Molly Matthews Meddles in Marriage

by Jill Steeples

  Heat fired through his body, but that wasn’t the only thing troubling his mind. An overwhelming surge of protectiveness and responsibility toward Molly stirred deep within, startling him in its intensity. It took him right out of this small, top-floor office and back to his childhood home when he’d stood in the kitchen, facing his father, hearing the news that his mother had died. Responsibility for his father’s happiness may have been foisted upon him back then, but why he should feel that way now about Molly, he had no idea. She didn’t need his protection. Underneath that fragile exterior, she was as tough as the next man. It was a mistake he’d made with Emma, thinking she needed looking after, and one he wasn’t about to repeat with Molly.

  “I hope this is okay,” she said, bringing him back to the moment. “I wasn’t sure what to wear and I didn’t really have anything long.” She looked apologetic, the telltale sign of pinkness on her cheeks that Rory had come to recognize as an endearing feature whenever she felt even remotely uncomfortable. “Rory?” she prompted him.

  “Oh yep, it’s fine, absolutely perfect. You look lovely.” He cast a glance over at Pippa and Aaron, acknowledging their presence with a small nod of his head. “Shall we make a move?” he said to Molly.

  * * * *

  “Listen, just make yourself at home. I’m going to jump in the shower. There’s wine in the fridge or make yourself a cup of tea or coffee. Whatever you want.”

  Molly sighed with relief when Rory disappeared off into the bathroom. She’d only been with him for the last half an hour or so, but already she felt so tightly sprung with anxiety she didn’t know how she’d manage to get through the rest of the evening.

  What had she been thinking even offering to come in the first place?

  For one thing, she was wearing completely the wrong outfit. That much had been evident from Rory’s face. He’d looked at her almost aghast, speechless, that mocking glint clear in his eye, until he’d remember his manners and muttered something about her looking good. She didn’t belong on a red carpet. To be honest she’d feel much more at home hoovering the wretched thing rather than sashaying along it, trying to appear gorgeous and sylphlike. And sylphlike was never going to happen, not even in a month of Sundays.

  No, this was going to end in disaster. Maybe if she just slipped out the front door now, it would save them both a whole heap of trouble. Why couldn’t he have taken one of those dates she’d gone to so much trouble to arrange for him? Any one of the girls would have been a much better fit to these circumstances than Molly ever would be, even sweet Alice.

  Molly sank on the low leather settee, kicked off her nude patent court shoes and sighed. If she needed any more proof that she and Rory came from such different walks of life then she only had to look around this luxurious riverside apartment. It was vast, with full-length windows running across the entire width of the flat, giving panoramic views of the city. The room was sparsely furnished by design with a cream leather swivel chair to match the vast sofa, a monster of a television that seemed to dominate the room, a small chrome dining table with chairs, and a workstation that housed all sorts of computer paraphernalia. There wasn’t a flower or a photo in sight and if she hoped she might glean some hidden secrets into Rory’s personality from his living surroundings, then she was right out of luck.

  And now, just to add to her woes, she had a wet nose resting on her lap, depositing a nice damp patch on her best dress, and a pair of the most soulful brown eyes looking up at her, pleading with her to take her away from all this sterile luxury to a green and rolling field somewhere. Molly knew exactly how she felt.

  “Bella!” Rory appeared back through the doorway, hollering at the unrepentant dog, but still managing to look like a film star, which Molly supposed shouldn’t have been so surprising considering that’s what he was. Her heart pitter-pattered out of control. Perhaps spending so much time in his company had helped her forget that fact, but not tonight, not dressed in his DJ, the white ruffle-fronted shirt currently undone, giving unrestricted access to a toned and rippled chest. There could be absolutely no forgetting that this man was a superstar.

  She averted her eyes, concentrating instead on the furry mass at her feet.

  “Molly, sorry,” he said, fixing his cufflinks absentmindedly, before spoiling all her fun and doing up the buttons to his shirt. “Get away, Bella!” he scolded. “Just push her away. She knows that behavior is unacceptable.”

