Sweet on You (The Bridesmaids Club Book 4)

by Leeanna Morgan

  He glanced briefly at Kate, then looked at Molly. “Thanks. Coffee would be fine.”

  Molly wasn’t sure what to say, so she waved toward the seat opposite her, hoping he’d sit down before he drew too much attention to them.

  “Thanks for meeting me.” Jacob pulled out the chair and sat down.

  Molly shrugged her shoulders. She took a deep breath, calmed her racing heart. “Emily has been pestering me. So I’ll be doing her a favor and listening to what her brother-in-law has to say.”

  “You don’t want to work with me, do you?”

  Something in Jacob’s gaze stopped the words that were sitting on the tip of Molly’s tongue. He looked disappointed, resigned to what he thought he already knew.

  Molly swallowed the words he was waiting for. “Don’t be daft. A job is a job. I’d be willing to bet that your project will pay more handsomely than Mrs. Elliot’s portrait of her cat.”

  Jacob’s lips twitched. “You took a photo of a cat?”

  “A series of feline portraits. Maximilian is a magnificent cat.” Molly grinned at Jacob. She’d found the whole experience a little bizarre, but Mrs. Elliot was hopelessly besotted with her tabby terror.

  Kate brought their tea and coffee across to the table and smiled at Molly. “Tess said your photos are going to be exhibited in Los Angeles. You must be excited.”

  “I am, but there’s a lot of hard work to be done before I get there.”

  “It will be worth it.” Kate added a pretty milk jug and a bowl of sugar cubes to their table. “Let me know if I can get you anything else.”

  Molly picked up her bag and unzipped the side compartment. Jacob watched her, waiting for what would come next. “Emily told me you’re wanting someone to photograph your land. Most of my photos have been of people, but I brought some images that might be helpful.” She passed Jacob a folder and waited for him to open the cover.

  He stared at the album for so long that Molly wondered if he’d ever look at what she’d put together. “I’ve never taken photographs of property that’s for sale. I don’t know what buyers want to see or what they don’t. I’m probably the last person you want to be taking your photos.”

  Jacob stared at her with solemn green eyes. “I saw the photos you took of Gracie when she was pregnant with Jessica.”

  Molly’s cheeks grew warm under his gaze. “That was a long time ago.”

  Jacob pulled the photo album closer. “Some things are hard to forget.” He opened the folder and looked at the first image.

  She’d taken a photo of a cowboy on his ranch when she’d first moved to Bozeman. It was a strong image - a picture of pride and determination. A man gazing at what was his.

  Jacob turned the page to the next photo. It was a picture of a barn on Alex and Emily’s ranch. The barn was so old that the wooden siding had buckled with age. The timber had faded to a golden glow and looked almost magical in the soft evening light. There was beauty and strength in its simple form - a history that went beyond the people and animals that had sheltered within its walls.

  Molly watched Jacob’s face, trying to figure out what was going through his mind. But Jacob Green hid an awful lot from the world.

  He moved through the next three photos in quick succession, stopping briefly at a photo of a squirrel. She’d seen the furry little creature on a hike in Bridger Bowl. “You tell stories with your photos.”

  Molly nodded. “It’s the way it should be.”

  “But often isn’t.” Jacob closed the folder. “What story would you tell about my land?”

  Molly frowned. “Is that a trick question?”

  Jacob’s lips twitched. “It wasn’t meant to be.”

  “Oh. Well, that’s fine, then. What story would you be wanting to tell?”

  Jacob looked around the café. If Molly didn’t know better, she’d swear he was stalling for time.

  His gaze came back to her and settled on her face. “I don’t have much of an imagination. Tell me what you would say.”

  “I haven’t seen your land, so I don’t know.”

  “Would you like to go and see it?”

  Molly stared at him. “Are you asking me because you want me to take your photographs? Or are you asking me because you can?”

  “I don’t want photos that people have seen before. I want something unique and unforgettable. I think you can do that.”

  Molly didn’t know whether to be flattered or worried. “I’d do my best, but what if the final images aren’t what you want?”

