Molly (4 page)

o0o

Jed stood in his front yard and watched until
the Rolls-Royce was out of sight.

“She really loves me, Molly.”

“Who?”

“Why, Glory Ethel, that’s who. Where in the
world is your mind?”

“About two blocks away in a Rolls-Royce
Silver Cloud.”

“That’s what I thought. He’s a fine-looking
man, isn’t he?”

“He’s a pain in the...”

“Association with artists has added a new
dimension to your character, my dear.” Laughing, he kissed her on
the cheek.

“I love you, Daddy.”

“I’ve always known that.”

“Yes. But I want you to hear it, as well.”
She put her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder.
“Daddy, I’m going to do everything in my power to see that you’re
happy.”

Straightening, she stared over his head at
the chinaberry tree. Its branches were swaying gently in the
breeze, whispering the secrets of her childhood. After her mother
had died, struck down by cancer at the age of twenty-eight, Molly
had retreated to the shelter of another chinaberry tree—one on her
grandparent’s farm. In the swaying of the leaves and the sighing of
the gentle breezes, she had heard her mother’s voice. Or perhaps at
that moment of her greatest need, the tree itself had come alive to
comfort her. Or maybe God had given her heightened perception to
help her get through the bad times. Whatever the magic, Molly had
never forgotten the lesson.
There are no guarantees,
Molly,
the voice had said.
Connections can be broken. Live
life to the fullest.

She had been only eight at the time, but she
had never forgotten the lesson.

Each day was a priceless gift, especially to
somebody as old as her daddy. If he wanted to risk another
connection with Glory Ethel, she’d see that he got her, and nothing
would stand in the way. Certainly not Samuel Adams.

o0o

Molly helped her daddy get the house ready
for the dinner party. They had both decided a candle-lit dinner at
home would be cozier than going to a restaurant. Besides, it would
allow them more privacy, more time to get to know one another.

Molly picked fresh flowers from the
yard—fragrant gardenias from the large bush on the north side of
the house, roses from the rampant vines that climbed the backyard
fence, and Queen Anne’s lace that formed a border between their
yard and the next-door neighbor. With an artist’s eye, she arranged
the flowers and scattered them throughout the house so that they
looked as if they might have sprung up on their own in the nooks
and crannies of the 1930s house.

“That looks lovely, Molly.” Her daddy her
hand and spun her around. “And so do you. Like a moonbeam.”

Molly laughed and straightened his tie. “We
want to impress this woman, don’t we?”

“Absolutely.” He was thoughtful for a moment,
gazing into space, looking back in time. “You know, Molly, when I
first started this online correspondence I didn’t have any plans
for romance. I was just lonely.”

“I know, Daddy. And I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, baby. You have your
career, and I’m proud of that. That’s the way it should be.” He
brushed a piece of lint off his sleeve. “When I first heard from
Glory Ethel, I knew she was a special woman, someone I could enjoy.
We’ve been exchanging letters and emails for a little over a year
now, and I feel as if I’ve known her all my life.” He gave his
daughter a serious look. “I really think the time is right for both
of us, Molly.”

“You have my full support, Daddy. And Bea’s
too. She’s as tickled as I am.”

“Good. Then you won’t mind doing a little
thing for me, will you?”

His devilish grin made her suspicious.

“Daddy, what are you up to?”

“Nothing. I just thought a little
entertainment might be nice.”

“I agree. Does she like the oldies or
something more modern?”

“I was thinking of live entertainment.”

“Now, Daddy…”

“I want Glory Ethel to see what a talented
daughter I have. And besides that, she’ll be tickled to death.”

Molly hesitated only a moment, but there was
never any doubt in her mind that she would give in to her father’s
request. She could never deny him anything.

“Well, why not? I might just unbend a
steel-plated tyrant.”

She hurried to her room to make sure she had
everything she needed for the entertainment.

o0o

“How do I look?”

Glory Ethel wasn’t the nervous type. As she
stood on the front porch of the Rakestraw house, smoothing
imaginary wrinkles in her dress, he wanted to grab her arm and
run.

