Page 34 of The Housekeeper's Billionaire Boss
“Exactly,” Josiah replied. “Why would her mom want to do that? What purpose does it serve to take Ellie and lose Molly? Because that’s what will happen. It will irrevocably harm their relationship.”
Bear faced him and leaned his shoulder against the wall. “It could also mean you getting your heart broken.”
Josiah balked. “Me? No, I’m fine. It’s Molly I’m worried about.”
Rubbing his knuckles along his jaw, Bear’s gaze drifted to the floor. A few minutes passed, and finally he lifted his gaze to Josiah’s. “I’ve seen how you look at her. You’re as lovesick as they come. Probably have been and didn’t even know it. Ain’t no other explanation for you inviting her home for Christmas. It might have been buried in that brain of yours, but you’ve liked her since you met her. You may have helped her out by giving her a job, but there was something there from the get-go.”
“You’ve been spending too much time around Dad.” Before Josiah invited Molly home, they’d only really talked after she was finished cleaning his not-so-messy apartment.
“Maybe, but that doesn’t make me wrong. Listen, I get it. She’s a pretty little thing. She speaks the same weird movie-song-lyric language as you. She’s sweet as all get-out, and funny. If she wasn’t with you, I’d be seriously looking in her direction.” Bear grinned. “So, why did you volunteer to clean my feed room the day before Christmas? There’s a very hot place covered in a thick sheet of ice right now, and I want to know why.”
Josiah huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Just because I volunteer to do manual labor doesn’t mean something is up.”
Bear waved him off and straightened. “You can shovel that somewhere else. Now, I know something’s up.”
“I told her we should get married in order to give us a better chance at keeping Ellie.” It flew out of his mouth before he could stop himself.
“Married? Josiah…man, that ain’t no small thing. You ready to be a daddy? Because that little baby is an innocent bystander in all this. The second you decide to step into that role, you can’t take it back.”
“I wouldn’t want to take it back.” Josiah raked his hand through his hair. “Bear, I love that little girl. I know it’s not all fun and that taking care of her is a commitment that lasts a lifetime, but Iwanther.”
“But marrying her momma? Is that something you really want to do?”
“I don’t know.” Which is why he wanted peace and quiet to think. So he could figure out a few things. It felt like he had to choose between his career and having a family. A decision he wasn’t sure he was ready to make.
Bear eyed him. “Be honest, Josiah. There’s no shame in having feelings for her.”
Josiah’s gaze dropped to the floor. “She doesn’t feel that way about me. The only reason she’d be marrying me is to keep Ellie.”
“That’s not what I asked.” Bear popped him on the shoulder. “Answer the question and answer it honestly.”
“Yes…” he said, swallowing hard as the answer came out in a burst. “I want to marry her.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere. Do you love her?”
Nodding, Josiah lifted his gaze to Bear’s. If he was honest, he loved her more than anything. Yes, he wanted Realtor of the Year, but he also wanted Molly. He just didn’t know how to balance it. He didn’t even know if it was an option.
“Yeah. But she doesn’t feel that way about me, and I need to just not think about that. I need to keep myself prepared for the possibility that she’ll never feel that way about me,” Josiah replied.
Bear took a deep breath. “Are you okay with that? And don’t give me bull, because you can’t tell a lie to save your life.”
Talk about a tough question. That was at the heart of all his thoughts. Could he be okay with that? What if Molly never felt about him the way he felt about her? Sure, they could get a divorce later on, but he wasn’t sure he could stomach getting married and knowing they’d be ending it sometime down the line.
“I don’t know, Bear. That’s what’s been bugging me since I suggested it. But I can’t go back on it. I mean, I could, but I don’t want to hurt Molly.” And now he felt like a lowlife for even having all those thoughts. He’d said he’d do whatever it took to keep Ellie. Now all he could do was question it.
“Yeah, it would be a tough thing to do.” Bear nodded. “That is, if I thought those feelings were one-sided. Thing is, I’ve seen how she looks at you, too.”
Josiah grumbled, “Then why go through all this interrogation?”
Smiling, Bear said, “Because you needed to hear your thoughts out loud. I’ve got no advice on any of it, but I know you. You’ll do the right thing.”
The right thing. Keeping his word to Molly or protecting himself? How could he choose himself when a baby was in the middle of it? He couldn’t. At least, he didn’t think so. Hopefully, by the time the lawyer called, Josiah would have a solid answer. Maybe hiring the lawyer would make Molly’s mom rethink taking Ellie, and all the worrying would be for nothing.
Chapter 15
Sauntering into the kitchen, Molly went straight to the sink and washed her rag out. She’d gotten up before dawn to clean the house before everyone woke up for Christmas. Josiah wasn’t the only one who had a love language. Yes, there were gifts under the tree for everyone, but they were purchased with Josiah’s money. Molly needed her own gift to give.
Mostly, her sleeplessness was due to his proposal. She hadn’t expected that at all. It had made sense to her, but it was a big deal. He’d even offered to adopt Ellie, not even flinching when she’d said he’d be forced to provide child support. He’d just offered his life to her so she could keep her baby. What kind of man did that? None that she’d met before him.
