Free Never Too Late by Alyssia Leon

falling to her lips. 
    With a gulp, she stood still, staring at him like a deer in headlights, barely breathing.
    Cripes! Was he going to… kiss her?
    Nervously, she licked her lips with the tip of her tongue and his eyes flared on that small move. Then all of a sudden he stepped back, and without another word, turned and strode out of the cottage.
    Her trapped breath rushed out, and she sagged against the door.
    Of course he hadn’t been about to kiss her. What sort of naive idiot was she being?
    His flirting confused her, but it was her body’s electric reaction to him that petrified her. If she didn’t reign herself in, and fast, how was she going to survive tomorrow?

 6
    Bright and early, Friday morning, Molly loitered outside Rose Cottage.
    Perhaps too early.
    It was just before eight o’clock and Jake was nowhere to be seen. She checked her watch again. She’d wanted to make a point, but the only person bothered seemed to be herself.
    Nan was busy inside the big house, and miffed, Molly headed off to talk to the stable girls. They always arrived at the crack of dawn to care for their horses.
    The morning sun smiled hot on her bare shoulders. She’d opted for simple. A sky-blue strappy dress that traced her curves and flowed out from her hips to just above her knees. Her unrestrained hair spread around her shoulders and down her back like a curly golden cloud, and a touch of mascara and pink lipgloss and blue flats completed the look. She’d aimed for comfortable rather than alluring, and pleased with her effort, she planned the day as she walked.
    She’d take him in a wide circle around the village, passing the large orchards and the church, then down Main Street, ending at the pub by lunchtime. By then, he’d be ready to drop and begging to finish the day. A filling lunch and job done.
    All she had to do was keep her distance, keep it polite, and keep her crazy hormones on ice. 
    She passed the garage. Francine’s red Mercedes was gone, and the conservatory door further on in the main house opened and two giggling girls ran out.
    They were two of Nan’s regular helpers, both sixteen years old and forever prattling about boys. They squealed on seeing her and rushed over.
    “Molly!”
    With a sigh, she steeled herself to hear the latest instalment of teen angst and love in the village.
    “Have you seen him?” Carly, the dark haired one, jigged up and down in excitement.
    Molly stared at her, nonplussed. “Who?”
    “The new Lord of Barrowdene!” Daisy, the shorter blonde, enthused. “God, he’s hot!”
    Carly giggled. “We were changing the bedsheets and he came out of the shower.”
    Molly’s eyes rounded.
    Daisy jumped in. “We were like ‘Oh. My. God’. And Carly’s mouth was open so wide.”
    “Yours too!” Carly snapped. “You were gawking at him like he was the last guy on earth.”
    “I wouldn’t mind if he was,” Daisy said, preening the end of her fair plait. “Did you see that body?”
    “Wait.” Molly squeezed into the conversation. “When he came out of the shower, was he…?”
    Carly rolled her eyes. “Oh, he had a towel around his important bits.”
    Daisy sniggered. “Shame.”
    And both girls looked at each other and cackled with laughter.
    Molly breathed out in relief.
    The village would waste no time in labelling Jake a lecherous pervert of the worst kind if this had happened any other way.
    Daisy regarded her, envy in her narrowed gaze. “I bet you’ve spoken to him. All he said to us was ‘sorry’ and then he locked himself in the bathroom.”
    “What’s his name?” Carly asked eagerly.
    “Jake Hennessy.” Molly glanced skyward, praying for patience. “And yes… yes, I’ve spoken to him.”
    “Do you like him?” Daisy’s eyes were sly.
    Molly’s face heated up. “I hardly know him to like him.”
    “Oh, she does!” Carly yelped.
    Molly choked out a protest but they weren’t listening.
    “Come on. We’ve got to tell the others.” Daisy