Mistletoe & Molly

by Jennifer Snow

“This isn’t over, Molly. Two can play this game,” he threatened as he picked up the dog and marched away.

  Inside the warmth of the café, Molly watched as he tucked the dog inside his coat and continued down the street toward his building.

  “Do you think the dog will be okay with him?” Cameron whispered, peering over Molly’s shoulder as they watched his disappearing figure on the crowded street.

  “Layla will be fine. It’s me I’m worried about.”

  ****

  “You changed your mind? Good. I knew you would,” Lynn said as Aiden returned to his office with the dog moments later. She smiled and took the puppy from him.

  The dog shook snow from his fur and licked Lynn’s hand.

  Aiden slammed the door behind him. “No, I didn’t. Apparently I adopted this dog for the holidays.” He yanked off his gloves and scarf and removed his coat. He shoved the gloves into a pocket and hung it on the coat rack in the lobby.

  “That’s wonderful. I read about those adopt-a-pet programs. My husband is allergic to dogs, cats, anything with fur, though.” Lynn continued. “You don’t look happy about this.” She put the dog on the floor and handed Aiden his favorite coffee cup.

  He poured himself a cup of coffee and drank, burning his mouth on the hot liquid. Dumping the remaining contents in the sink, he turned back to her. “Of course I’m not happy. She forged my signature, and now I’m stuck with Layla…it.”

  “Why don’t you return her?”

  The deep frown on the older woman’s face said it all. He knew she’d have a fit if he did. “Believe me, I considered it.” He stormed into his office and grabbed a tin of dog food. Opening it, he shook the contents into a candy dish and laid it on the floor. He had considered it, but it wasn’t the poor dog’s fault she was stuck with him for the holidays. He doubted there would be a new adoptive family in time, and he hated to think about what happened to the dogs left behind. He shuddered.

  He might be stuck with Layla for three weeks, but that didn’t excuse Ms. Bishop. No, he’d find a way to repay her for his little holiday visitor. A war of kindness brewed, and he knew just what to do next.

  “Lynn, could you get Mike from Rollins and Clarke on the line for me, please?” He went into his office with renewed zest. Over the years, Mike had sent his P.R. clients to Aiden for refreshing. They shared a good rapport and referral system. He could count on Mike.

  “Mike Johnson,” the deep familiar voice said a moment later on speaker phone.

  “Mike, hey, it’s Aiden. I need a favor.” Aiden paced back and forth in front of his office window.

  “Name it, buddy. After the work you did on L.M. Riley last month, I owe you. Did you see who topped the billboard this month?”

  L.M. Riley was a new rapper on the music scene. His music wasn’t Aiden’s taste, but it proved to be popular among teenagers. His style was another story. The boy wore suspenders and a sideways hat. It might have worked for Will Smith in the nineties, but it didn’t work now. Aiden had revamped his image, and a month later, his music unchanged, had topped the charts. “Yeah, I saw, congrats. Hey, the reason I’m calling is actually for a friend of mine—Molly Bishop. You offered her an internship…” Aiden sat and picked up the receiver.

  “Mel Bishop’s daughter, I remember. She turned us down.”

  “Well, I need you to offer her the position again. I think maybe she’s reconsidered.” Aiden swiveled back and forth in his chair.

  “You know, we don’t usually chase after interns.”

  “I know, but this one’s worth it. And I need it to be a paid position.” Aiden smiled at his own idea. Molly might refuse his help directly, but how could she turn down this opportunity?

  “Now you’re pushing it, Aiden,” Mike warned. “You know I don’t have that power.”

  “Of course you do. You, the man who took a street kid and created a number one sensation.” Aiden glanced at his watch. Right about now, the café would be finishing their morning rush. He could picture Molly wiping tables, her long hair falling forward over her shoulder, swaying back and forth as she worked.

  “Fine, okay…enough. When can she start?”

  “Right away, and maybe offer her some sort of starting bonus.” She could use the money now. Forty-seven dollars in her bank account. Aiden shook his head. He remembered those days too well.

  “Aiden, man, you’re crazy. Mel Bishop’s daughter or not, she’s not worth that. The girl has no job experience,” Mike argued.

