Taking the Fall by W. Ferraro Read Free Book Online Page B

ago.
    “Molly?” Hunter’s confusion was evident.
    Pulling the earbuds from her ears, she smiled and said, “Oh sorry, did you say something.”
    He smiled again, this time showing off that faint dimple before repeating himself.
    “Just said it was a beautiful morning for a walk. I should know; I’ve been up and out of the house since five this morning.”
    That had Molly scrunching her nose in disgust. In her opinion, getting up at six was bad enough; anything before that was just downright wrong.
    “Didn’t your mom ever tell you not to make faces on the off chance your face would freeze?”
    Molly laughed. “I don’t quite think that is how the old saying goes, but you just keep thinking that.”
    They had stood in silence before Molly commented, “New bench, I see.”
    Hunter looked down toward the freshly polished granite with its engraved black lettering and stated, “Yeah, guess the real estate around here is coming to a close. I can’t see them being able to add many more.”
    Molly looked at the shiny polished bench. The sun’s shine reflected upon its flat surface, causing the flecks of minerals within to sparkle like little bits of glitter in the morning glow.
    “I enjoy reading them when I walk. Makes you have a little more faith in the love of people. Some are sad, but some are sweet. Makes my time walking here more enjoyable and adds to the beauty of all the landscaping. It makes me one happy walker.”
    Still babbling like you did when you were a teenager.
    “Well, good doctor, it is always nice to see you, but I really must be going.”
    “Yeah, me, too. I need to head home and shower before heading to the hospital.”
    Hunter. In a shower. All that gorgeous glistening skin. She wondered if he would sparkle like the polished granite. Yeah, like those images will be easy to shake.
    Yet neither one of them moved.
    “Was everything all right this morning? I couldn’t help but see you almost collide with Ms. Chamberlain. You do know if you had dented her treasured hunk of junk that she would have gotten out and whacked you with her cane.”
    The completely honest description of the eldest resident of Clearwater Falls had Molly smiling and nodding in agreement.
    When she smiled, so did Hunter and Molly thought her heart skipped at least three beats. It was so rare for the two of them to be alone. However, occasionally the moments did occur, and she just hoped he didn’t perceive her as awkward as she felt she was. When she was alone with him, her mind went to the thoughts she so desperately tried to limit. It was one thing to have the fleeting thoughts when she would pass him. But to stand here in his presence, alone, as if the rest of the world just melted away allowed her mind to open the vault she kept shut.
    The vault that was currently wide open.
    He had changed over the years. His face was no longer laced with youth but nor did he look old. He still looked immensely handsome. On the occasions when she saw him at the hospital, in the doctor’s office he helped at or coming to the restaurant between shifts, he was always clean-shaven and impeccably put together in a suit. But when she saw him around town, when he was doing what seemed to be his favorite hobby of landscaping rather in his doctor mode, he looked different. Rugged. Sexy. He rocked a pair of well-worn jeans better than those expensive suits of his, in her opinion. She figured it was because, in his more casual appearance, he reminded her of the boy she knew.
    Molly felt her cheeks redden, and her body responded to memories which were enhanced by daydreamed moments fast-forwarded to the present. Add in the smile which was mere inches away and she knew she was likely to receive a psychiatric referral from him.
    “Molly? Hey, are you all right?” he now asked with increased concern in his tone.
    Literally shaking the images from her vision, her eyes widened in response to his tone, and she embarrassedly asked, “I just don’t