Page 51 of A Line in the Sand

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That’s what Max was now—her boss. Although over the past couple of days, he’d started to feel like more. Molly knew it was silly to hope that part of the reason he wanted her to come back to the aquarium was because he might be developing feelings for her. And yet…

She hoped all the same.

Was her mother right? Molly’s pulse boomed in her ears. Was she really ready to move on and let someone get close to her, someone who didn’t have four legs and a tail?

This could be a disaster waiting to happen,a tiny voice in the back of her head whispered. Molly tried her best to ignore it. She wanted to savor the moment and hold it close, but for some odd reason, it felt like water slipping through her fingers.

“Don’t thank me. We need you there.” Max removed the sunglasses from his head and tossed them onto the counter. Then he raked a hand through his already disheveled hair, leaving it ravaged. “I’m so glad you said yes. I was mildly worried I’d have to tell Opal, Mavis, and Ethel that I’d screwed this up and you’d said no. Is it weird that they sort of frighten me?”

“It’s not weird at all. They may look harmless but when they get an idea in their heads, they can be downright terrifying. You should definitely be afraid of them.” Molly laughed, but then her thoughts snagged on something he’d said. “Wait a minute, though. Why would the Charlie’s Angels know you were offering me my job back?”

“Oh. Well…” A furrow formed in Max’s perfect brow. “They sort of think they blackmailed me into it.”

She blinked. “What?”

“They didn’t, obviously. I mean, not technically. It’s not important, though. I want this.” He gestured to the space between them. “I wantus.”

Molly wasn’t sure if they were still talking about the aquarium or if they’d ventured into more personal territory. Feelings kept rushing in like the tide, blurring the line she’d so carefully drawn in the sand. But did the subtext really matter anymore?

He’d had to beblackmailedinto rehiring her. She knew this moment had been too good to be true.

Molly’s disappointment must have been evident, because Max’s grin slowly slid off of his face. “Molly? Is everything okay?”

“Everything is just peachy,” she lied.

Everything was a hot mess, but she wasn’t about to admit it, or else she might talk herself out of a job again, just like she’d done at bingo night. She was simply going to have to swallow her pride and show up at the aquarium tomorrow in her costume with a smile on her face and glitter in her hair.

“Are you sure?” Max searched her gaze until she had to look away.

“Absolutely. I can’t wait to start again tomorrow. But you should probably go.” She bent to pick up Ursula, her security blanket. The only significant other Molly would ever need. “You might want to take some ibuprofen and go to bed. I need to get back to my parents.”

The corner of Max’s mouth quirked into a half-grin. “I can stay if you like.”

He was utterly clueless, and Molly wasn’t inclined to explain to him why she found it less than flattering to hear that her job offer had been orchestrated by her meddling senior citizen friends. Just the thought of it put a lump in her throat.

“It’s okay, really.” She tightened her grip on Ursula. The puppy craned her neck to lick Molly’s cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow,” Max said with a nod.

And then he left, just like she’d asked. He exited through the front door instead of going back to the deck, which was a relief. There was no way her parents—the newly self-appointed president and vice president of the Max Miller fan club—would have let him go. She took a deep breath and returned to the deck, still clutching Ursula and more confused than ever.

“Where’s Max?” her mom asked as Molly shut the French doors behind her.

“He needed to get home, but he sends his apologies.” Molly swallowed. “And just so you guys know, he’s not my boyfriend. He never was, and he never will be. We’re coworkers…and neighbors, but that’s all. Honestly, we don’t even like each other that much.”

There, she’d said it. It felt good to get the truth out in the open. Max was nothing to her.

Molly had to focus on the waves tumbling onto the shore in the distance so she wouldn’t have to see the look of disappointment on her mom and dad’s faces, but at least she’d fessed up and told the truth. No more lies.

Except when she finally forced herself to look up, her parents appeared to be wearing twin expressions of amusement. They exchanged a glance and her father’s mouth slid into a rare grin as he sipped his wine. Her mom let out a quiet laugh.

Molly blinked. “What’s so funny?”

“You are, dear.” Her mother stepped forward to cup one of Molly’s cheeks. “There’s definitely something going on between you and Max. Your father sees it, and I see it too.”

Molly shook her head, ready to object. But when she tried to set the record straight, the words just wouldn’t come.

A smile danced on her mother’s lips. “We’re just wondering who it is you’re trying to fool—us or yourself.”