Sneaking Around

by St. Klaire, Stephanie

  Molly felt for the hem of Seth’s shirt, tugging at it so she could find the warm smooth skin her hands craved to touch. She traced the hills and valleys of his hard, muscular physique, creating an entirely new craving. Molly wanted a taste of that. She let out a breathy gasp of surprise that was drenched in desire when she felt him free her breast and begin his lavish onslaught of pleasure.

  Overwhelmed by the sensations moving over her body and the warmth collecting in her most personal place, she got lost in him. Molly forgot where she was, caring only about who she was with, wanting more of him in every way. She pushed out her chest, encouraging Seth to take more and let her legs fall slightly open, inviting more of what he was offering.

  His hand drifted low, sliding up and down her inner thigh, teasing her, landing higher and higher with each stroke, finding the source of the heat she was emitting. Seth stopped only briefly, looking at Molly, searching for his next move. He wasn’t done with her, but an act so intimate wasn’t assumed, it required her assent.

  Molly’s slight nod and subtle grin was all he needed. She wound her hands through his dark, thick hair to pull his mouth back to hers. Understanding what this meant caused Seth’s heart to swell. Now he knew she felt something for him, wanted him even, but more important, she trusted him.

  Seth’s confidence grew, as did other things, while pulling himself closer to her. Seth’s SUV was good sized, but it didn’t make for an easy conquest. That would have to wait for another time when slow and easy wasn’t due to a gear shift and center console. Seth was satisfied with the night’s escapades, no matter how far they went, or didn’t go. Molly wasn’t a cheap and easy car lay — she was a wine and dine all night kind of woman. Tonight was just an invitation. Seth would show Molly what he had for her, how much he cared for her and desired her. Most importantly that he was waiting for her.

  Her breathing became shallower with every stroke and glide between her legs. Her sharp gasps quickened into pants as his pace increased over her core. Greedily, she lifted her hips, moving against his hand, fingers gliding in and out as his thumb added pressure to her bundle of nerves. He felt her core tighten around him as he pulled at her swollen nipple with his teeth bringing her to a quaking finish that had her come down around him while she screamed his name.

  Seth kissed her gently, sweetly, while she slowly relaxed into her seat, until her breathing quieted and slowed. Until there was a loud bang on the window that had them both jumping in place, then quickly tugging at her clothes to cover her. Panic ran thought them when another knock hit the window behind Seth.

  They assumed it was the sheriff, but their faces paled when the voice behind the banging rang out. “Who’s in there? What’s going on in there?”

  Evelyn Shirley.

  Seth and Molly were startled by the intrusion, but grateful for the cool fall night. The heat their shenanigans generated granted a layer of privacy — foggy windows — allowing the flustered, and mildly embarrassed couple, to get themselves back in order. Seth turned the key to the ignition so he could let his down only a bit — hard to snap a picture that way.

  “Ms. Shirley…” he said calmly

  “I heard a scream. What on earth is goin’ on in there?” Evelyn asked while bobbing her head, trying to see around Seth. “I have the sheriff on speed dial, ya know!”

  Seth cleared his throat and offered an eyeroll. “I don’t doubt that.”

  “Who is that behind you!” Evelyn snapped in a pitchy tone. “Ms. Sexton? Oh, I should’ve known!”

  Evelyn shined her cell phone flashlight in the window, blinding them both during her interrogation. “This is a good, wholesome family town. We attract a fine array of guests. Canoodling after dark in a parking lot like a couple horny teenagers doesn’t bode well around here! I suggest you find a more…discreet location for your…indiscretions!”

  “Oh, it’s not what you think,” Molly chimed, eyes wide, knowing full well what was to come of this.

  “It’s exactly what I think! Your buttons are crooked, dear!” Evelyn deadpanned, shaking her head as she walked away.

  “Wait!” Molly hollered, gaining an are you crazy look from Seth.

  Evelyn turned slowly and raised an eyebrow, waiting for what Molly had to say.

  “Where were you just now?” Molly asked.

  A look of shock and offense crossed the old woman’s face as if disgusted by such a personal question. “Well, that’s none of your business!”

