“Molly, stop it!” Phoebe exclaimed.

“I’ll never forgive you.” She swung again.

“Molly!”

“It’s my life!” she cried over Roo’s frenzied barks and her sister’s protests. “Why couldn’t you stay out of it!”

A strong arm caught her around the waist before she could land another blow. Roo howled. Kevin drew her back against his chest. “Maybe you’d better calm down.”

“Let me go!” She jabbed him with her elbow.

He grunted but didn’t release her.

Roo clamped onto his ankle.

Kevin yelped, and Molly jabbed him again.

Kevin started to swear.

Dan joined in.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake!” A shrill noise split the air.

5

Sometimes you need a friend really badly, but everyone’s gone away for the day.

—Daphne’s Lonesome Day

Molly’s eardrums rang from the blast of the toy whistle clamped between Phoebe’s teeth.

“That’s enough!” Her sister marched forward. “Molly, you are offside! Roo, let go! Kevin, get your hands off her. Now, everybody sit down!”

Kevin dropped his arm. Dan rubbed his chest. Roo released Kevin’s pant leg.

Molly felt sick. Exactly what had she hoped to accomplish? She couldn’t bear looking at anyone. The idea that her sister and brother-in-law must know by now how she’d attacked Kevin while he slept was beyond humiliating.

But she was accountable for what had happened, and she couldn’t run away. Taking a cue from Daphne’s fans, she grabbed her lovey for comfort and carried him to an armchair as far away from the rest of them as she could get. He gave her a sympathetic lick on the chin.

Dan took a seat on the couch. He wore the same stubborn expression that had unglued her. Phoebe perched next to him looking like a worried Vegas showgirl wearing mommy clothes. And Kevin …

His anger filled the room. He stood next to the fireplace, arms crossed over his chest, hands locked beneath his armpits, as if he didn’t trust himself not to use them on her. How could she ever have had a crush on someone who was so dangerous?

That’s when it sank in. Phoebe, Dan, Kevin … and her. The creator of Daphne the Bunny was up against the NFL.

Her only strategy lay in a strong offense. She’d look like a bitch, but it was the kindest thing she could do for Kevin. “Let’s make it snappy. I have things to do, and this is just too boring for words.”

A dark blond eyebrow shot to the middle of his forehead.

Phoebe sighed. “It’s not going to work, Molly. He’s too tough to scare off. We know Kevin is the father of your baby, and he’s here to talk about the future.”

She whirled toward Kevin. He hadn’t told them! Phoebe would never be talking like this if she knew what Molly had done.

His eyes gave nothing away.

Why had he kept silent? Once Phoebe and Dan knew the truth, he’d be off the hook.

She turned toward her sister. “The future doesn’t involve him. The truth is, I—”