Chapter 5

Molly walked to the train station feeling like the luckiest girl in the world, walking to meet the man who had changed her outlook on life completely and who she was madly in love with. The sun was high in the sky even though it was pretty early, and the smell of beautiful summer flowers including lavender and lily of the valley as she walked past the perfectly tended gardens with their luscious bright green lawns and white wooden garden fences. Since moving to the more rural area of Harpenden and now having a small garden, she had a little more knowledge of flowers than she had growing up in the family flat in London where Dave and Belinda never even had so much as a vase of them on show. She had a white and purple summer dress on with white flat shoes and her hair was down and floated gently in the slight breeze around her face and shoulders.

Thinking as she walked how only a few months ago, Molly wasn't interested in dating or thinking she even wanted a boyfriend. However, she didn't want to have a tainted view on men based on the only so called relationship she'd had which was a bad one. She still believed in marriage, even though her parents one wasn't the best example, and hoped that one day maybe in 10 years or so, she may, in her daily life find someone who she would adore completely and he would be so head over heels in love with her too but this is real life and not some fairy tale. Meeting Charles James had changed all that.

Since their first date at the coffee shop a couple of months ago, they had enjoyed cinema dates, meeting at lunchtimes when Charles had organised his workload to have a long lunch and Molly was out with Emily, or going for walks in the fields by Molly's house and 'posh' meals in the city in restaurants that Molly wouldn't normally go to but with Charles by her side she felt invincible as if she had a constant warm glow of love surrounding her. Listening to herself, she would probably call herself 'a soppy prannet' but she couldn't deny how she felt.

Joanna was always very eager to hear the latest on the "hot new couple" and then David would tell Molly to "bring him round so we can have a look at him," however she would remind him that he was really more interested in what cars Charles would be developing next. She would without a doubt introduce Charles to Joanna and David soon as she felt they would get on very well. All three were very open, friendly people, in their thirties, young executives, even though someone's job didn't determine anything but she just had a good feeling whenever the meeting would occur that things would go well. Charles meeting her parents would be something that would happen way down the line. Molly didn't want anything to go wrong there as her Dad could be aloof or offhand with his comments about people to their faces that he didn't know very well and she knew that would wind her up rotten where Charles was concerned.

Molly walked through the ticket turnstile pushing and collecting her ticket out of each side. Her heart jumped as it did every morning seeing the man who she had pinned so many hopes and dreams on. Charles turned around and a large grin spread across his face. They walked towards each other while Molly thought her heart would jump out of her chest.

"Hey you." Charles wrapped his left arm around her waist whilst he lifted his right hand to her cheek and stroked her bottom lip tenderly with his thumb as he lowered his head to kiss her lightly.

"Hey yourself" Molly replied quietly, feeling bereft after Charles moved his warm lips away.

They turned and walked towards the plastic seats on the station platform with Charles' arm still around her waist. Where they sat, the sun shone down onto their faces adding an extra warmth to the already hot morning. Most days they would meet each other to get the train together depending if Charles had any early morning meetings to go to which meant he would have to get an earlier train.

Molly leant her head onto Charles shoulder and closed her eyes with a smile still spread across her face. He looked down at her and his heart leapt in his chest that she looked so contented.

"Happy?"

"Mm, very. You're a lovely travel pillow though, has anyone ever told you that?" Charles sniffed out a laugh. "This sun's a bit hot. But weirdly, I was cold in bed last night."

"Well that's probably because I wasn't in it with you."

Molly lifted her head and playfully hit his arm laughing. "Steady on, mate. You've gotta be invited first". They hadn't slept together yet. The furthest they had gone was kissing and cuddling on Molly's sofa but Charles hadn't wanted to push anything and only wanted to wait until Molly was ready to take it to the next level. It was difficult though as he was extremely attracted to her especially when she looked at beautiful as she did this morning.

Molly felt the same in that she was so attracted to Charles it felt like an ache in her stomach sometimes but she didn't want to come on too strong and maybe spoil things. She knew Charles would be ready whenever she was however until the moment took them, they enjoyed a flirty banter which she knew they both loved.

