“The fuckwad!”
Mollie stood beside the answering machine, her whole body trembling and her eyes burning as she struggled to keep her tears from spilling over her hot cheeks. She clenched her hands into fists and dug her manicured fingernails into her palm until pain shot through her. The sensation did not relieve any of the anger flooding through her body.
“The dick head!” she growled. How could he do this on Valentine’s Day? Of all days to blow her off, he had to do it on Valentine’s Day, the anniversary of the first time she had met him. Through three years of dating and six years of marriage, they had always marked Valentine’s as a special day in their lives.
Their marriage had been good through four years and nine months. She still loved Bobby and was almost certain that he still loved her. However, for the last five months, things had not been as good. He had been spending more time at work. At first she had given his extra time at work to his promotion. Their income had increased and she knew his new responsibilities must take more time.
If it had been just more time at work, perhaps she would not have been concerned. Things had changed in all parts of their life, though. Conversations were thin and monosyllabic. Affection was nonexistent. She suspected that he was having an affair and until today it had not really bothered her.
But today, of all days, that secret knowledge infuriated her. She was still his wife. He still came home to her. They were still going to spend Valentine’s Day, their day, together. Now things were different. She supposed it was ridiculous to think that Valentine’s Day being sacred to them was nothing more than a silly, hopelessly romantic notion. It was a day for people who were in love, and though she still loved Bobby, she knew, though she could not admit it to herself, that they were no longer in love.
“Ass,” she hissed at the phone, storming toward the bedroom. She kicked off her heels and reached around her back to unzip her dress. She caught a glimpse of herself in the full length mirror hanging on the back of her closet. She paused, allowing her eyes to sweep over her reflection.
The red dress was ridiculously short. When she bent forward, it hugged her round rear. Her legs were firm and sculpted. She put on the heels again and admired the way her stockinged thighs and calves extended from the hem of the skirt.
The bodice was a low cut “V” that revealed plenty of cleavage. She wore a bra that lifted her breasts and pushed them together. A diamond pendant he had given her on their fourth Valentine’s hung against her breastbone. The shape of the charm directed the viewer’s attention to the round, firm globes.
Her long, sandy brown hair flowed around her face. The edges curled against her cheeks and chin. Earrings that matched the pendant dangled from her lobes. Make-up expertly hid what few blemishes age had placed at the corners of her eyes and mouth. Her lips were full and matched the dress.
“Ass,” she repeated, but this time the disgusted insult was directed toward herself. What had she hoped to rekindle by looking stunning tonight? Did she think she could knock him off his feet all over and make everything right again? Had she really thought a hot red dress, a nice dinner, and an intimate night in their bed would make them love each other again?
She reached to unzip the dress again, regretting the money she had spent and wondering if she could return it to the store for a refund. She continued studying her reflection, twisting and turning in front of the mirror. She wondered if Bobby would have appreciated the pains she had taken to look her best for him. “Fuck him,” she spat, shaking her head with determination. She looked fabulous. She had spent money and time to look her best for her ungrateful husband. If he wasn’t going to bother to come home and enjoy the view, she could still enjoy her ability to turn heads.
She pulled her wrap around her shoulders, picked up her small purse and car keys, and stormed to the garage. She slipped behind the wheel and gripped it in her hands, trying to decide where to go. She had intended to surprise Bobby with a meal at his favorite restaurant, a little Italian bistro on the other side of town. She didn’t want to go to a restaurant where other couples would be celebrating the day of love. She didn’t want to see couples who were happy and still in love. She didn’t want to watch love blossoming. She didn’t want to be reminded of what she had once had with Bobby.
She cranked the car and started driving, still struggling to hold her tears inside. They burned as she fought against the emotion welling inside her. She knew why she had chosen to ignore his affair. If she turned a blind eye to his cheating, then she could also ignore The Kiss.
That’s the way she thought about it. It was The Kiss, with capital letters.
Jill Conner was Mollie’s boss’s boss. She wasn’t in the local office very often, but the tall woman always made time to stop at Mollie’s desk. Mollie had assumed it was professional courtesy and had dismissed the way her heart seemed to beat a little faster when she saw Conner milling about the office and the way she couldn’t stop smiling whenever the woman would lean against her desk. Days seemed lighter when Conner was in town.
Three months ago, Conner had started spending more time at Mollie’s desk. More often than not, their conversation had drifted away from trivial small talk and work details. Conner had eventually asked Mollie out for lunch, but Mollie had declined. She wanted to deny the good feelings Conner aroused in her. She was vaguely reminded of the way Bobby had made her feel when they were falling in love. She certainly didn’t want to admit that Conner made her feel even better.
She had started avoiding Conner after the lunch invitation. When Conner would come into the office, Mollie would spend time filing, copying, or delivering mail. She would not be at her desk when Conner had free time. Two weeks ago, Conner had finally caught Mollie in the supply closet, her hands full of paper clips, empty folders, and staples. Conner had shut the door behind her, trapping Mollie in the narrow room. Mollie had stepped away, the shelves digging into her back as Conner had advanced.
“I’m not exactly sure what I did to make you hate me,” Conner had stated in her matter-of-fact southern accent. “I would like the opportunity to apologize and make amends.” Mollie’s mouth moved wordlessly, so Conner continued. “I miss our little chats, Mollie Donavon. I’d like it very much if you stopped running from me.”
Mollie avoided looking at Conner, staring at the floor and the supplies piled on the shelves. She avoided Conner’s intense green eyes. She didn’t think she could lie to Conner if she had to look into the tall woman’s eyes. “I’m not running from you. I really don’t know what you are talking about.” Conner remained silent and unmoving. Excuse me,” Mollie whispered. “I really need to get back to my desk.”
Conner still did not budge. “If you are not running, then what are you doing now? Why can’t you stand to be in the same room with me anymore?” Mollie continued to stare at the floor so Conner moved even closer. “Did I overstep a boundary when I invited you to lunch?”
Mollie could feel Conner’s warm breath and the heat of her presence. The strong body had her trapped, though Mollie knew that if she attempted to push passed her superior, Conner would step aside. Mollie tried to imagine doing just that. She tried to picture herself shouldering by Conner and fleeing from the small space. The visual image did nothing to bolster her courage. She would have to touch Conner to get around the woman, and instinctively knew that if she touched Conner that an electrical charge would explode between them. It wasn’t just Conner’s physical presence that had Mollie trembling. It was something more. It was something that Mollie couldn’t describe but yet choked off all of her words.
“Please talk to me,” Conner whispered, bracing one hand on the shelf behind Mollie’s head. She placed her finger under Mollie’s chin, tilting the woman’s face upward. “At least look at me.”
