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“Oh. That’ll be nice.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know if I should go.”
“Of course you should. It’ll do you good.”
He blew out a sigh.
There was something going on with him, and it wasn’t just that he felt ill. He wasn’t meeting her gaze, wasn’t smiling. He looked as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He shook his head. “What are you telling me?”
She stared at him for a moment, wondering what his problem was. She didn’t get a chance to wonder for very long. His face started to blur before her eyes. Here came the dizziness, which she knew by now preceded the nausea. “I have to go.” She stumbled to the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
~ ~ ~
Marcos shook his head sadly. Was she really sick, or did she just not want to answer his question? The sound of her in the bathroom answered the question of whether she was really sick.
He tapped his mouse, and the pictures of the Hardy estate appeared on the screen. Was there any point? Did he want to buy the place, stay here, make wine here if she wasn’t going to be with him? He closed his eyes and blew out a big sigh. He needed to get a grip. He’d heard Grady talking last night. He hadn’t heard Molly with him. That was an assumption on his part. Grady could have been talking to anyone—hell, he could have been talking on the phone.
He got to his feet. He was going to do the only reasonable thing he could do. He was going to forget about the whole thing. Molly hadn’t given him any indication that she wasn’t happy with him. She told him a dozen times a day that she loved him. She’d been honest with him about everything—especially her feelings—ever since he’d been back here. He’d be stupid to let his insecurity and jealousy ruin things between them now. If there really were something going on between her and Grady, then she’d tell him no when he asked her to marry him. Her saying no would be the only thing that could deter him. He wanted to marry her. He wanted to spend his life with her. All he could do was go after what he wanted. If she didn’t want it, then so be it. At least, this time, he’d have given it his all.
He waited until he heard the faucet running and then went to tap on the bathroom door. “Are you okay in there?”
“Yeah. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Do you want me to make you a coffee?”
“Oh, God! No! Thank you.”
He shook his head. She must be sick if she couldn’t face the thought of coffee—she couldn’t usually face the day without it.
~ ~ ~
On Thursday morning, Molly went to work early. She’d gotten up early with Marcos to see him off on his day out with Cameron. He hadn’t actually said where they were going, but she figured they were probably scheming about making wines together. She was happy for them both.
She hadn’t been coming in for the breakfast rush since Marcos had been here. Mornings had never been her favorite, and she’d finally stepped back and let Anita take responsibility for the morning shift. It had worked out well for everyone.
This morning she was feeling like a spare part. Anita ran a tight ship, and Molly didn’t want to interfere. She kept out of the way as best as she could and left them to it. She’d been mostly greeting customers, catching up with friends, and being the face of the place again.
She smiled when the door opened, and Gene and his wife Rita came in. Gene had been the Hamiltons’ pilot for years, and he and Rita were good friends with her dad.
“Good morning, sunshine!” Gene greeted her with a hug. “I was starting to think we’d never see you for breakfast again now that Marcos is back.”
Molly hugged him and kissed Rita’s cheek. “It’s good to see you both. I’ve been doing the late shift—and taking more time off.”
“Good for you,” said Rita. “You deserve it.”
Gene looked around. “And where is Marcos?”
She shrugged. “He’s with Cameron today. I don’t know what they’re up to, but knowing them, it will be some super business deal.”
Gene smiled. “It sounds like Marcos has been making a few of those.”
“Have you heard?” Molly was surprised that word of him buying the Hardy place would have spread before the deal was even closed.
“Only from Chelsea.” Gene smiled. “She swore us to secrecy, but she’s so excited. And Grant’s about busting at the seams.”
Rita laughed. “Until the other night, I wondered how Grant managed Chelsea. He’s usually so steady and down-to-earth. Now, I get it. He’s as crazy excited as she is at the thought of getting his grandpa’s place back.”
