Page 5 of Molly

“Jealous?That’scute. Thanks for the offer, but I’m good.”

“Look pretty jealous right now,” I say with a little too much conviction.

Fuck. Apparently, my brain and my mouth aren’t linking up today.

She scoffs under her breath and turns to leave.

“Thanks for the tattoo,babe. Have a good day,” she calls over her shoulder as she makes her exit, slamming the door closed behind her.

I stand there, slightly shocked that she said no. I’m also incredibly turned on that she has some fire in her.

“Goddam. That’s a nice ass.”

I turn my head to shoot a glare at Beckett, my business partner. We’ve been best buds since high school. I love him like a brother. Most of the time, anyway.

He comes over and stands next to me, bumping my shoulder with his. He’s a big, scary-looking fucker. I’m a little over 6’3, and I still have to look up at him. He’s built like a tank, keeps his hair super short, and he’s got no visible tattoos. Despite his male version of resting bitch face, he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, but he’s looking at my girl, and we can’t have that. His eyes are glued to her ass as she walks back to her car. I can’t blame him. She’s sexy as fuck. That body mixed with the innocent vibe she gives off? Fire. The way she lit up talking about her business? Such a turn on. She’s the complete fucking package. But she’s not his to look at.

“Don’t. She’s mine,” I snap.

He chuckles and runs his giant hand down his face. “She know that?”

“She will,” I reply. “Where the fuck did you even come from? I didn’t know you were here.”

He grins. “I came in the back to grab a sketch I was working on. Was going to say hello, but I heard you putting the moves on your girl. Decided to stay in my room.”

I nod in response and look back at the door, a plan formulating in my head.

I’m coming for you, Molly Jackson.

2

MOLLY

“Was he hot, though?” Evie asks, ignoring my earlier statement about Ryan being a womanising prick. Well, that’s how I described him, even if it wasn’t totally accurate. He obviously fucks around without forming any kind of attachment, but he was sweet... interesting...

Evie is the third member of our little trio. She was the first staff member that Penny and I hired when we openedCoffee Leaf Cafe, and now she basically runs the place. She stepped up when I found out I was pregnant with Emma and has been like an aunty to her since. I’m so grateful to have her as one of my best friends.

Evie and Penny are like day and night. Evie is tiny, with a bright blonde bob. She’s a hopeless romantic and the most optimistic person I know when it comes to love. Penny is curvy, brunette, and has little to no interest in men, but enjoys playing with them.

“It doesn’t matter if he was hot. That’s beside the point,” I reply.

“So, he was?” She grins.

Fuck yes. “Stop.”

“And you took a photo of him?”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, I took a photo of him.”

She claps her hands together excitedly. “Show me, show me, show me!”

“Evie! Stop, he was a pig,” I snap, getting irritated even thinking about him and how wrong I was.

We’re in the staff room, and I’ve just finished filling her in on my wonderful tattoo experience. Of course, she’s being a pain in my ass and making fun of the whole situation.

She sits down at the vintage style table we have set up in here and takes a sip of her coffee. She looks at me, curiosity all over her face, waiting for me to continue.

I sit opposite her, feeling my shoulders slump. “I’m just disappointed, you know? He’s the first guy I’ve ever felt an instant attraction to. He was sweet despite his cocky attitude, and my heart almost stopped when he went to ask me out. There was this intense moment... Thenshecame in and made it clear that he’s a one-and-done kinda guy. That’s not for me, and that’s fine. It was just a letdown. I thought we had some kind of ridiculous connection.”

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