  Molly smiled, picking up the undertones of his self-indulgent manner. She suspected the harsh telling-off was for her benefit only, and in normal circumstances Bella could do exactly as she liked.

  “She’s beautiful,” said Molly, finding the action of running her hand through Bella’s soft fur strangely therapeutic and a welcome distraction from the giddy sight of Rory in all his finery. Bella lapped up the attention readily. “It’s not the best place for a dog though, is it? A city center apartment.”

  “Oh dear, Bella, Molly doesn’t approve.” He laughed, shooting the dog a rueful look. “There’s a communal garden and someone comes in twice a day when I’m working to feed and water her. But most of the time, if I can, I take her to work with me. She’s very good, loves being on set and, of course, everyone makes a fuss of her. And whenever I’m not working, I tend to go down to the country. I have a little cottage in Bexminster.”

  Of course he did. Why hadn’t Molly thought of that?

  “This is just my city base. And that’s exactly what it is, a crash pad. I don’t think of it as home. Home is the cottage. That’s where we get a proper chance to relax, go for long walks and generally unwind.”

  Molly wondered if he was referring to him and Bella or him and whoever his current ‘girlfriend for the weekend’ was. The thought gave rise to the tiniest pang of jealousy, which she quickly pushed aside.

  “Bella’s found a new best friend in you, though.” He smiled wryly, nodding to himself in affirmation, leaving Molly with the distinct impression she’d passed a test she didn’t even know she’d been entered for.

  “It sounds lovely, must mean you get the best of both worlds.”

  Rory nodded as he did up his collar, expertly tying the folds of his silk bow tie with a flourish, something he’d clearly done many times before, then he examined his reflection in the huge gilt mirror overhanging the fireplace, before turning to Molly

  “What do you reckon?” He held his hands out wide, inviting her inspection. “Will I do?”

  “Definitely,” said Molly, sighing inwardly with barely contained adoration. He would more than do. He was the most eligible bachelor in the country. You would think finding him a wife would be the easiest job in the world. “You really look the part.”

  * * * *

  “This way, Rory!”

  “Over here, please, Rory!” The demands came from every direction with the cameras flashing insistently. Molly didn’t know where to look first. She just plastered a knowing smile on her face in the hope that she might, at least, appear confident.

  “You okay?” Rory whispered in her ear as he slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his side for yet another batch of photos. His strong arm around her body sent a ripple of delight through her entire being and looking up at his broad frame encased in the immaculately tailored suit made her feel even smaller than her compact five feet and important half inch. She may only have been tiny, but the sense of protectiveness she gained from his touch was both empowering and reassuring.

  She sensed a sea of eyes focused on her, or more accurately, Rory, and she knew for that brief moment she was the envy of a whole crowd of adoring women. Something she had never experienced before nor was likely to again.

  “Yes, fine,” she said, trying to regain some control over her shaking limbs. It wasn’t the cold, she could cope with that, but the sense of being totally overwhelmed by the occasion. She still couldn’t quite believe that she was here among all these beautiful people. Her gaze swept the crowds, trying to absorb all the frenzied activi
ty and the familiar faces, people she knew through the pages of glossy magazines.

  In her professional life, Molly wasn’t judged on what she looked like or what she was wearing and that’s exactly how she liked it. Her personality had always gotten her through in any given situation. She could talk to anyone and deal with any problem thrown at her, but this was so far outside her comfort zone she couldn’t help the nerves fizzing through her body like champagne.

  “Rory! Who’s your new girlfriend?”

  Someone called from the crowd and a ripple of laughter spread around the onlookers. Rory gave a wry smile and an imperceptible shake of his head. Molly dropped her gaze to the floor, her skin prickling with embarrassment, followed by a tiny bit of pride to think she’d been mistaken for his girlfriend.

  Inside the theater, away from the glare of the cameras, Rory pulled her closer to his side.

