by Ciana Stone
"Yet?" Trina asked.
Molly leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Have you taken a look at your Uncle lately?"
Trina laughed out loud. "I hear ya."
Molly chuckled then turned to smile at Wiley as he opened the truck door. "Thank you, kindly, sir."
"My pleasure."
Molly climbed in first, leaving the window seat for Trina. Wiley gave her a smile as he got in the truck. "It's nice to see you without the dirt and vines."
"So, I clean up okay?"
"Indeed, you do."
"Why thank you. I would say the same, but I don't recall you being a mess last time."
Molly turned her head to look at Trina. "So, tell me about you, Trina. What do you and your husband do at the training facility? And do you have a picture of your hubs? You must have one or a dozen on your phone."
"As a matter of fact, I do." Trina fished out her phone and accessed her photos.
"Holy mother of god, girl." Molly looked at the photos of Brody. "Your man is smoking hot. Of course, it figures since you're hot as a match, but still. Damn."
"Yep," Trina agreed, and they both laughed.
"So, what does Hubby Hotness do?"
"He's an instructor—mostly he teaches free climbing but also free falls and air dives from planes and such."
"Ahh, so he's a genuine badass."
"He's a Navy SEAL."
"And what about you? What do you do while he's teaching men to climb and dive and jump?"
"I work at the animal rehabilitation center at Sanctuary."
"Sanctuary?"
"It's a rehab center specializing in PTSD and rehab for wounded service people."
"Nice. So, you like working with animals?"
"I do."
Wiley was shocked at Molly's next words, which she addressed to Trina. "All right, I can't take it anymore. What's this energy I'm picking up? Either one of you is psychic, or there's a buttload of electrical lines around here I don't see because the hair on my arms is standing up, or…"
She looked directly at him. "Your sex appeal is off the charts strong."
She raised one arm. "See?"
Sure enough, the fine hair on her arm was standing at attention. Wiley noticed Trina looking around Molly at him, apparently as surprised as he.
"Well?" Molly asked. "What's the deal?"
Trina shrugged. "People in our family have—abilities. My dad's an Empath and Wiley and I are—I don't know what the technical term is. Wiley?"
"Energy healers."
"Seriously? As in you can heal injuries and illness."
"Yes."
"That's amazing. And very cool. Elisi will be tickled pink to meet the two of you."
"Elisi?" Trina asked.
"Oh, sorry. My grandmother. We call her Elisi. It's the Cherokee word for Grandmother."
"Oh, how pretty. So, your Grandmother believes in such things?" Trina asked.
Molly laughed. "Girl, she is such things." She looked around as they slowed. "This really is an idyllic little town, isn't it?"
"It is," Trina agreed. "And the people are very friendly."
"Well, those women sure are," Molly commented then craned to see around Trina. "Sweet baby Jesus, this town is crawling with hot. Did you see that guy being mobbed by those four women?"
"That's my Uncle Linc. He owns the blacksmith shop."
"Well damn girl, your family has the market cornered on fine, doesn't it? Oh, is this the diner? Wow, it looks just like something out of a movie set doesn't it?"
"It does, actually," Trina agreed as she opened the door.
Molly slid out behind Wiley, and he smiled as her feet touched the pavement and she looked up at him. "You smell good. Is that perfume?"
"No. Just me and a little essential oil. Its scent gets stronger when your body heats up."
"Is your body heating up, sugar?"
"It's starting to."
"And why's that?"
"Well." She inched a little closer. "Either it's that sin in jeans thing you've got going, or my body is burning my bones to keep me alive long enough until I get some food in me."
Her comment not only flattered the heck out of him, it also made him chuckle. "Guess we better get you to the trough."
"Lead the way."
Molly battled weak-knees when Wiley put his hand on the small of her back and escorted her to the door. It felt like a red-hot brand. It made her butt sweat and the back of her neck damp.
The blast of cold when Trina opened the door of the diner was welcome. The many sets of eyes zeroed in on them was a bit disconcerting. She couldn't help wondering if she was being sized up.
It didn’t really matter, though. People would either like you or not, and she wasn't one to try to be something or someone she wasn't to win approval. Besides, she could barely think of anything but the hand on her back and the man it belonged to.
"Oh look, it's Savannah and the Sweet sisters," Trina said and waved to three beautiful women who sat toward the back of the diner and were currently waving Trina over.
"Oh, god, they want us to join." Molly murmured while keeping a smile fixed on her face. She didn't have an aversion to meeting new people, but she didn't want to overdo a good thing, and the truth was, she'd prefer to spend more time with Wiley.
"You don't want to?" he asked.
"No, it's fine." She looked up at him. "What do you say?"
"Do I have a vote?"
"Dude, please. Any man with the balls to wear that t-shirt definitely deserves a vote."
She saw the look of surprise on his face and wondered if maybe she had offended him. Then he smiled at her, and the flavor of his smile told her he was not at all offended. Wow, does he realize the power in that smile?
"Then I vote we get our own table."
Yay! She leaned closer and whispered "my hero" as Trina responded with "that's fine with me. Let me just go say hi and tell them."
