Brayden, Melissa - How Sweet It Is

Molly leaned her chin on her hand. “She was thrilled. Turned out they’d all pretty much figured out that the shop was going under. They just didn’t have the heart to let on, so they played dumb. All three of them. They’re about to be out of a job and they’re worried about my feelings. Can you imagine that?”

“It’s a great group you have there.”

Molly smiled as she thought about it. “We’re a little family, in a way. It’s nice to care so much about the people you work with.” She reached across the small table and threaded her fingers through Jordan’s. “I have a lot of great people in my life it seems.”

Jordan looked at their hands and then back at Molly. “There’s a reason for that, you know.”

“And what would that be?”

“Because of who you are, Molly. Your kindness. Your warmth. It sounds like a cliché, but you’re the heart and soul of the whole town, and what you do at the bakeshop makes a difference. The way you take time with everyone and the care you put into the amazing food. It goes a long way. When people walk out of Flour Child, their day is a little bit brighter. I, for one, happen to think that’s a pretty amazing thing. I hope to make that sort of a difference one day.”

Her words were simple, but they resonated. Hearing what Jordan thought of her, that what she did mattered, moved something powerful in Molly. She took a sip of champagne to allow the weight to settle. “Thank you,” she said, lifting her eyes to Jordan. “And I don’t quite know what to say after that.”

The small candle that sat between them flickered gently, and Jordan tilted her head to the side, biting her bottom lip in a move Molly found incredibly attractive. “Don’t say anything. Just know it’s true.”

They moved on to lighter topics then. The changing weather and the longer days. How much they looked forward to summer and the fireflies that would dance through the trees at night. And they laughed a lot. That was Molly’s favorite part about spending time with Jordan. They always had such fun together. Time seemed to fly by.

And it was easy. Just easy in the most wonderful way.

Later, they walked back to Jordan’s car leisurely, hand in hand. As they neared the car, Molly tugged Jordan’s hand bringing them to a stop. “Tonight was wonderful. Dinner. The conversation. And then there’s the fact that you look amazing.” She did too. When Jordan had knocked on her door earlier that evening, Molly had needed a moment to take her in. Dark jeans and an off red V-neck top that dipped just low enough, capped off with the standard boots, this time with a small heel. Not overly fancy, but killer when it was Jordan wearing it. Her mouth had gone dry at the sight.

Jordan stepped into her. “Then I hope you won’t mind if I do this.” She dipped her head and kissed Molly, a slow gentle kiss that left her skin tingling and alive.

“You kiss pretty good, Hotty McHotpants.”

“What did you just call me?” Jordan whispered against her mouth, the corners of her lips curving in amusement.

“You heard me,” Molly said, leaning in for more and sliding her arms around Jordan’s neck in the process. Yeah, this was a pretty good date, she thought lazily, as they kissed some more. Finally, she pulled back and looked into Jordan’s eyes. “Now take me home. There’s homemade Oreo ice cream.”

Jordan’s mouth fell open a little. “Sometimes when I think you can’t get any better, you somehow do. How did you know I like Oreo?”

“Everyone likes Oreo. It’s a law of nature.”

“I love nature.”

*

Back at Molly’s house, Jordan fed Rover while Molly scooped the ice cream. “He’s a happy little guy,” Jordan remarked as Rover sprang into action, doing laps around the tank as if he knew he had an audience.

“He’s a little obsessed with dinner time. A fish after my own heart, I’m afraid.”

“I like his fish spirit.”

Molly handed Jordan a bowl and made her way to the couch. She’d taken off her shoes and wore just the green print sundress that preoccupied Jordan all through dinner.

Molly slid her a look. “Stop all that grinning and come sit with me.”

“On my way and doing my best stern face.”

Molly laughed. “Oh, that’s much better. Well done on stern. Really.”

“Thanks. It’s one of my better looks. I added in a little sultry. I don’t know if you picked up the sultry.”

“Trust me. I did.”

But Jordan had to then switch gears because the ice cream she’d just tasted demanded her full attention. “Oh, my. Hello,” she said to the bowl as she sat.

“Yeah?” Molly asked. She was clearly intrigued by Jordan’s mystification and sat a little taller.

Jordan held up a hand and pointed at her bowl. “Can’t talk to you right now. Busy.” She went back to the ice cream because really she just wanted to experience it fully. It was heavier than store-bought and the vanilla tasted more full-bodied. The large chunks of Oreo seemed luxurious in comparison to the tiny pieces most brand names mixed in. Quite simply, it was heaven on a spoon. Five bites later, she turned to Molly.

“Sorry. We were bonding.”

“You and the ice cream?”

“Right. Ice cream bonding. It’s a thing.”

Molly scooted closer to Jordan, enjoying this. “So you like this ice cream?”

“I would lay down my life for this ice cream.”

“Wow. That’s an endorsement. If I ever decide to mass produce, I’ll have to put that quote on the carton.”

“With my picture please.”

“As long as you work for free. Funds are tight.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Well, I accept other forms of payment.”

“Yeah? Lucky me.”

Jordan looked at Molly, and there was that prickle of awareness that started low and crept up her spine whenever she was in close proximity to her. Her eyes dropped to Molly’s mouth just in time for Molly to take her bowl into the kitchen.

“No way,” she said as she passed. “I know that look, and there can be no getting naked tonight.”

Jordan stared after her. “What do you mean? You’ve already decided this? Not even a tiny getting naked chance? I don’t think we should take the chance off the table.”

“Uh-uh. This is a first date . What kind of girl do you think I am?”

“The kind who enjoys a really good first date?” Jordan’s laughter faded and she covered her mouth when she realized Molly wasn’t joining in. “Oh. You’re serious?”

“As a heart attack, movie person.”

And Jordan got that she truly was. “Okay. So we’ll just hang out. And not think about getting naked at all.”

Molly glared at her as she took her empty bowl back to the kitchen. “Stop saying naked . That adds a whole new level of difficulty.”

“You said naked first. I don’t want to point fingers, but—”

“Neither of us is allowed to say it anymore,” Molly practically yelled.

“Got it. Geez. No saying the forbidden word.”

Molly took her spot back on the couch across from Jordan and stared at her as if struggling. She lifted one shoulder weakly. “But you are pretty far away. Maybe there’s no rule against, you know, proximity.”

“Well, you seem to be way more into rules, so I trust your judgment. I vote you come here.” Jordan swung her legs onto the couch between them and lifted an arm for Molly, who slid beneath it perfectly. With Molly-of-the-amazing-sundress up against her fully, Jordan felt every erogenous zone she had come to life and some she didn’t realize existed.

But she could do this. She was an adult.

“So tell me about your last relationship?”

An interesting turn in conversation. “You want to hear about me and other women?”