  “They will be. Are you doing anything for the next hour?”

  Molly put the folder in her bag. “I have to be home by five o’clock to help close my sister’s florist store.”

  Jacob glanced at the gold Rolex on his wrist. “We’ve got plenty of time.”

  “Emily said your ranch is half an hour from town. We won’t have time to get out there and back.”

  “We will if we fly.”

  Molly blinked. She thought he’d said fly, but she must have been wrong.

  “I know someone who owns a helicopter. He’ll take us out to Emerald Lake.”

  “Now?”

  “I need the photos as soon as possible, so now would be good. I’ll be back in a minute.” Jacob stood up and walked across to the front counter. He spoke with Kate, handed her some money, and walked back to Molly. “Are you ready?”

  Molly frowned. “I could have paid for my own tea.”

  “I know, but a cup of tea isn’t going to bankrupt me.”

  Molly didn’t imagine it would, but that wasn’t the point.

  Jacob sighed. “You can buy me a cup of coffee next time. Did you bring your camera with you?”

  Molly stood up. “It’s in my car.”

  Jacob nodded. “Let’s go. We can take my truck to the airport.”

  As Molly followed Jacob outside, she realized this wasn’t the ending she’d imagined. It felt remarkably like a new beginning, and that scared her more than the helicopter ride.

  ***

  Jacob parked his truck beside hangar three at the airport. Molly hadn’t said much on the ride out here. That in itself was enough to worry him. Then there was the slightly panicked look in her eyes when they’d been stopped by airport security. It couldn’t have been the thought of taking the photos of Emerald Lake that was the problem.

  She’d been nervous in the café, but he put that down to the fact that she hadn’t wanted to be there in the first place. If Emily hadn’t stuck her nose into his business, he doubted Molly would have agreed to meet him.

  That left only one explanation for why her hands were tightly wrapped around the edge of her seat. “Have you flown in a helicopter before?”

  Molly glanced across the cab. She took a deep breath and released her death grip on his upholstery. “No, I can’t say I have.”

  “You’ll be fine. Victor has a perfect safety record.”

  “Is that the name of your helicopter?”

  Jacob couldn’t help the smile that creased his face. “Victor is our pilot’s name.”

  “Oh.” A soft blush hit Molly’s cheeks. “I’m hoping Victor is used to flying with nervous women.”

  “Victor’s used to flying all kinds of people around the country. He should have finished our pre-flight check by now. Come and meet him.”

  Molly reluctantly opened her door and waited for him at the front of his truck. “I’ve never been too fond of flying machines, especially when they have small engines.”

  “Flying is safer than driving a car.”

  “That’s because there aren’t as many aircraft in the air,” Molly said with a logic that made perfect sense. Especially to someone who was scared of flying.

  Jacob kept a steady pace beside Molly as they walked toward the hangar. The helicopter he leased was sitting on the tarmac. Victor was waiting beside it with a clipboard in his hands.

  “Hi, boss. I just need your signature and we’re good to go.”

  Jacob scribbled h
is name on the form. He didn’t need to look at Molly to know he’d surprised her. Unlike most of the women he’d met, Molly seemed to have an aversion to his money.

  “Molly, this is Victor Nelson. Victor, Molly O’Donaghue.”

  Victor held his hand out. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. Have you ever ridden in a helicopter before?”

  Molly shook Victor’s hand. “No. They don’t seem altogether safe.”

  Victor took Molly’s anxiety in his stride. “Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ve been flying helicopters for the last twenty years. You’re safe with me.”

  Molly glanced at the blue and white helicopter in front of her. “What if the blades at the top stop working?”

  “They won’t stop. Even if the engines aren’t working, we can still make a safe landing. Would it help if I showed you the controls and how everything works?”

  Molly shook her head. “I’ll be fine once we make it back here.”

  Victor turned around and opened the rear door of the helicopter. “In that case, I’d say we’re ready to leave.”

  Molly clambered on board, clicking her seatbelt into place before Jacob made it inside.