"Oh by the way, I bought you these." Charles picked up a tea in a plastic cup and a slice of chocolate fudge cake in a plastic container that he'd bought from a coffee and bagel van that was stood outside the station most mornings, earning a healthy trade from commuters.

"Oh thanks I could murder a drink as well. You read my mind." She instantly took the lid off and blew on the drink as it was still quite hot. "And a cake? I'll have to hide it away from the kids otherwise they'll have all of it. Thanks Charles".

"Well, I saw it and thought of our coffee date. In fact I think quite a lot of all our dates we've had." Charles dipped his head so both of their foreheads were touching. They sat for a few minutes in companionable silence. Molly lifted her hand and stroked his cheek while she looked at him through upturned eyes. She started thinking about the difference in Charles from the man that she first met who was all torn up inside, seeing the loneliness and hurt in his eyes compared to the man now who was openly affectionate and loving to her in private or in public.

"Anyway, where's your drink?"

"Someone was a bit late so already drank mine. Can't wait forever, you know. I'm a busy businessman." Molly smiled at Charles ribbing as their train came into the station. She dropped her cup into the plastic bin next to them as they both stood and waited for it to come to a standstill with Charles holding Molly's hand.

As they boarded the train, they realised it was very busy. Charles pre-paid seat was empty but most times he preferred to stand with Molly. He would usually offer Molly his seat but she said she didn't want to sit opposite some stinky weird bloke when she could stand opposite a gorgeous one. Charles would often smirk at the comment and hold Molly closer to him thanking his lucky stars. Today, Charles had to stand with one arm above Molly holding onto the handrail while she held her arm around his waist grounding her against any sudden movements from the train. She could smell his lovely aftershave that he used while looking into those deep chocolate brown eyes. He was looking more tanned these days with his walking home from the train station in this warm weather which meant very tanned forearms, neck and face. She wondered exactly where his tan would stop and how white were his white bits. Careful Molly, get a grip. It's too early in the morning to be thinking like this. But she couldn't help it when she was around him.

"So what you got on at work today, then? You and a few blokes sitting round a table working out who can draw the biggest car?" Molly laughed to herself trying to push her dirty thoughts to the back of her mind. Sometimes she enjoyed joking with Charles about his job, as she imagined an older version of Matthew or a bunch of David's who were all big kids at heart, but really she found what she knew about his job a huge turn on. Imagining Charles in an immaculate suit, his Rolex watch gleaming in the reflection from the midday sun, brown hair in styled waves that you could sink your hands into, projecting his ideas in a huge meeting room high up in the tall building she knew that he worked in with glass walls on two sides, telling people what size of engine to put in a car, how big to make certain parts and using lots of sexy words like faster, stronger, horse power, leather seats and full throttle!

Charles smirked at Molly's earlier joke. "Well, I've got a couple of meetings this morning with suppliers for a new model we're unveiling next month and this afternoon, some conference calls with head office in Germany."

"Suppliers, you say?" Molly had mischief written all over her face and Charles was more than happy to indulge her. "So er, what exactly do they supply you with then? Anything exciting?"

"Well we're looking at interiors today so maybe leather seats and wood panelling?" Is that exciting enough for you?" Charles bit his bottom lip and Molly noticed his eyes darkening.

"It's okay for starters. Is the wood shiny and smooth when you get it? Molly asked quietly.

"Not always, sometimes we have to make it shiny and smooth."

"Sometimes you have to?"

"We do." The sexual tension definitely building between the two within the confines of the packed commuter train.

"Would you show me how you do that?" Molly was holding tighter around his waist and could hear Charles' breath catching in his throat.

"Oo, I'd be giving away all my company secrets there, Dawes? You'd have to pass a development test first for me to tell you and let me tell you it's very very hard." he whispered in Molly's ear. She could feel her heart beat racing and her body temperature rising considerably.

"Is it now?" She felt like she could barely stand and was dying to feel how hard he was

"It is".

They were rudely interrupted from their game of verbal foreplay by the voice over the loud speaker announcing they would be arriving at King's Cross in 5 minutes.

Charles cleared his throat and gave a sexy smile and looked down coyly at his briefcase before looking back up into Molly's beautiful brown eyes.

"I was wondering if I could pick you up tonight from your work in one of my favourite cars that's just been put on sale in the UK. I think it's in your favourite colour too? We could go out for tea and I could drop you back off at home?"

