Page 23 of 5 Golden Flings

“At one point I did. Or thought I did. How have you been, for the past eighteen years?” She changed the subject quickly, or rather shifted the focus of it. “I admit I looked online and saw that you’d been divorced. Sorry. I guess calling it off beforehand is better than the alternative.”

Molly didn’t play games, didn’t pretend she hadn’t done her research. She also didn’t ask what had happened or if he’d loved his wife of less than a year.

“The beginning of a marriage is special,” he said. “Beautiful in some cases, like this one. It’s a celebration, a joy. Divorce is the opposite of all that.”

“Sorry.” She reached out and took his hand, in comfort, friend to friend.

When he looked down at her she whispered, “In case Rosie your would-be-stalker is watching. Thishasto look romantic.”

He pulled her closer, leaning down and in so that his face was close to hers. “I’m going to kiss you.”

“That sounds like a command.”

“Maybe it is.” He moved closer; she did the same until their lips met. The kiss felt right, warm, and long overdue. It wasn’t a quick kiss, a peck on the lips that came and went. It continued on, not because he thought someone might be looking, but because he wanted it. Needed it? No. Molly was soft, responsive, arousing, special… all the things he didn’t need.

When she pulled away she said, her voice low and a little unsteady. “Well, that will send the hussy off in a huff. If she saw, that is. Maybe she didn’t.”

“We should try again, just in case.”

And they did.

The bachelorette party was being held in the same restaurant where they’d had their brunch earlier in the day. Molly did her best to steer clear of Rosie, but she could swear the girl was stalking her now, instead of Ben. If looks could kill…

Word was out. Molly was the subject of whispers and stares. Some of the stares were envious. Others, from Rosie’s cousins and a few friends who’d recently arrived, were hateful. It was impossible to ignore them all. She much preferred being a wallflower at these things. Give her a seat in the corner of the room and she was happy.

After a couple glasses of much-needed champagne, Molly finally managed to get Natalie alone. Well, as alone as they could be in a room like this one.

Nat grinned. “You and Ben! I should be surprised but somehow I’m not. You two were a hot item, back in the day.”

Molly laughed to cover up her discomfort. “This week is all about you and Tristan, not Ben and me. Everything is lovely. This has to be the most beautiful wedding celebration of all time. It’s certainly the most extravagant one I’ve ever been to.”

Nat sighed and looked around as if making sure no one could hear. “I wanted to elope, but Tristan’s mother insisted we make the weddingspecial. Bigger, better, the best of the best. It is nice, but I just want to be married.”

“You love him.”

“More than I thought possible.” Natalie launched into a monologue about her groom’s attributes, making him sound almost too good to be true. She ended with, “When are you and Ben going to get married? Do you have a date? Options are limited when you marry a professional baseball player. You get married within the next month, elope on an off day, or wait a year. There are a lot of weddings in the off season.”

“We’ll probably wait a while,” Molly said, her voice low and uncertain. If she stood here much longer she was going to tell the truth. She’d ask Nat to keep it to herself. Nat would be unable to do so. And then…

“I thought Ben would never remarry,” Nat said. “After… well, you know how hard that time was for him.”

Shedidn’tknow, but couldn’t very well say so. So she nodded her head and gave a kind of sad half-smile.

Rosie saved her, joining them with a glare for Molly followed by a wide smile for Natalie. “The entertainment has arrived.”

The entertainmentwas a very fit, handsome blond man who was probably about Rosie’s age. He was dressed as an angel, wings and all. Wings and underwear, that was it. The underwear looked almost like a silk diaper, which in Molly’s opinion wasnotsexy. Music began and the guy danced. He initially focused on the bride, who just laughed at him, but soon he shared his attentions with all the women in attendance. The bridal party, family members, even Nat’s grandmother, who seemed to enjoy the display as much as anyone.

The angel tossed colorful foil-wrapped condoms around like they were favors at a Mardi Gras parade. Women caught the prophylactics in the air, squealing in delight, for some odd reason. Molly took a step back as the angel approached her, but he kept coming. He gyrated. He gave her a lascivious grin and waggled his eyebrows. Running would be cowardly, wouldn’t it?

He leaned in closer, gyrated again — hedidhave nice abs — and slipped one of his condoms into the pocket of her loose fitting dress. He leaned in closer, shook his hips in a way that made his wings ruffle, and tucked another into her bra strap.

That was enough. She took a big step back, almost running into the wall. The angel wisely turned his attentions to someone else. Someone who was happy to have him bump and grind in their direction. Rosie stared at Molly and grinned widely. Had Ben’s stalker instructed the dancer to embarrass her? It was definitely possible.

Cowardly or not, Molly waved to a happy Nat and left the party.

CHAPTER 5

Ben sat on his balcony,feet propped on the railing, and allowed himself to relax. The moon on the water was beautiful, peaceful, and he never minded being alone. Still, he kept glancing at the balcony next to his, waiting for Molly to appear.

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