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"Actually, that's so funny. I was considering doing that. I was working on business cards and everything." I'd been working on those cards with Malcolm who seemed to have a really good eye for that sort of thing, helping me perfect the design until I had one I really liked.
The problem was, Malcolm was how I was going to get a little business. Through him and his connections, which seemed like they were vast. Without him to help facilitate me starting it, I wasn't sure if it was even a viable option anymore.
I still wanted to try to do it. I just needed more time to figure out how I would make that work.
"We could help spread the word for you," Gracie offered. "We have a big family. And then Willa has her office. And, like, I mean a Fortune 500 type office."
"Actually, I know someone who has a special occasion coming up," Hope said, ignoring the quizzical look from the girls. "If you have some free time."
Chapter Thirteen
Hope
I couldn't tell you why I felt the need to butt in.
For God's sake, I didn't really even believe in love.
I mean, sure, I believed in the science of it. All those feel-good chemicals that trick you into attaching yourself to another human being.
But I didn't believe in fate and soulmates or anything like that. My family were all saps like that, but it just wasn't my jam.
Yeah, I understood commitment. And the kind of love that came with time and knowing someone well. I loved my parents and aunts and uncles and cousins. We'd had a lifetime to build our bonds.
But that heartsick, moon-eyed thing?
No.
So, there was no logical reason I felt the need to get between Malcolm and Holly.
But there I was, hatching the second part of our plan on the fly.
The first part had been a group decision born of anger and curiosity. Anger that anyone had hurt Malc, and curiosity over what type of woman might have caught his eye.
I didn't think any of us expected to be just an all-around sweet person who happened to be stuck in a really rough spot, but was trying to keep an upbeat outlook about the whole thing. Even through her still-bruised eye.
I understood Malc's desire to take care of and protect her. That was a trait he'd inherited from his father. My Uncle Wolf had done some crazy things for my Aunt Janie back in the day.
But if any of us had considered what kind of woman Malc might end up with, I think we all expected someone like Aunt Janie since Malc was so much like his father. And Aunt Janie was this badass vigilante hacker who had a penchant for bomb-building. She was one of the fiercest women I'd ever met.
So Malc catching feelings for a sweet, average woman had been from out of left field for us.
But after spending a couple hours with Holly, I got it. It was rare to find someone that genuine anymore, someone who tried so hard to see the good in everybody and every situation.
The woman baked for fuck's sake.
For enjoyment.
Like cookies and cakes were a part of her overall package.
What guy didn't want that?
The girls and I had a two-fold reason for inviting her to self-defense lessons.
To genuinely help her, of course. It was a firm belief I held that every woman should be taught basic self-defense because it seemed like an increasing number of us would need the skills.
But also because we wanted to fish for a bit more information about what happened the night that Malc came to karaoke, and had drunk the memory of something away.
We couldn't figure anything out, though.
The best we could figure out was that Holly's brother, Shep's, business partner had stopped in to talk to her about her brother's possible issue with his medication.
That was it.
It made no sense.
Sure, Malc had inherited a bit of a quicker temper from his mother than his father was known for. But still. There seemed to be no real trigger.
And because I trusted Malc—would literally trust him with my life—I decided on the fly to try a little experiment.
By sending Holly with a tray full of sweets to Malc's house in the woods.
The big oaf thought no one knew where he lived.
He managed to underestimate how badly I liked to know things, though.
I'd spent hours looking at satellite images of the general vicinity of his home to find a driveway, and then, half-hidden by a canopy of trees, the cabin he'd built with his own two hands.
Malcolm's home base.
I felt like it was important for us to know in case we needed to check on him.
But I was also just nosy.
So I knew exactly where to send Holly.
All I needed was to order the desserts, then send her on her way.
