Page 49 of Homecoming Heartbreaker

Molly finally dropped the basket, her face white. Mack quickly walked across the room to the bar fridge in the corner and pulled out a bottle of water, cracking the top and holding the bottle for her to take.

He expected her to take it, to drink some water to remove the foul taste in her mouth, and to sink to the chair.

Instead of doing that, any of it, Molly slapped the open water bottle from his hand. When her eyes connected with his, he realized that her blistering anger coated soul-deep hurt. “You son of a bitch! How dare you accuse me of stealing from Jameson? Especially after what I told you about what I did and how guilty I feel.”

Mack winced. Yeah, explaining his actions wasn’t going to be easy. Or any fun at all.

Mack picked up a small remote off his desk, the one that controlled the camera, his finger on the pause button. But he needed one more reaction from her; one sentence that was a decent denial, hopefully bellowed at the top of her voice. “How much did you steal from Jameson, Molly?”

Molly, her temper erupting, picked up a stapler from his desk and hurled it at his head. “I didn’t steal a damn thing, you prick! I don’t know what you are talking about and I’m gutted that you think that I had. How dare you think I would do that?”

Good enough, Mack thought, cutting the recording. Now it was time to do some damage control, to make Molly understand that he’d led her down this rocky and thorny path to help, not hurt her.

But judging by her heaving chest and flamethrower eyes, that was going to be harder than he anticipated.

“Sit down, sweetheart.”

This time an empty coffee cup flew past his head, narrowly missing his ear. Her aim, dammit, was getting better.

“Don’t you dare call me sweetheart, you two-faced pile of cockroach vomit!”

Mack winced.

“I know that you didn’t steal the money, Molly!” Mack bellowed. She stared at him, her mouth falling open.

“What?”

He held up the remote in his hand, quickly explaining that he’d recorded her reaction, that he’d defy anyone to think she was guilty after seeing the footage.

“This is so bad. I cannot believe this is happening,” Molly whispered, her voice breaking.

“It’ll be okay, Molly. I believe in you. We’ll fight this, together.”

“The hell we will.”

Mack frowned at her response, thinking that he was missing something here. She wasn’t reacting anything like he’d expected her to.

Molly gripped the back of the chair with white fingers, staring down at the floor. When she finally lifted her face, Molly’s eyes were dry and, at that moment Mack realized her pain was too deep for tears. She lifted her index finger, cocking her head to the side.

“Question...instead of this crazy scheme, why didn’t you sit me down, tell me what was happening and let us come up with a plan to prove my innocence together?”

Uh...good question.

“Fifteen years ago you left my life becauseyoudecided, without consulting me, that was the best for me. You’ve just done that,again. Who gave you the right to take control, to find a solution and to make decisions without me?” Molly’s intense eyes stood out in her still-white face. “How dare you!”

Whoa, wait, hold on...

But before he could respond, words started flying out of Molly’s mouth. “I am not a child. Nor am I a ditsy girl who needs you to make decisions for me. You arrogant bastard! This ismylife,myreputation andmycareer. If I am being accused of theft then I will fight it. I will react and respond the wayIfeel is right!”

“I was trying to help you,” Mack protested.

“No, you were trying to control the situation and controlme,” Molly replied, her tone bitter. “I’ve come to terms with you leaving me then. I can forgive that young and stupid boy, but you treating me like this, it’s unacceptable, Holloway. It’s hurtful and disrespectful, controlling—I said that already—and incredibly patronizing. I thought that maybe there was something building between us again, something wonderful and worthwhile. But you don’t loveme, you love the girl you used to know, the one you used to protect. You don’t see the woman I am today, the one who is capable and smart and determined and independent.”

“I—”

“Don’t you dare say a word.” Molly whipped out the words, cutting him off. “You’ve lost the right to take part in this conversation! I have lived my life without your help and guidance for fifteen years and I think I’ve done okay. So, screw you and screw your need to control everybody and everything.”

“I’m better off on my own, I always have been. Thanks for the reminder.” Molly turned to walk toward the door, her back stiff and straight.

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