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Ben smiled at him and then at Molly. “It just goes to show, things can work out the second time around, even when you think it’s impossible. Safe travels home, Molly. I hope we’ll see you again soon. And give me a call about the house, Marcos.”
Once he’d gone, Marcos and Molly walked back down the steps and out into the sunshine.
“Do you want to go for a quick peek at the beach?” asked Molly. “I know we have to get to the airport soon, but I want to see the water one more time.”
Marcos nodded and put an arm around her shoulders as they followed the path past the restaurant and down to the little beach.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, then Molly looked up at him. “What did Ben mean about things working out the second time around, even when you think it’s impossible?”
Marcos smiled. “Ben and Charlie were together from when they were little kids to when they were eighteen. Things went bad between them. And she went back to England and married someone else. She only came back a couple of years ago.”
Molly’s eyes widened. “Wow. I didn’t know that. They seem so happy together—like they’ve been together forever.”
Marcos smiled. “I think that’s because, in their hearts, they always have.”
Molly nodded. “Why did she leave?”
“She was pregnant, and she lost the baby.”
“Oh.” Molly shook her head sadly. “That must have been so hard—for both of them.”
“It was. I didn’t know them then. I first met Ben after they broke up. Pete was his best friend growing up, and he’d come to visit for weekends here and there when we were in college.”
“There’s so much history between all this big group, isn’t there?”
“There is.” Marcos stopped walking. “There’s also so much future, too.” He held his arms open to her, and she stepped inside them and rested her head against his chest. “We can’t change the past, Molly. No one wishes they could more than I do. But the future is an open book. It’s up to us what we write in it. You know what I want.”
She looked up into his eyes. “I want it, too, Marcos. I do. I just need time. I can’t even say I need time to learn to trust you again—because I do trust you. I think I just need time to get used to the fact that we can be us again, that we can be together, and that we can have a future.”
“I understand. I’ll be as patient as you need me to be. You’re it for me, Molly. I’ll wait for you forever.”
She looped her arms up around his neck and lifted her lips to him. He claimed her mouth in a hungry kiss. He wasn’t so much hungry for her body—he’d had it twice this morning already. He was hungry for her heart and her soul and for their future.
Chapter Nine
“Do you want me to do up the roster for next week?”
Molly looked up to see Grady standing over her with his hands on his hips.
“No. It’s fine. I’ll do it in a little while.” She was sitting in one of the booths by the front window. She’d been wiping down the table and somehow found herself sitting here staring into space.
Grady raised an eyebrow. “If you’re sure. You look kind of busy.”
She chuckled. “Sorry. I was just thinking.”
“Thinking what?” Grady slid into the seat opposite her and rested his elbows on the table. “Were you daydreaming about me?”
She rolled her eyes. “No. I wasn’t. If you must know, I was daydreaming about Marcos. He’ll be here tonight.”
Grady made a face. “You’re seriously going to give this guy a second chance? Why, Molly? I don’t like the sound of him, and there’s a perfectly good guy sitting right in front of you. Why don’t you give me a first chance? I’d never screw up like he did.”
Molly scowled. “You need to stop that, Grady. You know damned well that nothing’s ever going to happen between you and me. We’re friends, but that’s all. And as my friend, I wish you’d be happy for me.”
Grady shrugged. “Sorry. I can’t help it. I’m a flirt by nature. I’ll try to be happy for you if that’s what you want, but I need to meet the guy. And I’ll warn you now, I’m not going to make it easy on him. You don’t have a big brother looking out for you. All your friends have already given him a pass because they know him. Someone has to have your back.”
She smiled. “I know you mean well, but they have my back.”
He shrugged. “Again. If he puts a foot out of line …”
