Sweet on You (The Bridesmaids Club Book 4) (6 page)

“How are you feeling, ma’am?”

Molly slowly opened her eyes and stared at the back of Victor’s head. “I’m grand. Just grand.”

“That’s good. Hold on tight because we’re about to make a right-hand turn.”

The helicopter tilted to the right and Molly’s eyes snapped closed. And if Jacob wasn’t mistaken, she said a word that would have made the hairs on the back of his mom’s neck stand to attention.

He needed to do something to take her mind off the fact that they were more than a thousand feet in the air and climbing rapidly. So he started talking quietly into the headset, telling Molly about the things he could see.

Her pale face looked a little less white, and she let go of the armrest for long enough to adjust her headset. If he was lucky, she might even open her eyes before the flight was over.

At least she’d agreed to look at his property. Next time, if there was a next time, they’d take his truck.

CHAPTER THREE

Molly took a deep breath and climbed out of the helicopter. They had landed. She was safe. The world had not ended when they’d flown through the sky, making short work of the journey to Jacob’s property.

Victor had landed on a plateau overlooking a beautiful blue-green lake. As soon as she’d opened her eyes, Molly was glad that her first view of Jacob’s home had been from here.

Jacob followed her out of the helicopter and pointed to one of the prettiest sights she’d ever seen. “Welcome to Emerald Lake.”

Molly took a moment to appreciate everything around her. There was pride in Jacob’s voice, a tone that said this land was special. Selling the property made no sense when he seemed to care deeply about what was his.

But she wasn’t here to figure out the puzzle that was Jacob Green. She was here to decide if she’d take photographs of his beautiful property.

Emerald Lake glistened in the late afternoon light. It was shaped as round as a ball, nestled between lush pasture and a towering mountain range. Branching out around the lake were four wide creeks that would provide water for the land further down the valley.

Molly felt the pull of something beyond what she saw. There was magic in the lake, a blend of what was now and what had gone before. A story waiting to be told.

Jacob looked at his land. “Each property owner will have a quarter share of the lake. The original ranch was three thousand acres, but over the last year I’ve subdivided it into four lots. Big Sky Resort is just past the mountain range on the right. As remote as it feels, we’re close to town and only fifteen minutes from some of the best skiing in Montana.”

Molly imagined living here, surrounded by nature. She was sure Jacob felt the pull, the need buried in the depths of the emerald water. “Why are you selling your property?”

“I’ve seen a building in New York that I want to buy. I was always going to sell most of the ranch, but the buyers that were interested last year decided it wasn’t for them. I need all of the land sold in the next six weeks.”

“That seems like an awfully short time frame.”

Jacob crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Another offer has been made on the building in New York. I was lucky to get six weeks to go unconditional.”

“Why have you been living in Bozeman if a big city is where you want to live?”

Jacob’s green gaze connected with hers. “I’ve been helping dad on his ranch. He had a heart attack, but he’s better now. It’s time I left Montana.”

“Won’t your parents miss you?”

Jacob looked away. “My family is used to not seeing me. Do you want Victor to give you a guided tour of the property?”

Molly looked at the big blue beast sitting behind them. “In the helicopter?”

Jacob nodded.

Molly pulled her shoulders back and took a deep breath. “It would be my pleasure to accompany Victor on a tour of your land.”

Jacob grinned. “This time you might want to keep your eyes open.”

Molly felt herself blush. “I was getting used to the altitude. I might take a few photographs this time around.”

“I’ll tell you where the boundaries of each property are.”

Molly ignored the gleam in Jacob’s eyes. She had more serious issues to deal with. Life and death issues that involved dipping and diving between mountain ranges and a pretty as you please lake. Issues that couldn’t be resolved by a handsome man in a charcoal suit and red tie.

“Let’s go, Molly. If we stand here for much longer, you’ll never leave.”

“There’s a risk of that, to be sure, but Emerald Lake intrigues me. You can tell me more about the lake while we’re flying around your property.”

And with more courage than she felt, Molly walked toward Victor and his helicopter. At least if anything happened, she’d die surrounded by the most beautiful land she’d ever seen. And if she survived the flight, she had a feeling that another journey was about to begin.

***

“I know you don’t like strawberries, but you have to try this frozen margarita.”

Tess left a fancy glass in front of Molly. Apart from the frosted rim, it didn’t look any different to the raspberry and lemonade pop in the glass beside it. Molly took a sip, enjoying the sharp bite of tequila against the sweetness of the berries.

“Well?”

“Lovely. But as I’m driving you home, it’s my last taste of alcohol for the night.”

Tess pouted, which gave Molly even more of a reason not to drink anything alcoholic. Tess never pouted. If she didn’t get her home safely from her bachelorette party, Logan wouldn’t be happy.

“You’re turning into a worry worm.” Tess sighed. “I’m getting married in two days’ time.”

Molly smiled at the faraway look on Tess’ face. “That you are.”

“It’s going to be beautiful.”

Rachel slid into the booth beside Tess. “What’s going to be beautiful?”

“My wedding. I’m getting married in two days’ time.”

Rachel looked at Molly and raised her eyebrows. Molly nodded back. They had a slightly inebriated bride on the loose.

Rachel glanced at the drink in front of Tess. “I’ll get you some juice. What would you like?”

Tess lost her dreamy look. She was deliberating between all of the options that had popped into her muddled brain. “A strawberry daiquiri with a yellow umbrella,” she said firmly. “I really like the color yellow. It reminds me of sunshine.”

Rachel smiled. “That’s nice. I’ll be back soon.”

