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

her little one, wondered aloud, "What's up

home, and Mia, in the bedroom, was nursing their son. "Hubby's back,

chuckled as he approached, seeing his son suckling in his sleep. He playfully scooped up

off, Henry's mouth went empty, his

tot began

him, "Honey, is Molly still

been too scared to call me.

hesitated, then said, "Just crossed my

darkening with desire, "Mia, tonight how about..." Before Andre could

scamper off, loosened his tie, and tapped his fingers

hotel, Chad had returned with dinner

chair, leaning against the backrest, gazing up at

neck seemed to

marks he'd left at noon. He gently brushed the dark purple blotch on

like a winter

and then focused on Molly, sulking after her solo retail therapy - notably, not on his dime this time. His phone had been silent of shopping notifications all day.

mom and dad call?"

don't need to worry about

you. Plus..." Molly paused, "how do

stated firmly,

"Chad, you planned all this, didn't

night, after seeing the photo you sent to

don't believe you're one to blur the lines with guys. Even if I were your brother, would

wouldn't! Because you know I'm not your blood, and deep down, you don't see

mix-up seemed