Unbreak Me (3 page)

“Get your ass back here now, Connor Ellison,” Eleanor shouted.

Connor walked away from the confrontation, slamming the front door behind him, and never looked back once as he made his way to his car.

Connor had been raised in prosperous Pacific Heights, but he hated everything his wealth represented. There were more skeletons lurking in his father’s closest. He had seen firsthand the depths to which his parents would go to make sure the press never caught on to any of the scandals. Especially when some of his father’s mistresses had promised revenge for their brief dalliances.

Connor didn’t want any of it. He knew from the first day he was introduced into his family’s billion-dollar corporation that he couldn’t cut it. He wasn’t ruthless enough or spoiled enough to do the dirty deeds that were required of him. Tearing other companies down and destroying dreams wasn’t his kind of game at all, but it was expected of him. After all, he was an Ellison, and business and blood were cut from the same cloth.

Connor was thirty-one years of age and anyone would have thought he’d have grown a backbone by now, but just like his brother—a whole other level of fucked up—everything in his prominent world was controlled.

Connor switched on the stereo, turned the music up loud and drowned out his thoughts as he drove away from the place that reminded him of everything that turned his stomach.

With his shades on, he drove in the early morning sun, trying his best to pretend he was someone other than who he was.

He failed miserably.

* * * *

Connor walked into his apartment, threw his keys onto the side dresser and headed straight for the refrigerator for a beer. It wasn’t even nine a.m., but he had come not to give a damn. He knew he was in a bad place. The pile of paperwork stacked on his home office desk was a telltale sign that things were getting on top of him. Finding the motivation to do the simplest of tasks was now beginning to feel as if he were climbing a mountain. He just wanted to sleep, let the whole pain die. And if he was lucky enough, he’d slip off without anyone noticing.

Connor was frustrated by his parents’ refusal to accept that there was something wrong with him. To make matters worse, he was pissed with himself for not doing something about it sooner. It was a recipe for disaster. But now things had changed drastically. The ball was in his court, and there was, of course, the silver lining in all the mess—Molly.

Connor couldn’t get her out of his head. No one had ever taken the time to see if he was all right. Not once in his life had anyone shown him the kind of warmth and gentleness that she portrayed in the short moment she was in his company. She was different. She had saved him from his pitiful attempt at suicide and there it was, the little ray of hope.

As he gulped down a mouthful of beer, he knew he had to find her. Even if it was just to thank her, he had to lay to rest that part of their brief encounter and apologize for being a prize dick.

He picked up his cell, dialed a familiar number and waited for his contact at the local police department to answer.

“Hey, can you do me a solid?” he asked as he rubbed his thumb along the neck of his bottle of beer.

“Sure, what’s the deal?” a deep male voice asked.

“The girl that made the call, can you trace her?”

“Jeez, man, talk about putting a guy on the spot.”

“Eric, it’s important.” Connor’s desperation was evident as he clenched his fists a few times.

“Okay, can you give me a few minutes? I need to make a call or two,” Eric said.

“Yeah, I can wait.” Connor set the phone on the table, drinking the rest of his beer, wondering about Molly, how things looked from her point of view, then the phone rang.

“Hey,” he answered.

“Listen, man, you didn’t get this from me, okay?”

“You know this won’t get any further. I just want to thank her personally,” Connor said as he picked up a pen in anticipation.

“Okay!” Eric replied then gave Connor the cell number.

Connor scribbled down the digits and smiled. “Thanks, Eric.”

“Yeah, yeah, you owe me.” Then the line went dead.

Connor’s stomach began to swarm as he looked at the number. Nervous about making contact with her, he was unsure if it was the right thing to do, but he owed her an apology. In his mind, doing it in person was an honorable move on his behalf.

He swallowed hard, then he dialed the number and waited a few seconds, almost hanging up, when the voice he remembered from the hospital answered.

“Hello!” Molly said.

“Err, hello, Molly, it’s Connor,” he said, sounding more nervous than he planned.

“Connor?”

“Yeah, the guy from the bridge.”

“Yeah, I remember. What can I do for you?”

Connor paused for a second and became lightheaded. “I just wanted to thank you for what you did last night.”

