Passion, Victoria 9: Flowering Passions (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  Molly looked back at her store and wondered if it would be the last time she would see it. The fear lodged in her heart began to make her feel angry and she pushed that anger to the forefront of her emotions and was relieved when her tears stopped flowing.

  She had no idea why she was being arrested and figured it must be a mistake. When Tom got her back to the station, she was going to give him a piece of her mind. How dare he arrest her in broad daylight like some common criminal. She’d seen the people stop and stare at her as Tom led her out to his car. If his mistake affected her business, she was going to make sure he gave her a public apology, preferably in print in the local newspaper.

  Minutes later Tom pulled his car up in front of the police station and helped her out of the back. He led her up the two steps and into the office where the two other police officers and Beth’s other husbands, Noah and Zach, were working behind the counter.

  “What the hell are you doing, Tom?” Noah frowned at her and then locked gazes with Noah.

  “Go and get the flower arrangements out of the boot of my car. That will answer all your questions.” Tom pushed open the thigh-high gate near the end of the counter, led her down a small hallway and into a room set up like an office. He guided her to the chair in front of the large desk and then removed the handcuffs and sat down behind the desk. “Why’d you do it, Molly?”

  “Do what? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Zach and Noah entered the room with her floral arrangements and placed them on the floor.

  Noah’s face was cold and hard when he turned to face her and his voice sounded like ice. “You are in so much trouble, Molly Godfrey.”

  Chapter Four

  “Fuck.” Steven jumped from his seat after hanging up the phone and ran to the door of the office. He burst out the door and stood on the footpath staring at the back end of the police car carrying his woman away.

  Steve still couldn’t believe what he’d witnessed but he hadn’t been able to do anything since he was talking to a client. He’d barely been able to keep it together and finish his conversation. He hoped that none of his stress had been audible to the potential buyer he’d been talking to.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Giles asked as he stopped next to Steven and glanced down the street before turning to face him. “I had to apologize to my caller because they heard you swearing. Luckily I was able to think on my feet and told them that the door was open and a youth had cursed as they passed by the door.”

  “Molly was taken away in handcuffs.”

  “What?” Giles roared his question and then hurried back into the office. Steven didn’t bother to follow his brother because he would only have to follow him back out again. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Giles switch the phone system over to the answering machine and then he came out and locked the door behind him.

  Steve hurried to the truck and had the engine running before Giles had even gotten into the passenger side. He was backing out of the parking space before his brother closed the door and took off down the street. Minutes later he slammed his foot on the brake, cut the engine, and jumped from the cab. Giles footsteps echoed behind his.

  No one was at the counter and Steven wasn’t in the mood to hang around being polite. He barged through the thigh high swinging doors and went in search of Molly. He found her ensconced in the back office with the three lawmen.

  Steven hurried over to Molly and stood behind her to one side. Giles came and stood on her other side and when they both placed their hands on her shoulders she jumped. She looked back at him and then Giles and when he saw that she’d been crying he wanted to beat the shit out of his friends. He didn’t give a damn that they could arrest him for assault. But he kept it together for Molly’s sake. She already looked upset and didn’t want to add to her stress.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Steven scowled at all three men.

  “That’s what we’re trying to find out. Now you either keep your mouths shut and listen or you can leave right now.” Noah replied in taciturn voice.

  “Who is your supplier, Molly?” Tom asked.

  “I order all my flowers from the Bendigo Flower Wholesalers.”

  “Very funny,” Tom snapped. “If you don’t start cooperating we’re going to have to lock you up in a cell.”

  Steve glared at Tom but he kept his eyes on Molly. He still had no clue what was going on and by the puzzled frown marring Molly’s face, she didn’t either. Zach picked up one of the floral arrangements and started pulling it apart, it was only then that he noticed one of the plants she had used for greenery in the bunch of flowers. He glanced over at Giles and saw his brother’s face go pale and wondered if he looked just as worried as his brother.

  Zach picked up the greenery and held it up. The aloof expression which had been on Tom’s face, turned to a frown. “Tell me who your supplier is, Molly.”

  “I’ve already told you,” Molly replied in a strident voice. “What the hell is this all about? Why did you arrest me?”

  Steven knew in that instant that Molly had no idea how much trouble she was in and decided it was time for him to talk to her. He walked over and plucked the cannabis from Zach’s hand.

  “Molly did you order this plant through your supplier?”

  “No.” Molly gulped audibly and looked away.

  Giles squatted down in front of her and clasped one of her hands in his. “Where did you get it, precious?”

  “Um, I know I probably shouldn’t have, but Saturday afternoon I took a walk in the bush.” Molly shrugged her shoulders and glanced nervously at the three police officers and then over to him and back to Giles. “I saw a heap of these plants while I was out walking and thought they would be great to use as greenery in my arrangements. So I took some cuttings and used most of what I had in those arrangements and I planted two others into pots. I knew they would look good with the flowers and I was right.”

  Molly thrust her chin out as if daring any of them to tell her otherwise. Steve began to relax but he still needed to make sure that Molly wasn’t going to be arrested for her naivety.

