The Christmas Wedding Ring

“I just want to run away for a few days,” she continued. “A week or two, tops. I want a chance to clear my head, to think things through.” She gave him another half smile. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and figure out a way to be someone else.”

“Who would you want to be?”

“Anybody but me.”

“Why is it so bad being Molly Anderson?”

Ah, more questions she would not answer. “You’re going to have to trust me on that one, Dylan. It just is.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Molly thought about eating a French fry, but she really wasn’t hungry. It must be the nerves. Gee, if she kept this up for a few months, she might lose those twenty pounds.

“Your timing is interesting,” Dylan said, and leaned back in the booth. He picked up his bottle of beer and took a sip.

“In what way?” she asked.

“I’m wrestling with some difficult decisions myself. Mostly about my business.” He made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “I won’t bore you with the details, but for many reasons, I’m at a crossroads right now, too.”

His dark gaze was intense. She felt as if he were staring into her soul. She wanted to look away because she knew he wouldn’t find a whole lot there to impress him. She wished she were someone different, someone wonderful and interesting, so that a man like Dylan would want her. But she knew the truth. She was just Molly—bright but not brilliant, nice, sometimes funny. She wasn’t wildly attractive, or witty, or charming, or any of those things that usually drew men like him. She was, at best, ordinary.

If only she were beautiful, like Janet. Or skinny, again like Janet. She bit back a smile. If Janet were here, she would tease her sister about being way too annoying to love. Her humor faded as she thought about how wonderful her sister had been through all this. Molly was so grateful they’d finally come to terms with their relationship and that they were close.

“What did you have in mind for your adventure?” Dylan asked.

If Molly had been drinking at that moment, she would have spit across the table. As it was, she could only stare at him in wide-eyed shock. “Excuse me?”

“Your adventure.” He picked up the ring and held it out. “That’s why you’re here. What did you want to do?”

Had she suddenly lost her hearing, or had Dylan really asked that question? Was he serious about this?

Molly opened her mouth, then closed it. Her mind stayed blank. “You’re agreeing?”

“I’m considering. There’s a difference. I want to know what you had in mind.”

Molly shifted in her seat, torn between wild excitement and bone-numbing trepidation. It was one thing to think about an adventure with Dylan—fantasies were fun and safe. But this was real life. Was she actually willing to go away with him? After all, she hadn’t seen him in fourteen years. He was a stranger. She would be insane—

She sucked in a deep breath. No, she wasn’t insane. She knew about his basic character. She’d promised herself no more regrets. She already had too many to live with.

“I didn’t have any place in mind,” she told him honestly. “I don’t care where I go or what I do. I just want to be away. My only stipulation is that I have to have a cell signal. I’ll need to check my messages every day.”

“Let me guess. You’re trying to make a boyfriend jealous. You want to scare him into proposing at Christmas.”

If his statement hadn’t been so painfully far from the truth, she might have laughed. “It’s not that. I’m not currently seeing anyone, and even if I were, that’s not my style. I’ve never been very good at those kinds of reindeer games.”

“Good. I didn’t think so, but I had to ask.” His gaze sharpened. “I’m trying to figure out how much of the Molly I remember is hiding in there.”

“Enough. I’ve grown up, but I don’t think I’ve changed that much.”

He still had the ability to make her heart pound, although she wasn’t going to share that particular fact with him.

“Two weeks,” he said without warning. “I could take off that much time. I’ll choose the first place we go to, then you can pick activities once we’re there. We’ll negotiate for the destinations after that.”

He paused expectantly. Molly could only look at him as she tried to absorb what he was saying. Had she really heard him correctly? Her heart pounded, but for the first time in weeks, it wasn’t from fear but from excitement.

“Okay,” she said cautiously, not sure if he was actually telling her he was agreeing or he was simply tossing ideas around.

Oh, but she wanted it to be true. Dylan had always been her fantasy. They had both changed and matured and she seriously doubted if she still had a crush on him. But she would really like the opportunity to find out how the grown man was different from the man-boy she remembered.

“We’ll have separate rooms and split expenses fifty-fifty,” he said. “Agreed?”

Molly had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. No doubt the poor guy was terrified she was going to come on to him the moment they were alone. She sighed. It made sense. After all, she had had a serious crush on him all those years ago and he was still incredibly gorgeous. However, she would do what she could to control her wayward self in his presence.

For a moment, she allowed herself to believe that his statement about separate rooms was made in order to make her feel safe. If only it were true. If only Dylan would look at her and find her attractive. But she knew about wishing after the moon. All it ever got anyone was a crick in the neck.

“That sounds fair,” she agreed.

“Then I guess that’s it,” he said. “Do we have a deal?”

“You’re willing to do it?” Molly asked, then felt instantly foolish. But she wanted to be sure. “We’re really going to take an adventure together?”

“I’m game if you are.”

Be careful what you wish for, a voice in her head whispered. She dismissed it and smiled. “I’m already packed.”

“Great.” He held out his hand. “Let’s shake to seal the deal.”

His long fingers engulfed hers. Heat flared between them, warming her from the inside out. She felt a faint tingling rippling through her body, and she didn’t care that her reactions were the result of a drink on top of no food, or even remnants from her crush all those years ago. She didn’t mind that she was the only one having all the reactions. It was enough that Dylan had agreed.

When he released his hand, he picked up his burger. “I’ll need the rest of today and most of the morning to get my business affairs in order. We could take off just after noon tomorrow, if that’s all right with you.”

Molly was suddenly starved. She poured more mustard on her bun, then smoothed the bright yellow sauce in place. “That’s great. I’m ready to go anytime, and I don’t have anywhere to be until the 22nd. If you’ll give me your phone number, I’ll call and let you know where I’m staying tonight.”

He swallowed his food. “You can stay with me.” He grinned. “I have a huge house up on one of the hills. I fell in love with the view, but the place is way too big for me. There are five bedrooms, and a couple are made up for guests.”

Molly hesitated. “I wouldn’t want to intrude.” The truth was, she was uncomfortable at the thought of staying with him under any circumstances. Being at Dylan’s house would be so intimate.

“I see. You’re willing to go away with me, but you won’t spend the night at my house? That makes sense.”

“Oh.” He had a point. She felt herself flushing. “I guess you’re right. Then thanks, I’d love to stay.” If nothing else, she would enjoy getting a peek into his world. What would his house look like? Did he—

She was about to take a bite of her burger, but she stopped suddenly and set the food back on her plate. Her mouth got dry as realization flooded her. “I never thought to ask,” she stammered. “You’re not married or anything, are you? It doesn’t matter as far as the travel, but I don’t want to get in the way or cause trouble.”

Actually, she was lying. If Dylan was married, she wouldn’t want to go away with him, but saying that would sound too weird, as if she had some secret romantic agenda.

“If I was married, I wouldn’t have agreed,” he said. “I’m between women at the moment, so no explanations are required. You don’t have to worry, kid—I live in a normal house. You won’t find anything scary lurking in the closets.”

His teasing smile was like a sucker punch to her belly. She was not relieved that he wasn’t married and she was not going to fall for him. Not Dylan, no way. She knew better.

That out of the way, they finished eating. When they were done, Dylan snagged a clean paper napkin from the passing waitress and drew Molly a map.