Molly caught sight of Sally and Annie dancing in the middle of Charlie’s Bar and Grill. They were surrounded by the normal group of cowboys, businessmen, women, and college students, all enjoying a night on the town, Bozeman style.

“Come closer, Molly,” Tess said slowly. “We’ve all been so busy that I’ve lost track of what you’re doing.”

Tess wasn’t wrong. Between their day jobs and The Bridesmaids Club, they didn’t have a lot of time left over.

“Tell me about your exhibition. Have you got all of your photos ready?” Tess smiled at Rachel when she returned to their table.

“One orange and pineapple juice for the bride-to-be,” Rachel said proudly. “I had to fight another customer for the last yellow umbrella.”

Tess’ eyes widened. “Are you okay?”

Rachel laughed. “I promised him a dance, so I’d say I’m more than okay.”

Tess sighed. “It could be love.”

“Or an exchange for a yellow umbrella,” Molly said.

Rachel snorted. “Where’s your romantic streak gone? Relationships have begun with less things in common than a yellow umbrella.”

“Or a quart of buttermilk,” Tess said. Molly and Rachel both looked at her with frowns on their faces. “For the Groovy Grans. Logan helped me make blueberry buttermilk pancakes. He was wonderful.”

Rachel pushed the glass of juice toward Tess. “You need this more than you think you do. Where is everyone else?”

Molly nodded toward the dance floor. “Dancing. There’s a man in a white shirt walking toward our table. I think umbrella man is about to arrive.”

Rachel flicked her blonde hair back from her face. “Do I look all right? No smudged mascara or wonky lipstick?”

“You look great,” Tess said. “Why don’t you introduce him to us?”

“I would, but I don’t know his name,” Rachel whispered back. She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “It’s him. Don’t leave without me.” She wiggled out of the booth and took the arm of the man smiling at her.

Molly looked at the dark gray pants and the shoes the man was wearing. She watched the way he walked, the way he leaned down to hear something Rachel said.

“You’re doing it again.” Tess nudged Molly’s arm with her elbow.

Molly rubbed her arm. “What?”

“Judging Rachel’s friend. You’ll never fall in love if you can’t let go of the past. Look at what happened to me.”

Molly kept her gaze locked on Rachel until she lost sight of her. “I don’t want to fall in love. And what happened to you means you’re getting married in less than forty-eight hours.”

“I know. Isn’t it wonderful?” In the blink of an eye, Tess’ gaze went from wistful to sharp. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about you and falling in love. Why do you think you’re such a great photographer?”

“I’ve worked hard, practiced, taken more photos than most people take in a lifetime.” When Tess didn’t look convinced, Molly added, “I went to school, learned from some of the finest photographers in Ireland.”

Tess shook her head.

Molly was running out of reasons why she took good photographs. “I’ve worked with some of the most influential people in the fashion industry. If you don’t take grand photos of their clothes, you don’t get asked back again.”

Tess nodded. “I imagine you’re right, but anyone can learn the technique of photography. Your point of difference, Molly O’Donaghue, is that you see love and magic in each shot. You draw out the best in people, make the image…more.”

Tess’ muddled brain was turning their conversation into a psychology lesson. Molly moved the glass of juice closer to Tess’ hand. “There isn’t more than what is.”

“Precisely,” Tess said with an emphatic nod of her head. “You see more than everyone else does. It’s a gift.”

“Or a curse,” Molly muttered.

“Finding love isn’t a curse, not if you find the right person to share your life with.”

Molly looked at the strawberry margarita sitting on the table. She was tempted to take another sip.

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“About what?” Molly didn’t want to begin to work out where Tess was going with this conversation.

“About falling in love. What about Jacob? He can’t be all that bad considering Alex is his brother?”

“I’m not going to fall in love with anyone. And if a man happens to have more money than he could possibly need, I’d be even less inclined to love him.”

“Not even if he was tall, dark, and handsome, and standing behind you?” Tess asked with a frown on her face.

Molly dropped her chin to her chest. If she’d been less caught up in the sorry state of her life, she might have felt the prickles of awareness warning her that Jacob was near.

Jacob cleared his throat. “I’ll leave you to your conversation.”

Molly turned around and watched him maneuver through the crowd of people on the dance floor. She thought of all the things she needed to say to him, the apology that should come first.

Sally and Annie walked toward their table.

“What’s wrong?” Sally asked. “You’re as white as a sheet.”

Molly took a gulp of her raspberry and lemonade pop. “Can you stay with Tess? I’ve got an apology to make.”

Sally frowned. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Keep Tess away from alcohol and get her something to eat. And if you see Jacob Green, ask him to wait for me.”

“What happened?” Annie asked.

“Molly told him she could never love him,” Tess said with a sigh.

Molly didn’t wait to explain what Tess was talking about. She had an apology to make and it wouldn’t be easy.

***

Jacob felt someone touch his shoulder. He turned around, half expecting to see his brother standing behind him. He was supposed to meet Alex in the bar, but so far all he’d managed to do was walk in on a conversation he hadn’t wanted to hear.

Instead of seeing Alex’s face, Jacob stared into Molly’s big green eyes.

She leaned forward and yelled above the noise of the people around them, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were behind me when I was speaking to Tess.”

Molly seemed sincere, but Jacob had been around too many people who could twist their words and make you believe anything.

“If you’d known I was behind you, would it have changed what you said?”

Molly looked down at her feet. For a moment, he didn’t think she was going to answer him. “I wouldn’t have said what I did. You can’t help it if you’re rich.” She bit her bottom lip. “I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”