Three Makes a Family--A Clean Romance Cari Webb (short books for teens txt) 📖

kiss into the silence. Their kiss had been a major boundary violation.

When do you think we could try that kiss thing again? was what she wanted to say. Molly yanked her sunglasses from her face and cleaned the lenses. As if the smudged lenses were to blame for her lack of transparency. As if the lenses held her back from speaking her own truth. “What’s the first thing you plan to do when the hearing is over, and your innocence is proven?”

“Set up my new office.” He never hesitated.

Molly nodded and concentrated on cleaning her sunglasses. What had she been expecting? They’d shared one small kiss. Hardly anything to build a relationship on. She seriously had to impose a penalty for crossing her own boundaries again and again. Hadn’t Derrick hurt her enough?

“What?” he asked. “You’re scowling.”

“I have a scratch on my sunglasses.” Molly returned her sunglasses to her face and buried those soft treacherous emotions. The ones that led to bruised hearts and tears. “Won’t you want to celebrate then with your family and friends?” With me?

“Sure, but that’s what an hour or so one night.” He shrugged. “My new office is where my future starts. Where I get to make a difference again.”

He’d made a difference in Molly’s life. “Your work completely fulfills you then.”

“It’s all that matters,” he said. “I want my life back. There’s still so much I want to prove. To accomplish.”

Molly and Hazel were simply a diversion until his old life began again. The same as Molly had been for Derrick. Molly watched the city pass by outside her window. Caution tape and large orange cones surrounded an uncovered manhole in the street, warning drivers and pedestrians of the danger. Molly wrapped her arms around herself and tried to ignore the sign.

It was simple and straightforward really. Molly had to win Drew’s case so that he could resume his life and his career. Just as he wanted. She’d add another checkmark in the win column and consider the case and their relationship closed.

She rubbed her chest and the twinge of an ache there. Nothing she couldn’t backstop with more clients and more cases.

If they failed to secure Reuben’s sworn testimony tomorrow, Molly would have regrets. She’d regret failing Drew. Even more, she’d regret that she had given Drew hope.

And if you’re merely spending your time hoping, then you’re not doing.

More of her mother’s advice.

Molly wasn’t hoping for love or a family. She was looking after her own family of two.

As for love, she could do without that.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

DREW ANSWERED HIS phone, eager for the distraction from the heavy silence inside the truck. He’d upset Molly. That much he knew. He just wasn’t certain how.

His brother offered a quick hello followed by, “Meet me at Dan and Brooke’s house.”

“Is this another dog rescue?” Drew asked.

“You were supposed to meet me in thirty minutes at my office,” Brad said. “But I’m not there. I’m at the Sawyers’ place looking after Nala. Brooke had to take the puppies to the vet and Dan has a shift.”

Drew rubbed his forehead. He’d been distracted tossing pennies into the fountain and discussing wishes. He’d completely lost track of time. He could’ve easily lost more time kissing Molly. He concentrated on his phone call. “Right. I’m dropping Molly and Hazel off there now, so I’ll head to the main house.”

Drew disconnected and focused on the traffic, not reaching for Molly.

“You were supposed to meet your brother?” Molly asked.

“Brad and I scheduled a meeting this afternoon.” Drew stepped on the gas pedal, eager to put more distance between himself and the park. He had to stop thinking about kissing Molly. She was his legal counsel, not his girlfriend. “Brad was just switching locations.”

“I would offer to help with Nala, but Hazel needs a nap.” Molly paused as if searching for something else to add to her excuse.

Drew nodded. He needed a moment to revise his strategy.

He hit every green light and reached Brooke and Dan’s place in record time. Molly and Hazel went to their apartment and he escaped inside the main house.

He needed to take a step back. Yet he wanted to return to Molly’s porch, apologize and kiss her. Kiss her longer, hold her tighter and lose himself completely. He shook his head and forced himself to repeat the reason he was there.

“Interesting place for a debrief.” Drew walked into the laundry room and greeted his brother. Nala lifted her head and her tail swept rapidly back and forth across the tile floor.

“She didn’t greet me with a tail wag.” Brad sat between the floor-to-ceiling cabinets and Nala’s makeshift bed.

Drew lowered himself to the floor and rested his back against the washing machine. Nala crawled toward him and laid her head on his leg. Her tail sweep continued.

“My wife and Brooke would say that you are Nala’s person.” Brad chuckled. “That she’s claimed you.”

Drew ran his hand over Nala’s back. His fingers still sank between her ribs, but he couldn’t deny the dog’s spirit. Nala was a fighter like another mom he knew. “And if I’m not a dog person?”

“I don’t think it matters much to Nala,” Brad said. “She trusts you.”

“Is that all it takes?” Drew asked. “Trust?” And one kiss—brief, but extraordinary. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d kissed a woman and completely forgotten his surroundings. Like he had earlier with Molly.

Putting one memorable kiss aside, Drew knew it was all wrong between Molly and him. How could it be anything else? They were both at crossroads in their respective careers. She was a single mom, responsible for her daughter. He had his large group of friends and his family to focus on. And the kiss was a distraction neither he nor Molly could afford.

Brad stacked his hands behind his head, crossed his feet at his ankles and considered Drew. “Want to tell me about it before we debrief or after?”

“There’s nothing to tell.” Or discuss. One kiss was all they could share. Both Drew and