When Hearts Collide - By James, Kendra Page 0,24
had no idea, but it definitely didn’t include looking after a stranger’s child.
“Please, Molly. I’ll pay you.”
His words reminded her of the conversation with his mother-in-law. How could she have forgotten? She needed to tell him.
“Mr. Taylor...”
“Please!” His hand shot out and grabbed hers as he glanced at the open door. When he was sure no one was listening, he released his hold, mumbling an apology. His shoulders slumped back in the bed, his eyes pleading. “Don’t call me that. You’re supposed to be my wife.”
Molly saw the despair written on his angular face. She was sure he was a man used to managing every aspect of his life, and now, with one catastrophic incident, his life had spun out of control.
“I need your help. I can’t let them take Gracie.”
Molly shook her head. “What about her grandmother?”
“That woman! I wouldn’t leave a dog with her.”
He reached out for her hand, and a spark of electricity jumped between them. She jerked her hand away.
“I’m begging you, Molly.”
She was unable to look away from his imploring blue eyes. When she could break her focus, her gaze shifted downward, only to stop at a smile so devastatingly potent her breath caught in her throat. She remembered the feel of those lips on hers and wanted to taste them again. No, she needed to go, for her own sake.
“What about a nanny? You could easily get one from one of the agencies.”
Pearce shuddered.
“It wouldn’t take any time at all to get one.”
“No.” The muscles on his face squeezed together as if he’d been sucking on un-ripe lemons.
She tried again. “There are well qualified nannies out there.”
For a moment, Molly thought a thundercloud had descended over Pearce, and she recoiled in the chair. Was she in range of a possible lightning bolt? But then his face cleared and his anger was traded for a look of such desperation that Molly wanted to take him in her arms and make his pain go away.
“I can’t leave her with just anyone.” Pearce pushed the oxygen mask away from his face.
“You need to it wear it.” Molly placed the mask firmly back in place.
“I can’t stand it. It’s making me claustrophobic.” He raked his hand through his dark hair. “I’ve got to get out of here.”
“Pearce, you can’t leave the hospital yet. You just had surgery. You need intravenous antibiotics, and your incision needs to heal.”
He glared at her. “I need to take care of my daughter.”
“Isn’t there someone you can trust to look after her?” Molly pleaded. “A relative, a friend, a neighbor?”
“There’s just us. I won’t let anyone else look after her.”
“What about when you work?”
“I work from home. I have a partner. We have an office in town and he works there. I take her with me when I have to go to town.”
The last thing she needed was the responsibility of looking after a child. She had enough problems. But this man tore at every string holding her heart together.
“I don’t know anything about looking after a child.” She paused. “And you know nothing about me.”
“I know you’re an angel. The doctor said you saved my life.” He took a deep breath, then closed his eyes briefly as if saying a prayer. His voice was almost a whisper. “She’s been through so much. Please, Molly, can’t you stay and look after her?”
“I have somewhere to be,” Molly lied.
“Could it not wait a few days?”
The way his eyes pleaded reminded her of a sad, lost puppy. Did he know she had a soft spot for anything sad or lost? She shook her head, yet felt the tug on her heart. Did she really have to leave today, or tomorrow, or the next day for that matter? She didn’t really have a place to go.
She was torn between her need to get her life back in order and the need to stay and look after this child. It really wasn’t her problem, but now that she was in the middle of it, how could she walk away? What type of person would she be if she took off and left this defenseless child? The little girl had suffered enough stress without having a heartless woman or a total stranger look after her. But wasn’t Molly a stranger? She had only known the child less than twenty-four hours.
As if he’d read her mind, he tipped his head and grinned. “And she’s already taken to you, Molly Mommy.”
Molly felt her cheeks ignite as he enclosed her