When Hearts Collide - By James, Kendra Page 0,27

room, and she could avoid her directive, Molly busied herself cleaning up the toys she’d brought to occupy Gracie. Unfortunately, the nurse appeared to have no intention of departing any time soon. She filled Pearce’s water jug, fluffed his pillow, rearranged his night table. It seemed as if she were looking for things to keep her busy to ensure Pearce received the proper display of affection from Molly. Did Rita suspect she might not be his wife?

This was more than Molly had bargained for. A kiss was such an intimate thing, and she wasn’t used to showing affection in public. Wasn’t it enough to proclaim she was his wife without having to exhibit affection?

Remembering kissing Pearce when she first came to visit made Molly’s lips tingle. She filled the tote bag with the toys and slung it over her shoulder. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Rita watching her, one eyebrow raised in expectation. Molly was trapped. Oh well, what was one kiss?

Yes, what was another kiss with a man she’d only met days before, a man she’d aided at an accident scene, a man whose kiss caused her body to react in ways she’d never expected? Just like the way her heart burst through her chest right now, making it difficult to breathe.

Molly crossed to the bed, planning to give Pearce a quick peck on the side of his cheek. Rita stood behind her and couldn’t witness the actual kiss. Leaning down, her lips touched his left cheek, but suddenly Pearce turned his head, sliding his lips until they met hers. The tingling amplified, feeling like a thousand tiny sparks scorching her lips.

Pearce’s hand slid to the back of her head. His grip, though gentle, held her prisoner nonetheless. After several seconds, his lips slipped along her cheek, leaving a blazing trail in their wake. They paused at her ear, his breath hot against her lobe. Her heart raced so fast she felt dizzy and was relieved to be leaning against the bed. Her knees were wobbling and she didn’t think her legs would support her.

“Molly, we have an audience. We have to be convincing,” he whispered. His lips caressed her flaming ear, then his hand slid away from her head, releasing her. Now, she was only held prisoner by the fervor in his deep blue eyes.

“Okay,” Rita said, “our patient needs his rest.”

Molly jerked upright, turning away from the nurse’s prying eyes. Was her face as red as it felt? Gathering Gracie, she mumbled a goodbye and hurried out of the room.

Gracie finally asleep, Molly was glad to have a few minutes to relax, and settled back into the cushions. The chesterfield was thickly padded, expensive, and very comfortable. The whole room spoke of luxury merged with comfort, from the coordinated muted colors to the rich patina of the walnut furniture and the wide-screen entertainment center. The red brick corner fireplace just waited for the weather to turn cool enough to fire up.

She picked up the book she’d bought at the hospital gift store. It was a light, fluffy novel, something she could read without having to think, except that she couldn’t concentrate. The enormity of what she had agreed to left her reeling. Her head was still shaking for consenting to stay and administer Pearce’s intravenous medications and do his dressing changes.

The doctor wanted him on antibiotics for two weeks. She looked around her. The room was lovely. The whole house was lovely. It would be easy to stay. She’d already delayed her departure, so what was a few more days?

Someday she might have a home to call her own. Someday she might have a family. A smile crossed her lips as she thought of Gracie calling her Molly Mommy. Yeah, and someday cats would bark. Molly opened the book to the first page. She read five pages before her mind drifted.

Prior to the suspension, her life had been going okay, ordinary, unspectacular, nothing terrible, but that was the problem, her life was nothing. She wished she could wave a magic wand and change it. She was tired of being alone. She was twenty-seven, single, and had a good profession. But she wanted more. She wanted a loving husband, lots of children, her own home—a real family.

But for now, she could use a change. After Pearce was better, maybe she would stay in the area. She thought of Rita’s offer earlier that day. “When your husband is better, you should apply for a