“True. New York actually is the best city in the world, although to be honest I found the place a little scary when I first arrived. I guess it’s a little easier moving from one big city to another, though. I was raised on a small island off the coast of Maine, so Manhattan was a bit of a culture shock for me. Fortunately I came with friends.” Eva chatted away, filling Molly in on her life story and the background to her going into business with her friends. “At the time we thought losing our jobs was the worst thing that could have happened, but it turned out to be the best.”
The conversation moved on to more general topics and by the time they returned to Daniel’s apartment, Molly was yawning.
“That dessert was incredible. And you have lovely friends.” She slid off her shoes and wrapped her arms around him. “I’ve forgotten what it’s like to hang out with good people. You really know them, and they know you. Lucas and Eva would be there for you if something bad happened. And you’d be there for them.”
He didn’t deny it. “You have people who would be there for you, too.”
“Maybe. No, not maybe.” She frowned. “Gabe and Mark. They’re like brothers to me. They’d be there.” Her expression cleared. “That’s a good feeling.”
“Not just Gabe and Mark.”
Her gaze lifted to his and something flickered in her eyes. “You don’t owe me anything, Daniel. This is just fun. Sex. You like my ponytail, my butt and my legs.”
“I love your ponytail, your butt and your legs. And yes, it’s sex, but it’s also friendship. I like you, Molly. I like you a lot. It doesn’t matter how hot you are, I never would have gone to bed with you if I didn’t like you. You’re a friend.” He stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “Don’t you think we’re friends?”
“Yes, but—” she looked shaken “—this will end at some point.”
“And when it does we’ll stop having sex but we’ll still be friends. And the day you need me, I’ll be there. That’s what friendship is.” He could tell by the look in her eyes that she didn’t believe him and it hurt him to think that her experience had stripped away her belief in people. It also shocked him just how much he wanted her to trust him. “Molly—” He broke off as his phone rang.
He checked the number and stepped back. “I need to take this. It’s Fliss.”
“Of course.”
They walked into the apartment, and he spoke to his sister.
“Everything okay?”
“No.” There was a shake in Fliss’s voice. “Are you on your own? Can I come up?”
“I’m not on my own—” his gaze met Molly’s “—but you can come up. Where are you? Do you want me to come and get you?”
“No need. I’m right outside your building.”
Eighteen
Molly made hot chocolate in the kitchen, trying n
ot to listen to the conversation between Fliss and Daniel in the living room. They sat with their heads close together, dark against blond, the bond between them unmistakable.
His sister needed him, and Daniel hadn’t given a thought to turning her away. She respected that. She not only respected it, she envied it. How would it feel to call someone in your time of need and know they’d be there for you?
She didn’t know, because she hadn’t had that when she’d needed it most. The one person who she could have turned to, her father, had been the person she’d been determined to protect. She would no more have burdened him with her problems than she would cut off a limb. He’d been hurt enough in life without her adding to it. She’d shouldered her problems alone, first when her mother had left and later when her life had fallen apart.
Whatever issues Daniel might have had growing up, it was clear that he had a close relationship with his sisters. They were there for each other.
Was life easier when you had a sibling?
She thought about all the people she knew who were estranged from family and decided that the bond of family was no more reliable than any other.
And anyway, she didn’t have siblings so there was no point in thinking about it.
This wasn’t about her, it was about Fliss. And Fliss clearly had a problem. A big enough problem to drive her to her brother’s door late at night.
Judging from the apologetic glances she’d sent Molly, it was obvious she hadn’t been expecting him to have company. No doubt she was wishing Molly wasn’t here. She’d heard his response to the question of whether he was on his own. The fact that Fliss had made that call from outside his apartment building told Molly how badly she’d wanted to see him. And she didn’t want to put the brakes on the conversation.
She walked over to them and set the hot chocolate down in front of Fliss. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Daniel.”
“Why? Where are you going?”