Jessie Belle: The Women of Merryton - Book One (29 page)

None
of them would squarely look at him, but they all kind of murmured that they
weren’t and then dispersed.

I
looked up to Blake, who was dusty from his fall, and smiled.

He
returned it with one of his own. “You’re sexy when you’re on fire.”

“I
think we better give these two a moment,” Easton laughed.

I
shook my head at Shane and Easton.

“Like
I said, wives should be banned from the field,” Shane returned.

“I’m
leaving.” I smiled. “Just promise me you’ll cream these guys.”

“We’ll
do our best,” Shane said as he walked back toward the dugout with Easton.

Blake
tugged on my hand and pulled me toward him before I could leave. He was giving
me that look again that made my toes curl, my stomach flutter, and my brain
forget that anyone else was around. He didn’t say a word, he just leaned down
and kissed me once, hard.

The
stands went crazy. I could hear the cheering. Oh, this town.

When
his lips left mine he had to steady me before I walked back to the stands. I
was feeling a little weak in the knees.

“Well,
folks,” the announcer said. “Looks like number twenty-five is feeling fine.”

I
walked back quickly to the laughs created from the announcer’s comments. I
could feel the heat in my cheeks. Blake and I had now turned into that couple
that everyone thought couldn’t keep their hands off each other in public. I’m
not sure how that happened. We weren’t that couple at all.

Veronica’s
lips curled up into a contemptuous smile as I passed her.

I
ignored her and made my way through the stands to Maddie while telling everyone
on our side Blake was okay since several people were asking.

Maddie’s
look was one of embarrassment. “Why do you have to keep kissing?”

I
sat next to her and pulled her close to me. Her head ended up on my shoulder.
“You know that’s what parents do. Even my parents still kiss in front of me.”

“Is
my dad really okay?”

“He’s
going to be a little sore and he may have a headache, but he’ll be as good as
new.”

“What
were you yelling at those guys?”

“Yeah,
Jessie, what where you saying?” Cheyenne asked.

“Let’s
just say we won’t have any more crappy calls this game.”

“That’s
my girl,” Cheyenne said.

Blake
didn’t get back to the plate during the fifth inning, but he made some pretty
great plays in the sixth. He caught another ball for an out, and he and Easton
made a sweet play tagging Landon out on second base.

The
game was back and forth and back and forth. If we scored, they came back and
scored equally. The tensions were high, but everyone kept it clean. There’s
nothing like a little rumor to scare the living daylights out of grown men.

We
made it to the ninth inning and we were tied five to five. We started the last
inning with a bang. Blake did us proud and started it off with a home run. I
don’t think I’ve ever cheered so loudly. I particularly loved when he crossed
home plate and looked up to both Maddie and me as we stood there cheering on
our favorite guy. He smiled and waved at us both. It was one of those sweet
moments that I felt connected us, as weird as it sounds.

I
had to hold onto that sweet moment as the game ended on a sour note. We had
pulled ahead, seven to five, when Riley’s team headed up to bat. I felt good
about our chances, but I sat nervously holding onto Maddie’s hand.  Shane
struck out the first batter up and we cheered. Landon was up to bat next. The
idiot ended up getting to second. Then it was downhill from there. The next
player up made it to first, Landon moved to third, and then their best player,
Danny, came up to bat. Two strikes, three fouls, and then the bat and ball met
forcefully. It was like one of those perfect moments in a movie, but for our
team it was a nightmare as the ball sailed across fence. Not even Blake had a
chance of catching it.

We
all watched in horror as one, two, three idiots crossed the plate. The game was
over. Their side cheered and our side sank pitifully into the bleachers.
Another year and another loss.

Landon
directed a smirk and a wink my way. I quickly turned from him.

“The
guys played well,” I said to my friends.

“We
would have won had they not cheated the first half of the game,” Cheyenne
growled.

“It
is what it is,” I sighed. “Let’s go get your dad,” I said to Maddie.

I
hugged all of Abby’s kids, even though the twelve-year-old boy wasn’t that
excited to hug me anymore. “I’m always going to hug you, Connor,” I informed
him.

He
gave me a half-smile. “Okay, Aunt Jessie.”

I
tussled his light brown hair and he begrudgingly let me.

We
all sullenly trudged down the stands. The other side had already rushed the
field to congratulate their team.

“It
wasn’t fair,” Maddie said on our way down.

“I’m
sure you’ve heard this, but it’s true. Life isn’t fair, honey.”

She
made disgusted noises just like her dad.

I
hugged her to my side and she wrapped her arms around me. I found I quite liked
it.

Our
guys were tired, dirty, and I would say a tad, or perhaps a lot, ticked off. No
one wanted to talk. Everyone wanted to disperse and nurse their wounded egos at
home.

Blake
was walking slowly and I could tell he was stiff. I felt bad for him. I would
have offered to take his bag for him, but that would have been an insult to
him. Instead I threaded my arm through his and held on as we walked back to our
car.

Maddie
took his other side. “You played really good, Dad.”

“Thanks,”
he said quietly.

I
squeezed his muscular, dirty arm. “You name it and I’ll make it for dinner.”

“Ugh.”
Maddie said in response. She knew when her dad picked dinner it was probably
not going to be to her liking.

Blake
looked down at her and chuckled. “Anything sounds good to me.”

Maddie
was securely wrapping her dad around her finger.

Blake
placed his gear in the back of the Tahoe. Before he closed the hatch, I hugged
him tightly. “Thank you for playing this year.” We still had a few games left,
but I felt like I needed to say it now.

