“Why would he do that?”
“You know how Patrick wanted to protect you.” Amanda reached out to squeeze Mollie’s hand. “He was gone so much, he didn’t have the chance to see the strong, confident, beautiful woman you’ve become.”
“Now it’s time for the rest of Spring Forest to take notice,” Claire added.
The idea of anyone noticing her had Mollie ready to break out in hives, and Claire and Amanda wanted the whole town to take note? “I don’t know—”
“You heard what Josh said and—” Amanda’s eyes flew open wide. “Oh, my gosh! I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before, but Josh would be perfect for you!”
“Josh? But he’s—”
“He’s what?” her friend asked a little defensively. “Yes, he’s my pain-in-the-neck brother, but he’s also smart, funny, good-looking. Give me one good reason why you don’t want to go out with him.”
Mollie didn’t bother to give the only reason that truly mattered...
He wasn’t Zeke.
* * *
Mollie smiled with a touch of pride as she gazed at the gorgeous guy across the table. “Congratulations, Stanley! You have officially graduated!” Though she knew the six-pound papillon didn’t understand, she couldn’t help thinking the tiny dog was grinning as he sat in his mistress’s lap.
“My good, good boy!” If Stanley was grinning, his owner, Mrs. Winchester, was positively glowing. The wealthy sixtysomething widow wore a stylish pale pink pantsuit. Gold and diamonds flashed at her slender wrists as she lifted Stanley toward her face.
Mrs. W, as she preferred to be called, had an active social life that included playing bridge, meeting friends for lunch and going on long shopping excursions. All of which she wanted to do with Stanley trotting by her side or riding in his custom-made carrier. But the tiny dog’s guarding behavior had made that a challenge.
As part of a “final exam,” Mollie and Mrs. W had met for brunch at a trendy restaurant in downtown Raleigh. The summer day was slightly overcast and cool, perfect for dining alfresco on the dog-friendly patio. “He’s been a perfect gentleman, if I do say so myself.” The dog hadn’t growled or snapped once. “And he certainly looks the part.”
In honor of the occasion, Mrs. W had dressed her boy in a tuxedo, complete with bow tie, top hat and tails. Not that Mollie was judging. She’d been known to dress Arti up for certain holidays. Her favorite costume included a single antler tied to the dog’s head, à la Max from the classic Christmas cartoon.
At the end of the meal, Mrs. W gave Mollie a perfumed hug with Stanley sandwiched between them. “I can’t thank you enough, Mollie. I do enjoy going out, and I hate the idea of leaving poor Stanley home all alone in that big house by himself.”
Mrs. W’s husband, the original Stanley, had left her with a significant fortune and the mansion to match. Mollie had a feeling that the elderly woman was the one who truly felt too alone.
And while she might not have the fortune or the mansion, Mollie certainly understood the companionship of a four-legged friend. With a final reassurance that the woman could always call if Stanley regressed at any point, Mollie said goodbye to her client. With her next lesson not scheduled until later that afternoon, Mollie decided to stroll along the outdoor mall.
She wasn’t much of a shopper, but she found herself lingering in front of a brightly lit boutique. She didn’t know how she’d escaped lunch the other day without promising Amanda she could set her up with Josh. If she agreed, and that was a big if, she should probably think about buying something new to wear.
Faceless mannequins flaunted skinny arms and legs, their slender forms draped in an array of short-skirted, low-cut, skintight dresses. Signs and posters promoted red-hot looks and sizzling summer sales. For a split second she considered stepping inside, but no... This was why she didn’t go shopping. Or go out, for that matter.
Mollie sighed as she moved to the next shop, this one worse than the last. Bright white lettering and a sleek black background provided a stark contrast to the hot pink awning. The storefront offered a lavish display of lacy lingerie. Matching bras and panties—some satin, some sheer. Baby-doll nighties, silk kimono-style peignoirs. In every shade of the rainbow, plus a few animal prints thrown in to appease a woman’s—or man’s—wild side.
Despite her career choice, Mollie feared she did not have a wild side. Her own underwear, like the rest of her wardrobe, was selected for function rather than fashion, with nothing satin, sheer or sexy about it. With the late morning sun shining behind her, she could see herself in the glass. Button-down khaki camp shirt. Olive green capri pants. Hair caught back in a ponytail.
Red-hot? Sizzling? More like bland and boring.
But if she stood just right, she could see the shimmery reflection of an emerald nightie draped over her body. The image was as transparent as the sheer material of the lace-trimmed gown, but she could almost feel the cool, silken whisper against her skin...
“Hey, Mollie! I thought that was you.”
Mollie...it’s always been you...
So lost in the moment, feeling almost trapped within the glass, her heart leaped to her throat when she realized the sight of Zeke standing behind her was not part of her fantasy. Wearing a maroon dress shirt open at his strong throat, sleeves rolled back over his leanly muscled forearms, and a pair of slate-gray trousers, Zeke Harper in the flesh was far sexier than any desire-filled daydream.
Turning around quickly enough to make her head spin, she tried to grab hold of the longing inside her that was getting harder and harder to ignore. Zeke’s practice was only a few blocks away, but Mollie hadn’t expected to run into him. She hadn’t exactly been avoiding him, but at the same time, she wasn’t sure she was ready to face him, either.
You have to realize he might not be the man for you.
Her head was starting to get the picture, but her heart insisted on coloring outside the lines. She soaked in the sight of him, not wanting to admit how much she’d missed him. The cool breeze ruffled his hair just the way Mollie longed to do, and the way the fine linen molded to his chest was sexy enough to make her mouth go bone dry.
“What are you doing here?” he asked with an easy smile that faded into a frown when he stared at the store behind her.
Her entire body flushed hot, as if he’d caught her wearing one of the revealing negligees. Hadn’t she imagined the feel of emerald silk or black satin against her skin while gazing through the glass? Was it possible that Zeke—
Mollie dismissed the thought. If not for his recent “encouragement” for her to start dating, she would have sworn Zeke didn’t know she was a woman at all.
“I met a client for brunch.” Unable to stop herself, she added, “And then thought I’d do some shopping.”
“Shopping?” He echoed the word as if he’d never heard her say it before—which, Mollie admitted, was entirely possible. The doors behind them swished open as a satisfied, or perhaps soon-to-be satisfied, customer stepped outside, hot pink bags in hand. The fragrance of warm vanilla drifted out from the store along with the soft, seductive strains of a love song.
But it was standing so close to Zeke that had Mollie’s senses reeling. Breathing in his spicy cologne mixed with the soft, feminine scent left her light-headed, and she couldn’t think of trying on the seductive lingerie without imagining Zeke taking it off.
Staring up into his hazel eyes, for