Even as her sister nodded, John protested. “No.”

“What?”

“I don’t want you by yourself.”

She gave him a steady look. “Since all of our potential backup is fleeing at the mere mention of Sonny, we don’t really have any choice, do we?”

Although he didn’t look happy, he stopped protesting. “Fine, but I’m taking the Denver location.”

“Fine.” In fact, Molly was a little relieved that she wouldn’t have to deal with an unknown building in Denver. She rarely went, especially now that the city reminded her of her mom’s crime and the detectives who were after them.

Despite having gotten his condition accepted, John still looked unsettled. “You can take my car. I’ll borrow my buddy’s. He owes me one.”

Molly was tempted to argue, but she let it go, telling herself to pick her battles wisely. Besides, she loved John’s car. It smelled like him.

Norah placed a tablet on the table. “Now that the logistics are settled, let’s talk building plans.”

Although Molly was focused on her sister’s diagrams, a part of her was hyperaware that John Carmondy was sitting next to her and that they’d just had sex. The word made her frown, sounding too clinical for the incredible experience they’d had together. Made love. She immediately shoved the words into a dark box at the back of her mind. She wasn’t ready to figure out how deeply she’d fallen for John Carmondy.

After they’d gone over the layouts and set up plans that basically involved watching the buildings and calling the cops if Sonny showed up, Norah and Cara wished them luck before both slipping out of the kitchen, as if there’d been a prearranged signal to leave her alone with John. She moved to leave, but he caught her hand.

“I can’t discuss anything remotely deep right now,” she blurted out before he could say anything. “Nothing about feelings, either. Not now.”

Instead of arguing, he just gave her fingers a squeeze before letting go. “That’s fine. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here. Your bedroom’s my time-share, after all, and you have equal rights to my couch.”

Contrarily, him giving her space made her want to move in closer. “It is a fabulous couch.”

“All yours.” He gave her a sweet smile and then gestured toward the doorway. “Let’s go get Sonny.”

As they walked out, emotions swirled around in Molly’s chest, and she wished she’d just blurted out how she felt. At least then it would be out, and he’d know how she felt, just in case he…

She didn’t allow herself to finish that thought.

They reached his car, and he opened the driver’s door for her. Instead of getting in, she took two handfuls of his shirt and shoved him back against the car. As his eyes widened in surprise, she yanked him down and kissed him, putting everything she was feeling, everything that she couldn’t say—all her worry and affection and confusion and the love that she didn’t want to admit, even to herself—into the press of her lips on his. It all poured out of her in one bruising, incredible kiss.