How Sweet It Is (30 page)

She closed her eyes indulgently, but remembered that she had an important day ahead of her. She forced her fuzzy brain to focus and thought of each item on her to-do list for Joseph’s birthday party. There was a lot to accomplish, but she’d get to it later. She stretched, enjoying the way her body felt both energized and rested. It really was the best combination.

She rolled over intent on wrapping her arms around Jordan and kissing her into next week, but found the other side of the bed empty and cold.

Had she left already?

Molly climbed out of bed, and a quick glance to Jordan’s oversized duffle bag on the floor let her know that Jordan had, in fact, not fled the scene. She put on her silk robe and wandered down the hall. And that’s when it hit her. That amazing aroma of fresh coffee and bacon frying.

Yet another fabulous combination.

She loved bacon. It might be God’s greatest gift to man.

As she rounded the corner, there was Jordan standing over the stove, already showered and ready for the day. How had she slept through that? Jordan wore her hair down today and her long bangs fell loosely just shy of her left eye. She had on jeans, a short-sleeved white shirt, and Molly’s green smiley face apron tied around her. A morning news show played nearby on the television.

Jordan smiled upon seeing her standing there. “You’re up.”

“I can’t remember the last time I slept this late.”

“It’s good to do that once in a while, you know. I worry about you not getting enough sleep.”

The sentiment touched her, and she took a moment with that as she made her way into the kitchen. “Thank you for worrying about me. It’s nice to have someone do that.” Molly pulled her in for a lingering kiss. “So, good morning,” she murmured.

“Morning.” Jordan took a deep breath and smiled. “I love the sound of that. It should be on some sort of Hallmark card or decorative sign. It’s that good.”

And Molly liked the sound of it too, so she stayed right there, leaning up against Jordan for a moment longer.

Just because.

She tugged on the green cloth. “You look cute in this apron.” And then she remembered how Jordan had looked in the sleep shorts the night prior and out of them later that night when they’d adjourned to her room.

“Why, thank you.” Jordan glanced down at the apron. “I’m doing my best Molly impersonation. I thought it only fair that I prepare something for you this time. And breakfast it must be, because it’s all I’m good at. In better news, I happen to rock at breakfast.”

And she wasn’t lying.

Their meal of bacon, omelets, and toast was a nice surprise. They ate leisurely while they talked about the events of the past week and even watched a little bit of the
Today Show
together on the couch.

As they cleared the dishes, Molly stole a glance at Jordan, enjoying the domesticity of the morning. It felt so natural, so everyday.

And yet so wonderful.

Suddenly, she could see this as their Saturday every week, and the thought just about knocked her over.

Because she wanted that. She was in for those Saturdays.

Without a doubt, she wanted Jordan around. She missed her when she wasn’t. It was so clear to her now. So easy. She wanted a full-on future with Jordan and would work to ensure that happened. She smiled as the revelation washed over her in a wave of equal parts excitement and relief. For the first time in long while, she knew what she wanted and it felt pretty great.

“What?” Jordan asked, catching her stare. “You look like you’re in a world of your own over there.”

Molly nodded slowly, the smile never leaving her face. “Kinda am.”

“You want to tell me what’s going on in that head of yours? Because it looks like a lot of fun.”

Molly went up onto her toes and placed a kiss just below Jordan’s ear. “Nope. But I’m thinking maybe we can talk later tonight. After the party? When there’s more time.”

“Okay.” Jordan smiled back at her curiously. “We’ll have to do that.”

Molly set down her glass of champagne on the white linen tablecloth and surveyed the place. She had to hand it to her mother-in-law. The once generic ballroom of the Applewood Country Club had been transformed into stunning elegance with no expense spared.

Twinkly lights dipped down from the ceiling and an eight-piece orchestra played from the corner of the room as Applewood’s best and brightest mingled, sipped champagne, and collectively wished Joseph Tuscana a happy sixtieth birthday.

All in all, it had turned into a pretty fancy affair, and the turnout was more than they’d hoped for. It would be the most talked about event in Applewood into next year. Molly knew that much.

