When Hearts Collide - By James, Kendra Page 0,41
fallen. He hated having to beg a stranger to take care of his daughter, having to deal with his injuries, having to deal with pain and incapacitation, and now, having to deal with someone prying into his past.
His hands gripped the chrome wheels of the wheelchair and jerked it into motion. He rolled down the empty hall. Molly had been in the kitchen ten minutes before. Rationally, he knew he should calm down before he spoke to her, but he was too angry to think of the consequences. Last night’s conversation about Gracie’s mother and grandmother still rankled him.
He maneuvered the wheelchair into the kitchen. It was empty. Where the hell was she? Was there nothing in his life he had control over? He jerked the wheelchair around, slamming it into the doorframe. He swore at the dent it made in the pine. She wasn’t anywhere in sight, or sound. Another thing in his life he had no control over. His anger simmering, he headed back to his office.
Gracie was in the family room playing with her dolls when Molly took Pearce his lunch. The wheelchair faced the window, and he made no acknowledgment of her presence. She wondered if he’d fallen asleep in the chair. Crossing the room on tiptoes, she went to place the tray of food on the table near him and almost dropped it when she heard the whispered rage in his voice.
“My daughter’s mother is none of your business. And, I would appreciate you staying out of my personal life.”
“What?”
Molly felt like a child caught stealing gum from the store. She knew her cheeks were as red as her hair. She stuttered, “I need to know...”
“You need to know nothing.”
Her red-haired temper left prudence behind and her voice hardened. “You want me to look after a child who is withdrawn and having nightmares, and you think I need to know nothing. How in God’s name can I help Gracie if I’m kept in the dark about what’s made her this way?”
“Gracie has no mother,” he announced bitterly.
His voice was as hard as granite, and his blue eyes had darkened and glowed like molten steel. Molly took a step back. His words were so full of anger and hurt, she felt as if she’d suffered a physical blow.
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t ask me about her again.”
“I’m sorry.” She had to look away from the anger smoldering in his face. “I only wanted to know for Gracie’s sake. To be able to help her.”
“Well, you don’t need to know.”
Molly turned away before he could see the tears welling in her eyes. Hurrying out of the room, she shut the door with a sharp click and raced up the stairs. She threw herself on the bed and let the tears flow. She reasoned with herself that she was justified in needing to know about Gracie’s life, her past, her relationships, her traumas. How else could she help the child become more outgoing and stop the nightmares? Molly swiped at the sodden stands of hair coating her tear-stained cheeks. Emotions held in check for too long refused to be shackled.
By the time her tears had saturated the pillow, Molly could see Pearce’s side. She couldn’t blame him for his anger. Like herself, he didn’t want anyone prying into his personal life. She dried her tears. She needed to apologize.
It took her several minutes to repair the damage the tears had done before she knocked on the study door. Pearce’s “come in” was short, and Molly swallowed the lump of panic in her throat. She took a fortifying breath before grasping the handle and thrusting the door open.
Her initial bravado teetering, Molly leaned against the doorframe. She might be able to hide the trembling in her knees, but she couldn’t cloak the quiver in her voice. “Pearce, I’m sorry. I had no business...”
“No, Molly, I’m sorry.”
“I had no business prying into your life.”
“I shouldn’t have yelled at you.” He shrugged. “It was a very bad experience and talking about it brings back all the pain and anger.”
Silence loomed for several seconds, and Molly was surprised when Pearce spoke again.
“We met at a wedding—an instant attraction. She was beautiful, confident, spoiled. Born into a wealthy family, she was used to getting her own way. I guess she decided she wanted me.”
He shrugged his shoulders again as if he couldn’t understand her attraction to him. Molly could tell him. She could tell him how he made her heart