Nicole rose. “I’ll call the boss and let them know we won’t make it back in the morning.”
“I can take you both to Portland,” Creed offered.
Casanova shook his head. “I don’t think we should risk it. You haven’t been out on that highway.”
Kayla shot a glance at Gabe. “Should we stay?”
Gabe shook his head. “I have to get back. If something happens—and it always does on nights like this—I’m on call with the police department. We’ll take it slow.” He looked across at Nicole and Casanova. “I could drop you off in town at the hotel, or one of you could sleep on my couch and the other on the floor in my living room. It’s a little closer to town.”
“I’d offer to let you stay with us,” Emma said, “but I’m having the cottage remodeled, the bed in the guest room was dismantled and I got rid of my old couch.”
“Don’t be silly.” Molly waved her hand. “I can accommodate Casanova, Nicole, Emma and Creed. And I’ll provide breakfast.”
“We don’t want to add to your burden,” Casanova insisted.
“Then you can help cook breakfast.” Molly smiled brightly. “Gabe and Kayla, call me when you get to your place so that I know you’re okay.”
“We will.” Gabe kissed Molly, and the couple departed, leaving the remaining folks standing on the porch.
Molly led Emma and Creed to the guest room and then stopped in the hallway to gather sheets and blankets from the linen closet. As she carried them to the first floor, her heart beat faster with each step that brought her closer to him.
Nicole came in from the front porch. “Could I use your landline? I’m not getting any reception on my cell phone.”
“Sure, it’s in the dining room.” Molly pointed the way. “I’m making a bed for you in the old servant’s quarters if you don’t mind. It’s only a single.”
“I’m not picky,” Nicole said. “Thank you for putting us up.”
“It’s the least I can do after your near-death experience.”
Nicole ducked into the dining room, leaving Molly alone with Casanova. Her voice murmured through the open doorway, the sound muffled by distance.
Molly’s pulse hammered through her veins as she pulled the cushions off the couch and reached for the handle to unfold the hidden bed beneath. A bed Casanova would soon be sleeping on. Did he sleep naked? Her stomach fluttered.
“Let me.” Casanova’s hand closed over hers and all her good intentions flew to the four winds.
She stepped back so quickly she nearly tripped on the cushion she’d tossed to the floor behind her.
Casanova grabbed her arm and yanked her against his chest to keep her from falling.
With her breasts smashed against him, she couldn’t breathe. Or was it just because he stole her breath away?
“What is it about you that makes me want to kiss you?” he whispered, his head dipping toward her.
“I don’t know.” Molly’s eyelids swooped low and her chin tipped upward, her lips tingling even before his touched hers.
“The boss is okay with our delay,” Nicole said, the words louder as she stepped through the doorway. “Nothing urgent on the docket...”
Molly leaped over the cushion and scrubbed her palms over her jeans, her face heating as if she stood too close to a raging fire.
And wasn’t that what she’d done? Stood too close to Casanova, a man who flirted and left a woman at every stop? If she kept it up, she’d get burned.
“Uh, did I interrupt something?” Nicole’s lips turned up on one corner. “I’m sure I can go back into the dining room and call someone else or make a snack or something, if you’d like to be alone.”
Pressing her damp palms against her cheeks, Molly shook her head. “No, no. I can show you to your room now, if you’d like.”
“Are you sure?” Nicole turned to go back into the kitchen.
“Yes.” Molly grabbed the twin-size sheets and hurried past Nicole. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you the room. It’s not much.”
“Honey, don’t let my Jimmy Choo shoes fool you. I’ve slept on the ground in the cold rain before. Nothing can be as bad as that.”
As she left the room, Molly could hear a soft chuckle from one hot agent who’d managed to turn her inside out in a matter of minutes. What was she thinking? The man was temporary, at best.
So? What was wrong with a temporary fling?
Molly flipped the switch on the old maid’s quarters she’d converted into an office. She’d left the twin-size bed in there on the off chance she had to rent out her own room should the B&B fill to overflowing. “You could have my bedroom, if you want.”
“No, this is great. A mattress and pillow are all I need. And I presume I can use the shower in the bathroom we were just in?”
“You certainly may. The towels are in a cupboard beside the sink.”
“Thanks.”
When Molly turned to leave, Nicole caught her arm. “And, Molly...”
“Yes?”
“Be careful with Nova.”
Molly’s brows narrowed. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You two were in a clinch, and it wasn’t about wrestling.” She loosened her grip Molly’s arm. “I’m just saying, he’s a flirt, but there’s something more beneath that bravado. I suspect he got hurt once.”
Molly laughed. “And here I thought you were worried about me having my heart broken.”
Nicole frowned. “That, too. He hasn’t taken an interest in anyone in a long time.”
“And you think I have the ability to hurt him again?” Molly shook her head. “I barely know the guy.”
“Love doesn’t take years to grow.”
“And lust shouldn’t be confused with love.” Molly glanced down at the hand on her arm. “If there’s nothing else I can get you...”
“Just so you know—” Nicole’s hand tightened on Molly’s arm before she finally let go “—I look out for my team.”
“Casanova is a big boy.” Boy hardly described the hulk of a man. “He can look out for himself.”
Nicole smiled, her face as lovely as any model’s. “Men can be fools when it comes to women. Casanova may be a crack agent, but he’s a little soft when it comes to matters of the heart.”
“Unlike you?”
Nicole dipped her head. “Unlike me.”
“Don’t worry,” Molly said. “I’m not out to prove he’s a fool.” She backed through the doorway, spun on her heels and ran.
She couldn’t believe Nicole had warned her off Casanova. As if Molly could be a threat to Nicole. She was stunningly attractive and could no doubt hold her own in any catfight. Then why warn Molly to back off?
Unless she had a stake in the handsome agent. Was Nicole in love with him? If so, why hadn’t she owned up to it or shown any sign?
Molly pressed a hand to her flushed cheek. As she blew through the kitchen, she checked the settings on the stove to make sure it had been turned off properly. Passing through