Chapter Twenty-Five
Molly
Molly woke up the next morning and quietly got dressed. She had to get home to shower and change before her sunrise class. She guessed she needed to start packing up her tiny apartment. She didn’t really want to wake Keller, but she couldn’t bear to leave without saying goodbye. In the end she settled on a note on her pillow next to him. She couldn’t stop smiling the whole drive home. Last night had been amazing. The sex was…wow. There wasn’t really another word for it. And she got to do it again, every night, for the rest of her foreseeable future. Bad. Ass.
Just as she had hoped, Brooks was in class that morning. He was extremely polite and respectful. Such a polar opposite from the jackass that both Keller and Riley had described at dinner. She made her way over to him after their session was over, trying to figure out the perfect smile to give him. She didn’t want it to seem flirty, but she didn’t want it to seem giddy or creepy either. Ugh. What a weird issue to have at seven o’clock in the morning.
“Good morning, Agent Brooks. Your form is improving with every class. Nice job today.” Was that okay? Should she not have mentioned his form? Would he take that as sexual?
“Thank you, Molly. I’m only improving because you are an excellent instructor.”
Molly gave him a genuine smile for that compliment. “Well, thank you. That was nice of you to say.”
“Uh, I was going to head next door for some breakfast, would you like to join me?” His brown eyes held hope, and a small touch of desperation she’d failed to notice before.
His invitation certainly took the pressure off of her. “You know I think I will join you. I was just thinking I should grab some breakfast before my next class.”
By the time they’d ordered at the counter and then found a spot to sit Molly had run out of small talk. The weather, current events, muffin ingredients, the meaning of “Namaste”…they’d gone over all the safe, easy topics. “How are you enjoying your time here in Haxton, Agent Brooks? Have you had a chance to do any hiking?”
“Nah, no time for fun things like that. It’s all I can do to make it to yoga a few times a week. It really is beautiful here though. So green.”
Molly grinned over the teacup. “Is it another color where you’re from?”
Brooks chuckled. “Nah, I live in Boulder. But I’m really enjoying the small-town vibes here.”
“Must be hard to be out of town for so long. I don’t know how you do it. I get homesick so easily. Do you think you guys will be finished soon?”
“Not much to be homesick for, to be honest. I’ve been married to my work for the past twelve years or so.” He took a cautious sip of his hot coffee. “This investigation is taking longer than expected, but hopefully we’ll get what we are looking for soon.”
Molly tried on a coy smile and it felt gross. “What you are looking for? Like, a clue? Or like a confession? How scandalous.” She couldn’t stand the fact that she had brought out the ditzy flirt. It was degrading. Baze owed her a beer tonight.
Brooks chuckled again, wagging his finger. “Now Molly, you know I can’t discuss the investigation with you. Why are you suddenly so curious? Does this have anything to do with Keller?”
Molly managed a lighthearted giggle when her insides were suddenly churning. “No, Keller’s never really mentioned the investigation. When I was growing up I went through a phase where I desperately wanted to be a private investigator. I would go around our neighborhood looking for lost dogs and spying on everyone.” Where the hell had that lie come from? Man, she was fast on her feet. Baze owed her two beers.
“Where did you grow up?”
“Laguna Beach. What about you? Are you Colorado born and raised?”
“No, I grew up out in west Texas. Flat and brown.”
“Oh yeah? Keller is from Texas too. Small world.” Could that be their connection? Could they be from the same small town? Wouldn’t Keller recognize him if that was the case though?
“Speaking of Keller, would he be mad that you are having breakfast with me?”
“Why would he be? It’s just breakfast with a friend.”
“He seems to be quite protective over you. Always sure to show that you are his and no one else’s.” The strong female in her wanted to school him. She wanted to tell him that while she was Keller’s, she was also her own. And that was something that would never change. But. That was not at all relevant to her current goal, so she kept her empowered mouth shut on the subject.
Instead she waved away his statement. “Oh, you know, just that stereotypical alpha-male behavior. I’m sure you act the same way with your girlfriend.”
“Well like I said, not much time for dating. But when I did have a girlfriend, I let her be her own person.” Let her? Asshat.
“Are insinuating that Keller controls me? Because I can assure you, that’s not the case.” Okay, she couldn’t hold it in that time. She had to stand up for herself.
“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” He glanced down at his watch. “I need to head to campus. Thank you for having breakfast with me, Molly.”
Molly was panicked; she hadn’t gotten anything good yet. Crap. Keller was not going to like what was about to spew from her lips. “Uh, Agent Brooks? Same time same place tomorrow?”
“You don’t need to prove to me that Keller doesn’t control you by having breakfast with me again, Molly.”
“I’m not. I’m just not done talking to you yet.” Totally wasn’t a lie.
“Okay, then I would like that very much.”