“You look great, Mother.”

She patted his cheek. “So do you. Every woman
should have a son so handsome.” She straightened her shoulders.
“You can ring the bell now.”

Just Sam’s luck, Molly answered the door. It
was the first time a woman had ever left him breathless. He was
only vaguely aware of his mother saying something about Jed and
disappearing down the hall.

What was that thing Molly was wearing? It
looked like it was woven with moonbeams. And the way it clung to
her ought to be against the law. At first he thought the dress was
blue, and then he thought it was silver. Finally he decided it was
magic.

My God, not only was the woman a hellion, she
was also a sorceress. Fortunately, he knew exactly how to deal with
them.

Bending gallantly at the waist, he took her
hand between both of his. “My dear, it’s been entirely too
long.”

Sliding one hand up her arm and turning her
palm toward him, he planted a lingering kiss against her skin and
had the satisfaction of feeling goose bumps rise on her arm.

His about-face was a surprise to Molly.
Fortunately she adored surprises. She threw back her head, and her
laughter was as bright as the flashy baubles she wore around her
neck.

“Too long for what, Samuel?”

Straightening, he smiled down at her. “Too
long to leave a hellion like you alone.”

“What’s the matter? Afraid I’ll think of a
diabolical way to pierce that armor you wear?”

He smiled. “No. Too long without a rein.”

“A rein?”

“Yes.” He reached out and tipped her chin up
with one finger. “I discovered long ago that there’s only one way
to deal with women like you, Molly.”

She’d be darned if she’d ask what. Neither
would she pay any attention to the fresh set of goose bumps he sent
skittering over her flesh. She lifted her jaw and glared at
him.

“The only way to handle you, my dear, is to
tame you.”

“Tame me?” She jerked out of his grasp.
“Tame me!”
She stalked down the hallway. When she reached
the marble-topped hall table she whirled around and faced him. “I’d
just like to see you try!”

He leaned nonchalantly against the doorjamb
and smiled at her. But it was not a smile of mirth. It was the
cold, deadly smile of a man out to do battle.

“I’d advise you not to issue challenges, my
dear. I find them impossible to resist.”

“That’s not all you’re liable to find
impossible to resist before this is over.” She put her hands on her
hips. Her color was high and her eyes sparkled with wrath.

“Anger becomes you, Venus.”

She gave him a mock bow. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” He moved slowly toward
her, pinning her to the spot with his hot, dark eyes. “But you can
come closer. I find it impossible to tame a woman who is halfway
across the room.”

She watched his relentless march across the
hall. It put her in mind of Sherman’s devastating sweep through the
South. She stood her ground. She wasn’t Atlanta, and she wasn’t
about to be burned.

He didn’t stop coming until he was so close
she could feel his pant leg brushing against her thigh. Maybe she
should have worn leather. But who could have predicted this
assault?

She steeled herself. “Why don’t you come
closer? I don’t bite.”

Her defiance amused him.

“Neither do I, my wicked Venus, but I have
been known to make even the bold quiver in their boots.”

She lifted one long and beautiful leg, just
slightly, just enough to cause that moonbeam dress to slither
enticingly and bare a portion of calf. “As you can see, I’m not
wearing boots.”

He stared at that lovely leg just a fraction
too long. Her satisfied smile told him so. It wouldn’t do to let
her get the upper hand, even for a minute.

“I wouldn’t advise you to play with fire. You
might singe a few hairs on that pretty little head of yours.”
Taking her arm, he urged her down the hall. “Shall we join our
parents?”

“What’s the matter, Samuel? Afraid of what
I’ll do to you out here in the hallway all alone?”

“No. I’m afraid of what
I’ll
do to
you.”

Molly decided that a graceful retreat would
be her best bet at the moment. If she had time, she’d sneak off and
email her friends, but she’d already neglected her hostessing
duties too long. She wanted Glory Ethel to love everything about
her father—his house, his dinner, his daughter.

Taking Samuel’s hand, she led him into the
sitting room. It was a bright and cozy room, filled with chintz and
calico, soft watercolors and earthy pottery. There was the
fragrance of flowers throughout the room.

