Hometown Love (16 page)

With a sigh, she pushed away the DVD case. “No, of course not. I love you, too, although you did surprise me.”

The answer should fill him with relief. Instead, the worries jumping around inside him grew. What wasn’t she telling him? “You’ve been quiet all night. Something is bothering you. What is it?” He took her hand, her slim delicate fingers disappearing under his. He counted as the seconds ticked by and she remained silent, her eyes downcast.

“I’ve been thinking about the other night.” She looked up as she spoke.

Confused, he ran through the last few times they’d been together for anything unusual.

“The night I made you stop.” She clarified for him.

Oh, that night.
He remembered that night as well as the cold shower he’d taken when she’d left—and several times since.

“I told you I wasn’t ready. That was the truth, just not all of it.” Jessie bit down on her lip and looked away.

When she met his eyes again, he saw some unreadable emotion lurking there.

“Jessie, whatever the problem you can tell me.” Was she a virgin and embarrassed to tell him? While a little odd, it wasn’t anything to be embarrassed about.

“I’ve never dated a lot. Before you, the last date I went on was in college. I met Jeremy in an accounting class. The professor paired us up with two other students for a project. When we finished it, he asked me out. We were together for six years.”

“I don’t care how many men you have or haven’t dated.” Her unease didn’t mesh with the news she shared.

“My relationship wasn’t normal. Or perhaps
healthy
is a better word.” Jessie picked at her fingernail. “At first, it was great. He was sweet. He brought me flowers and we went out all the time. After college, we got an apartment together. Slowly, though, he changed. He got possessive. I couldn’t go anywhere without checking with him first. We only did things he liked. The change was subtle. In the beginning, I didn’t even notice. Soon, he controlled every aspect of my life. Who I talked to, how I dressed, when I visited my family.” Jessie paused for a breath. “He had complete control over our intimate relationship, too. When he wanted sex, we had sex. The one time I said no, he hit me.”

Anger flared inside him. No one should have to put up with what Jessie described. “You left him after that?”

She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “No. He apologized and promised it would never happen again.”

He’d heard that story way too many times. “What happened after that?”

“Things went back to normal—or normal for us. Slowly, he got more verbally abusive. Then, the day of our third anniversary, he hit me again. He’d been drinking and I let him use that as an excuse. I loved him and thought he loved me. I wanted to work things out. But things got worse. He started to hit me even when he wasn’t drunk.”

“You can never work things out with an animal like that.” He squeezed her hand. “When did you end things?”

“About three years later. We got into a huge argument over what we wanted to do in Virginia Beach. He hit me so hard he knocked me out. When I fell, I landed on the wine glasses we’d left on a coffee table.” She pulled up the hem of her shirt. “That’s how I got this.” She pointed to the scar he’d noticed before.

The fury already building inside him almost choked him now as he looked at that scar. “What happened next?” he asked, his teeth clenched.

“The nurse who treated me that night took one look at my bruises and knew what had happened even though I claimed it was an accident.” Jessie let her top fall back into place, but he could still see the scar in his mind. “She convinced me to attend a support group with her. Between her help and the group, I left Jeremy soon after that and moved back in with my grandparents. By then though, I had already distanced myself from most of my friends and began suffering from depression. I started eating a lot and keeping to myself. It wasn’t until Charlie and I reconnected that she convinced me to see a therapist for the depression.”

“Did you ever press charges?”

“No, I didn’t want anyone to know. Other than Morgan, the nurse at the hospital, my therapist, and my support group, you’re the only person I’ve told. I stopped us the other night because I won’t let anyone force me to do anything ever again.”

Mack pulled her closer and hugged her. “I’m glad you told me.” He kissed her forehead. “And we can take things as slow as you want. Neither of us is going anywhere.” Anger toward her former boyfriend still boiled inside him, but he fought to keep it from his voice.

“You don’t…” Jessie’s voice trailed off and she avoided his eyes.

With a finger he titled her chin upward. “Don’t what?”

She looked at him. “You don’t mind waiting?”