  He palmed her cheek so she would look at him. “Do you know what this plant is called, precious?”

  Molly’s began to turn pink. “Um, no. I’ve never seen it before. I was going to try and look it up but I started to clean my apartment and did the washing and forgot about it.”

  “Shit!” Tom turned away from Molly and then turned back again. “God, Molly I’m so sorry for doubting you, but I’m sure under the circumstances, you’ll understand.”

  “What circumstances?” Molly frowned at Tom.

  “Molly…” Giles began but Noah interrupted him.

  “Molly, can you show us where you found these plants?”

  “Umm, yeah I think so. I’m a bit directionally challenged but I think I could take you there. Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?”

  “I want you to hand over all the cuttings you took from those plants. Okay?” Tom asked before Steven could begin to explain.

  “If they mean so much to you.” Molly shrugged and was still frowning.

  “Molly, have you ever seen cannabis before?”

  “God, no. Why would you even ask me such a thing?”

  When no one answered, Molly looked back at the cutting he was holding. The penny finally dropped and she gasped before covering her mouth with her hand.

  “Is that…Is that…” Molly pointed at the bit of greenery and Steven nodded. He dropped the cutting and gripped her waist when her face drained of blood and she started swaying in her seat. “Oh. My. God,” Molly whispered over and over again. She finally got herself under control and looked at the three policemen. “I picked marijuana?”

  “Yes, you did, and you’re going to show us where you found it.”

  Molly gulped but nodded her head. Noah, asked her which road she taken and how far she driven. Molly answered every question the three lawmen threw at her.

&n
bsp; “I just remembered something.”

  “What?” Zach asked.

  “Um just after I found and picked…” Molly pointed at the cannabis. “I was about to head back to my car. I heard men talking and when I realized how vulnerable I was out in the middle of nowhere all alone, I hid behind a tree.”

  Noah leaned forward from where he was perched on the front of the desk. “Did you see what they looked like? How old were they? What were they wearing?”

  Molly held up her hand to halt Noah’s barrage of questions. “No, I didn’t see them. I was too busy hiding and didn’t peek at them. But I heard them talking.”

  This time Tom looked tense. “What did they say?”

  “Um, one guy said, ‘do you think whoever is out here has found our stuff,’ or along those lines and the other said, ‘I doubt it. Probably some nature lover out for a walk.’”

  “Shit!” Steven’s heart began to pound in his chest. When he glanced at Giles, his brother looked just as worried. If those bastards had taken note of Molly’s registration number on her car, she could be in danger, especially now that that police were aware of the cannabis crop. Of course it would take time to set up a sting and stake out the area, but if word got out about Molly being hauled away by the police along with some of her flower arrangements, it wouldn’t be too hard to figure out why, especially if the arseholes growing the marijuana crop were locals.

  “I know what you’re thinking.” Noah sighed. “Don’t stress too much. We’ll have all the men on the lookout.”

  “I think it would be better if we waited until to tonight before Molly shows us where she found the crop. I don’t want anyone seeing her in the police cars as we drive out of town,” Tom said. “I’m sorry I doubted you, Molly, but I have to do my job.”

  “I understand. Don’t worry about it.” Molly smiled at Tom. “I’m just glad we could clean up this mess. I can’t believe how stupid I was. I’ve seen pictures of that drug on the TV but I’ve never seen it in real life before. It didn’t even enter my mind when I took those cuttings.”

  “I wouldn’t expect anything else from the women of Passion, Molly.” Noah smiled at her. “One of us will come by later and get the other cuttings you’ve got. You can go now. Do you want a lift back to your shop?”

  “We can give Molly a ride.” Steven helped her to her feet and led her toward the door.

  “Molly,” Tom called and Steven stopped when she did.

  “Yes?”

  “You’ll need your shop keys, honey.”

  “Oh, uh, thanks.”

  Tom lobbed the keys toward her but Steven didn’t want her hurting her hand if she missed them so he plucked them out of the air and then handed them to her.

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome, cutie. Let’s go.”

  Molly followed him and Giles out to their truck and after making sure she was buckled up, he got into the front passenger seat. He was still worried about her since she hadn’t spoken a word since they left the police station and hoped she still wasn’t upset over her misfortune.

  Giles parked the truck outside their office and then got out to help Molly down. He didn’t even bother heading back to the office or feeling guilty about not being there to answer the phones. Molly was more important to him than business so Steve hurried into her shop after her and his brother.

  “Are you okay, Molly?”

  She hurried behind her counter and then turned to face him and Giles.

  “Yes, I’m fine, but damned embarrassed.”

  Steven couldn’t stand to see the contriteness on her face or how she wouldn’t keep her eyes on his. He walked around the counter and cupped her face in his hands. “Don’t beat yourself up, cutie. It was an honest mistake.”

  “Yeah, one that nearly got me arrested.”

  Steve saw the tears forming in his eyes and didn’t know what to say to make her feel better so he decided actions would speak louder than words. He locked gazes with her and slowly lowered his head, giving her time to pull away or stop him with words, but she never did. She just kept right on staring at him. Her breathing escalated and when she licked her lips he couldn’t hold back anymore. He brushed his lips back and forth over hers and when her lips parted on a sigh, he deepened the kiss.

