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12
Jacob realized very early on that he was outnumbered.
Between Sergeant Kate Turner, District Attorney Valerie Wielding, and the most important of all, Molly Ferguson, he knew that he didn't really have a chance to argue and win.
He would just have to white-knuckle it and see this whole ridiculous plan to the end.
Oh, he wouldn't tell any of the women that it was ridiculous.
He was a man in love.
He wasn't stupid.
Well, maybe stupid in love. That was a distinct possibility, but his main concern was Molly's safety and if they left things the way they were then there was a distinct possibility that the men who broke into the Records Office might just come back later to finish the job. This time, focusing on Molly.
The District Attorney sat back against the couch in his apartment, giving him arched eyebrows and pointed looks as they walked through the plan one last time. "Calm down, Detective Rafferty. It's not like we're putting her in stocks and pillories in the middle of town and leaving her unattended."
He tried not to glare back at her. "Well, that's reassuring."
Molly reached out her hand and without looking in his direction, set her hand on his. "I appreciate how quiet you've been."
Valerie grinned at him. "He's white-knuckling his way through this whole conversation."
Kate sighed. "Play nice, Valerie. He's doing his best." Kate then zoned in on him. "You'll just have to get used to this, Jacob. Too many strong and independent women in one room. If Rock was here and this was about me, he'd be grinding his teeth by now."
Valerie turned toward Kate on the sofa and tucked her leg up on the sofa cushion. "Even though he knows what you do for a living?"
Kate rolled her eyes. "He knew what he was in for from the moment we met. It doesn't stop him from caring." She turned her smile on him. "So, it may seem like we're trying to drive you up a wall, but we're not. We're trying to lighten the mood. If I didn't know you better, I'd be worried that you'd jump out of the window just to get some air."
Trying to put the women at ease, he smiled. "I'm not about to jump out of a second-floor window. If we were at ground level, maybe. But I'm pretty sure the landscapers would slit my throat for rolling through their flower beds."
Kate sighed. "You're funny." She leaned in toward Molly. "You might consider keeping him."
Molly turned to look at him and damn it, he fell in love with her all over again. The concern in her eyes made him feel about an inch tall for causing her concern, but the way she leaned against his shoulder made him feel like he could jump on the couch a time or two.
Well, maybe not.
When Tom Cruise did it, he looked like a nut.
Molly's smile made his heart ache. "I think I will keep him."
Thank god.
"Okay, you two lovebirds are making me a little ill." Valerie's acerbic tone was softened by her smile. "Let's go over this one more time and then we'll get out of their apartment before I melt from all the sugar in here."
Kate's shoulders shook, but she didn't laugh out loud.
"Okay, then..." Kate's smile said she was enjoying Valerie's momentary discomfort, "We're not going to address Molly's marvelous memory, or in this case, the missing part of it, we're just going to hold a press conference-"
"You mean, I get to hold a press conference and I hate those fucking cameras. I keep getting older, every damn year."
Kate leaned back and looked at the District Attorney. "You're gorgeous and you know it. It's those damned lights. They outline every wrinkle- Not that you have any."
"You're damn well right I don't."
The women laughed and Jacob felt Molly lean back against him. He could tell she was smiling even if he couldn't see her face. He swore he could feel it in the way that she leaned into him and how her hand felt on his.
Kate continued. "We'll let the good people-"
