by Sarah Hope
‘Right, okay.’ Molly crossed her arms.
‘I am so sorry that she came to you like that but I can honestly say nothing is going on at all between us. She barely even talks to me when I drop off or pick up our daughter.’
Molly crossed her arms. He looked as though he was telling the truth, and she knew how Diane had cheated on him. Had she got this completely wrong? She was normally such a good judge of character. Had she really let Diane lie to her?
‘Honestly, I’m telling you the truth.’ Looking down, he adjusted his shirt collar. ‘I don’t lie.’
She had, she’d got it all wrong. Holding her hand against her cheek, she could feel the heat radiating from her skin.
‘Please? Please believe me.’ Touching her on the forearm, Richie glanced at her, deep creases appearing above his eyes.
Putting her hand over his, she looked up at him. ‘I’m so sorry. She was crying and upset because she’d seen us together and I just... I guess I just jumped to the wrong conclusion.’
Richie nodded.
‘I really am.’ Looking down at her feet, Molly kicked at an invisible mark on the floor. ‘I guess I’ve just been hurt in the past and it was easy to believe her.’
‘Don’t worry, I understand.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really. Remember, I know how convincing she is.’ Chuckling, Richie stepped closer.
‘I guess you do.’ Grinning, Molly lifted her head up, his lips millimetres away.
‘Are we okay now then?’
‘We are.’ Closing her eyes, Molly felt the tender warmth of his lips against hers. How could she have believed Diane after what Richie had told her about their breakup? She should have known he wouldn’t lie.
‘Was that okay?’
Looking down at her feet and back up at him again, Molly nodded.
‘Good. Right, I’ll pop a call in and see if we can get that tree moved sooner rather than later then. If that’s all right with you, of course?’
‘Yes, that’d be great thanks.’
‘THANKS FOR LETTING Marissa stay for dinner. Are you sure it’s okay at such short notice?’
Stirring in the pasta sauce, Molly looked up at Lauren and smiled. ‘Yes, it’s fine. I’m just glad you’re making friends.’
‘Great, thanks. Her dad is on a late shift so won’t finish until about eight, can she stay until then?’
‘Yes, that’s’ fine. Does she need a lift home?’ Richie had been true to his word, and the tree had been removed just before she’d had to go out and do the school run.
‘Nah, she only lives a couple of streets away.’
‘Oh, she lives in the village too?’ Molly grinned. It would be great for Lauren to have someone so close, someone she could meet up with on the weekends.
‘Yep. Her dad’s going to come to pick her up on his way back from work before you panic about her walking home in the dark. I know what you’re like.’
Molly laughed. ‘It’s always better to be overprotective and...’
‘Keep safe. Yes, I know.’
‘Right, time for dinner.’
‘MUM, THAT’LL BE MARISSA’S dad. Can you tell him she’ll be down in a couple of minutes? We’re just finishing off our nails.’ Lauren’s voice floated down the hallway from her bedroom.
Pushing herself to standing, Molly passed the popcorn to Ellis. ‘I won’t be long.’
‘Do you want me to pause it until you get back?’ Holding up the remote to the TV, Ellis popped some popcorn in his mouth.
‘No, you watch it, sweetheart. You can tell me what happened when I come back up.’
Shrugging, Ellis dipped his hand back into the paper bag and looked back at the film.
PULLING THE DOOR TO Bramble Patch open, Molly smiled. ‘Hi, Richie. This is a surprise, I wasn’t expecting you to pop round.’
‘Hi. I’m actually here to pick Marissa up. Not that I’m not happy to see you, I am.’ Grinning, Richie shrugged out of his jacket and stepped inside.
Shutting the door behind him, Molly felt the hot heat of embarrassment flush across her face. ‘I didn’t realise you were Marissa’s dad. I knew you had a daughter, but you never mentioned her name.’
‘Yep, that’s me.’ Richie glanced at the door up to the flat. ‘Are they upstairs?’
‘Yes, they’re just finishing off painting their nails, but they shouldn’t be too long now.’
