Hometown Love (21 page)

“An air mattress is fine.” She folded her hands together and didn’t touch him again, but she shot looks at him the entire ride home.

Jessie and Grace sat at the table when he returned home, a glass of milk and a left over cookie from the party in front of each of them.

A knot of emotion clogged his throat at the site.

“Mommy, didn’t you go home?”

“I left, but got stuck, so I’m staying the night with you, and I’ll be here all day tomorrow.”

Grace’s expression stayed the same. “Okay.” She turned her attention to him. “Can I have more milk?”

It didn’t escape him that Grace appeared unaffected by Bethany’s announcement. Grace had always been closer to him, and since the divorce, their bond had only grown stronger. “You need to go back to bed. What are you doing up anyway?”

“She had a bad dream, so we came in here to talk about it.” While Grace hadn’t reacted to Bethany’s announcement, Jessie had. Even now her mouth tightened again as she clenched her glass.

After dropping a kiss on his daughter’s head, he pulled back her chair. “Do you feel better now, buddy?”

When she nodded, he picked her up. “Then back to bed. Who do you want to tuck you in, me or your mom?”

He expected a plea for just a few more minutes, or even a request to stay in his bed because of the bad dream. “Can Jessie put me back?”

Bethany crossed her arms and sent daggers at Jessie.

“If that’s what you want.” He thought she’d say him, but if she wanted Jessie it didn’t bother him.

“She’s getting too attached to Jessica.” Bethany’s voice echoed with jealousy after Jessie and Grace left.

Never in all their years together had Bethany acted jealous. Rather, he’d been the one affected by that emotion a time or two. Not that he was proud to admit it.

“I don’t think they should spend so much time together.”

“Don’t go there, Bethany. I don’t complain when she visits you and is around Harris do I? Or any of the other men you’ve dated.”

Bethany’s facial expression faltered, and he caught a glimpse of disappointment.

“We’re not together anymore. He moved out last month.” Her calm collected mask slid back into place. “Besides, that is different. She never acted like he was her father. She treats Jessie as if she’s her mother.” Despite the calm façade her voice leaked the anger she carried. “I’m her mother.”

Maybe you should act more like a mother
. The thought stayed in his head, testing all his willpower. “No one said you weren’t, but Jessie’s a part of my and Grace’s life now. You’ll just have to deal with it.”

Jealousy kept Jessie awake much of the night. The unfamiliar emotion took root the moment Mack and Bethany walked into his home and grew when she returned home.

At first, Jessie denied it. She told herself her chest and stomach hurt because she’d eaten too much. When she closed her eyes and pictured herself clawing Bethany’s beautiful smile off her face, she’d chalked it up to anger. Bethany had been the one to ruin her and Mack’s night together. By the time sunlight peeked its way into her room, she gave up and labeled what she felt as plain old jealousy, something she’d never experienced before. Sure, she’d experienced envy, but that was different. She envied people for what they’d accomplished, but did not feel any ill will toward them. But as the room brightened, Jessie wanted to march over to Mack’s, pull Bethany out of the house, and drop her somewhere, telling her to find her own way back to the garage.

While she relished the thought, she recognized that particular fantasy would never play out. So rather than sit around and dwell on it, she prepared for the day. The original plan had been for the three of them to go hiking. With Bethany around, she assumed they’d need to alter their itinerary, but either way, she didn’t intend to leave Bethany alone with Mack any longer than necessary. The warning Bethany delivered still echoed in her head. Not to mention, the looks Bethany cast Mack’s way throughout the party and dinner spoke loud and clear: Bethany wanted Mack. Whether because she realized what she’d given up or just didn’t like seeing someone else in Mack’s life, Jessie didn’t know. Thankfully, Mack hadn’t shown an ounce of interest in his ex-wife, and Jessie trusted him.

The balloons from the party still swayed outside as Jessie climbed the front steps and the heavy door stood open. Through the screen door, she spotted Grace’s dollhouse with the furniture and dolls sprawled across the floor, indicating the little girl was up and about.

Jessie opened the screen door without a sound. She assumed the kitchen was the place to stop first, and she was right. Unfortunately, she’d picked the wrong time. At the counter Mack and Bethany stood together—and Bethany’s lips were locked with his.

Jessie watched his hand move toward his ex’s shoulder, although Jessie wasn’t sure if it was to push her away or pull her closer.

Unable to breathe, Jessie reached for the wall to steady herself then retraced her steps. She made it into the living room when Grace flew down the stairs and skidded to a stop near her.

“Jessie you’re here.” The little girl’s voice forced air back into her lungs. “Daddy’s making pancakes for breakfast.” She latched onto Jessie’s hand. “Come on.” Grace pulled her hand. “He’s putting chocolate chips in mine.”

