Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Molly blinked in disbelief, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "So the only reason you married me was to sleep with me?" "Yep."

Usually thick-skinned, Molly found herself outmatched by Chad, of all people. How did he manage to outdo her in audacity?

"Oh, please! Dream on, buddy," Molly retorted, her cheeks flushing a telltale crimson. Lately, she didn't know what was up with her. Every time she faced Chad, her verbal sparring took a nosedive, as if she'd met her match. After their spat, Molly, unashamed, asked, "So, Chad, when do you get off work?"

"Why?"

"Well, it's almost Christmas, and I haven't gotten a new dress yet," she hinted.

Chad flushed with embarrassment. "Didn't you just...?"

Catching the disapproving glare from Molly's sparkling eyes, he quickly corrected himself. "I'm off at six, just wait for me on the couch."

Just the other day, Molly had splurged on new clothes, and here she was, craving a Christmas outfit already.

The enigma of a woman's desire to shop was something Chad still found baffling.

Come afternoon, Chad took Molly's hand as they left the station.

Behind them, Donnie started his teasing, "There she goes, there she goes, off with the captain's credit card."

Old Cody chuckled. "Donnie, give up the badge, man. The local comedy club is hiring. You've got talent; maybe it's time for a career switch."

Donnie packed up his desk, ready to call it a day, and joked, "If I switch, my old man would kill me."

Chad thought Molly would go for another dress or the latest designer bag, but at the mall, she dragged him straight to the men's section.

He looked at her in surprise. "Who's this for?"

"For the dog."

Molly's waist got another playful slap from Chad as he teased, "Say that again!"

muttered, "For

his affection

though he was the one footing the bill, he was charmed by her

she watched him try on clothes, giving

eye, a nearby salesperson complimented them. "Are you siblings? You two are so

"bro," she naturally assumed they were brother and sister.

"Oh, fiancés! Congratulations!"

impression of the store

to announce his upcoming marriage to

aren't you siblings?" everyone gasped in

We were like siblings before, but

clue that in the time it took to try on a few

shopping, Molly persuaded Chad to take her

clothes,

still over the

excitement about getting married. Puzzled, she asked her friend Mia, "Do you think I'm taking this marriage too lightly? I have zero reaction, almost like it isn't even happening to me. How did you feel before you got married?" Mia replied, "You're asking me? Before I got married, I dragged you out to rant about Andre being too old not to settle down, ending up with his dad taking a shine to me... We bashed the Cedillo

She had indeed joined her

it be that

marrying into it feels like going back home. Maybe the wedding's just a formality to you?" The thought of questioning her affection for Chad now, right before

call off the engagement, Chad would

sat cross-legged on her

came at her door, followed by the sounds of

word, Mia opened the door to find her husband with their bundle-of-joy son in his

little guy, and his

the night deepened, the baby became fussier, only quieting down with his mother

a mama's boy,

at midnight to find only his mother and no father, the little

couldn't fathom why her son had suddenly become

a fresh layer of

signs were up, the snow