Molly Matthews Meddles in Marriage

by Jill Steeples

  She looked him straight in the eye for the first time since he’d arrived back in town and immediately wished she hadn’t. She took a big gulp of air, steadying her breathing, as her gaze slowly reacquainted itself with his body. Instantly she was taken back to his kitchen, could feel his arms around her body and could even recreate that early morning earthy scent as it taunted her nose. Now, with the glow of a golden Californian tan on his skin and the shadow of dark stubble tainting his jawline, he looked even more gorgeous than she’d remembered. If that were possible. Hollywood had landed with a vengeance in her tiny backstreet London office. And she had no idea what to do about it.

  “Honestly, Molls, it isn’t difficult. I just wanted to see you. I had to see you. I can’t tell you how great it is to see you.” He paused, smiling before running his hand through his hair, his eyes pleading with hers. “I thought we could talk, decide what we do and where we go from here.”

  The next moment he was standing up against her, his arms wrapped around her, his familiar musky sent sending her whole body into overdrive. He tipped her chin up with his finger to look at him and her whole body melted under the intensity of his gaze. When his full wide lips landed on hers, she knew that any misguided resolve she’d been hanging on to shot straight out the office door. His kiss was fervent, his desire for her uncompromising. His hands roamed her hair and down the sides of her body, his touch brushing against the sides of her breasts, sending a surge of overwhelming desire pumping through her veins.

  He pulled back to look into her eyes, holding her tightly between clasped hands at the back of her waist. The smile on his lips matched the smile flickering in his eyes. Her heart pounded at the beauty of the man in her arms.

  “Tell me, Molly, that you haven’t thought about me too.”

  Her breath came in short, rasping bursts as she tried to make sense of everything he’d been trying to tell her.

  “Of course I have,” she admitted with a huge sigh. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, remembering that last night we shared together, remembering how you kissed me. I tried making sense of what you’d been telling me, but it didn’t make any sense at all. How and why could a superstar fall in love with me? Things like that don’t happen in my little world, Rory.” She paused, their eyes still locked together in recognition of the intensity of the moment.

  “I hadn’t planned on it, Molls, but when these things happen, you can’t ignore what your heart is telling you, even if your head is trying to be sensible and saying something else entirely. Sometimes you just need to let go and trust and believe.”

  Could Molly do that? After Paul she thought she would never go there again, but with Rory standing in front of her, looking at her with emotion brimming in his eyes, hope prickled at her skin.

  “But when you went off like that, when I didn’t hear from you again, I thought, well, I thought that was it over for us. I don’t want to be your consolation prize, Rory. After Paul, I told myself I would never put myself in that position again. I don’t want to be a safe bet for you. Someone you think you could settle with for the sake of your career.”

  “Molly!” His eyes darkened as he grabbed hold of her shoulders. “This has nothing to do with my career. How could you even think something like that? I would never do that to you, but more importantly, I wouldn’t do that to myself either. I’m not settling for second best. You’re the main prize, Molly.” His words were heavy with desire as his hand reached out and ran down her cheek. That simple movement made her whole body go weak. “I want you more than anything else in this world. I want to make you happy. I want us to be happy together. We have so much ahead of us, Molls. Can’t you see that? When I walked into your office, I was in a pretty bad way, I wasn’t sure what it was I did want, but meeting you put everything straight in my head. It honestly was as simple as that.”

  She so wanted to believe him but questions were swarming her mind. Only a few days ago, he was being photographed in a clinch with one of the most beautiful women in the world.

  How could she make sense of what he was telling her when his overwhelming presence was playing havoc with her heart and her senses? She turned and crossed to the other side of the room where she sank into her chair.

  “What about Emma? I saw the pictures.”

  She tried to keep her voice even, but as soon as the words left her lips she knew she sounded needy. Possessive even.

  His lips tightened into a wry smile as he chewed on the corner of his mouth, watching her with wide unblinking eyes. She’d known it hadn’t been easy for him opening up about Emma and now here she was asking questions. But she needed to know, the camera didn’t lie. Those photos showed an easy familiarity between them. Was that one of the reasons for his trip to America? To see if he could rekindle his relationship with Emma? And now that it hadn’t worked out he was back here, picking up where he left off with Molly.

  In front of her, he crouched down on his haunches, looking up at her with big blue eyes, framed by long black lashes any woman would die for. Every part of her body fluttered. He took hold of her hands in his, squeezing them gently. Up close there was no mistaking that familiar seductive scent, which taunted her nostrils and several other parts of her body too. All she wanted was to be back in his embrace again, to drop her head onto his shoulder, to feel his arms around her, to feel her skin against his, to succumb, but he was now studying her intently.

  “This isn’t about my career,” he said gravely. “And it isn’t about Emma either, despite what you may think. It’s about you and me. That’s all.” His gaze was unwavering and if she didn’t have one hundred and one questions jostling for attention in her head, then she could just possibly have believed him. “Can I tell you something?” he asked.

  She nodded mutely, his proximity causing a mesmeric effect. She wouldn’t have been able to leave even if she wanted to. His overpowering physical presence seemed to have taken over the whole room, rooting her to the spot.

