She took a deep, shuddering breath, then walked into the house.

CARTER PULLED INTO the garage, parked Rhonda, then got out, straightening his jeans as he did.

His erection still hadn’t gone away and it was goddamned uncomfortable.

He had no idea why he’d decided to play the martyr tonight and take Molly home. She’d looked gorgeous in skintight jeans that showcased her fine ass. Her lips had been glossed and kissable, and all he’d thought about during the movie was putting his hands and mouth on her.

Instead, he’d taken her home. And then he’d hauled her onto his lap and kissed the hell out of her, making both of them hot and uncomfortable.

What kind of a glutton for punishment did that make him?

Now he was going to be hard all night, and no doubt lie awake and think about how she could have been in his bed, and the two of them could have gotten the release they both wanted.

He threw his keys on the kitchen counter and grabbed a beer, popped it open and downed a few quick swallows, hoping it would cool his libido.

He took a seat in the living room and turned on the television, flipping through channels as he drank his beer. By the time he’d emptied the can, he realized he was still thinking about Molly, and still wished she was here with him. She’d be naked—and so would he—and he could be tasting her, touching her, sinking inside her.

Fuck.

He got up, crunched the beer can in his hand, and tossed it in the trash.

Since it wasn’t likely he was going to be sleeping anytime soon, he might as well do some paperwork, and maybe spend the next hour or so mentally cursing himself for being a moron.

The next time he had Molly on his lap, ready and willing, he wasn’t going to be stupid and send her home.

Chapter 28

BETWEEN WORK, THE approaching holidays, and town square committee meetings doubling up because the project was almost finished, Molly had her hands full. Good thing she liked being busy.

After work tonight they’d meet with the town square committee, likely for the final time. She’d been buried in her laptop all day and Carter had been at one of his shops in Tulsa, so they hadn’t had a chance to sit down and go over the agenda, but he promised he’d be back in time for them to have a discussion over dinner.

She picked up her phone. It was five thirty. She’d told her parents she’d likely go straight from work to dinner to the meeting¸ so they shouldn’t expect her home until late.

As it was, Carter was already running late since he’d told her he’d be back by four.

She busied herself for another ten minutes with setting up the new accounting system when she heard the front door open. She looked up to see him coming in.

He opened the door to her office, a grim look on his face.

“Bad day?” she asked.

“Jack Peterson gave his notice.”

She leaned back in her chair. “That’s not good. He’s one of your most competent managers. Did he give a reason?”

“His wife’s been wanting to move back to Minnesota, where her family lives, so her dad’s offered him a job up there in St. Paul with the family business.”

“Oh. Well, not much you can do about that.”

“They’re moving in a month, so at least that gives me time to find a replacement. And Jack said he knows someone that works at Best Auto in one of the Tulsa locations. He’s currently an assistant manager and Jack says he’s really good, so I’m going to give him a call and see if he can come in for an interview.”

“At least you have a start.”

“True. Anyway, I’m sorry I’m late. Jack and I spent a lot of time talking. He’s not happy about this move, but his wife has been miserable living here. I think their relocating is a matter of saving the marriage. So I had to listen.”

“Understood. It’s not an easy situation for him, I can imagine.”

“No, it’s not. I got the idea that his wife issued an ultimatum that he either went with her, or she was going to take their three kids and move without him.”

Molly frowned. “Ouch. That’s ugly.”

“Yeah.”

“I hope they can work it out.”

“Me, too. I hate losing him, but family has to be a person’s number-one priority.”

She couldn’t imagine doing that to her as yet nonexistent husband. But she knew those kinds of relationships existed. “Would you do that for the woman you loved?”

He frowned. “Do what?”

“Leave Hope.”

“Yes.”

He didn’t even hesitate. She was surprised. “Really. You’ve built a business here, Carter. Your family is here. Everything you know.”

He shrugged. “I can build a business anywhere. You don’t just walk away from a relationship.”

Which was exactly what she’d done. Only she hadn’t walked. She’d run. She started to say something, but then he continued.

“Like Jack. He’s got fifteen years invested in his marriage to Eileen. They have three children together. To him, it’s more important to stay together as a family than fight over a job. Location? That’s nothing.”

“I suppose.”

“I would think you’d see it his wife’s way. Why does it matter where you live? You move around all the time.”

“But I don’t have children.”

“That’s true.”

“I don’t know. I think she emotionally blackmailed him into seeing things her way.”