Never Too Late

by Alyssia Leon

  “Oh, does he? But… that’s girlfriend, right? Not wife?”

  Molly shook her head in amused disbelief. “Girlfriend. He’s not wearing a ring.”

  Kitty grinned. “Good.” She picked up an apple from a nearby basket and taking a small penknife from her gilet pocket, quartered it. “Here, give her these.”

  Molly held out a quarter apple piece on the flat of her palm and the mare chomped greedily into it, flicking it’s ears and snickering for more.

  “I’m really sorry about what happened between you and Brian.”

  Molly froze in the act of feeding the mare a second apple quarter.

  Had someone overheard what Brian said to her yesterday? No, there had been no one else by the church. Kitty must mean his engagement to Abby. She relaxed. “It’s fine. I’d much rather he was happy with someone else than unhappy with me.”

  Kitty grimaced. “Don’t know if I’d call it happy… They’re always—” Her lips formed a small ‘ooh’ of appreciation as she looked past Molly’s shoulder.

  Lord of Barrowdene, Molly guessed wearily, and turned to see Jake coming around the corner.

  In dark jeans and a black t-shirt that showcased a wide, solid chest, he was temptation enough to make a nun swoon.

  All of a sudden, she couldn’t bring herself to stand by and watch Kitty flirt with Jake, and see his inevitable interest. With a hasty goodbye, she left Kitty and hurried over to him.

  Kitty wouldn’t forgive her this, but she’d deal with that later.

  “You’re early.” Jake’s appreciative gaze skimmed over her when she reached him. “I admit I’m not used to that with women.”

  “As I said I would be.” Her words came out a tad too defensive.

  He oozed a sophisticated gorgeousness that made her want to reach out and touch him. Why, oh why hadn’t she taken more time with her appearance, like the women he knew?

  She stopped herself.

  For goodness sake, so what if she looked boring? The only reason she was here with him was because he needed someone to show him around Appleby.

  Clasping her hands behind her back to keep them in check, she shot him her best professional smile. “Shall we get going?”

  “Lead the way.”

  They passed Rose Cottage on their way to the south orchard, Jake asking enough questions about the estate that their conversation stayed thankfully neutral.

  The trees in the orchard hung heavy with green apples, shiny purple cherries, and yellow-green pears. The sweet scent of ripe fruit filled the air and a few crushed cherries littered the grass around them.

  “Most of this looks ready.” He glanced up at the weighted branches above them.

  “The cherries are. Nate and a few men from Ayers farm will be harvesting them this weekend. They’ll pick the pears too because those don’t taste the best if left to ripen on the tree. The apples need another month.”

  Reaching up, he plucked two plump cherries and handed one to her. He popped one in his mouth. “That tastes good.”

  She bit the dark fruit, relishing the instant pop of sweet juice that flowed over her tongue.

  They reached the outer edge of the orchard and he glanced back at the forest of fruit-laden trees. “That’s a lot of fruit. Your grandfather sure didn’t skimp. What happens to it all?”

  “We sell in bulk to Ayers Farm, like all the other orchards in Appleby. Martin deals with Barrowdene’s accounts for that.”

  He frowned. “Francine mentioned him, but he’s not an accountant, is he?”

  They turned to walk down the open green field and she couldn’t decipher his shuttered expression. “No, but he’s always looked after Barrowdene for Francine, and done it well.”

  “You like working for him, Molly?”

  “He’s an excellent boss, a good friend really.” She glanced at him. “Why are you asking about Martin?”

  He smiled. “I’m just curious about anyone who has dealings with Barrowdene.”

  That made sense. Of course, he’d want to know more about the people here.

  Ahead of them, a little stream burbled noisily in a shallow valley, and with sudden concern she remembered the excited duo of earlier. “I’m really sorry about the girls this morning. I’ll make sure they don’t disturb you in your room again.”

  He burst out laughing. “Francine warned me the grapevine around here was scorching. The gilded version’s probably done the rounds by now, so I guess I’d better ready myself for a whole lot of damning looks today.”

