Page 234 of Beautiful Collide

“Molly.” His hand brushes against mine. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I just care about you.”

I let out a shaky breath, my anger melting away in the face of his sincerity.

“I think I’m scared,” I admit, my voice barely audible. “If I’m not Dane’s assistant, then who am I?”

“You’re Hex, you’re Molly Sinclair. You’re the best person I know.” He closes his hand over mine. “But you don’t have to be scared. Because you don’t have to do this alone. You have Dane. You have me. Hell, you have the whole team. Mason and all.”

“Mason, that’s not a good endorsement.” I laugh.

“No, it’s not,” he chuckles, pressing a kiss to the top of my head, his arms tightening around me. “You’re going to be okay, Hex,” he says softly.

“We’re going to be okay.”

“Yeah, we are.”

83

Hudson

The sun’salmost down by the time I finish up the last of the chores for the day.

My dad always says farming is honest work—it humbles you, grounds you, and doesn’t give a damn how tired you are.

Today, I believe it.

My muscles ache in a way that even training camp can’t replicate, and all I want is a long shower and maybe a beer if I can wrestle one out of Dad’s fridge.

But before I head inside, I catch a faint sound drifting from the barn—soft laughter, followed by the familiar voice of my mom.

Curiosity gets the better of me.

Mom’s laughter is different than usual, and I swear I hear another voice.

Molly.

I head toward where they are, my boots crunching against the gravel path.

The door is cracked open. I move quietly, not because I’m trying to sneak up on them, exactly, but because I’m . . . curious.Yeah. Just curious.

I’m spying.

As I peek inside, I spot them near the back corner of the barn.

My mom’s carrying a basket of eggs while Molly crouches down beside one of the hens, murmuring something.

“You’re good at this,” Mom says with a smile. “Most people are too jumpy to collect eggs.”

Molly looks up and grins. Fuck, she’s gorgeous.

“Guess I’m good under pressure. And I had a good teacher.” Molly lays it on thick, and my mom loves it.

“Sweet talk will get you everywhere, dear,” Mom jokes. “It will also get you seconds of dessert.” She winks.

I lean against the doorway, folding my arms as I watch them.

Molly looks so at ease here.

She looks like she’s done this a thousand times.

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