Brayden, Melissa - How Sweet It Is

“You have some impressive moves,” she said later as they lay there exhausted alongside each other. She traced the outside of Jordan’s breast with her finger.

Jordan propped her head up with her elbow. “You haven’t seen all of them yet.”

The sentence shot a powerful thrill through her center. “I can’t even imagine what you’re referencing.”

“You don’t have to imagine. Because there’s always later.” And then she smiled. And there it was, that connection, that little click that they’d always had between them. In spite of all the changes, it was alive and well and had only been added to by what they just shared. Because she just had to, she leaned in and brushed Jordan’s lips with hers.

“Later it is. For now, we should get some shuteye. I hear the rooster crows early around here.”

Jordan eyed her with amusement. “You sound like one of the Waltons. A very alluring Walton, but still a Walton. And please tell me that was just something to say and that there’s not a rooster in your backyard.”

Molly looked at her quite seriously. “I guess you’ll just have to stick around and find out.”

“God, I think I have to now.”

“That’s good news,” Molly said and held her gaze.

They snuggled in, limbs tangled, Jordan’s head tucked under Molly’s chin. It was easy between them, the way they fit together. She never would have imagined it could feel this easy.

“Night, John-Boy,” Jordan whispered.

Molly laughed and pulled Jordan in tighter. It wasn’t long before deep, even breathing indicated Jordan had drifted off first.

She was grateful for the quiet moment because she didn’t have the right words to describe what it was she was feeling. As she lay there staring out her window with Jordan asleep in her arms, she watched the moonlight play in the trees and shook her head in wonder.

Something slow and steady was beginning to take root within her and spread out. It was an odd feeling, discovering someone that you’ve known for most of your life.

It was so much more than she’d figured on. She’d expected fun and maybe even the intense chemistry. Instead, she’d been swept away by so much more than all of that. Everything in her had surrendered to Jordan that night.

When her alarm went off at four the next morning, she snuck out from underneath Jordan’s arm, feeling the loss of the warmth against her. As she made her way to the shower, she heard Jordan mumble quietly.

“Not a rooster.”

She smiled and turned back, but Jordan was already fast asleep, her hair across the pillow. She looked peaceful, angelic even. She walked back to the bed and pulled the sheet across her, covering her breasts, tucking her in. The morning air carried a chill after all. It had nothing to do with the unexplained feelings she felt swirling within her.

Nothing at all.

Chapter Eighteen

The next morning, Jordan took a tentative sip of the Starbucks latte she knew she shouldn’t be holding. George had picked up coffee for them on what would be his last morning in town, but she could see imaginary Molly glaring at her in the recesses of her mind. The beverage was, quite simply, contraband.

She and George walked up Main Street en route to the library for Jordan to show him the business plan she’d been working on. George had some connections in the venture capital world, and though she had a decent nest egg, it wouldn’t be enough to get the production company up and running without outside financial assistance. They’d worked on films together before and had such a harmonious creative energy that she was thrilled he’d agreed to come on board.

“So how’s the inn working out for you?”

He lit up at the question. “Oh, it’s adorable. Maureen, the innkeeper, will be hosting a tea later. I plan to hit it up before I head back to the city. I don’t know if you heard me, so I’ll say it again. An actual tea . And I’m invited.” George looked so incredibly excited that Jordan had to laugh.

“She likes to keep things fun over there.”

“Fun doesn’t do it justice. I feel fancy and I love it.”

“Thinking of moving to Applewood, are you?”

He looked thoughtful. “Well, you never know.”

“Whoa. Hold the phone. What does that mean? And there’s a coy little smile on your face. What are you not saying?”

He took a deep breath. “I met someone last night when you ditched me for requisite manual labor.”

“First of all, I told you I had an obligation that I had to keep, and second of all, who did you meet? Seriously, this town is like the size of a shoebox and not exactly overrun with gay men in a conga line down Main Street. Though that could be fun.”

He laughed sardonically. “Shows how much you know.”

They settled onto the bench in front of the library to finish the discussion. “Seriously, Romeo, who?”

His eyes sparkled. “The quiet bartender over at that owl place.”

She laughed. “Please. Little Bobby?”

“That’s him. Unfortunate nickname though, don’t you think?”

“Not gay.”

“Gay.”

“Nope. I’ve known him for years. You couldn’t be more off.”

“Wait and see.”

“Fine. But I’m rarely wrong. And I’m sorry, but I can’t drink this.” She handed him the latte. “I’m on a one-way guilt train to hell if I do.”

George studied her with interest. “Suddenly developed an aversion to your favorite morning pick-me-up? Interesting development.”

She sighed. “Long story. My sister-in-law owns the bakeshop around the corner from here and—”

“That’s who you were with last night, right?”

“Yes. Focus, ADD. We’re talking about Starbucks and how it’s ruining lives.”

“Drastic, but okay. Plus, I’d rather talk about the sister-in-law and why you turned all squirmy when she came up. Go on. Squirm again. I enjoy it.”

Jordan exhaled slowly. “I’m sleeping with her.”

“Duh. But since when does that kind of thing ever get under your gorgeously moisturized skin?”

“Exactly. It’s kind of the ideal situation. Amazing sex. A noticeable lack of strings. My dream scenario, right?

“Right. Perfect.”

She met his eyes. “Except it’s not perfect. It’s not even close.” She lifted one shoulder and let it fall helplessly.

Her mind drifted back to earlier that morning when she’d woken up at Molly’s house. The sun peaked at her through the window and she turned over to meet it, very aware of her body. As details from the night before tumbled back to her, she stretched languidly on and ran her hand across Molly’s pillow.

She knew she should get up and go about her day, but she had to hold on to it just a short while longer, this little bit of wonderful. So she closed her eyes and reveled for a moment, and it felt great.

Finally ready to face the day, she strolled to the bathroom and paused at what she saw sitting there on the dresser. The frame held a simple snapshot that looked as if it were taken on New Year’s Eve. Cassie beamed at the camera while Molly smiled adoringly at Cassie. It was the most natural thing in the world, that photo. But Jordan felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach. She picked up the wooden frame as if drawn to it by a magnet and ran her thumb gently across her sister’s face. As she stood there, reality came crashing down around her, and she was reminded of just how impractical the circumstances were.

Real life was still out there, waiting for her to return. Nothing had changed.

She looked at George. “It’s different with Molly. Everything is different with her.”

His eyes took on understanding. “Wow. I was waiting for this day. Just didn’t think it would come in this complicated little package. So what’s the plan, Stan? What are you going to do?”