A Christmas Affair: A Seaside Cove Romance (Seaside Cove Romance Series Book 1) by Cora Davies

woman."
    Jeremy sat up and put his hand on the back of Molly's, stroking her skin gently. "She loves you Mols, and I didn't want her to think I fucked up by letting you go. Just pretend with me, just until after the family Christmas dinner. Then we’ll break up."
    Molly stared blankly at Jeremy. Jeremy was pulling on her heartstrings. She loved his mom as though she were her own mother, and did not want to cause her any unnecessary stress while she was sick. But when she looked at Jeremy, all she could see was the fear she had felt the other day when he attacked her in the shop. His big family Christmas dinner was just two weeks away, she could pretend for a few weeks, couldn't she? For Lucinda.
    "Please, knowing we broke up would break her heart. Just pretend in public." Jeremy smiled his sad smile that created that dimple in his cheek. Oh lord, how she had loved that smile. That was one of the reasons she fell for him years ago. Luckily, his black eye and cut bottom lip detracted from that smile and reminded her of the stark reality.
    "I don't know Jeremy; it seems so deceiving." Molly pushed back the tears. Jeremy's mom was a sweet woman, overworked, over stressed by her boys and all the trouble they constantly got into. "If there is anything else I can do for her?"
    "You could not break up with her little boy," Jeremy said wrapping his fingers around her hand. Molly let him hold on, just for a moment. "Just till after the dinner. Then I go back to the city, and we never have to see each other again. She doesn't have much time left."
    Molly looked out the window at the falling snow and pulled her thoughts together. "You were right the other day; I haven't made the effort either this year. I should have tried to come to the city to see you," Molly said feeling guilty about the realization. Part of the reason their relationship failed was her unwillingness to leave Seaside Cove.
    "Very big of you to say that Mols." Jeremy took her hand to his mouth to kiss it and she pulled it back. Nothing like that could happen if they were just pretending. He shrugged his shoulders.
    "But you still terrified me the other day Jer. I've never seen you like that," she said her voice cracking. He had shown a violence towards her she did not know he was capable of. "I can't be with someone who treats me like that. Even if we pretend just for your family, you can't touch me again. Not like that. I think you need to talk to someone."
    "I know Mols, I'm so sorry. I've been so stressed at work. I was just so excited to see you, I could barely contain myself." He winked at her, but she stared at him. She did not buy it. "I'll let my parents know after the holidays, just pretend until after the Christmas dinner. For my mom."
    "For your mom." Molly nodded.
    Molly pulled herself back into the present. She knew Jack was probably waiting to hear from her about breaking up with Jeremy. Rumors spread so fast in this town, the fact that there was not one about her and Jeremy breaking up was probably why she had not heard from Jack. Her stomach was in knots hoping he would show up today at the Workshop.
    "Rachel." Molly walked over to the front desk. "I'm going upstairs to change into the Mrs. Claus dress."
    "Oh, did they dry clean it?" Rachel asked, eyebrows raised hopefully for her friend.
    "Better, they bought me a new one," Molly said feeling relief at that small favor.
    "Oh cool! Does it look like the old one?"
    "Probably, Doug just dropped it off last night and I haven't had a chance to look at it yet. It can't be any worse though can it?" Molly laughed.
    Once upstairs, Molly tossed the package on her bed, and quickly pulled off her sweater and jeans. She turned and looked at herself in the mirror. She poked out her little pooch that appeared during Christmas season, shortly after all the chocolates and candies started showing up from her crafters. At least it would be camouflaged in the big Mrs. Claus dress.
    She lifted the lid off the costume's box,