by Riser, Mimi
“Yep, Aunt Molly, too.”
Especially Aunt Molly.
He turned his high-beam smile on her, and was gratified to see her looking almost as dizzy as Carlotta had when André had proposed. Speaking of which… Still on one knee, he swiveled around to face her.
“I’ll be honest with you, Stevie” – he spoke to the boy, but stared at Molly – “I think I’m deeply in love with your Aunt Molly. I—”
“When will you be sure?” Stevie interrupted.
Tyler glanced at him. “I don’t know exactly. This kind of love is something new for me. And, um, Molly and I just met today.”
“Yeah, but you were together an awful long time this afternoon. How long does it take to fall in love anyway?” The kid didn’t mince words.
“Not long at all, according to Carlotta,” Molly muttered. “But she also says it never lasts.”
“Is Carlotta the red-haired lady I met today, the one who was with the funny photographer?” Stevie asked.
“Yes,” Molly said, and left it at that.
Tyler studied the sparkle of challenge in a blue-green gaze. “Carlotta seems to have changed her tune.” He ramped up the wattage of his smile. “She agreed to marry the funny photographer tonight.”
“She did?” Molly’s eyes widened. “Astounding.” A sudden grin curled her lips. “And what are we supposed to deduce from this?”
“Well, I think if you love her, it means you’re supposed to ask Aunt Molly to marry you,” Stevie told Tyler. “Have you?”
“Um, no, I haven’t actually…asked.”
“Then what are we talking about here?” The boy rolled his eyes. “Grownups are so dumb.”
“Very,” Tyler said.
Molly coughed. Covering a laugh?
He feigned a wounded look. “I’m so glad you find my discomfort amusing.”
“Forgive me, Mr. James.” She coughed again. Almost choked.
“Tyler,” he gritted out – but his teeth were clenched only to hold back his own laughter. He was having fun. Him. He could hardly believe it.
“Molly” – he composed himself – “you will notice I am here before you. On one knee. And I have an important question to ask.”
Her brows arched. Her lips pursed shut. She wasn’t going to help.
Oh hell, he’d better just say it.
“You wanna go out with me?”
She doubled over with laughter while Stevie snorted in disgust.
Fang jumped onto Tyler’s shoulder, and Fluffy padded over to pant in his face. The dog needed mouthwash – bad. He shooed them both away and spilled out the rest before he lost his nerve.
“Hey, I’m serious. No ultimatums, no contracts, no deadlines – just good old-fashioned dating, and we’ll see where that leads us. How about it?”
Whew. Barry would be so proud of him.
“I still think you should just marry her,” Stevie grumbled.
“I’m working on it, kid.” Tyler rose to his feet. Not easily. His leg had fallen asleep. Ow. Balancing on pins-and-needles, he ruffled the boy’s hair. “I know I haven’t shown it very well yet, Stevie, but I do love you and your brothers. We’re family, and I want us all to live together like one. I want to marry your Aunt Molly, but she has to want it, too, or it won’t work. Understand?”
“I guess. But you’ll never find out if you don’t ask her.” He looked at Molly. “Do you?”
She looked at Tyler. Provocatively. “Oh, I suppose I might be open to the idea. But a few dates first would be nice.”
“Like how many?” Stevie persisted.
“We’ll see,” she said. But her gaze told Tyler it would probably be a short trip to the altar.
Stevie started humming the “Wedding March.”
Smart aleck.
He flashed Tyler a devil of a grin. “I think I’m beginning to like you.”
“I think I am, too.” Molly fluttered her lashes. Scarlett O’Hara. “In fact, I think I could learn to love you, Mr. James.”
Tyler caught her by the arm as she headed for the doorway. “Lady, you are looking for trouble.”
“Promises, promises,” she whispered, and led the way out of the dugout. Then Stevie took the lead, carrying Fang, with Fluffy trotting by his side.
The moment the boy’s back was turned, Tyler pulled Molly aside and stole a quick kiss.
She returned it with interest.
It was going to be a fun walk home.
“You know,” she mused as they ambled along, “most people fall in love, get married, and have kids. We’re doing it ass backwards.”
“Is that a problem?” Tyler reached for her hand.
She gave his fingers a squeeze. “Hell no!”
Super. He didn’t think so either. The moon beamed down bright blessings, soaking the Earth with silver magic. The future looked good.
Stevie began singing. “An’ we’re all gang east and west, we’re all gang aye-a-glee!”
Tyler joined in. “We’re all gang east and west, a-courtin’ Molly Lee”…
And he would.
Now and forever.
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About the author:
Mimi Riser is a best-selling, award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction, including the popular Kitchen Witch Collection. Her books celebrate the upbeat and the offbeat, and “happy endings” are her specialty. She began life in the urban northeast, but now resides in the rural southwest with one husband, two dogs, and more cats than anyone wants to know about. And, yes, she believes in love at first sight. Doesn’t everyone?
http://www.mimiriser.com
ALSO BY MIMI RISER:
Novels
Eyes of the Cat
Every Jack Needs His Jil
Sherwood Charade
Space Rats and Rebels
Short Stories
The Great Race
If Wishes Were Kisses
Joy to the Worlds
The Robin Flies Again
Star Cookies & Comfort
The “Lovestruck” Series:
Marrying Mona
Seducing Sophia
Nonfiction
Texas Treats
Cooking Up Christmas
Homemade Halloween Treats
The Kitchen Witch Glossary of Cooking Herbs & Spices
The Kitchen Witch Guide to the Timeless Art of Herbal Tea
Spice Up Your Love Life! Aphrodisiacs from the Kitchen
The Naughty Girl’s Guide to Divining by the Dots
The Kitchen Witch Spring Into Summer Book
The Kitchen Witch Yuletide Book
The Kitchen Witch Halloween Book
The “Odd True Tales” Series
Anthologies
Romance: Fantasy, Food, and Fortune Telling
Breaking the Thought Barrier
Erotic Romance
Cymric’s Rose
Samantha White & The Seven Dwarves
Dungeons & Dirty Dreams
Romeo’s Revenge
Tina Takes a Tumble
Saving Sally Savoy
A Knight to Remember
Just Another Lonely Knight
In the Heat of the Knight
The Adventures of Cassie Nova
The Cowboys & The Courtesan
Wicked Comes the Beast
Playing Pirates
Pirates Do It With Passion
The Sylver & Steele Series
Paperback Anthologies
My Knightly Adventures
Return to the Burn
Can’t Fight the Feeling
Pirates & Other Wicked Pleasures
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