“So you think it’s hopeless, then. It is hopeless. I’m hopeless.”
“You are far from hopeless!” Amanda argued. “You are a wonderful, amazing person who deserves a wonderful and amazing man in return.”
“Zeke is—”
“A wonderful and amazing man, I know.” Gentling her voice, Amanda said, “But you have to realize, hon, that he might not be the wonderful and amazing man for you.”
“I’ve always thought he was perfect for me.”
“And he is...if all you want is a friend. But if you want more than that, then it’s time to admit what you and Zeke have isn’t enough.”
Not enough...
Mollie had spent her entire life feeling as though what she had to offer was not enough. Her brother, Patrick, had been the firstborn and everything her parents wanted in a child. Outgoing, good-looking, talented, smart—while Mollie had been little more than an afterthought.
Losing Patrick had only made Mollie long even more for a family of her own—one that consisted of at least a few two-legged members. Fostering and training dogs certainly filled a huge part of her life, but she still had an empty spot in her heart.
“I do want to get married someday, to have children,” Mollie admitted.
Zeke’s children...
But he wanted to pawn her off on one of his buddies.
Giving up on eating, Mollie pushed her plate away. “I’m no good at dating. I never know what to say and always end up feeling so self-conscious that I don’t say anything... It’s just a disaster.”
“All you need is a little confidence. Let us fix you up, and you’ll see dating isn’t so bad.”
“I don’t know—” Mollie was about to tell her friends to forget the whole idea when a masculine voice called out, “Hey, sis!”
The three women looked up as Amanda’s older brother, Josh, walked over to their table. Like all of Amanda’s siblings, Josh was blessed with warm olive skin, deep-brown eyes and dimples to die for. He greeted them with a smile before reaching over his sister’s shoulder to break off a piece of her cornbread muffin. Shaking his head sadly after sampling the bite, he said, “They just aren’t the same since you left.”
“Stop! It’s the exact same recipe,” Amanda insisted, but Mollie noticed her friend had to take a taste for herself, just to make sure.
“Quit trying to guilt your sister for following her own dreams,” Claire scolded him.
“Oh, come on! Giving my brothers and sisters a hard time is the best thing about having siblings.” Josh caught Mollie’s eye and broke off suddenly with a quiet curse. “I’m sorry, Mollie, I wasn’t thinking—Patrick was a true hero.”
“Yes, he was,” Mollie murmured around the ache in her throat, as she always did when anyone brought up her brother and his service. Like everyone else in Spring Forest, she was proud of and humbled by her brother’s dedication and bravery.
Patrick had been an amazing man and a remarkable soldier. But the brother she mourned, the brother she missed, had also been human. He’d had his fears, his doubts, and he’d made mistakes.
But her parents, Zeke, the whole town wanted to remember Patrick McFadden as the heroic soldier who had died for his country. For all of them, and for the sake of her brother’s memory, Mollie would do everything in her power to keep it that way.
She held on to her smile despite the sting of tears as she added, “He would be the first to agree with you about how much he enjoyed giving me a hard time.”
Looking slightly relieved at her joke, Josh grinned. “Patrick loved to kid around, but every guy in Spring Forest knew not to mess with you or they’d have a pissed-off soldier on their hands.”
Looking as puzzled as Mollie felt, Amanda asked, “What do you mean, Josh?”
His dark brows rose. “You didn’t know? Before he left for basic training, Patrick had a heart-to-heart with every teenaged dude in the county, making sure they all knew his little sis was off-limits.”
Noticing the look her friends exchanged, Mollie reached for her iced tea, half surprised she didn’t spill it down the front of her shirt as she took a quick sip. “That’s ridiculous,” she muttered into the glass. “I was a kid when he left.”
“You were fourteen,” Amanda pointed out.
Josh nodded. “And Patrick already knew what the rest of us figured out in high school—that you’d turn into a beautiful young woman.” Josh shot her a quick wink that had Mollie’s face flaming. “He was right to warn us all away.”
