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Phoe offered me a strange look.
“Okay, honey. One, Carmine doesn’t look bad. When the truth comes out, everything will be fine, and Carmine has broad shoulders anyway. Two, I damn well hope he was being nice to you. If Carmine wasn’t, I’d kick his ass. And three, I don’t know about kisses, but I do understand my son.
“Carmine has fallen for you, Molly, and he’s all in. Carmine and all the kids have been taught not to bring anyone home unless they are serious about them. You’re the first person any of my children have brought for dinner, which means you’re very special. Now I noticed you have had a hard life. It’s obvious from how those idiots acted you’ve not had real parents.
“But a true mother does everything possible to help her babies succeed. And you’re going to be my daughter-in-law… no shhh honey… I told you, Carmine is all in. A cut, old lady status, and a wedding. And then grandchildren,” Phoe said with a huge grin.
“Children?” I gasped.
“Oh yes. How exciting!”
“We were dating, but he has a girl. I don’t understand that. Carmine might not wish to date me after this,” I exclaimed.
“Carmine is smitten. That model is not his girlfriend. God knows who she is. Trust me, honey, my boy is going nowhere,” Phoe refuted.
I was about to argue when the command centre door opened, and Carmine entered. His gaze swept the room, and relief crossed his face when he spotted me.
“My publicist is all over this. By the time Freddie and Mom get finished, your parents will regret ever hearing of South Dakota,” Carmine promised as he approached us.
“What about your girlfriend?”
“Carmen is someone I went on a date with three times to boost her career. We have never been in a relationship. Carmen’s been sent a warning to retract her statement or pay the consequences. You, sweet girl, are the only woman I want on my arm, in my bed, and in my life,” Carmine said firmly.
“Do you mean that?”
“Yes, Molly. I told you, you’re mine.”
Guess it was as simple as that.
Chapter Eight.
Molly
Iwas surprised at what happened at the press conference. It was held at City Hall, in the room I’d held my presentation in. The place was packed, and Susan addressed the people first, correcting the impression my parents gave. Susan made it clear I’d alerted the GS head office three years ago of my findings and been chased out. She produced my original report, which she said any fool can read and see I never claimed there was a volcano here.
When asked why Dr White and my mother and father quoted me as saying so, Susan replied that was a question for them. Dr Dune then addressed what was happening and stated quite clearly this was a new phenomenon, and we were searching for answers. She produced my most recent presentation pack and again explained there was no mention of a volcano. In a roundabout way, Dr Dune wondered why Dr White and my parents would want to panic people like that.
Susan then continued with her statement that if I hadn’t been so diligent and continued my work, then Rapid City would be unprepared for any activity.
Once Susan finished speaking, the reporters jumped on me, and Carmine intercepted their questions. Carmine said our relationship was new and off-limits to further discussion. When questioned about Carmen, he’d laughed and asked if three dates made a relationship. I was amazed at how easily Carmine got them eating out of his hand by the end of the conference.
Surprisingly, I escaped relatively unscathed. Once out of the room, I clung to Carmine as my grimly held-together calmness faded, and I hyperventilated for a few moments.
“Okay, sweet girl?”
“That was awful,” I blurted.
“Funny enough, they weren’t too bad,” Carmine replied, rubbing my back.
“That was well-behaved?”
“Yes. They can be much worse. Liz is fetching the car and driving us to the command centre.”
“Yeah, that’s good; there were some readings I wanted to check,” I said, my mind already wandering.
???
As we neared the command centre, I was shaken physically from my musings. Liz screeched to a halt as a quake hit, and it was bigger than any before. I counted twenty-eight seconds before it subsided.
