Page 28 of This Heart Of Mine (Chicago Stars 5)

Daphne’s Lonesome Day

Molly’s eardrums rang from the blast of the toy whistle clamped between Phoebe’s teeth.

“That’s enough!” Her sister marched forward. “Molly, you are offside! Roo, let go! Kevin, get your hands off her. Now, everybody sit down!”

Kevin dropped his arm. Dan rubbed his chest. Roo released Kevin’s pant leg.

Molly felt sick. Exactly what had she hoped to accomplish? She couldn’t bear looking at anyone. The idea that her sister and brother-in-law must know by now how she’d attacked Kevin while he slept was beyond humiliating.

But she was accountable for what had happened, and she couldn’t run away. Taking a cue from Daphne’s fans, she grabbed her lovey for comfort and carried him to an armchair as far away from the rest of them as she could get. He gave her a sympathetic lick on the chin.

Dan took a seat on the couch. He wore the same stubborn expression that had unglued her. Phoebe perched next to him looking like a worried Vegas showgirl wearing mommy clothes. And Kevin…

His anger filled the room. He stood next to the fireplace, arms crossed over his chest, hands locked beneath his armpits, as if he didn’t trust himself not to use them on her. How could she ever have had a crush on someone who was so dangerous?

That’s when it sank in. Phoebe, Dan, Kevin… and her. The creator of Daphne the Bunny was up against the NFL.

Her only strategy lay in a strong offense. She’d look like a bitch, but it was the kindest thing she could do for Kevin. “Let’s make it snappy. I have things to do, and this is just too boring for words.”

A dark blond eyebrow shot to the middle of his forehead.

Phoebe sighed. “It’s not going to work, Molly. He’s too tough to scare off. We know Kevin is the father of your baby, and he’s here to talk about the future.”

She whirled toward Kevin. He hadn’t told them! Phoebe would never be talking like this if she knew what Molly had done.

His eyes gave nothing away.

Why had he kept silent? Once Phoebe and Dan knew the truth, he’d be off the hook.

She turned toward her sister. “The future doesn’t involve him. The truth is, I—”

Kevin sprang away from the fireplace. “Get your coat,” he snapped. “We’re going for a walk.”

“I don’t really—”

“Now!”

As much as she hated facing him, talking with Kevin alone would be easier than dealing with him in front of the Calebow Mafia. She set her lovey on the carpet and rose. “Stay here, Roo.”

Phoebe picked up the poodle as he began to whine.

With her spine ramrod straight, Molly marched out of the room. Kevin caught up with her in the kitchen, gripped her arm, and hauled her into the laundry room. There he shoved Julie’s pink and lavender ski jacket at her and snagged Dan’s brown duffel coat from a hook for himself. He threw open the back door and gave her a none-too-gentle nudge outside.

Molly pulled on the coat and tugged at the zipper, but it didn’t come close to meeting in the front, and the wind cut through her silk blouse. Kevin didn’t bother fastening Dan’s coat, even though he only wore a summer weight knit shirt and khakis. The heat of his fury was keeping him warm.

She reached nervously into Julie’s pocket and found an old knit cap with a faded Barbie patch. The remnants of a glittery silver pompon hung by a few threads at the top. She yanked it on over her hair. He pulled her to a flagstone path that led to the woods. She could feel the anger rolling off him.

“You weren’t going to tell me,” he said.

“There was no need. But I’m going to tell them! You should have done that when Dan showed up and spared yourself a long trip.”

“I can just imagine his reaction. This isn’t my fault, Dan. Your perfect little sister-in-law raped me. I’m sure he’d have believed that.”

“He’ll believe it now. I’m sorry you had to be… inconvenienced this way.”

“Inconvenienced?” The word was a whiplash to her. “This is a hell of a lot more than an inconvenience!”

“I know that. I—”

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