After Josh excused himself and headed to the kitchen to speak with his brother-in-law, typical sounds still filled the restaurant—the clink of silverware against plates, the waitresses taking orders, the din of conversation all around. But a dead silence had fallen over their table.
“Well, there you have it,” Claire announced finally.
Amanda nodded. “The reason you’ve had such a hard time dating all these years had nothing to do with you. After Patrick warned them off, guys got used to thinking of you as off-limits, and that never changed.”
Was it possible? Mollie thought back to her high school days, when it seemed every girl had a date for Homecoming, Spring Fling, Prom...every girl but her. Mollie had believed she was somehow at fault. She was too shy, too awkward, too plain. Was it her big brother’s warning that had really kept the boys away?
“Why would he do that?”
“You know how Patrick wanted to protect you.” Amanda reached out to squeeze Mollie’s hand. “He was gone so much, he didn’t have the chance to see the strong, confident, beautiful woman you’ve become.”
“Now it’s time for the rest of Spring Forest to take notice,” Claire added.
The idea of anyone noticing her had Mollie ready to break out in hives, and Claire and Amanda wanted the whole town to take note? “I don’t know—”
“You heard what Josh said and—” Amanda’s eyes flew open wide. “Oh, my gosh! I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before, but Josh would be perfect for you!”
“Josh? But he’s—”
“He’s what?” her friend asked a little defensively. “Yes, he’s my pain-in-the-neck brother, but he’s also smart, funny, good-looking. Give me one good reason why you don’t want to go out with him.”
Mollie didn’t bother to give the only reason that truly mattered...
He wasn’t Zeke.
* * *
Mollie smiled with a touch of pride as she gazed at the gorgeous guy across the table. “Congratulations, Stanley! You have officially graduated!” Though she knew the six-pound papillon didn’t understand, she couldn’t help thinking the tiny dog was grinning as he sat in his mistress’s lap.
“My good, good boy!” If Stanley was grinning, his owner, Mrs. Winchester, was positively glowing. The wealthy sixtysomething widow wore a stylish pale pink pantsuit. Gold and diamonds flashed at her slender wrists as she lifted Stanley toward her face.
Mrs. W, as she preferred to be called, had an active social life that included playing bridge, meeting friends for lunch and going on long shopping excursions. All of which she wanted to do with Stanley trotting by her side or riding in his custom-made carrier. But the tiny dog’s guarding behavior had made that a challenge.
As part of a “final exam,” Mollie and Mrs. W had met for brunch at a trendy restaurant in downtown Raleigh. The summer day was slightly overcast and cool, perfect for dining alfresco on the dog-friendly patio. “He’s been a perfect gentleman, if I do say so myself.” The dog hadn’t growled or snapped once. “And he certainly looks the part.”
In honor of the occasion, Mrs. W had dressed her boy in a tuxedo, complete with bow tie, top hat and tails. Not that Mollie was judging. She’d been known to dress Arti up for certain holidays. Her favorite costume included a single antler tied to the dog’s head, à la Max from the classic Christmas cartoon.
At the end of the meal, Mrs. W gave Mollie a perfumed hug with Stanley sandwiched between them. “I can’t thank you enough, Mollie. I do enjoy going out, and I hate the idea of leaving poor Stanley home all alone in that big house by himself.”
Mrs. W’s husband, the original Stanley, had left her with a significant fortune and the mansion to match. Mollie had a feeling that the elderly woman was the one who truly felt too alone.
And while she might not have the fortune or the mansion, Mollie certainly understood the companionship of a four-legged friend. With a final reassurance that the woman could always call if Stanley regressed at any point, Mollie said goodbye to her client. With her next lesson not scheduled until later that afternoon, Mollie decided to stroll along the outdoor mall.
She wasn’t much of a shopper, but she found herself lingering in front of a brightly lit boutique. She didn’t know how she’d escaped lunch the other day without promising Amanda she could set her up with Josh. If she agreed, and that was a big if, she should probably think about buying something new to wear.
