Page 21 of Island Protector

“Good.” He pushed to his feet, wanting to kiss her.Instead, he handed her his phone. “Add your number and I’ll send a text so you can add me back. Then you can call me. Anytime.”

“Mm-hm.” She entered her phone number and held out the phone to him.

Their fingers brushed lightly, enough to give him a little spark. He sent her a text, urging her to call. On the table, her phone lit up. “We’re set then. I mean it, Molly. Call me anytime. Whatever you need.”

“Okay. Thank you. Again.”

“You’re welcome.” It took everything he had to back away without touching her. “I’ll take care of Bryce and Sharon, you rest up.”

He walked back to Bryce’s room, filled with a weird hope about the woman and serious worry about the situation. Something was wrong in every hit-and-run, but this one was setting off all kinds of alarms in his head.

It was just too close to the timing of the custody challenge to be unrelated. As soon as possible, he’d ask Jess to dig into the Graingers. If they were planning to use dirty tactics to get their way, they were about to realize Molly had allies willing to do the same for her.

Chapter Six

Molly was alreadyawake as the clinic started to gear up for a new day. She hadn’t spent much time in hospitals and sleep had been elusive. Aside from coming here to deliver Bryce with the midwife, Nurse Practitioner Abbott attending, she’d only visited for her annual physicals and the occasional illness.

Of course, she brought Bryce here for all his checkups, vaccines, and the typical incidents and illnesses that came along with raising an active little boy. Although she was supposed to be resting her body and her mind, she tossed and turned through the night, wondering if the Graingers would insist on seeing his medical records. She didn’t have anything to hide, but she worried they might twist something to their advantage.

It would probably be worse if she made a stink about maintaining his privacy, but she added it to the growing list of questions to ask the attorney. Jess had sent over his name and number, but the car accident had delayed their first meeting. She hoped he had time to talk with her today.

She picked up her phone, only to remember the timedifference. Attorneys probably didn’t take calls before office hours. And it was only six o’clock in Chicago.

“That doesn’t look like resting to me.”

Molly glanced up as Nina pushed the door all the way open, her arms full of flowers. “Hey. You’re making deliveries early.”

“Only the special delivery.” Nina set the flowers on the counter and came to give Molly a hug. “Sharon called last night and filled me in. How are you feeling?”

Her aunt had insisted on handling the details. “Rough,” Molly admitted. “This is temporary.” She lifted the brace and her arm twinged, so she relaxed again right away. “I guess my arm just got pinched awkwardly when… When it happened.” Thinking about the collision made her neck tight and her head hurt.

“That’s the least of my concern.” Nina sat down in the chair Miles had used last night. “The shop will be waiting whenever you’re healed up.”

“Valentine’s Day is nearly here.” She and Nina had been taking orders for a couple of weeks, in addition to some extra arrangements requested by their business accounts. “And the Inn has two events before that.”

The twelfth was a Senior Social for the older residents and the thirteenth was Galentine’s Day. The Pelican Pub and Parker’s also had romantic-themed events planned and Island Bloomers was providing florals for everything.

“Relax.” Nina patted her good hand. “Dr. Nyland already gave me your work limitations once your concussion symptoms are gone. My mom’s agreed to help until Hailey gets here.”

“Oh, good.” Hailey Whitman was a close friend of Nina’s and an accomplished floral designer who’d made a name for herself on the competition circuit. “I should be back at it within a day or two.” She ignored the brace, notready to speculate on how much it would interfere with her work.

“That’s great.” Nina smiled. “In the meantime, your room will smell and look lovely.”

“You really shouldn’t have. They’re about to spring me,” she said. At least she hoped so. When she wasn’t tossing and turning last night, she’d been answering rudimentary questions at regular intervals according to the concussion protocol. While she was sore and tired and her eyes were sensitive to bright light, she just wanted to go home.

“Doesn’t matter. It’s my pleasure,” Nina said. “Besides, you and Sharon will enjoy the flowers at home too.”

That was true.

“Tell me what else I can do to help.” Her gaze coasted over Molly’s forehead and she winced. “I’m so glad it wasn’t worse,” she murmured.

“Me too. Really there’s nothing to do but wait.” Miles had taken care of everything. “I look a whole lot worse than I feel.” It was mostly the truth. It wasn’t as if she needed heavy painkillers to manage the symptoms. She only needed some time for the swelling to subside and the bruises to fade.

“How are you getting home?”

“Sharon,” Molly said. “She’s coming by with fresh clothes after she gets Bryce to school. The doctor says I’m good to go as long as I don’t overdo it.”

“You’re a mom.” Nina’s grin flashed. “Can you truly slow down?”

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