“He saw the light on and came to check I wasn’t robbing you blind.”
Laken smiled at Jake warmly. “Sorry, sometimes I forget how observant you guys are. I spilled some wine on Molly, so I told her to grab something from the shop.” She looked over at Molly. “Oh, you found the skirt. I just remembered about it and came down to find it for you. It would look amazing on you.”
“Thanks.” She gave Laken a smile before turning to Jake. “I’ll just go put it on. Good night, Sheriff.”
He gave her a formal nod. Then looked over at Laken. “Duncan is picking you up?”
She nodded, seemingly unoffended by his nosy question. “Yes, and Colin is coming to get Lila. Don’t worry, we’re being safe.”
“Good. Keep the doors locked until they get here. I’ll see you ladies later.”
With that, he left, and Molly finally remembered how to breathe properly again. Damn the man. He was uptight, blunt, and so fucking sexy it was hard to concentrate in his presence.
“Molly? Everything okay?” Laken asked, startling her, and she realized with a blush of embarrassment she was just standing there, staring at the door.
“Yeah. I’m fine. I’ll just put this on.” She escaped before Laken could ask her any more questions.
Because she wasn’t certain she had the answers.
5
Jake walked towards the skate park. He was attempting to track down a couple of teenagers to read them the riot act for skateboarding recklessly through the park. Just this morning they’d knocked Mrs. Wellham over. As he grew closer to the skate boarding area the town council had built a few years back, a curvy redhead caught his attention. Molly. His stomach tightened. Damn, he’d hoped his reaction to her would have lessened by now. She’d been in Haven for two weeks now, and he’d only seen her a couple of times, usually with Savannah, Laken, or Lila. Each time he’d seen her, she’d been laughing, looking carefree and beautiful.
And every time his body reacted the same way. Almost as though it went on high alert in her presence. She stopped and bent over to tie her shoelace, and he found himself checking out her delectable ass.
Damn. What a woman.
He’d been pleased she hadn’t followed through on her idea to join Saxons. He’d turned up on both Friday and Saturday night, but no Molly. And no one had mentioned her, so he figured she hadn’t been there at all. There was no doubt she made an impression wherever she went.
What the hell was she doing? She stood talking to a couple of teenagers who were holding skateboards. One of the teenagers handed his skateboard and helmet over to Molly. She put the helmet over her hair and holding onto the skateboard, moved onto the concrete pad.
She wouldn’t. She’d injured her ankle not that long ago.
She put one foot back and pushed herself forward, her arms held straight out from her sides as though she was about to take off like a bird. Her laughter danced through the air. His heart started beating again. She was okay. She pushed off again. This time going faster. That wasn’t a good idea. His eyes widened as he saw her hit a rough patch in the concrete, she wobbled back and forth, and for a moment he thought she would regain her balance. But the skateboard shot out from underneath her, and she landed on her back on the hard ground.
“Molly!” he yelled out as he raced towards her. He pushed past the boys who now surrounded her and kneeling next to her.
“Jesus, that hurts,” she muttered, trying to push herself up.
“Lie still,” he barked at her as he ran his hands over her body.
“Why, Sheriff, I really don’t think this is the place,” she attempted to joke, but he saw the flash of pain on her face as he prodded her ankle.
“You’ve hurt your ankle again.”
She grimaced. “Guess it’s still a little weak. Twisted it as I fell.”
“What the hell were you thinking? Why would you get on that skateboard?” She also had a couple of scrapes on her elbows that were bl
eeding.
She shrugged. “I’ve never tried before.”
That didn’t seem like a good enough reason to him. But he held back his lecture as he saw her wince again. He needed to get her checked over.
“Let’s get you to the Doc.”
“If it’s all the same to you, I might just sit here for a bit. Catch my—” Her words were cut off as he slipped an arm around her back and under her legs and then stood, holding her against his chest.