Molly thought it would be a great opportunity for Joanna, David and Matthew to meet Charles. When Emily met Charles on a lunchtime, she was very shy at first but was soon smiling after he bent down to her eye level and offered his hand for her to shake and loved the toy car that he had brought down from his office for her to play with. Molly noticed his easy way with children which pleased her. "Sounds good. I've got to admit I like watching you drive and if it's a colour I like then even better."

"Perfect. I'll pick you up at 7:30?"

"Is he here yet? I can't see. Emily's keeps pushing me out the way." Matthew complained as both him and Emily sat on their knees leaning against the back of the settee looking out of the huge living room bay window.

"Molly said 7:30 and I'm sure he won't be long. Besides it's bedtime soon and I only let you stay up to say hello and then you're going up to bed so don't moan." Joanna stood looking outside too, her arms resting on Matthew's shoulders.

"Is he here yet? I can't wait to have a test drive of whatever he's got. I bet it's gonna be the new CR30 model. Amazing that one is. Saw a picture the other day in a magazine. Do you know it goes 0-30 in like 6 seconds or something?" David stating coming into the living room and eating the remains of his tea off his fork. He stood, resting his arm on Joanna's shoulder peering outside too.

"I hope you lot aren't going to embarrass me? Look at you, you'd think you'd never met someone before." Molly stood up after putting her shoes on and adding a dash of red lipstick and some mascara in the huge mirror sat on the living room wall.

"I think it's more the car that he's interested in I'm afraid, Molls. Anyway, you, you've had your fair share of cars and motorbikes, so I don't know why you're so excited?" Joanna looked at Dave and patted his stomach as she walked away.

"That's not the point. What he's driving will be immense. It's bound to be a motorsport one. Brand spanking new." David said pointing his fork at the window.

"I'll go in the passenger seat Dad." Matthew interjected looking at his Dad excitedly.

"Sure thing son. We will look the nuts as our Molly would say. Hope Trevor up the road will be watching. It'll put hi to shame that he's always going on about" David high-fived his son laughing.

"Sorry to burst your bubble Jeremy Clarkson over here but it's a quick hello, nice to meet you and then we're off. I'm gonna be the only one in the passenger seat tonight." Molly couldn't help feeling excited at what tonight was going to hold. She loved the butterfly feeling in her stomach she would get from the anticipation of seeing him.

"He's here. He's here. I'll get the door!" Matthew ran out the living room and into the hall nearly slipping on the shiny laminate flooring.

Molly looked out and took a deep breath as she could see the roof and front bumper of a purple car. She couldn't see any more as there a large hedge at the bottom of the garden. She heard the deep rumble of the car's engine as it was turned off.

"No Matthew let Molly get it, it's only polite." Joanna stated. David came walking up behind her holding Emily's hand. Looking at the four of them, standing practically as if they would jump on Charles as soon as he walked through the door. She thought they could be so daft sometimes but it made her laugh.

The reflection of Charles came through the frosted glass of the front door and Molly opened the door before he could get to the doorbell. "Hi you." Molly beamed as soon as she saw Charles standing there. She stepped out and hugged him at the same time as he said "Hi yourself" and held her face in his hands and kissed her lips gently.

"Sorry I'm a couple of minutes late, I had problems driving over the speed bumps and the car is a bit low to the ground. It's not exactly mine and don't want to wreck it." Charles looked apologetically.

"You're right on time. Let me introduce you to these people who to be honest forgot you were coming and I had to remind them." Molly joked and held Charles hand as she guided him into the hallway. She noted what Charles was wearing as she did so. A Ralph Lauren light blue polo shirt, blue jeans and Converse trainers. He looked good for any occasion, she thought.

"Charles, this is David, Joanna and Matthew. Emily you know"

"Pleased to meet you, Charles, Heard a lot about you" David and Charles shook hands.

"Nice to meet you at last Charles. Molly doesn't stop talking about you. Come in." Joanna said standing aside.

"Hi, lovely to meet you all too." Charles then shook Joanna's hand and looked down at Matthew who was standing slightly behind his Mum's back. "And I guess you must be Matthew. I've heard a lot about you and a little bird told me that you could be a racing car driver for the future?" Matthew looked up and shook Charles hand seeming more confident. "In the next few years definitely".

