by Haley Jacobs
“She has a mate back in France,” said Gaston. “And they are plotting against me.”
Just then, the piano that was in the corner made a sound. Four notes, sounding one after the other. Molly turned quickly toward the piano and felt a chill come over her.
“Did you hear that?!” said Molly.
“I did,” said Gaston, smiling strangely.
“And you’re not freaked out by it.”
“No,” said Gaston. “That had to have been Emilia.”
“Emilia?”
“Emilia,” said Gaston. “Our resident spirit.”
“But…”
“Let me show you.”
Gaston gently took Molly’s hand and led her to the stained glass. He pointed to the lower left corner. The stained glass was in the shape of The Lone Pine Lodge. Molly didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary at first, but then she noticed a ghostly figure of a young woman in white.
“That’s Emilia?” said Molly.
“Yes,” said Gaston. “She has been here for many years, watching over The Lone Pine. Watching over those who live and work here. This is a place of magic, Molly, but it is also a place of love. Where there is love, there is Emilia.”
5
Molly was surprised at how easily everything came together. Gaston was right. There were so many weddings at The Lone Pine that the staff knew just what to do. No wonder Larissa could get away with slacking off so easily!
Gaston had to leave to prepare lunch service, so Molly was on her own. Her encounter with Gaston had left Molly bewildered. She had to admit to herself that she was attracted to Gaston like no other man she had ever known. But the whole situation with Larissa sounded like a total mess. Molly wasn’t sure she wanted to be in the middle of it.
She decided to text Julia to see how things were going with her folks, and to update her on how the wedding was proceeding.
Hey girl! Molly texted.
Ugh.
Uh oh. Doesn’t sound good
Guess who got seats next to each other on the plane.
NO! REALLY?
Really. They almost got kicked off the flight.
LOL
I’m not kidding.
SERIOUSLY?!?!?! Molly texted. Molly knew Julia’s family was difficult, but this was new territory.
It was like 8th grade all over again.
How are you holding up?
Better now that they’ve gone to their corners for Round 2.
Round 2?
The rehearsal dinner tonight. Thank God Jake is here. He’s picking up his folks at the airport right now. At least they’re normal. Kind of.
Speaking of the wedding, texted Molly. It’s all coming together.
That’s awesome!
Oh! And you’ll never believe what happened—I SAW A GHOST!
NO WAY! YOU SAW EMILIA?!?!
You know about Emilia? texted Molly.
Yeah, I do. She only comes around when love is in the air.
Molly didn’t know how to respond to that one. Her phone beeped again.
So who was with you? Julia texted.
Molly took a deep breath. She knew Julia had her cornered.
Gaston, Molly texted.
I KNEW IT!!!!!!
Julia, he’s taken, texted Molly.
Gotta go! Jake just got here. BYE!
Bye!
Everything for the wedding was falling nicely into place. Guests were already arriving, and Molly was finally looking forward to poking around High Mountain National Park. There was so much to do in picking up the slack from Larissa that she hadn’t had time to do anything else. The only thing she had to do was pick out the wines with Gaston. She was going to have lunch, but Gaston insisted that she wait for him to finish lunch service. Being a restaurant manager herself, she had gotten used to eating late.
She arrived at the Redwood Grill at 2:30. The door was closed. Molly knocked and Sam, Gaston’s sous-chef, answered.
“Hi Molly!” said Sam. “Gaston’s waiting for you in the wine cellar. I’ll take you there, then close up.”
“Thanks, Sam,” said Molly.
Sam led Molly through the kitchen to a small, wooden door.
“Gaston!” called Sam. “Molly’s here!”
“Please send her down,” said Gaston. “And go home and rest. We have a long evening ahead of us.”
“Thanks!” said Sam. He turned to Molly. “I’ll see you later.”
The wine cellar was dark and cool, and Molly could smell the earth and dust. She waited for her eyes to adjust and made her way down the winding metal staircase. Molly could feel the damp of the cellar raising prickles on her skin.
