A slow smile spread out across Jordan’s face when their eyes met. “You are?”
She thought for a minute. “No. Not really.” She slid down the bed so she was face-to-face with Jordan. “I love watching you sleep. I could do it for hours. But now that you’re up, I can do this.” She leaned in and caught Jordan’s mouth in a slow and sensual good morning kiss.
Jordan slid her arms around Molly’s waist and pulled her in close. “I would like to be woken up in this manner every day. Maybe a couple of hours later, but everything else should be exactly the same. What time is it, very alluring bakery person?”
“Too early. Occupational hazard.”
Jordan stole a look at the clock. “So this five a.m. wakeup could be a reoccurring thing?”
Molly scrunched one eye guiltily. “It will be a reoccurring thing. My body decides it’s up and there’s no turning back. No matter how hard I try to go back to sleep on days off, it never works.”
“You’re kind of sexy in the morning. Have I told you I love your morning voice?”
“Oh yeah?” she said, purposefully allowing it drop.
“Mhmm.” A pause. “So it seems we’re both awake.”
“We are.”
“Kind of a shame to let such an opportunity go to waste. You’re here. I’m here.”
Molly grinned. “It’s like you’re able to read my mind.” She slid on top of Jordan and edged a thigh between her legs.
Jordan closed her eyes and swore quietly, which only encouraged Molly as she moved slowly against her. It wasn’t long before she crawled down the bed in exploration of the body she could just never seem to get enough of. Addictive.
It was shaping up to be a fantastic morning.
Several hours later, Molly lifted her head from a very deep sleep. The kind that made your body feel disconnected and weighted down in the most heavenly way. Then she stared at the clock in disbelief. It was after nine, and in record-setting news, she was just waking up. How was it possible that she’d fallen back asleep? And not just any kind of sleep. The kind you write home about. She shook her head in wonder. Jordan threw her entire universe into a tailspin, and apparently, the five a.m. rendezvous was just what she needed to conquer her early morning rise time. The missing ingredient, she thought to herself with a smile. She’d found it at last.
She closed her eyes indulgently, but remembered that she had an important day ahead of her. She forced her fuzzy brain to focus and thought of each item on her to-do list for Joseph’s birthday party. There was a lot to accomplish, but she’d get to it later. She stretched, enjoying the way her body felt both energized and rested. It really was the best combination.
She rolled over intent on wrapping her arms around Jordan and kissing her into next week, but found the other side of the bed empty and cold.
Had she left already?
Molly climbed out of bed, and a quick glance to Jordan’s oversized duffle bag on the floor let her know that Jordan had, in fact, not fled the scene. She put on her silk robe and wandered down the hall. And that’s when it hit her. That amazing aroma of fresh coffee and bacon frying.
Yet another fabulous combination.
She loved bacon. It might be God’s greatest gift to man.
As she rounded the corner, there was Jordan standing over the stove, already showered and ready for the day. How had she slept through that? Jordan wore her hair down today and her long bangs fell loosely just shy of her left eye. She had on jeans, a short-sleeved white shirt, and Molly’s green smiley face apron tied around her. A morning news show played nearby on the television.
Jordan smiled upon seeing her standing there. “You’re up.”
“I can’t remember the last time I slept this late.”
“It’s good to do that once in a while, you know. I worry about you not getting enough sleep.”
The sentiment touched her, and she took a moment with that as she made her way into the kitchen. “Thank you for worrying about me. It’s nice to have someone do that.” Molly pulled her in for a lingering kiss. “So, good morning,” she murmured.
“Morning.” Jordan took a deep breath and smiled. “I love the sound of that. It should be on some sort of Hallmark card or decorative sign. It’s that good.”
And Molly liked the sound of it too, so she stayed right there, leaning up against Jordan for a moment longer.
Just because.
She tugged on the green cloth. “You look cute in this apron.” And then she remembered how Jordan had looked in the sleep shorts the night prior and out of them later that night when they’d adjourned to her room.
“Why, thank you.” Jordan glanced down at the apron. “I’m doing my best Molly impersonation. I thought it only fair that I prepare something for you this time. And breakfast it must be, because it’s all I’m good at. In better news, I happen to rock at breakfast.”
And she wasn’t lying.
Their meal of bacon, omelets, and toast was a nice surprise. They ate leisurely while they talked about the events of the past week and even watched a little bit of the Today Show together on the couch.
As they cleared the dishes, Molly stole a glance at Jordan, enjoying the domesticity of the morning. It felt so natural, so everyday.
And yet so wonderful.
Suddenly, she could see this as their Saturday every week, and the thought just about knocked her over.
Because she wanted that. She was in for those Saturdays.
Without a doubt, she wanted Jordan around. She missed her when she wasn’t. It was so clear to her now. So easy. She wanted a full-on future with Jordan and would work to ensure that happened. She smiled as the revelation washed over her in a wave of equal parts excitement and relief. For the first time in long while, she knew what she wanted and it felt pretty great.
“What?” Jordan asked, catching her stare. “You look like you’re in a world of your own over there.”
Molly nodded slowly, the smile never leaving her face. “Kinda am.”
“You want to tell me what’s going on in that head of yours? Because it looks like a lot of fun.”
Molly went up onto her toes and placed a kiss just below Jordan’s ear. “Nope. But I’m thinking maybe we can talk later tonight. After the party? When there’s more time.”
“Okay.” Jordan smiled back at her curiously. “We’ll have to do that.”
Chapter Twenty-three
Molly set down her glass of champagne on the white linen tablecloth and surveyed the place. She had to hand it to her mother-in-law. The once generic ballroom of the Applewood Country Club had been transformed into stunning elegance with no expense spared.
Twinkly lights dipped down from the ceiling and an eight-piece orchestra played from the corner of the room as Applewood’s best and brightest mingled, sipped champagne, and collectively wished Joseph Tuscana a happy sixtieth birthday.
All in all, it had turned into a pretty fancy affair, and the turnout was more than they’d hoped for. It would be the most talked about event in Applewood into next year. Molly knew that much.
It was two hours into the party and everyone seemed to be having a marvelous time. Herself included. The thing about Dr. Tuscana was that everyone in town knew and loved him. He was hardworking, playful, and sympathetic to his patients. And in contrast to the relationships he had with his children, he withheld judgment throughout the course of their care. It was the town’s steadfast appreciation of their doctor that accounted for the just over two hundred guests there to celebrate his birthday.
Molly checked the dessert table and noticing the truffles had dwindled, headed to the kitchen for more. “For the hundredth time, sugar, I’ve got this,” Eden said as she rounded the corner with a whole new tray. “Now would you get out from under my feet and enjoy your family’s party? You’re more annoying than a fly at a picnic.”