Wrong Man, Right Kiss (7 page)

By the sixth night and seventh morning at Julian’s, Molly decided she was being tortured. Cranky from lack of sleep and out of sorts from painting all night, she began to wonder if she might have taken too deep of a plunge into this whole “relationship.” She’d barely even seen Garrett, much less talked to him, yet oh, boy, she’d been seeing plenty of Julian John.

Of course seeing him seminaked in the kitchen that first night took the gold.

But the close silver went to the times when he had breakfast in those linen drawstring pants that drove her crazy. He had several in different colors, and when the sunlight hit them at just the right angle, she could almost see through them. It was torture trying
not
to.

Like having an open chocolate bar stare back at you for hours and trying not to eat it. It was
crazy.

And then watching all those bare shoulders and biceps and triceps and lats and traps and pecs and all that hairless tanned skin moving and flexing as he had breakfast nearly catapulted her to internal combustion. He was just too…defined. His virility too overwhelming to endure when she’d had no sleep.

But on the other hand, the bantering between them was wonderful.

Julian usually read the paper while Molly eyed all the junk mail, and this morning he’d accused her of being the only person he knew who actually enjoyed reading it. They’d laughed about that, among other stuff. And yet there were also moments that felt…serious. Too serious.

Every time Molly rose for more coffee, she caught Julian staring at her bare legs that peeked from under her long T-shirt. She had never in her life been more self-conscious of her walk until she came back to the table with his smooth green eyes admiring her every step. To cover up her awkwardness, she’d blurt out a silly question and Julian would jerk his gaze back to her face, asking a distracted, “What?” as if he had not even heard her.

It was not like him at all; he was usually as sharp as a tack.

Today, his teasing had continued as he drove her to her old place. Once again he mentioned her clothes. But this time his remarks had felt strangely…intimate.

He didn’t exactly say her flowered sundress came from her “blender” collection, he merely said, eyes glinting in mirth, “You almost look naked without a single paint mark on you.”

Naked.

Molly still wondered why her stomach had twisted like a pretzel at the word, but just the prospect of him seeing her naked made her head spin wildly. Now she waved goodbye to Julian from her front door as his Aston Martin rolled around the curve, a dazed smile lingering on her lips.

She’d promised to catch a ride home with Kate later today, once she managed to pack more of her paint supplies and found herself a dress to wear to tonight’s event, a small housewarming for Landon and his wife, Beth. Although the couple had been married for two years, they’d never really taken the time to honeymoon until now. At first, they’d married because it suited Landon’s business purposes and would help Beth could regain custody of her son, David. But soon they’d fallen madly in love. Now their turbulent waters had calmed and they had one of the most loving marriages Molly had ever seen.

This was the first time Julian and Molly would face all the Gages at once.

The first time they would face Garrett and make him realize he was an
idiot
for letting Molly go.

And suddenly, sexy and sophisticated wouldn’t do.

Suddenly it was
crucial
that Molly look
stunning.

Using the key neatly hidden in the potted fern outside her door, she quickly entered the apartment to the aroma of baking: cinnamon, cardamom and every scent she associated with home.

Her heart swelled at the sight of their nice, tidy place looking cozy as usual. It was prime-time girly, scattered with lacy pillows and throws on the couches and colorful accessories. Even Molly’s old teddy bear sat contentedly under a Tiffany lamp.

After sequestering herself for days in an ultramasculine bachelor pad, the feminine vibe in their small one-story home appealed to her. Right then, she decided to take some of her pink pillows to Julian’s place. She needed to make herself more at home if she was going to be there for a while, plus she definitely planned to stock up his cupboards with her beloved Sleepytime Tea.

“Okay, what is going on with you?”

Molly spun around to find Kate standing in the kitchen archway, her red hair tied in a ponytail, a frilly apron around her waist and a what-in-the-world expression on her face.

People used to say Kate had so much energy the sun would burn out before she did. They were right; she was always doing something.

“I just came for some more clothes. Julian’s car is so impractical a kid can fit more stuff in a bike basket, I swear,” Molly said.

When Kate’s expression didn’t soften, Molly went to the kitchen to give her a hug, which might have been easier if Kate wasn’t holding a bowl.

“I can smell something’s cooking, Molly. I’m like your mother and sister and father all in one.”

“And
I
smell cinnamon.”

Molly peeked at all the yummy offerings on the kitchen island and selected several muffins to take to Julian. She shoved them into a brown paper bag and rolled it closed with a lot of noise.

“Aww, you always do this to me,” Kate said, exasperated, setting down her bowl with a plunk. “Those muffins happen to be for Landon and Beth’s welcome-back party, Moo. I’ll bake some for you tomorrow, okay?”

“Fine,” Molly grumbled. Already halfway to her room, she retraced her path to where her sister stood and handed her the paper bag. Instead of leaving, though, she stared into eyes that were clear and blue and almost identical to hers.

Her chest felt so heavy today, she just ached to be truthful with her sister.

They’d always been close with each other. As tight as two people who were left alone in the world could possibly be. But both of them were creatively inclined and tended to disappear into their own private bubbles of imagination half the time. Molly had been known to spend months locked away, painting away her restlessness. Kate cooked her heart out as well so that by the end of the day they were both too tired to even remember that they had lives outside their jobs, jobs which also happened to be their hobbies.

Kate had always been there for Molly, a shoulder to lean on, always supportive but not suffocating. But rarely in all these years had they actually discussed men. Or the strange feelings a woman might have toward them.

It was as though they both tried to pretend men did not exist in their lives. Or maybe just pretend that, other than their wonderful relationship with the Gages, they didn’t need any man
at all.

