“She’s looking for what we’re all looking for.”
“What’s that?”
“The right fit,” Molly said. “Someone we connect with. Someone kind. Someone who feels like home. Someone who makes us smile. Inspires us to be our best self. Someone who has our back, pulls us up. Someone we can imagine sitting beside on the rocking chairs forty years from now.”
He smiled. “I’m not sure I was looking that far ahead.”
She tilted her head. “But you sound so serious about wanting to date Danica. Aren’t you after a serious relationship with her?”
He glanced out the window again. “Maybe what you said before isn’t so far off the mark, after all. That I’m stuck in some kind of holding pattern, unable to move at all, holding on to an old dream about a woman I’ve barely spoken to.”
So she had struck a nerve.
“Well, all you can do is discover if the fantasy of Danica Dunbar meets the reality.”
“Yeah,” he said, brightening again. “That’s a great way to put it. I’m sure it will. What’s she like, anyway?” He frowned. “That sounds ridiculous, huh. Asking what my dream woman since eighth grade is like.”
“She’s as great as you imagine, Zeke,” she said, picturing Danica coming over every night for a month after Molly’s husband told her he was in love with his redheaded mechanic. Sitting up with her till all hours as Molly cried. Danica had always been there for her—with an ear, a shoulder, a smile. And had been for over twenty years.
Zeke beamed. “I knew it. But of course, you’re biased—you two are best friends.”
“For a reason. Because she is that wonderful. I remember when I first met her, in second grade, and we were paired as partners for a book report. I thought, Oh, no, she’s gonna be a stuck-up snot and make a snide comment on my weird multicolored pants. But she was friendly and kind and funny and we hit it off right away. We just have a similar something—I can’t really put my finger on it.”
“Now you’re making me wish I had a best friend like that,” he said. “I suppose I do in my siblings. But to be honest, Molly, you’re the next closest thing.”
Straight to the heart.
Except I’m your employee. And I have a baby...
She could fix the first, not that she wanted to. But Molly and Lucy were a pair, a team, a family. And yeah, the right woman could “turn him around,” but Zeke didn’t want to be attracted to her, didn’t want to like her.
“I’ve never had a male best friend,” she said. “Don’t they—whoever they are—say men and women really can’t be friends?” Molly figured men and woman could absolutely be friends. But maybe not when there was fire-hot chemistry between them.
“Well, we can be,” he said. “Now that we’ve settled that whole kiss thing.”
She gave a mental sigh. Hardly settled. And the cozy cabin that was supposed to have him barely able to control himself while in her presence had turned into friend-zone city. They were getting closer and closer as friends—and further and further as romantic possibilities.
Her strategy wasn’t working at all. And now tomorrow he and her best friend could possibly become a couple, all thanks to good old Molly.
* * *
By ten o’clock that night, Molly was ready to pick her up phone and call Danica and tell her everything—that she was worried Danica and Zeke would fall madly in love tomorrow during their realty meeting and run off to Vegas for an instant wedding. Molly would finally share her secret—that she’d been in love with Zeke since seventh grade and was finally trying to make something happen between them...that something had happened until Zeke called a grinding halt to it.
She paused at her kitchen counter with one hand on the spray bottle of lemony cleaning solution and the other clutching a paper towel. Because she cared about Zeke so much, how could she put a grinding halt to anything happening between him and Danica? All she had to do was tell Danica how she felt about Zeke, and her BFF would friend-zone Zeke in a heartbeat—even if Danica wanted to go out with him.
Molly loved Zeke with everything she was. How could she manipulate things behind the scenes to serve her purposes?
She couldn’t. And wouldn’t.
