Sneaking Around Read online

  “Molly, wait! Please don’t go!” Seth pleaded. “I’m just screwing this up all over the place.”

  Molly stopped where she stood, but didn’t turn to face him, afraid to show just how much his words were breaking her heart.

  “Seems to be a pattern today, Seth,” Molly continued to walk toward the door.

  Seth quickened his pace to reach her, placing his hands on Molly’s shoulders to stop her before she could leave. If she made it out that door, he knew there was little chance of fixing what he had broken. That wasn’t an option. Molly had become too important to him. He needed her.

  Seth turned her around, never losing contact as he pulled Molly closer. Eyes locked, Seth held Molly’s gaze for what felt like an eternity, waiting for her to remember who he really was and not that guy he’d been earlier. He felt her shoulders relax and her body soften before he finally finished what he set out to do. Win back the girl.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I don’t even have a good excuse,” Seth admitted. “I was jealous. So incredibly jealous and acted like an ass.”

  “Jealous?” she questioned, a little glint of pleasure dancing in her eyes, pleased to know he was indeed jealous. Jealous only happened when there was something to be jealous of — that meant they had something.

  “I guess that’s what that was. My girl in that guy’s arms,” Seth began. “I don’t know how else to explain how it made me feel to see—”

  Molly kissed him. She kissed Seth sweetly for his apology, long for what they were building, and hard for what they had missed. Molly didn’t care what else he had to say. He was jealous — upset because another man had his girl. She was his girl.

  Molly finally broke their kiss and rested her forehead on Seth’s chest. “Next time, just ask. Not that I anticipate a next time like that, but I’m sure there will be other situations at some point that don’t make sense at first glance. You know me, Seth, better than anyone. You know Evelyn is—”

  It was his turn to kiss her. Seth did know Molly, knew her better than he knew himself in fact, and she was letting him off the hook when he didn’t deserve it. Molly was his dream girl, and she was giving him a second chance to be what she needed Seth to be. He wouldn’t fail twice.

  Seth pulled away for a moment. “I know. I hope you’ll forgive me for acting like…like…”

  “A man?” Molly giggled.

  “Yes, a caveman,” he replied. A little more self-loathing wouldn’t hurt his case at all, he thought.

  “I do forgive you,” Molly admitted. “Dane is nothing more than a parasite. He may be hard to get rid of, but he’ll eventually leave. I’m not at all interested in him. You have to know that.”

  Seth smiled. “He’s gone.”

  “He’s gone? How do you know — he’s never really gone,” Molly snickered

  “Ohhh, this time I think he is…gone,” Seth said with a knowing wink and Cheshire cat smile.

  “Seth? What did you do?” Molly’s mischievous grin faltered when she noticed his hands squeeze to fists and saw the fresh bruises.

  “He just saw things my way — I may have had Marcas and the O’Bannon brothers here as encouragement.” A snicker fell from Seth’s lips as he recalled the scene that unraveled and the pleasure he took in kicking that guy out of town for good. “It was leave or face a few consequences. He was staying here as Hyrum Kavecky and didn’t feel like explaining that to the sheriff.”

  “Hyrum Kavecky? Oh my…” Molly laughed.

  Seth was tired of hearing that guy’s name roll off Molly’s lips, so he kissed her again, long and hard, the kind of kiss that made you weak in the knees and took your breath away. He was going to leave her speechless for a change.

  “Would you like to go on a date with me?” Seth asked shyly, anxious for her to answer, but afraid it was too little too late. “I’ve been waiting months to ask you that.”

  “A date? When?” Molly asked, tossing him a forced puzzled look.

  “Now…” Seth smiled as he guided her to the other side of the room where the evening’s plan had been laid out for them.

  The couple sat by candle light and enjoyed the expansive gourmet spread. They talked, they drank champagne, and they laughed at absolutely nothing. They ate their fill, skipping dessert, moving right on to snacking — on each other. A memorable romantic evening had started and would finish sometime the next morning given their proximity and the heat they were generating.