It was two hours into the party and everyone seemed to be having a marvelous time. Herself included. The thing about Dr. Tuscana was that everyone in town knew and loved him. He was hardworking, playful, and sympathetic to his patients. And in contrast to the relationships he had with his children, he withheld judgment throughout the course of their care. It was the town’s steadfast appreciation of their doctor that accounted for the just over two hundred guests there to celebrate his birthday.

Molly checked the dessert table and noticing the truffles had dwindled, headed to the kitchen for more. “For the hundredth time, sugar, I’ve got this,” Eden said as she rounded the corner with a whole new tray. “Now would you get out from under my feet and enjoy your family’s party? You’re more annoying than a fly at a picnic.”

“I’m not a fly. I just want to make sure everything is perfect.”

“And it is. Do you trust me or not?”

“Of course I trust you.”

“Then for the love of all things sexy, get out there and have a good time for both of us. Shake hands, kiss babies, dance a little.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Molly offered a small salute and scurried away from the dessert table in search of her father. She’d spoken to him briefly on his way into the party and wanted to make sure he was feeling all right. She’d arranged for one of the nurses to accompany him tonight just in case he got to feeling weak and needed assistance. But there was no way she was going to let him miss the party, no matter how nervous it made her. He needed time among his family and friends.

“Hi, Daddy.” She kissed his cheek from behind and slid into the chair next to his at one of the round banquet tables. He smiled over at her as he bopped his head along to the swing dancing taking place on the dance floor a few feet away.

“This is some party.” His eyes twinkled when he said it, and that made her swell up inside. “You all did a fantastic job helping put all this together. It shaped up to be pretty fancy in here.”

“Thank you.” She threw a glance around at the decorations she’d help put up earlier in the afternoon. Jordan had been there too, and out of respect for her family, they’d kept a small distance between them. There would be a time and place to talk to the Tuscanas, but it was the furthest thing on her to-do list at the moment. In fact, due to terror, she planned to put it off as long as possible. When the time came, she’d have to plan it out carefully. Strategize. It would require a great deal of finesse. Even thinking about the concept had her feeling a little sick to her stomach. She pushed the whole idea from her head. This was a party.

“Are you feeling okay, Dad?”

“Never better. It’s nice to see all of these smiling faces in one place. I’m having a great time. Don’t worry about me, kiddo. Why don’t you go find your friends and have some fun. I’m gonna go talk to Chuck Cupper a bit. See if his golf score’s improved any.”

“Okay, but save me a dance a little later.”

He squeezed her hand. “I look forward to it.”

Molly made her way through throngs of friends and neighbors, stopping to talk every so often. All the while, she scanned the room for Jordan. And she wasn’t hard to find. It was as if a part of her was always trained on Jordan’s proximity.

She watched her from across the room as she laughed at something her old soccer teammate said. That smile lit up her whole face, and it was a stunning visual. Quite simply, she radiated tonight. Jordan wasn’t much for dressing up, so she’d gone for sleek and sophisticated. She wore a simple black dress, cinched with a thin red belt. The medium heels made her legs look long and luxurious. The outfit looked like it was made for her, and she easily stole the room.

Molly headed that way, intent on spending a little part of the evening with Jordan, because, well, she really, really wanted to.

“Molly O’Brien, I need to talk to you!”

She stopped. “Mr. Jeffries, hi.”

“You weren’t at the shop this morning.” He glared, his eyes full of accusation.

“I know. I had some things to do to get ready for the party. I’ll be back in the morning though. Back on schedule.”

“Well, good. Just seems if it’s your shop, you should be there each day. People depend on their routine not being disrupted.” He was still glaring hard, but she knew that what he just said was code for “I missed seeing you,” and she felt a smile touch her lips.

“You’re right, Mr. Jeffries. I’ll try and remember that in the future. ‘Be there every day.’”

“See that you do,” he huffed and headed off in search of someone else to snarl at.

She lifted her eyes to where she’d last seen Jordan, but she was gone.

