CHAPTER 14
Molly
I looked up at Robert, seeing concern in his eyes. I also felt people staring at us and could practically hear the words in their head, but I forced my focus onto him. “What’s wrong?” I asked him as he frowned and looked down at the table for a long moment.
“It seems like you’re finding every excuse not to come over. Didn’t you enjoy yourself?” He looked back into my eyes and searched them intently.
“No, I did. I just don’t want to put you out at all,” I assured him as my eyes widened.
“Hasn’t someone ever done anything nice for you before, Molly? A man in your life?” He asked me as tears filled my eyes. Lance wasn’t caring at all and always made me feel like an inconvenience. I shook my head and he tightened his grip on my hand. “What the hell? No wonder you’re skittish.” I looked around to see if anyone was listening, reddening when I saw that they were a little bit. My phone chimed and I jumped as I pulled my hand away to silence it.
“My lunch is over,” I murmured as I stared at him. I was shaky but I needed to calm down, reaching then for my coffee. It wouldn’t help but it was delicious. I’d only had a few spoonful’s of soup as well but my stomach was twisting now that I’d been involuntarily reminded of Lance’s cold ways.
“Molly, I didn’t want to upset you.” Robert’s eyes were stricken as he stared at me and I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“I’m fine, Robert. Text me later and we can figure something out for tonight.” I stood on shaking legs, realizing that he noticed as he frowned at me. He was so handsome and my heart soared in my chest at the tenderness in his beautiful eyes.
“I will. Take care of yourself.” He watched me gulp down my coffee to carry the dishes to the back, dumping the soup into the trash before I washed it. When I came back out to the counter after freshening my lip stain, I saw Noel looking at me with fear on her face.
“What happened? You were shaking when you came back.” She leaned against the black laminate counter and crossed her arms over her chest, taking advantage of the slow time.
“I was just reminded of the past. It wasn’t Robert’s fault at all but I just went back there.” I shook my head at her. “I don’t even know how to react to a caring man, Noel. What am I going to do?”
“You put Lance in your past where he is and will always be. You take it day-by-day because judging from the way that he’s looking over here, Robert cares about you. I saw that last night as well.” She smiled sweetly. “I’m a little jealous.”
“You have Nate. Don’t be silly,” I told her, going to make some more coffee while I had a free minute. I knew that it would make me jittery but I needed something. “Take your lunch. I’ll take care of the counter.”
“Are you sure?” Noel looked worried and I smiled brightly at her.
“Yes, of course. I got this.” She took a moment before pushing herself away from the counter and went back to make her sandwich. I didn’t see Nate, so I assumed that he wasn’t coming in today. Noel came out a few minutes later with a plate and gave me a curious look as she grabbed her coffee. “Go,” I urged her as she walked out to a table. I looked over the dining room to see that everyone was settled and then at the door, seeing a few customers walking in. I put a bright smile on my face as they approached me, not looking at Robert even though I felt him looking at me. He left a few minutes later and I waved at him as every woman that had seen our earlier exchange watched.
I didn’t want this to be the new story in town. I was trying to figure it out myself first.
Once Noel got back, she started to clean up the back while I picked dishes up at the tables. After that, I cleaned up front as much as I could before we closed. It slowed down later in the day and we were usually out of the store within a half an hour or so. Today was no different and I got into the car, debating on whether to talk to Noel. I knew that she was going to ask what was going on. She always did. She got into the Jeep and started the engine, leaving the radio down low as she glanced at me. “Want to talk about it?” Her voice was soft and I licked my lips.
“Robert asked me to stay with him tonight. He offered to drive me to work in the morning,” I said as she nodded and pulled out on the street.
“Are you scared of what might happen?” Noel asked as I looked forward.
“It’s not that. He wouldn’t rush me into anything. I just don’t want to inconvenience him at all.” She stopped at a light and stared at me.
