Devil turned the Mercedes into the gravel parking lot of the moderately-sized Baptist church with ease, sneaking a look at Molly from the corner of his eye. She’d spent most of the half hour drive staring out the passenger window without speaking. It worried him, but he knew better than to intrude on her thoughts.
She was skittish enough already, and most of that was because of him.
Not that he’d change anything he’d done.
He wouldn’t.
Fate had already decided that Molly was predestined to be his, and he’d be damned if he’d walk away from the treasure that had been dropped in his lap. After a year of fighting his feelings, the truth had finally caught up with him. No matter how fast or hard he’d run, no matter how many women he’d used to try to shield his heart from Molly’s influence, the tiny woman had woven herself inside his soul.
He watched as she twisted the gold chain that hung around her neck with nervous fingers. His Nana would have called it fidgeting. He just thought it was adorable. Pulling the sleek car between a green Impala and a white Dodge truck, he shoved the gears into park as he turned to fully face the woman beside him. “We’re here, sweetheart.”
Pursing her lips, Molly stared out the window. “So, it’s show time,” she said heavily, worrying her lower lip with her teeth. “I always wondered what opening night jitters felt like. Now I know,” she mused aloud, her green eyes darkening as she watched people gathering on the church’s steps, filing into the sanctuary a couple at a time.
“This isn’t an act,” Devil pronounced firmly. “We’re not playing roles here, Molly. At least, I’m not. I plan on being a part of your life for quite some time to come. I know the Church is a significant part of who you are. Part of the reason I’m here today is that I want to share that.” He wanted her to believe, if only just a little, that he cared about the things that she did. He wanted to be with her wherever she was.
Offering him a quick, stunned look, Molly swallowed and nodded. “We should go. Services will start in about fifteen minutes,” she informed him, reaching for her car door.
Stilling her when she would have shoved the door open, Devil shook his head. “Wait there. I’ll come around and open the door for you, Molly.”
“I’m capable of opening my own door, Dev,” Molly mumbled, tugging on the wrist he held.
“I didn’t say you weren’t. But I’m here now, and I was raised that a gentleman opens doors for ladies. Sit there,” he ordered before releasing her and shoving his own door open. He circled the vehicle quickly and opened her car door, offering her his hand as she climbed out of the car.
“Thank you,” she said softly and he squeezed her fingers.
“You’re welcome,” Devil replied gently, smiling at Molly reassuringly when she looked up at his face. “It’s all going to work out fine, babe. Just relax and trust me,” he assured her softly as he closed the car door and wrapped his arm around her slender waist.
“Sure,” she managed, the light tone she was angling for falling flat as she looked around the parking lot. “Everybody’s here, I see.”
“Who is everybody?” Devil asked as he guided her through the mostly full lot toward the sidewalk.
“Oh, you know. Momma and Daddy, Grant, Karen, and the kids, Sami, Viv…”
“Wait a second. Sami and Viv attend church out here?” Devil asked curiously, glancing down at her.
“How do you think we met?” Molly smirked. “Ah, so you are getting more than you bargained for, huh? Suddenly I feel a bit vindicated,” she commented with a small satisfied smile.
“You and that sassy mouth are going to find more trouble than you can handle if you keep it up, darlin’,” Devil warned with a warm smile.
“Promises, prom –…” Molly’s words abruptly broke off and her footsteps faltered as she gasped.
“Honey?” Devil questioned, grabbing her elbow and steadying her when she stumbled slightly. Frowning, he scanned the crowd ahead of them for the cause of her concern.
“No, no, no,” she whispered faintly, her eyes widening on the familiar man staring at her from the brick steps of the church.
“What’s going on?” Devil questioned sharply, tightening his grip on Molly’s arm as an elderly couple stepped around them on the sidewalk.
“He Who Shall Not Be Named,” Molly breathed as her eyes locked with the first man to ever break her heart. “It’s Sean, Devil. What in the world is he doing here?”
Following Molly’s gaze, the muscle in Devil’s jaw flexed as he spotted Molly’s own personal Voldemort standing against the iron railing of the church, managing to look both smug and smarmy in his expensive suit. Glaring at the man as he possessively drew Molly against his side, Devil didn’t miss how the other man’s nostrils flared and jealousy shined in his eyes as the jerk that had hurt Molly two years ago witnessed the gesture.
That’s right, asshole. She’s with me, Devil thought possessively. You lost your shot. Game over.
Gently urging Molly down the stone sidewalk, Devil murmured, “It’s fine, Molly. Just keep walking, sweetheart. He’s in your past.” Devil clamped down on his jaw as he watched the younger man move down the steps to intercept them.
“Molly!”
Turning her head as one of her two best friends hurried toward them, Molly tried to smile. “Hi, Vivian,” she weakly greeted the other woman.
Wrapping her arms around Molly for a quick hug, Viv whispered, “I was trying to intercept you before you saw him, sweets! Sami’s inside with Karen, trying to keep Grant from committing attempted murder with a Bible on He Who Shall Not Be Named. Sorry I was late, but as usual, my timing leaves something to be desired. Where the heck is your cell phone?”
“I must have forgotten it,” Molly murmured against Viv’s cool cheek, then whispered frantically, “What’s he doing here?”
Shaking her head quickly as she spotted Molly’s ex drawing closer to them, Viv shifted her serene gaze to Devil. “Evidently his new girlfriend attends services here, too. Kaitlyn Higgins, I think. Don’t let him get to you,” Viv ordered as Sean approached with a practiced smile affixed to his face. “Just take a few deep breaths and play it cool, Mols. And if you wanna impress me,” she hissed under her breath to Devil, “Be the intimidating SOB everybody accuses you of being and make that guy wish he’d never been born with one of those patented death glares of yours.”
Not a problem, Devil thought silently as Sean walked toward them and smiled at Molly. He’d crush the little irritant like a bug beneath his boot before he gave the other man a chance to injure Molly’s feelings again. He had cultivated that SOB reputation for a reason, after all, and he had done his homework to be well prepared for this little situation.
“Molly,” Sean greeted her with a wide smile as he nodded to Devil and Sami, “Long time, no see, huh?” he remarked, leaning forward to try and kiss Molly’s cheek.