Faceless mannequins flaunted skinny arms and legs, their slender forms draped in an array of short-skirted, low-cut, skintight dresses. Signs and posters promoted red-hot looks and sizzling summer sales. For a split second she considered stepping inside, but no... This was why she didn’t go shopping. Or go out, for that matter.
Mollie sighed as she moved to the next shop, this one worse than the last. Bright white lettering and a sleek black background provided a stark contrast to the hot pink awning. The storefront offered a lavish display of lacy lingerie. Matching bras and panties—some satin, some sheer. Baby-doll nighties, silk kimono-style peignoirs. In every shade of the rainbow, plus a few animal prints thrown in to appease a woman’s—or man’s—wild side.
Despite her career choice, Mollie feared she did not have a wild side. Her own underwear, like the rest of her wardrobe, was selected for function rather than fashion, with nothing satin, sheer or sexy about it. With the late morning sun shining behind her, she could see herself in the glass. Button-down khaki camp shirt. Olive green capri pants. Hair caught back in a ponytail.
Red-hot? Sizzling? More like bland and boring.
But if she stood just right, she could see the shimmery reflection of an emerald nightie draped over her body. The image was as transparent as the sheer material of the lace-trimmed gown, but she could almost feel the cool, silken whisper against her skin...
“Hey, Mollie! I thought that was you.”
Mollie...it’s always been you...
So lost in the moment, feeling almost trapped within the glass, her heart leaped to her throat when she realized the sight of Zeke standing behind her was not part of her fantasy. Wearing a maroon dress shirt open at his strong throat, sleeves rolled back over his leanly muscled forearms, and a pair of slate-gray trousers, Zeke Harper in the flesh was far sexier than any desire-filled daydream.
Turning around quickly enough to make her head spin, she tried to grab hold of the longing inside her that was getting harder and harder to ignore. Zeke’s practice was only a few blocks away, but Mollie hadn’t expected to run into him. She hadn’t exactly been avoiding him, but at the same time, she wasn’t sure she was ready to face him, either.
You have to realize he might not be the man for you.
Her head was starting to get the picture, but her heart insisted on coloring outside the lines. She soaked in the sight of him, not wanting to admit how much she’d missed him. The cool breeze ruffled his hair just the way Mollie longed to do, and the way the fine linen molded to his chest was sexy enough to make her mouth go bone dry.
“What are you doing here?” he asked with an easy smile that faded into a frown when he stared at the store behind her.
Her entire body flushed hot, as if he’d caught her wearing one of the revealing negligees. Hadn’t she imagined the feel of emerald silk or black satin against her skin while gazing through the glass? Was it possible that Zeke—
Mollie dismissed the thought. If not for his recent “encouragement” for her to start dating, she would have sworn Zeke didn’t know she was a woman at all.
“I met a client for brunch.” Unable to stop herself, she added, “And then thought I’d do some shopping.”
“Shopping?” He echoed the word as if he’d never heard her say it before—which, Mollie admitted, was entirely possible. The doors behind them swished open as a satisfied, or perhaps soon-to-be satisfied, customer stepped outside, hot pink bags in hand. The fragrance of warm vanilla drifted out from the store along with the soft, seductive strains of a love song.
But it was standing so close to Zeke that had Mollie’s senses reeling. Breathing in his spicy cologne mixed with the soft, feminine scent left her light-headed, and she couldn’t think of trying on the seductive lingerie without imagining Zeke taking it off.
Staring up into his hazel eyes, for a split second she thought she saw all the heat, all the desire, all the want she longed to see shimmering in their endless depths. She’d always loved his eyes, so rich and warm with the intriguing, ever-changing kaleidoscope of gold and green... She stood close enough to see herself reflected there, like her image in the glass, and in a sudden, painful rush, she knew.
All the heat, desire, want she saw shining in his eyes was her own.
And oh, God...
What if Zeke could see it, too?
Because the only thing more completely humiliating than a hopeless crush on her best friend would be her best friend knowing about it!
