Which was why it was better if Molly removed herself from his company for the moment. Better for Gideon, that was. For herself, Molly would have liked to set him straight over several matters. For Crys and Sam’s sake she would keep her own counsel. For the moment…
‘I certainly hope so.’ Gideon nodded abruptly.
‘Ready, Molly?’ David prompted lightly.
She was more than ready to remove herself from the odious Gideon’s company, not even bothering to say goodbye to him as she followed David out of the house.
Really, Gideon seemed to think she was to blame for everything that happened. Everything bad, that was.
But who could it have been who’d told the press about the christening? Because it certainly hadn’t been her!
‘Cheer up,’ David advised lightly after they had driven in silence for several minutes. ‘It may never happen!’
‘It already has happened,’ she returned gloomily. ‘Surely you must realise Gideon thinks I told the press about the christening?’
‘He doesn’t think that really,’ David assured her with a grin. ‘He’s only off with you because he likes you.’
‘You have to be joking!’ Molly spluttered.
‘I didn’t say he was happy about it,’ David accepted slowly. ‘But he does like you.’ He nodded with certainty. ‘And a little jealousy because you’ve come out with me this afternoon can’t be a bad thing!’
Molly shook her head in disbelief. ‘You’re being as ridiculous as Crys now,’ she dismissed disgustedly. ‘I don’t like Gideon.’ Even less so now. ‘And he doesn’t like me. End of story,’ she told David firmly.
‘Sure,’ he accepted unconvincingly.
‘I mean it, David.’ She gave him a warning glare. ‘The sooner Christmas is over and I can get as far away from Gideon as it’s possible to be, the better I shall like it.’
He gave her a brief narrow-eyed glance. ‘Methinks the lady doth protest too much…’
‘Will you just stop it?’ Molly’s hands were clenched tightly in her lap. ‘The man is absolutely loathsome!’ she stated determinedly, clearly remembering the accusation in his gaze earlier.
Except she couldn’t quite deny—to herself, at least—her completely nerve-tingling awareness of Gideon.
But just because she was physically aware of him that didn’t mean she had to like the man.
Of course it didn’t.
Except now she was protesting too much. Damn it. And most of all damn Gideon Webber.
‘I quite like him myself,’ David said slowly. ‘And he’s obviously very fond of Crys.’
‘Perhaps too fond,’ Molly snapped before she had time to guard her words, and at once felt stricken at having spoken quite so bluntly.
She liked David, would be working very closely with him in future months, but that was no reason to have voiced her inner suspicions concerning Gideon’s feelings towards Crys.
Her cheeks felt warm with embarrassed colour. ‘What I meant to say was—’
‘Forget it, Molly.’ David reached over and briefly squeezed her arm. ‘It’s an interesting concept, I grant you that,’ he added thoughtfully. ‘But not one I should put too much credence in, if I were you,’ he dismissed.
‘No,’ she accepted gratefully. She really would have to be more careful about making unguarded comments about Gideon. To anyone.
‘I mean it, Molly.’ David gave her a warm glance. ‘Try thinking about it from Gideon’s point of view—’
‘Do I have to?’ She grimaced.
He chuckled softly, shaking his head in gentle reproof. ‘From what I can gather, Crys is the only family Gideon has left. She is family, Molly,’ he insisted softly as she looked sceptical. ‘His parents both died years ago, and Crys was married to Gideon’s younger brother. That brother is now dead, too. All Gideon has left of that relationship is Crys.’ He shrugged. ‘That’s how I see it, anyway. I’m still extremely close to Cathy’s parents,’ he added huskily.
It was one way of looking at things, granted. But Molly wasn’t convinced it was the right way as far as Gideon’s feelings towards Crys were concerned…
Although it was definitely preferable to believing the man she was so attracted to was in love with another woman. Been there, done that.
‘Before you start again, I did not tell any member of the press about the christening on Sunday,’ Molly told Gideon defensively when she turned to find him standing grim-faced behind her as she set about preparing their evening meal. Crys was still totally occupied upstairs with the less-than-happy Peter.
His gaze narrowed. ‘I—’ He broke off as the telephone on the kitchen wall began to ring. ‘Would you mind answering that?’ he said slowly.
Molly looked from him down to her wet hands, where she was peeling potatoes, and then back at Gideon. ‘It may have escaped your notice, but I’m a little busy at the moment!’ she snapped irritably; in fact up to her arms in it was the description that readily came to mind.
Not that she at all minded preparing an evening meal in Crys’s absence. In fact, she was more than pleased to have something to do. But at the same time she did not intend being harassed by Gideon. And the still-ringing telephone, like Gideon himself, was starting to grate on her nerves.
Gideon drew in a sharp breath. ‘If I say please…?’ he suggested tightly.
Molly blinked; that would certainly be a novelty. ‘Well?’ she pushed dryly when he made no effort to do so.
His eyes flared deeply blue. ‘Please,’ he finally bit out, through gritted teeth.
‘Testy, testy,’ Molly taunted as she moved to dry her hands before snatching up the receiver. ‘Yes?’ she prompted lightly.
Her query was met by silence. Not the silence of a call ended, but that slightly static silence that said the line was still open.
‘Hello?’ she said more strongly. ‘Is there anyone there?’ Her voice was sharp now. She was more and more convinced that there was someone on the end of the line. She could almost hear their breathing…
In answer to her last query there was a faint click on the line, the dialling tone immediately following.
Molly slowly put down the receiver before turning sharply to look at Gideon. ‘What’s going on?’ she demanded to know.
‘I have no idea.’ He shrugged abruptly. ‘But that’s the third call like that since you left with David this afternoon. I wanted you to answer it this time to see if you got the same response I did when I answered the last two.’
‘Hanging up?’ Molly said slowly.
‘Exactly,’ Gideon confirmed grimly, thrusting his hands into his trouser pockets. ‘Obviously the call wasn’t meant for you, either,’ he added frowningly.
Molly shook her head. ‘Maybe it was just a wrong number?’
‘Three times in as many hours?’ Gideon said sceptically.
‘It could be.’ She shrugged dismissively, more interested in cooking dinner for them all than worrying about hang-up calls.
‘Don’t be ridiculous, Molly,’ he snapped.
Her