  “When I was this high.” He held his hand two feet off the ground. “I can remember my dad telling me about the first time he saw my mum. I can hear him now, word for word. ‘I walked into the dance hall and there she was, over the other side of the room, talking with another man. I can still picture her now, laughing. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. She was wearing a red dress with white spots and it had a big bow around the middle. She had the most gorgeous strawberry-blonde hair and the bluest of blue eyes. When she turned to look at me and smiled, I knew in that moment, that she was the one. The woman I would marry.’ Isn’t that romantic?” Rory asked Molly now. “He must have told me that story a hundred times over the years, but I never tired of it. Mum would just laugh and shake her head indulgently as though he was a silly old fool. I found it hard to believe, of course. I could never imagine falling in love with someone like that. In an instant. Feeling that immediate connection. It seemed like the stuff of fairy tales. Or at least a Hollywood film.” He smiled, his blue eyes twinkling, reminding her of his leading man status. Could he be her leading man, she wondered? “And then I fell asleep in your office that day and when I woke up, there you were, looking over me like an angel. It really did happen to me, Molls. I was done for.”

  Molly squirmed, heat fanning her cheeks and every other part of her body too. This sort of thing didn’t happen to her. Ever. Men didn’t fall in love with her randomly. They rarely even noticed her. And now Rory was looking at her as though she were a character in one of his films, expecting her to come out with something clever and witty to say.

  “That is so romantic,” she sighed. “But your mum and dad were the lucky ones. I don’t suppose these situations always have such a happy ending.”

  Rory shrugged, regret touching his features.

  “Well, Mum and Dad were prepared to take that risk. They adored each other. They went after their happy ending and you have to admire them for that. Even through all the bad times—and there were plenty of those—they stuck
together. For a long time I wasn’t sure I wanted that kind of relationship. Whether I’d be able to deal with the intensity, the passion, the highs and the lows. I wasn’t sure it was worth all the pain it involved. But now, I know, after having met you, that you really don’t have a choice in the matter. I have to follow my heart, Molls. And my heart is screaming out for you. I’m prepared to take that risk with you. Whatever it might involve. You must know that you have to take your chances at happiness where you find them. They don’t come along all that often.”

  Molly’s heart tugged for that boy on the cusp of adulthood whose happy life was shattered by the untimely loss of his mother. And for the man standing in front of her now.

  “But none of that matters now, that’s all in the past. What matters, Molly, is the way I feel about you. I know if my dad was here, he’d be encouraging me to get a move on, to not let you slip through my fingers. I really don’t want that to happen, Molly.”

  “Oh,” was all she could manage, letting out a heartfelt sigh, feeling a heat rise in her cheeks.

  Rory straightened up, looking her full on in the face, the hurt and regret of a moment ago replaced with a boyish optimism.

  “Molly, you do like me, don’t you?” He squeezed his thumb and forefinger together in the air by way of an example. “Maybe just a bit?”

  She nodded, a swirl of delicious anticipation threading through her veins. If only he knew just how much.

  “You don’t think I’m an arrogant jerk, do you? Or, if you do, maybe only a bit of a one?”

  She laughed, shaking her head.

  “And your blood doesn’t turn cold when I come anywhere near you?” He raised his dark eyebrows questioningly, with a confidence only a man who knew full well that he had quite the opposite effect upon her could have. “Really,” he went on, “I hope you’re not sitting there thinking, Oh my God, I can’t wait until this idiot leaves the room and then I’m going to barricade the door and never let him in again. If you are, then just say so.”

  She shook her head again, knowing he was only teasing her.

  “Well, that’s brilliant, then,” he said, his face lighting up with a smile. “There’s nothing to worry about. We have a future. I love you, Molly, and I think, although you may not want to admit it to yourself just yet, that you might like me too. That’s more than enough for me at the moment.” He stood, grimacing against the discomfort as he stretched out his long legs, his long fit body unfurling slowly. “We have all the time in the world. I’m hoping it won’t take that long, but I’m prepared to wait for you, Molls, as long as it takes. Do you think you might give it a go?”

  Her heart was bursting, she’d lost all capacity for speech, but her head gave a small, involuntary nodding motion.

  “Molls,” he said, lifting her out of her seat by the hand. “There is one other thing.”

  “Yes.”

  He took both her hands in his.

  “I’ve flown halfway round the world to see you. Would you please put me out of my misery and let me kiss you again? Properly this time.”

  * * * *

  Two cups of strong black coffee and thirty minutes later, she still wasn’t sure if she was part of some TV reality show or an elaborate hoax. First her sister had turned up, pouring out her heart, and then Rory Campbell appeared declaring his undying love. This day really couldn’t become any more surreal if it tried. And when she mentioned that the coffee was making her jittery, Rory had come up with the perfect Rory type of solution and dashed out to the local off-license to pick up a bottle of champagne.

  “Well, I think we have plenty to celebrate, don’t you?” he said, handing her a glass, chinking his glass with her own.

  “I thought you were giving up the booze?”

  Rory gave a wry smile.

