Jake reached forward and loosened it for her. “You’re not holding me up, but this…” He waved a hand between them. “I get the impression it confuses you. And neither of us has the luxury of indulging in that confusion at the moment.”
For a split second, she thought they would kiss, but he pulled back, his expression serious again.
A loud knock on the back door made them both start.
“Jake, are you still here?”
“Shit! It’s Mum.”
“What?” Molly didn’t have time to make herself scarce before Jake’s mother strode through the door.
A petite woman with ash-blonde curls framing a youthful-looking face and wearing a navy blazer and skirt, his mother smiled wide as she offered her hand. “Hello, I’m Hazel. Jake’s mother. I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything?”
With cheeks on fire and heart racing like she’d been caught in an act she had no business acting in, Molly stepped forward and accepted her handshake. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Sinclair. I’m Molly.”
As her gaze darted between Molly and her son, Hazel’s smile disappeared. “Molly? Not Molly Parker? From Jesse’s will?”
“Yes. I knew Jesse. Years ago now. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Hands clutched in front of her, Jake’s mother looked Molly up and down. “What are you doing here… with Jake?”
“Oh. He’s been teaching me how to make choux pastry. But I really should go.”
“By the look of you both, he’s been teaching you a lot more than that,” Hazel scoffed.
“Mum. Don’t.”
She turned to her son. “What’s going on? Are youseeingthis girl?”
“Mum! I said that’s enough.”
“No, I’m sorry, Jake. It’s not enough. I can’t believe you’d stoop so low. Your brother’s barely cold in his grave, and now this? How could you let this girl drive a wedge between us—between you and Ava—after everything we’ve been through?”
“Go wait in the courtyard while I see Molly out. I’ll be right back.”
She turned to Molly. “And you. You think this is okay, do you? Turning up when you feel like it and making a play for Jake when everyone’s emotions are still so raw?—”
“Mum! For shit’s sake. Don’t talk to her like that.”
Molly straightened her spine. “That’s not how it is. Jesse and I were friends a long time ago, and I’ve no intention of coming between Jake and his family. I’m sorry if it seems that way. I’ll see myself out.” She grabbed her bag from the floor and bolted for the back door. With emotion choking her throat, she couldn’t have defended herself further, even if she’d wanted to.
As she dashed along the alleyway and past Jake’s Vespa, heading for the street, Jake called out behind her, “Molly, wait. Molly!”
The next thing she heard was the kitchen timer beeping and Jake venting the F-word on repeat as thunderclouds rolled in across the bay.
All the way home, his mother’s words screamed in her head, and the one word that screamed the loudest was Ava. Molly had obviously misread the situation and had no one to blame but herself.
It wasn’t until she pulled into the driveway that Molly realized she still had the damn apron on, and she’d left Gloria’s éclairs on Petrie Patisserie’s kitchen counter.
Shit!
She was about to turn around and drive back into town when her text alert sounded.
Jake:Apologies for the intrusion before. I’ll be out of here in under an hour, so I can drop off Gloria’s order on the way home.
Molly relaxed as she realized she wouldn’t have to see him—or his mother—again that afternoon. She’d had enough of Jake Sinclair and his ambiguous reflections for one day.
Molly:Are you sure? I could come back and get them.