  “No, I know them. They’re young and silly, but they won’t exaggerate.”

  “You’ve been suffering with the rumour mill too, haven’t you, Molly?” He studied her.

  “Wh–what do you mean?”

  “Just that you’re fresh out of a relationship, and the guy’s back here flaunting his new fiancée.”

  She gasped. “How do you…?” Then realization hit. “Nan! What else did she tell you?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Your one and only relationship and apparently, it should never have happened.”

  Mortification sent dull heat scorching to her cheeks. For some reason, Jake knowing about her failed relationship made her want to jump in the shallow stream and drown.

  “Brian didn’t do this on purpose. You can’t help who you fall in love with.” She bit her lip at the lie. Brian may be with Abby, but was it really about love?

  He gave a derisive bark of laughter. “Love! Only a woman would cling to that old trope. Didn’t he love you once? What was it about this woman that had him loving her all of a sudden?”

  “Just because you don’t know what love is…” she snapped. “Brian didn’t do this to hurt me. I wasn’t what he needed and I’ve made my peace with that, and frankly, it’s none of your business.”

  He stopped and looked at her, his head back and proud, his glittering gaze hard, and she gulped as her anger drained. She’d stirred the lion, and from the looks of it, he wasn’t used to being crossed.

  Then a throbbing awareness uncurled in the pit of her stomach, tightening her tingling nipples until they poked at the thin cotton of her dress. She couldn’t tear her gaze from his strikingly handsome face. Her lips parted slightly, and his gaze dropped to them, darkening, and as if accepting an invitation he took a step closer.

  She waited, breathless, her body aching for his touch.

  Suddenly his eyes cleared, his sensuous lips curved in a wry grin and he threw a hand up in mock surrender. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Let’s move on and enjoy the day.”

  She had to bite back her cry of frustration.

  Had she imagined his reaction?

  But he’d looked as if he’d wanted to…

  No, that was too dangerous. Don’t go there. What she needed was the polite distance between them she’d promised herself. Cheeks blazing, she gave a brisk nod and turned and walked on, following the stream and avoiding even looking in his direction.

  Jake walked beside her in silence.

  Everything about her was his business, and she’d know that soon enough.

  He’d sensed a deeper reason for her jittery reluctance to him, and finding out about her broken relationship had enraged him. The fool had never deserved her. Now, a little probing, and his rage had boiled over into white-hot fury. She was still hung up on the loser.

  He frowned. This should be his out. If he had any sense, he’d run for the hills right about now. She’d only had one relationship so far and her heart was still lost in it. She had no room for the casual encounter he would demand.

  He glanced at her as she walked beside him, apparently very engrossed in the little stream. She walked with an unconscious feminine grace, swaying in her blue dress in a way that whetted his imagination and fuelled his need like no woman had before her.

  Damn, he wanted her and it was becoming harder to keep away. No way was he leaving without a taste.

  He’d almost lost control at the cottage yesterday and kissed her, claimed her sweet m
outh fully. And now, as she’d glared at him in righteous indignation, beautiful and glowing in the summer sun, it had taken everything in him not to throw her down on the grass and take her hard right there. He could only imagine her moans as he thrust in and out of her. His rigid shaft throbbed against the constraint of his jeans and he took a few breaths to calm his hot blood.

  She’d come to him willingly, and soon.

  She needed this as much as he did. He could sense it. But when they came together, there would be no misunderstandings, no expectations, and no meaningless talk of love. It would be physical and explosive and out of this world, and it would free them both.

  But in the meantime, he was going to shake loose that worthless ex of hers whom she kept clutched tight in her heart.

  The remainder of their morning walk turned out to be far more enjoyable than Molly liked to admit. They’d diligently stuck to the safe topic of Appleby, Jake wanting to know all about the village and its people, and he’d kept her talking so much, she hadn’t noticed the hours slip past.

