Free How Sweet It Is by Melissa Brayden Page A

jealous.”
    “Ditto. Will I see you later?”
    Jordan made her way to the door. “You will. I’ll swing by your place about four to finish the shutters. Maybe we can grab dinner after?”
    At Molly’s hesitation, Jordan paused and walked suspiciously back to the counter. “What? Don’t tell me. You have another date?”
    Molly dropped her gaze.
    “Oh my, you totally do. You have another hot date to go on.” She was grinning playfully, but the d-word alone was enough to make Molly’s blood pressure spike at the impending drink she’d agreed to have with yet another stranger. Apparently, Eden’s friend Paulene worked fast. The first setup had been difficult enough to muster the courage for. And after that whole traumatic experience, she didn’t know how she was going to manage a second go-round. What if it went just as poorly?
    “It’s not a full date this time,” she explained to Jordan. “Just drinks. A half-date. It’s stupid, but I’m going and it doesn’t need to be discussed further because now I’m all…I don’t know. Damn it.” She stared at the buttons on the cash register, studying their grooves and attempting not to let herself freak out. Too late. The panic had already set in, and her heart thudded rapidly in her chest and the noise in the room was all sorts of deafening.
    A minor panic attack. That’s all.
    She’d had them before and would get through this if she could just, you know, find more air in the room. It was embarrassing and she had no reason to get all worked up over a dumb half-date, but alas, she was.
    “Hey, hey. Look at me,” Jordan said gently. Molly lifted her gaze to Jordan who stared back at her with calm, understanding eyes. “Inhale slowly, okay? Again. And one more time.”
    And then, Molly could breathe again. She never realized how much she loved air.
    Jordan paused, allowing her a moment to get back on track. Her voice was quiet, reassuring when she spoke again. “It’s okay, Mol. We don’t have to discuss it. But you’re going to be okay, all right? See you at four.” And with a quick wink and a beautiful smile, she was off. Molly stared after her, wondering how with just one reassuring look and some kind words, Jordan had managed to steady her lilting ship. Her heart rate slowed and the annoying ringing in her ears drifted away.
    She took another deep, much needed breath and reminded herself why. Because that’s what Jordan did. She made everything seem within the realm of possibility, even the most enigmatic. It was her gift. It was the way she approached life and it was contagious. It had always been that way.
    “So that was little sister?” Eden began the process of moving warm oatmeal cookies from the silver tray in her hands to the display case.
    “Uh-huh.”
    Eden whistled low and Molly regarded her with a long look.
    “What? What does that mean? Explain your pointed whistling.”
    “Well, she’s ridiculously dreamy is all. Strikingly beautiful. A looker. I see what Summer’s been going on about now.” Eden picked up the empty tray and sauntered back into the kitchen.
    But something about the comment didn’t sit well with Molly and she was forced by an act of nature to follow. She pushed open the swinging door and sidled up next to Eden at the sink where she stood washing the tray.
    “What do you mean? What did Summer say exactly?” She tried her best to be nonchalant, but wasn’t sure how effective she was. So she picked up a mixing bowl and began to wash. Keeping busy would help.
    Eden paused in the midst of washing. “Would take less time to tell you what she didn’t say, if you catch my drift. Can’t say I blame her. I’m straight as the day is long, but I know a gorgeous woman when I see one, and trust me, I just saw one.”
    “So you’re saying Summer’s interested ? In Jordan.”
    Eden threw her a curious glance. “That’s what I’m saying. I’m also saying that if you scrub that bowl any harder, we’re gonna have a