Hotshot and Hospitality by Nora Everly

Chapter 13

Molly

I awoke to the sounds of stupid birds chirping and stinking fresh air wafting in through the window. After Jordan got off work and picked up Abbie from my house, I hightailed it over to the treehouse to spend the night. I figured not being home would be a good idea just in case anyone had any big ideas about coming over to check on me. But no, the big old buttface didn’t call, text, or stop by. So, who needed him? Not me! I brought a pie with me, so I was fine alone up in this treehouse all by myself, without him.

This wouldn’t be the first time I drove a man away and clearly it would not be the last. Chris number two couldn’t run far enough away after our third date. Apparently, dramatic outbursts and effusive enthusiasm freaked some guys out. So I got excited about things—was that wrong? Second Chris required a sedate woman with whom he could feel comfortable in a public setting. One who could control herself around dessert carts, for example. I was not that woman. We were still friends; I didn’t blame him. I felt it was fair to blame Garrett though, because he knew what he was getting into with me and he should have known better. So, for now it would be just me and my pie. I had to be okay with that.

Speaking of pie, it was time for breakfast. Or rather, first breakfast—the Hobbit diet seemed like an inevitable life choice based on the feelings I’d woken up with. I mean, I was already short and I hated wearing shoes; I was halfway there already.

I rolled over with a groan and yanked the pillows over my head. Hiding sounded better than working. And who was I trying to kid about the pie anyway? It hadn’t worked last night. I cried myself to sleep up here like a lovesick chump. I hadn’t bawled like that since way back during the first few weeks after my father died. In fact, I couldn’t even remember the last time I had a good cry. That couldn’t be healthy.

Anticipation and sorrow caused a lump to form in my throat and tears pricked behind my eyelids as I thought of Garrett and Lacy. I’d see him around here today; it would be unavoidable. No matter how much effort I put into hiding, the inn was not big enough for total avoidance. And Lacy had been wearing the ring he had given her: his great-aunt Jade’s ring. I used to admire it on her finger when I was a little girl. It was beautiful and unmistakable with its trio of diamonds and ornate band. For the life of me, I couldn’t reconcile everything I knew about him, the night we’d spent together, our morning kiss, and that damn ring on her finger.

Something didn’t fit.

I sat up and fumbled for my hearing aid on the bedside table. I had to get a move on. Being late for work was terrible when you were the one in charge. And since we were in the middle of the remodel, I had to be there on time.

“Molly!” Startled, I almost fell out of the bed. It was Garrett. He’d made it up the stairs and through the hinged floor door before I had put my hearing aid in. I’d heard nothing. I should rig the treehouse like my house. I had door dingers and alarms all over the place. Landon had hooked me up when he’d remodeled my little carriage house. Being caught unaware was one of my biggest fears and a real concern, considering my hearing. “You up here? I brought you coffee from Daisy’s. I sent a text and I tried to call you, uh, a few times.” I picked up my phone to check and, sure enough, there were two texts and three missed calls. I grinned to myself as I got up and slipped into my robe.

“Yeah. I’m here. Give me a minute,” I called back. My heart raced as I stood up. Memories of the way his lips felt and the way he tasted when I slid my tongue along his consumed my mind and I could hardly think of anything else. That was until the image of Lacy flashing Great-Aunt Jade’s ring in my face glimmered into my thoughts and I stomped out to greet him. Why didn’t he call me last night? He had known I was upset.

“So, you found me. Here I am. The jig is up, isn’t it? How’s Lacy?” Knowing was better than not knowing—probably. I headed out to the deck area to sit at the little table. If I developed a feels overload and got sad or mad, I could always push him over the side. He’d survive; it wasn’t that high.

He followed me to the table, his gaze steady and sure as he sat across from me. “I didn’t invite her into my house yesterday. You do know that, right?”

“Yeah, I guess I know it.” I wanted to ask about the ring, but I was afraid of what he would say.

“I know she flashed Great-Aunt Jade’s ring at you in the Donner Bakery. She didn’t give it back to me when she left. I asked her mom a few times to get it back and she’d always put me off. Eventually, I just called it a loss.” My mouth formed an O of surprise as I felt myself shrinking in my seat with embarrassment. “Ruby told Everett what happened at the bakery and he told me. I’m so sorry she did that to you. I—I almost came by last night, but you said you’d text me and I thought you may have needed some space. I hope I did the right thing.”

“I don’t know what to say. I jumped to conclusions and ran out of your house yesterday with no pants on and prayed for your forest aliens to abduct me. That’s crazy, Garrett. You don’t need that in your life. It was good you stayed away last night.”

“You’re wrong, Molly. I do need that in my life. I’ve smiled more with you over these last few days than in the entire time I’ve been back in Green Valley. You make me feel alive again.”

“Bull crap.” I huffed. “No way.”

“Stan missed you last night,” he said, and his voice was sweet. I knew when I was being cajoled; I wanted to stay mad and therefore protect my heart, but dammit! I never could resist a cute kitty cat.

My eyes snapped to his. “Aww, he did?”

“He sure did. I think you should come over tonight. You left your clothes in my bed.”

I reached over the table to cover his mouth. “Shh! Why would you say that? Out loud? Do you want someone to overhear and draw conclusions and tell your mother? For the love of god, Garrett! My brothers are so freaking nosy. Any one of them could be lurking about outside.”