  Then she was gone.

  Stunned, the couple sat in silence watching Evelyn Shirley’s taillights fade in the distance. That didn’t go as planned, but it wasn’t awful either.

  Evelyn — one.

  Seth and Molly — zero.

  CHAPTER 6

  Reading Grounds was Seth’s first stop the next morning before heading to the fire station for his next shift. He worked forty-eight hours on, seventy-two hours off at a time. Molly found herself a little disappointed when she saw him in his uniform ready for work. She probably wouldn’t see him for a few days.

  “Have you seen it yet?” A sense of anxiety ran through Seth’s words.

  “No. I couldn’t look — thought I would wait for you,” Molly replied. Truth be told, she woke up half a dozen times during the night trying to decide if she should rip off the proverbial Band-Aid and check #RumorHasIt on Facebook. Each time, she couldn’t bring herself to do it, and the anticipation was killing her.

  Seth let out a deep sigh. “Same here. Shall we?”

  He held out his arm, motioning toward one of the nearby tables. He pulled out a chair for her before taking the seat beside her as she opened her laptop and pulled up their fake Facebook account.

  Ex stripper heating things up with steamy windows — newest Pine Valley Fireman there to put her fire out, or start it?

  There it was, Evelyn’s latest Facebook post accompanied by a very unflattering picture of the caught couple. Her cell phone flashlight was blinding them, and they were each squinting and making awkward faces that went with their disheveled hair. Of course, she was able to snap a picture in the midst of their twenty second encounter.

  “I didn’t think she got a picture,” Molly said. “Oh, that looks…”

  “Obvious what was going on?” Seth guffawed as he scrolled down the page. “There’s more, and I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing.”

  Interestingly enough, there was a second picture and caption below. But it wasn’t of Seth or Molly this time. Evelyn managed to catch Kinley and the good doctor leaving the dance studio together saying a rather intimate and unflattering goodbye.

  Late night shenanigans around Pine Valley. There must be something in the air… Looks like the doc is checking the dancer’s tonsils.

  Well played, Evelyn. Well played.

  Evelyn — two.

  Seth, Molly, Doc Jace, and Kinley — zero.

  Molly unexpectedly ran into Seth at Pine Valley General Grocery while he was shopping for the fire station with his crew. Evelyn had been quiet the past twenty-four hours. She was leaving everyone alone at the moment, so it seemed. But sometimes the silence was worse than cyber-attacks because it could be that she was just plotting her next move. The anticipation was killing them both.

  “Hey, I was going to call you,” Seth said in greeting.

  “You were!” Molly pinched herself for sounding so eager. “I mean, you should!”

  Seth didn’t miss her excitement, and it pleased him that she looked forward to hearing from him. “Looks like Evelyn might be moving on. Nothing for a few days now.”

  “That’s what scares me — the nothing at all.” Molly laughed. “I saw her drive by last night when I was doing inventory in the shop.”

  “Really? Headed to the same place?” he asked.

  Molly shrugged. “She was headed that direction, so maybe?”

  “Tonight is my last night on, and then I’m off for a few,” Seth said. “Want to keep watch? You know, in case she isn’t done with us yet?
”

  “Of course, I do!” Molly would do just about anything to spend time with him, even chase old ladies. Maybe one day he’d ask her out on a real date — until then, super sleuthing.

  “It’s a date!” he proudly stated, then realized what he said when he felt heat rise to his cheeks. “I mean — it’s a plan!”

  “Yes! A plan!” Molly smiled, even though she couldn’t help but be disappointed.

  Seth turned to walk away, hollering over his shoulder, “Okay. I’ll call you!”

  Molly would look forward to that call. It felt ridiculous to be at her age and pining away for a boy. Why was she waiting on him? She was a modern woman, and it was perfectly acceptable for a woman to ask a man out. It wasn’t like she hadn’t asked a guy out before — she just couldn’t ask this guy for some reason. Just when she thought she’d banged up enough nerve, the butterflies in her belly left her dizzy.

  “Hey!” Seth said from behind as Molly was on her way to check out.

