Brayden, Melissa - How Sweet It Is

“And you’re just now mentioning this? You should have called with news like that. What is it?”

“Journey Production Group. Because essentially, that’s what this whole thing has been for me, a journey. And these last two months have been what I hope is just the beginning.”

Molly nodded as she took it in, understanding the meaning. “I love it, Jordan. I really do.”

She smiled. “Thank you. But as far as my early arrival goes, I do have one request. Don’t tell my parents that I came to town early. They’ll be pissed I didn’t spend the time at their place and right now, I just—” She broke off as something snagged her attention. She looked past Molly in mystification. “What in the world have you been doing in here to make it smell so wonderful? Are you harboring Keebler elves?”

“No elves. There are elfin labor laws. You’re probably smelling chocolate chip cookies, truffles, macaroons—” She didn’t get to continue her list because Jordan was already gone, investigating the overflowing trays like a six-year-old on Christmas morning. “Halt right there. Back away from the tasty treats.”

Jordan froze with a cookie halfway to her lips. “No cookie?”

“Nope.” Her face fell, and Molly forced herself not to laugh because it was possibly the most adorable look she’d ever seen. “Sorry, Charlie. Those are strictly for tomorrow.”

“But I drove a long way and these are still oh so warm.”

It was too much. The large sorrowful puppy dog eyes, the pouty mouth, the little furrowed brow. It wasn’t like she was made of steel. She took a deep breath as her resolve crumbled. “Okay. You can have one. But then I close up shop until tomorrow at the party. Are we agreed?”

“Mhmm,” Jordan said through her mouthful of cookie. She hadn’t exactly waited.

“So what’s the verdict?” But Molly already knew. She’d mastered the art of the chocolate chip cookie when she was sixteen and never looked back. She could make them in her sleep. And when they were served warm, they were like circular crack.

Jordan leaned back against the counter. “I love this cookie. This cookie and I were made for each other.”

“Well, don’t forget I was instrumental in your meeting.”

“You can be in our wedding.”

There were still strawberries that needed to be dipped, but in the moment, Molly didn’t find them so important. She wanted to spend time with Jordan. Talk to her. Touch her. All of it. So they did what they loved to do. Picked out a movie and snuggled in on the couch together. Jordan let Molly do the choosing this time, and she selected one of her all-time favorites, Serendipity . There was something about the concept of two people fated for each other that she found utterly captivating. So they settled in and watched as John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale navigated the world’s obstacles until they could finally come together the way they were always meant to.

As the movie played on, they’d moved closer and closer together on the couch, until Molly lay with her head tucked into Jordan’s shoulder. Cozy was an understatement. Comfortable was too common a description for the perfect way they seemed to fit together, even in these casual moments. With Jordan there with her again, Molly felt her whole world perk up.

As the credits scrolled the screen, she pushed herself up and looked back at Jordan, gently brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. “Do you believe in that stuff?”

“What stuff are we talking about?”

Molly tossed her head in the direction of the screen. “Fate. The concept that two people can be destined for each other?”

She thought for a moment. “I think I do believe that. What about you?”

“It’s a nice idea, but I don’t know, maybe it’s just a grand romantic notion that someone once thought up.” She thought about it for a moment. “But even if that’s the case, it’s nice to think about, isn’t it? Pretend.”

“Hey, don’t count out romantic notions.”

Molly smiled and stole a slow kiss. “I like that you’re a romantic. A dreamer type. Very sexy.”

Jordan looked skyward. “Yeah, well, I dream a lot .”

“And while I hate to break this up or move from this incredibly wonderful spot, I have a little more work to do tonight. Is that okay?”

“Of course. Is there anything I can do?”

“Um, maybe in a little bit. Why don’t you bring your stuff inside, get settled? Relax.” And then a thought occurred to her. Maybe she was being too presumptuous here. “That is, if you were planning to stay here tonight. I didn’t mean to assume, and you don’t have to feel—” She blew out a breath. “This is stupid. Go get your stuff. You’re staying.”

Jordan shot her an amused grin. “Be right back.”

Molly set to work reheating the chocolate, and the sound of running water caught her attention from the bedroom. Fifteen minutes later, Jordan emerged in short shorts and a tank top. Molly stopped stirring mid-stroke because her brain stalled out. Took its break. Grabbed five. Whatever brains did.

Jordan took her spot next to Molly at the counter. “I stole a bath. Long day and the quick soak felt like heaven. I hope that’s okay.”

“Bath stealing is fine,” Molly said, forcing herself to concentrate on the strawberry in her hand even though she was totally preoccupied with Jordan and the fact that she smelled wonderfully of cucumber soap. And looked beyond awesome in that outfit.

“What can I do to help?”

Molly tossed a look behind her. “Uh, you can stir the chocolate, and in a few minutes we’ll get you set up with some strawberries of your own. Think you can handle it?”

“Are you kidding? I’m a natural at this kind of thing.”

But Molly slid her a glance twenty minutes later, and she wasn’t a natural at all. There was chocolate pretty much everywhere. On the tray between the strawberries. Across the countertop in large drops. And all over Jordan.

Molly leaned a hip on the counter next to her. “Feeling a little free with the chocolate?”

Jordan looked back at her with sad eyes. “It won’t stay where I want it to.”

“It does that.”

“I guess you make it look easier than it actually is.”

“Yeah, well, that’s my job. But I have to say you look extra good in chocolate.”

“Well, that’s a plus. I was kinda hoping you’d like it.”

Molly leaned in and delicately kissed the spot of chocolate off the side of Jordan’s cheek and took her time doing it.

She sighed and closed her eyes. “I knew there was a reason I was bad at this.”

“Want to watch a pro in action? I have a couple strawberries left over there.”

Jordan looked to her in relief. “I was hoping you’d ask.”

*

Jordan watched, captivated, as with smooth precision, Molly dipped the strawberry up to its stem in the chocolate, and with a slow turn of her wrist, pulled it back out and onto the wax paper. There wasn’t a drop of chocolate anywhere. It was a picture-perfect strawberry, out of some sort of food magazine.

The move, that little twist of her wrist, had been so simplistic. So elegant. So ridiculously hot.

Molly picked up a second strawberry and repeated the action, biting her bottom lip in concentration. Jordan’s mouth went dry at the sight.

“And that,” Molly said, placing the strawberry with the others on the paper, “was the last one.” She picked up the tray and whisked it off for storage in the refrigerator so the chocolate could cool onto the strawberries.

“What do we have to do now?” Jordan asked.

“Clean up.” Molly returned to the counter.

“But there’s chocolate left,” Jordan said innocently, sliding behind Molly at the counter. She swept Molly’s hair to the side, leaned down, and kissed the side of her neck. Molly hitched in a breath.