When she reached the bottom, she saw Gaston seated at the small table. A candle burned at the center, and she could see that he had prepared a lunch for the two of them. There were two glasses and several dusty bottles of wine on the table.
“You are a vision of loveliness, Molly,” said Gaston, rising to kiss her cheeks.
“Thank you,” said Molly, blushing.
Gaston was wearing fashionable black jeans and a blue button-down shirt. His shirt was slightly open and she could see tufts of soft, black chest hair peaking out. He looked at her softly with his deep brown eyes. He rose from his chair, and gently took her hand, leading her to a chair opposite his at the table. As she sat, she could feel his muscular leg brush against his knee. Gaston was close enough for her to breathe in his earthy musk.
“I thought we were here to pick out wines,” said Molly.
“We are,” said Gaston. “But fine wine requires fine food, no?”
Molly smiled. Gaston had prepared a lunch that was anything but simple. There were many small bites artfully arranged on several plates. In the candlelight everything—including Gaston—looked magnificent. He had put together a simple charcuterie platter with ham, several types of salami, pâté and a hot, warm baguette. There were five different types of cheese: Irish cheddar, Spanish manchego, Dutch gouda, chèvre goat cheese, and triple cream brie drizzled with strawberry jam. There were pickled artichokes, marinated wild mushrooms and Greek olives. Molly didn’t know what made her mouth water more, the food or the hungry look in Gaston’s eyes.
“Where did you get all this?” said Molly. “I thought we were out in the middle of the wilderness?”
“I have my sources,” said Gaston with a sly smile. “And the ham and salami are local. So are the mushrooms. The artichokes, we grow in a small farm plot behind my cabin.”
Gaston poured out a small glass of sauvignon blanc, holding it to the light, and admiring the deep, golden color. He handed the glass to Molly and poured himself a glass.
“À votre santé," said Gaston as they touched glasses.
Molly took a sip. The warm, golden flavor spread over her tongue. As she held the wine there for a few moments before swallowing it, the flavors changed from fruit to butterscotch. She closed her eyes as the warmth spread throughout her body in a sensual wave.
“Do you like it?” asked Gaston.
“Like it?” said Molly. “I want to throw my clothes off and bathe in it!”
Gaston arched his eyebrows and smiled. “I suppose we could arrange that.”
Molly blushed. She took the baguette and bypassing the bread knife, broke it in half and tore off a piece. She lingered over the charcuterie board, selecting a dark salami, and put both pieces in her mouth. The baguette was perfectly crisp on the outside, and soft and warm on the inside. Gaston was smiling at her.
“You know how to handle charcuterie!” he said.
“I do,” said Molly. “This baguette is friggin’ perfect!”
“And you know your food,” said Gaston.
“My family runs a café in my home town. It was started by my Grandma back in 1946. I grew up there. My playpen was in the kitchen.”
“And home is where?”
“Santa Fe, New Mexico,” said Molly. “Have you ever been there?”
“No,” said Gaston. “When I
had to leave France, I came to Alaska. I have not traveled much since then.”
“Wait,” said Molly. “You had to leave France.”
Gaston sighed. “Larissa…”
“Oh,” said Molly. “I see.” Her heart sank.
“No,” said Gaston. “I don’t think you do. Please let me explain.”
Gaston poured out another glass from a young Bordeaux. The color was a deep, dark purple. They touched glasses again.
“But she’s your fiancé…” said Molly.
“No!” Gaston slapped the table, startling Molly. He sighed. “We are both from old families from La Forêt d'Orléans—the forest near Orléans, France. Larissa and I, we were promised to each other as children. My family is very traditional, and that is how marriages are arranged.”
“She’s your…wife?” whispered Molly, breathlessly.
“When I had heard that my family arranged the marriage, I left my restaurant in Paris and came here,” said Gaston. “This place—The Lone Pine—is the only place I could be…safe. Two months ago, she found me here.”
“And you hired her as the Wedding Coordinator?” asked Molly. “Really?”