“I’ll never force you to do anything. And when you are ready, I’ll be right here.” This time, he kissed her lips, a soft gentle symbol of his promise.

Jessie wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him, her soft breasts pressed against his chest, and soon the anger raging inside him turned into desire. When she parted her lips and ran the tip of her tongue along the seam of his lips, he groaned then opened for her. Immediately, her tongue slipped inside and explored his mouth, leaving it burning with fire. As the kiss continued, Jessie moved her fingers up his neck and into his hair, searing a path of heat in the process.

Determined not to push her further than she wanted, he let her keep the control even though his hands ached with the need to touch her. When she pulled back, his mouth remained on fire much like the rest of him.

“I love you,” she whispered before she kissed the pulse in his neck.

The contact sent another bolt of desire through his body right to his erection. Prepared to stop if she asked, he slipped a hand under her shirt and up her stomach. When he reached the edge of her bra, he paused and waited. Rather than pull away or ask him to stop, she let her own hand wander under his shirt. Assuming he had the green light, he pushed aside the cup of her bra and fondled one breast until her nipple pebbled under his fingers, then he switched to the other side.

Reclaiming his lips, she kissed with a hunger that rivaled his own, and for a moment, he considered stopping before things went any further. Moments earlier, he’d gotten the impression she wasn’t ready for sex. Now, though, her action told another story. He didn’t want her to do anything just because she thought she had to.

Before he could voice his thought, she straddled his lap, the intimate contact sending all rational thoughts away. When she moved against him, he groaned, grabbed her waist, and held her still. “Jessie, we don’t have to do this.” But, lord, how he wanted to.

She leaned back, her eyes bright with love and desire. “I know that. And while I’m not ready to sleep with you tonight, that doesn’t meant I can’t make you feel good.” With both hands, she lifted his shirt, and then kissed his chest.

Pleasure wracked his body as her hands and mouth made a path toward his waist. Unable to do anything else he leaned his head back and enjoyed the sweet torture.

He’d assumed she’d stop when she reached his jeans. Instead, he felt her finger work the button loss, and then she pulled the zipper down. Curiosity broke through some of his raging desire, and he looked down as she pushed his underwear away. Without any hesitation, she ran her index finger down the length of him, and his gaze stayed glued to her touch. Then she leaned forward, her mouth taking his again as she wrapped her hand around him.

***

“Why don’t you stay here tonight?” Stretched out on the couch, he had his head in her lap as they watched a movie. “Neither of us has work in the morning and Grace won’t be home until early evening.” He took her hand and kissed it. “You can borrow one of my t-shirts for bed. Nothing has to happen. I just want to hold you all night.”

She didn’t have to think about her answer. “I like that idea.” Over the course of the evening, their relationship had grown. She knew Mack shared her feelings, and he understood her desire to wait just a little longer before she gave him full access to her body. And while she might not be ready for sex, she’d enjoyed every minute of his hands on her. The only thing she enjoyed more was when she touched him.

A flash of heat went through her as she thought about what she’d done. When she’d taken control of their kiss, it hadn’t been her intention to do anything else. Yet, once she had control of the situation, the power had increased her own desire. When she felt him against her, she’d wanted nothing more than to pleasure him.

“Don’t ever play poker.” Mack smiled.

With her trip down memory lane shattered, she met his eyes. “What?”

“You’re as red as a fire truck and I know exactly what you’re thinking about.”

Another flash of heat scorched her face. “Oh, really?”

Mack sat up. “It’s okay. I was thinking about it, too, and how much I’d love to return the pleasure.”

Her body still ached in need of the release only his touch could give. It would have to wait, though. As much as she loved him and the way he made her feel, she wanted to wait a little longer. “Soon.” She closed the gap between them. “I promise,” she whispered inches from his mouth.

A temporary altar sat at the center of the Town Common along with rows of white chairs filled with wedding guests. If Jessie had to guess, she’d say the entire town had turned out for Maureen O’Brien and Ray Larson’s wedding. Not that she expected anything else. Both the bride and groom had grown up in North Salem. High school sweethearts, they’d drifted apart when Ray left for college and had reconnected when he moved back to town.