  Seth stood, grabbing Molly’s hands so she would follow him to the bathroom, where he began to draw a warm bath full of rose petals and the bubbling spheres that were recommended by his more than macho friend. The smile that crossed Molly’s face, and sheer pleasure his genuine care gave her, pleased him. Simple kindness, a bath, made her happy. He would do anything for this woman.

  Seth held her head in his hands and pulled her in for a sweet kiss before turning to leave the room. He drew the bath for her, but Molly had better ideas about how to use that bath and grabbed Seth’s arm to stop him.

  Molly looked at Seth with parted lips, dark, hooded eyes flooded with desire, and asked, “Join me?”

  CHAPTER 12

  Seth sat in awe as the most beautiful woman stood before him surrounded in steam rising from the running bath. Molly was making him an offer he couldn’t refuse. He had thought about this night, many times, but never imagined it like this. Molly bit her full bottom lip, giving Seth a shy glance through her heavy lashes. It was nearly his undoing.

  He took her mouth and pulled her close, wanting Molly to feel the affect she was having on him against her belly. A sharp gasp left her before she parted her lips and let Seth in. His hands roamed up and down Molly’s sides, taking more chances with each rise and fall, eventually finding his way to her breasts where Seth paid careful attention to each, stroking them, cherishing them, wanting more of them. He broke their kiss, but only for a moment while he took to the hem of Molly’s shirt and raised it over her head.

  Finding her neck with his mouth, he kissed a trail to her collarbone where he nipped and tasted before making his way to the curve of Molly’s chest. Seth took his time, exploring every part of Molly’s body. When he finally unhooked the barrier between them and dropped it to the ground, exposing Molly’s ample breasts, he couldn’t breathe.

  Molly’s gaze dropped, and she turned her head ever so slightly while Seth took her in. Her rosy cheeks gave away her wandering emotions, showing how shy and vulnerable she really was. He hooked her chin with a single finger and raised her gaze to meet his.

  “You are beautiful — absolutely stunning,” Seth whispered

  Her sweet smile revealed the confidence she found in his words, and his heart fell all in. She tugged at his shirt, exposing his beautifully sculpted physique as she pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. Her hands landed on his brawny chest, and she watched as they slid, feeling every inch of their fall beneath her touch. She looked back to Seth’s dark, rich eyes, and enjoyed the spark she found there when her nails began to drag ever so slightly across his abdomen, then lower.

  Dropping his head, he released an appreciative groan when he found her breasts again and let his mouth have its way with her. Head back, Molly’s hands weaved through Seth’s unruly, menacing locks as he pulled one tight peak into his mouth and gave it a warm, knee-weakening tongue lashing. Making his way to her other breast to give it an equal assault, his hands drifted to her waist and undid the closure there.

  His hands found their way down her sides beneath her pants, shedding her of the final scraps of fabric that hid her from him. Molly let out a quiet, but beholden, moan when she felt free of her garments that pooled at her feet. Then came the clanking sound of his belt-clad jeans hitting the floor shortly after. Molly felt him — all of him — as his warm body pressed against hers as if it was all that kept her standing.

  The overwhelming sense of feeling him, everywhere, was almost too much. The sensation and shock to her core was one thing, but the emotion
s she felt crossing between them was more. Seth flooded her body and mind with his gentle, loving touches. Molly couldn’t remember feeling so consumed by such a feeling ever.

  He moved from her breasts for only a moment, his hand staying in place, so his thumbs could continue to rub and toy with her swollen buds. His gaze wandered from Molly’s well-kissed, plump lips down her body, seeing all of her in slow appreciation as he took her in. Seth wanted to memorize every burning inch of her beauty.

  “So damn beautiful…” His words rushed through her, leaving behind confidence and appreciation as she took in the hunky view Seth gave her in return.

  He was head to toe naked and head to toe impressive. Molly couldn’t help the lingering view on a particular part of him that was generous in nature, she was left buzzing and greedy — hungry for more of him.