Gaston was silent for a moment, his hands pressed together under his chin.
“Larissa’s family is very powerful among the Loup Garou,” said Gaston. “Her family has many allies in the corporation that owns the Lone Pine. I had no say in it.”
“Loup Garou…?”
“What you would call a werewolf,” said Gaston.
“Werewolf,” said Molly skeptically. “You mean like Team Jacob?”
Gaston furrowed his brow and looked at Molly for a moment. “You do not know about shape shifters?”
“Julia said something about Jake being like a bear, but…”
“It is real,” said Gaston.
Molly looked intently at Gaston. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“I am a wolf from a very old clan of shifters who follow traditions very closely,” said Gaston. “When a shifter breaks with tradition, there are very few places he or she can go to avoid trouble with other shifters. The Lone Pine is one of those places. That is why you can see shifters in the stained glass in the Grand Ballroom.”
“So your people,” said Molly. “They rejected you?”
“It is worse. I rejected them,” said Gaston. “Loup Garou believe in keeping bloodlines pure. I believe this goes against the nature of shifters. For shifters, there is only one mate in a lifetime. I needed to find mine.”
“And you’ve never found your mate?” asked Molly.
“I have found my one true love,” said Gaston.
Molly’s heart sank. “Who is she?”
“You,” said Gaston.
Molly suddenly felt the world spin. Her heart hammered in her chest and she could barely breathe.
“Oh, Gaston,” said Molly. “I don’t know...I mean, okay, I’m really attracted to you, but the love of my life? I barely know you. This is all happening so fast!”
“Search your heart, Molly,” said Gaston. “You know it to be true.”
Gaston stood up and walked behind Molly. She shuddered as she felt his warm, large hands on her shoulders. He gently moved her long, dark curls aside. Molly could feel his soft warm lips on the nape of her neck. She bent her head forward as his lips moved toward her ear. She moaned softly as he nipped her earlobe.
“Be mine,” whispered Gaston.
Molly reached behind her and held Gaston’s head, running her fingers through his long soft hair. He wrapped his arm around her chest, caressing the bare skin of her shoulder. His hand moved slowly from her shoulder down to cup her breast. Molly turned her head and found Gaston’s lips. He teased her lips open with his tongue. The heat from their kiss traveled down her body and pooled with delicious heat between Molly’s legs.
Gaston stood, coaxing Molly to stand with him. She looked into his hungry eyes and felt the depth of his soul. Her arms were around his neck, his hands on her waist as she pulled him in for another kiss. She could feel his heat against her core as he cupped her buttocks, pulling her closer. Molly writhed against the firmness of Gaston’s body. She heard Gaston’s deep moan as she rubbed her body against his.
As their kiss became more and more intense, Molly felt Gaston’s rough, calloused hands drop to gather her skirt, pulling it higher and higher. She could feel the coolness of the cellar air around her thighs as he exposed more and more of her bare skin to the damp air.
“Yes…” she whispered.
When her skirt was at her hips, Molly felt Gaston’s hand seeking the edge of her panties. He teased around the lacy edges, stopping to caress her stomach. Her shallow breaths echoed in the cellar. His hand went deeper as he began to caress her with agonizing slowness. Gaston kissed her as the rhythm of his movements became faster and faster.
She broke off the kiss and buried her head in Gaston’s muscular shoulder. Molly could feel herself breaking apart as the first wave of pleasure broke over her body, followed by another, and another.
“Gaston!” she cried with a final shudder as her body went limp in Gaston’s arms. He held her and gently rocked her with a tenderness she had never experienced before.
They held each other for a long time in the dark of the wine cellar. Never had she felt such closeness, never such joy. What she was feeling frightened and excited her. She looked up at Gaston.
“I know we barely know each other,” said Molly. “But I’ve never felt this way with anyone.”
“I cannot tell you how much I love you, Molly,” said Gaston.
Molly smiled back at Gaston, tears in her eyes. “No one has ever said that to me.”