Stepping forward, Richie flung his jacket onto one of the comfy chairs and pulled her towards him. ‘Do you think we have enough time for this?’ Cupping his hands around her chin, he tipped her face to meet his.
‘I should think so.’ Moving her lips towards his, she closed her eyes as she felt his lips against hers, soft and warm and gentle. Feeling his hands move from her face to her back, she let herself be pulled in closer to him, the kiss stronger now, more urgent.
Stepping back, Richie grinned. ‘I’ve missed you these last couple of days.’
‘I’ve missed you too.’ Tucking her hair behind her ears, Molly smiled. She really had. She’d missed their chats, the jokey chats and the more serious conversations too. She’d missed the general feeling that he was there for her. She knew they’d only really become close at the dance, but before that, when they’d been getting to know each other, he’d always made her feel special. Always made her feel as though he really cared about her opinion, listened to her. She’d missed that these past couple of days. She’d missed looking forward to him coming into the shop, seeking her out, wanting to spend time with her. Threading her fingers through his, she smiled up at him. ‘Have you got time for a coffee?’
‘I should think so, we all know how long girls take painting their nails.’ Chuckling, he followed her through past the counter and into the back kitchen.
‘Oi!’ Letting go of his hand, Molly switched the kettle on. ‘You’re right though, Lauren normally takes forever painting her nails and redoing them until they’re perfect.’ Turning around and leaning against the work surface, she tucked her hands in her pockets, hiding her own naked and bitten fingernails. She’d never been one for pampering herself or painting her nails and she’d definitely not had the time or inclination since moving into Bramble Patch.
Slipping into a chair, Richie laid his hands on the table top. ‘I’ve been thinking, I will speak to Diane about what she said to you. It was unfair of her to make you feel the way she did.’
Turning around, Molly spooned coffee granules into two mugs. ‘Please don’t. It’s fine. I should have been more trusting of you.’
‘No, you shouldn’t. We’ve not known each other long, you had no reason to doubt her.’ Standing up, he walked over towards Molly and wrapped his arms around her waist. ‘I’m so glad it’s all sorted now though.’
‘Me too.’ Twisting around in his embrace, Molly looked him in the eye and smiled.
‘Mum, we’ve finished our nails.’
Jumping away from each other, Molly and Richie looked towards the door just as Lauren and Marissa barged in.
‘Hey, Dad. Look, what do you think?’ Grinning, Marissa held her hands out for her dad to see her bright pick nails emblazoned with nail stickers featuring the black silhouette of flamingos.
‘Oh, yes. Very nice. I like the flamingos.’
Molly nodded. With them both stood together she could see the family resemblance. In fact, she was surprised she hadn’t spotted it before. Marissa had Richie’s same large eyes and sandy hair.
‘What do you think, Mum? We used that new colour you got me the other day.’ Holding her hands out, Lauren looked across at her mum.
‘It’s a lovely colour, isn’t it? It’s come out really nice. You’ve done a really good job. Very professional.’
‘Thanks.’ Lauren grinned and turned to Marissa. ‘We forgot to put the topcoat on to protect them.’
‘Have we got time to quickly do that? Please, Dad?’
Richie looked at his daughter and nodded. ‘Off you go then.’
&nbs
p; Smiling, Molly went back to finishing the coffees. That had been a close call. Feeling Richie’s strong arms around her waist again, she leant back, holding her face up towards him. His kiss, although quick, was so full of passion, she closed her eyes and could almost picture themselves anywhere - the beach, the Eiffel Tower. Pulling away, she laughed. ‘Here’s your coffee.’
‘Thanks.’ Taking his mug, he immediately placed it back on the work surface. ‘How long do you think we’ve got?’
‘Oh, I don’t know. Five, ten minutes.’
‘Then let’s make the most of them.’ Taking Molly’s coffee, he placed it next to his and brought her in towards him.
She really hadn’t felt like this about someone since Trevor. No, that was a lie. Even at the beginning of her relationship with her ex-husband, he hadn’t made her feel this comfortable, this special. As she kissed him back, she looked into his eyes. How could she have doubted him? How could she have believed a total stranger over him? She knew she hadn’t known him long at all, and they’d only been together a mere few days really, but she knew, just knew that they could actually have a future together. And she’d been on enough dates with men she’d met online to know that this feeling was different. To know that there was a real connection between them.