Mollie slowly lifted her brown eyes. She was taken away by the concentrated expression in Conner’s eyes. “I’m married,” she finally made herself say.
“I know,” Conner replied, her voice equally soft. “And it kills me, but as much as I’d like to have you in my bed, I know that’s not an option. I invited you to lunch. I enjoy spending time with you when I am in town. I like to know there is a friendly face waiting for me.” Mollie lowered her eyes again. “Don’t look away,” Conner ordered. Reluctantly, Mollie returned her focus to Conner’s eyes. “I know you are married, but if you love your husband, why are you afraid of me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Mollie returned in an attempt to appear nonchalant. “I’m not afraid of you.” The words were not a lie. Mollie was not afraid of Conner. She was afraid of the feelings that Conner raised.
“Then why are you trembling?” Conner asked, bending her head closer to Mollie. Conner wet her lips with the tip of her pink tongue. Her breath flooded Mollie’s face, but Mollie’s cheeks were already on fire with the excitement and intimacy of the moment.
Conner’s fingers moved from Mollie’s chin to her soft cheek. Mollie leaned into the caress. “Jill,” she whispered.
“Say it again, Mollie Donavon. Say my name like you know who I am,” Conner whispered, her mouth only a breath away from Mollie’s.
“Jill,” Mollie repeated with confidence in her voice. Bobby was far away from her mind now. She barely knew that she was in a supply closet. All she was aware of was Conner’s closeness, her scent, her breath, and her moist lips.
“Again,” Conner pleaded, moving even closer, her lips on Mollie’s now.
“Jill.” Conner barely allowed the word to escape Mollie’s lips before her mouth was pressed against the young woman’s. Mollie did not resist. She tilted her head as Conner’s lips pressed firmly to her own. The tip of Conner’s tongue danced along Mollie’s full lips, teasing them apart. Mollie opened to the invader, her mouth parting as Conner’s tongue danced along her teeth. Mollie pressed into the kiss, stretching upwards into the embrace. Mollie used her own tongue to brush against Conner’s, inviting the teasing instrument deeper into her mouth. Conner dropped her hand to rest on Mollie’s hip as their tongues twisted together, tasting each other.
Time slowed as they explored each other’s mouth, tongues dueling, sliding in and out, and moving along teeth and gums and palates. Mollie felt her heart thudding against her breastbone as she welcomed the intimate intruder. Her body trembled and yearned for more. She could feel her breasts tightening and responding with a hunger to be touched and squeezed and licked. The sensation spiraled downward, resting in the pit of her stomach and tempted to travel deeper. She pushed into Conner’s mouth, the bundle of supplies in her arms keeping their bodies separated.
The door to the supply closet opened suddenly and Conner’s arms shot out to grab the shelf on either side of Mollie’s head. “Fuck,” the boss whispered.
They broke the kiss instantly and Mollie bowed her head, hoping the visitor did not see who Conner had pinned. Conner kept her arms in place, allowing her billowing blouse to hide Mollie’s face. “Oh, uh, sorry, Ms. Conner,” a voice said. ‘I just needed some, uh, I need some printer paper.”
“Well,” Conner said in a short tone. She wanted to get the employee out as quickly as possible. The long Mollie was exposed, the more she would withdraw. The visitor grabbed a ream of paper and stepped out, carefully closing the door behind him. “Shit,” Conner breathed.
Mollie chuckled despite herself and lifted her eyes. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and Conner softened. “Ah, gee, Mollie, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Bravely, Mollie answered. “Don’t be. I’m not.”
Conner smiled. The crooked lift of her full lips took away Mollie’s breath. “Good. Because I’m not either.”
“I’m married,” Mollie stated again, the only argument she had that would hold any weight in the long run. “I can’t do this, Conner.”
As Mollie steered her car through the streets, she thought of her words to Conner after The Kiss. Conner had seemed to accept them. She had been in the office twice since The Kiss but had only spoken to Mollie as business necessitated. There was no touching, no offers of lunch, no quiet, intimate conversations while Conner leaned against the corner of Mollie’s desk, her long legs stretched in front of her and crossed at the ankles. Things were uncomfortable between them. It was awkward enough that Mollie had applied for a transfer from Conner’s department.
Her buried feelings for Conner had kept her blinded to the real possibility of Bobby having an affair. She couldn’t be angry with him for looking for comfort from other sources if she did the same thing. Perhaps that was why she had spent so much time trying to make this Valentine’s special. She wanted to absolve her guilt over The Kiss. Now things were different. He had chosen his mistress over their special day. It was a nail in the coffin of their marriage. She knew now there was no way to fix things. Her marriage to Bobby was over.
Her body and reflexes on auto-pilot, she drove aimlessly through town, uncertain what she hoped to find. She stopped at a red light and looked around her. She didn’t recognize the stores surrounding her. She pulled into a parking lot of a bar and slipped out of her car, walking across the lot in the fading light. She stopped at the entrance, took a deep breath, and entered the room. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been inside a bar, but she couldn’t drive around town all night.
She stood just inside the door as he eyes adjusted to the dim light inside the room. As her eyes focused, she saw a bar in the center of the room. Tables were spread sparsely about the rest of the open area. A pinball machine and a Pac Man arcade game stood in one corner. A mixed group was standing around a pool table to the right. Mollie didn’t spend time looking at any of the people in the room. She lowered her eyes and walked to the bar, asking herself mentally why she was there. What had she hoped to gain or prove by leaving home on Valentine’s?
She slipped onto one of the leather barstools and ordered a daiquiri. The man rewarded her with skeptical look before turning to the fix the drink. There were no red hearts or Valentine’s Day specials advertised in the bar and she was happy for there not to be any reminders. She folded her fingers together and stared at the wood grain of the counter, her eyes tracing the stains and burns that patrons had left over the years. Her mind drifted back to Bobby. Where did they go now? Did she really want to give up on her marriage?
Mollie didn’t think she was ready for that. She didn’t know what she would say to him when she got home. She thought she might sleep in their spare room. Perhaps that would send a message to him about how upset she was. It might also tell him that she wasn’t a dummy. She knew what was happening to their marriage. It might also tell him that she knew he had found alternative entertainment.
The bartender sat the daiquiri in front of her and she slowly lifted her eyes in question, reaching for the purse. He waved her away. “It’s taken care of, Ma’am.”
Mollie tilted her head in puzzlement, looking around the room to see who had bought her drink. She didn’t recognize anyone. There were no men sitting at the end of the bar with cocky, inviting, creepy smiles. She frowned and shrugged, pinching her lips around the straw and drawing slowly from the fruity liquid. She felt the alcohol hit her system and enjoyed the sensation as it coursed through her blood veins.
