Page 37 of Ten Kisses

"Yeah, what a day," she said, beaming at him. "It's been quite a day. It's a trip to go home to a new door into your apartment."

"I bet," Salem said, still smiling. But inwardly he was annoyed. He didn't want anyone making doors into Molly's apartment.

"The day would feel better if I could collect on something you might owe me." She was in good spirits, flirting with him.

"Do you flirt with him?"

"What? With who?"

"Do you act like this with other guys?"

She pulled away. He didn't realize how close she had been until she stepped back and pulled away looking hurt.

"With Darren? Are you accusing me of—"

"No. I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just jealous. I'm jealous that he got you a kitchen and I got you a stepstool."

"I love my stepstool."

"I know, but it's not the same."

"Yes, it is. It's better. Darren and Michelle have money that doesn't even have to do with the law firm. They have so much money it's not even funny. Michelle opens businesses all the time just for fun. They fail, and she just goes and does it again. I've seen their books, and they waste tens of thousands all the time. Money is not the same to them as it is to me."

Molly was a confident woman. She was younger than Salem, but she was so confident that it scared him a little. She smiled like there was nothing to worry about, and then she moved in slowly and put her hands on his arms. Her fingertips were barely touching his arms, and he felt like he wanted to explode. Molly's eyes met his, and they gazed at each other.

"Salem."

"What?"

"You know how I came up with that whole thing about ten kisses?"

"Yes."

"That's weird. That's not normal for me."

"It's not?" he said, trying not to seem too relieved.

"No, it's not. I'm outgoing, and I like to talk to people and everything, but I am not a forward person romantically. I don't talk to guys, and I don't flirt with guys. I'm shy with guys, honestly. It's a complete miracle that I did what I did with you."

"Is it bad that I care?" he asked.

"No, it's not bad that you care. It's actually really odd that they would spend that kind of money on me. If someone spent that kind of money on you I might ask you about it, too. It doesn't mean you're jealous."

"Yes, it does."

"No, you're just looking out for me."

"I don't think that's the case anymore, Molly. I'm not just looking out for you."

"What are you saying right now?"

"That I don't want you to… I'm not just looking after you as a little sister or someone I care about. I'm also jealous of you, protective of you. I'm not sure if you would consider that a good thing or a bad thing."

She smiled. "Are you saying you want to extend our contract? Should we go to twelve?"

He furrowed his eyebrows when she mentioned extending it for two more. "I thought we were getting into the land of the unlimited," he said.

"The land of unlimited? What's that mean?"

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