“Jessie, that color looks fabulous on you. You look beautiful.” Mia Troy, Sean’s celebrity girlfriend, took the seat in front of her.

Jessie beamed at the compliment. While no one would ever claim she was as beautiful as Mia, she did agree that the deep burgundy dress did look nice on her. “Thanks. When did your flight get in?”

“Around three o’clock this morning and I fly back out tomorrow at ten.” Mia’s resigned tone spoke volumes. “But in a little more than a month, I’ll be done with this movie and back for good.”

“Sean mentioned that.” He’d also let it slip that he planned on asking Mia to marry him when she returned at Thanksgiving. “How’s he doing today anyway?” She’d learned all about Ray and Maureen’s involvement and the role it had played in Sean and Charlie’s father leaving them. She also knew that, in the beginning, Sean had a difficult time accepting his mother’s marriage to Ray.

“I think he’s put his issues with Ray behind him. When I left him a few minutes ago with Maureen and Charlie, he looked happy.”

Jessie saw Grace and Mack approaching and the sunlight got brighter. Never in her entire life had she felt this content and special.

“Jessie, look how Grammy fixed my hair.” Grace slid into the seat Jessie had saved for her while Mack stopped and spoke with a friend.

“It’s beautiful. Is Brianna’s the same way?” Jessie took a moment to examine the intricate braid in the little girl’s hair.

Grace nodded, her eyes set on Mia. “You’re on television.” Grace’s strawberry blonde eyebrows scrunched up as she tried to figure out why someone she’d seen on television was sitting in front of her.

Her relationship with Mack and Grace had developed so much that she’d forgotten they’d only been in town since August, after Mia had returned to California. “Grace, this is Mia, Sean’s girlfriend. And you’re right; she used to be on television.”

Grace’s mouth dropped open. “Wow!”

“Mia, this cutie pie is Grace Ellsbury, and that’s her father Mack.” Jessie nodded toward Mack as he headed their way.

Mia leaned back to get a better look. “Sean mentioned you’d started seeing someone. He’s handsome.”

The seat to Jessie’s left moved. “Thanks. My wife thinks so, too.”

“Jake.” Jessie turned and greeted Charlie’s husband.

Jake gave her a quick hug. “Hi, Jessie. Mia.” He nodded in the other woman’s direction before looking over at Grace who sat staring at him, her mouth still down to her knees.

“Who’s the beautiful girl next to you?” he asked, flashing Grace a hundred-watt smile.

“I’ve seen you on magazine covers,” Grace said before Jessie could make introductions.

“Jake, this is Grace, my boyfriend’s daughter.” Outside of conversations with Mack, she’d never referred to Mack as her boyfriend until now and she liked it.

“It’s nice to meet you, Grace.” Jake extended his hand. “I’m Jake. Jessie and I are friends.”

Sitting up a little straighter in her seat, Grace accepted his hand and mimicked what she’d heard. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Jake gave Grace another smile and then looked at Jessie. “When Charlie came back yesterday, she said you had a boyfriend.”

Charlie and Jake had arrived in town the day before, and she’d stopped at Jessie’s apartment while Jake went over to Sean’s house. Jessie hadn’t even put coffee on the table when Charlie announced that she was pregnant. Once Charlie finished sharing her news, Jessie had told her friend about the developments between her and Mack.

“She’s my dad’s girlfriend, and she helped me pick out this dress.” Grace picked up the hem of her dark blue dress.

“And she did an excellent job,” Mack said as he took the seat next to his daughter. “Let’s try not to ruin it today.”

Jessie figured it would survive the ceremony with no problem. Dinner and dancing… well, they were another story. “Jake, this is Mack.” By this point, neither man needed a proper introduction. Still, it remained the polite action. “Mack, this is Charlie’s husband, Jake.”