  “I can say the same thing about you, Seth…” she whispered between kisses. “So damn beautiful.”

  Molly’s words were laced in a needy desire while she held his length and began to stroke him, provoking a primal growl. Seth’s hands were back to roaming until he found what he was looking for. Her head fell back on a breathy gasp and moan when he reached her heated mound. Her grip tightened around him as he began to stroke her core, and they each found themselves in a perfect rhythm.

  He grabbed her leg, placing it on the edge of the bathtub, giving him better access to his end goal. Molly lost all her senses when he slipped one, then two, fingers inside her. Molly braced herself, holding his shoulders, silently promising to return the pleasure…later.

  She couldn’t think — she could only feel the overwhelming stir he left in his wake. She felt him move, his lips warm and tantalizing, drifting over her abdomen, then to each hip before landing on her most private, most sensitive spot, that left her completely exposed and feeling vulnerable.

  His tongue pleasured her tight bundle of nerves while his fingers stroked her core. She found herself leaning against the shower wall, arms hooked over its upper ledge to hold her upright. Her leg remained high, bearing her wide open to his every touch, stroke, and taste.

  Her climax built as his erotic touch flooded her with heat from head to toe. He felt her begin to tighten as her moans and breathing turned to sultry gasps and pants. The sounds he was provoking were nearly enough for him to meet his happy ending, but not before hers. No, it would be his pleasure to take her over the edge before taking his turn. He would do anything for her; at the very least, in this very moment, give her an earth-shattering orgasm.

  He dragged his free hand from where it rested on her ass to her hip and up her side before grabbing a handful of her breast. A slightly rough hand massaged her breast and then nipple, causing her to move hard against his fingers and tongue.

  A grating pinch and pull of her swollen rosy nipple and a final twist had her calling out his name and pulling his hair as she came down around him hard. Seth slowed his pace, moving his hands to her hips so she wouldn’t fall while she rode the final waves of her ecstasy before giving into his waiting arms.

  Seth lifted her, wrapped her legs around his waist, and kissed her all the way to the bed where they made love over and over again. Their bath would have to wait.

  Molly woke to the sound of a bath filling and Seth scooting back in to bed behind her. His arm wrapped around her waist and a gentle kiss on her shoulder was his morning greeting.

  “Good morning,” she said, a content and sated smile crossing her face.

  He tightened his hold and kissed her temple, trailing to her cheek as far as he could reach, and let out a growl, hungry for more of her. “Good morning, beautiful. I ordered breakfast and started the bath for you since I sort of ruined that for you last night.”

  “I am completely okay with you ruining my bath. Join me?” she asked, not ready to leave the bed.

  “I already showered, right after ordering breakfast. It should be here soon. How about you relax in the bath and meet me back here in bed for breakfast when you’re done,” Seth said while nibbling on Molly’s neck and shoulders, his arousal obvious against her back.

  And that was exactly how they spent their morning, snacking on room service, but mostly each other.

  Molly made it to Reading Grounds in time for her book club meeting with only minutes to spare.

  “That’s some glow you’re wearing, dear,” Cady deadpanned

  “The what?” Molly ran her hands over her hair and shifted from foot to foot as if that would shake the floating on clouds glow she was sporting.

  “Oh my God…” Brady eyerolled, “we all know where you were! Small town, and these two were in charge,” she said, swinging a pointed finger between Cady and Libby.

  “Oh, that, yeah…” Molly cleared her throat and smiled. “It was good.”

  “Good? And you look like that?” Libby laughed. “I’m afraid amazing just might ruin you then.”

  “I’d settle for okay…” Ginger offered, earning a laugh from the group.

  “Okay…it was great! Are you happy? Seth is…” Molly smiled as her thoughts wandered, trying to come up with the right word to describe him. She came up short. “Amazing! I just can’t put my finger on it. He’s just…amazing.”

  “Wow…sounds like more than a book buddy and fellow down with Evelyn club member,” Brady snorted.

