“I’d love to,” I replied as he stopped at a light and looked at me.
“It seems serious with him.” Keith’s voice was soft and I glanced over at him, nodding. “I have watched Noel date a lot, good guys and bad and it’s been hard. Seeing you do it after coming here scared of shadows is even worse. Is he good to you?” Keith asked as I realized that I wasn’t hiding the past as well as I should be.
“Very much so. He’s made me feel comfortable and Robert is very caring,” I assured him as we moved forward.
“I talked to him about that and he seems honest about himself. He’s a good man but I know that with an age difference, things can get complicated sometimes.” Keith shook his head. “I just want you happy and since I am your local parental figure, I take that seriously.”
“I am always watching out for myself,” I said sincerely as we took the two-lane freeway to the town, pulling into a small lot a few minutes later. My eyes looked over the selection, seeing some cute cars. My gaze rested on the beefy SUV as I grinned widely.
Jim showed us the Four Runner and we went for a test drive in it as the men analyzed the engine noises and mileage. To me, it was perfect. It had comfortable black cloth seats, a decent radio, air conditioning and it seemed to purr. I didn’t know how to break down every sound a car made and chuckled as they kept talking. When we arrived back at the lot, Keith voiced his approval and I stared at him. We went into the office and paid cash at a great discounted price before I signed my life away.
“You have yourself a new car,” Jim told me, embracing me before handing me the key on a small chain. I took it with a smile and looked at Keith as he nodded his approval.
“It’s a good vehicle, Molly. It will be good for all the weather that we have here, like Noel’s Jeep.” I grew up in this state and was aware of the weather, but not a fan of driving in it so much. “Want me to drive it back?"
“No! I have some radio stations to set.” I grinned as he laughed and shook Jim’s hand, thanking him for helping us. I said my goodbyes and scampered over to the truck, getting in, and looking all around. It was gorgeous and all mine. I sent Robert a text saying that I got it before doing the same for Noel and asking what was planned for dinner. She responded telling me that Keith said he’d pick up an order from the BBQ place in the town we were leaving.
Robert had sent back a message by this time and I asked him if he wanted to join us for dinner, offering to get whatever he wanted on the way home. He declined, telling me to have a good time and to stop by to show me the car later. He didn’t want to send me too much out of my way, and I pouted.
I knew that the fact that we’d slept together and that he wasn’t coming over had nothing to do with each other. Not at all. Robert was a nice guy and he would want me to get home safely without having to stop for him. That’s all it was though insecurity filled me as I started the engine of my new car. It sounded amazing and I found the local radio station that I listened to before pulling out onto the main street. The windows were down to let some fresh air in and I squealed with joy as I let it sink in that I was in my own car.
I thoroughly enjoyed the drive home. I hadn’t driven since I left Malad City as everything was so close to the campus at college. After that, Noel had the Jeep and we spent most of our time together, anyway. It worked out but now I could have a little freedom and I sang along to the radio as I headed towards the house. Things were going to be different now for me, making me think that everything was falling into place. I liked the idea of staying with Robert but he might not live here for too long. He was in a job that moved him around and I knew that going in. I knew that when I gave myself to him last night, but I couldn’t resist him any longer. I couldn’t make myself wait and I would never regret that choice. I smiled as I saw Keith parked on the hill and Marta standing there with Noel as I pulled around. They came over to look the truck over and Marta loved it. She had a bigger SUV and swore that her life would be nothing without all the room. Noel claimed that she was jealous but I knew how much she adored her newer Jeep.
“Is Robert coming over for dinner?” Marta asked as I locked my car and headed towards the house.
“He said that he already fixed something but to stop by later to show him,” I feigned a smile as I led the way inside, feeling her eyes on me. I could tell Marta anything as if she were my own mother, but I was embarrassed. We went to the table and Keith helped his wife unload the food as we sat down to eat.
“Are you driving to work tomorrow?” Marta asked me as I looked at Noel, who was smiling. Marta didn’t necessarily know that I was staying at Robert’s place so much, given our early hours.
“That might be fun.” I said as Noel smirked at me. I didn’t have to spend the night with him. I could go over, spend as much time in his bed as possible and then come home.
“I have been thinking about the cafe, too.” Marta and Keith looked at their daughter. “We are working there every day right now, early in the morning. I know that business is strong, but what do you think about us being closed one day a week? It would be nice to sleep in once a week.” Noel shrugged. “We could hire a couple of people as well but I am a control freak in the kitchen.”
“It really has taken off. It’s a lot of work for the two of you,” Marta said thoughtfully as she got a forkful of coleslaw. “I think that being closed on Monday would be the best day. Maybe you could go in that afternoon, stay closed and then just bake. You could get caught up in a couple of hours if you worked together. I could even help out.”
I kind of tuned out during the last half of the conversation, full and tired as I thought about Robert. I wanted to go over there and crawl into his bed, letting him ravage me. I didn’t know what was wrong with me thinking this way.
I concluded that Marta was going to help with the baking part time and that we’d close on Mondays. We got too much business on the weekends to do it then, but a day off with Robert would be amazing. He worked Mondays.
God, this choice had nothing to do with him. I was running the bakery long before I met him and things always worked out for me. I needed to stop focusing on him and I helped them clean off the table before I looked out front at my car. “Go see him. You know you want to,” Noel said from behind me as I turned to look at her. “If you come home, then you drive us tomorrow. If not, no big deal. My parents aren’t upset that I know of.” I looked at her with a scowl and she laughed. “They know that we were in college for years on our own, as well as how old we are. They don’t want to control us.”
“Maybe for a little while.” I stared forward as I mulled it over and felt her wrap her arms around me.
“If you don’t go see that hot piece of man, I will.” I mock glared at her. I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent a text asking if he was home. He told me that he was and I grabbed my purse and keys, calling my goodbye out to them as I headed towards the front door. I’d thanked Keith a hundred times tonight and he knew all about how grateful I was.
I started the engine and pulled back down the hill, listening to the wind against my windows. I could imagine road trips in this car, maybe a trip or two to see my parents in the future. Even though we hadn’t adjusted our schedule too terribly much, there might be
more changes ahead. People took vacations. We could do what we wanted since it was our shop. I turned on the main street, taking the right that led to Robert’s house. I had a backpack in the car, just in case I stayed but I needed to do some laundry soon.
I pulled into the long driveway and parked as the front door opened. Robert walked outside dressed in worn jeans and a long-sleeved shirt that was pushed up his arms and I felt the drool forming in my mouth. “I like it, Molly.” He looked the car over and crossed his arms before looking at my face. “Are you happy?”
“Yes, I love it,” I replied as I got out and walked towards him. I changed into some leggings and a baggy sweater before leaving the house to come here instead of wearing my cafe uniform. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss as he slid his hands around my lower back. “Mmmm,” I moaned as he tilted his head to deepen it slowly, seeming to want me as much as I wanted him.
“Come inside,” Robert whispered to me, allowing me to lock the door to the truck before walking inside with him. Rob locked the door behind him and reached out for my hand to stop me, making me look at him curiously. He pulled me back and twisted me against the wall, kissing me hungrily as I gasped against him. He pressed against my body as he lifted me up and centered his cock against my core, making me moan his name. “This is why I didn’t come to dinner. Touching you was all that I could think about, Molly.” Robert kissed me again and I went slack in his grip as his tongue claimed my mouth.
“Your room,” I told him as he carried me in, making me giggle as I wrapped my legs around his waist. It was so refreshing to give in to my need for this man as we dropped together on the bed, moving back together towards the pillows. It felt so natural for me at act this way with Robert when before I was scared to have any man touch me.
Chapter 21