When You Dare - Lori Foster [145]
“You’ve done right by her, Trace.” As they headed back to the table, Dare added, “Beating yourself up is only going to add to her guilt.”
“She said the same.” He shook off the tension and forced a smile as they reached the women. Without missing a beat, he picked up the conversation on careers.
“Alani is an incredible interior designer,” Trace bragged, “but Dare didn’t let her do his place.”
Dare pulled out the chair next to Molly. “You both know that I’m particular.”
“And no one knows you like you. I know.” Alani rolled her eyes and said to Molly, “But Dare does have great taste, so I can’t fault him.”
“Agreed. His house is incredible—inside and out.”
That gave Alani pause.
Dare said, “She’s staying with me.”
“Oh.” Alani tried not to react to that, but she still ended up grinning at Dare and saying slyly, “I didn’t realize.”
Molly wasn’t put off by her humor. “Once I get my life back in order, I think I’ll buy a house of my own.”
Dare sat back. “Since when?”
“My apartment… Well, it’s obviously not secure enough, so I can’t see me going back there to stay.” And then to Alani, “If you have the time when I’m ready to buy, I could use some professional help, I’m sure. Maybe we can work together.”
“Oh, I’d love that!” Alani gave her a business card, and for a few minutes they discussed Molly’s preferences and style.
Dare couldn’t believe that Molly was thinking along those lines. Where the hell did she think she’d be moving to? Was she just biding her time until it was safe to leave him?
Yes, he knew that eventually they’d have to work out the relationship kinks. But the idea of her moving away… No, he didn’t like that idea at all.
Trace flagged the waitress. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starved.”
“Judging by Dare’s black mood, he’s hungry, too,” Alani teased.
Molly looked over at him, and concern colored her expression. “Dare? What’s wrong?”
Knowing he was scowling, but not about to explain why, Dare tried to lighten up. “Not a thing.” He picked up a menu, even though he knew it by heart.
After they’d all ordered, he reached for Molly’s hand and spoke to his friends. “Did Molly tell you that she’s a writer?”
“She did!” Alani nodded. “Romantic suspense. It’s exciting, isn’t it?”
“No kidding?” Trace asked about her work, and Molly patiently answered his questions. Lacking subtlety, Trace said, “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but this could almost be research for you.”
Molly looked struck by that observation. “I hadn’t… I mean, it didn’t occur to me…”
Alani took sympathy on her. “Danger and romance probably mix better on paper than in real life.”
The danger part, yeah. He wished like hell he could have spared Molly. But the romance? How did Molly feel about that? No way could it be worth what she’d gone through, but if it hadn’t been for her abduction, he wouldn’t have met her.
Molly didn’t quite look at Dare when she said, “The dose of reality has been an eye-opener, that’s for sure.”
Dare hoped he didn’t end up in a book, but then, he trusted Molly to have discretion.
For the rest of the meal they all socialized like everyday, ordinary people, as opposed to women who’d been abducted and men lethal enough to maneuver outside the law.
Considering the circumstances, it actually turned into a relaxing social time. Dare enjoyed watching Molly interact with Trace and Alani. Trace was smoother than him, but still managed to intimidate most people. Not Molly.
She kept steering the conversation away from her writing and back to others, asking questions that weren’t intrusive or insensitive, but came from genuine interest.
Trace smiled at her a lot—and so did Alani. Yes, she still seemed fragile, but with Molly, Alani related on a deeper level.
For her part, Molly didn’t treat Alani with kid gloves the way so many others did. She treated her as an equal, and Alani responded to it.
When they were ready to leave the restaurant, Molly again embraced Alani. “I would love it if you stayed in touch.” Lower, she said, “And if you ever need