She held on to him tightly. Molly looked up at Gaston with a wicked gleam in her eye.
“You know,” said Molly. “I think it’s your turn.”
“Not now,” said Gaston. “But after the rehearsal dinner, will you stay with me? Tonight we will become mates.”
“Tonight can’t come soon enough,” said Molly.
6
Molly’s encounter with Gaston left her trembling. Her head was full of excitement and fear, joy and questions. Had she really found the love of her life? What did this mean for her future?
She walked on to the Lone Pine’s porch, down the steps, and into the warm sun to clear her mind at least a little. The scent of pine and the clean mountain air filled her lungs.
“I could get used to this,” she said to herself. And besides, her best friend, Julia was here. What about her job at the Blue Crab? Ha! That was a wall-to-wall nightmare she would be happy to leave behind. She was sure she could take over for Larissa. Everything for the wedding was done, and now all she had to do was rest up before the rehearsal dinner tonight, and then… and then…
Molly’s body remembered the feel of Gaston’s strong hands on her body, and his spicy, musky smell. She felt goose bumps rise on her skin as she thought of his touch. Tonight was going to be amazing!
Angry voices shook Molly out of her daydream.
“You just had to go and ruin our daughter’s wedding!” It was Suzanne, Julia’s mother.
“ME?!” George, Julia’s father, was standing on the porch, red-faced with flailing arms. Julia was between them. She saw Molly and mouthed the word, “Help!”
Molly gathered her strength, took a deep breath, and strode over to Julia and her parents. As the manager of a busy restaurant, she had to diffuse arguments on a daily basis. Over the years, she had perfected a ferocious smile to deal with difficult customers. It was often enough to knock customers back to their senses.
“Mr. and Mrs. Pratchett!” said Molly. “It’s so good to see you!” Molly placed an arm on each of them. Equal contact was important. She hugged Suzanne first, (Julia’s Mom was the aggressor here), then quickly wrapped her arms around George.
“Mom…Dad…” said Julia shakily. “You remember my friend Molly.”
Molly turned to Julia’s Dad. “How’s the fishing up in Saratoga? Have y
ou been able to make it out to Lake Ontario for walleye season?” Rule Number One—bring everybody back to Earth.
“Oh, uh,” said George, a bit flustered. “Not so far this year. Work’s been pretty hectic.”
“I can imagine!” said Molly. “Being the top plumbing contractor in Saratoga is a huge responsibility.”
Molly turned to Julia’s Mom. “And Suzanne! Are you still knitting those adorable sweaters for homeless kids?”
“I…uh…” said Suzanne. “Yes, I’ve been doing about two a week. I just finished one with a big, yellow dinosaur on the front.”
“I just don’t know how you do it,” said Molly. “You’ve got a school to run and everything!”
Molly hugged Julia, and whispered in her ear, “Got it from here?”
“You’re fucking amazing!” Julia whispered back.
“I know,” said Molly. “I’m happy to help.”
Molly knew Julia’s parents were going to be a problem at the rehearsal dinner as soon as the wine started flowing. She had seen George and Suzanne separately, but never together. It was worse than Julia had told her.
Molly headed back inside.
“Molly! Molly!” said Ryan, looking very concerned. “We have a problem.”
“Uh oh,” said Molly.
“Well, actually, we have two problems,” said Ryan.
“Meaning…”
“Gus the pianist fell and broke his wrist this morning.”
“That’s bad,” said Molly. “Is he OK?”
“He is, but he had to be flown into Anchorage.”
“Yes…”
“By his wife, Frieda…”
Molly’s eyes got wide. “You mean our officiant?!”
Ryan nodded. “They won’t be back until after the wedding.”
“Okay, okay,” said Molly. “No need to panic. I’m sure there’s someone around here who’s licensed to perform a wedding.”
“Larissa was our back-up,” said Ryan.
“Maybe one of the rangers is certified?” asked Molly.
“I doubt it,” said Ryan. “But you can always try.”
Molly looked at her watch. It was 4:00 PM.
