by Rachel Hanna
“You were the man who saved me and my son from a life spent hiding. When everyone else ran away, you ran toward us, arms open wide and ready to accept us. I can never thank you enough or say I love you enough for everything you do for us and everything you are as a person,” Tessa said, tears flowing down her cheeks.
“Every dream I ever had for my life is wrapped up in you, Tessa. There is no one on this Earth that I’d rather spend my life with, and I promise I will protect you and Tyler every day for the rest of my life,” she heard Aaron say.
It was wonderful, inspiring and utterly depressing.
When the wedding was over, Austin slipped out to help Clay and Molly was left there longing for a love like that. Longing to touch Austin’s hand again. She mentally slapped away the thought.
The reception was one big party at a large plantation house about a block away. It was a lovely home, bigger than the B&B, and it was packed. Many people who weren’t at the wedding - probably because they couldn’t fit in the tiny church - showed up for the reception, and the whole town seemed to be in attendance. Even the mayor was there.
“Having fun?” Austin asked as he walked up beside her. The music blared from the DJ booth, and people moved around the dance floor.
“Oh sure. Standing alone in a room full of strangers is a total blast,” she said with a sarcastic smile.
“I’m not a stranger. I’ve eaten massive amounts of soup with you and now we’ve held hands.”
His dry humor was growing on her. “Yeah. We’re besties now!” she yelled over a particularly loud Taylor Swift song.
“Do you dance?” he yelled back.
“What?”
“Do you dance?” he repeated. She’d heard him the first time, but needed to buy herself a few moments before answering.
“Not usually!” she yelled back.
“Oh, come on!” He grabbed her hand yet again and pulled her to the dance floor. Being petite sucked when it came to fighting back in situations like this. They started to dance, but the song suddenly changed and it slowed way down. Oh no. Awkward….
“Um…” Molly said as she started to back off the dance floor.
Instead, inexplicably, Austin reached for her hand and pulled her close. He slid one hand around her waist and took her other hand in his. For a moment, he stood there and just stared deep into her eyes as if he was silently asking for permission to pull her closer.
She couldn’t speak. He smelled good. He was warm. He was hot. What was a girl to do?
Austin swayed to the music, struggling to understand his own thoughts. She was backing off the dance floor, and then he basically grabbed her? Smooth move, dummy. She probably thinks you’re a pervert now, grabbing her like that.
And why did he pull her back? They could have walked right off the floor, no harm no foul. But no, he had to show his cards right then and there.
He wanted to hold her in his arms. He almost hadn’t let go of her hand in the church, and he wondered if she noticed that he held hers a few seconds longer even after the preacher stopped praying?
And now he was in a sticky situation. He was holding this woman, this goddess-like creature who smelled like lavender and coffee mixed together, and he was struggling with every feeling, emotion and thought.
This couldn’t happen. They couldn’t happen. His carefully laid plans were starting to backfire. January Cove was just a pitstop on the way to a big, bold, successful life. And this petite little auburn-haired beauty had not been in his plans at all.
Plus, she was too gullible and innocent for a guy like him. He’d end up hurting her by saying or doing something stupid. He was too cocky and arrogant for her. She deserved better. Not a catfish and not him, but none of those thoughts stopped him from pulling her even closer until her head was rested against his chest.
Oh good Lord. This was an accident waiting to happen.
Yep, her head was firmly on his chest. His cologne was unbelievably alluring, and she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. She just wanted to bask in the moment of being held by this gorgeous man.
Please let the next song be fast, she thought to herself. And yet she knew she didn’t really want that. She wanted every song to be a slow song until everyone else got bored and left her, swaying back and forth, with Austin until the sun came up.
It could happen, right?
And then the song was over. Why are songs so dang short?
They continued swaying for a moment until the floor was covered up in people doing the Electric Slide. Austin cleared his throat and stepped back, opening the space between them and creating yet another void.
“Thanks for the dance,” she said softly. Somehow he heard her over the music and nodded.
“Ditto.”
“I’m really tired. I think I’m going to head back to the B&B now.”
“Mind if I walk with you?” he asked. She nodded, they said their goodbyes to everyone and headed out the door.
Chapter 9
It was a cool late October evening, and January Cove was already lit up for the holidays that were coming in less than eight weeks. It seemed like it was a place that was just made for Christmas with its beautiful architecture and moonlit views of the water.
As Austin and Molly walked, they were quiet at first. Her heels were killing her, and she just wanted to get home.
“Can I ask you something?” Austin said, immediately making Molly’s stomach clench up.
“Sure…” she said, holding the word out.
“What did your parents say about you coming all the way out here to meet Fake Blake?” She loved that he’d accepted her new nickname of the catfish.
“Ohhhh…. That’s a story in itself. They weren’t happy. Of course, they aren’t happy about most things I do.”
“Really? Seems like you have it pretty together to me.” She knew it was just an off the cuff comment, but it made her feel validated. At least someone thought nice things about her.
