“Well, you are a free spirit. So is she. I’m sure you can appreciate how difficult it would be to have someone watching you like a hawk, babysitting your every move.”

“I’d hate it. I know she does. In fact, she insisted on making dinner tonight. It’s the first time since her accident. I hope she doesn’t overdo it.”

“I’m sure she won’t.”

Molly stood. “I’m going to head on out. Thanks for a great first day, and for the job. It’s actually been really nice to work again.”

“You’re welcome. Thanks for offering to help out.”

“You have a good company here, Carter. With my help, it’ll be even better. I can’t wait to dig in.”

“So I’ll . . . see you tomorrow?”

“Sure. See you tomorrow.”

At home, everything was as normal as it could be. Her mom was excited to put dinner on the table, and seemed to be full of energy. She told Molly and her dad that she’d wandered around the house, gotten her exercise, and rested when she was tired. She hadn’t overdone, and she felt good.

Molly was relieved.

After dinner, Molly went to her room and went over the notes she’d taken during the day, thinking about some of the upgrades she’d like to make. She wanted to ask Carter a few questions, but didn’t want to call him.

Work time was for work and calling him at night was . . .

Something she wouldn’t do if it was work related.

Their relationship was in flux right now, and that was her doing. That night a couple of weeks ago they’d been snuggling on the sofa, she’d felt comfortable. A little too comfortable, too familiar, which had dragged her back to the past, a place she never liked going.

The feelings had overwhelmed her. But they hadn’t just been feelings from the past. It was the feelings she had now that had caused her to panic, made her pull back from him.

Since then, she’d missed him. Seeing him today, working with him today, but unable to touch him, kiss him, or do anything about the emotional pull she always felt when she was around him somehow felt unnatural to her.

She knew she had to do it to maintain a level of professionalism at work, but she didn’t have to put him in that no touch, no contact zone after work.

She picked up the phone, and on impulse, punched his number.

He picked up on the second ring. “Hey, Molly.”

“Hi, Carter. What are you doing?”

“Watching some TV.”

“What? Not tearing up a room?”

He laughed. “Nah. A new employee started at work today, and she wore me out. I have nothing left to give to the poor house.”

She rolled her eyes. “I hardly think so.”

“So what’s up?”

Now that she’d called him, she didn’t have a plan formulated for what she was going to say. So she was just going to have to go with her gut. “I was wondering if you wanted to go do something.”

“What? You aren’t tired of me?”

“Shockingly, no.”

“That new action movie came out last weekend. It even has romance in it. You wanna go see it?”

She relaxed her shoulders, relieved he’d made it so easy on her. “I’d love to.”

“Hang on a second. Let me check my phone.”

She waited.

“There’s a showing at nine. Is that too late for you?”

“No, that works. How about you pick me up about eight thirty?”

“That’ll work. I’ll see you then.”

She took a shower, did her hair and makeup, then got dressed and went downstairs. Her parents were playing a board game at the dining room table, and she smiled at seeing her mother up and about again.

Her dad looked up from the game. “You look pretty.”

She looked down at her jeans and sweater, happy that he noticed.

“Thanks. I’m going to a movie.”

“With Carter?” her mother asked, with the kind of smile only a woman would give you when she knew you had a date.

“Yes, Mom. With Carter.”

She distracted them both by talking about the game they were playing, so she didn’t have to endure questions about her relationship with Carter. She’d filled them in over dinner about her workday, but fortunately they’d left the questions business related, which had suited her just fine.

Technically, she could leave Hope. Her mother was fine, her dad more than capable of taking care of her now, with Emma helping out by looking in on her.

But now she had a new job, and maybe she’d give that job a chance.

Which didn’t mean she was staying, nor that she had any intention of falling in love with Carter all over again.

Though her heart skipped a beat when she heard him drive up.

She kissed her parents goodbye and went outside where Carter was waiting for her in the driveway. She slid into the passenger seat of his car.

“I was going to come in and say hi to your parents.”

“Not necessary, and we don’t want to be late for the movie.”

“Okay.”

He shifted into reverse, and headed down the driveway.

Molly inhaled. She had no idea what he wore—aftershave, maybe, or his soap—but she loved the way he smelled. All she wanted to do right now was bury her face in his neck—maybe her tongue, as well.

“Are you all right?” he asked as he drove down the main highway toward the movie theater.

“Fine,” she said, shifting her gaze to him. “Why?”