minds—and again, different from men’s.
While Alan took a quick trip to reassure Mrs. Smyth-White that her project not only remained on target but at the center of his universe, Richard drove Molly to her apartment so she could pick up a few things to bring back to his house.
“Grab enough to stay the week,” he told her.
“All right. It won’t take me long.”
The next day was Memorial Day. He and Alan didn’t make any plans this year, thinking just to take the holiday as an extra day to relax at home together.
“Anything special you’d like to do for the holiday tomorrow?” he asked as they entered her apartment. If she’d had her heart set on doing something, then they’d do it. He could be a very accommodating man when he wanted to be.
“I hadn’t made any plans,” Molly said. “I was just looking forward to having another day off work, maybe read a book or two.” Richard took advantage of the opportunity to have a look around her apartment, a simple way to get to know the lady a little better.
86
Morgan Ashbury
One thing he could say about Molly. She seemed efficient. Her living space stood neat and tidy. It didn’t look like she owned a lot of doo-dads or knick-knacks. Not even a plant waited to greet her upon her arrival, and what there were of possessions looked to be in their place.
In fact, her living room and kitchen, small though they might have been, didn’t even look lived in.
He followed her into her bedroom and sighed with relief. Here at least there seemed to be a bit of feminine clutter. He bet her dresser couldn’t hold another bottle or figurine. One bra hung half-out of a dresser drawer as if trying to escape. A wicker clothes hamper had been tucked into one corner. It stood gaping open, with clothes half in, half out, as if Molly tossed them in from various points around the room and been satisfied if the garment landed merely in the vicinity of it.
He turned his attention to the woman herself just as she pulled a duffel bag out of her closet.
“You don’t have a suitcase?” Richard asked. He tested the bounce of her mattress, falling onto the bed, then scooting up and stacking both pillows behind him. He stretched out and laced his fingers behind his head and put his full attention on her.
“I never really go anywhere, so no, no suitcase.”
“Do you want to?”
“Travel?” She seemed to have no trouble paying attention to the conversation while she sorted through the clothes in her closet.
“Yeah. You know, see the world, maybe a tour of the youth hostels of Europe?” He didn’t think she’d be able to get all the clothing she’d pulled from the hangers to fit into that bag.
“I’m a little old for the youth hostels of Europe. There are places in the world I’d like to see. Scotland. Australia. Someday in the future, when I’m ready. ”
“Wyoming?” Richard asked. Molly laughed and Richard liked the sound of it.
Brazen Seduction
87
“My brother and his wife usually make the trip home at Christmas because her family lives in the area, too. That might change when they have kids. Who knows?”
“Do you talk to him very often?”
“My brother?”
“Yeah.” Richard tried not to laugh. Molly’s lips twitched, indicating she realized he was on to her. He said, “Aren’t you going to say his name?”
“Well I would, but I don’t want you to think I’m using my safe word.”
“Point taken. I’ll give you another safe word.” He looked at her, at the serious light that entered her eyes. “Though I have a feeling you’ll never use it.”
“Why would I? You’d never hurt me.”
She’d said that so matter-of-fact, as if stating a simple truth. Truth it was, but he marveled that she had such faith in him after such a short time.
Or maybe not so short a time. He’d wanted her forever, it seemed.
How long had she wanted him?
“Come here.”
Molly didn’t hesitate. She walked around her bed, then sat down beside him so she
While Alan took a quick trip to reassure Mrs. Smyth-White that her project not only remained on target but at the center of his universe, Richard drove Molly to her apartment so she could pick up a few things to bring back to his house.
“Grab enough to stay the week,” he told her.
“All right. It won’t take me long.”
The next day was Memorial Day. He and Alan didn’t make any plans this year, thinking just to take the holiday as an extra day to relax at home together.
“Anything special you’d like to do for the holiday tomorrow?” he asked as they entered her apartment. If she’d had her heart set on doing something, then they’d do it. He could be a very accommodating man when he wanted to be.
“I hadn’t made any plans,” Molly said. “I was just looking forward to having another day off work, maybe read a book or two.” Richard took advantage of the opportunity to have a look around her apartment, a simple way to get to know the lady a little better.
86
Morgan Ashbury
One thing he could say about Molly. She seemed efficient. Her living space stood neat and tidy. It didn’t look like she owned a lot of doo-dads or knick-knacks. Not even a plant waited to greet her upon her arrival, and what there were of possessions looked to be in their place.
In fact, her living room and kitchen, small though they might have been, didn’t even look lived in.
He followed her into her bedroom and sighed with relief. Here at least there seemed to be a bit of feminine clutter. He bet her dresser couldn’t hold another bottle or figurine. One bra hung half-out of a dresser drawer as if trying to escape. A wicker clothes hamper had been tucked into one corner. It stood gaping open, with clothes half in, half out, as if Molly tossed them in from various points around the room and been satisfied if the garment landed merely in the vicinity of it.
He turned his attention to the woman herself just as she pulled a duffel bag out of her closet.
“You don’t have a suitcase?” Richard asked. He tested the bounce of her mattress, falling onto the bed, then scooting up and stacking both pillows behind him. He stretched out and laced his fingers behind his head and put his full attention on her.
“I never really go anywhere, so no, no suitcase.”
“Do you want to?”
“Travel?” She seemed to have no trouble paying attention to the conversation while she sorted through the clothes in her closet.
“Yeah. You know, see the world, maybe a tour of the youth hostels of Europe?” He didn’t think she’d be able to get all the clothing she’d pulled from the hangers to fit into that bag.
“I’m a little old for the youth hostels of Europe. There are places in the world I’d like to see. Scotland. Australia. Someday in the future, when I’m ready. ”
“Wyoming?” Richard asked. Molly laughed and Richard liked the sound of it.
Brazen Seduction
87
“My brother and his wife usually make the trip home at Christmas because her family lives in the area, too. That might change when they have kids. Who knows?”
“Do you talk to him very often?”
“My brother?”
“Yeah.” Richard tried not to laugh. Molly’s lips twitched, indicating she realized he was on to her. He said, “Aren’t you going to say his name?”
“Well I would, but I don’t want you to think I’m using my safe word.”
“Point taken. I’ll give you another safe word.” He looked at her, at the serious light that entered her eyes. “Though I have a feeling you’ll never use it.”
“Why would I? You’d never hurt me.”
She’d said that so matter-of-fact, as if stating a simple truth. Truth it was, but he marveled that she had such faith in him after such a short time.
Or maybe not so short a time. He’d wanted her forever, it seemed.
How long had she wanted him?
“Come here.”
Molly didn’t hesitate. She walked around her bed, then sat down beside him so she
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