  Aiden sensed Mike was about to call off the deal. “I’ll fund it.”

  “What?”

  “The advance, I’ll pay it.”

  “You’re involved with this woman?”

  “No, nothing like that.” Not yet anyway. Aiden blinked. Where had that thought come from?

  “Want to tell me what this is about then?” Mike’s tone oozed with curiosity.

  “Nope.” He couldn’t tell his friend what he was up to. He didn’t want to. This secret meddling in each other’s lives was proving to be fun. Mike wouldn’t understand. Of course, Mike would assume Aiden was trying to sleep with the woman. Not that the thought hadn’t crossed his own mind…

  “Okay, fine. I’ll call her today. Now, speaking of favors…”

  Ah, here we go.

  ****

  “So they just called and offered you a paid internship?” Cameron steamed milk and poured it into an oversized coffee mug.

  “Yeah, I know it’s weird. At first I thought maybe my father had something to do with it, but he’s been overseas for a month now.” Molly poured three cups of coffee and loaded a tray with brownies.

  “You said yes, right?” Cameron took a fresh baked cheesecake from the oven. The smell of chocolate and orange filled the air. She placed it onto a cooling rack and closed the oven door.

  “Of course. The hours are nine to five though, so my shifts here may be different.” Molly carried her tray across the café to three women sitting near the window. They’d just come from a Weight Watchers meeting and were rewarding their weight loss with a brownie. Can’t argue with logic. “Enjoy ladies!” She placed the tray on the table and returned to the kitchen. “Mike Johnson said they had a sudden opening for the position and thought maybe I’d reconsider if the position was paid.” Opportunities like this didn’t come around every day. She couldn’t believe her luck.

  “That’s great. When do you start?” Cameron wiped a nearby table and set fresh cutlery on both sides. She grabbed the empty ketchup bottle from the table and re-joined Molly behind the counter.

  “Monday.”

  “Well, we have to celebrate. Break out that forty-seven dollars. Margaritas at McDougals are on you.” Cameron laughed as Molly whipped her dishtowel at her. “Uh oh. Don’t look now, but Mr. Wall Street is back.” Cameron muttered, glancing toward the door.

  Molly turned and moaned. Not now, she was in such a great mood.

  He kicked slush from his shoes and took a moment to fix their Hours of Operation sign before entering.

  “At least he isn’t a dangerous shade of purple anymore. I think I can handle him.” Molly grabbed a menu and met him at his usual table. She was aware of his eyes on her the entire way. It unnerved her how they took in every inch of her as she approached. “Where’s Layla?” She looked through the glass door, but the dog was nowhere in sight.

  “At my office with Lynn, my receptionist. I’ve yet to buy the sweater you recommended.” He rolled his eyes and opened the menu.

  “So you’re not planning to return her?” She fought to hide the relief she felt. She didn’t want to think about what happened to the unadopted animals.

  “No.” He studied the menu. “I’ll have the turkey sandwich with lettuce and…”

  “Tomato. Yeah, I know.” She rolled her eyes, pushing her pen back behind her ear.

  “What does that mean?”

  “What does what mean?”

  “The rolling of the eyes.”

  “Nothing…you’r
e just predictable.” She took the menu and poured his coffee. Then she placed two packets of sugar on the table next to the cup.

  “Why? Because I eat turkey sandwiches and drink my coffee the same way?”

  “Every day.” She pointed out.

  “It works. Why change it?” He shrugged and looked at his watch.

  “Oh, excuse me. Precious expensive time is being wasted.” She slipped away before he could respond.

  “Turkey sandwich?” Cameron asked, already tearing the lettuce in the kitchen.

  “What else?” Molly laughed, placing the bread on the plate and opening the mayonnaise.

  “Did he keep the dog?” she whispered.

  “Yeah.” She was surprised, but happy Layla wouldn’t be returned.

  “He’s quite intense isn’t he?” Cameron peered through the opening in the door.

  The two women could see him working on his iPad while he waited.