  “Yeah?” she said with a start, hoping she hadn’t been thinking out loud.

  “Drunk and Dirty,” he replied.

  “Drunk what?” she asked, confused.

  “The annual Drunk and Dirty Crawl! It’s a huge event. Wine makers compete with each other. It’s like the Oscars, but for wine! They’ll have brewers and distillers there too, but the focus is wine. It’s harvest!”

  “Oookay, sounds…fun?” She wasn’t sure what this Drunk something or other was, but it was an opportunity to spend time with Seth, which was an automatic I’m in.

  He laughed, realizing how vague he had been about the event. “It is. It’s like an all-day wine tasting — it’s part of Drunk and Dirty Days. There are vineyard tours, and different activities for spectators. It would be a great place to check up on Evelyn too! Everyone goes!”

  “Oh…well, then count me in!” She gave a dishonest smile, wishing they were spending the day together for reasons other than Evelyn, but the old lady was as good of an excuse as any to spend time with him. She was starting to think Seth was friend-zoning her and she’d misinterpreted everything.

  He smiled back. “I’ll pick you up. Tomorrow morning, nine okay? We’ll make a day of it!”

  “Sounds perfect! I mean, we’re bound to see crabby pants at some point if we are there all day,” Molly said in a singsong voice that annoyed even her.

  Seth smiled while backing away. “Sounds like a plan!” He turned on his heels and met the rest of his crew a few checkout lines over.

  It was a warm sunny fall day in Pine Valley, so Molly had opted to walk to and from the market — no need for a car for such a short jaunt. Seth was heavy on her mind. He brought a smile to her face just thinking about him. He was the kind and thoughtful nurturing type…and something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. It didn’t hurt that he was all kinds of handsome to look at. So why was she questioning so much where he was concerned?

  She thought about all his visits to Reading Grounds over the past six months. He seemed so intrigued by everything she had to say about pretty much everything, especially books, hanging on her every word. Their unsuccessful super sleuth outings weighed in on her mental debate. Despite the lack of results, their time was well spent together and thoughtfully planned with his sweet picnics. It was intimate even — and not just physically.

  Was she becoming insecure? Seth clearly paid close attention to her likes, and dislikes, even though she’d never voiced either. Each time she found more and more of her favorites — things picked just for her. Then there was their last rendezvous. Despite stumbling upon an embarrassing moment or two leading up to it, it ended with foggy windows because it was H-O-T! It was like Seth knew her body. He may not have been one for words, ninety percent of the time, but his hands and beautiful mouth said it all.

  He knew exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to do it such a way that gave her as much pleasure as he could, responding to the sounds that escaped her. He was exciting and thrilling as much as he was chivalrous and sweet. Where had this man been hiding?

  He was someone she could spend all her time with, devote forever to even. Though the thought of forever coming to mind surprised her, it wasn’t far-fetched. Seth was quickly piecing together pieces of her heart she didn’t know were broken. If he could fill all the empty cracks, she was certain it would be his to keep always. Maybe he wasn’t friend-zoning her and she was overthinking things. It wasn’t like Molly to be so scattered, especially over a man.

  Molly was starting to become annoyed with her own thoughts. The back and forth ups and downs of her inner monologue and those damn insecurities. She was hot, then cold. Needy, then satisfied. She was a hot mess and needed to get it together. If he didn’t ask her, she’d ask him out for an official date. That’d really give evil Evelyn something to talk about.

  A loud rumble crept up from behind her and got louder as it approached. It was a fire truck, Seth at the helm, smiling back at her with a wink as soon as he drove within viewing distance. She couldn’t help but notice the chief, Hunter, sitting to his right, looking back and forth between them. Hunter tossed his shaking head back with laughter as they passed, earning him a fist to the chest from Seth.

  With a final wave her way, she watched them drive off, turning to the firehouse. Molly couldn’t wait for morning. Tomorrow was going to be a game changer, Evelyn be damned.

  CHAPTER 7

  Bright and early the next morning, Seth had rushed home from work so he could get ready for his next adventure with the girl who held his heart. He wasn’t sure why he couldn’t just say date and had to make it about Evelyn Shirley, but he did. He was just happy he got to spend time with Molly. That would have to be good enough…for now.