She absently stirred the frothy liquid, her mind miles away from the bar. She didn’t hear the music pouring from the jukebox or the people talking in their small groups. She had never felt so alone in her life. She felt desperate. She had no business being there. She pushed the glass away and turned to leave the establishment, but her escape was halted by a figure standing just a few feet from her.
It took Mollie’s breath away to see Conner outside of their secure office. Conner was wearing dark blue carpenter jeans. They were tight around her waist and baggy on her legs. She wore a white button-up man’s shirt. The top three buttons were undone and the shirt hung open around her throat. A white ribbed tank top was under the shirt. Mollie felt her mouth go dry and her throat constrict. She was accustomed to seeing Conner in professional attire. She never would have imagined that the tall, athletic woman could be so delicious.
Conner’s expression was not so delicious. Her green eyes were focused tightly on Mollie’s face. There was no smile on her lips. Her features were set in stone as she stared coldly at her subordinate. Conner hesitated on her barstool, scooting back uneasily. “Hi, Conner. I didn’t know you were in town.”
“Home is the last place I want to be on Valentine’s Day,” Conner answered flatly, her hands resting around the shaft of a pool cue as she watched Mollie. “What is a happily married woman doing in a bar alone on Valentine’s Day?”
Mollie flinched at Conner’s words. Her boss’s tone was not harsh but Mollie felt the accusation. The truth of the statement also burned in Mollie’s ears. “I just dropped in for a drink before going to meet him,” she lied.
Conner raised one dark eyebrow, her green eyes revealing to Mollie that she heard the lie and was not going to let it slide. “I see,” she said thoughtfully. She nodded toward the half drank daiquiri sitting on the bar. “By all means, finish your drink before going to meet him.” Conner sat down on the stool beside the woman. Immediately, the bartender sat a draft beer in front of the tall woman.
Reluctantly, Mollie turned her attention back to her drink, stirring it once before taking another sip. Conner watched, her green eyes never wavering, even as she sipped her beer. Mollie forced a smile to form on her lips, but when Conner did not return it, Mollie gave up.
“I had an interesting piece of mail cross my desk yesterday,” Conner said when she finally spoke again.
Mollie stirred the straw in her glass, eyes focused on the swirling liquid. She knew what mail Conner referred to but she didn’t want to acknowledge it. She did not want to deal with her feelings for Jill Conner as she was fighting with her heartbreak over Bobby Donavon. “Really?”
“I don’t want to sign it. You are too valuable for me to lose. Stuart was not happy about your request to transfer, either.” Conner drank some more of her beer, allowing her words to register in Mollie’s head. Mollie did not respond. “Is that what you really want, Mollie Donavon?”
“It’s what I need,” Mollie whispered so softly that Conner had to lean closer to hear her. “I can’t . . .”
“Can’t what, Mollie? Can’t face me? Can’t face what you and I make each other feel? Can’t face that you might be lying to yourself?”
Mollie whimpered, turning her face away from Conner. “Please, Jill.”
Conner was still leaning over Mollie’s shoulder, her mouth near her employee’s ear. “I love the way you say my name.” Mollie kept her attention on the other side of the room, trying not to respond to Conner’s presence or seductive voice. Conner laid her hand on Mollie’s knee. She didn’t slide it upward or squeeze. Her palm just rested lightly on the top of Mollie’s thigh. She could feel Mollie tense at the touch but she did not pull away. Instead, she leaned closer, her breath hot on Mollie’s skin. “Where is Mr. Donavon tonight?”
“Work,” Mollie reluctantly answered, still not looking at Conner. She hated the way that Conner seemed to be able to read her so intimately. Conner’s hand squeezed lightly and slid upward smoothly. Her fingers moved toward the inside of Mollie’s thighs, curling against the satin stockings. Mollie closed her eyes, allowing Conner to continue her caress. She was lonely and angry and Conner was not a stranger. She did not pull away.
“He forgot Valentine’s Day?” Conner mused, her hand gliding up and down Mollie’s firm thigh. “Valentine’s is over-rated. It’s a holiday created by the greeting card companies and chocolate factories to milk helpless romantics of their money while those who are alone dwell in depression because there is no one to buy them flowers. Did you know you can get a dozen roses for fifty dollars cheaper if you’ll wait a week to buy them?”
Mollie turned at last to Conner, her eyes filled with surprise at the woman’s tirade. She started to ask why her boss had such a negative attitude toward Valentine’s Day when someone from across the room called Conner’s name. Conner turned away slowly and Mollie’s eyes followed the same direction. “You going to come back?”
“No, Nick,” she answered, waving with her free hand. “You go on without me.” She turned back to Mollie with a partial smile and tilted her head toward the group in the background. “My brother-in-law,” she explained, scooting to the edge of the barstool. Her hand slipped beneath the hem of Mollie’s skirt.
Mollie felt her breath catch as Conner’s hand wandered casually. Involuntarily, her thighs opened slightly. She could feel her face burning and hear her breath coming harder. It rasped in her ears. “I don’t want to keep you,” Mollie answered, trying to find a reason to send Conner away. Inside, her mind raged a battle with her body. She knew giving in to Conner’s caress was wrong. She was as guilty as Bobby if she allowed Conner to continue. She couldn’t be angry with him if she became a cheater. Her body yearned for Conner to never stop. She could feel her desire building in the pit of her stomach. It was strong enough to overpower her fight to dampen it.
She refused to listen to the part of her that could serve as a mediator. She couldn’t listen to her heart. She knew what it would say and she couldn’t accept the truth.
“I like being kept,” Conner said with a flirting smile, her fingernails scraping along the inner part of Mollie’s thigh. It caused the base of her palm to brush against the apex of Mollie’s legs. Mollie trembled in reaction and stifled a moan. She couldn’t remember the last time Bobby had made her feel so aroused. “Is he really at work?” Conner questioned with a soft voice as she spoke into Mollie’s ear.
“No,” Mollie answered, and then quickly corrected herself. “Yes.” She sighed deeply. “I don’t know. That’s what he said on the answering machine.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I want to,” came Mollie’s soft reply.
“But do you?” Conner repeated insistently, her voice intense in Mollie’s ear.