The two men shook hands. “They should be starting soon. I saw Joseph Bates crossing the grass.” In addition to being the Town Administrator, Joseph Bates, Tony’s father, was a Justice of the Peace.

Jessie, along with Mack, Mia, and Jake, kept up a steady conversation for the next several minutes. Then, when the music started, silence washed over the crowd and Charlie, Maureen’s matron of honor, started down the aisle toward the altar. Once again, Jessie wished she looked more like her friend. Dressed in an ankle-length dark purple gown, Charlie looked stunning and not at all pregnant. Then again, her friend looked gorgeous in cut-offs.

When Charlie passed by, she smiled at her husband, the one simple gesture telling everyone who saw it how much she loved him. Jessie didn’t have to look to know Jake’s face reflected a similar smile.

Once Charlie reached the altar, the music changed and the “Wedding March” started. As a whole, the crowd rose, and beaming with joy, Maureen started down the aisle on Sean’s arm. For a moment, Jessie gaped at Sean. She’d known him all her life and couldn’t remember ever seeing him in a tux.

“He complained all morning about that tux,” Mia whispered to her. “But he looks gorgeous in it.”

While he didn’t hold a candle to Mack, Sean looked handsome today. “He looks great.” She watched as Maureen and Sean joined the rest of the wedding party. Then, after a few words between Ray and Sean, Sean took his seat near Mia.

Mack’s hand settled on her shoulder while Joseph Bates began the ceremony, and gradually the words faded as her mind wandered. Rather than Ray and Maureen standing up there, she envisioned her and Mack in their place. Before her relationship with Jeremy, she’d dreamed of getting married and having children. After Jeremy, the dream disappeared, but since Mack entered her life it had emerged again.

In her mind, she saw them saying their vows before family and friends. Afterward, they, along with Grace, would return to his house and begin the rest of their lives. Could it happen? They’d been together a short time, but they loved each other.

Jessie looked away from the ceremony to Mack. Would he want to get married again? For some people, one try at marriage was enough. What about children? He had a happy, healthy little girl; maybe he didn’t want to start over. During all their time together, they’d never discussed either subject.

Before Jessie looked away, Mack turned his head and met her eyes. The love she saw reflected there sent her previous thoughts from her head. If he loved her that much, the other stuff didn’t matter. Plenty of people spent their entire lives in relationships filled with love and respect without ever exchanging rings. If Mack never wanted to marry again, she’d be okay with that as long as he always looked at her the way he was now.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Joseph Bates said after Ray and Maureen exchanged rings. “You may kiss the bride.”

Jessie looked back to the couple and watched Ray give Maureen a light kiss before they faced the crowd. Amid the thunderous applause, the couple proceeded down the aisle followed by Charlie and Ray’s best man, his brother, Phil.

“We better join your mom and Charlie so they can finish taking pictures, Sean. Jessie, I’ll see you at the reception.” Jake extended his hand toward Mack. “Mack, it was nice meeting you, and Grace, save me a dance.”

Grace’s face lit up. “Okay.”

Throughout the ceremony, Jessie had noticed Grace starring at Jake, something women both young and old did all the time. She suspected Grace had her first crush.

“Jake’s right.” Sean held out a hand to Mia. “The sooner we get the pictures done, the sooner I can get rid of this tie.” He pulled at the offending article of clothing. With that, the three of them disappeared into the crowd.

“Daddy, can I go see Brianna? She’s over there.” Grace pointed across the aisle to where her cousin sat with her parents.

“Go ahead, but stay with them.”

Grace took off as if she wore jeans and sneakers rather than a nice dress and tights. “It’s a good thing her tights are black,” Jessie said as Grace slipped, landed on her knees, then bounced back up again.

“Tell me about it. But she does love that dress. She had to try it on again last night.” Together, they moved toward where Mack’s sister stood with her husband and parents. “My mom asked if Grace could spend the night tonight. Brianna is staying over, too. I told her it was okay.”

Jessie had been looking forward to movie night with Mack and Grace tonight. “I don’t know how those two don’t get sick of each other. They see each other at least five days a week.”

