“So you’ll join our team?” he asked, snowball poised in the air.
“Yes.” Molly gasped for a breath.
“Okay, you go that way and hide behind those hedges near the side of the house. Jake and I will corner him and force him to retreat. Make lots of snowballs!” he commanded as he moved toward the other boy, who was hiding from flying snowballs inside the fort.
Molly did as he instructed, stacking snowballs along the hedge, waiting to attack. She could hear the boys’ laughter as they chased Aiden around the yard.
“Molly! Help!” Aiden called out.
She hid her laughter behind her hand as he neared the hedge. Within seconds, the two boys were on either side of her. They grabbed snowballs and hurled them over the hedge, where the unsuspecting Aiden could do nothing but duck and weave out of the way.
“Come on, Molly,” Jake said, tugging on the sleeve of her jacket.
She popped up to join the fight.
Aiden’s look of surprise made her laugh even harder, and her throwing attempts were weakened.
“Traitor!” he yelled, shaking his head.
“Jake! Kyle!” a woman’s voice in the distance called.
“Uh oh, that’s Mom. Gotta go. Come on, Jake.” Kyle dashed in the opposite direction of the backyard.
“You’re on your own. You can use the fort if you want.” Jake ran after his brother and the two disappeared inside a house across the street.
“Haha. What are you going to do without your little helpers?” Aiden ran after Molly as she escaped the confinement of the hedges.
“Truce?” she called over her shoulder as she ran through the deep snow.
“Too late.” Aiden reached her with little effort. One strong arm circled her tiny waist, and she landed in the snow-bank bordering the edge of the lawn and the sidewalk. He rolled her over, and his weight landed on top of her.
She struggled to breathe from his sudden weight and her laughter. “No…fair.”
“What about this relationship so far has been fair?”
He had a point. She shook her head laughing. “You’re right.” She looked up into the lightest set of blue eyes she’d ever seen. Crystals, framed by long dark eyelashes. Breathing was difficult under his intense gaze, as he brushed a stray hair from her cheek. “I can’t breathe.” She pushed against his chest.
“Sorry.” He rolled off of her and lay on the snow-bank next to her. “So how about a truce? No more meddling in each other’s lives.”
“Probably for the best,” she agreed. She looked up at the stars. Away from the city lights, they shone like diamonds in the clear sky. Aware of his hand on the snow touching hers, heat radiated through her body, despite the chill from the snow beneath them. “I should go.” She sat up and shook the snow from her hair.
He stood and stretched an arm out to help her.
She pretended not to see it as she pushed herself up from the ground.
He put his hand in his pocket and shuffled his feet on the snow. “So, you’re okay from here?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure? I could tag along…in case there are any more flying snowballs…” He surveyed the neighborhood. All was quiet and peaceful.
Molly smiled. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. Goodnight, Aiden.” She waved and turned the corner toward her apartment building.
“Goodnight, Molly,” he said as he watched her disappearing figure in the moonlight.
****
Aiden fought the urge to chase after her and kiss her. The woman infuriated him. So independent and determined, yet when she let herself go and laughed, she lit up like the lights on a Christmas tree.
Meeting at McDougals had been a huge coincidence, and seeing her created a stir in his heart he’d never felt before. She was beautiful, no doubt about it, but his attraction to her went deeper than a physical lure. She challenged him, surprised him, and denied him. Without saying it, she made it clear she wasn’t interested in a relationship. Even though she came from money, he sensed his lucrative lifestyle didn’t appeal to her.
He kicked at the snow beneath his feet as he walked. His toes had already gone numb in his shoes, and a chill ran down his neck in the absence of his scarf. She’ll probably just return it along with the money she so adamantly insists on paying back. He dismissed all hope of seeing her sooner.
Chapter Five
“Aiden? Have you heard a word I’ve said?” his sister, Samantha, asked on the other end of the phone line.
