The Perfect Gift

The students walked in, followed by Olivia and Brian as she stared at the floor. I’d gotten the best of her but if she was as stupid about things as she seemed, she’d be getting it from one of these kids. A woman teaching the class was always something of an uproar, but she knew her stuff after all her years in studying the planes. She just needed to keep it professional and I took a seat with Randy in the back of the room. I thought forward to the date, considering taking her to the local Asian place in town if she liked that kind of food. There weren’t the fine steakhouses here that I’d had in other cities to woo women, but I didn’t mind. I was starting to like it here more.

The class went smoothly for the first day. There were the guys that thought they were going to be ahead of everyone else, but I knew what would happen as time passed. I was there once and damn lucky to have worked through it, making a fine career out of the opportunity.

I left at four, ready to go home and get ready for my date. Molly had sent me her address and I stopped by the florist for a smaller bouquet for her. I selected lilies this time, tucking them under my arm as I walked to my car.

I took another shower and dressed in black slacks and a button up shirt in a dark shade of blue. I slipped my feet into some black boots that I wore for errands that I’d been wearing for years. Once I liked something, I stuck with it. I was a simple man in some ways but to others I was so complex.

I worried that I’d be too much for Molly as I followed the directions to her house. It was a nice ranch house that was up on a hill overlooking the town and countryside, so I took a long look as I got out of my used Pathfinder. It was beautiful and I returned my gaze to the house with the warm light inside. I walked up and knocked on the door with flowers in hand, smiling as a woman opened the door with a curious gaze. She was close to my age and beautiful with dark skin and eyes. “Mr. Johnson,” she greeted me as I frowned and shook my head with a chuckle.

“It’s Robert. I’m not at work,” I assured her as she laughed and opened the door.

“Come in. Molly will be right down.” Her eyes landed on the flowers as she smiled wider. “I can put those in some water. They’re beautiful. She deserves them.”

“I agree.” I walked inside and she took the flowers through what looked like the living room as she told me to have a seat. Molly must live with them and I glanced around to see pictures of Noel and the woman with a man on the mantel. This must be her family home. It felt warm in here and full of love, so I was glad that she had a place like this. I heard laughter and then footsteps to my left and glanced over to see someone coming down the stairs, making eye contact with Molly as she smiled.

She was wearing a green dress with black tights and flats and held a purse and jacket in her arms. “You’re stunning,” I said as I stood up and took her in eagerly, making her blush. Her hair was down around her shoulders and she’d added a hint of makeup to make her eyes pop. I knew that she didn’t realize how gorgeous she was and wanted her to as I watched her walk towards me.

“Thank you. You look good, too.” Her eyes raked over me as she stopped and settled on my face. We heard someone coming in and both turned to see the older woman carrying a vase of flowers.

“I’ll watch these until your home, Molly. Maybe Keith will get some ideas.” She smiled as she put the lilies on a table and Molly looked at me.

“You brought those?” I nodded. “Robert, this is Marta Martin. Noel’s mother.” I shook her hand and saw a pride in her eyes for Molly that made me realize this was different from anything with any other woman in my life. I never met family nor did I care to, but I liked this woman and this house. I liked Molly.

We made some small talk before leaving and I helped Molly into her thick black coat. She smelled like cherries and I inhaled deeply as she turned to meet my eyes. We walked to the car as the sun was setting on the horizon, and I paused as Molly looked at it. Her face was beautiful in the hues of orange and pink and I memorized her as she smiled and reached for my hand. “Thank you for everything, Robert. The flowers are beautiful and this is just…nice. I don’t go out too much.”

“It’s not a problem. I like seeing that smile,” I assured her as our eyes locked and fingers intertwined. Yes, there was heat between us. Once she seemed to be finished watching the sunset, I took her to my car and opened the door before making sure that she was securely inside and safe. I walked around the back and slipped into the front seat before looking at her. “I was thinking of Asian for dinner. Do you like that?”

“I love it,” she replied as her red lips spread into a smile. I started the car and headed down the hill into town, smelling her in my car as the attraction between us increased with each passing moment. I looked at her at the stoplight to see her gazing at me, blushing when she was caught. Molly looked forward and pressed her lips together, forming a pout as I pulled forward at the green light.

We parked in front of the restaurant and I shrugged into my leather jacket before walking around to her side. I opened her door and watched her slide out of the truck as she giggled and reached out for me for balance. “It’s a little high. I added the tires when I knew I was moving here.” I told her as our eyes locked and held. She licked her lips and I caught it as a blurry movement, too wrapped up in the intensity of her gaze. I was holding her by her waist and if I leaned in just a little, I could kiss her. I sucked in some air and stared into her eyes with a question as she pressed her hands to my shoulders.

Her eyes screamed yes as she looked at me, raw emotion all over her face. I leaned down slowly, still searching her face before I pressed my mouth gently to hers. I brushed them softly against her lips and she let out a soft moan as the urge to push her against the car hit me. I wanted her right here, right now and I pulled away to breathe for a moment. I looked at her and saw the look in her eyes that mirrored my thoughts though I knew that she wasn’t ready yet. “Let’s go in.”

“Yes,” Molly said as she glanced at the window of the car to check her face. Whatever she had on her lips was good because it looked perfect. It hadn’t smeared at all and I wondered darkly what it would take for a second before I took her hand and led her inside of the restaurant.

Chapter 8

Molly

My thighs were shaking as I walked in

, still stunned by that kiss. It was gentle and light but it made my whole body react and I blinked as the hostess greeted us in the restaurant. She led us to a table in the corner as I glanced around the pretty room. I’d never been here before and I thought that I should spend more time in town. I was just working so much or sleeping. Robert waited for me to sit in the booth before sliding in across from me and asking for some tea.

I read over the menu as I kept playing the kiss through my mind and I looked at Robert across from me, reading his own menu. He was so gorgeous and he wanted me.

Me.

I was smart enough to know that Lance was young and that this man sitting across from me wasn’t him, even with the memories of my pain. “See anything that looks good?”

“I am thinking about the lemon chicken. It sounds delicious,” I replied as I looked at him. “You?”

“General’s chicken. I get it every time I’m in a place like this.” I didn’t know what that was so I read the menu to see. It was spicy and I smiled. How spicy did he like things in life? Was Robert wasting his time with a girl like me?

The waitress came over and focused on him, barely giving me a glance as I ordered. I frowned, thinking back to the woman at the cafe that day. What did I expect? He was handsome and so confident, so why wouldn’t every woman want him? Robert was cordial, but he didn’t flirt back with her and I watched with fascination.

As soon as we were alone, Robert poured us each some tea and leaned forward. “Tell me about yourself, Molly.”

I moved up in my seat and thought about what to say. “Well, I have lived here for almost a year now. Noel’s folks let us stay there and helped us open the cafe. It was something she’d wanted to do for so long and I suppose that she roped me into it. I graduated with a degree in Literature and thought life would be different. It’s good, though. I added the shelves and all the books to the cafe.”