“Liam, you can go to guys’ night, seriously. I’ll be fine here by myself.”
“I’ve already made up my mind, and you’re not the only stubborn person standing in this backyard right now. So like it or not, I’m not leaving.”
“Well, I already pulled the weeds in my garden and checked on the chickens for the night. I was about to go back inside and wash up. Probably watch TV or something, I’m not sure.”
“Okay. While you go wash up, I’ll order us a pizza for dinner. I’m starving.”
“I bet you are.” I giggled, looking down at the joint still in his hand.
He rolled his eyes at me. “It’s going to take more than two puffs to get me high, Molly. I’m over six feet tall, you know. Now what do you want on your pizza?”
“Pepperoni and pineapple, please.”
“Hell no. Pineapple does not belong on pizza.”
“Says you,” I argued, putting my hands on my hips.
“I always knew there was something wrong with you. Now I finally know what it is.”
“Keep talking shit, and I’m going to kick your ass.”
“What are you, like five-foot-two?” he mocked, sizing me up.
“I’m not above kicking you in the balls in order to make the fight fair.”
"Oh, believe me, I know. You ran from me yesterday. Absolutely nothing would surprise me at this point when it comes to you,” he said, laughing.
“Oh my goodness, did I just make the grumpiest person this side of the Rocky Mountains laugh twice in one night? I must have magical powers.”
“You don’t have magical powers, but what you better have is the lemon bars I was promised in return for your freedom.”
“Right… About that…”
“Molly…” he said, eyeing me.
“They’re in my kitchen, calm down. I stayed late to make sure I got them done to perfection. Made with extra love of course,” I said, blowing a kiss at him which earned me another scowl. He pointed toward the house. “Go,” he ordered.
“Fine.” I turned on my heel and marched back toward my house. I had plenty of energy to pick on Liam all night, but I figured I’d go on easy on him—at least for now.
Chapter 4 – Liam
I’d never been inside Molly’s house before, so seeing such a personal side of her felt… odd. Still, it was exactly what I would’ve expected. The space was flooded with natural light and filled with soft pinks and quirky chicken trinkets that were somehow perfectly her.
A blush rug tied the living room together, matching the pillows scattered across her white couch and the accent chairs on either side of her white-washed fireplace. In the kitchen, a pink runner stretched in front of the sink, and fresh rosy flowers sat in a clear vase atop the butcher-block countertops. I hadn’t gone beyond the living room and kitchen, but if I had to guess, I knew exactly what I’d find—more pink.
“I didn’t exactly expect to have a guest tonight, so I didn’t have time to tidy up,” she said, scooping up the stack of books and jackets that had claimed the entire couch.
I picked up one of the paperbacks she missed, flipping it open. “What’s this about?” I asked, studying the cover.
“Well, I haven’t finished it yet,” she said casually, “but so far, this woman ends up in a small town and gets stuck taking care of her eleven-year-old niece. Then she meets this guy who helps her out—and there’s lots of sex in between all of that.”
I coughed, suddenly very aware this was not a Little House on the Prairie situation, and set the book back on the coffee table with more care than necessary.
“Got it.”
“Your lemon bars are in the fridge. Make sure you eat the pan on the right—noton the left,” she added, adamant about which pan I took. “I’m going to take a quick shower before the pizza gets here. Help yourself to anything. I’ve got tea and water if you’re thirsty. I’ll be back in ten,” she said before she disappeared down the hallway.
After a few minutes of boredom sitting on the couch, I finally made my way to the kitchen in search of the lemon bars I’d been promised. It didn’t take long to find the glass baking dish sitting on the middle shelf of her fridge with powdered sugar dusted neatly across the top. I grabbed the pan, picked up a bar, and leaned against the counter, taking a bite as my attention drifted to the front of the refrigerator.
