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Chapter Twenty Two

"I think dere's a ghost in here."

"I ain't afwaid of no ghosts."

"Do you think this is God's playhouse?"

"If it is, he keeps it real dirty. My mommy wouldn't like it."

The two little voices of Shelby and Mason were unmistakable. I opened my mouth, but Molly slapped her hand over my mouth. I knew she did it so that I wouldn't say anything, but I also found it incredibly kinky. We sat there for several tense moments. I could almost hear Molly's heart racing. I heard Mason and Shelby's little footsteps in the packed dirt. They were coming closer. I couldn't believe the rotten luck. I was sitting on a bench with a boner and these kids wanted to play house.

As if it couldn't get worse, the door opened again. Kev's mom poked her head in.

"Mason Richardson are you in here?"

Even though we hadn't been discovered yet, I could see Mason and Shelby fairly well. Shelby crouched down, tugged Mason down and covered his mouth with her hand.

Hmph. Like mother like daughter.

Fortunately, two little kids can't keep quiet for long. And Kev's mom had patience. Barely a full minute passed before Shelby started whispering. Kev's mom pushed aside a big bag of mulch and spotted them. I pressed farther back into the wall.

"Mason, why didn't you answer me?"

"We were playing hide and seek!" Shelby piped up. That little shit didn't seem to know fear.

"Well, play it outside. Lord knows what's in this shed." Kev's mom looked around; her face was wrinkled in disgust.

I had to stifle a snort. If she only knew...

As the door swung closed and I heard the loud sound of two rambunctious kids outside the shed, Molly's hand dropped from my mouth. She sighed. I almost whined when she stood up.

"I'm sorry," she said. She started to back up. It was like a cold shower. My tie flapped around my neck.

"Sorry?" I said.

"I shouldn't...I wouldn't..." she said. She took another breath.

"I can't be doing this."

"But, you do it well," I protested. I saw her fingers go to her lips as if the pressure of my lips on hers was still there.

"I can't do this to Shelby," she said quietly.

"What? What can't you do?"

I stood up and took a step towards her; she took a step back.

"You don't know how much I want to do this AJ," she said quietly. "But you're my boss and you're giving Shelby and me a roof over our heads. If this," she made a motion between the two of us. "doesn't work out, then I'm hurting her."

I didn't know how to respond. I just stood there dumb-faced as she smoothed out her dress and walked out of the shed.

I stumbled back to the tack bench and sat there for several minutes.

The thought of not kissing Molly again was like torture. It was almost worse than having not kissed her at all. Now that I knew what it felt like...

"J?"

I looked up. Brian poked his head in.

"Hey, why are you hiding? Nick left Brooke and Noah with me and Howie's watching your two. Are you going to stay in here all night?"

I stood up and slid my tie into my pocket.

"I'm coming," I said. "I just needed some fresh air."

Brian took a big whiff. "Oh yeah, this is yummy air. Mold ala manure."

I just shook my head. We headed back to the yard. The party was quickly wrapping up. Mason seemed to be throwing a minor hissy fit. Shelby stood by him, hands on hips, glaring at Kev's mom like it was all her fault.

"You ready to pack everybody up?" Howie said. I nodded.

My flight back to Tampa was scheduled for noon the next day. I just hoped that Molly might change her mind about the whole 'can't do this' thing after a good night's sleep.

After a short, but noisy bus ride, we all arrived back at the hotel. Everyone unloaded kids and we piled into the lobby. All I wanted to do was put Ally and Joe to bed and lock myself into the bathroom. I was going to take Nick's advice about my hand and a copy of Playboy.

Then hopefully I would be able to sleep.

But something told me that was just wishful thinking.

-------------------------------

September 9

"Good morning."

"Morning."

Ally and Joe had both began to fuss around the same time. I had been up a couple times during the night. I have a feeling they picked up on my stress. Especially Joe. I think I was up every two hours just to walk the room with him.

At six o'clock on the dot, Molly had walked in. It was morning feeding time. She had picked up Ally and walked across the room to make the bottle. I held Joe and watched her walk. She even made walking look good.

As we sat across from each other, both holding a hungry baby, I studied her face. She looked tired.

"How'd you sleep?" I asked. She looked up at me and then quickly back down.

"Okay,"

"That's bullshit."

The corners of her mouth twitched.

"True. I didn't sleep."

We faded back off into silence. Molly had just stood with Ally in her arms when Shelby burst into the room. She was like a constant tornado. I secretly looked forward to seeing her wardrobe every morning. This morning was no exception.

She was wearing bellbottoms, a paint smock, a beret, and long fancy silk gloves that went way up past her elbows. She headed right to me.

"Mr. J!"

"What's up kiddo?"

She put her little hands on my knees and peered right into my face.

"We've got to wescue Mason," she said seriously. I looked down at her and tried my damndest not to laugh.

"Rescue Mason? He's with his grandma."

Shelby made a face. "She's grouchy."

I had a feeling Kev's mom looked grouchy because Ms. Shelby had talked Mason into going into that shed.

"Honey, leave AJ alone this morning," Molly said softly. Shelby turned around.

"Mommy..." she whined.

I ruffled her hair and smiled.

"You know what? When we get home I'll let you call Mason's grandma's house and you can talk to him. How bout that?"

She seemed to think about it. She tipped her head and her beret almost slipped off her head. Finally she smiled.

"Okay!"

She skipped back into the other room, happy as a clam.

If only I could make her mommy that happy with a few words.

"Thank you."

I looked up. Molly was hovering over the crib. She was smiling softly.

"For what?"

"For humoring her," she said. I laughed.

"She humors me," I corrected. I stood up and put Joe in the crib. My hand brushed against her arm.

"Moll, last night..."

She shook her head. "Let's not talk about it right now."

She straightened up and headed to the other room. I stared down at Ally and Joe. Joe was staring at me with curious eyes. I leaned down.

"McLean men don't have a good track record with women," I whispered. "Remember that."

He broke into a big smile. Then he rolled over. And back. He was a flipping machine.

I couldn't help but think it must be nice to be that little and innocent. I looked over at Ally. She was watching Joe carefully. With a sigh that was way too big for a little babe so small, she rolled over.

I let out a gasp. It was better late than never.

And it just proved that imitation was the best form of flattery.

Now if only I could imitate, er reenact, that kiss from last night...