The Last Autograph (A Reluctant Kiss #3)

Chapter 24

24

Other than an occasional text exchange, several days passed with little contact between them. Jake blamed his workload, but the truth was he needed some time to process.

After Molly left that morning, he hadn’t stopped thinking about her, and those thoughts followed him around all week as he questioned his right to involve himself with his twin’s ex. Because whichever way he looked at it, he knew his family wouldn’t approve, and for Jake, that approval mattered.

Weeks earlier, he’d promised his father, also a past pupil of Clifton Falls High, that he’d attend a fundraising event for his old school, but as he finished work that Friday afternoon, Jake kicked himself for agreeing to it.

The event was a black-tie art auction. Jake hadn’t worn a suit since Jesse’s funeral, and as he attempted to knot his tie for the second time, sweat trickled down his back despite the coolness of the room. He sat on the edge of his bed and put his head between his knees for a moment, then went downstairs and made himself a slice of toast.

His father was late, no surprises there, but at least it gave Jake time to settle his nerves. More interested in home economics and art history than sport at the rugby-mad school—and often bullied because of it—Jake left just before his seventeenth birthday, swearing to never set foot on that campus again. And yet, with maturity came the knowledge that he couldn’t change the past, so he picked up his keys, locked the front door, and waited outside for his ride.

When they walked into the school hall, the place was packed. A large contingent of the thirtysomething crowd, all dressed to impress like they’d just walked the red carpet at the Grammys, sashayed about—champagne in hand and smiles firmly set—and despite his suit and tie, Jake felt hopelessly out of place. Still, it was rare for him to spend one-on-one time with his dad, and after a glass of wine, Jake relaxed as Henry introduced him to so many people that recalling their names would have been impossible.

Apart from a couple of his regular customers, Kristy Shapiro, and a guy from his year, Jake recognized no one. And while his father talked shop with a few of his golfing buddies, Jake strolled from one imaginative piece of art to the next, impressed not only by the quality of the works but also by the amounts tendered.

Tired and edgy, he was about to find his dad and tell him he’d grab an Uber home when he caught a glimpse of Molly through the crowd. In the same stunning black dress she wore to the bake-off after-party and surrounded by several people, including her boss, she gesticulated with her hands and laughed at the conversation around her.

She glanced his way, and as he smiled in recognition, a subtle longing surfaced. He watched her touch Winston on the arm as she leaned in to speak, then she turned and headed in his direction.

Jake rested his hands on her shoulders and kissed her on both cheeks. He longed to slip an arm around her waist and pull her closer, but the words “respectful” and “private” surfaced in his mind.

Her rules.

Molly tugged at the neckline of her dress, a light shimmer kissing the skin of her cleavage. “I knew if I wore this old thing again, I’d see people I knew from the wine and food festival.”

“It’s a stunning dress, so it deserves another outing. I’ve seen it in my dreams, many times, but my imagination doesn’t do it justice.”

“What?” she whispered.

“Just saying.”

“I didn’t realize you could be such a charmer.” Molly glanced around the hall, her face flushed beautifully and smile wide. “Amazing turnout. You went to school here, didn’t you?”

A few nights ago, he’d been deep inside her as she begged for more and whispered his name repeatedly. Now she seemed so carefree—unaffected—as if they shared merely a friendship. “Jesse and I both did. So did Dad. He dragged me along tonight, but I think I’ve about done my dash.”

She nodded. “I’m here with work, so I have to grin and bear it for a while yet.”

Jake glanced over her shoulder. “Speaking of my father, he’s heading this way.”

“Okay, I’ll make myself scarce. I should be networking anyway.”

Jake grabbed her hand. “Stay. I’m sure he’d love to meet you.”

Henry joined them a moment later. “There you are, Jake. I wondered where you’d got to.” He turned to Molly with a warm smile. “And who’s this young lady?”

“Dad, this is Molly Parker. Jesse’s friend.”

His father shook her outstretched hand. “Molly. I’m so pleased to finally meet you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Sinclair.”

“Call me Henry, please.” He offered her his arm. “Come with me. There’s a photo of Jesse and his first band on the memory wall that I’d like to show you.”

Molly glared playfully at Jake as his father escorted her away. He was still grinning when it dawned on him. He’d introduced her as Jesse’s friend, not his. Shit!

Jake stayed a while longer, but Molly never once looked his way again. Still, she’d attended as part of her job, so what did he expect?

