A Sweet and Spicy Kind Of Love by Minx Charmer

accommodate him. However, his close proximity forced her to stop the King Crab soup she was making and give him the attention he wanted. “I am working Ethan and only have a moment to spare. Your being underfoot does not help and I don’t want Valeria or her mother to get upset with me. The ingredients for this soup are expensive and can quickly be ruined, if not prepared well. Can’t this wait until after work?”
     
    With an impish grin, he shook his head and moved closer, as he filled her in on the news he couldn’t wait to share “Dearest Molly, I had to come. I spoke to Julian about the competition and we agreed to have it on his estate. I am not sure if you knew about that exactly, as the whole town is buzzing with the news, but I wanted to give you the heads up.”
     
    With mixed feelings, Molly tried to show a happy face “Oh that sounds nice. I am sure that most of us would like to visit the area. I have heard it is quite beautiful these days.”
     
    Ethan nodded enthusiastically “The estate is lovely but the gardens are exceptional. Julian told me your mother has the Midas touch with plants. Amazing really.”
     
    “Yes she does and she is enjoying her work there.”
     
    “Haven’t you been up to the big house ever since she started?”
     
    Molly shook her head and murmured sadly “I haven’t been invited.”
     
    Ethan leaned forward until his forehead almost touched Molly’s “Beg your pardon my dear?”
     
    When Molly didn’t immediately respond, Ethan decided to follow through on the impulse he felt since the moment they met. With a quick jerk, he pulled Molly into his embrace and kissed her firmly on the mouth.
     
    It was at this precise moment that Julian walked into the kitchen and stopped dead in his tracks. Molly sprang back with a guilty look, as her face flamed red at the fury in Julian’s eyes. If it wasn’t for the fact that her feet were holding her body, she might have fallen down from the sudden onslaught of weakness. Ethan looked at them both with a sheepish expression as he bid a hasty farewell. “We’ll catch up later dear. Take care.”
     
    The silence which followed his departure was so absolute that Molly could hear each distinct heartbeat. Julian’s eyes bore into hers with a flurry of emotions crossing his face. She watched his eyes narrow into points of steel as his lips flattened into a thin line of displeasure. “Well now, here I thought you were such a fine upstanding woman” he said with sarcasm dripping from each word “A fine woman of undisputable character and yet I find you are just like every other girl with her own agenda. What do you have to say for yourself?”
     
    Molly’s mouth was dry and her tongue clung to her palate. She couldn’t seem to string two thoughts together much less respond. Her inability to answer his question only served to inflame his anger.
     
    His howl of fury echoed within the room as he crashed his fist on the smooth surface of the nearby table.
     
     “Answer me, blast you.”
     
    Her lips trembled as Molly bowed her head. Each angry word felt as though it seared its way into her heart and exposed her feelings like an open wound. The desire to fall into his arms begging him to believe in her was strong, but her feet were rooted to the ground. She thought she could bear anything that life would throw at her, but the look of contempt etched across Julian’s face was overwhelming. Unable to respond, she said nothing as he stood there like an imposing fortress, unyielding in his criticism of her supposed faults.
     
    When Yolanda ran into the kitchen, tears of relief ran down Molly’s hot cheeks.
     
    “Hey there girlfriend, I have the perfect dress for that party we are…-” Coming to a complete standstill, Yolanda took in the scene with a quick glance and instantly came to Molly’s defense. “And just what are you doing here glaring at her like that, Mr. High and Mighty?”
     
    Julian blinked rapidly, as he