They’d been so raw and honest with each other in his cabin. And true to his word, he remained at a physical distance while they’d been there, waiting for Lucy to wake up from her nap. No touching her hair. No putting his lips to hers. For a moment there, once or twice, she’d almost touched him herself—a simple hand to his forearm while making a point. But she had to respect what he’d said about the complications of his being her boss. An hour later, Lucy had woken up, and they’d gone to the ranch cafeteria, where they’d both had the incredible chicken chili and corn bread that had melted in her mouth. After lunch he’d showed her around the ranch, the guest cabins, which she well remembered, the river she’d tossed pebbles in. But then the weather took a cold turn and they skipped the hike and headed back, Zeke dropping off Molly and Lucy at her car by the Welcome hut.
A perfect day—and none of her goals accomplished. She’d gotten no closer to making Zeke hers than she’d been yesterday.
Molly finished cleaning the kitchen counter, then shut off all the lights and headed upstairs to her bedroom. She checked in on Lucy, who was fast asleep, her sweet baby girl reminding her that all was well and good in her life.
Molly left the nursery with one thing echoing in her head: if Zeke and Danica meet tomorrow and it was all parades and cartoon hearts and walking off into the sunset, then that was meant to be, and she and Zeke were not. Molly had always been a big believer in meant to be. It comforted her even if it hurt.
I’m going to lose him tomorrow. I’ll be Danica’s maid of honor at their wedding.
Molly frowned, her stomach flip-flopping, and picked up her phone. All she had to do was press the number two, the insta-speed-press for Danica’s number, and just finally tell her the truth, that she loved Zeke, that it would kill her if Danica went out with him. That Zeke would be in her office tomorrow, and because he was so hot and nice and everything any woman would be looking for, Dancia would fall madly in love with him. And he with her.
Molly’s finger hovered over the two button. She put the phone down, her heart hammering. She couldn’t do that to Zeke. Or Danica. If those two belonged together, non-peas-in-a-pod aside, it would happen. Molly wouldn’t interfere to save her own heart.
Her phone rang, startling her, and she practically jumped.
Danica.
Obviously, the universe wanted Molly to tell Danica her big secret.
Wait a minute. Molly had forgotten that Danica had her dog-walking date with the cute welder today. She’d been so wrapped up in herself she’d forgotten to check in with her friend. Given that Danica hadn’t called or texted until now, maybe the two of them had had an extended date and they were the ones who’d be hitting the Vegas strip for the insta-wedding.
“Hi, Danica. How was your date with the welder?”
“Mol...ly,” Danica sputtered between sobs. “He...big...liarrrr.” Danica was crying and sniffling.
Oh, no. “Oh, honey. Are you home?”
“Yes,” Danica managed on a sob.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“’K,” Danica said tearfully.
Molly texted her dad to ask if he or her mom or both could watch Lucy for an hour or two, and her parents were over within minutes. Tomorrow was the grand reopening for Tim’s Tasty Tacos, so her parents were wide awake and had come over with their iPads, deep in conversation about their cardboard take-out containers and if they should change colors. Molly thanked them again for coming, grabbed two pints of Ben & Jerry’s from the freezer and rushed out to drive over to Danica’s house, which was just five minutes away.
Unlike Molly, Danica had kept the house in her divorce, since she’d chosen it and d
ecorated it and loved it. Brick with a fairy-tale cottage vibe, the house had been Molly’s home away from home for years. Danica had gotten rid of anything that reminded her of her marriage and redid the place so that it was now like a beach cottage getaway. Molly loved it.
Danica came to the door in her hot-pink fluffy bathrobe, her hair in a ponytail, her eyes red-rimmed, her face tear-streaked. She threw her arms around Molly. “I’m never dating again. That’s it. I give up.”
“Aww, I’m so sorry,” Molly said, slinging her free arm around her friend’s shoulder. “Let’s go dish these up,” she added, holding up the two pints of ice cream. “We’ll mix ’em.” Mixing was their tradition.
Danica nodded and sniffled and led the way to the kitchen. “I’m never dating again,” she repeated, throwing her hands up.
“Tell me everything,” Molly said, scooping out one pint while Danica did the other. With their bowls full of a scrumptious mix of chocolate-fudge-caramel-marshmallow and coffee-espresso-chip, they headed to the couch.
