Read Online One Night with her Bachelor by Kat Latham - Free Book Online Page A

gotten him home. She didn’t want to ever let him out of her sight again. But the rehab coordinator had drilled into her the importance of helping Josh feel as independent as possible. Lily was his godmother; she would never do anything risky. Of everyone Molly knew, she trusted Lily with Josh the most.
    Except Gabriel.
    She rubbed at her aching forehead. “Hey, buddy, do you want to go out for a bit with Aunt Lily?”
    Josh’s face lit up. “Will she take me to McDonald’s?”
    Molly grimaced. She’d tried to keep him away from fast food, but he begged every grown-up and babysitter to break that rule. She gave in and texted Lily. Her phone buzzed. “She says yes.”
    Josh was waiting by the door when Lily arrived. She rushed in and smothered him in a hug that would’ve left grown men catatonic with desire. Josh just squeezed her back until Lily pulled away and they gave each other their special handshake that seemed to last five minutes and confused Molly every time.
    “What did you think of the moose head?”
    “Love it! Thank you so much.”
    “You’re welcome. Now, your mom’s probably tired, and you and I have a lot of catching up to do. Let’s go hit Micky D’s and have some fun.”
    “Not too many French fries. And only one hamburger, but obviously I’d prefer it if you stuck to salad.”
    “Yes, Mom.” Josh wheeled himself to the door with Lily hot on his wheels. “Hey, Aunt Lil, you know that when Mom says one hamburger , she means one of each kind, right?”
    “Yep. Your mom and I have the same rule for cupcakes.”
    Josh laughed, and the sound made the tightness in Molly’s chest melt away. How many nights had she lain in bed terrified she would never hear that beautiful sound again?
    “Oh, and did you see my ramp?” Josh rolled his chair out the door and launched himself full-speed at the ramp. “Whooooo!”
    “Josh!” Molly’s heart seized as Josh’s chair flew down the ramp and slid across the icy sidewalk. He grabbed his wheels and yanked himself to a halt inches away from Lily’s car. Molly collapsed against the door frame.
    Lily stood ghost-white with her hand across her mouth. “Josh, if you ever do that to me or your mom again, I’ll tell all your friends where you were born.”
    He gasped. “No. Please.”
    “No more stunts like that, got it? Because I’ll do it. I was there, remember?”
    “Please, please don’t tell anyone.”
    Molly would laugh, if she were capable of breathing. She’d told Josh he’d been born in a ladies’ dressing room, and he’d found that embarrassing enough. If he knew the full truth, he’d pass out from the humiliation. She added to Lily’s threat. “I’m sure I have those photos in an album somewhere.”
    Josh sank into his chair. “I’ll never do it again. I promise.”
    “Good.” Lily turned to Molly. “Where’d you get this thing, anyway? You didn’t have it the other day.”
    “I’m not positive, but I think Gabriel built it.”
    Lily’s brows shot up. “You’re shi—” She glanced at Josh. “—kidding me.”
    Molly shook her head. But the ramp made her think of her arrival home and something she’d wanted to ask Lily about. “Blake Margate came over earlier. He said something strange—”
    “That doesn’t surprise me,” Lily said, interrupting her. “Seriously, don’t listen to him. He’s a little—” She circled her finger next to her ear so Josh wouldn’t hear her call his former teacher crazy.
    But Blake wasn’t crazy. And he didn’t usually make cryptic comments.
    “Okay, let’s go, cowboy! Marietta’s our oyster, and we’re gonna crack ’er wide open.”
    Before Molly could ask any more questions, Josh was hoisting himself into Lily’s car and waving goodbye. He’d only been home an hour, and she was alone again. Just her, a skein of yarn, and her crochet hooks.
    How exciting.
    *
    Gabriel parked his truck in front of his mom’s small house. He hadn’t grown up here. His family had moved