Hometown Love (12 page)

“It’s probably Jessie.” Mack reached the bottom of the stairs, anticipation like he hadn’t experienced in a long time running through him. “I’ll get the door. Why don’t you find the take-out menus in the kitchen?”

Grace nodded, causing her wet hair to fall forward before she skipped off to the kitchen, her dollhouse forgotten.

They’d spent the day in the yard cleaning an area for Grace’s new swing set. Or perhaps 
he’d
cleared an area while Grace played. Either way, they’d both needed showers when they’d come inside.

Opening the front door, he saw Jessie still seated in her car, her eyes locked on the garage door. Then her gaze swung toward him. For half a heartbeat she watched him and then her lips formed a tentative smile, and the memory of their kiss washed over him. When he’d come home the night before, kissing Jessie hadn’t been on his mind. Sure, he’d thought of her often during the week and had looked forward to seeing her, but kissing hadn’t occurred to him. Once he’d put Grace to bed and seen Jessie seated in the dancing firelight, the idea took root and there had been no stopping it.

After she’d left, he’d lain in bed thinking about her and the kiss. He’d even woken up thinking about it. Now, as he stood there looking at her, all he wanted was to kiss her again and see if it would affect him the same way it had the night before. Like he was a thirteen-year-old experiencing his first kiss again, only better.

Breaking eye contact, Jessie pushed open her car door and stood. He’d told her to come over right after work so he’d expected her to be in either jeans and a Quinn’s hardware golf shirt or perhaps one of those loose flowing dresses she sometimes wore. Today, though, she wore neither, and he had to keep his mouth from dropping open.

Unable to help himself he let his eyes rake across her body, starting at her face and working his way down. She’d left her hair down and it skimmed across her shoulders. Her dark red short-sleeve top clung to her body, its V-neck drawing his eyes to her cleavage where they remained for several seconds before traveling lower. While she wore jeans, they were nothing like the loose-fitting ones she wore in the store. Instead, these molded to her trim thighs. She even wore footwear he never would’ve guess she owned. Unlike the comfortable sneakers or sandals she wore most of the time, tonight she wore black boots that ended just below the knee.

“I hope this time is okay.” Jessie stopped on the top step. “If not, I can come back later.”

Mack forced his eyes to met hers and hoped surprise didn’t reflect on his face. “It’s perfect. I just finished my shower.”

Jessie held out the box in her hand. “I know you said not to bring anything, but I stopped at Peggy’s for some cupcakes.”

“Thanks. Come on in.” He accepted the box, his fingers brushing hers, and a jolt of awareness shot through him. And just from that simple touch he knew that when—not if because there was no doubt in his mind that he’d kiss her again—it would be just as incredible as last night.

The door closed behind Jessie, but neither of them moved. Not wanting Grace to walk in and see them kissing, he raised a hand and trailed a finger down Jessie’s cheek. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Jessie swallowed and gave him a small smile, this one not as tentative as before. “Me, too.”

He didn’t miss the hint of unease he heard. “Come on. Grace is in the kitchen digging out the menus. She wants Chinese again, but I’m more in the mood for pizza.” He took her by the hand. “There is also that Indian restaurant in Salem that delivers now.”

Without any hesitation, Jessie entwined her fingers with his, and it dawned on him that Jessie had come back into his life for a reason. Okay, maybe he couldn’t count tutoring her in high school and playing soccer with his sister as 
in his life
before, but that day she’d helped with Grace had crossed their paths and he wanted to see where things went.

In the end, they ordered pizza since they’d all eaten Chinese earlier in the week. Considering she hadn’t gotten her way, Grace didn’t complain at all even though Chinese was one of her favorites.

“You have to see the fairy village I made.” Grace removed a mushroom that had accidentally gotten on her pizza before lifting it from her plate. “I used the houses we painted, but it needs more. Come on. I’ll show you.” Grace began to slip from her chair, but Mack stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“After dinner.”

“I’ll be quick.”