Back in the kitchen, Bethany and Mack remained near the counter, but they were no longer kissing.

“Daddy, Jessie’s here,” Grace announced, her cheerful voice breaking through the tension in the room.

Mack’s head snapped in her direction, an angry expression on his face. When their eyes met, the anger disappeared and a forced smile replaced it. “I didn’t hear you come in.” Mack walked past his ex-wife and embraced her. “I’m making pancakes for breakfast. Do you want some?” He pressed a feather-light kiss on her lips.

No, she didn’t want pancakes; she wanted an explanation. And maybe to hit Bethany with the pancake griddle.

“Can we talk in the other room?” She forced a calm voice, no easy task when Bethany stood only feet away in one of Mack’s t-shirts. The damn thing only came to mid-thigh.

The anger she’d noticed in him a few minutes earlier returned, and he glared over at Bethany. “Watch the stove so Grace’s breakfast doesn’t burn. Grace, your milk is on the table.”

He knows I saw.
Was he mad because she’d caught them or angry because Bethany had made an advance? And why they hell was the woman wearing his clothes? Jessie needed answers, but she didn’t want to come across as a jealous shrew either.

“What just happened in there?” she asked as soon as they entered the other room. Despite her best efforts, her words came out as more of an accusation than a mere question. “I walked in and you two were kissing. And she’s wearing your clothes.”

“It’s not what you think.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “She kissed me, not the other way around.” The concern and worry in his voice ate away at the anger simmering in her chest. “The only woman I’m interested in kissing is you, and I let her know that. As for the shirt, she needed something to sleep in. She had nothing with her.”

When she’d seen Bethany in the shirt, she’d not considered that the woman hadn’t planned on staying the night. Of course she had no clothes with her.

“Bethany slept on the air mattress in the spare room upstairs. I stayed in my room alone, thinking about you and what we never finished last night.”

The heat in his voice warmed her entire body.

The image of Mack and Bethany kissing stayed in her head, but she didn’t call him a liar. So far, he’d never given her any reason to doubt him, and kissing him sounded like something Bethany would do.

“We’re good, then.” She intended a cheerful tone, but failed, judging by the unconvinced expression on Mack’s face. “Really, Mack. Everything is fine.” She wrapped her arms around him and took possession of his mouth.

Mack’s hands traveled down her back and settled on her butt. Then he pulled her against him. “I wish we were alone right now,” he said, his voice low and husky.

The combination of his words and hard body against hers chased away the memory of him and Bethany. “Me, too.” She kissed him again.

“Pancakes are done!” Bethany’s voice rang out and the heat pulsing through Jessie’s body changed to pure ice.

While Grace and Mack worked on eliminating the stack of pancakes, Bethany shot dirty looks in her direction. Rather than retaliate, Jessie ignored her and chose to listen to Grace’s constant chatter. Between the forkfuls of food, the little girl jumped from one topic to the next, one minute talking about her birthday party, and the next, about the upcoming trip. When she wasn’t talking or eating, she slipped pieces of her breakfast to Socks. The dog hadn’t left his spot beside her chair since they all sat down. Mack either hadn’t noticed or didn’t care because he didn’t tell her to stop, but Jessie feared if the dog ate much more he’d get sick.

“Can I wear my new boots for the hike?” Part of her birthday present from her aunt had been a pair of black suede boots.

“Those aren’t the type of boots you wear hiking,” Mack answered. “Besides, that might not be a great activity for today with your mom here.”

“You promised, and Mommy can come, too.”

For the moment, Bethany stopped casting the evil eye at her and looked over at Grace. “I thought maybe you, me, and your dad could go to the zoo or maybe the aquarium.”

“Daddy and Jessie promised to take me on my first hike today. I want to do that.” The same stubborn tone Jessie often heard in Mack’s voice resonated in Grace’s now.

Bethany’s lips pressed together. “You can do that some other time. Don’t you want to spend time with just me and your dad?”

Grace’s perfectly done braids swung back and forth. “No. Jessie promised she’d help me get pretty leaves and rocks for my fairy village.”

“Since she promised, I guess we better all take that hike today.” Bethany’s mouth twisted in an ugly scowl. “We don’t want the village not to have enough leaves and rocks.”

“Bethany, you hate hiking. You’ll be miserable.”

“It’s what Grace wants to do.” She rubbed her daughter’s arm. “I’ll survive for one day.”

She might survive, but Jessie doubted
she
would. Spending the entire day in the woman’s company yesterday had been bad enough. Yet she couldn’t leave Bethany alone with Mack either, so that left her no other option than to suck it up for another day.

