Page 45 of Tangled Up In You

"Rigid, controlling, know-it-all."

"Would they be right?"

He gave her an unapologetic shrug. "I have always looked out for my siblings. I was raised to do that. I can't tell you how many times my parents told me to watch out for my brothers and sisters, to make sure that they didn't make any bad mistakes. That's what I tried to do. Sometimes, they didn't appreciate it. They thought I was judging them, but I always had their best interests at heart. I only came down on them when they were being stupid."

"I have a feeling their version of stupid differed from yours."

"Possibly. But I had the wisdom of my years." He smiled again, his features warming as he did so. "Now I sound like an old man."

"Not old, but kind of a know-it-all," she said dryly.

"Why shouldn't I try to stop someone from making a mistake when I can see they're heading down the wrong path?"

"Because your experience isn't everyone else's."

"I realize that. But if I have experience in an area, I'm going to share it." He paused. "Did Drew tell you I was a know-it-all?"

"He hasn't said anything about you."

"I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing," he murmured. "I really do want to help him, Molly. I know a little about what he has gone through, and I want to talk to him, but I don't know if he'll hear me."

"There's more between you than you're telling me."

"Yes." He paused as the mariachi music grew louder. "But we should eat before it gets cold."

She was disappointed to leave it there, but she'd wait for a better opportunity. For now, she was just going to enjoy a delicious meal and a little more time with Adam before he pushed her away again.

ChapterTwelve

Even though heate at the Red Sombrero often, this dinner was better than any he remembered, which was, of course, because of Molly. She was one of the most interesting women he'd met. Talking to her was so easy—almost too easy. It bothered him how easily he opened up to her, but that was part of her charm.

"I'm stuffed," Molly said as they walked out of the restaurant. "But it was worth it. Best tacos I've had in years, Adam. Thanks for introducing me to this place. I will definitely be back."

"I'm glad you liked it."

She paused on the sidewalk. "I should go. There are a lot of boxes waiting for me."

Her halfhearted words echoed the feeling running through his head. They should both go to their respective homes. They should call it a night, but he didn't want to.

"Or we could take a walk, burn off some of the food," he suggested. "The lake isn't far from here."

"I haven't actually been down to the lake yet."

"Let's do it."

They walked in silence for a few minutes, but every time he thought about breaking that silence, he stopped himself. In fact, he was questioning the wisdom of even going to the lake with her. Every minute they spent together made him like her more.

Throughout dinner, he'd had to work hard not to stare at her beautiful face, at the riotous brown waves of hair that fell loosely around her shoulders. He'd also had to work hard not to kiss her in a crowded restaurant, so taking her down to the lake, which was probably deserted at this hour of the night on a Monday evening, was going to make that work even more difficult.

But he was committed now. He dug his hands into his pockets, and that's where they were going to stay.

They entered the park and then moved down a path to the beach. The moon was full and sparkling off the gently rippling water. They would have only another six weeks or so before the lake would turn wild with winter waves, the tree branches would be laden with snow, and the sand would glitter with icy crystals. But all that seemed a long way off on this warm September evening, the temperature in the low seventies, the sky filling with stars, reminding him again of what had happened between them on another star-studded night.

As they reached the beach, Molly kicked off her shoes, and carried the heels in one hand as she let the sand slip through her toes.

"You like to go barefoot, don't you?"

"As often as possible," she said with a laugh, as she kicked up some sand. "It feels great. Just as soft as I remembered." She paused and looked out at the water. "I always loved this view. I should have come here sooner. I got so caught up in the store and all the work that I forgot to take a minute and just breathe in this beautiful sight."

---