Page 27 of 5 Golden Flings

“Twelve,” Molly answered. She tried to remember if she’d ever told Natalie about the playground proposal. She would’ve. She should’ve. But if Nat didn’t remember, she wouldn’t mention it now. “His parents have moved back to Huntsville.”

“I know! Ben was in town to see them last December, and I ran into him in the mall. He and a couple of other baseball players were doing a signing at one of the sports places. I would never have recognized him, but I knew the name. We talked a bit, and he introduced me to Tristan. The rest, as they say, is history.”

“Love at first sight?” Did such a thing exist?

“Yeah. Tristan was only supposed to be in town for the day but he ended up staying the weekend. After he left we started texting, and we talked on the phone, and he came back to Huntsville to visit. When the season started I went to a few games, and here we are. Do you travel to watch Ben play?”

“Oh, no. I hate baseball,” Molly said.

Natalie laughed. “You better get over that, or at least learn to pretend.”

Molly started to say she’d never been good at pretending, but here she was…

Time to change the subject. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to your Mom yet, except to say hello at the bridal luncheon. She hasn’t changed at all!”

“If you don’t get any time with her this week, stop by and see her when you’re home. My folks are right where they’ve always been.”

It was so easy to lose touch with the past, with people who’d once been such an important part of her life. Nat, her family, other friends she hadn’t talked to for years.

Ben.

Weren’t rehearsals supposed to go smoothly? Ben stood back and observed quietly. He’d like to say the problem children were the actual children, but the young ring bearer and flower girl minded better than the adults.

The first issue was that they’d changed the order of things so he’d be walking down the aisle with Molly. Natalie’s idea, he suspected. Rosie wasn’t happy because she’d wanted to walk withhim, fake engagement or no, and now she was going to be escorted to her place near the bride on the arm of her cousin. The short one who had a tendency to trip over his own feet. Ben didn’t mind the change at all, but it did cause some consternation among the masses. The wedding planner was not at all happy. She insisted it was too late to make changes. When the mother of the groom balked as well, it was Tristan who stepped up and whispered in her ear.

His old friend wanted him to be as happy as he was. Or else, misery really did love company.

No, Tristan wasn’t at all miserable. He was happy. He was in love. And he wasn’t carrying a grudge about Ben harping on him about a prenup. Time to let that go. It was too late, anyway. In less than twenty-four hours, the deed would be done. Then the reception, one last night in the hotel, and everyone would head out. Hawaii for the newlyweds. Home for everyone else.

He’d visit his parents for the holiday, then go to his place in northern Georgia for the remainder of the off season.

Alone.

Normally he loved being alone, but dammit he was going to miss his nightly balcony conversations with Molly. He was going to miss her. All this wedding crap had screwed up his mind.

The rehearsal dinner was buffet style, with too much food and not enough booze. Fortunately Rosie sat with her family on the other side of the room; Ben and Molly were seated at a table with other groomsmen and their wives or dates. Two were players from Tristan’s current team; the talk was all about baseball.

Molly looked to be bored out of her mind.

After dessert he rescued her. Took her hand, stood, and said goodnight. She did the same, focusing on the wife she’d been sitting next to. They’d talked a bit during dinner, had seemed to hit it off. Molly was easy to talk to, not just for him. She was a nice person who didn’t try too hard to fit in, to be popular, to impress. And still, he was impressed.

Since they were the first to leave he and Molly had the elevator to themselves. He kissed her between the third and fifth floors. The kiss took her by surprise, but she kissed him back.

He wanted her. Maybe it was the wedding and all the romantic nonsense associated with it. Maybe it was her; the oldMolly, the new Molly, the girl and the woman. Whatever the reason, he wanted her so much it hurt.

At his door, he kissed her again. “Want to come in for a drink? I have crappy coffee and a bottle of water.”

“As tempting as that sounds, I’m going to have to pass.”

His heart dropped into his stomach.

Then she added. “Meet me on the balcony.”

CHAPTER 7

Molly strippedout of her rehearsal dinner dress and into her Christmas pajamas. The flannel ones. Even if she had a sexy nightgown, she wouldn’t wear it. Sexy wasn’t her style.

Ben — no pajamas, but he had taken off his tie — was already on his balcony when she stepped outside and took her chair. He had his feet up, as he often did.

---