Page 8 of Island Protector

Unfortunately, it seemed she was dealing with her own issues right now. And that’s what he needed to focus on—her. Whatever was going on, he intended to help.

She pulled some paperwork out of her purse and handed it to Jess. “Nina told me to come over right away. She said you might be able to recommend a lawyer. Family court,” she added quickly, glancing at Miles. “I haven’t done anything illegal.”

He couldn’t imagine her doing anything, ever, that would undermine the life she’d built here with her son and aunt. “Of course you haven’t.”

She frowned, her dark golden eyebrows snapping together. “Why are you always saying things like that?”

“Pardon me?” Her challenge startled him. He’d only evertried to be kind to her. Supportive. He’d curtailed his urges to flirt outright, definitely behaving himself around Bryce. “You don’t like compliments?”

“Of course I do. Forget it.” Her fingers curled around the arm of the chair. “I’m just… Just a mess. Sorry.” She turned back to Jess. “It says they’re suing for custody. Full custody.” Her voice cracked.

Miles jerked in his seat. “What the actual hell? Someone’s trying to take Bryce?” He hadn’t felt this close to battle ready in a long time. To hell with the need to keep a low profile. He’d gladly go to war in a heartbeat for Molly and Bryce.

Studying her delicate jaw, he noticed when she set her teeth. He was overreacting and tried to reel it in. Better if he didn’t look too closely at why she and her son mattered so much. Especially when she consistently treated him as if he was just another guy in town.

Jess didn’t look up from the papers. “How are Thomas and Anne Grainger related to Bryce?”

“His paternal grandparents,” she replied. “I’m shocked they even know about Bryce. They didn’t know I was pregnant. After all this time, I can’t figure out how they even remember my name. I was at their house once, looking for their son. They didn’t let me across the threshold. His mother told me Tommy was dead and slammed the door in my face.”

Miles’s stomach cramped. She’d lost her son’s father. Was that why she kept to herself, why she didn’t date? Why she resisted his attempts to get closer?

He couldn’t imagine the pain she must’ve endured because he’d never had anyone to love like that. No one who had ever cared enough to stick around and love him.

But damn it. This was about her.

“So Bryce’s father wasn’t close with his mom and dad?” Jess queried, while Miles closed the lid on his old baggage.

Molly shrugged one slender shoulder. For a woman so strong, she was built small.

“They were basically estranged when I met him in high school. He rebelled against the lifestyle and career paths they laid out for him. When…” Her eyes shifted to Miles and then quickly back to Jess. “Well, I wasn’t about to tellthemI was pregnant.” Her shoulders drooped. “Not before I told Tommy. Can you imagine? Hi, you don’t know me, but I’m Molly and I’m having your grandkid. Have you seen your son? What a first impression.

“Although it wouldn’t have changed much.” Her head bowed and her voice dropped. “Things went from bad to worse in the days after. I wanted to tell Tommy first. Thought maybe he’d be happy. Or at least pretend to be.” Her gaze remained locked on her hands in her lap. “Obviously the pregnancy wasn’t planned, but I tried to do things the right way.”

Of course she’d tried. If he’d learned anything about Molly, it was her firm belief in doing the right thing in every situation. Her moral code didn’t waver. Having a baby unexpectedly might not have fit the ideal plan, but she clearly made a commitment to motherhood. In Miles’s view that little boy was one of the luckiest kids on the planet.

Jess’s chair creaked softly as she leaned back. “You never went back? Never told them anything about the pregnancy?”

“No.” Molly shook her head. “I never saw Tommy or them again. I don’t know how they found out about Bryce.”

“Where do they live?” Miles asked.

“Tampa.”

A fair distance and still close enough to stir up trouble.

“I don’t understand this, Jess.” Molly scooted to the edge of her chair. “I haven’t done anything to draw attention to myself or to Bryce. I didn’t ask for help. I don’t need anything from them. Before I left Tampa, the police showed up at Tommy’s place asking questions that allbut confirmed Tommy was a liar and a cheat. And most likely dead. There I was, pregnant and naive.” She squared her shoulders. “I was living with him, having no idea what he was really up to. I’d bought into his charm and lies and big talk like a besotted idiot.”

Miles couldn’t bear it when Molly insulted herself. “His bad acts weren’t your fault. This situation isn’t your fault.”

She gave him a long look. “I’d like to believe that.” She faced Jess once more. “It’s just… Why would they do this now? Bryce is five and we’re great. We have a good life.”

“Do the Graingers know your parents?” Jess asked.

“They didn’t back then. My parents kicked me out as soon as they discovered I was pregnant. As far as I know, according to Sharon, they’ve been pretending I never existed. They never met Tommy. Never asked his name.”

Her voice trailed away and her sweet blue eyes clouded with unhappy memories. Miles added her parents to the growing list of scores he would gladly settle for her.

“So how are you related to Sharon?” Jess wondered.

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