  Libby chuckled and offered her two cents. “I think you’ve fallen for the guy, my friend.”

  “You’re definitely past friend-zone, honey,” Shayna observed, sharing her thoughts between bites of her morning pastry. “I think you need to thank Evelyn at this point! She brought you together…just in a really strange and…twisted way.”

  “I don’t know. I do like him. I like him a lot…” Molly admitted, thinking out loud, lost in thought.

  “Like him?” Cady asked with a knowing grin and cocked eyebrow. “Are you sure that’s all, dear?”

  Molly sat on Cady’s question for a long while, trying to reconcile exactly what it was she felt for Seth, how much more she felt than like. Could he be the one? Molly didn’t know. What she did know was Seth flooded her every thought, day and night, and every decision she made seemed to include him.

  Hunter O’Bannon wrote the book on women, and Seth knew he was the guy to go to when he couldn’t figure out his head from his heart. Now happily settled with his own dream girl, Hunter seemed to have it all — all the answers that was. Seth felt like a love-struck teenager who couldn’t think past the girl in his dreams every night. What was more was he didn’t think he minded much — he’d gladly think of Molly and only Molly. He needed good old fashioned, man-to-man woman advice.

  It wasn’t a secret amongst the guys at the station that Seth had it bad for Molly. They all knew he had wanted something official for months but didn’t have the balls to explore that with her or simply ask. Molly left him speechless at every turn, and he settled for whatever time, in whatever capacity, he could get. Seth was a man’s man in every way. He’d outgrown his awkward phase when he moved up from FNG and became official at the station — except where Molly was concerned.

  “Are you sure this isn’t just a little bit of puppy love, Spangler?” Hunter asked with a sly side-eye.

  “I don’t know what it is, or I wouldn’t be here!” Seth retorted, flustered and semi-embarrassed he was even having this conversation. “I know she is all I think about. I can’t even look at another woman — don’t want to look at another woman.”

  A long, drawn-out whistle followed by Hunter’s surprise commanded attention. “I think you’ve got it bad, kid. Eyes for one woman means only one thing.”

  “Yeah?” Seth questioned, hanging on Hunter’s every word. “And what’s that?”

  “It means…you got eyes for only one woman!” A disgusted look of did you really just ask that crossed Hunter’s glare and could be heard in his tone. It was as if he expected Seth to speak his language and was offended he didn’t.

  “Okay…so that’s…love?” Seth shyly asked.

 
A long sigh and eyeroll followed by a slap to the back of the head preceded Hunter’s final thoughts. “Look, if she’s your morning, noon, and night, every daydream and night dream, and not another woman can even compare to half of what she is? You need to get your girl. That’s a life sentence, but one you won’t regret.”

  Hunter ruffled the top of Seth’s hair as he stood to leave the room, but not before offering his final thoughts. “You need to tell Evelyn to suck it and quit using her to date your girl undercover. In fact, give her something big to piss her pants over. A big, sloppy indecent groping kiss in the town center — in front of everyone.” Hunter laughed, pleased with his own advice. “Grab Molly’s ass while you’re at it! That ought to get her!”

  Seth had a plan.

  CHAPTER 13

  Their mission was clear. Molly had seen Evelyn drive by many times, same direction each time, nearly each night, parking in or around the same spot each time. Evelyn seemed to make it inside wherever she was going completely undetected. It couldn’t be far, so Ben’s made sense, just like Cady had said. But why?

  Cady was confident in her declaration of such just days prior, so confident that not elaborating on such spoke volumes. If Molly had learned anything these past months, it was that Evelyn wasn’t the only one who seemed to have her finger on the pulse of this town — Cady and the bitty brigade mafia posse did too.

  Why Ben’s, though? It was long past business hours at Ben’s Brakes & BBQ, and her car was always outside — clearly not there for service. A car needing that much service probably just needed replacing anyway. Barbecue…every night? Evelyn didn’t strike her as the afterhours pulled pork and barbecue beans kind of lady. So, Ben…what did she want with Ben?