Page 17 of The Detective's Secret Santa

“Yes.”

Though I knew the answer, hearing his admission is like the final stab to the heart. One word is all it takes to kill the fantasy of us. “What else have you interfered with in my life?”

“Brook—”

I grab my car keys and march to the front door, not allowing him to speak. “We’re done here, Bash. I want you gone.”

12

BASH

I pull up to the hotel with a giant knot in my stomach. I never intended for Brook to find out about her old boss this way. Hell, if I’m being honest, I never intended for her to find out about that whole situation at all.

And maybe that’s the problem.

Greg asked me to protect his daughter. It’s clear that I’ve underestimated Brook. Keeping secrets from her is not the way to keep her safe.

“Bash, what are you doing here?” Molly asks from the front desk of the hotel. She’s one of two working. The young kid beside her pretends not to be listening, but clearly he is.

“Do you have a few minutes to talk?”

“I’m a little busy training Derek,” she says. “Can it wait until this evening?’”

“I’ll be gone by then.”

“What? But I thought you were staying for Christmas.”

“I have something I need to take care of, back in Houston.”

Molly’s eyes widen in realization.

“Derek, I’ll be in the office if you need anything.” She pats the kid on the shoulder and nods for me to follow her. I wait for her to close the door behind us and take a seat before I set the case file folder on the desk.

“I haven’t been entirely honest with you and Brook, and for that I apologize. Greg asked me to watch out for your daughter, weeks before he passed. I’ve been trying to keep her safe without interfering in her life.”

Molly nods slowly, as though she’s taking in everything. “Start from the beginning.”

I explain all the moves I’ve made in the past three years, settling in an apartment a block away from Brook. I mention the dates and background checks. The threats to the less than deserving suitors. I open the case file on Brook’s old boss. “I’m the reason she got fired, Molly. I should have handled things differently. But there wasn’t enough evidence to get this guy thrown in jail. He was obsessed with Brook. I knew he’d be a problem, even if the company fired him. It was safest for her to move home. If I had any idea she’d have to forfeit a yearly bonus because of it…” I pull a folded check from my pocket. “Please don’t tell Brook this came from me.”

“Bash, that’s a lot of money.”

“This is the bonus she was supposed to receive. I want her to have it. This is all my fault.”

I’m surprised when Molly places her hand over mine and squeezes. “Greg was right about, Bash.”

“I don’t know about that. I don’t think he’d be okay with how I feel about your daughter.”

“How do you feel?”

I made a vow to myself, on the drive to the hotel, that I’d be completely honest with Molly. “I’m in love with her.”

Molly’s stiff expression softens, morphing into a smile. “Finally.”

“Excuse me?”

“When you’re done in Houston, you’ll come back won’t you?” Molly grips my hand again, this time tighter. Easing the tension with a gesture. Her superpower. “After all, you’ve already accepted Greg’s old job from what I’m told.” When I give her a confused look, she shrugs. “Small town. I know more than you think I do.”

“I don’t think Brook wants me to come back,” I admit.

---