Monday morning, and despite his busy schedule, Aiden couldn’t keep his thoughts from wandering to Molly. Images of her laughing, her dark hair trailing behind her as she ran, or those piercing cat-like eyes, would pop up at the most inopportune time.
“What? Uh… Sorry, Sam. I’m a little preoccupied today.” Little was an understatement. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Molly for days. He was desperate for an excuse to see her again, but couldn’t think of anything plausible.
“I’ve noticed. You work too hard, Aiden.”
His thoughts had been on anything but work, but he couldn’t admit as much to his sister. She kept trying to set him up with her friends and coworkers. She thought it was time for him to focus on his own life and let others take care of themselves for a change. “You’re right. Maybe I’ll take a break in the new year.”
“Yeah right. Anyway, I called to remind you of the toy drive on Saturday. Josh said he told you about it last week, but I knew you’d need reminding. In fact, should I just be talking to Lynn?” His sister sounded worried.
“No, I got it.” He laughed and shook his head. “Josh did tell me last week, and I wrote it on that white board you stuck to my fridge last month.”
“Really? Oh, okay. So it’s at St…”
“St. Michaels Academy at nine. Sam, I got. Don’t worry, I’ll be there.” He never disappointed his nephew.
“Okay, sorry. It’s just so important to Josh. He told all of his friends his uncle Aiden was coming, and he’s going to get to ride in the Land Rover…”
“No worries, Sam. Do you need me to pick him up?”
“No, I’m taking Jim’s truck to help with the driving this year. They already had enough wrappers and sorters.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll see you both there.” He opened his calendar and entered the toy drive, afraid he might forget, due to his current five-foot-seven distraction. It was the first productive thing he’d done all morning.
“Oh, and before I let you go, what are you doing Friday night?”
He sighed. “Samantha, I do not want to be set up on another date.”
“It’s not a date. I’m just having a dinner party, a few friends. It’s nothing really, I just thought if you were free…”
“No thanks, Samantha. I have a bottle of wine and a new Quentin Tarantino movie I’m dying to watch.” He stood and stretched, then tilted the window blinds to prevent the morning sun from reflecting across his computer screen.
“But…”
“Sam, the answer is no, but thank you.” He heard her sigh on the other end.
“Fine. See you Saturday.”
“Bye, sis.” He replaced the phone receiver and glanced at his watch. 12:06. His stomach rumbled, but his next client would be there in less than an hour. He’d ask Lynn to order him something. He opened his office door, and his tan scarf caught his eye. “Where did my scarf come from?”
Lynn was on the phone. “Excuse me a second.” She covered the mouthpiece. “A woman dropped it off a moment ago. Beautiful woman. She was in quite a rush though…”
“Molly was here?” It was lunchtime at Rollins and Clarke. Aiden didn’t even stop to grab his coat as he rushed out of the office and down the two flights of stairs. He pushed through the building’s revolving door and gasped as the cold wind hit him. He looked up and down the street and caught sight of her crossing on the crosswalk on the corner.
“Molly!” He jogged to the corner and stepped off the curb as the light turned green.
A taxi cab honked. “Sorry.” He waved and stepped back onto the sidewalk as the traffic zoomed past. “Molly!” he called again.
She turned, and her eyes met his.
“Wait there…please.”
The light took forever to turn red again. She shifted from one foot to the other on the other side of the street and checked her watch as she waited.
He was out of breath when he reached her a moment later. “Thanks.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I just wanted to thank you for returning the scarf. Sorry I was unavailable.” She looked beautiful in a red cashmere coat, buttoned all the way up her neck. Her long hair was tied at the base of her neck and hung over one shoulder. She wore makeup, and his eyes fell to her crimson lips. He tore his gaze away. The temptation to kiss her was overwhelming.
“No problem. I’m on the way to the café to see Cameron for lunch, so it was no problem to drop it off.”