Pulling away, Richie held her at arm’s length, tilting his head as he looked at her. ‘I feel as though I’m really falling for you.’
‘Me too.’ Looking down, she hoped the blush she could feel speeding across her skin wouldn’t be too obvious.
‘Do you think you’d be able to take a lunch break tomorrow? There’s this really nice pub in a hamlet a few miles down the road. I think you’d really like it there.’
‘Umm.’ She didn’t usually take lunch breaks, it would mean closing up the shop and potentially missing out on customers and profit. But then, she couldn’t carry on forever not taking any breaks, could she? ‘Yes, okay. Why not?’
‘Great, I’ll pick you up at half twelve then, shall I?’
‘Looking forward to it already.’ Molly grinned and picked up her coffee. Maybe moving here had been the right decision in more than a few ways.
Chapter Nineteen
Switching the door sign to Closed, Molly stepped out into the warm spring air. The sun was beaming down and if she hadn’t just written an order form out for a delivery for the end of May, she could have been forgiven for thinking it was July or August. Slipping out of her grey cardigan, she threw it over the crease of her elbow and waved at Richie who was sat waiting for her on the small wall to the planter in front of the shop.
Holding up two motorbike helmets, he pointed to a big black and silver beast in the parking bay. ‘Are you up for it?’
Looking at the motorbike and then back at Richie, Molly let her mouth drop open. ‘I’ve never ridden one before.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll drive, all you’ll need to do is hold on tight. What do you reckon?’
Biting down on her bottom lip, Molly grimaced. Throughout her childhood, her mum had always told her how dangerous they were and always chided Molly’s dad when he went out for a ride. She tilted her head and stared at Richie. She trusted him, he’d keep her safe. After all, he was a police officer. If he’d deemed it too dangerous, he wouldn’t even be suggesting it. ‘Okay, why not?’
‘Great.’ Coming towards her, he placed his helmet on the floor and gently fitted the spare one onto her head, pulling the strap tight under her chin. ‘How does that feel?’
‘Heavy.’ Molly nodded her head and grinned. Maybe it was time she started trying out new things.
‘You’ll get used to it. I’d pop your cardigan back on though if I was you. It might get a little drafty on the bike.’ Taking Molly’s cardigan, he held it out for her as she shrugged into it. ‘Ready?’
‘Yep. Yes, I guess so.’
Taking her hand, Richie led her to the bike and helped her on before throwing his leg over and taking the handlebars. Looking back at her, he grinned before reaching back, taking her hands and positioning them around his waist. ‘Hold real tight, right?’
‘Right, will do.’ Moving her chin from side to side, she wished he’d look away from her, she was sure her cheeks must be squashed at a weird angle, she could feel the fat in her face pushed upwards by the helmet.
‘Okay, great. Here we go then!’
As Richie revved the bike into action, Molly could feel the power from the engine vibrate through her. Lifting her feet off the ground, she tightened her grip around Richie’s middle. Could she really hold on for any length of time? What if she let go accidentally? Did people even do that? You never heard on the news that someone had lost their life due to letting go and falling off though, did you? Maybe it would be an automatic reaction to grip on for dear life when going at speed on one of these things. Closing her eyes, Molly hoped it would be. She hoped she wouldn’t do anything silly like push a loose hair out of her eye or something.
Pulling out of the parking bays, Richie turned right and drove the motorbike slowly out of the village. Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad. She could cope with this speed, and if she did let go, as long as she made sure she didn’t fall beneath the wheels, the worst she’d sustain would be a bruise or two.
Plastering a grin on her face as Richie quickly glanced back at her, Molly hoped he thought she was having a good time. And it was quite nice, really. She noticed flowers in the hedgerows she hadn’t seen when driving past; she noticed the horses which were kept in the fields just outside the village.