Mollie turned her attention to Conner, contemplating the older woman’s earnest face. She tried to read her boss’s expression. Her cheeks were flushed from the excitement the hand’s exploration was creating, but Mollie did not sense that Conner’s words were an effort to continue the seduction. Instead, she felt certain that Conner was genuinely concerned. Mollie turned back to her daiquiri. The glass was almost empty. She didn’t want it to be empty. When it was empty, she would need to make a choice. “My marriage is not perfect. No marriage is. Bobby and I have been drifting apart. We need to rediscover ourselves as a couple.”
Conner turned Mollie’s face back so she could study the girl’s face. She didn’t want to give Mollie any opportunity to escape from telling the full truth. “Do you believe him?”
Mollie opened her mouth and then closed it before slowly shaking her head. She did not give voice to her accusations but she did not lie to Conner. She didn’t believe that Bobby was at work. It twisted at her stomach that her husband might be having an affair, yet she couldn’t possibly fathom any other reason for him to forget Valentine’s Day. She tried to look away, but Conner would not let her. “I don’t know,” Mollie said in a hushed, troubled voice.
Conner moistened her lips and watched Mollie’s eyes dip to the shiny surface. Conner’s wandering hand stilled and she leaned forward. Mollie knew she was about to be kissed and found that she wanted nothing more than the feel of Conner’s lips on hers.
“Hey, Conner!” a new voice interrupted. This voice was feminine in nature and Conner pulled completely away instantly, her hand dropping from the intimate position on Mollie’s leg. Mollie hated the fact that she was disappointed for the touch to be gone. Things were moving much too quickly. Her head was starting to spin. She turned back to the bar, resting her elbows on the counter as Conner turned to her new friend. “Looking good, Conner.”
“Not doing too bad yourself, Dallas,” Conner returned in an unfamiliar, playful tone. Mollie listened but did not interfere. Conner did not turn back to Mollie as she leaned against the edge of the bar, but her arm slipped over the girl’s lap in a possessive gesture. Mollie dropped her hand down to rest on top of Conner’s. “How ya been?” Conner asked her friend as she pushed her fingers between Mollie’s.
Mollie curled her fingers into Conner’s palm, closing her eyes against the pain pushing through her heart. She wanted to shut down. She wanted to stop thinking and stop feeling and stop hurting. “Good, good,” Dallas answered. Mollie could tell by the sound of her voice that Dallas had moved closer. “I was hoping you would be here,” the visitor said in a lower voice, ignoring Mollie’s presence. Mollie felt a rush of jealousy push through her as the other woman flirted with Conner. It made her angry at the woman would totally overlook her, but it also made her feel small. She would always be in Jill’s shadow.
Conner shrugged slightly, rubbing her thumb back and forth against Mollie’s knuckle. She sighed and Mollie heard the bleak sadness in the sound. Mollie frowned but didn’t turn. “You know what Valentine’s Day is.”
“How was it?” Dallas asked in a concerned and tender tone. From the corner of her eye, Mollie saw Dallas lay her hand on Conner’s free arm. Conner’s hand tightened on Mollie’s and Mollie returned the squeeze, offering comfort for something that she did not understand.
“It’s almost over,” Conner finally answered.
An awkward silence fell between them. Mollie was lost in her thoughts, Conner didn’t want to talk, and Dallas, realizing she had talked herself into a corner, didn’t know what to say. Mollie clung to Conner’s hand through the silence, trying to ignore her swimming thoughts. Dallas finally cleared her throat. “Damn, you look fine, Conner.”
Mollie suddenly ripped her hand away, slipping off the stool and grabbing her purse. She mumbled something about needing to go. She pulled her wrap around her as she walked toward the door, attempting not to run as she fled Conner’s intoxicating presence. She could sense Conner coming after her and knew she had to escape from the bar before the woman could catch up. If she could breathe the fresh, cold February air, then that would cool her heated blood and cleanse her muddled brain.
Conner caught her just as she put her hand on the door handle. She grabbed Mollie’s elbow and spun the girl to face her. They stood looking at each other, both breathing hard as they struggled with their feelings. Conner broke the silence first. “I think getting out of here is an excellent idea. Let’s go someplace where we can talk in private.”
Mollie opened her mouth to argue, but Conner silenced her by laying her finger against Mollie’s parted lips. “We need to. You can’t run from me forever, Mollie Donavon. You can’t keep running from your emotions. It’ll destroy you.”
Mollie tried to be angry with Conner, but she could not be mad at the truth. Conner watched the emotions rush across Mollie’s face. She knew the moment she had won the battle. She could see it in Mollie’s face and knew that the woman would no longer attempt to escape. She released her grip and took a step back. She touched Mollie’s cheek and Mollie turned her face into the caress. Conner’s fingers curled into the hair at Mollie’s neck and tucked it behind her ear. “Wait right here. I need to talk to Nick.”
Mollie nodded obediently and watched Conner as she backed away slowly. She hesitated, almost reluctant to release Mollie in case she did flee again. Mollie touched her hand in silent assurance and Conner nodded. Mollie watched her boss cross to the group at the pool table. She was surprised to find herself admiring Conner’s bottom in the tight jeans. She pulled her wrap tighter around her shoulders and lifted her eyes as Conner reached Nick.
Conner had to look up to speak to Nick and though Mollie could not hear the conversation from her vantage point, she could see Nick’s reaction. Conner spoke to him and he looked over his sister-in-law’s head at the woman trembling beside the door. Mollie read his expression as anger, doubt, and concern. She turned her head away, knowing that the slightest thing would cause her to lose her nerve. She could flee now, while Conner wasn’t looking. With any luck, she could be out of the parking lot before the seductive woman even realized she was missing.
Mollie jumped when Conner slipped her hand around her waist. “Come on,” the raven-haired beauty whispered softly, guiding Mollie with her hand out the door. Conner had slipped into a heavy denim jacket. She held Mollie close to her side as they crossed the parking lot to Mollie’s car. “Nick and I rode together. Would you like for me to drive?”
Moving on auto-pilot, Mollie reached into her clutch and withdrew her keys. She dropped them into Conner’s hand. Conner guided Mollie behind the car, opening the door and offering Mollie her hand for assistance. Mollie leaned against the back of the seat, her eyes closed, trying to remember the last time Bobby had opened her car door. She knew he had done it on their wedding day but couldn’t remember anything since that special day.
They made the drive in silence. Conner handled the vehicle and traffic expertly. Mollie stared out the window but did not see the passing scenery. They did not even turn on the radio as they weaved through the city to an apartment building. Mollie was surprised to be at a residence rather than a hotel.