Too restless to head home straight away, he texted Todd, and they met for a drink in a quiet bar overlooking the marina. They talked sports and business and Todd’s new SUV, and when his friend brought up the subject of Molly, Jake said there was nothing to tell, and Todd called a resounding bullshit.

The Uber dropped Todd off first, and when the driver pulled up outside number eight, Jake kicked himself for not inviting Molly over. As he walked up the driveway, he fished in his jacket pocket for his keys and then came to a halt.

The garden gate was ajar.

Puzzled, he pushed it open further and followed the path to the living room deck. There, lounging on the recliner in the shadow of a magnolia tree—a long coat wrapped around her and phone in hand—was Molly.

“Hey.”

“Hi. I was about to text to see if you were coming home.” She laughed. “Sorry, that makes me sound like a nagging wife wanting to know where you are. I just meant?—”

“It’s fine. I know what you meant. I met up with Todd for a drink.” Jake offered his hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. It’s freezing out here.”

“So, it’s okay… that I’m here?”

He cupped her face and kissed her gently, desire stirring in his core. “Absolutely.”

Jake unlocked the patio door and motioned for her to go first. With shoes discarded on the mat, Molly stood at the end of the island while Jake dropped his keys on the counter.

“Did you enjoy yourself at the auction?” she asked.

“Not much. But Dad insisted I go with him, so I didn’t want to disappoint.”

“I’m glad I had the chance to meet him.”

“So you two got on okay?”

“Yes, very well, in fact. We talked about Jesse for a while, so that was pretty special.”

Jake grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge, but didn’t say more.

She looked around. “This place has such a peaceful air. I love that.”

“No clutter, that’s why.”

“Was that a conscious decision, or have you not had time to shop?”

He held her gaze with an amused smile.

“What?”

“Is this what we’re doing now?” he asked softly. “Standing around making small talk in my kitchen when really, all we both want is to go upstairs and shut out the world?”

“You think that’s all I’m here for? Sex?”

Jake stepped forward and slowly unbuttoned her coat. “No, but the excitement of you being here can’t be denied.”

She smiled at him playfully. “Is it the dress? The one I wear in your dreams?”

He slipped her coat from her shoulders, folded it neatly over the nearest chair, and stepped back for an inspection. “Partly. You look so elegant in it, especially when you flash that gorgeous red-lipped smile.”

Molly ran a finger down his lapel. “Thank you. And I have to say, I’ve seen hundreds of guys in suits, but the way you look tonight is right up there with the best of them.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

They climbed the stairs, Molly in her strappy dress and Jake in a suit that had never felt good on him until now.

When they entered his bedroom, it was cool and washed with muted light from the stairwell. Jake shut the window but didn’t bother closing the curtains. He sat on the edge of the bed and shrugged out of his jacket as she stood before him. He motioned to her dress. “Take it off.”

Molly turned her back to him, his cue to release the zipper. Facing him again, she shimmied out of her dress and let it pool at her feet. Jake closed his eyes for a second as his cock grew even harder at the sight before him. She wore a midnight-blue strapless bra and suspender belt to match—both swathed in lace—but no panties.

“I love that color, but please tell me you haven’t been walking around without panties all evening!”

She shook her head, and he could tell she was suppressing a grin. “No. Of course not.”

He chuckled. “I’m not sure I believe you.”

“How very wise of you.”

Leaving her lingerie on, Molly dropped to her knees and undid the knot of his tie—his buttons, his belt, and fly. And when Jake lifted his butt off the bed so she could remove his suit pants and boxers, he had to grip the duvet just to maintain control.

Jake reclined on his elbows and watched as she took him in hand. In contrast to the last time, when their foreplay had been short and sweet, Molly seemed in no hurry as she caressed him with her lips and fingers, her featherlight touch almost unbearable.

With his white shirt now discarded on the floor, Jake eased her onto the bed. He wrapped his arms around her, his embrace tender as his lips found her throat and cleavage.

They lingered without words—Molly curled into him, Jake with one hand tangled in her hair, the other on her butt—and kissed with a yearning that had been missing with his previous partners.

With one side of her face bathed in moonlight and hair tousled from his touch, she’d never looked more beautiful. Jake removed her bra and gently cupped her breasts, and as his body tensed with heightened anticipation, her musky scent flooded his senses.

“Can we leave the suspenders on?”

“I guess that’s only fair since you have to wear a condom.”

“Shit. I almost forgot.”