“Thanks, but I obviously don’t. I mean, I followed a stranger across the country. You said so yourself.” He reached over and stopped her.
“And I apologized for that.”
“I know. I’m not mad or anything.”
Austin pointed to a small bench on near the square. They sat down which was a welcome rest for her aching feet.
“The more I think about it, the more I admire you for what you did.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You took a chance for love. You just took that chance on the wrong person,” he said. There was a tone in his voice that she couldn’t quite place.
“Well, I feel like a total fool.” She looked up at the sky. The moon was almost full, and the stars were plentiful, although they were harder to see with the street lights around them.
“You’re no fool, Molly James,” he said softly. “You’re a little obsessed with banana pudding, but you’re not a fool.”
“Me? What about you?” she said, playfully smacking his arm.
They stood up and started walking again, but Molly finally ditched her shoes and held them in her hand.
“So, any siblings?” he asked.
“One very perfect brother on the path to being the next Bill Gates.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. I didn’t quite measure up. Dyslexic. Homely. Awkward.”
“Stop!” he said, spinning her toward him. He looked flustered and upset, but she had no idea why.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, looking around wondering if a car had been careening toward them or something.
“You have to stop saying that crap. God, Molly, what have your parents done to you? It’s like you’re brainwashed against yourself.”
“It’s hard to argue with the truth, Austin.”
“But it’s not the truth. You’re not homely. You’re stunning. That auburn hair, most girls would kill for that color, but you just have it naturally. It’s like you have glints of sunlight,” he said, reaching up and touching a stra
nd of her hair. “And your eyes are the most amazing shade of emerald green. I’ve never seen anyone with the color of your eyes.” He was speaking so softly, and the streets were deserted with only the faint sound of the ocean waves a block away. Only in January Cove could they stand in the middle of the road without worrying about a car coming.
“I… don’t…” she stammered. No one had ever said those things to her, not even Fake Blake.
“You don’t need to say anything,” he said, dropping his hand to his side and stepping back. “You just need to know that you’re perfect exactly like you are. Soup and all.”
Austin seemed to always fall back on his dry sense of humor to get out of tough emotional spots, and this definitely seemed like one of them.
They started walking again and the B&B finally came into view. It was a welcome sight as far as her feet were concerned, but she kind of wanted to spend the night walking every street in January Cove with Austin by her side.
“Thank you, Austin.”
“For what?” he asked as they started up the walkway to the B&B.
“For everything.”
Austin couldn’t get to his room quick enough. What was this woman doing to him? Soon, he’d be reciting poetry and painting with watercolors in the garden.
But he couldn’t help it. She was downgrading herself, and it wasn’t right. He’d probably never meet her parents, but he had to wonder what kind of people they were to have not appreciated such an amazing daughter.
Still, he had to keep his distance. He wasn’t her knight in shining armor. He wasn’t that kind of guy. He was focused on his own goals, his own dreams. Only now he was totally confused on exactly what his dreams were.
“Okay, that’s seriously the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!” Molly said with a grin as Addison carried Anna Grace into Jolt wearing her Halloween costume. She was dressed as a puppy dog with a cute brown nose painted on.
“Isn’t she adorable? Of course, I’m a bit biased,” Addison said with a smile. Jolt was about to close for the day, so Molly made Addison a quick hot chocolate.
“Getting ready to trick or treat?”
“Yes. This will be her first time, and I know she won’t remember a bit of it, but I’m having fun reliving my own childhood all over again!”
“Where’s Clay?”
“Oh, he’s at home getting ready to hand out candy to the kids. We expect a lot of them.”
“Why isn’t he going with you? Surely he wants to see Anna Grace trick or treat for the first time.”
“He does, but we can’t leave the B&B unattended on a night like this! We might get egged,” she said with a laugh. That would probably never happen in January Cove.
“Let me hand out candy! I’m leaving here in a few minutes, and I’d love to help out,” Molly said as she tickled Anna Grace’s feet and watched her squirm and giggle.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to impose or interfere on any of your plans?”
“Plans? I have no plans, Addy,” she said. It was sad, but true.
“Well… if you don’t mind…”
“I’ll be home shortly.” Molly smiled and waved as Addison walked out, holding her adorable daughter, and she wondered if one day she’d have a daughter of her own to do the same things with.
One thing was for sure - if she ever did have a daughter, she’d love and accept her for who she was.
Molly carried the three huge buckets of candy into the foyer, ready for the onslaught of kids that would soon be knocking.The sun was about to go down, and she expected the doorbell to ring any second.
When it did, she swung it open with a big smile.
“Happy Halloween!” she exclaimed, but it wasn’t trick or treaters. It was her parents.
“Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?”
“We came to see our daughter, of course,” her mother said with a plastered on smile. She reached for Molly and gave her a quick hug before moving past her and into the house. Her father followed with his own version of a quick embrace and moved inside too, leaving Molly standing there with a bucket of candy. She wondered how far she could get before they’d catch her in a foot race.