Mollie did not wait for Conner to come open her door. She wanted to avoid Conner’s touch as long as she could. As soon as they stepped around the car, Conner laid her hand on the small of Mollie’s back, resting the base of her hand just above her round bottom. Mollie walked quietly beside her boss. The elevator’s ascent seemed terribly slow to. Mollie watched the numbers increase as she felt the heat of Conner’s palm burning through the dress. She could feel and hear her heart pounding in her ears. She was having trouble breathing and hoped that Conner did not notice. Her breasts were rising and falling in a steady motion as she waited for the doors to slide open.
Conner guided her into a large apartment on the seventh floor of the building. Mollie was so deep that she couldn’t do anything but follow. Conner walked into the room, leaving Mollie just inside the foyer. She turned on a lamp beside the sofa and motioned that Mollie should sit. “Have you eaten? Are you hungry?” Conner asked with a hint of nervousness in her voice.
Mollie turned her attention to the woman, surprised at the tremor in the usually confident voice. “No. I mean, no, I haven’t had supper.”
Conner helped Mollie remove her wrap, her fingers brushing against the girl’s neck and hair. Her breath was warm on Mollie’s throat and she seemed to move in slow motion. The touch electrified Mollie. “I’ll fix us a little something. Have a seat.”
Mollie watched as Conner stepped around the corner and disappeared. She walked toward the sofa and hesitated, looking at the phone on the end table. She reached into her handbag for her cellular phone and was surprised when she didn’t find it. She dug through her belongings before remembering that she had left it out when getting ready for her outing with Bobby. She had wanted no interruptions. Her phone was lying on her dresser at home.
She picked up the phone on the table and dialed her home number. It rang several times before her voice came on over the machine. She hung up instantly and hesitated only a moment before dialing Bobby’s office number. She punched in his extension and listened to the hollow sound of ringing. While she waited, she noticed a picture beside the phone. She picked up the frame and studied the couple smiling back at her.
It had been taken at the beach, she guessed. Conner was wearing shorts and she had a healthy tan on her skin. Her arms were wrapped around the waist of a small woman with long blonde hair that was blowing in the sea breeze. They were both laughing at the person behind the camera.
“You’ve reached the desk of Robert Donavon. I am unavailable right now. Please leave me a message and I will return your call.”
Mollie slammed the phone back into the receiver and pressed her fingers to her forehead. Conner came through the hallway carrying a tray as Mollie fought her tears. “Not there?” she asked casually as she moved to the sofa. She sat the tray on the coffee table and gestured toward the seat beside her.
Mollie sighed, dropping her hand. “He’s not at the office or at home,” she replied.
“Did you try his mobile?”
Mollie shook her head to say no. She didn’t want to try his mobile. She didn’t want any concrete proof that he had lied to her. She could pretend he was in someone else’s office working. If she called his cell phone, she might hear the telltale laughter of a woman’s voice or the awkward silence of a man caught between the two women in his life. Conner sensed Mollie’s turmoil so she did not press the subject. She began arranging the items on the tray. She sat two glasses aside and poured red wine in each one. She again motioned for Mollie to sit.
Mollie finally did, handing Conner the photograph. “Your girlfriend?”
Mollie looked at the picture and a fond smile formed on her lips. The tenderness reached her eyes as she gently ran her thumb over the face of the woman in the picture. “She was more than my girlfriend. We were together for eleven years. Nick took the picture. He’s her brother.”
“It was a car wreck, wasn’t it?”
Conner nodded, setting the picture aside. “Valentine’s Day, three years ago. She was on her way home so we could go out. The driver of the other car was going through a divorce. She had been drinking all day.”
“So that’s why you hate Valentine’s Day,” Mollie mused, taking her wine glass and sipping some of the bitter liquid. She picked up a cracker and laid cheese and summer sausage on top of it, nibbling on the snack.
“I was sitting at home waiting and waiting. They called Nick, not me. Nick didn’t want me to find out by phone, so he came and got me.” Conner picked up her wine glass, swirled the liquid, and took a sip. “For a while, I just wanted to curl up and die myself. I couldn’t remember life without Bette. I didn’t think I could have a life without her.”
Conner sat her wine glass down. She reached over and took Mollie’s glass as well, setting them side-by-side on the tray. She scooted closer to Mollie, slipping her arm along the back of the couch. Her hand rested on her guest’s knee. “I haven’t even thought of starting a relationship with someone. Dallas has hinted numerous times that she would like more, but there hasn’t even been a fling.” She slipped even closer, her leg brushing against Mollie’s thigh. “I tell you this to let you know that I enter into nothing lightly, especially relationships. I thought a long time before I asked you to lunch. Your reaction when I did confirmed to me that you were feeling the same emotions I was fighting. If we are both feeling the same thing, why are we still resisting it?”
Conner leaned in with moist, shiny lips. Mollie watched her boss advance, the earnestness of the woman’s words burning in her ears. “Jill,” she whispered as her eyes rested on Conner’s lips. She knew how those lips felt pressed against her own and she could not deny that she wanted to feel their firm pressure again.
“Yes, Mollie Donavon?” Conner said, her head hovering just a breath from Mollie’s lips. The sound of their breathing filled the room. She tilted her head, watching for Mollie to open her lips to protest. When Mollie began to speak, Conner closed the distance, pressing her lips firmly against Mollie’s, muffling any objection that the young woman could attempt.
Mollie stiffened for only a moment before relaxing, pressing into Conner’s warm mouth. She parted her lips slightly, allowing Conner’s quick tongue access to the warmth of her mouth. Conner took advantage of Mollie’s openness. She scooted as close as she could to Mollie, one arm draped over the slender shoulders and the other resting on a strong thigh. Mollie did not hesitate to lay her hand over Conner’s as they shared the sweet kiss.
Lips moved against lips and tongues tangled in the depths as they dueled on the couch, tasting and touching within the warm, damp caverns. Conner’s tongue danced along the roof of Mollie’s mouth, gliding behind her teeth, and curling around her tongue. Mollie, in her growing eagerness, answered. She tasted between Conner’s gum and teeth and along the inside of the woman’s jaw. Conner closed her lips around Mollie’s lower lip, suckling softly and rubbing her tongue along the swollen membrane. Mollie nibbled on Conner’s upper lip, biting lightly.
Conner was the first to break the kiss. She pulled away suddenly. Mollie leaned toward Conner, attempting to resume the kiss, her eyes half closed as she moved into the warm body. Conner stood without releasing Mollie’s hand and pulled the girl to her feet. Conner was a few inches taller and Mollie’s face was turned upward, their bodies pressed together as they stood in front of the couch. Conner pushed a curl off Mollie’s cheek as their fingers entwined.
