The comparison was true, though. Buck would’ve been on the Rocket Space Ship as soon as he saw it, never mind what Molly thought.
“Hey, calm down.” Steve laid a hand on her arm.
She jerked away. “We should go now.”
“Why? There’s other fun stuff we can do. You don’t want to go home yet, do you, Karli?”
“No.” Karli shook her head so hard her hair stuck straight out.
“All right, come on.” He grabbed Karli’s hand and reached out to Molly.
For several seconds, she stared at his hand while her stomach churned. Then she held out her hand and let his fingers close over hers.
Chapter Sixteen
Later that evening, Molly tucked Karli into bed, and then returned to the living room where Steve waited. Her mood still sour over the Rocket Space Ship ride, she had wanted him to drop them off and leave. But he lingered, and she hadn’t been brave enough—or rude enough—to suggest he return to the Phillips’.
Her gaze roved over the array of prizes they’d won at Funland, which he’d arranged on the sofa. They included a stuffed dog with a big red bow and a lapping tongue; a puppet monkey, now tangled in its strings; and a set of colored juggling balls. She smiled to herself. Karli would have fun sharing the toys at daycare.
She swung her gaze to Steve, who stood by the door. Tension lines bracketed his mouth, and his raised eyebrows asked, “Should I go? Or stay?”
Molly hesitated then gave a resigned sigh. “Would you like coffee? Or a drink? I have some wine.”
The tension lines disappeared, and his lips broke into a soft smile. “Coffee would hit the spot.”
They took their mugs of coffee out to the porch. She sat in the swing while he chose a nearby chair. Only a few feet separated them, but the distance might as well have been miles. She sipped her coffee, wondering if she should apologize for her behavior that afternoon.
Steve broke the silence. “Penny.”
“You’re always asking me that.”
“When you’re quiet and thoughtful, I’m interested in what’s going on in that head of yours. That pretty head,” he added with a grin.
Molly sucked in a breath. “I was thinking about this afternoon, and that I had no right to tell you not to ride that rocket thing.”
“The Rocket Space Ship.”
“Whatever.”
“So, why did you?”
“I was thinking of Buck…”
He tipped back his head. “Ah, I thought maybe that was the case.”
Molly pressed her foot on the floor, setting the swing in motion. “And how he always loved to take risks. The more danger, the better.”
“The more danger, the more thrill, maybe?”
“I guess. But every time he put his life in danger, I went through hell.” Her fingers tightened on the mug. “I thought that if he really, truly loved us, he wouldn’t have taken up rodeo, especially. He would’ve wanted to make sure he was safe, make sure he lived…”
Steve leaned forward. “But would not riding in rodeo have made sure?”
Molly waved a hand in the air. “Oh, I know you’re going to say that he could’ve died crossing the street, or from an illness. But why increase the risk?”
“I can’t answer that, for him.”
“Then how about answering for you? You said you thought there was something between us, and, well, maybe I think so, too. When you were about to go on that ride today, I thought, I can’t go through this kind of torture again, worrying about the person I—worrying about someone I care for.” She’d been about to say, “the person I love,” but this was too soon in their relationship to speak of love. Even if love might be what she was feeling.
Steve rose and sat on the swing beside her. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and drew her close.
Warmth radiated from his body to hers. Her pulse quickened.
“I can’t answer for myself, either,” he said, caressing her shoulder. “At least, not right now. I’ll have to think about what you’ve said. Did you ever tell Buck how you felt?”
“Oh, he knew, all right.” She lifted a shoulder. “But he’d only make a joke or change the subject. Nothing I said made him change his behavior.”
“And should he have changed his behavior?”
She twisted her head to slant him a glance. “What do you mean?”
“I’m wondering how much we should expect people to change because we want them to.” With a shake of his head, he shrugged. “I don’t know. Like I said, I’ll have to think about what you’ve said. But maybe you don’t want to see me anymore…” He tightened his grip on her shoulder.
“How much more can there be?” Her tone sharpened. “You’re going away soon.”
“True, I do have to go back to New York.”
“And what about Angie? What if you somehow found her again? Would you try to make her come back to you? Maybe you’d realize you love her, after all.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
He didn’t think so. Not very reassuring.
Molly thought of the butterfly ornament tucked away in the broom closet. Why don’t you bring out the ornament and show it to him? Tell him the story of Angie. Let him find her. Then you’d know for sure what he would do.
Molly pushed away the voice. Sick inside, she twisted her fingers together in her lap.
Steve gently separated her locked fingers. “Molly, honey, please, can’t you relax?”
Although his touch was comforting, she shook her head. “Everything boils up inside. I’m sorry. You were so kind to treat Karli today, and I ruined our time together.”
“You didn’t ruin the outing for her, or for me. I think you ruined it for yourself, though.”
“I couldn’t help speaking out. That’s the way I am. Anyway, I feel there’s a big wall between us.”
“We do have some challenges—but maybe this will help.” He cupped her chin and guided her face to his.
The air suddenly stilled, and she couldn’t breathe.