*

The terrace was quiet when Jordan made her way out there. Guests had come and gone throughout the party, enjoying the view and the quiet tranquility of the night. She rested her forearms on the railing and looked out over the expanse of treetops that surrounded the country club. It was a picturesque overlook and she took a minute to soak it in.

She was enjoying the party and the chance to see everyone together in one place all in celebration of her father. It was a good night. Admittedly, she spent much of it stealing glances at Molly, but that was pretty much the norm these days.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” She turned. Summer sauntered her way over to the railing with two glasses of white wine. One of which she handed to Jordan. “You looked a little lonely.”

Jordan held up the glass. “Thanks. Just catching my breath for a minute is all.”

“Glad you’re back in town. Boring around here without you. How long are you staying this time?”

“Couple more days.”

Summer eyed her and smiled leisurely. “Which is plenty of time.”

Jordan stared at her curiously, very much on guard about where this was going. Summer seemed to be in perpetual game mode and it was important to stay one step ahead, exhausting as that was. “Plenty of time for what?”

“For you and me to finally spend some one-on-one time together.” She leaned in close to Jordan’s ear. “Clothing is optional. Though this outfit is a favorite.” She ran her hand the length of Jordan’s body from shoulder to thigh, inching up just under the hem of Jordan’s dress.

Bold. Summer never was one for subtlety. And if she didn’t opt out now, she had a feeling this cat-and-mouse game would never end. She turned to her. “As nice a time as I’m sure we’d have, I’m going to have to decline.”

“Because you’re seeing someone?” Summer stared at her evenly.

She decided to just level with her. “Yes.”

Annoyance flickered across her face. “Molly. Then it’s true. I wondered when I saw your car parked outside of her house at two a.m., but I gave you far too much credit for that, Jordan. ”

Whoa. “My car? What were you doing on her street at two a.m.?”

“Just checking out a theory, and this is one I am so sorry to have been right about. Molly O’Brien? Seriously, what are you thinking?”

Jordan shook her head and took a step back. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Summer.” She turned to go.

“She’ll never love you for you.”

The words froze her in place. She felt as if she’d been punched as she turned back.

“You and I, Jordan, are the also-rans of this town, and it’s important that people like us stick together. And that’s why I’m looking out for you. You’ll never matter to her the way Cassie did, and when she looks at you, she’ll always think of her.
Always
.”

Jordan took a minute because the words hit home. “You don’t know that.”

Summer offered an overly sympathetic smile. “Don’t I, though? I have something you don’t right now, Jordan, and it’s called perspective. You’re second place in this scenario no matter how many different ways we run it. And trust me, that isn’t going to change.”

“Stop. It’s not like that with us.” And she believed that, mostly. Well, at least she wished she did.

“It’s lose-lose, Jordan. If you’re not willing to consider yourself, think about Molly. Her life was torn apart when she lost Cassie. She deserves a fresh start, and she can’t have that with you. You come with baggage, with reminders. You’re just an extension of her loss. Another way for her to hold on to Cassie, and if she stays with you, she’ll never get that clean slate. How do you not see that?”

Jordan met her gaze and held on. There was so much logic in those words, as twisted as they seemed. But Jordan wouldn’t let herself admit it fully. “You’re wrong.”

Summer tilted her head to the side. “I’m rarely wrong.” She laid a hand on Jordan’s shoulder as she passed and headed back into the party.

Jordan was reeling.

She didn’t want the words to affect her, she really didn’t. Because what Summer had professed about her, about Molly, was resonating with her no matter how much she fought against it. She stared into the darkened trees and talked herself down one minute at a time.

Things were good in her life.

Hell, they were better than good. They were great, and it was important that she remember that. She heard the door to the terrace open and she turned. And in that moment, everything seemed to right itself.

“Hey, stranger. I’ve been looking for you. That’s some party.”

Molly stood a few feet away, her eyes shining brightly. She wore a yellow cocktail dress with thin straps. It came in at the top of her waist and fell loosely to just above her knee. Quite simply, it was stunning on her.