“Oh, it was nothing. Honestly. I’d have done it for anyone. I’m just glad you didn’t…you know, jump.”

“Yeah, about that… I’m sorry for putting you in that position.” He ran his hand over his face, feeling worse than he had before he called her.

“There’s no need for an apology. Life’s a bitch.”

“You got that right.”

Connor sat back on his couch. He looked up at the ceiling as he listened to the lovely lilt in her voice. He didn’t remember her sounding so musical before, but now he was mesmerized.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve really got to go. I’ve got a meeting in less than an hour, so—” Molly said, sounding pretty apologetic.

“Oh, of course, absolutely. I just wanted to thank you, that’s all,” Connor said as his cheeks went a little pink.

“No worries.”

“Hey, before you go, would there be any chance of meeting in person?”

There it was. He’d asked.

A little silence followed his question before she replied, “Err, I don’t know.”

“I promise I’m not a weirdo. I would just like to meet you, maybe get a bite to eat, nothing serious,” he said as he sat upright, resting his elbow on his knee.

“I don’t know.” Molly sounded nervous.

“If it’s a problem, I understand. No pressure.”

“Okay,” Molly replied, sounding a little shy. “When?”

“Today?”

“Well, I… I have a meeting at ten, but we could do lunch?” Molly suggested.

Connor’s heart pounded hard as he jumped to his feet. The butterflies began multiplying. “Sounds good. Do you know Chouquet’s on Washington Street?”

“I do,” Molly replied.

“Midday?”

“Okay. I’ll see you then,” Molly said before hanging up.

Connor slid the phone into his pocket and went into the bathroom. He looked in the mirror. He was excited about the prospect of seeing Molly, but cringed at the thought of how he’d come across as a complete asshole in the hospital. But at the moment, he knew it was the chance meeting of a lifetime and he didn’t want to risk anything.

He had to prove to himself that there was more to life than the façade he’d been living.

Chapter Four

Molly raced to her closet and rummaged through the not so fancy attire that left a lot to be desired. Biting on her bottom lip, she cringed as she tried to choose something that would make her look a little bit decent, especially since she had never set foot in Chouquet’s—it wasn’t the kind of place her meager salary allowed her to dine—but she was still intent on looking presentable. She was still in shock from the phone call, but it was a lovely surprise, and one she welcomed.

She settled on a little floral dress she’d picked up in a thrift store, applied a little gloss and wore her hair loose. She wasn’t much for plastering her face with makeup and preferred her flat shoes to heels, but she smiled as she saw her reflection.

“That’ll do,” she remarked as she grabbed her bag and keys, and made her way to her meeting with Jenna.

Union Square plaza was buzzing with people shopping at the market, while others took in the sights of the historic statues. Then there were those sitting on the benches, playing board games—checkers being a firm favorite.

Jenna sat at their usual place, hunched over a paper. Her right hand held on to the paper coffee cup from a local Starbucks, and there was another coffee cup waiting for Molly.

“Anything interesting?” Molly asked as she sat down across from the fine-looking woman.

Jenna looked up from her paper and smiled. “Not if you call local rich kid suicide attempt news.”

Molly grinned, but didn’t bother filling her on the details that she was the one to stop the local rich kid from killing himself.

“And that there is the reason why I don’t do tabloids or newspapers of any sort. Silly speculation,” she complained, then asked, “How’ve you been?”

“Ah, I’ve been good. But more to the point, how have you been? You missed our last meeting.” Jenna made it a point of letting her know that her absence had been noted.

“Well, I haven’t fallen off the bandwagon if that’s what you’re worried about.” Molly lifted the coffee and sipped at the vanilla latte.

“Just had to make sure,” Jenna said, raising her eyebrows as she looked at her. “How’s work?”

“Work is good. Tiresome, but good.”

“By the way, you look great today. Any plans?”

Molly tried not to smile too much, so she bit down on her bottom lip and shrugged. “Just having lunch with someone.”

That got Jenna’s attention. “Oh, really?”

“Nah, not telling you.” Molly laughed. “Besides, it’s nothing, just lunch.”