Part of him wanted to say 
okay
, but he knew from past experiences that if Grace went out now, she’d never finish dinner. “Eat first. Then you can show Jessie anything you want.”

Grace scowled, a look that made him laugh. Rather than make her look angry, the expression only made her look cuter.

“I’m hungry anyway, Grace. I want to finish my pizza.” From across the table, Jessie threw him a glance as she spoke. “As soon as we’re both done, we’ll go outside.”

Her plans foiled by two adults, Grace reached for her pizza again. “Daddy promised he’d get more houses for me to paint after work this week.”

Why, he’d never know. He’d rather arrest members of a drug ring than walk into a craft store. The smell alone was overwhelming, not to mention, the crowded aisles and little old ladies with blue hair moving slower than snails. Maybe he could just build her some instead. How hard could it be? He’d once built a doghouse with his father. A fairy house just needed to be smaller.

“I can stop by the craft store and pick more up,” Jessie said.

Wondering if he’d somehow given away his feelings, Mack looked at Jessie.

“But if you’d rather have your dad pick them out I understand.” She smiled at him. Not a tentative smile like before, but one filled with humor that let him know she’d guessed his thoughts about the craft store.

“You know, Grace, it might be better if Jessie does it. She knows what a fairy house should look like.”

Grace finished her mouthful, unaware of the unspoken conversation going on. “Okay.” She reached for her milk. “But can you get some different kinds?”

“I’ll see what they have,” Jessie answered.

Saved from the dreaded trip into the craft store, Mack went back to eating his pizza as Grace filled Jessie in on all the items she’d added to her village. Every once in a while, Jessie would ask a question or make a suggestion, but for the most part, she listened while Grace rattled on. Once again, Mack noted how good she was with his daughter. He knew for a fact that if Bethany sat in Jessie’s seat, their dinner conversation would be much different.

Regardless of who else was in the room, Bethany liked to take center stage. He hadn’t noticed it that much when it had been only them, but once Grace began talking, he’d noticed it. Sure, Bethany spoke to Grace but she always tried to monopolize his attention.

Jessie, on the other hand, let Grace dominate the conversation. Not once last night or tonight had she tried to change the subject, even though he couldn’t imagine she found fairies interesting.

She’d also painted and baked with his daughter, two rather messy projects. He’d once baked a box mix of brownies with Grace so he knew what a fun but hazardous endeavor it could be. To the best of his knowledge, Bethany had never done either activity with Grace.

“I’m done. Are you, Jessie?” Grace held up her empty plate. Tonight, she’d finished everything, including the pizza crust.

Jessie’s soft laugh made him smile. “I think so. I want to save room for a cupcake. But maybe we should help your dad clean up first.”

“All set. You two can go out and then we can decide on a movie.” He still had a slice of pizza to finish.

Grace leapt from her chair. “Come on, Jessie. Let’s go.”

Through the French doors, he watched Grace take Jessie by the hand and lead her over to what he guessed had once been a garden and listened as she described how the various sticks around the houses were a fence and the rocks she’d placed inside them were benches. She’d used a bunch of leaves to create a pond and pinecones acted as trees. When she’d showed him, he’d been impressed with her imagination. Judging by the comments he heard Jessie making now, she was impressed as well.

“Maybe you can use one of the new houses I buy as the village school,” Jessie said once Grace finished pointing everything out. “Fairies need a school.”

“Or maybe a library,” Grace said with enthusiasm.

“They need that, too.” Jessie stood. “Ready to go back inside?”

Grace stood, too. “Just one more thing.” She took Jessie’s hand and walked her toward the area he’d cleared for her new swing set.

He could no longer hear every word she said, but once Grace had given Jessie the whole scoop, they returned to the house, where he still sat with half a slice of pizza. He’d been so enthralled watching the two of them that he’d stopped eating.

“Grace created quite the village out there.” Jessie stood behind his daughter her hands on her shoulders. “I’m impressed. She’s got a great imagination.”