“He offered, Molly. He wants to be with you.” Noel sounded confused before realization crossed her face. “Oh. Lance never offered to do anything kind for you, did he?” I shook my head. “What an asshole. I wish he knew how he still messed with your head sometimes. It’s so…unfair.” She moved forward at the green light and fell quiet until we turned on the street to get home. “You need to try to give this a chance.”
“I am trying to. We couldn’t talk about it too much because my lunch was over.” I told her as she rolled her eyes. “I know you don’t keep track but we have a business to run. I just needed a moment to work it all through my head.”
“I get that. Did you give him a firm no about tonight?” She asked as I told her that I didn’t.
“Is it moving too fast?” I asked her and Noel smiled.
“You’re asking me that? I always move too fast, but I think he cares about you. I mean, Robert is gorgeous and could be a total man whore if he chose to, but I don’t get that vibe. I think if he ever was, he’s moving past that. Does he know about Lance?” Noel asked as I pressed my lips together for a moment.
“I told him a little bit, yes. I felt like he should know.” I looked at the house as she pulled into the driveway. “We got kind of intimate last night. I mean, I didn’t sleep with him but…I responded to him barely touching me. Is that weird?” I asked, looking at her as she parked the car.
“That is magic,” Noel told me as she smiled at me. “Enjoy every moment of it because it doesn’t happen all the time. I know that for a fact.”
“Yeah, I guessed as much. The way I feel about him scares me sometimes. He’s so different than I am.” Noel got out of the Jeep and laughed.
“You’re an old soul, Molly. He’s just an older guy that’s lived a longer life. Maybe you’re perfect for one another. You’ll never know if you don’t try, right?” I nodded in agreement as we walked towards the house, walking in to the smell of simmering marinara sauce on the stove. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hey, girls. How was your day?” Marta called out as we went to see her. Noel told her about the day at the cafe and got us some water to drink when Marta looked at me.
“I saw that you came in for some pie last night. Did he like it?” She asked me as I smiled and nodded. “Robert is such a nice man. I enjoyed having him over for dinner last night.”
“He had a great time as well,” I assured her as she raised a perfect dark brow.
“Are you going to see him again?” Marta asked and I shared a gaze with Noel.
“He wants me to stay there tonight. Is that too fast?” I asked as Marta chuckled.
“Not in this day and age, though I want him to respect you. Does he?” She looked at me with a serious gaze and I nodded with a small smile. “Then take a chance. See what happens.” She winked at me. “Let’s be honest. He’s gorgeous and you have to give him a chance because of that.” I laughed just as I heard my phone chime from my pocket.
“This might be my chance.” I retrieved it and checked the screen, knowing that few people called me. I was certain that it was Robert and I smiled when I saw his name attached to a message.
R: Are we on for tonight?
“Tell him that there’s pasta simmering for dinner if he’s hungry. I like Robert.” Marta told me as I laughed and sent the message. I was going to spend the night with Robert, a man that physically drove me crazy. I knew that my virginity was on the line here and the idea both terrified me and thrilled me.
Of course, he agreed to dinner. I was going to eat with Robert and my family again, knowing that I was going to be in bed with him tonight. This was so strange and I turned to go up to my room for a small nap and some time alone to work through this.
The nap was nearly nonexistent and I showered before pulling on some clean jeans and a purple Henley before he was supposed to arrive for dinner. I brushed my hair out, having left it dry through the shower to save a little time.
I was headed downstairs when I heard the doorbell ring, smiling as Marta and Noel glanced up at me. I smiled as I opened the door, seeing Robert standing there in jeans and a thick plaid flannel, staring over the land for a moment. He moved his eyes to mine, sending a shock wave through my body as I licked my stained plum lips. “Hey.”
Dinner was ready quickly but that didn’t matter. After a soft kiss at the front door, Robert was inside the living room joking with Keith before laughing with Marta at the table. It was like he was already a part of this family and that made all of this so much more complex.