She stumbled back a few steps, nearly falling into a nearby trash can before catching her balance. “Yes, shopping! For a new chew toy. For the dogs,” she blurted out, just in case Zeke actually thought the chew toy was for her. Her cheeks burning in helpless mortification, she waved a hand down the line of shops. “There’s a pet store around the corner.”
“Oh, right.” Shaking his head, Zeke gave a small laugh that held a slight hint of relief. “Pet store. How are the new dogs?”
Grateful to focus on something else, Mollie said, “Charlie’s settling in.” She’d introduced the two foster dogs to Arti, and as she’d expected, her goofy hound dog had greeted them with eager sniffs, happy to have some new playmates. She definitely didn’t have to worry about the two girls...
Almost as if reading her mind, Zeke asked, “And Chief?”
“He’s...coming along.” In the few days since bringing Chief home from the shelter, Mollie had witnessed how truly traumatized the poor dog was. The large backyard both Charlie and Arti loved was too big and intimidating for the frightened shepherd. “It’s going to take time, but I feel like I had a breakthrough yesterday using a tethering technique with Charlie.”
“Tethering?”
Nodding, Mollie explained how she’d used a carabiner to hook the end of Charlie’s leash to Chief’s collar, connecting the two dogs. “Charlie isn’t afraid of anything, and it doesn’t take much to get her to run around the yard.” With a soft laugh, she added, “Poor Chief didn’t have any choice but to follow.”
The objects that were too scary for the shepherd to face on his own had been so much easier to handle with Charlie leading the way. Mollie had watched in satisfaction as the Lab wandered off with Chief happily trailing behind.
“That’s great, Mollie.” Pride filled Zeke’s expression as he smiled down at her, and it was easy to forget how frustrating he could be sometimes. “Sounds like you’re making real progress.”
“Yeah.” With Chief. Too bad she couldn’t say the same for herself. Standing so close to Zeke, basking in his praise, it was easy to forget the realization she’d had working with the dogs.
On a professional level, Mollie appreciated the tethering technique. But on a far more personal level, as she’d watched the two dogs together, she couldn’t avoid the obvious comparison.
As the kid sister, she’d always been
the one tagging along, following her beloved big brother and his best friend. But Patrick was no longer there for her to follow, and Zeke—
Zeke would never see her for the woman she was as long as she was still walking in the same steps as the girl she’d always been.
“I’m meeting some colleagues for lunch,” he was saying. After glancing at his watch, he offered, “You want to come?”
Tagging along...
Mollie shook her head. “I still have my shopping to do.”
“Ah, yes. Your chew toy. For the dogs.” His lips lifted in a teasing smile, one Mollie was suddenly determined to wipe from his gorgeous face.
She needed to prove she was woman enough to choose her own path. And if he didn’t see that—if he couldn’t see that—well, then, maybe it was time for Mollie to turn her attention to a man who did.
“That’s right, and something for me.”
Spinning around, she stepped toward the lingerie store. In the split second before the automatic doors to the vanilla-and-spice-scented shop opened, she caught a satisfying glimpse of Zeke’s stunned expression in the reflective glass.
Chapter Four
“Hey, sorry I’m late.”
Zeke looked up from his coffee as his friend Matt Fielding claimed the seat across from him. “No worries.” He lifted his cup in greeting. “I just ordered.”
The two men typically met at Whole Bean Coffee Saturday mornings before heading over to the local gym to shoot hoops. Matt was still working his way back from injuries sustained while he was in the army but insisted the games of b-ball were far less stressful on his leg than the rigors of physical therapy.
“How’s everything going?” he asked over the din of caffeine-laced conversation going on all around them.
As usual, the coffee shop was crowded. He’d spotted Mollie’s friend Amanda and the new shelter director, Rebekah Taylor, earlier, but Mollie wasn’t with them. Not that Zeke expected her to be. Her weekends were usually booked solid with the group classes she offered. Most evenings she gave private lessons to dogs and owners who either preferred one-on-one meetings or needed more individual help.
Not Just the Girl Next Door Page 4