  “I haven’t given up, but I have cut right down. I used it as a crutch, Molly. To help me get through the bad days. But I told you, that accident completely shook me up and I would never do anything so stupid again.” She could tell from the sincerity shining in his eyes of his conviction on that. “Since meeting you I haven’t felt the need to drink so much, except on these celebratory occasions.” He gave a huge smile.

  Molly still wasn’t so certain. His words sounded all too convincing, but could she really trust him? Or her heart? Her senses were assaulted by a myriad feelings and emotions. She couldn’t deny any longer how she felt about Rory, but was she brave enough to take the risk of being with Rory, making a future with him? Was she strong enough to cope with the prolonged absences when he was away on location, knowing he’d be acting out love scenes with beautiful young actresses? And what happened if he fell off the wagon again? Would he just fall back into his old wild ways and forget all about Molly?

  “Oh, Rory,” she sighed, the restorative effects of the champagne finally beginning to make sense of the messy jumble of thoughts swarming her mind. He made everything sound so easy and straightforward when it wasn’t. Everything in her life had become so much more complicated since that day when Rory had turned up.

  He was used to having everything his own way, to snapping his fingers and have people come running, of everything falling into place when he said so. Did he really think he could extend that power to picking her out as a wife and expecting her to fall in line as simply as that?

  He had no real understanding of the problems most people faced on a daily basis, paying the rent, working in jobs they didn’t like, being dissatisfied with their lives and the way they looked. Rory was a film star for goodness sake, feted by everyone, living a charmed life. Outside of this office, what could he possibly find to have in common with Molly?

  “It would never work between us,” she sighed. “We come from totally different worlds. Have different friends. Different experiences. I admit we became close but that’s only because we were working together on such an intimate and personal basis. It was my fault. I should never have let my personal feelings get in the way of our professional relationship. But really, Rory, believe me when I tell you I’m totally the wrong type of woman for you. I know you don’t think I’m particularly good at my job,” she gave him a rueful smile, “but what you forget is that I have years of matchmaking experience.”

  “I think you’re brilliant at your job. In fact, Miss Molly Matthews, you are the best matchmaker I’ve ever met. The only matchmaker I’ve ever met admittedly, but that’s besides the point. I just think you were a bit misguided when it came to finding me a wife.” He grinned at her indulgently.

  “That’s because you were the most impossible and difficult client to have ever walked through my doors.” She’d been wanting to tell him that for months now. “I have to say it was a huge relief when I knew it wouldn’t be my responsibility anymore.”

  “That’s because it was out of your hands by then. Like my dad, I knew I’d met the woman I wanted to marry.” He looked at her sheepishly. “Oh, come on,” he said, seeing her doubtful expression, “give me three good reasons why you think we couldn’t make a go of it.”

  “Three reasons? I could come up with ninety-nine reasons. You’re a movie star, Rory, and I’m a lowly marriage bureau owner.”

  “Huh? Hardly lowly! Yours is the most exclusive bureau in town. And that shouldn’t make any difference at all. What matters is you and me, what we feel for each other.”

  He put his glass down on her desk and slipped his arms around her waist. He gazed into her face imploringly, his words sweet and warm, and at such close proximity, all too convincing.

  “We mix in different circles, Rory. Your friends are glamorous actresses and models and director types. Marco Faro is your best friend, for goodness sake! It’s not a world I could ever imagine feeling comfortable in, Rory.” Heaven knows her insecurities were difficult enough to keep on top of as it was. The last thing she needed was to be surrounded by a bevy of beautiful people.

  “Nor me,” he said. “Why won’t you believe me when I tell you that? Acting is what I love to do, Molly. That’
s what drives me, that’s my passion, but all the other stuff that comes along with it I could easily leave to one side. I’ve got so many plans, Molly. Once I’ve got this film out of the way, which will be about three weeks shooting in America, I’m coming home to do a theater tour around England. Then I’m taking a break. I want to set up a drama group for young, disadvantaged kids here in London. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years now, but the time has never been right. It feels right now though, everything is falling into place and I’m so excited about the future. But central to all these plans is having you at my side, Molly. Without you, they won’t count for anything.”

  His passion and enthusiasm was tangible.

  “But you haven’t told me what happened with Emma?” she asked. “It hurt me seeing those photos. I thought…” He’d neatly avoided her question earlier, but she could still recreate the turn of her stomach just thinking about that picture.

  Rory frowned, his mouth twisting in concern.

  “You should know enough about my industry by now to know that you shouldn’t read too much into a photograph. Yes, I met up with Emma and I was really glad I did. When she went off like that all those years ago, it felt as though we still had some unfinished business between us and I wasn’t sure how I’d feel seeing her again. She’s part of my history, for a while she became a part of my family even. But seeing her again, it was absolutely fine, like picking up with an old friend. Obviously she’s changed a lot, she’d definitely got a few more airs and graces now.” He chuckled. “But I could still recognize that annoying small person who lived next door. I guess she’d say the same about me. Anyway, she’s doing really well and seems to be very happy out there. The Californian lifestyle suits her, but it would never suit me. Besides, we’ve both moved on since then. I told her about you.”