  “You did great out there. I hate these things, I don’t know if I mentioned that?” He laughed, showing no sign that he wasn’t enjoying himself. “So it’s good to have a bit of moral support.” He squeezed her hand, his dark eyes caressing her.

  A warm swirl of desire filled her stomach and she suppressed an urge to stand on tiptoe and kiss him on his lips. Which she knew was totally bizarre and totally inappropriate.

  He’s your client, Molly, she scolded herself, not your boyfriend. But the more time she spent in his company, the more times complete strangers asked the question, the more she couldn’t stop herself from fantasizing about the possibility.

  “What I can’t understand is why we went to such great lengths the other night to escape a lone photographer and yet tonight you’re courting publicity in front of all these cameras.”

  “Yeah.” He shrugged, as though the fact amused him. “I thought about that. But I’ve decided I’m not going to live my life dictated to by the tabloids. Besides, we’ve got nothing to hide, have we?” His gaze challenged her and she wondered what had brought about the sudden change of heart. “You’re single. I’m single. Let them do their worst. Besides, it’s all good publicity for the film.”

  Molly flinched, the air rushing out of her as if she’d been punched in the chest. That would explain it. Rory was in need of some damage limitation. With Molly at his side, there’d be no chance of him appearing in any incriminating photos.

  What had she expected? Wasn’t she the one to keep insisting their relationship was purely professional? So why was she now nursing a ridiculous swell of disappointment?

  Chapter Seven

  Inside the darkened auditorium, Molly sat next to Rory in plush velvet-covered seats, their knees almost touching, while up on the big screen he was playing the romantic lead in the latest film sensation, a bittersweet comedy about a TV presenter killed in a car accident. Rory’s character, Jimmy Mack, is left in a state of limbo, neither alive nor fully gone over to the other side, unhappily residing in that nowhere land, Betwixt and Between, the title of the film.

  Opposite him, playing the romantic heroine, helping him make the transition to another world, was Carey Fisher, a young Australian actress who lit up the screen with her luminous beauty. All the time Molly had to remind herself that the heartthrob high up on the screen was sitting right next to her and she’d been landed with the job of finding this man a bride! Could this experience get any more surreal? she wondered.

  It was a fabulous film, entertaining, poignant and laugh-out-loud funny. And both Rory and Carey won the hearts of the audience with their honest and believable performances. So believable in fact that every time they kissed and cuddled, Molly screwed up her face, watching the unfolding events through one eye as she cringed in discomfort. It was excruciating to see Rory in such intimate exchanges while sitting alongside him. She clutched her arms around her chest, wriggling in her seat, as a whole range of emotions ran riot around her body as she watched Rory seducing a woman, embarrassment, a stirring of arousal and that unwelcome shard of jealousy that she had no reason to feel.

  One thing it taught her was that any woman brave enough to take on Rory as her boyfriend would need to have oodles of self-confidence and assurance and be successful in their own right. Wilting violets definitely need not apply. Molly was all of those things, but there was no way she’d be able to cope with watching the man she loved falling in love with other women, even if it was only for make believe. There were too many painful reminders of her own reality there.

  “So what did you think?” Rory asked when the credits rolled.

  “Oh, it was amazing,” said Molly honestly, dabbing away a few random tears from her cheeks with a tissue. “It was so sad at the end when she had to say goodbye to Jimmy. I thought my heart would break. And you and Carey were just brilliant together. You made the perfect couple.”

  Everyone else thought so too. Rory was swamped by people wanting to offer their congratulations and Rory spoke to each one of them graciously and courteously, but Molly was thankful he included her in the conversation, keeping her close to his side, a proprietary arm around her shoulder at all times.

  As soon as the crowds had dispersed, he turned to her.

