by Cora Cade
Wrung out and blissfully sated, Cal gave a quick kiss to her shoulder. “Come on, honey. Let’s get a shower and then do it again.”
In response, Molly gave a groan. Chuckling, he lifted her easily into his arms and carried her up the stairs to the apartment.
The next morning, the unforgiving sun woke Molly earlier than she would have preferred. Glancing around, she realized she was alone, hogging an empty bed without Cal in sight. Stretching her exhausted body along the sheets that smelled like Cal brought a small smile to her face.
They’d spent the night alternately sleeping and enjoying some seriously hot sex. Just remembering how he would wake her with sweet kisses brought a delicious shiver to her body.
Rising from the bed, she found a shirt of Cal’s to pull on before making her way from the bedroom into the rest of the apartment. Both Cal and Bo were gone, and she knew they were out for a morning jog. How the man had enough energy to even put his shoes on was beyond her.
She could barely make it to the coffee pot.
Once her first cup of coffee was made, she collapsed on the couch and thought about hitting the shower. That’s as far as she got before the dynamic duo returned nearly an hour later.
When Cal stopped by the couch to lay a soft kiss on her forehead her traitorous heart beat double time. “Hey. Are you up for an early lunch with Lainey in about an hour? She asked last night and I forgot to mention it.”
As he stripped off his sweaty workout clothes, she knew she was perched on the precipice of no return with this man. Her heart was hovering on the edge of tumbling into the abyss and she wasn’t sure was going to be strong enough to watch him walk away when the time came.
She had to clear her throat twice before she could say, “Sure. I need to swing by Chris’s to get some clean clothes, but my day is free.”
“I can drive you over to get your clothes after I shower. Then we’ll swing by Lainey’s and pick her up.”
She nodded in response, even though she had her car, she wasn’t willing to give up this one day with Cal. She could rein her heart back in tomorrow. When their routine fell back into place, she could remember that he wasn’t for her. He was a military man and he’d be packing up to leave within another week.
So, she’d take this one day for her.
Cal knew they were running behind by the time they made it over to Chris’s apartment to pick up clean clothes for Molly. Not that he really cared. He was grateful that Molly was willingly, and without even a grumble, spending the day with him. And it was going to be a date, of that he had no doubt.
Chris was reclining on the couch when they busted in, obviously in a rush, and he glanced up from the book he was reading. “Damn, is the apartment on fire?”
Molly picked up a throw pillow and tossed it at Chris before disappearing down the hall. She called out, “We’re late for lunch with Lainey.”
“That’s what happens when you’re too busy getting busy.”
Cal took a seat in the empty chair closest to the door and seriously considered tossing Chris off the couch before sitting down. Molly appeared at the end of the hall wearing a long skirt that touched her ankles and pulling a tank over her head. Thankfully she’d tugged it into place before she reached the living room and gave Chris a peak of all that tantalizing bare skin.
“You are ever the gentleman.” She poked him in the chest and snatched his paperback. “Now go get dressed. We’re going to grab brunch over in Mumford at that new place you wanted to check out.”
“You are such a demanding woman. You think just because you snap your fingers I’ll jump?”
Molly snapped her fingers about an inch from his nose before saying, “Exactly. Now get your ass in gear.” She turned to Cal and said, “Five minutes, promise. I need to brush my teeth and do something with this mop.” She waved a hand in the general direction of her hair, which looked perfectly fine to him.
But if growing up with a twin sister had taught him anything, it was to keep your trap shut when a girl thought they needed to change something that was perfectly fine. Arguments always ensued, and he always lost. So, he sat back and picked up a magazine from the coffee table, relieved to find it was a muscle car magazine addressed to Chris, and began to flip through its contents.
Finally Cal glanced up at Chris over the top of the magazine. “If you don’t get your ass in gear, we’re leaving you behind.”
“You do realize Molly wants to set me up with your delightful sister.” Chris was grinning at him from the couch, completely relaxed.
“You do realize if you touch her I’ll break your face?”
The bastard didn’t even miss a beat. “Sure. I’ll be glad to fill Noah in on how seriously you’re taking your duties here.”
Molly popped her head out of the bathroom and with a toothbrush still in her mouth said, “Christian Ashley Harper.” The man in question winced. “That’s none of your damn business. Besides, Cal could crush you like a bug.”
“All true my little leprechaun. All true.” Chris winked at him before getting to his feet. “But it would be totally worth it just to work Noah up.”
By the time Cal had corralled Molly and Chris into the hall they were bickering about the pub’s work schedule for the upcoming week. With Chris insisting that he’d take a few days off at the office to pitch in, Molly was near violence trying to convince him she could handle it.
Thankful for any reason to interrupt them he said, “We might have a bigger problem here.” They both paused and stared at him, seemingly have forgotten he was still with them. “My truck can hold three comfortably in the front seat, but four adults will be a squeeze. Any chance you could drive, Chris?”
Molly slid a cunning glance at Chris before saying, “Oh, let’s take the Camaro. I bet Lainey would like to take your baby for a spin.”
“No one drives the Camaro but me.”
