Page 19 of Ten Kisses

"Molly's here," Darren said, pointing toward her apartment.

She had appeared in the doorway. The house was an off-white stucco finish, and she came out of the apartment with her dark-red hair looking even darker while it was damp. She was wearing a little sheer outfit, but he could see the outline of her green swimsuit underneath. It was too much. She was too beautiful to be walking around with a sheer piece of fabric over a bikini like that.

Just then, another girl came out of the apartment. Her coverup was even more sheer and revealing than Molly's. They looked like a couple of swimsuit models, and it bugged Salem. As long as that guy was out here, he wanted them to get back inside and put on some clothes.

He went to the other side of the truck and got to work, helping Nathan get the counter onto the dolly and off of the trailer. It was in two pieces, and they guided the first of them toward the door. Molly hadn't seen it. She had no idea that there was a section with a glass display, and Nathan had no idea that she didn't know, so Salem had to run interference and make sure he didn't say anything to spoil the surprise.

He wanted to tell her to wait outside while he set it up, but he didn't want to intrigue the nosy neighbor, so he waited until they got both pieces inside and closed the door.

"Oh, my goodness. Two pieces? I can't wait to see this," Molly said. "Can we take the blankets off?" She put her hand on Salem's shoulder when she asked the question, and he turned at her touch. "You made two pieces?" she asked, looking directly at him with those green eyes.

"Yes, and I don't want you to look yet. Turn around, please, and let me get them set up before you look."

"I'll take the blankets to the truck," Nathan offered.

"Yes, once Molly's not looking," Salem said. "Close your eyes or turn, please."

Molly and her friend stood shoulder-to-shoulder, looking away from the counter and closing their eyes.

"Don't look at it, I'm just talking to you about your set-up as I work. These things are on locking wheels, so you can easily move them. I'm going to get them set up how I think it looks good, and then you can turn them around later, if you want. They'll move easily."

"Can I look now?" she asked wiggling in her spot.

"No. Not even close. Nathan hasn't even gotten the… keep your eyes closed. It's going to take me a second."

"It's on wheels?" Molly asked, eyes closed.

"Yes. Sturdy ones. You're going to like it. They lock. Hang on give me a second to… turn… this… piece around. Don't look yet." Salem moved the pieces next to each other and situated them, straightening them and getting them ready for the big reveal. "Okay…" he said, finally.

Molly turned and squealed, covering her face.

She quickly dropped her hands and rushed over to the counter.

"Ohh, there's a glass… display… oh, Salemmmm, I'm… ohhhhh… I don't know what to sayyyy!"

Molly knelt in front of the counter, staring into the glass window at the case and then at the logo that had been carved on the front of it. She ran her fingers along the edges, appreciating the finish.

Salem had spent time on it. He designed it and did a good bit of it with his own hands. It affected him to see Molly run her hands over it and appreciate it like that. She basically hugged it. He watched her stare at it, moving around, checking out every detail.

"I'm speechless, Salem. This is more beautiful than anything I could have thought of."

"It's gorgeous," the other girl said. "I can't believe you made this. I'm Kat."

"I'm sorry. This is Kat, and Kat, this is Salem." She introduced them, but she couldn't care less about looking their way. She moved around the counter, opening the drawer, staring intently at every detail. Salem greeted Kat, shaking her hand when she came over to him.

"Molly is… she was praying for this," Kat said. "She's one of the most Godliest women I know and this is just a blessing to her, from the Lord."

"Thank you, Kat," Molly said. "It is a blessing. Thanks. That's good." Molly gave Kat a pleading glance and Kat shrugged.

"It's an amazing piece of furniture," Kat said, switching gears. "It looks like a machine made it. It's hard to believe it's custom. Did you carve that by yourself?"

"Thanks," Salem said. "I have a machine that carved the logo."

Molly spread her arms and laid out on top of the piece, holding it lovingly.

"Salem, thank you," she said. "I'm blown away. I know I owe you more for this than what we talked about. We'll work it out the next time we talk business."

He just smiled at her. He wasn't going to take anything from her, but he also wasn't going to deny her in that moment.

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