I stopped running before I got to the door and cleaned up as best as I could. I opened the heavy glass door to the same scents and inhaled deeply as my stomach growled. Molly was at the counter with her hair in a bun, looking tired but beautiful. I looked her over slowly, seeing a curvy form and taking in her full lips that were a dark plum today. Was that new? She wasn’t wearing makeup the first time that I’d been in here. I walked forward and got into the short line, taking her in the entire time. Somehow, she didn’t notice me yet even though I felt the heat that was thick in the air.
When the woman before me stepped aside to wait for her order, our eyes locked and she let out a gasp. Her big, intoxicating brown eyes were framed with dark lashes and she stumbled as she asked what I’d like today. I went with the black coffee and that same muffin as she blushed and nodded quickly. She got a couple of the drinks after I was finished and had dropped another large bill into the cobalt blue jar, seeming to be nervous now. She handed one to the woman and the other to me as our eyes locked, electricity flowing between us. She took a deep breath and got a scone from the display case for the woman that was eying me hungrily, dropping it onto a plate heavily before she pushed it across the counter. I saw the look flash across her face that was clearly jealousy as I grinned, amused by the situation playing out before me.
I glanced at the woman, seeing a blonde as she walked away muttering something under her breath. She had nothing on Molly. I looked back to Molly who seemed to consider the selection of the chocolate muffins for a moment before selecting one of the larger ones. She didn’t drop it on the plate like she had the scone and I watched as she pushed it slowly to me. I saw that she was working hard on her control but there was a slight tremor to her hand. I realized that we were alone for a moment and reached for the plate, brushing my hand against hers. She jumped as she looked into my face, her cheeks pink. “Did you enjoy the movie?” I asked her as she smiled shyly.
“It was fine,” Molly told me as she eyed me slowly. “Did you? I would have pegged you for more of the horror type.”
“I compromised,” I assured her as I left my hand near hers. There was something about Molly that told me she wasn’t experienced, maybe even pure. She was nice and seemed nervous, but wasn’t flirting like the women that I was accustomed to.
She reminded me of Brittany and I cursed the idea, not wanting to go through something like that again.
The door chimed and a group of women walked in, making Molly look away from me. I sensed that the moment was over and took my stuff to find a table. I needed a moment and breathed deeply as I sat down. I looked back to watch her laugh at something and knew that I wanted her. I had to take this slow though and get to know Molly. The redhead came out from the back and started to put some wrapped sandwiches in the other display case that customers could pull from and glanced around the room. Would she recognize me today?
It seemed like she was just seeing how crowded it was before she headed to the back again. This was obviously the best friend and I thought that it might be good to get to know her as well. I could learn more about Molly and gain her trust if I treated the people in her life well since I sensed that she had little faith in her own choices. I glanced at the table that the blonde was sitting at as she tapped at her phone. She was about thirty and had a frown on her face, and I didn’t find her that attractive. I was less selective when I was younger and quick to jump, hence what happened with Brittany. Now I took more time and chose carefully and the woman that I wanted was behind the counter.
“Take a lunch,” the redhead said as she brought Mollie a bowl on a plate. “I have the counter.” Molly thanked her and fixed a drink quickly before she looked around. She glanced my way and saw me looking at her as she blushed.
I silently urged her to come to me and she licked her lips as she walked in my direction. There were free tables near me and she took one that put her in a place where her side was near to me as she got settled. I looked at the redhead who had noticed where Molly sat before she looked at me curiously. Her head tilted as she seemed to consider the situation before her with a tender smile.
That was promising and I turned my head as I heard Molly speak. “Are you new to Mountain Home?”
“I have lived here a couple of weeks. I transferred with the air force recently.” I saw her look at me with big eyes for a moment.
“So, you’re not staying?” She pressed as I frowned. Was she wondering if I was going to have my fun and just leave town?
“I am twenty years in so I have the choice. I like it here,” I assured her as she nodded and leaned over to take a bite of the soup. “Are you from this town?”
She chewed and shook her head after a moment. “Idaho, yes. I moved here after college a couple of years ago with Noel to open this place. It’s her home town.”
College. She was in her mid-twenties, then.
“It’s a gorgeous town,” I said thoughtfully as she nodded again.
“Do you live on the base?” She asked as I smiled. She was prodding me for information.
“No, I rent a house on the edge of town. I have always thought that base housing was for families.” That told her that I didn’t have one, something that might be important to her. I had already pointed out that I was older and she shouldn’t be worried about my having any kids or ex-wives.
“Oh, you don’t have kids?” Molly asked as she looked at me. I shook my head. Something softened in her eyes and I took the moment to ask her something.
“I am a career guy. I always have been, but a place like this makes me want to slow down a bit,” I said as she smiled and nodded.
“It does.”
Her lunch was over all too soon and she was taking her dishes to the back after a shy smile in my direction. I hadn’t told her my name but that would come. This was a great start.
I left after she was back at work, helping the stragglers. I noted that they closed at one today and tomorrow before I walked out, smiling to myself. I’d gained some trust today. I’d seen her closer and decided she was breathtaking with full breasts and a great ass in addition to her other assets.
Chapter 6
Molly
I watched him leave after my lunch, thinking about him as Noel sat down for a quick lunch with Nate. We didn’t talk a lot, but I felt like I knew more things about him that encouraged the attraction between us. I felt like something was growing.
Noel came home with me, planning to nap before going to a party with Nate. She asked all about my conversation with the sexy, older man and I explained that it wasn’t extensive. I told her that we were just talking about the town. “He is into you, Mol. I see it in the way that he looks at you.”
“He’s so handsome. He could have anybody,” I protested as she turned right.
“He’s not a boy. He’s a man and they go for what they want. He won’t be like Lance was because he’s grown out of that.” Lance’s name was like ice water and I leaned back.