“I have one in my bag if you don’t have any.”

He chuckled and reached into his nightstand. “What do you take me for? An amateur?”

Smiling, she took the foil packet from him and tore it open, then rolled it on and straddled him. “Believe me, there is nothing amateur about you.”

He entered her now, and as she arched her back, her faded scars came into view. They were war wounds from another life, a part of her she’d felt compelled to let go of, and he respected her for having the courage to take that step. And as he sank deeper into her warmth, Jake did indeed shut out the world until all other thoughts ceased to exist.

Afterward, they lay on their sides, facing each other. Molly drew small circles between the sparse hairs on Jake’s chest and smiled. “Thanks for not turning me away.”

“What? Did you think last time was a one-off?”

“Not really, but….”

“Hey, you’re always welcome here, mon ange. ”

Mon ange? “Thank you.”

Molly waited for a response, but he said nothing more. When she looked up, his eyes were closed and breathing relaxed and rhythmic.

“I came to find you later—at the auction,” she continued, “but you’d already left.”

“Yeah, I get peopled out sometimes,” he murmured before rolling onto his side. “Plus, I have work in the morning. Goodnight, mon ange. ”

Molly slept late, and when she awoke around nine, the curtains were pulled against the daylight, and Jake had left for work.

She lay on her back, the scent of him surrounding her as she recalled the phrase that had fallen so fluently from his lips just hours before. Mon ange. What did it mean? Of course, she could have googled it, but for now, she’d let it rest in her imagination for a while.

Molly surveyed the room. With her love of books and plants and shoes, she’d never been into the minimalist look, but she had to admit it suited him—a no-fuss kind of guy with a no-fuss kind of home.

The en suite shower was powerful and hot, and in the alcove that held his toiletries, Molly was surprised to find an array of Botanical C products—CeCe’s organic body-care brand.

Although she enjoyed living in her tiny house, she missed the space and amenities of a larger property, so she washed her hair and took her time in a shower more than three times the size of hers.

Dried and dressed, Molly made the bed and opened the curtains. She stared out over the treetops, stockings in one hand and suspenders in the other. The day was overcast, with leaves stirring across the lawn, and as she opened the window to let in some fresh air, a keen sense of separation arose. It didn’t feel right, being in Jake’s home without him.

Downstairs in the kitchen, Molly grabbed her phone from her bag and unlocked it. She’d expected him to have messaged her already, but the only text she’d received was from CeCe, asking if she’d made it home okay.

Her fingers raced across the keypad, her battery almost flat.

Molly: Whoops. Sorry. I meant to text you last night. Are you in town?

CeCe: Yep. Shall I call in?

Molly: Actually, can you pick me up? I’m at Jake’s and he’s gone to work.

CeCe: OK. I’m just leaving the mall. Be there in 5. But fair warning. I want to know everything!!! Silkwood Cres?

Molly: Thanks. #8.

After returning her phone to her bag, Molly looked around the room for her coat. She spotted it draped over the arm of the sofa, her heels arranged neatly below it.

As she slipped it on, one hand slid into the pocket, where, she discovered, he’d left a handwritten note.

Thanks for last night.

Enjoy your day.

Jake.

Molly smiled as she made her way outside and locked the door behind her. She strolled down the driveway and waited beside the mailbox. By the time CeCe arrived, she was frozen to the core.

She opened the passenger door and slipped inside. “Thanks for this. I was going to walk, but then I remembered the heels.”

“What’s the context here? I thought you had that auction thing last night.”

“I did, but Jake was there too, so…”

CeCe pulled away from the curb. “So?”

“Well, you know…” Molly gazed out the passenger window as they travelled along the port road. “Anyway, it’s just casual.”

“And is he as serious in the bedroom as he is outside of it?”

She looked CeCe’s way, knowing there was only one answer to that very personal question. “Yes, definitely.”

“And that’s okay?”

“Let’s just say I never knew what big-girl sex was until a few nights ago.”

“Big-girl sex?” CeCe gestured with a hand for Molly to continue.

Molly fanned herself dramatically. “He’s intense and commanding and so freakin’ passionate that my knees go weak just thinking about him. And, man, that guy can kiss. So, yeah… big-girl sex.”

“You realize I won’t be able to set foot in the patisserie again without those three little words messing up my head?”

Molly laughed. “Perhaps it’s time we started keeping secrets from each other.”

“What, and spoil all my fun? I don’t think so.”