“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?”

Jordan took a deep breath. “Then you won’t be.” She looked around. “You know, things are getting entirely too heavy in here. Let’s go.”

Molly eyed her suspiciously. “And where are we going? I have more truffles to make for the festival.”

“Plenty of time for that, and let’s be honest, the truffles aren’t going anywhere. Let’s take a walk. I haven’t had a chance to check out the town much, see what’s new since I’ve been gone.”

She had to admit it sounded nice. The sun was setting and the temperature would be crisp. She liked crisp. And she liked walks. “Okay, but I can’t be gone too long.”

“I know. Can you even imagine what would happen if you were?”

“Shut up.”

“Okay, as long as we’re walking.”

They took the long way through the square, and Molly narrated a bit, describing the new businesses that had popped up in recent years. “Oh, and right here outside of County Market, we have our very own, wait for it, Redbox.” She held up her hands as if to say “tada.” “Tell me you’re not impressed at our consumer progress.”

“Color me shocked.” Jordan shook her head. “God, it’s all so different and yet not at all.”

They passed Mr. Mueller, the mail carrier, just across the street. He must have been headed home for the day. As they waved, he offered a double take and came right over. “Jordy Tuscana. Well, look at you. A knockout if I ever saw one. Who would have thought that scraggly kid would grow up so well?” He pulled her into a warm embrace.

Jordan smiled at him that dazzling way she smiled at people. “Thanks. You’re holding up pretty great yourself. How’s Dustin? I miss him.”

He smiled a little brighter at the mention of his son, a friend of hers from high school. “Just promoted to junior partner at the firm in Chicago. I’ll tell him I saw you. Glad you’re home. Say hi to your folks for me.”

“Will do, Mr. Mueller. It was nice seeing you.”

Molly shook her head as they walked on.

“What?”

“Everyone loves you. It’s foregone. Some sort of cosmic rule.”

Jordan smiled widely. “Well, of course.”

That earned her a pointed nudge in the ribs. “Ow.”

“Oh, please. Where to now?”

Jordan looked around, plotting their next move. “The soccer field?”

“Okay. A nostalgic glimpse of the glory days coming right up.” Molly had to admit that she was feeling lighter. It turned out she needed to get out of the shop. She just hadn’t realized it. Plus, the town seemed to sparkle extra bright today. Maybe it was just spending time with Jordan and putting things back in place between them. Who knew?

But it didn’t matter. The sun was making its descent in the sky and the cooler temperature had her energized, up for anything. And with Jordan, you never knew what you were in for.

Ten minutes later, they arrived on the very pristine soccer field. The high school went to great lengths to keep it in tiptop condition, and the wide expanse of green grass was quite picturesque. Jordan put her hands on her hips and blew out a breath. “Totally and completely surreal to be standing here right now. Whoa.”

Molly had to agree. She came out for a lot of the high school football games to support her alma mater, but soccer was somehow harder. It had been Cassie’s passion, and without her, it had just seemed empty. Standing there with Jordan, however, carried with it a whole different purpose. She was a vibrant presence, and Molly felt the effect of her proximity. “A lot of your youth was spent right here on this grass.”

Jordan took a few steps in. “Yeah, well, until I was kicked off the team.”

“You always did think you knew more than everyone else.”

“In shocking news, it turns out I don’t. It just took a few years for me to figure that part out.”

Molly stared, struck at the way the descending sun layered across Jordan’s eyes, making the blue more vibrant than she’d ever seen it. “I think that’s called acquired maturity.”

“Don’t give me too much credit. I’m about to break into that equipment shed over there and lose all sorts of mature points.” Her grin was pure mischief as she backed away.

Oh, this wasn’t a good idea. Molly was pretty much a rule follower, and the words “breaking in” so did not fit into that neat little square. “Jordan,” she called. “Hey, maybe not. I’d rather stay out of jail, you know, if at all possible.”

Jordan lifted her head from the lock she now examined. “Live a little, Molly. Nothing will happen, I promise. And who knows? You might even like it.”

She didn’t have a chance to protest further, however, as it only took Jordan two point three seconds to pop the lock. The door was now open, and moments later, Jordan approached dribbling a soccer ball proudly. “Wanna play?”

“Pshh, no. I’m not into anything that requires defense. I was a cheerleader in high school, remember?”

Jordan offered a lazy smile. “I have not forgotten. Do you still have the uniform?”

For whatever reason, a typical Jordan comment that she could have matched toe to toe just a few days ago now left her speechless, and, oh God, was she blushing? Yep, that was a full on blush she felt creeping down her neck. Jordan must have noticed too, and in a merciful move, let her off the hook.

“You don’t have to answer that if you’ll play with me.”

She kicked the ball to her.

“Fine,” Molly said and rolled her eyes. But the true source of her annoyance was at herself and her inability to behave like a normal human, not at Jordan. But who was counting?

She kicked the ball back.

And they were underway.

They started out in a side-by-side run, passing the ball between them as they went. But once they’d covered the length of the field once, their game turned into one of keep away, with Molly struggling with everything she had to steal the ball from Jordan, who was so much more adept at this, that it wasn’t close to fair. Finally, out of breath and feeling like she might die, Molly collapsed onto her back in the middle of the field.

But she was smiling.

There was some aspect of the carefree play that loosened something in her and made her heart soar, even as it thudded wildly in her chest from exertion. True, she was more out of breath than she’d probably been in her entire life thus far, but there was a euphoric high there too. “I see why you like this,” she said to Jordan who stretched out on her back alongside her. They both stared up at the darkening sky.

“Told you you’d have fun. You should listen to me more.”

Molly turned her face to Jordan’s and they shared a smile. “I should. You’re kind of unpredictable though. That part hasn’t changed.”

“Yeah, I think I’m okay with that.”

“Me too.” It was true. She found it kind of refreshing. And a little hot. Damn it, she didn’t mean that last part.

As if reading her thoughts, Jordan pushed herself onto her side and propped her head up with her hand. As she looked down at Molly, the amusement fell from her face and was replaced with sincerity. Molly felt her stomach tighten in reflex. “About earlier, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, you know, with the cheerleader comment.”

Molly nodded, but couldn’t shake the reaction she was having to Jordan’s proximity. “It’s okay. I know you were just being playful. It’s what you do.”

“But after everything, I should be more sensitive to the…situation.”

Ah, yes, the situation. She decided to play stupid. It was her best chance to sidestep whatever it was that was pulling at her, because if she allowed herself to think about the other night as she lay there, looking up at Jordan, well, the slope would become a lot more slippery. “I don’t think we have a situation.”

“No?” Jordan’s gaze trailed lazily down her face. When her eyes lingered briefly on Molly’s lips, she felt it all over. The air between them was doing that snap-crackle-pop thing.

“No,” Molly said absently. Was she imagining it or had Jordan closed the distance between them? Because her mouth seemed extra close, and she had to admit, it was an incredibly sexy mouth. Jordan reached down and gently moved a strand of hair from Molly’s forehead, and for the life of her, Molly couldn’t remember why this kind of closeness was a bad idea. And then Jordan reminded her.