Conner pulled Mollie down the hall, their eyes locked together. Conner didn’t dare sever the gaze. She was afraid if Mollie looked away she would change her mind. Conner did not want to break the spell. Mollie followed like a sheep, totally lost in Conner’s green eyes and craving the intoxicating kisses.
They passed two doors before Conner guided the girl into a small bedroom. She finally released Mollie from the enchantment at that point. She let go of Mollie’s hand as she circled the bed. Mollie heard the scrap of a match and saw the brief flicker as the head glowed with fire before Conner lit a candle beside the bed. The small flame cast a soft radiance that lit the whole room.
Conner returned to Mollie, taking the girl’s hand. She kissed Mollie’s fingers one at a time, recapturing the girl’s gaze. Mollie stared into Conner’s eyes, enthralled by the woman. Without words, Conner stepped closer. She brushed her lips across Mollie’s again, and then dropped her head to kiss and nibble against Mollie’s neck. She could feel Mollie’s thundering pulse against her lips as she reached around the small girl to lower the zipper of the dress. Her fingertips moved along the bare skin as she worked her way back to the front.
Conner’s fingers caressed the back of Mollie’s shoulders as she dragged them upward. They glided over Mollie’s shoulder blades, pushing the red dress away. Mollie did not resist as Conner’s digits sparked delicious spirals that radiated through her body. She shivered in pleasure. Her eyes darted from Conner’s fingers to her face as the woman pulled the material of the dress forward, slipping the sleeves from Mollie’s arms.
Mollie did not stir as Conner finished removing the dress completely. Conner knelt on one knee as she tugged the dress over Mollie’s hips. She lifted each foot and slipped Mollie’s shoes off, her hand caressing over the stockinged heel and her fingertips dancing along each sole. The sensation would normally send Mollie into giggling hysterics, but the intensity of the moment only caused the touch to increase her desire for
Conner’s hands glided upward over the strong calves and thighs of the girl, feeling the smooth whisper of the silk stockings. She curled her fingers into the elastic at the top of the stocking and peeled them down Mollie’s legs. She tossed them away and slid her hands over the soft flesh as she rose, her palms memorizing each line of muscle. As she stood, her hands dipped beneath the slip, pushing it over her hips. Conner’s hands rested on Mollie’s waist as their eyes reconnected.
Conner leaned in, placing her lips on Mollie’s again. This kiss was slow and intimate, their bodies pressed against each other. Conner maneuvered her thigh between Mollie’s thighs and used it to create a soft friction against her mound. The feeling of the denim against her lace panties caused Mollie to begin trembling. The pleasure began deep inside Mollie and spiraled outward till her pores screamed for release.
Mollie tilted her head to allow Conner deeper access to her mouth, her hands resting on Conner’s shoulders. Mollie’s fingers slid inward to the pearl buttons of the blouse. She began working them open one-by-one. When she reached the last button, she rested her hands at the top of the fly to Conner’s jeans. She did not have the courage to open the Levi’s or spread the top to look at the woman’s breasts. She stretched upward into the kiss, avoiding the moment of truth.
Conner’s hands kept moving upward, pushing the satin of the slip as she went. The drag of the cool material against Mollie’s heated fleshed caused Mollie to tremble in anticipation even more. Conner’s fingers finally reached Mollie’s straining breast. She caressed the soft material of the brassiere as she inched her way toward the hard, tight nipples. Mollie released a moan into Conner’s mouth as the more experienced woman pinched and pulled at the hard buds.
Conner only teased for a few moments, even though the playful touch seemed like an eternity to Mollie. She stepped back, a hungry look burning in the green depths of her eyes. She eagerly ripped Mollie’s slip over her head and tore the bra from the girl’s body to free the heavy breasts. Conner gasped and took a half-step backwards so she could drink in Mollie’s beauty.
Mollie felt a blush creeping into her flesh. Conner’s silence unnerved her and she attempted to cover her large breasts with her hands. Conner immediately took Mollie’s wrists in her hands and peeled them away from the pale globes. She bowed her head, her short, dark hair tickling Conner’s skin as she licked each extended nipple. Mollie moaned again, louder this time, tilting her head backwards as Conner took one breast fully in her mouth. She held the other in her free hand, squeezing the pillowy flesh as her mouth suckled, massaged, and rubbed.
“Jill,” Mollie groaned. A shudder ripped through her and her eyes widened in surprise. She weakened, her knees folding. Conner immediately wrapped her arms around Mollie, catching the girl before she could hit the ground. “Oh god, Jill,” she panted, holding onto Conner’s shoulders.
Conner kissed Mollie’s shoulder lightly, then partly dragged and partly walked Mollie to the bed. She laid Mollie across the dark comforter and followed, sliding her blue-jeaned leg along Mollie’s naked one as she stretched out at her new lover’s side. She propped on one elbow beside Mollie, brushing a curl from the trembling woman’s cheek as she recovered from the small orgasm. She tickled her fingers down Mollie’s arm before allowing that hand to come to rest on the swell of the girl’s hip. Conner was still fully clothed but Mollie was down to nothing but her red lace panties.
Not wanting to allow Mollie time to fully recover her senses, Conner traced her fingers over the design in the panties as she dipped her head to again tug at a thick nipple with her teeth. Mollie’s senses were whirling. Her body was torn between the dual sensations rocking through her small frame radiating from the knowledgeable mouth and hand. Conner kissed her way downward, allowing the air in the room to continue to work on the wet nipple as she licked beneath the heavy breasts. She moved over Mollie’s flat stomach, pausing to circle her navel with her strong tongue before touching her lips to the damp heat of Mollie’s mound.
Mollie spasmed again as Conner’s lips touched her most intimate part. She felt the pressure through her panties and longed to feel those lips on her naked flesh. “Jill,” she repeated, unable to form any other words in her delirious state. This time, Conner heard the plea in the girl’s voice.
Conner pulled away, sitting up on her knees beside Mollie. She watched as Mollie rode the gentle waves rocking through her body. She couldn’t wait for Mollie to climb even higher. She had always loved watching her lovers enjoy themselves and Mollie was responding like she had never been touched before. Conner shrugged out of her blouse but left her tank top on. She unbuttoned and lowered the zipper on her jeans but did not remove them. Mollie was coming down and Conner did not want to give her a chance to fully recover. She wanted to take Mollie higher than she had ever been with anyone else. She wanted to make Mollie forget about Bobby Donavon.
She peeled the panties down Mollie’s hips, revealing trimmed light brown curls. Conner eyes stayed on the curls and the swollen, slick lips leading to Mollie’s secret parts. She wedged herself between Mollie’s thighs, pushing the girl open. Mollie was whimpering and moaning without ceasing. She had even ceased being able to say Jill’s name as Conner blew a thin line of air on the wet, inviting lips. Conner danced her tongue along the slit, tasting the slight saltiness of Mollie’s desire.