Danica flopped down and ate a bite. “Ahhh, so good. Okay, here goes the whole sorry story.” She took another spoonful of ice cream, then dabbed under her eyes. Molly was glad to see sparks of anger taking over the tears. “We met in the park and he seemed wonderful. Off we go with his adorable dog, Petey, who he tells me about rescuing from a crowded shelter all the way in Texas, where he used to live, and how he’s a former marine who did two tours in Afghanistan, and how now he volunteers twice a week with a program for boys who don’t have father figures.”
Hmm, did the welder sound a little too good to be true?
“I’m thinking he’s just amazing,” Danica continued. “I thought—finally—I feel something. Excitement and possibilities. We have such a great time. He asks me if I’d like to continue the date with dinner—at Matteo’s—that new pricey romantic Italian restaurant. So we both go home, and I prep for this date in all my glory. I get to the restaurant and he’s charming and wonderful, asking all about me, listening intently. Doesn’t cross a single Molly Orton line!”
Molly offered a smile. “I can see why you were excited about him.”
Danica ate two more spoonfuls of ice cream. “The bill comes and he reaches for his wallet and then gets all flustered and says, ‘I’m so embarrassed—I forgot my wallet.’ So I think nothing of it and say, ‘There’s no reason why you should pay for dinner just because you’re a man.’ He profusely apologizes and says he’ll more than make it up to me tomorrow night, if I’d be willing to see him again, in Prairie City for the new sushi bar that opened. Then a woman comes marching up to our table and demands to know who I am and she thought ‘Declan’ was visiting his sick mother. He told me his name was Jack! Oh, and turns out he’s married. And the dog? His neighbor’s.”
Molly shook her head. “Oh, foo, I’m so sorry.” After the last few dud dates Danica had, no wonder she felt so defeated by this con man.
The angry spark in her pretty blue eyes was once again replaced by tears welling. “He had me believing every word out of his lying mouth. I fell for everything. How can I trust anything anyone says again?”
“There are good guys out there,” Molly said, reaching for her friend’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “You’re playing a numbers game because you know you have to kiss frogs to find your Mr. Right. Tonight was a poisonous toad. One poisonous toad. Don’t let this jerk derail your faith in the good men out there.”
Danica seemed to consider that. “You’re right. And at least he didn’t con me out of more than just a dinner.” She sighed. “I think I’ll take a break from dating, though. Just for a little while. Unless the greatest guy on earth falls into my lap and passes every one of your tests.”
Uh-oh. Tomorrow, that guy would be Zeke.
Molly shoveled another spoonful of ice cream in her mouth, barely tasting it.
“Thanks for coming over,” Danica said. “I feel a lot better.”
Molly hugged her friend. “Want to do seaweed face masks before I go?” Danica’s green face mask did for her friend what potato chips and onion dip did for Molly.
Danica laughed. “Of course I do. No more crying over frogs.”
Molly grinned and they headed off to the bathroom, where Danica’s tear-streaked face and red-rimmed eyes would be a thing of the past for her meeting tomorrow with a prince.
Chapter Nine
Zeke had gone to sleep last night thinking about Molly. He woke up thinking about her.
He’d spent too much of his morning at work thinking about her.
When he’d arrived at 8:40, figuring he’d get to work first and could slip into his office without being overwhelmed by his attraction to her, there she was. Sitting at her desk, typing away on her desktop computer, Dawson Solutions coffee mug in front of her. Her hair had been in a bun, and he’d wanted to release the clip holding it. He’d wanted to undo the little leaf-patterned scarf at her neck. Slip her suit jacket off her shoulders...
It was now close to noon; he’d gotten little accomplished, and he was ready to go get his brain back to normal, back on track, by meeting with Danica Dunbar at Bear Ridge Realty. Surely once he was enveloped in the midst of his dream woman, he would refocus and his crush—if that was what it was—on his admin would disappear.
He came down the hall toward the reception area, and Molly stopped typing. “Well, wish me luck.”