His lips softly touched hers, as though he weren’t sure of her response. But when Molly parted her lips, he deepened the kiss. Heat spiraled through her. She melted into him, breathing his breath, tasting him, wanting to devour him.
This was what she needed. To be held, to be kissed.
When they finally broke apart, they both were breathless.
“Do you still feel there’s a wall between us?” he asked, his breath warm in her ear.
“Not so much,” she said in a playful tone.
He laughed and drew her close. She rested her head on his shoulder, and they sat in comfortable silence.
“Talking about today helped,” she said.
“Yeah, it did. Tell me what you liked about today, why don’t you?”
“The clown who painted the flower on Karli’s cheek was funny. And riding that little train through the park was a good tour.”
“Karli sure got a thrill when the conductor let her ring the bell, didn’t she?”
They shared a few more stories then fell silent again. Molly gazed out at the landscape. Moonlight beamed from a clear, star-scattered sky, while a light breeze rustled through the aspens. Beyond were the ever-present mountains, on guard, as always. She let out a long sigh.
“Hey, was that a sigh that said, ‘I wish he’d leave?’” Steve leaned forward and slanted her a look.
“No, one that says, ‘I feel pretty good right now.’”
“Me, too. But I really do need to be on my way.” He eased his arm from around her shoulders.
Suddenly cold, she shivered and hugged her arms. “Will you be around tomorrow?”
“For a while. Then I’m moving back to the hotel.”
“Oh.” The word came out so forlorn-sounding that Molly hastily added, “I mean, that’s great you can be on your own again.”
“Right. But I plan to spend all my spare time right here—if you agree.”
“I do want to spend time with you. But
how many days more will there be, do you think?”
He ran a finger down her cheek and across her lips. “I don’t know. I should be hearing about the Harwell account soon.”
Molly’s shoulders slumped. “And then you’ll go back to New York.”
“True, I can’t stay away too much longer. But don’t worry about that right now, okay? One day at a time.”
A few minutes later, watching his car disappear down the road and listening to the hum of the engine fade away, Molly wondered if she’d made the right decision to keep seeing Steve. Sure, the kisses and caresses they’d shared were wonderful, but a relationship needed more than physical attraction. A relationship needed time to develop and grow. They didn’t have that time.
Plus, like a ghost, Angie haunted him. Although he was divorced, Steve might not be ready to move on from his relationship with his ex-wife. Even if he were ready, could Molly move on from her loss? Sometimes, she still cried herself to sleep, thinking of Buck and the life they’d had together.
She rose and went inside. Her gaze traveled to the photos on the mantel. She walked over and picked up the one of their wedding day. “What should I do, Buck?” Molly whispered. “I’m falling in love with Steve. Is that okay with you?” She half-expected the photo-Buck to give her an answer.
He didn’t. He continued to gaze into the eyes of his bride, frozen there for eternity.
****
On Monday, Steve was working at the round table in his hotel room when Mr. Harwell phoned.
“I have good news for you,” Harwell said. “We’ve decided to purchase your program.
“That’s great.” Steve fisted his hand and pumped the air.
“I’d like to have the training session as soon as possible, before you get too busy with the referrals I’ve made to our associates.”
“Thanks, Mr. Harwell. I appreciate that.”
Steve consulted his schedule, and they settled on a time for the training session. He punched off the call, thrust out his chest, and gave a loud “whoop.” The trip to Colorado had been very profitable indeed. And the referrals, assuming they panned out, would give him a legitimate reason to extend his stay.
Nerves tingling with excitement, Steve stood and stretched his legs. He needed to call Jerry with the news. And Molly, too. Molly first. He picked up his phone again but it rang before he could make the call.
“Hey, man,” Jerry said on the other end.
“I was about to call you.” Steve told Jerry about landing the Harwell sale.
“Good news. You’ll be coming home, then?”
“Not right away. There’s the training class, plus Harwell gave me some referrals I want to follow up.”
“Hmmm, that will also give you more time with the lady you met.”
Steve chuckled at Jerry’s sly tone. “Yes, I plan to spend more time with her. But, hey, you’re the one who told me I should move on.”
“You got me there. But I was hoping you’d find someone closer to home.”
Home. A sudden ache filled Steve’s chest. He missed New York, his apartment on the Upper East Side, the house he still owned in Westchester, his friends, his hangouts. Most of all, he missed going into the office every day and working. Work was his life, his reason for being.
But now there was Molly. And Karli. Where did they fit into his life? How did he fit into theirs?
“Steve, ya there?”
“Yeah, yeah, Jerry. I’ll be coming home…soon.”
Steve hung up and idly stared out the window at the distant mountains. Okay, the training class and the referrals gave him a legitimate reason to hang around. But after he dealt with those, he should go home. He had a business to run. Staying away much longer wasn’t fair to Jerry and the rest of his staff.
Molly’s image popped into his mind, as it always did when he thought about leaving. He was torn in two. One part wanted to stay and the other wanted to go home. Would he ever resolve this dilemma?
He’d told Molly they should take “one day at a time.” He’d do well to follow his own advice. He picked up the phone to call her and tell her his news.