He took my hand and kissed my palm with a wink. I sunk down in my chair and stopped thinking. When my brain finally came back online, I snapped. “We shouldn’t be doing this. We should just tell everyone the truth. The kiss at Genie’s was fake and there’s nothing going on between us.”

“There’s a lot going on between us and you know it. We should absolutely do this. In fact, we should do even more. Don’t forget, you won the bet. Dinner at The Front Porch on Saturday night. I already made reservations.”

“Ugh! I forgot how bossy you always were. Funny how when you’re missing someone, you only remember the good stuff—”

“So, you missed me, then?”

I blew a curl out of my eye with a heavy sigh. “Yeah, fine, I did but—”

“I missed you too.”

“But that doesn’t mean we should—”

“Look, you eat pie to cope. I bake pie to cope. You’re wearing pants now, and lately I want nothing more than to get inside your pants. We both have lips, and obviously we enjoyed the kissing yesterday. I fail to see the problem here. I think this thing could work, cutie.”

“Is that it, then?” I demanded.

“Is what it?”

“Cutie? My nickname? Your endearment? Is that our secret code word?”

His chuckle was adorable, but my resistance was still strong. “What’s wrong with cutie? It’s way better than buttface,” he teased.

“What would you rather have me call you? Sexy pants? Hot tamale? Sugar booger? Schmoopaloo? Baa-aabe?” I pointed right in his smug and adorable face. “You don’t get to choose the nickname, Garrett, the nickname chooses you!” My voice rose and grew more high-pitched after each endearment. I never could tell how loud I was being. I usually had to judge by the stares I attracted. Lucky for us, no one seemed to be around.

“None of those,” he murmured, the quiet, deep pitch of his voice drew my eyes to his mouth to read his lips. “Say my name. When I get you good and crazy, promise to say my name.” Ugh! How was I supposed to resist that? His hot eyes, sexy smirk, soft luscious beard, and muscles galore were like those super strong magnets that could hold up an anvil. Each one of my feels was pulled right to him, bam, bam, bam! Dang it, he wasn’t playing fair.

“No flirting allowed!” I shouted and stood up. “I promise nothing!” I waved a hand in front of myself as I yelled. I mean, really? If he couldn’t tell by looking at me, I would just have to spell it out. “I’m already good and crazy, Garrett. Don’t forget that fact on Saturday night at The Front Porch when I do something bonkers that draws a crowd. I’ve been known to get very excited by their dessert cart, okay? Some people find that embarrassing.”

“I won’t forget it. You’re completely unforgettable and I never, not even for one second, got you out of my mind. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, Molly, and I want you in my life any way I can get you.”

With that, the winds of fury, sadness, and embarrassment blew right out of my sails. “Garrett . . .” was the only thing I could think to say as I all but collapsed into my chair. But my face must have said everything because he took my hands, linked our fingers together across the table and smiled at me. “Okay, I’ll have dinner with you at The Front Porch on Saturday night,” I conceded.

His whiskey brown eyes twinkled in the early morning sunlight as he grinned his irresistible, slightly crooked grin at me. “I know you will. Like I said, I already made reservations.”

I almost twisted in my seat, blushed, and reacted like a girly girl. Instead, my eyes involuntarily rolled as my snark won out. Sometimes I lost control of my attitude. I simply couldn’t help it. “Well, no one likes a know-it-all and I did win the bet. I’m ready to taste the sweet flavor of victory in the form of lobster and filet mignon.”

“You got it. And I’ll make sure the dessert cart rolls by our table once or twice too.”

“But this isn’t a date. I’m through with dating, Garrett. I’m through with love, and I’m way over men and all of the varieties of crap they always seem to dish my way,” I insisted.

“Of course it’s not a date. We made a bet and I always pay up.” His agreement was swift, and he was unsurprised by my declaration. Like he was familiar with my ways or something.

I narrowed my eyes. “Okay, good. I won’t wear my best dress and absolutely no sexy high heels will be on these feet.”

“I’ll ditch the necktie and I won’t use aftershave.”

I gasped in alarm. “Oh no! Don’t shave your beard off!”

“You like my beard, do you?” His smile was smug.

“I mean, I guess it’s alright.” I scoffed as I shrugged at the sexy-man arrogance in his expression. “Also, I have to get ready for work. I still need to shower, wash Willa’s pants and return her stolen flip-flops. Big plans—you know how it is.”

“I do know how it is. And for the record, I like how it is.” My eyes flew to his and a small smile crossed my face. “So, I’ll catch you later, Molly. I’ll be around.” He got up, flicked two fingers out in a wave and left.

“Later,” I whispered to his retreating back. I took a sip of coffee and watched him walk across the lawn.

Maybe I did bottle things up too much. I swallowed a lot of feelings last night along with my pie. I swallowed the truth about Lacy and forced myself to believe it was a lie. Deep down, I knew he didn’t give her back that ring; there should have been no question about it. I had been so afraid of how he made me feel that I used the first thing I could find as an excuse to run away from him. Lacy and the ring were just an opportunity for me to escape.

There was no reason for the way I acted yesterday. My tears last night were meaningless because I had no actual cause to cry them. I owed him a real apology.