Taming Molly: Heroes of Henderson ~ Book 2.5 A DuVal Cousins Quickie Read Online Free

her out of her little truck. She’d anticipated parking in one of the many fields surrounding Hale Evans’ mansion. Apparently that wouldn’t do for Mr. Evans’ guests because everywhere she looked there were smartly dressed young men providing valet parking from the front door of the Evans’ estate, or readying golf carts to drive guests to the site of the outdoor wedding.
    She asked for a moment, slipping off her worn out flip-flops and donning her emerald green heels. Then she grabbed up the pretty tulle overskirt she hadn’t wanted to wrinkle on the long drive from Raleigh. She wrapped it around her waist, fastening the satin emerald bow over her belly button. It was what turned the sexy, little body-hugging green dress into a lovely confection even old Evie Jackson would approve of. Between her poofy tulle skirt, her high heels, and the French twist she’d pulled her blonde hair into, her ladylike appearance could not be faulted.
    Just like she’d planned.
    The last thing she grabbed, in addition to her matching clutch purse, was the wedding gift she’d made especially for Aunt Genevra and her new husband. It was an original “Molly DuVal Piece,” which was starting to mean something in North Carolina, and there was only one like it. She knew her aunt loved to cook, so she hoped what was lying inside the large, beautifully wrapped, pizza box would suit her.
    “Need help with that?” her sister Lucy said, snatching the box out of her hands. One look at her youngest sister made Molly want to melt with joy. They hugged around the box as best they could and were soon pounced on by Lilly, their middle sister, and Jacey and Vivi, their cousins.
    “We are so happy you came,” one of them exclaimed, getting in on the hug. The five of them huddled together, jumping up and down with excitement over the wedding, over Molly being there for it, and over just being back together.
    “I’m sure Lolly is with Aunt Gen, but where are Linley and Tinley?”
    “Savin’ us seats, of course,” Lucy said. “Let’s squeeze into one of these golf carts and head up.” Lucy handed over Molly’s gift to one of the staff who stood at the front door for that very purpose, and then all five of them started to crowd onto a golf cart meant for three and a driver.
    “Wait,” Molly said, balking. “Y’all go ahead. Lucy and I will take the next cart.”
    “But why?” Lucy complained. “We can all fit. Here, just sit on my lap.”
    Molly bit her lip, torn. There wasn’t anything she’d rather do than climb on board with her sisters and her cousins. But she knew it didn’t fit with her plans for the day. She couldn’t be seen arriving in a passel of silly girls, laughing too loud and having too much fun before the wedding even commenced. No, she had to look the part of the reformed party girl. Project the image that the eldest DuVal cousin had finally grown up and had her head on straight. There would be no sitting on laps today. Prim and proper were the keywords for this event.
    “Y’all go on. We’ll be right behind you,” Molly said, grabbing up Lucy’s hand and dragging her to the next golf cart. She and Lucy arranged themselves in the back, and at Lucy’s expectant look, Molly confessed everything.
    “I’m lonely, and I want to come home.”
    “Thank God,” Lucy breathed.
    “In order to do that, I have to show Daddy I’m over the running-around-with-boys thing. Today I want him and everybody else to see that I have matured and will no longer be fodder for the Henderson gossips.”
    Lucy looked a little stupefied. “Well, that just sounds boring. I think I speak for the entire family and the rest of your friends too when I say we don’t want any dumbed-down version of Molly DuVal back. We want the real thing. Good Lord, this town is dying enough already. Please don’t change your spots to try to fit in. Just be yourself and breathe some life back into this place. Besides, Tinley is causing more trouble