****
Molly sat at her desk in the bakery’s office, working on invoices. Sara had gone into town, and Lupe and Doreen were at work in the kitchen. Bits of their conversation drifted into the office, along with the enticing aroma of chocolate chip cookies.
Checking the numbers on one of the invoices, Molly found she’d made a mistake. She deleted the error and filled in the correct number. Keeping her mind on her work today proved difficult. She kept thinking of Steve and wondering if he’d heard about the Harwell account yet. As soon as that was settled, there’d be no more reason for him to stay in Red Rock.
His leaving was for the best. Then she and Karli could get on with their lives. They would be happy. And if someone came along who fit into their lifestyle, there might be three of them again. A real family.
That was what she kept telling herself. She just wished she could make herself believe it. She wished she didn’t have this emptiness inside, this terrible sense of loss.
Time for her afternoon break rolled around. A walk outside in the fresh air might help to lift her spirits. She was heading for the door when the phone on her desk rang. She turned and stared at the phone, debating whether to answer or to let the call go to voice mail.
The call might be important, though, so she hurried back to the desk and snatched up the receiver. “Rolling R Bakery.”
“Molly?”
At the familiar sound of Steve’s voice, Molly’s heart beat faster, yet she made herself say calmly, “Hello, Steve.”
“I’ve got good news. Harwell gave us the account.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful.” Her voice dropped a notch. ”But then you’ll be…”
“Leaving? No, I’ll be conducting a training class, and he’s given me some referrals to follow up on. So I won’t be leaving right away.”
“That is good news.” I guess. Oh, why couldn’t she decide what she wanted?
“Are you free tonight? If so, I’ll pick you up and we’ll go out to dinner, just the two of us.”
Molly briefly closed her eyes and breathed a deep sigh. Time alone with Steve would be heaven. “Yes, I’m free tonight.”
“Can you make arrangements for Karli?”
“I’m sure she can stay with Sara and Jackson.”
“Great. See you about six, then?”
Molly hung up, her head spinning. Steve got the Harwell account—for which she was truly glad—and he wasn’t returning to New York right away, after all. Business would keep him here awhile longer. They were going out tonight—on a date. Just the two of them.
When Sara returned, Molly told her the news.
“That’s wonderful, Molly.” Sara clapped her hands. “I’ve thought all along you two had made a connection. And don’t worry about Karli. She can stay at our place this evening.”
Molly gave Sara a hug. “You are my best friend, you know that?”
“And you are mine, too. Now, go get ready.”
Chapter Seventeen
Later, at the ranch house, every nerve in her body tingling, Molly glued her gaze to the living room window, waiting for Steve to arrive.
Karli danced around her, waving Mr. Muggins and declaring, “Steve’s coming. Steve’s coming.”
At last, Steve’s car rumbled up the driveway. Not able to wait a second longer, Molly ran out the door and down the front porch steps to meet him. He pulled the car to a stop and leaped out. For a moment, she thought they were going to fall into each other’s arms. She wanted to; but, suddenly shy, she stopped and instead gave him a tentative, “Hello, Steve.”
“Hello, Molly.”
His eyes were soft and tender as his gaze met hers.
“Can you come in a minute?” She gestured toward the house. “Karli would never forgive me if we left without your saying hello.”
“Of course.” He pocketed his keys and headed up the wal
k.
Excitement fueling her moves, she led him into the house, and for the next few minutes, she shared him with the others. Steve hugged Karli and Sara and shook hands with Jackson. Sara and Jackson congratulated him on landing the Harwell account and on the prospects for more business. All the while, Molly longed to have her own touch or hug, but told herself her time would come when they were alone.
Finally, she and Steve were on their way to Red Rock. Once there, he drove to The Cactus Flower, a restaurant tucked away in Old Town. The menu featured Mexican food, which they discovered they both liked.
While they ate, they talked about books they’d read, music they enjoyed, places they’d been. Molly was pleased to discover they both shared the same favorite mystery author and were following the career of a country western singer who’d crossed over to mainstream. Steve had traveled more than she, but they both had been to Hawaii.
After they left the restaurant, they strolled hand-in-hand along the streets bathed in a rich gold from the setting sun. They window-shopped antique stores, gift shops, clothing stores, and even popped into a bookstore, where Steve bought a book on local history and helped her to pick out a new bedtime story for Karli.
Eventually, they returned to his car and began the drive back to the Rolling R. Molly settled back in the seat, gazing out the window as they sped along the highway. Had the sky ever been so clear? The stars so bright?
When they reached the ranch and Steve had parked in front of the house, he shut off the engine and looked at her with solemn eyes.
“I don’t want this evening to end,” he said, and so they stayed in the car, talking, kissing, and then talking again, sharing thoughts and feelings.
They finally went inside and picked up Karli, who only mumbled a little and fluttered her eyelids as Steve carried her out to the car. They drove on to Molly and Karli’s house, where together they tucked Karli into her bed. They were almost like a family, Molly thought.
And then, with a last, long and heated kiss, he was gone.
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