  “There’s a party going on in the basement, which I should probably attend, but…” He shrugged, looking as if he couldn’t imagine anything worse. “I don’t know about you, but I’m all partied out. I might head for home, unless you have a burning desire to go…”

  “No, not at all.” She wasn’t bothered about the party, so why the sense of deflation that Rory was bringing their evening to a premature end? As far as he was concerned, it was a case of job done and it looked as though her services were no longer required. Hurt and disappointment pricked at her skin, but she shook them aside. “That’s absolutely fine with me. It’s been a long day and I’m tired out. I could do with an early night too. But thanks so much for inviting me along, it’s been a great evening.”

  Rory’s brow furrowed.

  “Hey, you’re not getting out of this that easily. I can’t invite you out for the evening and not feed you. I was thinking a takeaway, Chinese, Indian, a burger? What do you fancy?”

  Molly’s laugh masked her relief, the mention of food making her stomach rumble. With Rory she never quite knew what to expect next. One moment he was taking her to Michelin-starred restaurants and then the next he was suggesting the local burger bar. In his black tie getup as well, he couldn’t have looked more inappropriately dressed for the occasion. She gazed up into his dark, smiling eyes, warming to him even more at the fact that he could take a wildly glamorous evening and turn it into something reassuringly normal.

  “Now you come to mention it, a burger sounds just heavenly,” she sighed.

  * * * *

  “That…was…amazing!” Molly licked her fingers, removing the final traces of barbeque sauce from each of them in turn. They were back at Rory’s apartment, sitting on his plump leather sofa with polystyrene boxes surrounding them and Bella sitting at their feet, looking hopeful. Molly had managed to polish off a double bacon burger, large fries, onion rings and a strawberry milkshake with gusto and was now looking happily satiated.

  “You enjoyed that then?” Rory couldn’t keep the amusement from his voice.

  “Oh God, it was so good,” she said, passing Bella a sneaky chip with a pretend you haven’t seen this look to Rory. He thought about all the many other women he’d ever gone out with and wondered how many of them would have been happy with a take-out. Not many, he reckoned. A lot of them didn’t do carbs, some of them didn’t do fats and the rest of them just didn’t do food in general. He hated a woman who picked at her food, turning it over disdainfully as though it might be poisoned. For Rory, one of the great pleasures in life was eating, along with drinking and sex, although those last two pleasures had been the cause of so many of his problems.

  Molly loved her food, that much was evident, and she clearly enjoyed a drink or two. And the other thing? Well, he could only wonder about that. Which he found himself doing a lot of the time. Even thoug
h his appetite was now sated, he still felt that recurring hunger gnawing at the core of his stomach, something that he knew could never be satisfied with food, and would be made worse by succumbing to the booze again. No, this particular hunger could be filled solely from the touch of the woman beside him. Somehow she’d seeped into his consciousness. Slowly and surely until she’d taken up residence in his heart. He still wasn’t sure whether or not he was about to evict her.

  He thought about her the whole time, when he woke in the morning and when he went to bed at night, laying his head on the pillow. She’d gotten right beneath his skin with her natural beauty and honesty and that joyful laugh, which hit him full-on in the solar plexus, sending ripples of delight through his body.

  Rarely did a woman have such a polarizing effect upon him. And if they did there was one simple way to get it out of his system. But he wasn’t going there. Not this time.

  He’d made a commitment to himself and to Molly. Instead of acting impulsively and reaching for the nearest bottle of scotch or the prettiest woman available, he was going to act sensibly for the first time in his life. Finding a wife the sensible way would hopefully bring some much-needed stability to his life.

  Only Molly was in the mix now and he could never had anticipated when he first walked into her office that the woman who was supposed to be sorting out his love life would be the woman to completely mess up his heart and mind.

  Rory had been wrestling with his feelings from the moment he’d met her. Just being in her presence, he could sense the element of danger, the risk to his own equilibrium. However tantalizing and tempting Miss Matthews might be, he wasn’t certain he wanted to open his heart to that sort of exposure. Besides, there were Molly’s feelings to consider too. The inner hurt she carried around with her was tangible and he wasn’t prepared to cause any more damage to those lively eyes just for the sake of a fling.