“Well, thank you.” Quit saying thank you. You sound like a moron. Say something else. Anything else. “How’s your first day at Rollins and Clarke?”
“So far so good. I’m just getting settled today, but I think I’m going to enjoy working there.” She looked at her watch and moved out of the way of the lunch crowd hurrying past.
I’m keeping her from lunch. “I’m heading to the café myself. Shall we?” He was hungry. Maybe he’d have time to grab something to eat.
“Turkey sandwich?” She headed in the direction of the café.
Aiden laughed as the tension broke, and he fell into step next to her. “How did you know?”
“Lucky guess.” She shrugged and gave a playful smile.
His heart beat hard. He had to spend more time with her. “Listen, Molly, what are you doing Saturday?”
Her smile disappeared, and a frown appeared on her pretty lips. He wished he could pull the words back from the air.
“Look, Aiden, thank you for everything you’ve done, but I’m not interested in seeing…anyone right now.” She stopped in front of the café.
Once again, denied. Think fast. The toy drive! “Actually, Molly, I wasn’t asking you out,” he lied.
“You were just curious about my plans for Saturday?” She looked at her watch again and placed her hands on her hips.
“No. I asked because I know your family participates in many charity events throughout the year and the holidays especially, so I thought I’d try to recruit your help for a toy drive on Saturday.” He was pleased he’d thought of it. Thank you, Josh.
“Oh…” She paused. “Well, my father’s contributions are usually just monetary…”
He could hear disdain in her tone. “That’s why I thought maybe you’d enjoy getting a little more involved…hands on. It’s for my nephew, Josh.”
She hesitated a moment longer, but he knew he had her. He suspected she’d do anything in direct contrast to her father’s way of doing things.
“Sure. Why not?” She smiled and waved to a familiar couple leaving the café.
“Great. I’ll pick you up—”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll meet you there. Where’s the meeting place?”
Wow, she was stubborn. At least he’d make sure to spend the day with her by teaming them together for the toy pick up. “Okay, Miss Independent. It’s at the St. Michael’s Academy for the hearing impaired.”
“Your nephew is hearing impaired?”
“Since birth.” Aiden nodded. “He’s such a great kid, and he’s worked so hard to overcome the disadvantages of the disability.” His cell phone beeped with a text message. He recognized the tone as Lynn. “It’s the office.” He read the message. His 12:30 appointment had arrived. So much for lunch. “I have to go, but I’ll see you Saturday? Nine o’clock?”
“Sure… What about your sandwich?” She held open the door to the café.
The smell of baked bread and cinnamon rolls escaped the open door, and his stomach grumbled. “Tell Cameron I’ll see her tomorrow.” He walked backward down the street. “Oh, and Molly?”
“Yeah?” She paused inside the café door.
“You look beautiful today.” He didn’t wait for a response as he took off down the street.
Chapter Six
“So you’re the one driving my brother to distraction these days?” Samantha asked Molly as she pulled her minivan out of the school parking lot a few days later.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. We just had a little friendly feuding match.” Molly shrugged and glanced in the rear view mirror as Aiden and his nephew pulled onto the street behind them in his Land Rover. He’d made a valiant effort to be paired with her for the toy pick up, but the limited number of volunteers made it impossible. Riding with his sister was a safer option. She found herself liking the man a little too much, and spending time with him was risky for her heart.
Samantha eyed her with an amused grin. “Maybe for you, but not Aiden. I know my brother, and you have turned his neat little world upside down.”
“If you mean the dog then yes, it was a little over the top, but I couldn’t resist.” Molly glanced at the other woman. She looked a lot like her brother.
The same piercing, knowing blue eyes smiled back at her as she turned onto Main Street. “The dog was the start of it, but I’m starting to think any irritation Aiden may have felt at first has long subsided. I think he’s quite smitten.”
“Over the dog?”
“Over you. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”
Molly hated to admit she had noticed, despite her best efforts. She’d also noticed how her own pulse raced at the sight of him, and how she’d been looking forward to seeing him.