  “Sick bags are in the seat in front of you, ma’am.”

  Instead of looking insulted, Molly looked relieved. “Thank you, Victor.”

  Victor looked incredibly pleased with himself. “You’re welcome. You ready, boss?”

  Jacob sat beside Molly and unhooked two headsets from the console in front of him. He passed one of them to Molly, and almost smiled at the confusion on her face. “When you’re ready, put the headset on. It makes it easier to talk to each other once we leave the airport.”

  Molly nodded and slipped the headset on. If he knew her better, he would have offered to hold her hand. But with both hands already clutching the seat, she already had something to cling to.

  When Victor started the engine, Molly closed her eyes.

  “You’ll be fine,” Jacob said into his headset. “Take a deep breath and try to relax. Once we’re in the air, it will be better.”

  Molly slowly let out the breath she was holding, then took another shaky breath. While Victor was talking with airport control, requesting permission to leave, Molly kept breathing deeply with her eyes firmly closed.

  Victor’s voice filled the headset. “We’re leaving now, ma’am.” A second later they were in the air, flying away from the airport and toward Emerald Lake.

  “How are you feeling, ma’am?”

  Molly slowly opened her eyes and stared at the back of Victor’s head. “I’m grand. Just grand.”

  “That’s good. Hold on tight because we’re about to make a right-hand turn.”

  The helicopter tilted to the right and Molly’s eyes snapped closed. And if Jacob wasn’t mistaken, she said a word that would have made the hairs on the back of his mom’s neck stand to attention.

  He needed to do something to take her mind off the fact that they were more than a thousand feet in the air and climbing rapidly. So he started talking quietly into the headset, telling Molly about the things he could see.

  Her pale face looked a little less white, and she let go of the armrest for long enough to adjust her headset. If he was lucky, she might even open her eyes before the flight was over.

  At least she’d agreed to look at his property. Next time, if there was a next time, they’d take his truck.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Molly took a deep breath and climbed out of the helicopter. They had landed. She was safe. The world had not ended when they’d flown through the sky, making short work of the journey to Jacob’s property.

  Victor had landed on a plateau overlooking a beautiful blue-green lake. As soon as she’d opened her eyes, Molly was glad that her first view of Jacob’s home had been from here.

  Jacob followed her out of the helicopter and pointed to one of the prettiest sights she’d ever seen. “Welcome to Emerald Lake.”

  Molly took a moment to appreciate everything around her. There was pride in Jacob’s voice, a tone that said this land was special. Selling the property made no sense when he seemed to care deeply about what was his.

  But she wasn’t here to figure out the puzzle that was Jacob Green. She was here to decide if she’d take photographs of his beautiful property.

  Emerald Lake glistened in the late afternoon light. It was shaped as round as a ball, nestled between lush pasture and a towering mountain range. Branching out around the lake were four wide creeks that would provide water for the land further down the valley.

  Molly felt the pull of something beyond what she saw. There was magic in the lake, a blend of what was now and what had gone before. A story waiting to be told.

  Jacob looked at his land. “Each property owner will have a quarter share of the lake. The original ranch was three thousand acres, but over the last year I’ve subdivided it into four lots. Big Sky Resort is just past the mountain range on the right. As remote as it feels, we’re close to town and only fifteen minutes from some of the best skiing in Montana.”

  Molly imagined living here, surrounded by nature. She was sure Jacob felt the pull, the need buried in the depths of the emerald water. “Why are you selling your property?”

  “I’ve seen a building in New York that I want to buy. I was always going to sell most of the ranch, but the buyers that were interested last year decided it wasn’t for them. I need all of the land sold in the next six weeks.”

  “That seems like an awfully short time frame.”

  Jacob crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Another offer has been made on the building in New York. I was lucky to get six weeks to go unconditional.”

  “Why have you been living in Bozeman if a big city is where you want to live?”

  Jacob’s green gaze connected with hers. “I’ve been helping dad on his ranch. He had a heart attack, but he’s better now. It’s time I left Montana.”

