Page 24 of 5 Golden Flings

The bachelor party, arranged by Tristan’s older brother and best man, was probably still in full swing at the bar down the road. Tristan had been clear: No strippers. His brother hadn’t taken that instruction seriously. Ben had made an appearance, had one drink, and then slipped out. No one would miss him. If they did, who cared?

He’d managed to ask Tristan again about the prenup and once again he’d been roundly rejected.

If the happy couple was meant to be together, if they had nothing but a long and happy life ahead of them, then what difference would it make? None. But if it turned out Natalie wasn’t the woman Tristan thought she was…

Been there, done that. He’d been lucky that his own divorce had happened before he’d made it big. He’d moved up and down from the AAA team to the majors and back again several times that year.

His success hadn’t come fast enough for Kayla so she’d traded him in for a second baseman with a bigger contract. He didn’t love her anymore, maybe he never had, but thinking about that time in his life still hurt. He should be over it by now. Would he ever beover it? Playing ball was so much easier. When it came to people, women in particular, he questioned every decision.

The sliding door to Molly’s room opened and she stepped outside. Her gaze was on the water, and then on him.

“I thought you’d still be partying,” she said.

“I’d had enough. You?”

“I’m not much of a party girl,” she said, and then she sat.

“How was it?”

Molly laughed in response, then said, “Interesting, I suppose. At least I got a chance to talk to Nat.”

He had a mental image of the two women as girls, Molly with her red hair and dark-haired Natalie, playing with dolls, on the playground, riding their bikes. Then a little older, reading books and working on school projects together, giggling, still riding their bikes all over the neighborhood. If he hadn’t moved away at the age of twelve, what other memories might he have?

“Does she love him?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them.

Molly stood and moved to the edge of the balcony to face him. He could swear he felt her stare. “That’s an odd question. Of course she loves him.”

“There is noof course.” He stood and moved to the edge of the railing to face her, as they had last night. “Tristan has made a lot of money and will make more in the next few years. How do you know that doesn’t play a part in her decision to marry him?”

“I guess I can’tknow,” she admitted. “How can we ever know what someone else is thinking? But when I asked her about Tristan she said he was kind and sweet. She said he made herlaugh. Did you know she wanted to elope? This lavish wedding was Tristan’s mother’s idea.”

He made a noise low in his throat, like an old man’s harumph.

“I’ve been trying to convince Tristan to insist that Natalie sign a prenup. Shit, I guess it’s too late anyway.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Molly whispered.

“I don’t think so but it’s always possible.”

She gave a little huff of disgust. “One, it’s none of your business. Two, yes, it’s too late!”

“A prenup is practical,” he argued.

“Andveryunromantic.”

“Romance is for suckers.”

She didn’t have an immediate response for that. Maybe he should’ve kept that thought to himself.

Moonlight glinted on something on her chest. He moved closer, trying to find a way to change the subject. “What’s that?” He couldn’t touch her from here. Almost, but not quite. He pointed.

Molly reached down, saw what he was looking at, and muttered a curse word. She grabbed the shiny thing with two fingers, pulled it loose, then quickly stuffed it in the pocket of her dress. “Just a souvenir of the evening,” she said.

She’d moved fast, but not fast enough. He recognized the condom she tried to hide. “Looks like the bride’s party was more exciting than the groom’s.”

“I guessexcitingis one word for it,” she said softly.

If the balconies were just a little bit closer he could make it across, and at that moment he thought about it. Molly had no idea how tempting she was. In the moonlight with a gentle breeze in her hair, in that dress, with a condom in her pocket…

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