“Making out on the couch,” Jordan supplied, when it was clear Molly couldn’t actually say the words.

She winced. “Right. God. I don’t know how that happened. Trust me, I fully accept my share of the blame, but I think we can both agree that it was a really bad idea.” Jordan nodded because she could tell it was what Molly needed. “And the last thing in the world that I want is for things to be awkward between us. We’re important to each other and I need that.”

“I promise, nothing has to be weird. It’s just me. Same old Jordan.”

Molly held her gaze steadily and Jordan watched as those caramel eyes slowly softened. “Yeah, it is.” The moment lingered, and no one said anything until Molly seemed to shake herself out of whatever trance had wrapped around them. “So we’re okay, then? Business as usual?”

Jordan lifted a shoulder and regarded her seriously. “Unless you plan to renege on our baked goods arrangement. Then we have problems.”

Massive relief washed across Molly’s face. “No, I think I can come through on that one. Oh, and come by the bakeshop tomorrow. I want you to try something.”

“You’re on.”

It was still there, Jordan noted. That crackle between them that had emerged so aggressively the night before, was still simmering just below the surface. She would ignore it if that’s what Molly wanted, but that didn’t make it any less real.

Molly gestured behind her to the door. “I guess I better get back to work.”

“See you soon.”

“Uh, yeah. Tomorrow.” Molly nodded once and headed out into the world as Jordan watched after her.

So they’d go on like before. It meant stuffing the off-the-charts chemistry they’d discovered back in the box, but she could do that to keep from scaring Molly away altogether.

Because that wasn’t an option.

*

There was a chill in the air that was unseasonable for April. Some sort of cold front had blown in from up North. Molly pulled her hoodie more fully around her and shoved her hands into the pockets.

It was Wednesday, which meant she’d spend the late afternoon at the cemetery after work. After arranging some fresh flowers, she updated Cassie on the week’s happenings and all the preparations for the big birthday party coming up.

“I also went on another date this week. I know. What was I thinking? You would have loved this one, by the way. If nothing else, I have a good story to tell one day.” She leaned back on her elbows and stared at the sky. “I’m just looking for that click, you know? The one we had. And that doesn’t just happen every day. So maybe it’s okay that I’m picky. I should probably just be patient and someone nice will eventually drift along. If not, that’s okay too.”

It was a relief to talk things out with Cassie. Even if she did do all the talking. Wednesdays had a way of centering her when nothing else worked, bringing the world into some sort of manageable focus.

Wednesdays mattered to her.

Molly stayed for an extra half hour that day. She didn’t bring up what had happened with Jordan in her living room. Nor did she mention the subsequent time they’d spent together or the ever-present tugging. Because to do so would give it more credit than it deserved. Talking about it on their Wednesday afternoon would make it real, and it wasn’t. It was a minor blip on the radar. And this particular blip would soon be firmly behind them.

Chapter Nine

Molly glanced up as Eden sauntered into the kitchen and stared. “Did you invite an army of starving people over or do you just need a chocolate fix worthy of the Guinness Book ?” She surveyed the truffle-covered countertops of the bakeshop’s kitchen with a hand on her hip.

Molly went back to work. “Neither.” She was on a mission and couldn’t be deterred. It was the end of the workday, but she didn’t care. She had to keep going.

“When you ducked back here to do a little work, I had no idea what you were embarking upon. This is a little crazy town, sugar. I’m not sure our refrigerators can hold this many truffles.”

“I bake when I’m stressed, okay? It’s a thing.”

“Then you must be a stone’s throw from a breakdown.”

“It’s been that kind of week is all. My dad’s been depressed; business is hit and miss. Oh, and then the unforgettable blind date that I have you to thank for.”

“Mhmm. And that’s all that’s got your mind scrambling?”

“Yep.”

“All right. We can play that way. So what are we going to do with all of these?”

“You and Louise can take some home along with the copies of the recipe I laid out for each of you. I want you up to date on our latest menu item. Some will go to my dad, the Tuscanas, and then the leftovers can get us started on the inventory we’ll take with us to the festival.”

Eden snagged a truffle and took a generous bite. Molly watched as her eyes widened in delight as she sank into the taste. “You did it,” she finally whispered. “You really did it.”