  He pushed his tongue into her mouth, slid it along hers, and groaned at how sweet she tasted. Her essence seemed to invade his body, wrapped around his dick and balls with a stranglehold. Steve tilted her head slightly to the side and plundered her mouth. The little whimpering sounds she made only managed to make him burn for more of her. He explored every sweet inch of her and pulled her tight into his body when she softened against him. When Molly began rubbing her body against his, he knew it was time to ease up. This was neither the time nor the place to start something he couldn’t finish.

  Steve smiled when he lifted his head, pleased by the dazed expression in her eyes and her red, kiss-swollen lips. He held her body against his until she came out of the sexual trance she seemed to be in.

  Molly stepped back, squeaked and startled when she bumped into Giles, having been unaware that his brother had moved up behind her while he had been kissing her. Giles didn’t waste any time. He snagged her around the waist and hauled her up against his frame, dipped his head and began kissing her.

  Steve hoped that his older brother wasn’t scaring Molly with his intensity but he knew just how Giles felt. The first touch of his lips to hers and he knew he would never be able to get enough. Molly Godfrey was a lovable, beautiful woman and as far as he was concerned, she was already theirs. Now all he and Giles had to do was convince Molly of that. Finally Giles let Molly up for air and she panted for breath while blinking in what looked like amazement.

  Steven decided that it was time to up the ante of wooing her and getting her into their lives. He and his brother had taken her out only the one time but they had taken it in turns visiting her during business hours. They’d brought her lunch and tried to have conversations with her, but since she was the owner of the new florist shop and had no employees, they had frequently been interrupted by customers.

  Now it was time to spend more time after business hours with Molly and get to know her more. She’d told them a lot, and even though she asked about their family, there never seemed to be time to answer her.

  All that was about to change and Steven wasn’t about to take no for an answer. At least he hoped not.

  “What…Why…”

  God she was adorable. Her face was flushed with desire. Her pupils were dilated with arousal and from the way she had crossed her arms over her chest she was trying to hide her body’s reaction from them. Steve let it go for now but in the future she wouldn’t be hiding anything from him or his brother.

  If Steven had his way, she would be stripped bare the next time he kissed her and they would touch that delectable little body all over.

  He already had some of Molly’s personality pegged. She was a very smart woman and had such a busy mind, she would often stare off into space and not hear him or Giles talking. If others didn’t take the time out to get to know her, she could come across as a little ditzy and a scatterbrain. That was far from the case, but there was still so much he wanted to learn about her and the only way to do that was away from their businesses.

  “Come to our place for dinner tonight,” Steve said.

  “Why?”

  He hated how she looked at him and Giles warily. They’d never done anything to put that look on her face before. At least he didn’t think so.

  Steven was tired of waiting. He and Giles needed to lay their cards on the table and tell her what they wanted from her.

  Hopefully she wouldn’t laugh in their faces.

  Chapter Five

  “Because we need to talk to you and we can’t do it here,” Steve replied.

  Molly’s heart still felt like it was beating at a hundred miles an hour. She couldn’t believe they had both kissed her and couldn’t help but still wonde
r if they were playing some sort of game with her. Even though her body was still doing a happy dance inside her achy breasts and throbbing pussy, and she was attracted to them more than she had ever been to any other man, she needed to be cautious.

  She wasn’t the sort of woman to jump in with both feet normally. Ever since she had met the Blaze brothers, she had been acting a little out of character and although it didn’t scare her to feel the way she did about them, she was going to make damn sure of what they wanted from her before making any decisions. The last thing she needed, wanted, was to give in to the attraction and end up heartbroken.

  “Please, precious?” Giles voice pulled her from her introspection and Molly hoped she hadn’t look dorky again as she stared off into space. Although this time her eyes had remained focused as she tried to think things through. It was a little hard to ignore such handsome, virile men. “We really want to talk to you and if we even start trying here, we’re likely to be interrupted.”

  Just as Giles finished speaking, a beep sounded. Molly turned toward the door and saw Beth walking toward her.

  “I rest my case,” Giles muttered.

  “We’ll pick you up at six thirty. See you later, Molly.” Steven didn’t give her time to respond. He and Giles hurried out from behind her counter and out the shop door. She should have been mad at them for using that tactic on her but she wasn’t. The more she was around Giles and Steven, the more she liked them. Molly already had feelings for them and knew if she spent more time with them that she was going to fall in love.

  They had both gone out of their way to make her feel welcome and every time they called her by those silly endearments her heart went all aflutter and she was filled with warmth. To her, being called cutie and precious made her feel special, as if she was their girlfriend and they had put a claim on her.

  Oh God. Is that what they’re doing? Are they trying to claim me? Yes! Please, yes?

  Molly kept forgetting that this town was full of polyandrous relationships and had been a little disconcerted at first. It wasn’t because she was sitting in judgment of others. It was because it was out of the norm and she had been worried about saying the wrong thing and insulting someone.