Like it would for any father, pride filled him at Jessie’s words. “That she does.” Done with his food, Mack stacked the dirty plates. “I’ll take care of this. Why don’t you two go pick out a movie?”

After putting the dishes in the dishwasher, Mack switched off the kitchen lights and joined Grace and Jessie in the living room. They had already picked a movie, and the opening scene was frozen on the television screen.

“Good. You found a movie.” Mack sat and put his arm around his daughter and pulled her close. They were both in their normal spots on the couch, Mack at the end, near the table, and Grace right up against his side.

“Jessie needs to sit over here.” Grace looked at him when she spoke. “You can’t see the TV from over there.”

Jessie sat in the chair near the windows.

“If you want her to move ask her, Grace.” The chair was fine for watching television. He’d sat there several times and watched the news.

“You’ll miss all the good scenes if you don’t sit on the couch, Jessie.”

Jessie smiled at him. “I don’t want that to happen, so I guess I better move.” She stood and crossed the room.

Now, the three of them sat together in what would be a perfect pose for a family photo. And while that might make another man uncomfortable, it filled him with a sense of contentment he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Not only did he have his daughter, whom he loved more than life itself, but he had someone he enjoyed spending time with and who accepted Grace.

Since his divorce, he’d done some dating, but none had led to anything more than dinner and occasional sex. While some of the women he’d gone out with might have been interested in more, the moment he mentioned Grace, they backed off. As a result, he’d decided not to look for anything serious until Grace was older. That was why the last few times he’d gone out, he’d done so because he just wanted a night out with someone other than his daughter or his buddies, not because he hoped they’d be the right one.

Now, though, he reconsidered his decision. Being with Jessie felt right. No, the word 
right
didn’t describe it, but it was the only word he could find. Not only did he enjoy her company, but he found himself physically attracted to her in a way he’d not experienced before. While he didn’t know how to explain it, he knew it was true.

Even now, as they sat there, he thought about their previous kiss and the ones he intended to share with her later. He couldn’t remember any other time as an adult he’d been so consumed by thoughts of kissing. If all those reasons weren’t enough to make him reconsider his earlier decision, her treatment of Grace added even more. In the short time since his return, she’d showed Grace nothing but affection. Judging by how Grace had reacted the night of the block party, Jessie had also shown her attention in the past.

“So what do you think? Will she marry the awful prince?” Jessie asked and Mack once again looked in her direction, something he’d done a lot that night.

“Nope. She’s gonna marry Wesley.” Grace reached for another handful of popcorn.

“I still don’t believe you’ve never seen this movie,” Mack said. While he’d seen 
The Princess Bride
years ago and knew how it ended, neither his daughter nor Jessie ever had.

“I don’t even remember it being in the theaters.” She turned her attention back to Grace. “How’s she going to marry Wesley? He’s locked up in that dungeon.”

“The prince is a bad guy. They always lose. You’ll see.”

Mack wished his daughter’s statement was true, but he didn’t correct her. She’d learn the truth soon enough.

Jessie looked at him over Grace’s head. “She sounds rather confident. Do you think she’s right?”

“You’re just going to have to watch and find out.”

***

Jessie stayed on the couch while Mack tucked Grace into bed. Unlike the last time she’d visited, Grace had given her dad a bit of a hard time. Although past her bedtime, she’d insisted that she wasn’t tired and wanted another movie. Jessie had all but laughed when Grace told her father that. As it was, the girl had almost not made it all the way through the movie. More than once, she caught Grace’s eyes starting to droop.

In the end, Mack carried Grace upstairs, and as Jessie waited for his return, her thoughts turned to the night ahead. Although he hadn’t said anything, she’d caught the once-over he’d given her when she’d arrived. And while some women found it rude or insulting, it had boosted her confidence. Men in town—at least to the best of her knowledge—didn’t view her as a potential girlfriend. Rather, they saw her as plan old reliable Jessica Quinn, the manager of the hardware store. The person they looked to when they couldn’t find the saw they wanted or when they needed to special-order a new bathroom sink.