Page 71 of Molly's Mr. Wrong
“Trying to get me all hot and bothered.”
He laughed. “Maybe.”
“Won’t work,” she said against his chest.
“Maybe.”
“We’re friends,” she murmured against his chest as the music ended. And she was here to have fun. Hot and bothered could work into that.
Molly danced four—or was it five?—dances with Finn before the band took a break and they settled back at the table. Not long after that, Finn told Dylan and Jolie that he had to open the store and that Molly had an eight o’clock class.
“Fine,” Dylan said, slipping an arm around his fiancée. “Be responsible. We’ll close the place down without you.”
“I didn’t realize they closed at eleven-thirty,” Finn remarked straight-faced.
He and Molly left the bar the way they’d come in—hand in hand—only this time it had a different feel to it. Maybe it was the beer. Maybe it was the dancing, but Molly felt freer than she’d felt in years. She squeezed Finn’s fingers as they crossed the parking lot to where she was parked but didn’t look at him when he shot her a glance.
“Are you okay to drive?” Finn asked as she pulled out her keys.
“I had a beer and a half over a long period of time.” She leaned back against her car instead of opening the door. The air was crisp, so she folded her arms over her chest. “I’m not much of a drinker.”
“I noticed.”
“Well, Ididhave a table in the library.”
“While I developed other skills.”
Molly smiled at him, liked the way his eyes crinkled sexily at the corners as he smiled back. “I enjoyed being out with Dylan and Jolie.”
“And me.”
“And you.”
“We can do it again.”
“Yeah.” She glanced down at the pavement with a slight frown, her gaze coming up again as Finn reached out to touch her chin.
“No pressure, Molly.”
She smiled tightly, then made an effort to make it feel more real. “I’ve worked hard to get control of my life. To overcome shyness and make a career and get...secure... I guess. I like being your friend, Finn.” Even though she hadn’t thought of him as a real friend until tonight. She’d thought of him more as a crazy-sexy distraction.
“I sense a ‘but’ coming on.”
“No ‘but.’” Molly pushed her hands through her hair, smoothing it back away from her face. “I had that...guy problem...not that long ago, and as I said, I’m still dealing with it.”
“You made strides forward tonight.”
“That I did.” She bit her lip and then smiled up at him. “Thanks to you. But I have to be honest... In ways I’m still dealing with all that.”
Finn reached out to touch the edge of her face. “I hate to think of you hurting.”
The touch, the stroke of his fingers down her cheek, about did her in. Her voice was husky as she asked, “So you understand?”
“That you’re cautious? Yes. I’m not sure what to do about it, but I understand.” He stepped back then, putting his hands in his pockets, giving her space.
Suddenly she didn’t want space. She wanted human contact. “Will you kiss me?”
“Like a friend?” His voice was low, the question legit.