  Seth had never been much of a ladies’ man. That’s not to say he didn’t know what to do with one, he just never had flocks of women waiting by the phone. Seth had been through just enough rejection over the years to lack confidence when it came to the one who consumed his every thought day and night. Molly wasn’t one of those girls you invite to a movie or to grab a movie — she was the girl you bought out a restaurant for or whisked away on a romantic weekend every chance you go. He’d have no problem doing either of those things for her — he was afraid of hearing those four dreaded words, we’re better off friends.

  Special, genuine, and sincere defined Molly. He loved her passion and enthusiasm when something interesting caught her attention. Pure joy rolled off her, and she was as contagious as she was addictive.

  He craved her presence and couldn’t wait to be with her today. If he were being honest, as much as he would like to get to the bottom of the Evelyn Shirley business for Molly, he hoped she proved hard to find today, granting the extra time with just Molly. He shook his head at that thought in sheer disappointment. At some point in his life, he’d become a total pussy. It was time to man up, grow a set, and ask her out on a real date. Maybe.

  His thoughts drifted back to their night together in the car. Molly was beautiful and the sound of his name falling breathlessly from her lips was heaven. As thrilling as it was in the SUV that night, he wanted to give her more. Wanted to pleasure her over and over, hear his name as he brought her to ecstasy time and time again. He wanted to learn every inch of her body, find all her dirty weaknesses, and play them all on repeat until she knew exactly what she was to him: his everything.

  Butterflies. Molly had butterflies for the first time since she could remember. Something about this man gave her a sweet smile and made her giddy. Never one to fuss over her appearance much or worry about what others thought, Molly found herself on outfit number seven or eight, and finally satisfied with a casual, yet trendy ensemble.

  It wasn’t that Seth brought out all her insecurities, quite the contrary. He brought out the best in her…made her want to be her best. Not just for him, but for her too. Special was something she hadn’t felt in a very long time, since before losing her father, in fact.

  Seth made her feel special. Li
ke everything she had to say was important and he couldn’t wait to hear the rest. Maybe that’s what made her head spin a little and her crazy show when he’d asked her out but said it wasn’t a date.

  That was her insecurity showing, and it was becoming more and more clear where that was coming from. He treated her like she hung the moon and stars in one hand, but corrected himself when he said date. Molly wanted Seth to want all of her — she wanted more.

  Nothing was required of Molly where Seth was concerned. He didn’t need her to take care of him like her mother or even her ex had. He just wanted her — or seemed to anyway. The whole date thing seemed to fluster him. Maybe he was uncomfortable with the term. She didn’t know. When they were with each other, however, it certainly felt like dating.

  Molly knew Seth could be a bit shy at times — some may even say awkward in that area — but when they were together lately, he was anything but. He could make her feel cherished and adored without a word. It was starting to look like Molly owed Evelyn a thank you.

  Drunk and Dirty Days was like nothing Molly had seen before — or in this case, it was the day of the crawl where attendee’s crawl from one booth to the next, like a multi-venue tasting. The event was made up of all local wineries from across the Willamette Valley, each competing for the highly sought after, highly prestigious, Cork King or Queen title. Oregon was already known for its wine, adding an award was gold. Not only did the event expose wine makers to a voting public and potential new wine drinking fans, but also wholesalers and collectors.

  It was a big deal. According to Seth, this was the main event. The Crawl was the final event of harvest season, hosted by Drunk and Dirty Vineyards and Wines. Drunk and Dirty was a local favorite that quickly rose to fame in the wine industry when they were bought out and their award-winning wines got a makeover. There would always be a level of pomp and circumstance in the industry, but Drunk and Dirty showed there was an untapped market that wanted fun and flirty to downright sexy among the prestige. Molly understood the uniqueness of their branding when she saw a bottle of One Night Stand and a series of bottles from the Sexy O line. It got a little awkward when she saw a bottle titled Safe Word. She didn’t need to know what that one was about. It was creative and fun, though. She’d give them that.