Page 4 of Island Protector

Those days of being pregnant and uncertain were dark. She’d felt like the true definition of young and stupid, falling for Tommy’s lies. Not just about his big plans or his future with her. The way he lied so smoothly about his feelings still blew her mind.

Looking back, she had no idea how he’d fooled her so easily.

Because she wasn’t stupid. And if anyone had made that clear since that fateful day, it was Aunt Sharon. She had given Molly a safe place to land when she needed it most. Molly would never forget it, and would never take her for granted.

Sharon said the hospitality was simple. From the heart. Over and over, she reminded Molly that she didn’t need or expect any kind of payback. The sincere kindness was appreciated beyond measure. Because Molly would never be able to repay Sharon for everything.

Molly set her florist knife down to rub her temples. How had Tommy’s parents even found her? Or found out about Bryce? And why drag her to court, subject her to scrutiny from family services? The relationship between Tommy and his parents had been strained at best. They didn’t approve of his choices. Would’ve approved even less if they’d known all the details.

Tommy had been filling her head with tales of entrepreneurship, when in reality, he’d been conning her, his employer, his friends, and his parents. He’d brought in investors and spent the money on entertainment, to use the term loosely.

She hadn’t even realized he’d crossed the line into criminal behavior until the police had shown up at his apartment. That interview, all the questions she couldn’t answer, had shattered her illusions. She’d left and hadn’t looked back.

It felt like a lifetime ago, and in many ways, it was. She was a completely different person, on a much brighter path, since moving to Brookwell.

How had the Graingers found her?

“Molly? Hey, are you okay?”

Molly gave a start and then summoned a smile for her boss, Nina Billings. No, it was officially Nina Reynolds now that she’d married Boone. “Oh, I’m fine.” Shedeliberately picked up her knife once more, cutting the band on a pack of greenery. There was work to be done. “Didn’t sleep well last night,” she fibbed.

As the two primary floral designers, Molly and Nina worked together most mornings at the Island Bloomers flower shop. Nina had opened the shop on her own, and the business had become an anchor point on Central Avenue.

Landing this job with her lack of useful skills had been like winning the lottery for Molly. The hours were perfect, the pay generous, and Nina was an excellent teacher. Molly could be creative and secure, gaining valuable professional experience while she built a life for herself and Bryce. Without Sharon, every day would’ve been a challenge. But thanks to her aunt’s hospitality, she’d found herself.

She’d grown with each opportunity Nina gave her. These days she was more of a manager and event coordinator—with a salary boost that reflected her bigger contributions to the business.

“Did I miss something important?” Molly asked. Her boss was staring at her, one dark eyebrow arched in doubt.

“Not really,” Nina replied. “I just asked about Bryce’s sailing lessons.”

Finally, a question with an easy answer. “His curiosity is a whole lot bigger than his size,” she said with a short laugh. “Much to his dismay. Somehow Miles keeps him interested and engaged, though he is way too young to go out on his own.” She appreciated how the owner of the sailing school backed her up on that. “He desperately wants to go out on the boat Miles is refurbishing, so he’s determined.”

“How exciting! I’m sure he’ll have a blast.” Nina paused, studying Molly closely. “Unless you’re not comfortable with it?”

She was absolutely comfortable with Miles taking Bryce sailing. One day soon, actually. Miles assured her she couldjoin them and she was giving herself time with the idea. Going out together might feel too much like a family outing. Might even be interpreted as such on the island gossip grapevine.

Except they weren’t a family.

She never dwelled on being single or being a single mom. She thought life was wonderful as-is. Dating and romance could be fun—someday. Right now, friendship was enough.

With worries over child services interviews, imminent judgement, and family court bubbling up in her mind, the happiness of Bryce sailing with Miles suddenly burst apart like a popped balloon.

She couldn’t let him take Bryce out now. Definitely not without her. And she was scared of the ocean. Specifically, all the things lurking beneath the surface.

She tried to convince herself it was simply a healthy respect for nature, but deep in her heart she knew the truth: she was perpetually afraid of all those things she couldn’t see clearly.

Sort of like the legal documents in her purse.

“I don’t have a problem with Miles,” she managed. “He’s great with Bryce.” She wholeheartedly approved of him as a male role model. Miles was friendly and thoughtful and exceptionally safety conscious around Bryce. She valued all of those traits even more than how easy he was to look at.

In the privacy of her own mind, preferably late at night, she indulged all the sexy feelings he stirred up. The man was ruggedly handsome with his wind-tossed brown hair and warm brown eyes. He often went days between shaving and the scruff on his jaw tempted her way more than it should.

More importantly, he was endlessly capable. Those strong hands and broad shoulders seemed to conquer every challenge. He was always fixing something or optimizing something else. Though he was new to Brookwell, he was already a reliable cog within the community.

“He’s great,” she repeated, trying to drag her mind back to work, where it belonged.

There were several good role models for Bryce around town, starting with Nina’s husband Boone, her brother Nash, and any number of men she encountered daily.

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