Samuel made the space seem smaller. He was a
large man, tall and broad shouldered and muscular. He seemed to
dominate the room. He’d chosen a chair that faced the sofa and gave
him an unobstructed view of the entire room. Although he appeared
to be relaxed and comfortable, she sensed power simmering just
beneath the surface. She saw the iron will stamped in every line of
his body—from the carefully controlled expression on his face to
the tight bunching of muscles beneath his dinner jacket.

I wouldn’t advise you to play with fire,
my dear.
The words he had spoken in the hallway echoed in her
mind as clearly as if he were saying them now. A shiver of
excitement went up her spine. She didn’t merely love excitement;
she thrived on it.

She leaned back in her chair, watching
Samuel. He was discussing organic gardening with her daddy as if
he’d invented the method himself. She’d be willing to bet he didn’t
know which end of a spade to put into the ground. Oh, he was
smooth, all right; he was good. And he had her father completely
fooled. But he didn’t fool her. Not for a minute.

She smiled, thinking of the entertainment she
had planned. .

“Good girls don’t have such wicked
smiles.”

“What?”

Samuel was leaning close so that his voice
was an intimate whisper, and his hand rested casually on the arm of
her chair—so casually that the touch of his fingers against her arm
appeared to be accidental. Her eyes widened and she glanced toward
the sofa. Daddy and Glory Ethel were deep in conversation. She
doubted if they’d notice a herd of elephants tromping through the
room.

“I said—”

“I
know
what you said.”

His smile was so devilish she figured he’d
had to make at least one trip to Hades to learn it.

“What’s the matter, Molly? Afraid you’ve
gotten more than you bargained for?”

She made her smile sweet and her eyes
innocent. She knew exactly how to do it. After all, she’d had years
of practice at posing.

“Oh, no. I’m merely afraid you aren’t up to
the challenge.”

“You’re referring to my old age, I take
it.”

“No. I’m referring to your inexperience.”

One eyebrow lifted and his eyes danced with
amusement.

Molly patted his hand in false sympathy.
“Samuel, you poor dear. Too busy taking care of all that money at
that old bank to have any fun. You’re so lucky that I’m going to
rescue you.”

He threw back his head and roared with
laughter. Startled, Glory Ethel and Daddy looked up from the
sofa.

Glory Ethel glanced from her son to Molly,
then back again. “Good grief, Sam, if it’s that funny, tell all of
us.”

“It’s just a private joke, Mother.”

Jedidiah rose from the sofa and took Glory
Ethel’s hand. “I’m glad to hear all this laughter in my house.
Shall we go in to dinner?” He led Glory Ethel through the door and
into the dining room.

Samuel and Molly stood up to follow. He slid
one arm around her waist. It was a tiny waist, and it felt
altogether too bewitching for his own good; but he was committed to
a course of action, and he’d be damned if he’d back down now.

“Shall we follow them, my dear?”

She tilted her head so she could look
straight into his eyes. “A private joke, huh?”

“What would you have had me say? That we were
playing an elaborate game of seduction?”

“Seduction!”

“That’s usually the game men and women
play.”

The look in his dark eyes did strange things
to her heart. She took a moment to catch her breath and recover.
Then she gave him a playful pinch on the cheek.

“I’m going to teach you some new games,
Samuel.”

“I can hardly wait, Venus.”

They joined their parents at the dining
table, and much to their surprise, the meal was painless. All four
of them were sharp-witted people, and the conversation flowed
smoothly, covering topics as diverse as flower arranging and
stock-market reports.

After the meal was over Molly excused
herself, and Jedidiah led his guests into the large and airy music
room. Lamplight gleamed across the rich wood of a baby grand piano,
and moonlight shone through two enormous arched windows, making a
glowing path on the hardwood floor. It was a lovely room, full of
charm and graciousness, but what caught Samuel’s attention was the
enormous watercolor over the mantel. It was a field of flowers,
their colors so brilliant they seemed to spill off the canvas and
invade the room. Sunlight tipped the edges of the petals and gave
the illusion of warming the observer.