  “So is my father.” Molly cut the tomato for the sandwich. “They are exactly alike. Time is money. Watch me throw my money around. Money, power, and success. I grew up with it. I can spot it a mile away.” She slapped the sandwich together.

  “Well, he isn’t exactly like your father. Unless your father is smoking hot.” Cameron stared at the man with open admiration.

  “I guess he’s okay.” Molly shrugged, unwilling to admit how attractive she found him.

  “Okay? Come on Molly, even you can’t deny how gorgeous he is. I find the powerful, successful thing kind of sexy.” Cameron added a pickle to the plate.

  “If you like him so much, why don’t you bring him his lunch?” Molly pushed the plate toward her and grinned.

  “Forget it. I’m not getting involved with this feud you two have going. Besides he likes you, not me.” Cameron picked up the plate and handed it to Molly.

  “What? He does not.” The man liked to irritate her for some unknown reason, but she doubted very much he liked her. Men like Aiden Ford, like her father, were not interested in waitresses.

  “Sorry to break up this argument over who’s bringing me the sandwich, but I need to take it to go.” Aiden appeared at the counter.

  Molly prayed he hadn’t heard the last of their conversation. “Emergency at the office?” She slid his sandwich into a paper bag.

  “Yeah, there’s a dog eating my leather office furniture,” he growled, handing her the exact change for the sandwich.

  She smirked.

  “Oh and by the way, good luck with the internship,” he called once he’d reached the door.

  Her smirk disappeared.

  Chapter Three

  “Lynn, am I predictable?” Aiden demanded, entering the office moments later.

  “Let me see, you arrive every morning between 8:00 and 8:03, grab a coffee with two sugars, open your blinds halfway until noon because the sun shines onto your laptop screen until it moves behind the Trump Tower building…” She paused. “You hang your coat, check your email, log onto the sports website you like…then it’s time for more coffee…”

  “Okay.” He held his hands up. “Forget I asked.” He disappeared into his office, only to reappear holding the paper bag. “What am I having for lunch?” He waved the bag back and forth.

  Lynn didn’t turn her attention from her invoicing. “A turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato, pickle on the side.”

  Aiden slammed his office door shut. So, he liked routines. Who didn’t? What was wrong with doing things the same way every day? It worked, and he liked turkey. Why did he let Molly Bishop get to him like this? No other woman had infuriated him as much.

  He liked her, as much as he hated to admit it.

  He paced back and forth on the hardwood floor, his appetite gone. He hadn’t meant to tell her he knew about the internship but when he’d heard them arguing over the sandwich… At least one of them thought he was attractive.

  He frowned. The wrong one.

  Lynn buzzed. “Mr. Ford?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Would you like your afternoon coffee?” It was two o’clock. He always had his coffee at two. It got him through the afternoon. Any later, he wouldn’t get to sleep at his usual time.

  “No.” Time to change things up a little. He could be unpredictable.

  Lynn sounded shocked. “But it’s two o’clock.”

  “I know what time it is,” he snapped, already feeling the effects of caffeine withdrawal. “When’s my next appointment?”

  “Three-thirty with a Ms. McDonald.”

  Great. Ms. McDonald-Lindsay. The newest pop sensation on the rise, the favor Mike called in. At sixteen, the girl was already known worldwide for her infamous YouTube videos. While sex sold, Mike hoped to tame the girl’s image to keep her out of the tabloids long enough to top the charts. A firecracker, Mike called her. In other words, trouble.

  “Okay, I’ll be back before she arrives.” He stood and grabbed his coat. “I’m going to walk the dog.” He needed some air.

  He grabbed the dog’s leash off of the couch, and for the first time, noticed the damage. Stuffing poked from the corners of each cushion, and the wooden legs showed signs of tiny teeth marks. He yanked the door open and glared at the dog.

  “I guess you noticed the sofa…” Lynn glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

  “Yes. When I get my hands around that little neck…”

  “Don’t you dare hurt the dog!” Lynn scooped up the dog and cradled her out of Aiden’s reach.

