Page 39 of Protecting What Is Mine

17

Hank

When Mollie stopped by the hospital to tell me about meeting with her cousin, I wasn’t sure how to react. Her arms were wrapped so tight around her waist, she looked like she was freezing—which seems unlikely seeing as it’s mid-August and all. Her leg wouldn’t stop shaking while she walked me through her conversation with Clint.

My instincts told me to jump in the truck, race to The Saddle and do what I should have done when I encountered him that first time. But Mollie vetoed the idea, with prejudice. Instead, she curled up in my lap—in that damned chair, no less—so I could hold her while she tried to calm down.

Next thing I know, I’m waking up to the first cracks of light from the rising sun and my back is on fire. I don’t dare move, not when I hear the gentle purr of my angel curled up in my arms, soundly asleep. I wait as long as I dare, but not knowing if she has to work today, or if her family has been up all night worried sick, I rub her back and kiss the top of her head. “Good morning, sleeping beauty.”

Mollie lazily blinks her eyes open as she stretches out a yawn. Her shifting weight doesn’t do my body aches any favors but watching the confusion set in as she gathers her bearings is well worth the pain. “Did I?” She looks up at me and then down at herself laying on top of me, and I watch mortification set in behind her eyes. “All night?” she asks in a whisper, so as not to wake Chet.

I chuckle to myself as I carefully try to shift my crotch out from under her hip. “Looks that way. But hey, I’m not complaining.”

Feeling me squirm underneath her, Mollie jumps up. “Oh no, your back?” Her hand covers her mouth. “You must be in agony.”

“Well, it’s not just my back,” I say as I rub at my inner thighs. “Like I said, I’m not complaining. How are you feeling this morning? Still anxious?”

Mollie turns her head slightly as she considers the question, the panic on her face beginning to fade. “No, actually I’m not. I’m sorry for coming here like I did. But thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been here to help me calm down. You make just about everything better, don’t you?”

I push myself out of the chair and take Mollie’s hand in mine. “Well, I’ve always thought so.” I smile. “Come on, let’s get something to eat.”

“Bring me back something with bacon on it.” Chet bellows from the bed.

The surprise of hearing his voice causes Mollie to jump and just about scares the living shit out of me in the process. I turn back. “Morning sunshine. I didn’t know you were awake.”

“Hard not to be with so much commotion.”

I quickly glance to Mollie and cough. “Right. Something with bacon you said? No problem. But we’ve got a lot to talk about—so hang tight a little while, okay?”

“About the cousin?” Chet opens his eyes and turns his head toward me. “Not much to talk about. Go see the sheriff.”

“Uh, Chet. Much as I appreciate the eavesdropping and all, it’s not that simple.”

Chet reaches for the bed control to raise himself. “You a detective?”

I furrow my brow. “Huh? No.”

By the time I realize where he’s going it’s too late. Man, I’d like to punch him sometimes.

With his torso properly elevated Chet continues, “If you’re not a detective then how would you know what’s simple or complicated? If you think you have information that might be worth looking into, talk to Cody. It’s his job to decide what’s what.”

I offer a look of apology to Mollie. After all I’ve had my whole life to adjust to Chet’s way. To my surprise, she’s nodding right along with him. When she looks at me, her head still nodding in agreement, I concede. “Okay, big guy. I’ll get his number from Gabe.”

Chet bobs his head as he closes his eyes. “Western omelet.”

With Mollie’s hand in mine, I stop in the doorway. “Change your mind about the bacon then?”

“Nope. Decided what I wanted you to bring me back that has bacon on it.”

I grit my teeth. “Right. Got it. Happy to oblige.”

It’s barely six thirty when Mollie and I pick up our trays from the check-out line and look for a place to eat with some privacy. The cafeteria would be completely empty if not for the few doctors or nurses taking their breaks, staring at their phones as they suck as much caffeine into their systems as they can.

Mollie finds a place on the far side under a window and motions for me to come over.

I set my tray down and slide the metal chair back. “Wanted something with a view?” I ask.

“No silly, this is our table.” She looks up and down the row of tables lining the wall. “At least, I’m pretty sure it is. You know, from our not-first-date.

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