She could do this. Maybe she’d even have a go at driving one of them some day. Grinning, she nodded. Yes, maybe. Feeling Richie’s hand fleetingly on hers, warm and strong, she let him move her hand tighter around his middle. As she turned back to look at the flowers, the hedgerows quickly turned to woodland. The bike was speeding up. Molly could feel the vibrations beneath her quicken and the trees began to blur, the flash of bluebells smattering the ground beneath the trees.
Gripping even tighter, Molly wondered whether the blood would be able to get through to her fingers. Was she hurting Richie? No, he’d slow down if she was and he was doing just the opposite, he was speeding up. Looking down, she could see the tarmac beneath them, the white lines in the middle of the road becoming a long white ribbon of continuous colour.
Trying to lean back to keep her head up, her neck strained as they sped along. Lowering her face against Richie’s back, the warmth emanating from his leather jacket warmed the skin of her cheek.
Faster and faster they went. Molly felt as though the world was spinning beneath them. She could feel the air through the thin material of her cardigan, colder than she would have imagined on a day like this.
AS SHE LIFTED HER LEG over the back of the bike and planted herself on the safety of the earth again, Molly could feel the rush of adrenaline pulsing through her body still. Now she was safe, now she knew she had arrived in one piece, she felt more awake and alive than she had done in a very long time.
‘So?’ Taking his helmet off, Richie hooked it onto the handlebars and ran his fingers through his hair. Stepping forward, he unclipped Molly’s helmet and pulled it off. ‘What did you think?’
Smoothing her hair down with the palms of her hands, Molly grinned and nodded. ‘It was great! Really good fun.’
‘You really think so?’
‘Yes. I mean it was completely petrifying and at numerous points along the way, I seriously thought I might die, but, yes, it was great. I haven’t felt this alive in a long time.’
Richie laughed. ‘I hope I didn’t scare you too much! I kept to the speed limit. Obviously. And I thought I’d taken it pretty slow and steady.’
‘If that’s what you call slow, I definitely do not want to go on it when you’re not taking it slow and steady.’ Laughing, Molly reached out and brushed a leaf off his arm. ‘You must be boiling in that jacket.’
‘I am.’ Grinning, Richie slipped off his leather jacket to reveal a pale blue short-sleeved shirt and he
ld out his elbow.
Slipping her arm through his, they walked towards the pub. It was a beautiful old stone-built building, low and squat with ivy growing up the front wall. With her free hand, Molly smoothed down the hair on the top of her head again. She must look an absolute mess after wearing that helmet. And that was just her hair, she dreaded to think what her makeup looked like. She never wore much, but she had put some foundation and a little eye shadow on for their lunch date. She’d have to pop to the toilets and try to sort herself out.
Puling the heavy wooden door open, Richie held it open and let Molly walk through first before they both headed towards the bar. ‘Shall we eat outside?’
‘Yes, it would be a shame to be cooped up in here on a day like today.’ Not that the inside didn’t look lovely. It did. With its green and white checked covered seats and benches and dark wooden tables, it looked cosy and a roaring coal fire and old oil paintings added to the ambience, but it was so nice outside and especially after the ride getting here, it would be good to be outside. More refreshing.
‘Great, what did you want to drink?’
‘Umm, could I have an orange juice, please?’ Looking towards the bartender who was serving an elderly gentleman at the other end of the bar, Molly turned around and scoured the walls for a sign indicating the whereabouts of the toilets. There. ‘Are you okay if I pop to the toilets? I feel bad making you wait.’
‘Don’t worry. It’s fine. I’ll grab some menus too.’ Leaning across, Richie pecked Molly on the cheek before turning back to the bar.
STARING AT HER REFLECTION in the mirror, Molly laughed. There had literally been no point straightening her hair before their date. Patches were fine, but the vast majority of it looked something like a spider web. In place of a brush, she held her fingers apart and raked them through her hair.
Standing back, she looked at herself. That would have to do. Yes, she hadn’t managed to get her hair as smooth as it was earlier, and where the helmet strap had done up the foundation on her chin and cheeks was a little smudged, but, hey, Richie had seen her with no make-up. Heck, he’d seen her with tears streaking down her face. This was still an improvement. She shrugged, Richie liked her for her, not for the amount of makeup she wore or how frizz-free she could style her hair.