  Now as they neared the pub around noon, she grimaced and stepped gingerly so as not to annoy her already throbbing calf muscles. She shot him a glance from beneath her lashes. He looked as fresh as he had this morning when they’d set out. No one would guess he’d just trekked over hills and fields for hours.

  She groaned inwardly. She’d bitten off more than she could chew when she’d schemed the longest walk in the history of Appleby. He was supposed to be collapsed in an exhausted heap right about now, but he bounced along beside her, and all she could think about was a comfortable chair in the shade somewhere.

  She rolled her eyes, and he looked at her with a small frown. “You okay?”

  “Uh-huh. Fine.”

  “What is it?” His narrowed gaze flicked to the slight way she swapped her weight from one foot to the other. “Your feet hurt? Why didn’t you say so?” And in one swift move, he scooped her up in his arms, holding her firm against the hardness of his chest.

  She gasped, clinging to his shoulders. “Jake! Put me down! People will see.”

  “I don’t give a damn what people see,” he growled, giving her a quelling look as he strode towards a wooden bench a few feet away on the road’s grassy verge.

  He deposited her gently on the bench and she breathed a sigh of relief, willing her hammering heart to slow down and her trembling body to relax.

  “Bloody hell! You’re shaking.” He dropped to his haunches and enveloped her cold hands in his larger warm ones. “Are you dizzy? It could be heat stroke. I should have thought of it with your light colouring and the sun like it is today. All that walking and you didn’t even wear a hat.”

  The warmth flowing from his hands to hers comforted her. She could stay like this in his hold for eternity. But that wouldn’t do. She couldn’t act needy in front of him.

  She pulled her hands away and reached down to massage her calf muscles. “Thanks. It’s not heat stroke. My legs were tired, but they’re better now.”

  His hands joined hers on her legs, and she stilled, her breath hitching as he slowly rubbed up and down the sore muscles.

  “Better?” he murmured, looking up.

  Their eyes locked, and the atmosphere shifted, crackled with tension, anticipation, the soft rhythmic squeeze and release of his warm hands on her legs sending shivers of need pulsing through her.

  His eyes darkened, and shifting forward with one knee down, he reached up and cupping her cheek, traced the contours of her lips with his thumb. Her heart raced and her mind shut down as she stared at him, and in a heartbeat, his lips were on hers.

  His kiss was barely there at first, a featherlight brush against her lips that had her gasping. He took the opening she gave, threading his fingers into her curls, gripping her as he pushed into her mouth, his tongue dancing with hers as he deepened the kiss.

  She closed her eyes on a soft moan. The bristle on his chin tickled the skin of her face and she melted into the delicious feel of him, the intoxicating scent of him, her arms snaking around his neck as she pulled him closer to her, hungry for so much more.

  He grasped her waist with his other hand, and the sudden pressure caused slow awareness to seep back into the silly putty her mind had become.

  What on earth was she doing?

  They were on the roadside, right opposite the pub, on show in front of potentially the entirety of Appleby.

  With a muffled cry, she yanked away from him, and panting, they stared into each others eyes for a long shocked moment.

  Then his lips curled into a slow satisfied grin. “Now that was worth waiting for.”

  She glared back at him with accusing eyes. “You have a girlfriend!”

  “Girlfriend?” His eyebrows snapped together.

  He really was no better than Brian.

  “I’m not that type, Jake, understand that. You’re in a relationship and I want nothing to do with you.”

  And yet, her traitorous body clamoured for his touch even now. She wrapped her arms tight around herself.

  “I’d be disappointed if you were that type,” he said dryly. “My girlfriend is history, and I’m not looking to replace her either. I know you feel this thing between us, Molly, but you understand this. Your ex has no part in it. This is between you and me, and I will have you totally to myself, body, mind, and soul while I’m here.”

  While he was here?

  Warning bells rang in her mind even as her entire body caught flame from his words. He wanted her, and to be so fully possessed by him…

  She shook her head in numb denial. A brief affair with him would burn her forever, and all her instincts screamed to keep away.