When Molly didn’t speak, Samantha continued, “I can’t remember the last time he introduced anyone to us. He’s very protective of us. Has been since our parents died fourteen years ago.”
“I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“Aiden doesn’t talk about it much. He was very close to our father, and he took it hard. He put on a strong front, quit school and took care of us.” Samantha checked her blind spot and switched lanes on the busy street.
“He quit school?”
“Yes. He worked in a publishing warehouse for three years, and then wrote the exam for his High School diploma. He attended NYU at night.” The pride she felt was evident in her voice.
Molly felt a pang of guilt. She’d pegged him all wrong. He couldn’t be further from her initial assumption of him. He wasn’t a trust fund baby, but a hardworking, caring man who’d taken a much tougher road to success.
“I can tell by the look on your face you didn’t know any of this.” Samantha pulled into the driveway of the first donation house.
“No, but we really aren’t that close.”
“Well, if I know my brother, it won’t be that way for long.” Samantha opened the door and jumped down from the truck. “You coming?”
“Yeah.” Molly put on her gloves and opened the door. The cold air blasted her, taking her breath away. Thoughts of Aiden would have to wait.
****
Despite their best efforts, Aiden and Josh were unable to race the women, and arriving at the school two hours later, they found Molly and Samantha sorting toys and drinking hot chocolate. They laughed like old friends. Warmth flowed through him at the sight. He was careful who he introduced to his family. He’d suspected Molly would be a hit.
“Did you two slow pokes have fun?” Samantha asked as they approached.
“It was awesome.” Josh signed. “Uncle Aiden even let me drive.”
Aiden swatted his nephew’s head. “You weren’t supposed to tell.”
“You let him drive?!” Samantha gave her brother a stern look.
“Only in an empty ice rink parking lot.” Aiden held his hands up in defense of the verbal lashing he was about to get.
“He’s eight.”
“He’s a good driver.” Aiden chuckled. He rubbed his sister’s arm. “Don’t be mad. I promised him last week if we found an empt
y, big parking lot he could drive the Land Rover.”
“Can I drive home?” Josh asked his mother.
“No.” She signed. “Look what you started.” She waved an accusatory finger at her brother.
He shrugged and grinned.
“Well that’s the last of them.” Molly sorted the last few items into their designated bins. She smiled at Aiden.
It was unexpected, and his tongue didn’t work as he looked at her pretty pink lips and flushed cheeks.
“So, I guess I should be going…” She looked at her watch.
Aiden felt a jab in his ribs from his sister.
She nodded in Molly’s direction.
“Oh…right...Molly, Samantha is having a dinner party…well it’s actually a poker night…just a few friends…”
Samantha rolled her eyes and interjected. “We would love for you to join us tonight for poker and martinis. We do it once a month.”
“Oh I can’t…”
“Please!” Josh signed.
“Yeah, please!” Aiden mimicked the puppy dog face his nephew sported.
Molly paused, speechless as she looked from one sad face to the other. She laughed. “Fine…okay, but only because of you.” She tousled Josh’s hair.
“Great. I can pick you up around seven?” Aiden asked, helping her slide into her coat.
“No, that’s okay. It’s probably out of your way. I’ll meet you there.” She moved away from him and buttoned the coat.
What a stubborn woman. At least she agreed to go. Small steps. “Okay,” he agreed.
After jotting down Samantha’s address and promising once again she’d be there, Molly left.
“I can see why you’re so infatuated with her.” Samantha turned to face her brother, who had busied himself with the toys.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Aiden refused to meet his sister’s gaze. “It was your idea to invite her tonight.”
“Only because I was afraid my bumbling idiot of a brother would let her leave without asking her out again.” Samantha took a doll from the box, tagged it with a pink ribbon, and placed it in the appropriate bin.
Mistletoe & Molly Page 4