Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Easton was utterly baffled, "Are you for real? If you won't listen, there are plenty of others who will." Molly cornered Chad, "You promised. I come home with you, and you spill the beans about the case." True to his word, Chad filled her in, "The cops found a burnt lithium battery in the room where the fire started." Molly didn't grasp the significance.

She stared at Chad, clueless as a pumpkin in November, "Are we talking about batteries like in a remote control?"

"No, those are AA and AAA batteries." Chad sat down beside her, patiently explaining like he was coaxing a child. He pulled out his phone and showed her a picture, "This is a lithium battery. They can explode and catch fire... and it's a beast to put out." "Well, that sure wasn't me. I don't know squat about that stuff."

Chad's hand rested on Molly's shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry. If we've found that battery, we're close to cracking this case."

Molly was still puzzled and couldn't focus on her reading that afternoon.

Chad got another call, and before heading out, he warned her, "You felt it at lunch. Nobody's buying your story. Don't bother making excuses. Just hit the books at the hotel. I'll be back tonight, and don't you think of going back to the Cedillo's either, with that hickey not fading any time soon."

Molly was cooped up in the hotel, restlessly sprawled across the desk, trying to make sense of the past couple of days' events.

Mia, the Cedillo's darling, got a text from her bestie, "How long do hickeys take to vanish?"

Mia: "?? Why's a single pringle asking this?"

Molly pressed on: "Remember that thing Andre left on your neck, how long did it take to go away? Urgent!"

Mia replied swiftly, knowing it was urgent: "Depends on how deep it is, no set time. I once wore turtlenecks for a week."

Molly inspected the mark on her neck in the mirror, guessing it would take about a week to fade. "Is it obvious with a Band-Aid?" "Totally. Molly, why are you asking all this?" Mia was puzzled.

Molly typed a long message, then deleted it, typed again, then erased it. "Just asking for a friend."

Mia tried to video call her, but Molly declined.

Mia texted, "Henry's awake, wanna see him?"

send me his

one, wondered aloud,

bedroom, was nursing

in his sleep. He playfully scooped up

cut off, Henry's mouth went empty, his eyes wide open, staring blankly

tot began

quickly resumed feeding to pacify him, "Honey, is Molly still at the

replied absentmindedly, "I guess so. She's been too scared to call me.

husband, hesitated, then said,

eyes darkening with desire,

tapped his fingers idly on the sofa

Chad had returned with dinner and

cross-legged on the chair, leaning against

slender neck seemed to Chad like a

approached, eyeing the marks he'd left at noon. He gently brushed the dark purple blotch

a winter plum blossom in

inspected the new clothes and then focused on Molly, sulking after her solo retail therapy - notably, not on his dime this time.

mom and dad

don't need to

Plus..." Molly paused, "how do I explain this to the Cedillos? They'll have

stated firmly, "I'm

gaze locked onto him, "Chad, you planned all this,

forthright, having achieved his aim with Molly, "Last night,

guys. Even if I were your brother, would you dare kiss me near the mouth? Would you

know I'm not your blood, and deep down, you don't see me as your

mix-up seemed