Mack put his arm around her waist and anchored her against him. “Since Grace will be gone, I thought maybe you’d want to spend the night.”

She’d like nothing better. Actually, since waking up in his arms weeks ago, she’d thought of it often and wondered when she might get a chance to do it again. “I’d love to.”

With dinner over and the bride and groom’s first dance out of the way, the musicians invited the wedding guests to dance. Couples of all ages took to the dance floor, but Jessie and Mack remained seated while Grace finished her cake. Much to Jessie’s amazement, Grace had managed to keep her dress clean thus far. If she got through dessert with no spills, perhaps the dress would remain stain-free.

“Why don’t you go dance? I’ll sit with Grace while she finishes.” Rose Ellsbury took the seat next to Mack. “You know your father hates to dance anyway.”

Jessie didn’t dance much, but she enjoyed it. “If you don’t want to, that’s okay,” Jessie said, offering Mack a way out. She didn’t know if he liked dancing or not.

Even with the music playing, she heard the legs of his chair scratch the floor. “I think we should. Afterward, Grace and I’ll have a dance, too.” He took her by the hand before she could protest. “We’ll be back, Mom.”

Gage Larson and his band started another slow ballad, and Mack locked her in his arms. If there had been anyone left in town that didn’t know about their relationship, which seemed impossible, they knew now.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he whispered. She had never heard his voice so sensual, and her heart raced. “I’m glad you’re staying with me tonight.”

Not caring who saw them, she touched her lips to his in a whisper of a kiss. Even though it barely qualified as a kiss, it sent spirals of desire and excitement through her. Earlier in the week, she’d decided that the next time they were alone, she wouldn’t hold anything back. The idea of giving in to the passion she experienced with Mack made her eager for the reception to end.

When she ended the kiss, he put his mouth near her ear. “You can do better than that.”

She heard the challenge in his voice. Perhaps another woman would’ve taken the bait, but not her. They were in a room full of family and friends; it wasn’t the place for an intense make-out session. “I’ll make it up to you later.”

His eyebrows arched and a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

They danced to two songs before they returned to the table so Mack and Grace could dance together. As Jessie sat and watched him lift Grace, her heart melted. There weren’t many sights sweeter than a father dancing with his little girl.

“Now that’s a look of happiness.” Jake stopped near her. Since he was looking at her, she guessed he meant her. “Charlie said you were happier than she’d ever seen you.”

Just what expression did she have on her face? “Hi, Jake. Where did Charlie disappear to?”

He pointed over his shoulder to the dance floor. “She’s dancing with Sean. When she asked him, Mia all but pushed him onto the floor. You should have seen the look he gave her.” Jake extended his hand in her direction. “Since we’ve both been left on our own, how about a dance?”

Since the first day she’d met Jake and he’d comforted her and her grandmother in the hospital waiting room, she’d respected the man. Not many people would go out of their way like that for strangers. Now that she knew him better, she respected him even more and was honored to call him a friend. “Sure. Someone has to make sure you behave until your wife gets back.”

Mack dipped Grace, and she rewarded him with a giggle, a sound he never tired of hearing.

“One more time,” she said when he brought her upright again.

“Just once.” She had eaten a large slice of cake and the last thing he wanted was her getting sick. Adjusting his hold on her, he dipped her back again. This time, when he swung her back up, it wasn’t Grace’s giggle that caught his attention but Jessie and Jake Sherbrooke dancing. Although they stood an appropriate space apart, the sight of Jessie in another man’s arms sent a burning sensation through his chest. For a moment, he considered cutting in. Then the red fog in his head cleared and his common sense returned. He trusted Jessie and knew Jake was a friend. Friends were allowed to dance at weddings. He’d expect the same courtesy if he ever danced with a female friend, not that he expected that to happen anytime soon. His list of female friends was rather slim. Even still, he’d be pissed if Jessie overreacted and dragged him away the way he wanted to snatch her away now. And it wasn’t like she was dancing with Tony, North Salem’s resident playboy. No, this was Jake, her friend’s husband.