***

He watched Grace show another leaf first to Jessie and then to her mom before she added it to her collection bag. Then Grace said something to the two women and proceeded forward on the trail. As far as trails went, the one he’d picked was simple. Knowing how much Bethany hated anything to do with nature, and considering that this was his daughter’s first hike, he’d picked the easiest one he knew.

When Grace paused again, his ex-wife threw an exasperated look in his direction but didn’t speak.

“I think you have enough for now,” he said as he stopped near the little group. “If we’re going to finish the whole trail today, we need to keep moving.” What he meant but didn’t say was, if they were going to finish and get Bethany to the garage before it closed, they needed to keep moving. No way in hell did he want her spending another night with him. One night had been bad enough. When she’d asked to stay, he’d figured it would be no big deal. He had an extra room and they did maintain a cordial relationship despite their divorce. He’d never imagined she’d kiss him.

What the hell had she been thinking?
Not once since their divorce had she tried such a stunt. Of course Jessie had picked that moment to walk in. He wasn’t lucky enough to have her walk in five minutes later.

They started moving again, but didn’t make it far when Jessie paused and picked up a bird’s nest that had fallen from a tree branch. She showed Grace, who added it to her bag.

“That’s going to be one crowded village,” he said, coming up next to them.

“Jessie promised to help me make it bigger.” Grace looked at him and smiled.

Of course she had. She treated Grace like a daughter, and that was just one of the many reasons he loved her. Damn, he hoped Bethany’s little stunt that morning hadn’t hurt their relationship. She’d accepted his explanation and said things were good, but she’d remained quieter than usual today.

If he’d walked in on her with an ex who was only half-dressed, the shit would’ve hit the fan. In fact, he might not have even stuck around long enough to hear an explanation. Thank God Jessie had a more understanding nature. But even though she did, he needed to make sure something like that never happened again—which brought him back to getting their hike done and Bethany on her way.

“Let’s keep moving. No more breaks until we’re back at the car.”

For the most part, Grace did a fantastic job on her first hike. The only reason he carried her on his shoulders the last quarter mile was because she’d slowed down quite a bit. After walking for about three and half miles, he understood her slower pace and would’ve let her finish on her own if he hadn’t been in a rush. The garage closed at four and his watch already read two o’clock.

“That was better than I expected,” Bethany said from the backseat.

He’d thought the same thing, but not in terms of the hike. Rather, he’d expected Bethany to bitch and moan the entire time like the one and only time they’d tried camping together. It’d gone so poorly that after the first night, they’d packed up and stayed in a hotel. Today, though, she’d kept any complaints to herself.

“And it tired out
our
daughter. She’s already asleep.”

Mack cringed at the added emphasis Bethany put on the word
our.
If they’d been alone, he would’ve said something. Instead, he took Jessie’s hand and squeezed it.

The car ride that afternoon would go down as the quietest and most uncomfortable in history. With Grace asleep, she couldn’t fill the car with her usual chatter much to Mack’s disappointment. And when they reached their destination, he’d never been so happy to see a garage.

“It’s all set. Thanks for the ride today. Tell Grace I love her when she wakes up and I’ll see you both next weekend,” Bethany said when she returned to the car where he waited.

Next weekend?
She’d come this weekend, so Grace could skip the next visit. “Grace has her school picnic next weekend, remember?” Bethany had her faults, but she was an organized woman who didn’t forget changes in her schedule.

“I know, but you said it was a family picnic. I
am
Grace’s mother, so I thought I’d come, too. It’ll give me a chance to meet more of her friends.” The cold stare she threw in Jessie’s direction canceled out Bethany’s smile. The one she’d not intended for him to see, judging by the fact that she leaned close to his window, giving him an unobstructed view of her breasts. A view that at one time would’ve had him ready to go, but now did nothing for him.

The last place he wanted Bethany was in North Salem again next weekend. “It is a family event, but that’s a long drive just for a school outing.” He couldn’t tell her outright not to come. “The kids usually run around. It’s a little like a zoo. Maybe you should just wait until Grace’s holiday concert to meet her other friends.”

She waved a hand in front of her. “I don’t mind the drive. I’ll call you during the week and let you know where I’m staying. If I can get here early enough on Friday, I’ll stop in and see Grace.”

Bethany walked away before he could speak again. With any luck, she’d change her mind between now and then. It happened all the time. Maybe if he hoped and prayed enough, it’d happen again.

“Anywhere you want to go on the way home?” He glanced at Jessie, but she didn’t notice as she glared after his ex-wife, her expression reeking of jealousy.

Rather than starting the car, he reached for her chin and turned her face toward him. “You have nothing to worry about.”