A woman on the serving staff stopped beside Molly. "Two?"
"Three," Wiley answered.
"Take that four-top over there," the woman gestured toward the opposite side of the diner.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, hon. I'll send your server right over."
Molly and Wiley made their way to the table. He pulled out her chair for her then took the seat beside her. Before either of them had a chance to speak, a server approached. She ignored Molly and zeroed right in on Wiley with an expression of unconcealed lust.
"Hey there. I'm Sheryl-Ann, and I'll be your server today. What can I get you to drink?"
"Iced tea, thank you."
"You want that sweet?"
"I do."
"You want lemon?"
"No, thank you. And you can make that two. We have someone else joining."
"Okay then." She finally looked at Molly. "And you?"
"Iced tea, sweet with lemon please."
"Coming right up," Sheryl-Ann directed the comment to Wiley, then did something Molly could only call sashayed away, with hips twitching to beat the band.
"I guess you're used to all that," she said when she turned her attention back to Wiley.
"To what?"
Molly didn't believe for a moment he wasn't aware of the effect he had on women and since she'd never been particularly shy about speaking her mind, said. "Pul-eeze. You'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to know and I'm betting you're none of those. Not to mention that shirt."
"Again, with the shirt. You have something against t-shirts with writing on them?"
Molly smirked. "My preference is often?" She read the words on his shirt.
"I'm not sure that's the correct inflection." His smile was as sly as his voice was sexy.
"Oh, it's the correct inflection. Trust me, not a woman in here hasn't considered just how often she'd like you to be."
"You flatter me."
"No, I don't. Look, Wiley. You have to know you're hot and I have eyes and a libido and am just as susceptible to a s
exy man as the next woman, but I never play games, and I don't say it unless I mean it."
"I appreciate the honesty. So, are you among the women who've considered it?"
Molly felt a bit of heat flush her face. Not because she was particularly embarrassed but because her idea of often with Wiley was something that would trouble her sleep for some nights to come. "Honey, you can't begin to imagine what my mind conjures up over those words."
"I'm pretty sure I'd like to find out."
Damn it all, if that wasn't the very moment Trina picked to return to the table. Molly pushed back the disappointment and reminded herself that her lack of male companionship for what seemed like an eon, and her attraction to Wiley may have prompted her to let the flirt go a bit further than was wise.
"Hey, sorry," Trina said as she sat beside Molly. "I was telling the girls how you're fixing up the place beside Netta Bloom's and they said they'd be happy to help if you want. And I'd love to help. I can clean and pull weeds and paint or whatever you want."
Molly was sincerely touched. It'd been a while since she had girlfriends. Since Kaylee was born, it'd been just her, Elisi and Kaylee. "That's so kind of all of you, but I couldn't impose."
"It's not an imposition if it's offered."
"You're right, and I apologize. I'd be very grateful for the help. I don't know if Wiley mentioned it, but my daughter and grandmother will be arriving within a week, and I'd really like to have the place in decent shape before they get here."
"You have a daughter?"
"Yes. Kaylee. The love of my life."
"You have pictures?"
"Well duh!" Molly pulled out her phone and accessed the photos.
"Oh my god, she's adorable!" Trina turned the phone, so Wiley could see. "And she looks just like you, Molly."
"Well, I think she looks a good deal better, but she is the apple of my eye."
"And your grandmother lives with you and your daughter?"
"Yes. Elisi helped me raise Kaylee."
"So, there's no Mr. Little Fox?"
"No, there never was. It's just us girls."
"That must be hard."
"No, not really. After all, women have been caring for children since man crawled out of the primordial soup."
"I can't wait to start a family."
"Really, and you're waiting because?"
"Well, we're not. We just haven't gotten pregnant yet.
"You will. Just relax and let it happen."
"I like you, Molly and I think we're going to be great friends."
"The feeling is mutual, and I think you're right. Now where the heck is that server? Oh, good there she comes. What's good here?"
"Everything," Trina replied. "But particularly the burgers."
Sheryl-Ann delivered their drinks and started to hand them menus, but Trina waved them away. "I want a cheeseburger, medium, the works with cheese fries."
"And you, hon?" Sheryl-Ann smiled at Wiley.
"Sounds good, make that two."
"Okay then. And what about you?" She looked at Molly with far less enthusiasm.
"I'll have the same, but regular fries. Thanks."
"I'll put this right in."
When she left, Molly turned her full attention to Wiley. "So, I know what Trina does, but what about you? Are you a real military man?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And where do you call home?"
"Wherever I hang my hat."
"Really? You don't have a home you go to when you're not on duty?"
"I have a couple of places, but I wouldn't call any of them home."
"Why not?"
He was silent for a moment and his gaze locked with hers. Molly felt like he was looking right into her soul, sizing her up. "Home's where the heart is. At least that's what our mama taught us, and I never knew her to lie."
"You love her very much."
"I did."
"I'm guessing she crossed over?"
"Yes, she died."
"And your father?"
"Him, too."
"But you still have two brothers and a niece, and—do you have children?"
"He has me," Trina answered. "I'm just like his daughter."
