and reached for the buttons on his shirt. “Then I suggest we not waste another second.”

Daniel didn’t want to be rushed. He wanted to savor everything about this afternoon. He wanted to take his time stripping away Molly’s clothes, lingering over each caress of her magnificent, familiar body. He wanted each minute to be memorable.

“Maybe I should call down and cancel lunch,” he murmured as her fingers grazed his bare chest and made his pulse skip.

“Oh, no,” she said. “I’m starved, first for you, then for food.”

It was the way she’d always been, eager to make
the most of whatever time they had. She could take her own sweet time tormenting him, or she could get caught up in a quick rush to pleasure that had them both gasping and breathless in a heartbeat. That was clearly her intention now, as she undid his belt and the button at his waist, then slid her hand down until his entire body jolted at the touch of her clever fingers.

Daniel spotted the quick rise of satisfaction in her eyes, the tiny frown of concentration on her brow, as she set about making him crazy. Maybe this moment wasn’t about him. Maybe it was about Molly regaining her sense of control over their relationship. Maybe he simply needed to go along for the ride, let her take him wherever she wanted him to go. Being passive wasn’t in his nature, but Molly seemed to have a plan and since at the moment his body seemed more than content with it, who was he to argue?

Her hands were everywhere and so was her mouth. He heard her catch her breath as she slid his pants down, releasing him in his full state of arousal. She touched the tip of him, sending a jolt through his entire body.

“I want you, Daniel,” she said, looking up at last to meet his gaze. “Make love to me.”

“With pleasure,” he said, lifting her to the high bed with its thick comforter and soft, fresh-smelling sheets.

He stripped off his already disheveled clothes, joined her on the bed and then set to work undressing her, taking his time as he removed blouse, bra, jeans and, at long last, panties. It wasn’t so much an exploration of her body—he already knew it as well as he knew his own—as it was a reawakening, for both of them. He wanted to remember—wanted
her
to remember—what it was like between them, how well they fit
together, the pleasure that had always washed over them like a storm.

Already, though, she was restless, her hips seeking his touch. She was slick with perspiration, moist and ready for him to enter her. He’d waited so long for this, missed it in ways he hadn’t even realized until now, but no more. He couldn’t wait another second.

With one sure thrust, he was inside her, surrounded by her heat, feeling her contract around him with the first spasm. He waited as the waves subsided, then began to move, slowly, teasing her, then harder and deeper as her cries of pleasure mounted and his own body tensed, straining toward the promised release. When it came, it was shattering, the way it had always been with Molly…and only with Molly.

And with his climax came the equally shattering realization that the condoms he’d bought and kept in his wallet for this moment were still safely there. He waited for the panic to set in, waited for the awful fear that there might be another pregnancy that could come between them, but instead an amazing sense of peace stole over him. If there was a baby, so be it. Today was all about second chances. There could be no greater second chance than the opportunity to prove to Molly that he was ready for a family, that he wasn’t afraid of testing his ability to be a husband and father. Not as long as it was with her.