She pressed her tongue between the thick lips, scooping out more of the moisture as she lapped against the sensitive walls. Mollie cried out as Conner’s exploring tongue maneuvered closer to her throbbing center bud. She twisted, trying to force Conner to that sweet spot. Conner was glad to oblige. She touched the tip of her tongue to the nub, flicking it lightly. She dragged the length of her mouth muscle over the button and delighted at the tremors she felt race through Mollie’s body. She began lapping faster, her tongue rubbing, pressing, circling, and moving against the hard pebble. Mollie clenched her thighs around Conner’s head, holding her lover in place.
Conner moved her tongue down and dipped it into Mollie’s tight channel, thrusting in and out playfully until the girl bucked upward. Conner paused to nip lightly with her teeth at the outsides of Mollie’s lips, giving her lover a moment to catch her breath before completely taking it. Conner curled her tongue and slid it into the canal, then fattened her tongue once inside. Mollie moaned loudly, thrusting her hips up. Conner grabbed Mollie’s bottom as she lifted and held her in place.
Mollie was thrashing on the bed, twisting and rocking as Conner’s tongue took her to higher places. That talented instrument was alternating between thrusting and licking the inner walls and playing with the tight knob. She closed her lips around Mollie’s clit, sucking and tugging, scraping her teeth over the head before her tongue delved again into the deepest part of her.
The wave built inside of Mollie as Conner worked faster and faster. Mollie was mindless now, a writhing coil of sensation. Her mind and heart knew nothing but Jill’s touch as she worked her way toward the ultimate crash of pleasure. She whimpered and twisted and bucked, riding the crest of pleasure. She screamed Jill’s name as the wave crashed over her body, the word vibrating off the walls of the quiet bedroom.
“Jill!” Mollie screamed again when she could breathe. Conner did not stop, pushing Mollie until tears welled in her eyes. With a final lap of her tongue, another wave knocked through Mollie’s system. “Jill!” she cried for the third time before her body collapsed onto the bed. Conner continued licking lightly, tasting the sweet juices of Mollie’s release. She used her tongue to clean Mollie, and then kissed the quivering belly. She felt the muscles tense beneath her lips and looked up.
Mollie’s breathing was ragged and her eyes were closed. She touched her lips to each of Mollie’s nipples, sliding her body upward to look into Mollie’s flushed face. She caressed her lover’s cheek, moving sweaty strands of hair off the delicate face. Mollie did not stir and Conner knew that the girl had blacked out from the pleasure.
Jill Conner rose from the bed and tucked a quilt around her lover. She finished removing her jeans and looked at her reflection in the mirror above the dresser. The tank top was fitted to her frame. She was tall but did not have large breasts. She rarely needed to wear a bra and she could see her nipples pressing against the white material. She had chosen not to wear any underwear when she had put on the tight jeans, but she did have on her harness. She reached down to stroke the dildo hanging from the harness. She wandered how Mollie would react to seeing it and smiled at her reflection. She would find out soon enough.
She padded into the living room for the tray of cheeses, fruits, and crackers. She did not retrieve the bottle of wine. Instead, she poured them both a glass of water and returned to the bedroom. She sat down on the bed beside Mollie and gently stroked her lover’s hair. She wanted to touch Mollie again, to make love to her again, but she knew the girl needed to eat. “Wake up, little one,” Conner whispered, laying her fingers soft on Mollie’s cheek.
Mollie inhaled sharply as she regained consciousness, her body tensing in a fight or flight response. Conner muttered hasty assurances to the girl, assuring her that everything would be all right. Mollie slowly relaxed, exhaling all the air in her lungs. Conner smiled, dropping a kiss on the girl’s shoulder. She put the water to Mollie’s lips. “Drink up, darlin’,” she ordered softly.
They didn’t feel the need for words as Mollie drank some water and they both nibbled on the assortment from the tray. Conner watched Mollie carefully as they ate, trying to judge the girl’s reaction to their encounter. She didn’t seem to regret being there. She ate well and responded to Conner’s tender kisses.
As Conner finished eating, the kisses became more frequent. She lingered on Mollie’s throat, nibbling with her teeth and sucking with her lips. Mollie helplessly tilted her head to one side, allowing Conner’s mouth and hands free reign. Conner’s hand caressed Mollie’s breast, circling the nipple to tease it to attention then pinching and tugging it. Mollie forgot about her food, laying her hand on the back of Conner’s neck as her lover again roused her sleeping libido.
Mollie slid back into a reclining position, trying to pull Jill’s mouth to her own. She opened her mouth, wanting to taste Conner’s sweet lips and feel her teasing tongue. Conner complied, pressing her mouth to Mollie’s and slipping her tongue deep inside the warm, wet cavern. Her hand wandered away from Mollie’s large breast to travel down to her lover’s thighs. Her fingertips danced up and down the inside of Mollie’s thighs, urging her lover to open. Their tongue’s tangled together as Mollie shifted restlessly, opening her legs as Conner’s fingers moved against her slit.
Conner adjusted until she was over Mollie, never breaking the kiss. She used one hand to balance herself while using the other to glide the thick strap against Mollie’s damp lips. Mollie gasped, breaking the kiss in her surprise. Conner was there to calm her, lying still with the long phallus pressed against Mollie’s parted, throbbing lips. When Mollie had relaxed, Conner resumed her actions. She positioned the head of the dildo against Mollie’s opening and slipped it inside slightly. “Relax,” she whispered against the shell of Mollie’s ear. She pushed her hips a little, sliding the thick rod a little deeper.
Mollie’s chamber was tight and Conner had to push by the clenching walls to drive the shaft all the way into her lover. The strap was about two inches thick and seven inches long. She almost always wore this smaller package. She liked the way it felt. It gave her a confidence that she couldn’t explain. Even though she had not had sex in three years, she never left the house without the harness and tool strapped beneath her clothing. She had larger attachments at home but had seen no need to wear them recently. As she began moving slowly, she knew she would be wearing one of the larger packages the next time she was in town.
She extended her arms above Mollie as she began moving more quickly, watching the young woman’s reaction as she was filled over and over by her lover’s thrusting hips. Mollie’s eyes were closed and her breathing ragged. Her breasts were rising and falling in time with Conner’s thrust. Conner rocked forward, dragging the latex shaft against Mollie’s extended clit as she worked to push her lover higher.