"Then you have a family here."
"I do."
"It seems like a delightful place, from what I've seen and the people I've met. I think Mrs. Bloom was a bit set back when we first met. She asked if I was another of those Injuns like the Gray Horse brother and sister. I don't know who they are, but I said yes, I was an Injun, but she didn't have to worry. I'd given up stealing horses and collecting scalps, so she was safe with me living next door, but she better keep her liquor cabinet locked, cuz you know how us Injuns are with firewater."
Wiley and Trina both burst out laughing, and Molly joined in. "Oh my god, what did she say?" Trina finally asked.
"Nothing. She just sort of huffed and marched off. But later she came back and brought her friend Nellie Mae Baker and let me tell you she’s a little spit-fire. She said Mrs. Bloom—Netta, didn't mean any harm and as for herself, she didn't have a prejudice bone in her body. In fact, she and Mica Gray Horse were the best of friends. She showed me this incredible silver bracelet Mica gave her and said Mica made it. I don't know if it’s true. I mean if Mica really made it. But if it is, I would so love to see her work."
"That can be arranged," Trina said. "She's married to my dad, Deacon."
"Seriously?"
"Yep."
"Well, I'd love to meet her sometime."
"Oh, you will. And girl, what happened with Nellie Mae and Netta?"
"Oh! I asked them for advice on how to make the yard look good, and an hour later, I was tucked right under their wings with a mountain of advice on how to grow and prune and fertilize. Honestly, they've been the sweetest ladies, and I think Kaylee will love both of them, but then she loves everyone. I have to keep hammering the old stranger danger thing and just hate it."
"Maybe here you won't have to," Trina suggested.
"Wouldn't that be something?"
Sheryl Ann returned to deliver their lunch, and everyone dug in. Molly let Trina take the lead and talk about all the people she'd come to know and all she'd learned about the town. Every now and then Molly would ask a question. She caught Wiley watching her once, and when she looked at him, he gave her a wink.
How wonderful she felt at that moment, and how lucky. She couldn't wait to tell Elisi about her morning and to thank Elisi for pushing her to buy the house here and make the move.
Nothing might come of the flirtation with Wiley other than enjoying being flirted with by one damn sexy man, but that was okay. She had a feeling Trina was right. She was going to make friends here and make a happy home for Kaylee and Elisi.
And that was what she wished for more than anything.
Chapter Three
"There's dirty and then there's dirty."
Molly smiled as she walked into the front room of the house. When she bought it, the walls were a dull, sickly green. Now the weathered, lap boards covering the walls were a pale whitewashed yellow. Pretty white curtains with tie-backs adorned the windows, and the old paint on the fireplace had been scrubbed away to reveal bricks of browns and ambers, quite unusual colors but lovely.
She smiled as she thought about working on the room. Five days ago, Trina had made good on her word to find Molly some help. By the time she was pouring her first cup of coffee, cars, and trucks were arriving.
That's when Molly met the women who, she felt, had already become friends. Cody Riggs, her sister, Hannah and Hannah's sister in law Callie arrived together.
Then came Hannah's other sister-in-law, Jolene with Annie Morgan. Trina arrived with Mica Johns, Savannah James and Charlie Judd and even Netta showed up and brought Nellie Mae.
There were more people than rooms, and within three days they'd transformed the house into a lovely clean place with fresh paint on all the walls and ceiling. The hardwood floors gleamed, and windows sparkled.
In three days her Grandmother and Kaylee would arrive. Molly twirled around in a fit of happiness, spinning like a child with arms out and head thrown back. She couldn't wait for them to get here, to see their new home and to meet all the lovely people Molly now called her friends.
But before that, she had some work to do in the backyard. She'd bought a load of garden pavers from Hannah's husband, Jayce who was in the construction business, and Nellie Mae had given her a pretty set of cast iron chairs and a table, along with a little love seat. She wanted to put the pavers down for the furniture under the shade of an old oak, and then add the fire-pit Netta had given her. It looked brand new, but Netta said she never used it, and if she got a hankering, she'd walk over and enjoy it at Molly's.
That suited Molly. She could envision how she wanted it to look and was ready to tackle the project, as it would be her last for a while. Her savings were dwindling fast, and she had to get back to work and save before she could do any more.
As she spun, she heard a knock at the door and stopped. Wiley stood on the porch. Molly opened the door and for a split second allowed herself to just enjoy the sight. As always, looking at Wiley got to her. Today his T-shirt read "There's dirty and then there's dirty."
She locked gazes with him which gave far more of a jolt than the slogan on his shirt. "This is a surprise."
"Good or bad?"
"Definitely good." She made a point to lower her gaze and not to give the writing on his t-shirt another look. "Come in. You've got to see what everyone helped me do. It's amazing."
"Trina said you had half the town helping you."
Molly laughed. "I've lived in friendly places but nothing like this. I can't believe how nice everyone is. I really like them and not because they helped. They're such fun and friendly women. Especially, Trina. But listen to me go on. So, this is the – I never know what to call the rooms. I guess this is the family room since it has the fireplace and in time will have a tv as soon as I can buy one."