Molly couldn’t help the grin. “They’re good, aren’t they?”

“Best I’ve ever had and I know chocolate. Woo-hoo!” She offered Molly a high five and their customary hip bump.

“What’s all this?” Louise asked as she entered the kitchen.

“Molly’s stressed so she’s baking for the free world.”

“Because of Jordan? Nothing wrong with a little kissing, MollyDolly. You’re only young and sexy once. Wish I’d remembered that when I was your age. I should have slept around more.”

Molly gasped and shot Eden an accusatory stare. “You didn’t? Eden Young, you’re going to die. You have no concept of discretion.”

“What? Louise doesn’t count. She’s bakeshop family. You don’t keep things from the bakeshop family.”

Molly glared harder. “By that logic, maybe we should notify Damon too. Where’s the phone?”

Louise shook her head. “No need. I told him this afternoon when he picked up the muffins.”

Molly glared. “Fabulous.”

“They were pretty good muffins.” Louise headed back out to the counter.

“Maybe we should just run my life by committee.” Molly threw her hands in the air and went back to rolling truffles while Eden considered this.

“You’d definitely have more fun. Now that you’re actually talking about it, did you smooth things over with little miss Jordan?”

“Yeah, we’re fine.”

“Your voice is flat. Sweetie, it’s hard to believe you when sound like a pancake.”

Molly stilled her hands, but kept her eyes on the bowl of cocoa powder. Her resolve to remain tightlipped was weakening. “When I went to talk to Jordan today, almost everything went exactly how I wanted it to.”

“But something didn’t. What didn’t go according to plan?”

Molly sighed, finally turning fully to Eden and lowering her voice. “My eyes kept doing this thing where they’d dip down to her mouth and there was…”

“What? There was what?”

She lowered her voice even more. “This little tug. The whole time I’m talking to her, there’s this pulling right in the center of my stomach.” She shook her head at Eden. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s never been there before and now I need to find its off switch.”

“Don’t you dare turn it off. Run with it, sugar, like you’ve never run before. Sew your wild oats with the attractive young thing that’s just sashayed into town. I’ve worked here for over three years and I’m ready to see you get back up on that horse, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen you near one.”

“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen with Jordan. She’s important. I can survive a little tugging.”

Louise stuck her head in. “Don’t want to interrupt, Molly, but Jordan’s up front to see you.”

Eden grinned widely. “Let the tugging begin.”

*

“So you’re telling me I helped make this little wonder of wonders happen?” Jordan held up a truffle and grinned. There was sincere happiness written all over her at having contributed, and Molly couldn’t help but smile back.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying and that’s why I wanted to personally introduce you. It was your suggestion that got me there.” In addition to the truffle Jordan was eating, Molly’d presented her with a pink box full to take with her to show her gratitude.

They were sitting alone in a booth by the window. Eden and Louise had quickly said their good-byes as soon as they’d finished with closing.

“So what’s the plan now? For the MollyDollys. I like the name, by the way. Entirely fitting.”

“Thanks, you. The plan is to make these little guys my superstars. Push them every chance I get. Debut them at the festival. Hope for large orders. Maybe even set up a way to take mail orders via the Web down the road. And then see if any of it makes a difference.”

Jordan nodded but her eyes held concern. “And if they don’t?”

“Then things get harder.”

A pause. “Are you going to lose the shop?”

Molly leaned back against the booth and took a moment before answering. “Probably.” God, she’d never admitted that to anyone. But she trusted Jordan, and somehow it felt okay. “I guess these truffles are my version of a Hail Mary pass in the fourth quarter. I just have to put them out there and hope to generate some buzz, even if it’s just temporary.”

“Have you thought about taking out a second mortgage on the place?”

“Been there, done that.” She lifted her shoulder. “This is it, Jordan. I either get my head above water, or close up shop for good. And time is ticking.”

Jordan shook her head. “You can’t close down. That would kill you, Molly. You love this place.”

It was true, and the thought generated a wave of emotion. “Which is why I’m not giving up. Flour Child is my connection to my family. It’s my father’s legacy, and one day, I’m going to be without him.” Her eyes filled at the thought. “But I don’t want to be without his shop, you know?”