  He smiled and reaching out, traced a gentle thumb over her kiss swollen lips. “Oh, you can run, Molly, but know that I won’t let you run for long. I mean to have you.”

  She stared at him, drowning in his golden beauty.

  Why was she running? He said he wasn’t with his French girlfriend anymore. She was free too now that Brian had dumped her. Why shouldn’t she take what Jake was offering? God knew she wanted it, wanted him. What was she scared of?

  She perched on the edge of the bench, her mind in turmoil, and he regarded her, amusement firmly back in his eyes. “But that’s for later. Right now, you need feeding. Allow me to buy you lunch, Molly, as a thank you for yesterday’s fantastic meal and that kiss like no other.”

  Despite herself, she smiled. Did she still want to run?

  Seemingly taking that as his answer, he pushed to his feet and held a hand out to her. And without another thought, she took it, letting him help her up and lead her across the road to the pub.

  7

  Molly managed to come back to her senses and pull her hand from Jake’s just as they reached the pub. He said nothing, merely glancing at her with a raised eyebrow as they stepped into the cool half-empty building. The smell of hot food and old leather teased their nostrils.

  Jake looked around. “I sure am starving. Anything you particularly like?”

  “The house special is usually nice.” She indicated the chalkboard menu above the bar. Today it was beef and pedigree ale pie, and the pub portions were satisfyingly generous. He’d enjoy that. “It also comes with local village cider, if you’d like to try it.”

  With a nod, he went to the bar to order their meal.

  A furtive thrill shot through her as she watched him from the doorway leading out to the crowded garden seats. Was she really contemplating an affair with Jake Hennessy?

  Two days ago, when she’d first set eyes on him here, he’d been intimidating, out of reach. Now here she was, just one word away from climbing into bed with him.

  A twinge of uncertainty had her frowning and she turned away to stare outside. What if she wasn’t good enough? She didn’t exactly have a world of experience, not like the women he must be used to. What if she bored him? Doubt was a merciless needle, and her thrill-filled balloon deflated.

  “They’ll bring our dr
inks.” Jake placed a hand on the small of her back, startling her out of her thoughts. “We’ll get a table outside. It’s too dark in here.”

  Her worries frittered away and she relaxed into his touch, basking in his closeness. He’d said he wanted her, and that knowledge alone sent her heart soaring again.

  The pub garden was packed, but she smiled as she stood beside his tall form and scanned the rows of colourful parasol-shaded tables for an empty one.

  “Over there.” Jake gently pressed her toward a table that had a green parasol, and where a couple was standing up, having finished their drinks.

  She froze.

  The smile on her lips melted into wide-eyed shock as she recognized Brian and Abby.

  But Jake didn’t notice her hesitation, and his long strides propelled them there before she could even think of a quick get-out.

  “Molly!” Brian’s dark eyes widened in shock before narrowing in hostile curiosity as he looked from her to Jake.

  Recovering with speed, she forced a cheerful note to her voice. “Brian, Abby, how nice to see you. This is Jake Hennessy. He’s buying Barrowdene.”

  Brian’s expression opened, his hostility morphing into immediate interest, and he sprung forward, hand outstretched. “Brian Wilkins.”

  Jake’s dispassionate amber gaze flicked over Brian’s proffered hand, and for a mortifying second it looked like he was going to snub the gesture. But then he grasped it in a firm handshake.

  Molly breathed a silent sigh of relief.

  “And this is my fiancée, Abby Fontelroy.” Brian beamed with pride and Molly stared at him.

  A day ago, he’d been ready to pick up where they’d ended, and here he was now, barely acknowledging her and fawning over Abby like she was a rare gem. At least Jake had been honest in his desire. In that moment, Brian looked exactly like a proud little schoolboy bragging about his superior toy. How come she’d never seen that about him before?

  Abby looked Jake up and down, and obviously liking what she saw, moved ever so slightly, positioning herself for maximum visual impact in her figure-hugging, thigh-skimming canary-yellow dress.