With each down stroke, the base of the dildo rubbed against Conner’s own sweet spot. She gave herself to control of her primal instincts, closing her eyes and arching her back to drive deeper into Mollie with each long, complete stroke. She strained, trying to hold back her own release until she heard Mollie scream her name again.
Mollie was not a stranger to having something inside of her. She had been with Bobby for nine years. Until recently, they had made love frequently. She didn’t know if it was the drought of affection or the foreignness of the man-made material that caused such an intense build-up, but Mollie could not control her body. “Oh, Conner,” she moaned as her orgasm neared the breaking point.
“No,” Conner grunted, never ceasing her movements. Her thighs slapped against Mollie’s in a steady rhythm as they worked toward completion. “Say my name.”
Mollie reached up and grabbed Conner’s face between her palms, pulling the dark green eyes to reality. “Jill,” she whispered with a voice thick with emotion. “Jill.” Conner thrust hard once more and Mollie cried out. “Jill!”
The sound sent Conner over the top and she followed Mollie into the sweet explosion of oblivion. For a few seconds, her hips continued working on their own accord, a reflex reaction as they rode the wave together. Conner rolled to her back and collapsed at Mollie’s side, the duo panting in contented exhaustion.
Conner slipped her arm around Mollie’s shoulders, pulling the girl against her body. Mollie lay with her head tucked into her lover’s shoulder, her hand resting in a loose fist on Conner’s stomach. They were both covered with a thin coat of sweat. Conner absently played with Mollie’s curls as she stared at the ceiling.
“What time is it?” Mollie asked after a long stretch of rest and silence.
Conner sighed and reached to the bedside to pick up her alarm clock. She struggled to read the numbers before answered. “Fifteen after eleven,” she said around a yawn. Her fingers danced along Mollie’s naked shoulder.
Mollie sighed and stretched. “I should go. He’ll be home even if he’s. . .” She didn’t finish the thought. She didn’t need to. She sat up and looked at Conner, chewing thoughtfully on her lower lip. “What . . . what happens now?”
“What do you want to happen?” Conner asked, propping herself up with pillows. Her green eyes had lost the haze of passion and now carried a tender glow.
Mollie stared at the blanket on the bed as she thought of the proper way to word her response. There was no good way to answer. “I don’t know, Jill. Tonight was . . . incredible, but I’m not so certain that I am ready to give up on my marriage.”
Conner nodded, trying not to show any emotion. She was lying to herself if she said that Mollie’s answer did not tear her apart, but she would not pressure her young worker. Mollie’s decision had to be Mollie’s choice. “Then you go home to him,” she answered, hoping her voice didn’t reveal her internal conflict. “You go home to him and I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”
Mollie leaned forward and kissed Conner’s lips. There was no passion in this kiss even though it was intimate. The kiss gave Conner hope. Mollie wasn’t completely shutting down. Mollie sat on the end of the bed as she redressed, aware of Conner’s eyes on her. She tried to hide the fact that being watched by the beautiful woman was making her body betray her resolve. Her nipples were straining against the material of her clothing and her lower lips were tingling by the time she was finished.
Conner slipped a pair of boxer shorts over her hips and followed Mollie to the front door. Her fingers again brushed Mollie’s soft skin as she helped her lover into her wrap. “I had a wonderful time, tonight, Mollie Donavon,” she whispered in Mollie’s ear.
“Me, too,” Mollie answered, pressing upward into Conner hard body, her lips turned expectantly for a kiss. Conner rewarded her with one, though it was a short touch. They embraced tightly, holding onto each other desperately. Mollie finally pulled away. She felt empty as she heard the door close behind her.
The irony of the turn of events struck Mollie as she drove home. As she had wandered about the city broken-hearted because her cheating husband had forgotten her on Valentine’s Day, she had thought about her budding feelings for Conner. Now she had given into those feelings and didn’t really want to go home to a husband who had also found someone else.
She pulled into the driveway of the house she shared with Bobby. His car was already there and she bowed her head, trying to think of a suitable story to explain her absence. The front door opened and Bobby ran across the front lawn, clutching the phone in his hand. He ripped open the door and pulled her out of the seat and into his arms. “Mollie! Thank God you are all right! I have been worried sick!” He took her face in his hands and kissed her lips earnestly. She was too shocked to return the kiss or the embrace.
“Sweetheart, I am so sorry. I totally forgot Valentine’s until the janitor asked me why I was working late on the holiday. How could I forget our special day?”
Mollie tried to grab hold of her anger at his forgetfulness, but what she heard was that he had been at work. She was speechless.
“How can I ever make it up to you?” he demanded. “I tried to call you. Why didn’t you take your phone?”
“I just forgot it,” she muttered, unable to say anything else. Guilt was tearing her apart. She pulled away from him and walked into the house, hoping he would read anger and not anything else in her actions.
He followed quietly, helping her with her jacket. He whistled low when he saw the dress she had put together for their special day. “Wow, sweetheart. You look incredible. Beautiful.” She waved him away, numbly walking through the house to their bedroom. She couldn’t bare the thought of sleeping with him, so she began gather her belongings to sleep in the spare room. “Where were you?” he suddenly asked, helplessly watching her motions.
Mollie gathered her gown and her cosmetics in her hands, her mind racing for an answer. “I was with a friend from work. We ran into each other at a pub downtown and had dinner.”
“I am so glad you are all right. I left as soon as I remembered, but you were gone. I didn’t know where to look. I almost called the police.”
“Bobby,” she said, throwing all of her belongings on the bed. She put her hands on her hips and advanced on him. “I want you to tell me the truth.”
“I have never lied to you, sweetheart,” he stated and she knew it was the truth.
“Is there another woman? Are you having an affair?”
His face went slack and his jaw dropped. It moved soundlessly up and down as he struggled to wrap his mind around her accusation. “No, Mollie. I promise, no. I know things haven’t been great between us lately and that’s my fault. I’ll tell Paul I need to cut back. I’m not going to let my work destroy our marriage. Mollie, I love you.”
Mollie studied his face and knew that he was telling the truth. She only had a moment to allow that thought to register before he folded her in his arms. She loosely put her arms around his waist, tears spilling out of her eyes. She didn’t sob, only cried silently into his shoulder. He stroked her hair and held her against him, assuming that her tears were shed for their relationship. In soft whispers, he promised her to make things better. He would do everything he could to make her happy again.
Only she knew the truth about her tears. They weren’t just for her marriage. She shed tears because guilt tore through her. She cried for Jill Conner lying alone in her brother-in-law’s apartment with hope in her empty heart. She wept because she wasn’t certain she wanted Bobby Donavon to be the one to make her happy.