roughened with desire, or would it still be smooth as glass? Deciding she read too many romance novels, she shrugged off the thought and led him up to the third floor.
As they climbed the stairs, she was conscious of his nearness and wondered if he was watching her butt in the tight dress. That seemed likely, since he was a man. What man would look away from a shapely butt wiggling in his face? That wasn’t sexist, since she freely admitted she would look her fill if their positions were reversed.
A moment later, they emerged on the landing, and she took him down the hall to her father’s study. With the panel on the wall, she flipped on the lamps, but left off the overhead light, giving the room a warm glow without being overpowering. “Have a seat,” she invited, waving to the loveseat and couch on one side of the room.
Molly went straight to her dad’s desk, sat in his chair, and felt underneath for the key hanging from a hook. She had never figured out if he was trying to keep her and Margot out of it, or if it was to protect his expensive liquor from the staff. It could go either way, she supposed, but doubted he worried about either of the girls dipping into his alcohol. She knew Margot used to smuggle it out to party with her friends, since she was the one who had told Molly where to find the key.
Next, she went to the armoire and opened it, slipping the key inside the lock. With a twist, a section slid out to reveal several bottles of alcohol. “Whiskey?” she asked.
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Do you want ice?”
“Sure.”
Molly opened the small freezer on the shelf above to take out a few ice cubes. Feeling a little daring, she dropped ice into a second glass and splashed whiskey into both glasses. It probably wasn’t the best drink to try, since she’d only ever had champagne or a little wine before, but it was a night to forget caution.
She took the glasses and sat on the couch beside him—not as close as she would have liked, since she didn’t want to freak him out by coming on too strong. It was difficult to gage how strong was too strong, with her limited experience, but figured climbing on his lap and asking for a kiss would be a bit too forward.
Smothering a giggle, she took a sip of the whiskey, managing not to choke or grimace as she swallowed. Definitely not on her top-ten list of favorite drinks, but she could fake a taste for it tonight.
He drained the glass in a couple of swallows. Molly watched him stand up and walk to the liquor cabinet, where he extracted the bottle and brought it back to the table. After he’d topped off his glass, she asked, “Is something wrong?”
A harsh laugh escaped him. “No, everything’s great.”
She didn’t miss the sarcasm, but didn’t pry, since he obviously didn’t want to talk about it. “How long do you think the party will go on?”
Aronne shrugged. “I have no idea. It’s interminable, isn’t it?”
Molly nodded, taking a bigger drink of whiskey, once again fighting the urge to cough. “It’s a regular occurrence around here. Someone’s always throwing a party for something.” She grinned. “I’m hoping we have a few less parties after Molly marries Cristiano and moves out.”
He shifted to reach for the bottle again, before settling against the couch, with his arm over the back. If she scooted an inch closer, his fingers would touch her shoulder. “Do you still live at home?”
She nodded. “I just finished school.”
“What’d you study?”
Molly kept it vague, figuring he had little interest in the curriculum at her all-girls’ high school. “A little of everything.”
“The choices in college can be overwhelming.”
Her eyes widened when she realized he thought she meant she had just finished college. She opened her mouth to correct the assumption, but closed it with a snap. What harm could it do to pretend to be a bit older?
As they climbed the stairs, she was conscious of his nearness and wondered if he was watching her butt in the tight dress. That seemed likely, since he was a man. What man would look away from a shapely butt wiggling in his face? That wasn’t sexist, since she freely admitted she would look her fill if their positions were reversed.
A moment later, they emerged on the landing, and she took him down the hall to her father’s study. With the panel on the wall, she flipped on the lamps, but left off the overhead light, giving the room a warm glow without being overpowering. “Have a seat,” she invited, waving to the loveseat and couch on one side of the room.
Molly went straight to her dad’s desk, sat in his chair, and felt underneath for the key hanging from a hook. She had never figured out if he was trying to keep her and Margot out of it, or if it was to protect his expensive liquor from the staff. It could go either way, she supposed, but doubted he worried about either of the girls dipping into his alcohol. She knew Margot used to smuggle it out to party with her friends, since she was the one who had told Molly where to find the key.
Next, she went to the armoire and opened it, slipping the key inside the lock. With a twist, a section slid out to reveal several bottles of alcohol. “Whiskey?” she asked.
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Do you want ice?”
“Sure.”
Molly opened the small freezer on the shelf above to take out a few ice cubes. Feeling a little daring, she dropped ice into a second glass and splashed whiskey into both glasses. It probably wasn’t the best drink to try, since she’d only ever had champagne or a little wine before, but it was a night to forget caution.
She took the glasses and sat on the couch beside him—not as close as she would have liked, since she didn’t want to freak him out by coming on too strong. It was difficult to gage how strong was too strong, with her limited experience, but figured climbing on his lap and asking for a kiss would be a bit too forward.
Smothering a giggle, she took a sip of the whiskey, managing not to choke or grimace as she swallowed. Definitely not on her top-ten list of favorite drinks, but she could fake a taste for it tonight.
He drained the glass in a couple of swallows. Molly watched him stand up and walk to the liquor cabinet, where he extracted the bottle and brought it back to the table. After he’d topped off his glass, she asked, “Is something wrong?”
A harsh laugh escaped him. “No, everything’s great.”
She didn’t miss the sarcasm, but didn’t pry, since he obviously didn’t want to talk about it. “How long do you think the party will go on?”
Aronne shrugged. “I have no idea. It’s interminable, isn’t it?”
Molly nodded, taking a bigger drink of whiskey, once again fighting the urge to cough. “It’s a regular occurrence around here. Someone’s always throwing a party for something.” She grinned. “I’m hoping we have a few less parties after Molly marries Cristiano and moves out.”
He shifted to reach for the bottle again, before settling against the couch, with his arm over the back. If she scooted an inch closer, his fingers would touch her shoulder. “Do you still live at home?”
She nodded. “I just finished school.”
“What’d you study?”
Molly kept it vague, figuring he had little interest in the curriculum at her all-girls’ high school. “A little of everything.”
“The choices in college can be overwhelming.”
Her eyes widened when she realized he thought she meant she had just finished college. She opened her mouth to correct the assumption, but closed it with a snap. What harm could it do to pretend to be a bit older?
Similar Books