Molly leaned into Chris and batted her lashes at him. “But Lainey’s so pretty. I bet she could convince you differently.”
“Not a chance, leprechaun.”
Molly watched Chris as he stalked down the hall. “He’s totally going to let her drive.”
Before Chris reached the door to exit into the parking area, he called out. “Never going to happen.”
Cal threw an arm over Molly’s shoulder as they followed in Chris’s wake. “How’d you know Lainey’s got a soft spot for classic cars?”
Molly snorted, an indelicate laugh bubbling from her. “I didn’t. But I do know she’s partial to one sexy architect.”
“No way. She likes her men a little more…manly.”
Molly slanted him one of her patented looks. The one that implied he was the densest man she’d ever come in contact with. “Then you’re not paying attention. Chris is a total guy’s guy. Just because he doesn’t cart around weapons for a living doesn’t make him any less manly.” She rolled her eyes at him before going on. “The man is sex on a stick, covered in chocolate without calories. Women line up to drop their panties for him.”
Well, the woman had a way with words. None of it he wanted to hear for crying out loud. “Not Lainey. She doesn’t go for pretty boys.”
Molly tilted her face up to his as she stood on tiptoe to offer a quick kiss. Cal was struck by how stunning she was as he closed the distance to her lips. As she pulled away and dropped back to her feet she said, “Bet me.”
And with a quick pat to his ass she left him standing in the hall feeling like he’d just taken a punch to the gut.
Chapter Nine
Molly felt a little sorry for Lainey by the time they’d pulled up in front of the restaurant in Mumford. She’s initially been broadsided when they’d arrived with Chris in tow, doing a double-take as she came out of her rental cottage. Chris had turned on the charm immediately, leaving Cal to grumble the entire drive over.
Thankfully, La
iney was smarter than either of the men were giving her credit for. As they were taking their seats on the patio of the bistro Lainey said, “So, Chris, I ran into your ex, Lexie, the other day.”
Cal perked up at her words, all ears for what was coming next. Chris, on the other hand, visibly cringed and gave her the side eye before speaking. “She’s not my ex. A couple of dates does not a girlfriend make.”
Lainey turned in her seat, angling just enough that she looked like she was about to pounce on Chris. “Hmmm… Well, she had clear orders for the new girl in town.” When Chris didn’t respond immediately, Lainey casually returned to her original position and let the subject drop.
The woman was an evil genius. Both Cal and Chris were watching Lainey sip her water, obviously waiting for her to continue. Instead Lainey looked to Molly with wink and said, “I wanted to ask you some questions about business at the lake.”
“Of course! Anything I can’t answer I’m sure Noah could tackle when he gets back next week from his honeymoon.” Molly slid a glance at Cal, counting down the six or seven more days she would have with him.
“I’m really interested in how businesses stay afloat in the off season here. It seems like summer is obviously the peak tourist time, but how do the locals manage to make it through the leaner months.”
Cal looked like he was about to interject something and had his mouth half open, a slightly dazed look in his eyes. Molly quickly launched into her response before he could interrupt. “Well, it depends on the business. The pub hires seasonal help during the warmer months, but we stay fairly steady with locals throughout the winter. A lot of the businesses that cater to only tourists close down for the winter. Things like the boat rentals, campgrounds and such.”
Chris was looking at Lainey with a speculative stare when he finally said, “What kind of business are you really asking about?”
“Well, I noticed that the coffee shop downtown was for sale.” She turned to address Cal now. “And tomorrow I’m putting an offer in for it.”
Cal took a second before he spoke. “Have you talked to Dad yet?”
“I did. He told me to go for it. And to expect him to retire down here with me, so make sure I had room for him.” Lainey smiled at the memory, a soft curve of her lips that made her even lovelier. “I was hoping maybe Molly could give me some advice on surviving the winter and hopefully point me in the right direction for suppliers.”
Chris cut in, laying a hand over Lainey’s before saying, “We’ll all help. Noah’s wife, Tennyson, has her own graphic design business. She can help you get a website and signage set up. Noah can get you with the right accountant, and I can help with any changes you want to make to the building layout. I know it’s pretty dated in there, so we can get some plans laid out and squared away this winter before the busy season hits again.”
“That would be amazing! I’ll need all the help I can get while I try to get the business off the ground.” Lainey looked over at her brother. “Cal, what do you think about all this?”
Molly glanced to her left where Cal held himself very still. Then his face broke out in a broad grin. “I love it, Laine.” He leaned over the table to give his sister a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’re amazing. I couldn’t be prouder.”
“Well, that brings me back around to Chris’s Lexie.” Chris rolled his eyes at her. “She works at Keller Realty. I went in to ask about local properties and found this plot of land on the outer edge of the lake that I fell in love with. It’s a great price and I’m thinking about purchasing it. I figure I don’t have to build on it right away, but it could be a great investment right on the water.”
“Are you talking about old man Fisher’s land?” Chris questioned. When Lainey nodded, Chris went on. “That’s almost ten acres. It’s a gorgeous spot, but pretty remote.”
“Exactly! I think it’s perfect.”