“You won’t need it,” she said. “I’d straighten your tie knot like in the movies but your tie is perfect.”
He smiled. “See you this afternoon. I’ll tell you all about it.”
The office phone rang and she grabbed it, so that was that. Time to go.
Outside, he breathed in the cold but fresh, crisp air and headed left. Blue Ridge Realty was three doors down. There were some glossy photos in the window of homes for sale—from huge ranches to small houses in town.
Here goes fifteen years of waiting, he thought, pulling open the door. Danica came right over, extending her hand.
“Zeke, so nice to see you again,” she said.
Just as when he saw her last week for the first time since high school, he waited for the rush of emotion—excitement, anticipation—but all he felt was interest in finding out more about available houses in Bear Ridge.
Very weird. This was Danica Dunbar, standing before him wearing a pink-and-white tweed minisuit and very high heels, her long blond hair in a low ponytail curled down one shoulder. Makeup, jewelry—all business-glam. She looked amazing and did smell heavenly. But the face that had starred in his dreams all these years, that had gotten him through some very trying times, didn’t seem to be affecting him. In the slightest. Not even in a nostalgic way.
How would he stop thinking about Molly if he wasn’t consumed by his crush?
She led him to her desk. A credenza with a lot of vases of flowers was against the wall. From her suitors, he figured. No red tulips, Danica’s favorite, per Molly. A few days ago he would have ordered an exquisite arrangement of three dozen to be delivered after a meeting like this. Now, everything was up in the air.
“So,” she said, sitting down in her swivel chair and gesturing for him to sit in the leather club chair across. She held an iPad and a stylus pen. “You gave me a brief rundown of what you’re looking for when you called the other day, but I’d like to hear more detail about what’s important to you in a house. Location. Square footage. Number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Style. Privacy. We’ll start there and see what’s available.”
He looked right at her, wondering what the hell was wrong with him. Shouldn’t he be unable to think, let alone concentrate on all she’d just said? Shouldn’t he be unable to drag his eyes off her pretty blue eyes, the shimmery pink-red lipstick, her long legs?
His head was actually full of house details. He kept thinking about the luxe cabins—Daisy called them log mansions—that his brothers Axel and
Zeke had built on the ranch property. He could see himself in something like that. Or the classic farmhouse Ford had bought in town. He liked that, too. He kept waiting to be distracted from his thoughts by Danica’s beauty, but right now all he thought about was a section of the ranch down by the river, three miles from where the path along the water ended—where the guests turned around on their walks. That area would be perfect and private. And right there on the ranch with his family.
“Full disclosure,” he said. “I might very well decide to build on my family’s property, but I’m not sure of that. I do like the idea of walking to work, though. I also like space and large rooms. I’m not really sure about number of bedrooms. To be honest, I don’t know what I want.”
I thought I wanted you.
I thought I’d never have kids of my own—and now I can’t stop thinking about a single mother with a year-old baby who likes to grab my ear.
“Well, right now you’re single,” Danica said. “But if you’re planning to marry and start a family, that may be something to consider when it comes to space. The new condos that went up on the far side of Main Street are beautiful, but they’re one-and two-bedroom. A condo might serve a ‘right for now’ purpose.”
“That would let me off the hook,” he mused aloud.
“What do you mean?”
Part of him was vaguely aware that he should shut up. But he kept going. “Just that I never planned to marry or have kids at all. But then you meet someone, and bam, your whole point of view is different.”
Am I talking about Molly? Or Danica?
She nodded. “I’m glad to hear that because I’m not sure I want kids. Maybe I just haven’t been hit with baby fever yet. But I do think my Mr. Right, if he wants children, will fire up those maternal instincts.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. My ex-husband didn’t, which is why he divorced me.” She bit her lip. “Oh, God, did I just say that aloud? Do you know I haven’t talked about this with anyone and here I am, just blurting it out?” She looked stricken. “Okay, back to houses. Condos. Square footage.”
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