Forever This Time by Maggie McGinnis Read Free Book Online

you.”
    â€œI don’t have time for interviews right now, Mols. Can’t you handle her?”
    â€œNope. She only wants to talk to you.” Molly raised her eyebrows. “Exposure is money, Ethan. The Globe’ s got serious reach and cred. That’s a lot of potential donors you could be reaching.”
    â€œI know. I know. You’re right.”
    â€œOoh! Can you say that again—but wait till I press record.” Molly dug in her bag and came out with her phone, pointing it playfully at Ethan.
    â€œI’ll talk to the reporter. Just not this week. Let’s see how things go with Andy.”
    Molly dropped her phone back in her bag and closed the manila folder on her lap. “Heard from Josie yet?”
    Ethan swallowed hard. “Ye-es. I have.”
    Molly slid the folder into her bag, her eyes going wide. “Have you actually seen her?”
    â€œShe stopped by last night.”
    â€œOh. Wow. Here?”
    Ethan nodded. “Here.”
    â€œHow … was it?”
    â€œStrange. Very strange.”
    â€œHow’d she look?” Molly squinted her eyes and pulled down her cheeks. “Myopic? Droopy? Has she aged terribly?”
    â€œSorry. None of the above. She just looked like Josie. Just all grown up.”
    Right.
    Molly paused to study his face. “Huh. Well, does all-grown-up Josie plan to come back here today?”
    â€œNo.” Ethan cleared his throat as he shifted some papers on his desk. “No, she won’t be back. It was just a courtesy visit. Diana sent her over.”
    â€œI can’t even imagine.” Molly studied his face. “You okay?”
    â€œYeah. Fine. Good.” He tried to summon up his best fake smile, but this was Molly. She saw through him in a second.
    â€œBe careful.” She put up her index finger. “Do not be stupid.”
    â€œI have no intention of being stupid. And thank you for your support.”
    â€œShut up, Ethan. You know how this could go.”
    He raised his eyebrows. “Do I?”
    Molly tipped her head back on the chair, sighing. “Yes, you do. Princess Josie waltzes in here after fleeing in the dead of night ten years ago, and you’re a man, and she’s a woman, and way back when, you were in love. Bam.”
    â€œBam?” He couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s it?”
    She shook her head as she stood up. “Just be careful, okay? Puh-leeze tell me you’ll be careful.”
    â€œYes, Mom. I’ll be careful.”
    Ethan bit the inside of his cheek to try to stop from picturing Josie as she’d been yesterday, all flushed and uncomfortable and so damn gorgeous. Yeah, he hated what she’d done ten years ago. And yeah, he hated what he’d become after she’d left.
    But damn, he’d never quite gotten around to being able to hate her.
    Molly’s voice broke into his thoughts. “I wonder if she’ll come around to see me while she’s here? Y’know, to mend fences and all that.”
    â€œI imagine she has a little more on her mind than mending fences with any of us, Mols.” He shook his head. “But maybe she’ll pop into Bellinis for a burger before she takes off again. You never know.”
    Molly laughed, low and brittle. “I’m pretty sure that’s the last place she’ll choose to hang out while she’s here. Well, next to Avery’s House, that is.”
    She looked at him, unblinking. “I mean, that is going to be one hell of a surprise, don’t you think?”

 
    Chapter 6
    An hour later, Ethan looked at the check he’d just written, then shook his head and put it through the shredder. Since Molly’d left, he’d had the attention span of a gnat. That was the second check he’d screwed up in the span of as many minutes. A year ago he’d finally gotten Andy to agree to an electronic payroll system, but the boss still insisted on