She closed the door, after taking a quick peek up the street to make sure no kids were coming, and placed the bucket next to the door on a table.
Her parents stood there expectantly, luggage in hand. Not a good sign.
“I don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“You haven’t exactly been responding to my texts, dear,” her mother said with that look on her face. Molly had seen that look all her life. Disapproval, plain and simple.
“I’ve been busy with work and some other things. Come on in,” Molly said, walking them into the kitchen. Her parents both sat down at the kitchen table, but her mother looked extremely uncomfortable as she surveyed the place like it was a truck stop or homeless shelter.
“So, this is where you’ve chosen to live?” her mother said, the snideness in her voice apparent. “It’s very… Southern.”
“Temporarily. It’s a bed and breakfast, mother. And it’s been lovely. The people who run this place are the salt of the Earth.”
“And where are they?”
“Trick or treating with their daughter. You kind of picked a bad night to arrive,” Molly said, but she was interrupted by the doorbell. She walked to the door, gave the kids candy, complimented their adorable costumes - which ranged from Superman to some kind of zombie - and returned to her parents.
“Molly, we came to ask you to come home with us.” Her father’s no nonsense approach was at least refreshing from her mother’s beat around the bush concept, but she wasn’t going anywhere.
“And why would I do that?”
“Because this place isn’t for you. It’s so far from Seattle, and what kind of job prospects could you possibly have here?” her mother said.
“Well, I work at the coffee shop, and I like it. I’m thinking about starting a dog walking business in the spring when the tourists arrive…”
“Dog walking?” Her mother looked like she was holding off on gagging. “Oh, Molly…”
“Honestly, Mother, you act like I just told you I had the plague or something.”
“What kind of life is this?” her mother asked, looking around the room. The B&B was beautiful. Quaint. Southern. Molly looked around the room too, trying desperately to see anything wrong. But with her mother, nothing had to be wrong - she could still judge it just fine.
“It’s a good life.” Molly stood up and handed out candy once more, listening to her mother sigh as she got up.
“Don’t they have someone who could do that?” she called behind her.
“Do what?”
“Hand out candy.”
“I offered.”
“They’re taking advantage of your naiveté, dear,” her mother said when she returned to the table. Molly decided to stand since the doorbell was going to ring over and over again.
“No, they’re not. Look, this is a place that thrives on family.”
“They’re not your family, Molly. These people are perfect strangers!”
“No, they’re not! They’ve become like family to me already. They accept me, and they listen to me.”
“And what about the infamous Blake? Huh? Where is he?”
“I…. Um…”
“Right. Just like I thought. He doesn’t even exist, does he? I knew it! I tried to tell you…”
“Hey, sweetie,” Molly heard Austin say from behind. She looked at him, totally confused and started to speak. But instead, he put his index finger over her lips and kissed her neck, sending chills up and down her body. “Play along…” he murmured into her ear.
“Who are you?” Molly’s mother demanded.
“I’m Blake. Nice to meet you, finally,” he said, reaching over and shaking both of her parents’ hands as they sat there stunned. Austin was dressed to impress for some reason, wearing a nice pair of dark wash jeans and a b
utton up pale pink shirt. “Molly has told me so much about you over the last year.”
“Yes… um… she’s told us a lot about you too…” her father stammered.
Inside, Molly was giddy with excitement. Austin had just bailed her out of a really sticky situation. Now her parents would have no choice but to get on the first plane back to Washington.
“So, how long are you staying in January Cove?” Austin asked as he sat down on the bar stool and pulled Molly backward by her waist. He situated her on his knee and rested his head on her left shoulder. She hoped that he couldn’t feel her shaking and quivering all over.
“Maybe a few weeks,” her mother said. Molly almost choked.
“What? Why?” Molly said, a little too loudly and at a higher octave than she intended.
“Don’t you want us here, Molly?” her mother asked, a hurt tone in her voice.
“Well… Of course… But doesn’t Daddy have to work?”
“I took a few weeks off. Doctor’s orders.” He rolled his eyes as far back into his head as possible.
“Oh, God. Is everything okay?”
“He’ll be fine. Your father’s blood pressure was a little too high, so his doctor recommended some much needed time off,” her mother explained. She carefully watched Molly and Austin as he hugged her closer and kissed her cheek.
“Well, sweetie, I’ve got that business dinner to get to. Walk me out?”
“Business? What kind of business?” her father asked, his eyes furrowed together.
“Real estate development. I work for the largest development company in the Southeast. Ballard. Maybe you’ve heard of it?”
“Yes, I have, actually. Mac Ballard owns that, right?”
Molly’s insides were tightening up. How did her father know that?
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m in the financial planning world. Heard a lot about Mac over the years.”
“He’s a great man,” Austin said as he stood. “See you soon.”
Molly followed Austin into the yard, handing out more candy before they left the porch. He pulled her behind the large oak tree where they could be in a quiet, dark place away from her parents and any kids.
