Page 4 of Claiming His Girl

Molly thinks I never came to any of our scheduled appointments, but that’s not entirely true. I actually came to the first one. In fact, managed to get all the way inside the building.

And then I saw her through the glass windows.

She was wearing bright pink scrubs that accentuated her mouth-watering curves. And her blonde hair was pulled into a high ponytail with a yellow scrunchie.

The patient she was working with said something that made her laugh, and she burst into the most adorable fit of giggles.

I knew right then that Molly was meant to be my girl. So, I decided to skip my appointment and get better on my own. I figured it would introduce myself to her once I was all healed up.

But telling her now iswayahead of schedule.

I follow Molly inside and close the door, watching as she looks around the space. blue eyes grow wide with curiosity as she takes in the thick shag rug on the wood floors, the giant stone fireplace in the corner, and the deer heads hanging on the wall. Lola, my German Shepherd, gives Molly’s hand a friendly lick and sits at her feet.

“Your home is amazing,” she says softly.

The breathy sound of her voice makes my entire body spark to life. I clench my jaw.

“Thanks,” I reply as gruffly as I can. “So, you came all the way up here after work just to nag me about not coming to the appointment? That isn’t something your dad would do.”

She winces at my words, and I feel like an asshole. But then she nods and tosses her hair back, laughing at herself in a self-deprecating sort of way that makes me feel even worse.

There is something about Molly. Something warm and kind and…womanly. It makes me want to protect her.

Which is exactly why she needs to leave before I do something stupid.

Like push her up against the wall and kiss the shit out of her.

“I wasn’t coming to nag,” Molly explains with that little laugh of hers. “I’m here to offer encouragement so you can get better.”

Then she reaches out and touches my arm, and I swear my whole body goes up in flames.

“You served our country well, and now it’s our turn to serve you. That’s all I’m here to do.”

I raise an eyebrow at her.

“You really mean that?” I ask.

How many times have I been thanked for my service, more from obligation than true meaning?

Molly gives me another warm smile. “When my dad came back from his tour, he didn’t get a lot of help. He could have been better sooner if there had been more available. That’s why he became a physical therapist, and that’s why I became one too.”

The sincerity in her voice rocks me to my core.

“I want to help you, Chase,” she continues. “We can even do the physical therapy here at your place if it makes you more comfortable. I have a few things I can load up in my car, and the rest we can use ordinary objects for.”

I’m shocked to hear that she’s willing to come to the cabin to do physical therapy. It actually sounds good, because I would rather do it at home where I’m comfortable.

Because of the scarring on my face, I’m usually less than thrilled to go out in public. I don’t want the stares or the pity. I don’t want people I don’t even know walking up to me and starting a conversation. Instead, I just want to melt into the background and hide away from it all.

“You’re willing to come here and do my appointments at the cabin?” I ask again, to make sure I understand her right.

“Of course. I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t.”

If anybody else had said that to me, I would have waved it off as something that people said. But Molly looks at me with those light blue eyes, and for whatever reason, I believe her.

I can’t help but chuckle. “Has anybody ever told you that you’re relentless?”

Molly beams at me. “They have. And even though there isn’t always the best of intentions behind it, I try to look at it as a good thing.”