Page 41 of Moonlit Kisses

“Alright, shall we take the Sprint out for a spin?” Pulling the keys out of my pocket, I open the front door and release the catch to move the front seat so the ladies can climb into the back. Once we’re situated and the workshop is secure, we take off. “Where shall we go?”

“Where would you like to go, Molly?” Beth asks.

“Oh, um. I don’t mind.”

“Martin said you’re new to the city,” she says to Molly, then turns toward the front. “Perhaps we should show her the Pier?”

“Please don’t go out of your way on my account. I’ll slowly find my way around. You guys go wherever you need to get a good feel for the car.”

“The Pier’s a great idea. That okay with you, Max?” Martin asks.

I catch Molly’s eyes in the rear-view mirror. Hers widen in confusion, and I mirror her, but turn toward the Pier. It’s as good a drive as any to give the Sprint a run and show Beth what the car can do. “Sounds like a plan. Maybe we can stop for a drink or something,” I suggest.

Martin and I are quiet in the front, enjoying the drive.

“The interior of the car is like new,” Beth comments from the back and I catch her gliding her hand over the interior panels in the rear-view mirror. “And the leather is so soft. It’s gorgeous, Martin.”

Martin turns to me with a smug smile on his face. “I told you how perfect it was.”

A few moments pass before I hear Beth ask Molly, “Martin said you haven’t lived here all that long. Where are you from?”

“I moved here from Portland, Maine.”

“She drove all the way here by herself,” I add from the front seat.

“Oh my gosh. What did your parents think of that?” Beth asks, clearly shocked.

Molly’s quiet for long moments and I assume she’s not going to answer. I glance up into the mirror, because I’d also like to know the answer to that question. She’s turned her head toward her window, and I see her throat move. She turns back toward Beth.

“Uh, I lost my family in a car accident before Christmas.”Fuck!

The car is silent for long moments, nobody knowing what to say to that. If I weren’t driving this damn car, I would wrap her up and pull her in tight. I had no fucking idea, and I didn’t think it was my place to ask her such a personal question. I could kiss Beth right now for asking, and for providing me with such intimate information.

Once I discovered my first impression of Molly was way off base, and since spending almost every day with her, I’ve grown to admire her, to like her. I’m man enough to admit I’m attracted to her—who wouldn’t be? She’s fucking beautiful. But she has so much more to her than her looks. She’s incredibly sweet and thoughtful. Kind and down to earth. She could easily be bitter, but I’ve seen none of that from her, which makes me admire her even more.

“I’m incredibly sorry, Molly.” Beth’s voice oozes compassion. “That’s tragic. Please let us know if there’s anything at all we can do to help you. You must be devastated. I can’t imagine how much your life’s changed.”

Martin releases a heavy sigh next to me and stares out his window. The mood in the car is understandably heavy after Molly’s confession. I catch the side of Molly’s face in my mirror as she stares out her window. There’s a sheen to her eyes as she reaches up to wipe her cheek. Turning back toward Beth, she nods. “Thanks, Beth. I’m doing okay.”

Silence descends again and I think it would be fair to say that each of us is happy to keep it that way, lost in our thoughts.

I pull into the parking lot at Pier 7, searching for a park. It’s reasonably busy since it’s a nice day as we move into Spring. I find a spot a fair distance from the Pier, but nobody minds the walk.

I grab Molly’s hand as soon as she climbs out of the car and pull her in close. Pressing a kiss on the top of her head, I whisper, “I’m so fucking sorry about your family. If I can help, let me know. Okay?” I catch her eyes and implore her to lean on me.

She gives me a fake smile. I know it’s fake because it doesn’t quite create her usual dimples. “You’ve already helped me a lot, Max. Thank you, but I’ll be fine.”

I squeeze her extra tight, then release her so we can make our way to the Pier. We stop atDeclan’s Dinerand order cool drinks and hot fries to share. While we sit, enjoying the sunshine, I show Beth the same photos I showed Martin, giving her a sense of how much work I’ve done on the car.

She chuckles and waves off my spiel. “You don’t need to impress me. I’ve already told Martin that if he wants the car, he should buy the car. He works damn hard and gives so much of himself to me and our family. He doesn’t drink or smoke and he spends any free time he has with his kids.” She looks across at him, her eyes full of love and admiration for her husband. “He deserves to have something special after working hard for as many years as he has to build his electrical company.”

Molly gives me a genuine smile. She knows I’ve got the sale. “Even though I haven’t worked for Max for very long, I’ve learned he works incredibly hard on the cars to make sure they’re running at their best. You won’t be disappointed with the Sprint. He’s worked hard on that car to make sure it’s perfect.”

My heart expands in my chest with her words, which are full of genuine pride in me and my work. My family has always been proud of me. Mona never gave a shit about my work, only ever complaining that it took too much time away from her and that my hands were perpetually stained. This feeling that Molly’s given me with a few simple words—that she didn’t have to say—makes me puff up with pride in myself. I place my hand on her thigh beneath the table and give it a gentle squeeze in gratitude.

I should move my hand away, but I casually leave it there and Molly seems happy enough for me to do so. The lines between us are becoming more and more blurred by the day.

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