  “Won’t your parents miss you?”

  Jacob looked away. “My family is used to not seeing me. Do you want Victor to give you a guided tour of the property?”

  Molly looked at the big blue beast sitting behind them. “In the helicopter?”

  Jacob nodded.

  Molly pulled her shoulders back and took a deep breath. “It would be my pleasure to accompany Victor on a tour of your land.”

  Jacob grinned. “This time you might want to keep your eyes open.”

  Molly felt herself blush. “I was getting used to the altitude. I might take a few photographs this time around.”

  “I’ll tell you where the boundaries of each property are.”

  Molly ignored the gleam in Jacob’s eyes. She had more serious issues to deal with. Life and death issues that involved dipping and diving between mountain ranges and a pretty as you please lake. Issues that couldn’t be resolved by a handsome man in a charcoal suit and red tie.

  “Let’s go, Molly. If we stand here for much longer, you’ll never leave.”

  “There’s a risk of that, to be sure, but Emerald Lake intrigues me. You can tell me more about the lake while we’re flying around your property.”

  And with more courage than she felt, Molly walked toward Victor and his helicopter. At least if anything happened, she’d die surrounded by the most beautiful land she’d ever seen. And if she survived the flight, she had a feeling that another journey was about to begin.

  ***

  “I know you don’t like strawberries, but you have to try this frozen margarita.”

  Tess left a fancy glass in front of Molly. Apart from the frosted rim, it didn’t look any different to the raspberry and lemonade pop in the glass beside it. Molly took a sip, enjoying the sharp bite of tequila against the sweetness of the berries.

  “Well?”

  “Lovely. But as I’m driving you home, it’s my last taste of alcohol for the night.”

  Tess pouted, which gave Molly even more of a reason not to drink anything alcoholic. Tess never pouted. If she didn’t get
her home safely from her bachelorette party, Logan wouldn’t be happy.

  “You’re turning into a worry worm.” Tess sighed. “I’m getting married in two days’ time.”

  Molly smiled at the faraway look on Tess’ face. “That you are.”

  “It’s going to be beautiful.”

  Rachel slid into the booth beside Tess. “What’s going to be beautiful?”

  “My wedding. I’m getting married in two days’ time.”

  Rachel looked at Molly and raised her eyebrows. Molly nodded back. They had a slightly inebriated bride on the loose.

  Rachel glanced at the drink in front of Tess. “I’ll get you some juice. What would you like?”

  Tess lost her dreamy look. She was deliberating between all of the options that had popped into her muddled brain. “A strawberry daiquiri with a yellow umbrella,” she said firmly. “I really like the color yellow. It reminds me of sunshine.”

  Rachel smiled. “That’s nice. I’ll be back soon.”

  Molly caught sight of Sally and Annie dancing in the middle of Charlie’s Bar and Grill. They were surrounded by the normal group of cowboys, businessmen, women, and college students, all enjoying a night on the town, Bozeman style.

  “Come closer, Molly,” Tess said slowly. “We’ve all been so busy that I’ve lost track of what you’re doing.”

  Tess wasn’t wrong. Between their day jobs and The Bridesmaids Club, they didn’t have a lot of time left over.

  “Tell me about your exhibition. Have you got all of your photos ready?” Tess smiled at Rachel when she returned to their table.

  “One orange and pineapple juice for the bride-to-be,” Rachel said proudly. “I had to fight another customer for the last yellow umbrella.”

  Tess’ eyes widened. “Are you okay?”

  Rachel laughed. “I promised him a dance, so I’d say I’m more than okay.”

  Tess sighed. “It could be love.”

  “Or an exchange for a yellow umbrella,” Molly said.

  Rachel snorted. “Where’s your romantic streak gone? Relationships have begun with less things in common than a yellow umbrella.”

  “Or a quart of buttermilk,” Tess said. Molly and Rachel both looked at her with frowns on their faces. “For the Groovy Grans. Logan helped me make blueberry buttermilk pancakes. He was wonderful.”