And of course she would be shocked. Her life was unraveling.
Still, it was that one phrase that went round and round in her head.
She won’t break his heart because he doesn’t have one.
Well, that was good to know, wasn’t it? She didn’t want to break anyone’s heart ever again.
“Actually I was available for comment,” Daniel drawled, “but seeing as my only comment would have been unprintable there didn’t seem much point in answering the phone.”
“Your phone has been ringing?” It was happening again. Only this time Daniel was in the line of fire. She flipped her laptop closed, unwilling to read any more. “I’m sorry you’ve been dragged into this mess. You’d better leave.”
“Why would I leave?”
“Because sooner or later someone is going to show up here asking questions. Probably taking photos. You should get out before it gets tough.” That was what people did, wasn’t it? Her mother. Her friends—
Her friends.
“You think I care about that?”
“You’ll care, Daniel. When they’ve dragged your reputation through the mud, interviewed all of your ex-girlfriends and plastered the sordid details of your life all over the internet, you’ll care. All my friends should stay away.” What if they bothered Gabe and Mark? What if their friendship wasn’t as strong as she believed it to be?
“It’s because I’m your friend I have no intention of staying away. We’ll formulate a plan together.”
“A plan?”
“Of course. I’m a lawyer. A master of strategy. It’s my job. But first I need coffee. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Daniel—”
There was a knock on the door and Daniel’s expression darkened.
“Don’t answer that,” Molly warned, but he strode to the door and checked the identity of the visitor.
“It’s Fliss and Harriet.” He opened the door and then locked it behind them.
Harriet was carrying three kittens in a basket and she set them down next to Molly. “Sorry to bring them, but I couldn’t leave them on their own.”
“You shouldn’t have come at all.” Molly stared at the twins. “I don’t understand what you’re doing here.”
“When we see our brother’s name on Twitter it’s generally something we want to follow up on,” Fliss said, turning to Daniel. “Not to mention the fact that some pea-brained journalist stopped me in the street this morning and asked me whether the reason you’d chosen to become a divorce lawyer was because your childhood was so unstable.”
It was like adding a few drops of poison to a water source, Molly thought. Pretty soon everyone was infected.
She expected Daniel to be annoyed, but to her surprise he grinned.
“And your reply was?”
“I asked him if he became a journalist because he was nosy and led a boring life.” Fliss thumped her bag down on the sofa and looked around approvingly. “Nice place.”
“Thank you.” Molly felt awkward. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry? It’s the journalist who should be sorry for asking questions that were none of his damn business. And he was sorry, I’m happy to tell you. I was walking a rescue dog who has a very snarly temper. I didn’t actually allow sharp teeth to snap tight on sensitive flesh but it was a close enough thing to ensure he won’t be back in a hurry. And I might have mentioned in passing that the dog’s favorite food is testicles.” She sat down next to Harriet on the sofa, looking unreasonably happy about the outcome.
Molly pulled a curious Valentine away from the kittens and joined the twins on the sofa. “I’ve already told Daniel he should leave. Perhaps he’ll listen to you.”
“He never listens to us. And why would he leave? He’s big and bad enough to look after himself and if the press steps over a line legally he will go after them like the wrath of…of…someone wrathful. We’re here for you.” Fliss patted Molly’s leg awkwardly.
“For me? Why?”