  “I wasn’t talking about the dog… I meant Molly Bishop.” He ruffled the dog’s fur. “I’ll be back. There’s a furniture store on the corner, I’ll have a new couch brought up. Please call maintenance to take this one away.” He took the tiny dog from her and tucked her inside his coat. Maybe he would look into a sweater for her while he was out…

  “I’ll take care of it.” Lynn picked up the phone and dialed the maintenance room.

  “Come on, Layla, let’s go get you a new couch to destroy.”

  ****

  “Wait!” Molly swore under her breath as the bus pulled away from the curb. The Jeep was unreliable without winter tires, and she didn’t want to chance driving it on the snow. She glanced at her watch. 2:47. She’d left work fifteen minutes early to catch the 2:45 bus. She now had a half hour wait for the next one.

  Turning to head back to the café, she saw Aiden. What’s he doing going into a furniture store? The couch! She felt a tiny stab of guilt. Then his smug expression from earlier flashed in her mind. He’d gotten her the internship. What had he expected—a thank you? Forget it. She didn’t need or want his help.

  Watching him now through the glass window she wondered if Cameron was right. Did he like her? She’d felt his eyes on her as she worked, and he did come into the café every day and sit at her table. There had been definite heat and tension between them on the sidewalk.

  She dismissed the thought as she watched him talk to the store clerk. Layla danced at their feet.

  Oh no, do not buy that plain black leather sofa, she wanted to yell. So predictable, and boring.

  He pointed to the couch and nodded. He turned, and for a second, she thought he might have seen her in the corner of the window, but when he exited the store a moment later, he walked in the opposite direction, Layla on his heels.

  Molly did a mental score count—he’d meddled, she’d meddled, then he’d meddled again. Yep—her turn.

  Entering the store, she shook the snow from her hair and removed her gloves. The clerk was busy writing on the delivery slip as she approached.

  “Excuse me, but my boyfriend, Aiden Ford just bought a couch from you. I just wanted to make sure he’d picked out the right one. I pointed it out to him last week from the window, but you know how scatterbrained men can be.” She laughed and tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder. “He did buy the tan and brown suede sofa in the window, didn’t he?”

  “No, he bought the black leather one, right next to it.” The clerk stopped writing and studied
her.

  “Men!” Molly shook her head and rolled her eyes. “We need to change the order.”

  “Well, I’ll have to confirm the change with Mr. Ford…” The clerk picked up the phone.

  “No need, trust me he won’t even notice. I cut my hair three weeks ago, and he’s yet to say a word.” She pouted for affect. “Besides you have an exchange policy, in case we change our mind?”

  “Yes, two weeks for an exchange.” He paused.

  “Perfect! Then we’re all set.” Molly gave him a convincing smile and held her breath. Please don’t call Aiden. That’s it, put down the phone.

  The clerk replaced the receiver, convinced. “Okay, if you say so… It is a much better choice.” The clerk smiled, tossing the original delivery slip into the trash bin and reaching for a new one.

  “I agree.” Molly snickered.

  ****

  At 3:25, Aiden dashed back into his office.

  Layla, dressed in her new green and red sweater, followed close behind.

  “Oh, how cute!” Lynn exclaimed, taking the dog from his outstretched arms.

  “Sure, cute. Did the couch arrive?” He removed his overcoat and poured a cup of coffee. So, he’d be up a little later than usual. Thanks to Molly Bishop he’d had trouble sleeping these days anyway.

  “Yes, and I love it! I’m shocked, but I’m so glad you didn’t just buy another plain black leather one. I smell a woman’s touch.” Lynn removed the dog’s tiny sweater and set her down in front of her bowl.

  What? He had bought a plain black one. The store must have made a mistake. What the hell had he ended up with?

  Rushing into his office he saw the tan and brown suede sofa in place of the old one.

  Lynn followed him into his office. “It’s so hip and urban. It matches the décor so much better than the last one.” She moved a hand across the soft suede and smiled with approval.

  He studied the couch. It wasn’t bad, just…different.

  “Good for you. Maybe you aren’t as predictable as I’d thought. By the way, Ms. McDonald called to say she would be late. Good choice,” she said again as she left the office smiling.

  How could he tell her about the mix-up after all that praise? He couldn’t return it now.