Molly had been perfectly content with that pretense because she had Julian John’s friendship. And he counted for a hundred men. So she’d never felt she lacked any male attention at all.

Until that one night, when
his brother
had made her feel
wanted.

Until that one night when she’d been kissed and fondled until she’d burst. Literally.

Now Molly couldn’t seem to stop craving that extra spark in her life. That wonderful feeling she’d felt as those hot lips, those expert hands, had reminded her she was a living, breathing woman who deserved a man’s love. Because why the hell not?

But how to inform Kate of her masquerade escapade with one brother when she was now supposed to be the other’s lover?

Molly just couldn’t talk about Garrett yet. It was still impossible to mention that kiss that had flipped her whole life upside down. But at least she could mention something else that was gnawing at her.

“Julian hates my wardrobe,” she blurted at last. She hated how her stomach cramped at the admission. And she loathed remembering how cockily Julian had assured her that this “starving artist look” would not do anything for Garrett. Damn him anyway for making her feel insecure.

Kate’s eyes widened, then she cocked an I-told-you-so brow. “Now, why am I not surprised to hear that?”

“Because you’ve said the same. There. Does it please you, Kay? That he thinks I dress bad? Because the last thing it gives me is pleasure.”

Suddenly, just remembering the sexiness of that woman she’d seen in Julian’s apartment made Molly flush in anger all over again. She had to look better than
her.
She had
so
many other looks in her wardrobe, not just the “blender” ones. Jules would see.

Eyebrows joining over a nose that was dotted with freckles, Kate took a step to scrutinize Molly more closely. “Molly, I don’t get you. You haven’t called in days and when I text you, you tell me you’re flying in Julian’s airplane over to South Padre Island to get an hour of suntanning with him? Your last two unfinished paintings for the exhibit sit all alone down the hall in your studio with your deadline looming…and after years of listening to me beg you to let me give you a makeover, you finally decide to do it because of what
he
said? What is going on with you two? I couldn’t sleep last night—I had to call Garrett. I’m worried sick!”

“
Garrett?
Well, what did he say?”

Looking genuinely mortified, Kate shook her ponytail and rubbed her temples. “He said to relax, that he’ll talk to you. I just don’t understand how this could come on so suddenly without me noticing what you two were up to. I thought this would happen later, when you were more experienced and mature.”

“Forget that! Tell me what tone Garrett used. Was he angry? Concerned? Kind of possessive?”

Maybe the idiot was so arrogantly certain of Molly and her feelings for him, he thought he still had her in his grasp. Well! She’d just have to set the man straight, wouldn’t she? And play harder to get with him than ever. In fact, Julian would know just how to take care of that tonight.

“I don’t remember exactly what else he said, but I’m truly mortified over this. Moo, I thought you were a virgin until now?”

Kate seized her shoulders, and as her wide blue eyes searched deep into her own, Molly dropped her gaze to the floor, feeling suddenly transparent. “I
am
a virgin,” she whispered, then she realized what she’d admitted to, and that the truth, right now, wouldn’t do. “I mean I
was
before Jules…”

“Were you hurt your first time, Molly? Did he hurt you?”

That soft question, full of caring and concern, sent Molly for a loop. Suddenly she felt like the very red center spot of the Target sign. That was what liars felt like when they were put on the spot. So now she was going to have to draw on her imagination.

“He didn’t mean to hurt me, but you know…” She trailed off and hoped to leave Kate to her own conclusion.

Which, judging by her struck expression, wasn’t all that good. “I could kill him!”

“No! No! It was amazing, he was…” Helplessly hooked into an image of Julian John making love to her, Molly trailed off. Or was it Garrett she was fantasizing about? Her mouth felt so moist all of a sudden, she had to swallow. “It was actually perfect,” she finished in a whisper.

“But anyway, my pride is smarting like crazy after he insulted my dress choice,” she continued after a moment. “I’m truly torn, Kate. I want to show him that I can look fantastic but don’t care what he thinks, either. I know you’re catering for our event tonight, but do you think you can take an hour off to help make me look good?”

“Good enough to make Jules eat his words?”

“Yes!” Molly laughed, grabbing a frilly pink pillow and playfully smacking Kate with it.

She pictured Julian’s face when he saw her walk through those elevator doors. Oooooh, it would be priceless. He’d look stunned and shocked and he would definitely no longer think Molly needed a new mirror.

And Garrett? He would regret every hour of these days they had been spending apart when they could have spent them together. Necking.

Kate slapped the pillow back at Molly, laughing. “Yes, I’ll give you a makeover. But Molls?”

“Hmm?” Molly was already storming into her bedroom, rummaging through her closet in search of options that would make a man’s mouth water. She didn’t have a lot. But she still found a very nice dress in Kate’s closet. She extended it to her sister, loving how the sapphire silk fabric shimmered in the light. “It has the tag on,” Molly said aloud.

“Take it off,” Kate said excitedly, and pulled on the plastic.

Molly shook her head. “But it’s new. I can’t wear this.”

“Yes, you can. I was saving it for a rainy day. You’d look so lovely, Moo.”

“I wish you’d stop calling me Moo. I feel like a cow.” Molly hung the dress back up with a sigh, and her heart clenched for her sister. “I’ll borrow this one day, but only after
you
wear it. When it rains.”

They shared a smile, and minutes later, Molly found another dress in her sister’s closet. It was black, fitted, and had an open back that was to die for. Molly tried it on backward and loved it so much, she decided she was doing things her own special way and cut off the label. She’d wear it this way and show plenty of cleavage tonight.

By that evening, after spending a wonderful day with Kate, getting her makeover and even helping her sister finish loading some of tonight’s munchies into the catering van, Molly arrived at Julian’s posh apartment building, her heart pounding in anticipation.