“That’s what I said when Barry asked me out nineteen years ago,” Jenna joked. Her warm smile was infectious, and Molly never felt more at ease.

Jenna Saunders had been Molly’s sponsor for the past two years. She’d been sober for the best part of those two years, with only a temporary setback when Aggie died, which in essence meant her sober time had started all over again. It had been tough for her, but Jenna and her husband Barry had proved their worth in gold and stepped up when they were needed.

Molly had thought going cold turkey was something she’d never live through, but just like had Jenna promised, she had made it to the other side and come out a little stronger. Still broken, but able to cope with the loss of the woman who’d restored her faith in mankind.

“So who is he?” Jenna asked.

“What’s to say it isn’t a she?”

“Well, you’re wearing a dress. I’ve never seen you in a dress, so I’m guessing you want to make a good impression, right?”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Molly teased.

Molly sipped a little more coffee and observed a couple standing near one of the small stalls, holding hands, kissing each other every so often. She felt a pang of jealousy. It was odd because she had never envied lovers in the past, but this meeting with Connor was opening up her mind to the potential, and while it excited her, she felt nervous.

Molly looked away from them and saw that Jenna had been watching her.

“What?” she asked in defense.

“Just make sure you look after yourself.”

“It’s only lunch, not a marriage proposal,” she was quick to respond.

“Ah, so it is a man.” Jenna winked at her.

“Very funny, dork.” Molly smiled, rolling her eyes at the comment.

“You know I’m only messing, but I did promise Aggie I’d be looking out for you, so I guess you’re stuck with my interfering ways,” Jenna said. Her warm manner always eased her anxiety.

“I know,” Molly replied. “I really miss her.”

“I know you do, sweetie.”

Molly fought back the tears and cleared her throat, inhaling deeply before looking up at Jenna, who knew all too well the effect Aggie’s death had had on her.

“It’s just hard sometimes. There are constant reminders in the apartment. I can’t bear to go into her room. I feel like it will be the death of me. Poor Regina looks so lost, and it reminds me of the void that we both have.”

“Then don’t go in. Leave it. It’s still early days, and the last thing you and Regina need is dealing with packing up her belongings, reopening those wounds and crashing,” Jenna said as she reached out across the table. “And we both know Aggie would be pissed if she thought you were torturing yourself. Besides, Regina needs you probably more than you need her.”

Molly nodded. She straightened her back and sat upright. Looking at her watch, she saw the time and that’s when the little sensation began to build in her stomach.

“Nervous?” Jenna asked.

“Slightly.”

“Just breathe and you will be fine.”

“Easier said than done, Jenna.”

“Listen, you’re a beautiful woman, Molly. You deserve a little happiness in your life. You’ve come through a lot, survived things most people haven’t. Learn to be happy, honey.” Jenna was sincere.

Giving her friend a smile, Molly stood and held on to her bag. “I’ll call you if I need you.”

“Go have some fun.”

* * * *

Chouquet’s was busy when Molly walked inside the French bistro. A waitress approached her. Her cheeks reddened as she tried her best not to look awkward.

“Table for one?” the waitress asked.

Run, just leave before you’re noticed
, she thought to herself, as she tried to concentrate on what the waitress had asked.

Before Molly had the chance to answer, Connor appeared from behind the waitress and smiled. God, he was gorgeous. Molly could feel the flush in her cheeks burn. She looked down at her hands and contemplated fleeing the bistro, forgetting she’d ever laid eyes on him.

“It’s okay, she’s with me,” Connor said and held out his hand to Molly.

“Thank you,” Molly replied, all shy and timid as she followed him to their table right in the center of the café.

Connor helped Molly as she sat down and waited until she was comfortable before taking a seat across from her.

Oh my God, what am I doing?
she asked herself as she watched him nervously lift the napkin and place it on his lap.

“I was worried you weren’t going to come,” he said.

His face was beaming, but his own flush had added to his striking looks. Molly couldn’t help but stare at him. Radiant and perfect, his skin glowed like the sun gleaming. His tan blended with his dark hair with loose strands perfectly framing his oval face. Wide green eyes brought out his natural beauty, complementing his fine features, and Molly wondered what would cause him to think his life wasn’t worth living.