"Yeah whatever mate". David laughed shaking up Matthews hair. "Do you want a cuppa or I've got some homemade ginger ale-beautiful stuff. Made in my own garden shed."

"Erm I.." Charles looked at Molly, not knowing whether she wanted them to leave straight away.

"Well, I wouldn't mind some tea to be honest, I'm starving but I think there's something these boys want to see first though." Molly said beckoning with her head outside. "If that's okay Charles?"

"Course it is. Would you like to open the door, Matthew?" Charles looked and passed the huge fob to the young boy nodding excitedly, who looked like all his birthdays had come at once.

Outside was a deep purple supercar with two huge side car doors that opened upwards. It looked very low to the ground, Molly thought. She couldn't take her eyes off the sparkling white alloys. The car looked immaculate but as she didn't have a lot of car knowledge, there wasn't more she could notice until she got inside but as David and Matthew were looking over every inch of the car, there was more she could see anyway.

"He seems really nice Molly. I mean it. I've got a good feeling about him and to be honest, he is pretty stunning to look at too." Joanna said, nudging Molly gently.

"Thanks. I know. To be honest, it doesn't feel real sometimes. I wasn't really looking for anyone and then, I dunno, I meet him. I just don't want anything to jinx it I think is what I'm trying to say." Molly laughed at herself.

"It won't Molly. Believe in yourself. Look at you, you're stunning too. You deserve to be happy and he does too from what you told me. Now get yourself away before these two end up running off in it." Joanna laughed. "See you tomorrow Molly and tell me all about it".

Molly kissed Joanna on the cheek "See you tomorrow" and walked towards Charles. He had the bonnet open showing David the engine and talking about other intricacies while Matthew sat in the passenger seat.

"Come on then out you come. School in the morning. I've got plans."

"See you Charles. Will you come back soon and we can go for a drive round the block?" Matthew asked, getting out of the car slowly.

"Of course. No problems. Both you and your Dad if you'd like?"

"If we'd like?. Is the Pope a Catholic? Course we would. That is a beautiful machine, Charles. You've got a very lucky job, mate." He and Charles shook hands again. "See you Molls."

"Thanks Dave. See you soon." Charles waved and smiled at him.

"Night Dave." Molly replied.

Charles took her hand and helped her into the passenger seat. Well, I think it's a seat, she thought. It had holes with stainless steel edging everywhere and sports writing around it. The leather was lovely and cool on this warm evening as Charles closed her door and hopped round to his side.

"This is well nice. I can't believe it's in my favourite colour too. I hope we're not going to a chippy cos I would hate to get tomato sauce stuck down these seats." Molly smiled, rubbing her hand along the dark metal centre console. The dashboard was all dials and shiny metal hinges and red and black buttons. The smell was lovely, like a brand new car smell mixed with new leather.

"I go above and beyond for you Molly. I remember it was purple you loved but I'm bloody glad it wasn't pink. I would hate to get a reputation." Charles laughed. "Anyway I'm a man with a plan when it comes to what we're doing this evening". Charles looked across at Molly and winked. He reached across and stroked her hand. "You look absolutely beautiful."

He started the engine and the car let out a loud roar as Charles pressed the accelerator a few tries for the amusement of David and Matthew still standing outside watching. They drove away while Molly took a minute to admire the view of Charles. He looked stunning in the evening sun, the brown colour of his eyes dancing with the slight vibration of the car's engine, his hair was curly at the sides, his height so attractive even sitting down. This car suited him. She thought to herself Joanna was right, she needed to believe in herself more and believe this was actually happening to her. She deserved to be this happy.

A/N:Hi, I could go on with this chapter but thought I would stop it there as I could have gone on. Hope you're enjoying the ride as much as Molly when it comes to the story. I'm allowing more of Molly's naughty thoughts to come through when it comes to CJ but let's face it, who's wouldn't?

I should point out I don't own anything when it comes to names, cars, characters etc, trying to keep it as nameless as possible.A huge thank you to everyone who sent me lovely comments in the last chapter. It's a huge support.