Cal’s normally natural scowl softened when he spoke, “Mom would be so proud, Laine. She always wanted you to do whatever made you happiest.” He glanced around, addressing Molly and Chris. “Our mom passed when we were teens. Cancer. Dad split her life insurance money into two trusts. One for each of us, with the promise we’d use it to reach our dreams.”
Lainey wiped her eyes with the edge of her napkin before speaking. “We both dipped into it for college, but I don’t think either of us have touched it since. When I talked to Dad the other night, he just knew. Said it was about time.”
“What about the studio back home?”
Lainey looked a little surprised by the question, taking a moment before answering Cal. “I’ve been thinking about leaving for a while. I plan on keeping my equipment and some of my clientele that are willing to travel, but I don’t think I want to be working in a tattoo studio in twenty years.”
Chris leaned in closer to Lainey before asking, “You’re a tattoo artist?”
Lainey nodded, but Cal pulled up the sleeve on his tee. Pride shining on his face, he said, “This is all her work.”
“Isn’t that a traditional Polynesian style?”
Lainey arched a brow at Chris’s question. “Good eye. Our dad’s Samoan. Part of our culture.” She shrugged, dismissing the comment.
“And you’re just going to give it up? You’re obviously very talented.”
“Thanks. And no, I’m not going to give it up. I’m interested in being a bit more exclusive, taking larger scale pieces by appointment only. Sticking with custom work and not being tied to a studio all day every day. There’s a small space above the coffee shop that could be a great studio at some point. It could be a way to stay afloat in the colder months, I think.”
Obviously impressed Chris said, “Solid business plan.”
“Of course it is. My sister’s wicked smart.” When Cal tossed an arm casually over the back of her chair and winked at his sister, Molly knew another little piece of her heart had just tumbled into the abyss. Damn him.
Nearly two hours later Cal finally had Molly to himself again. Lunch with his sister and Chris had been great, but as everyone else had enjoyed a coffee on the patio after their meal Cal had been anxiously counting the minutes until he could politely request the bill and hustle them all to the car.
He had plans for the rest of their afternoon. The kind of plans he couldn’t reference in front of his sister. He wanted to make the most of what little time they had together. With her busy work week and his imminent departure the following weekend, Cal was feeling the pressure to make every second count.
When they reached the apartment Cal backed Molly against the door they’d just entered through. Her breath hitched when he pressed against her from hip to chest. Caging her face with both hands he took her mouth gently. Teasing along the crease of her lips, worshipping their perfection.
When he pulled away she licked her lower lip slowly, seductively. “Cal. Let me taste you.”
Molly’s words almost brought Cal to his knees. Instead she lowered herself, letting every curve of her body caress his hard edges.
She waited as he released his erection and then slid his hands into her hair. When she pursed her lips in a perfect bow and kissed the tip he nearly lost his load right then. Molly gave a wicked, pixie-like smile when his cock bumped her lush bottom lip, as if begging for her tongue.
She was enjoying the control. As much as he was enjoying letting her control him at the moment, he couldn’t release his hold on the back of her head. There was something unbelievably erotic about her hair sliding through his fingers as she moved forward to taste him again. It also gave him a level of control in the situation, to have her under his hands in any way.
Molly’s mouth wasn’t tentative. She was licking around the head with sure, swift strokes that made his knees want to buckle. She was teasing him and if she didn’t get down to business quickly, he was going to come all over that pretty face before he really felt her mouth.
She took the tip in her mouth, letting the moment stretch out before running her tongue against the ridge. Watching her swallow his cock was enough to cause his balls to tighten, but the intense sensation from her tongue was enough to have him losing control. Her milky white skin was a stark contrast to his darker skin, adding another layer of eroticism to the moment.
He was a thick man, and she was a petite woman, and even though she tried to take in more of him, she was only able to accept the first couple of inches. As she struggled to stretch her mouth, she locked eyes with him. She was gripping the base of his erection with both hands and doing her damnedest to please him.
He was so close he could feel the orgasm gathering as his fingers flexed in her hair. She moaned at the movement, letting her eyes dip closed for a second. Moments before his orgasm broke through, he let his control go. Lightly gripping Molly’s face, he held her in place as he moved into her mouth with short, heavy thrusts.
He was careful not to hurt her, but he took control as he fucked her mouth, grunting with each forward movement. She relinquished control as quickly as she’d taken it earlier.
She released her grip on the base of his cock and allowed him freedom to control the situation as he liked. She moved her hands to his ass and squeezed and kneaded there. Cal was fighting for a few more seconds of bliss when she gave a hard swat to his ass, sending a jolt of pleasure from the point of impact straight to his dick.
Immediately he jerked with his release, spurting thick ropes of come into Molly’s mouth and forcing a growl from his throat. She took the last of his thrusts before pulling away from him and wiping her mouth with the back of a hand.
He leaned down to capture her mouth. When his tongue tangled with hers, he could taste his essence, which brought a surge of possessiveness to the forefront of his emotions. Not surprising, since he’d felt possessive about Molly the second he’d laid eyes on her.