“I’m
sorry we lost to those … uh …”

“Yeah,
I know. I have some choice words for them, too.”

“There’s
always next year.”

I
looked up to him and he looked down at me in his way. “Are you saying you would
play again next year?”

He
kissed my forehead and lingered for a few seconds. “Yeah.”

I
think I may be falling in love with my husband.

He
was making it difficult for me not to. I mean, the fact he was willing to play
for my team was kind of momentous, but it was nothing compared to what lay
ahead. It had me seeing my husband in a way I never had before.

It
all started with that ridiculous mayor’s ball. I was even less inclined to go
considering the major bragging Landon had been doing. The idiot had even called
me under the guise of checking on the order that his secretary had already
confirmed.

“Jessie,
I wanted to make sure everything is in place for my big night.”

“Don’t
you mean the town’s?”

“Of
course,” he replied slimily.

“Well,
don’t you worry, everything will be picture-perfect.”

“Everything
you do is perfect, well, except maybe managing your team.”

“If
you mean we don’t cheat, then I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Now,
Jessie, I can’t believe you would accuse me of cheating. I have a reputation to
protect, you know.”

“Oh,
don’t worry, your reputation is intact. Have a nice day.” I hung up without
another word or a reply from him.

If
my own reputation weren’t on the line, I would have purposely messed up the
order, or perhaps canceled it all together, but I reminded myself it was for
the town, not him, no matter what he and his psycho wife thought.

The
large order had me working more than I had the past several weeks. Maddie spent
half the time with me and the other half with my parents. My dad was turning
out to be a great tutor and he loved passing on his knowledge, so it was a
win-win situation. Maddie and I still read together because I had to know if
Cassie and Eric ended up together. We were close to finishing book two in the
series and they had just broken up—again. I couldn’t believe I was hooked on
some YA novel.

Wednesday,
two days before the ball, Blake came home happy. He kissed me on my neck as I
prepared fettuccine Alfredo with grilled shrimp for dinner. “I was able to
reserve us a prime camping spot in the canyon for the holiday weekend,” he said
into my ear, causing me to shiver.

I
turned and faced him. “That sounds like fun, but I can’t go.”

“Why?”

“Blake,
the mayor’s ball is this weekend, and I’m helping with the Fourth of July
festivities Saturday afternoon at the community center. Remember?”

His
face dropped to the bottom floor. “I’ve been promising Maddie we would go.”

I
rested my hand on his cheek. “Why don’t you go Friday and I’ll meet you up
there in the evening on Saturday.”

“Why
don’t you skip the weasel’s ball and come with us?” He pulled me closer to him.

“I
would love to, but Jessie Belle’s is providing the desserts and my dad is
really looking forward to taking me. And I promised Abby I would help her on
Saturday.”

He
groaned.

I
smiled.

He
kissed me once and stalked off to take a shower.

Believe
me, I would have much rather gone camping with them, but I had obligations and
I didn’t want to disappoint my dad. When I picked Maddie up earlier from his
house he had said, “Get your dancing shoes ready. I can’t wait to take a spin
with my Belle.” It was really cute. Besides, my mom was going to be gone that
weekend and my dad was like a lost puppy without her. He was looking forward to
my company.

Friday
was crazy at Jessie Belle’s. We had done what we could in the days before, but
some things—like chocolate covered strawberries—didn’t have a long shelf life,
and the mini triple-chocolate mousse pies were best when eaten within
twenty-four hours. Despite who the mayor was, I wanted everything to taste
perfect.

I
was at Jessie Belle’s by six on Friday morning. Summer school was over and Abby
agreed to have Maddie over for the day. Blake wasn’t thrilled with that option,
but I promised him that Abby would protect her virtue. I didn’t mention she had
laughed when I told her of Blake’s worry. She knew Connor better than anyone,
and while she noticed that he seemed to have a small crush on Maddie, she knew
he was still too awkward around girls to do anything about it.

I
warned Blake to be nice when he dropped Maddie off.

He
was all for letting her stay home alone as an alternative, but I was uneasy
with that option. Not because I didn’t trust her, but from talking to her I got
the feeling she spent way too much time alone growing up. I would almost say
that Sabrina had been neglectful, and I didn’t want Maddie to think she was
anything but important to us. Even though I knew she was too old for a
babysitter, I wasn’t ready to let her loose yet. Besides, I knew Abby would
make her feel like she was just having a friend over.

Even
with a full kitchen staff we had to work tirelessly. Not only was it the start
of a holiday weekend, which made the café busier than normal, but some idiot
planned the mayor’s ball for the same weekend. In years past it was always done
at the end of the summer. My only saving grace was that I’d had the foresight
to make the dozens of sugar cookies for the community center festivities the
week before. They froze beautifully and would be ready to go on Saturday.
Naturally, they assigned me to man the cookie decorating station for the event.

By
the time the last strawberry was dipped and the last mini chocolate cookie
crust shell was filled at noon, I was exhausted. We barely had enough time for
everything to set and be delivered by three.

I
let Aaron take care of the delivery. I had a date with my stepdaughter at
Cheyenne’s salon. We were getting our toes and nails done again, and Cheyenne
was going to do my hair and makeup for the ball.

And
I needed to make sure Maddie was packed for camping. She had never been and was
excited to go with her dad. Blake, on the other hand, as of that morning was
still trying to convince me to change my plans. I suggested that he stay and go
to the ball with me and then we could head up on Saturday together. I even
offered to take Monday off so we could still go the same amount of time. He was
still not interested in the ball and Monday he already had appointments set up
for two estimates.

It’s
funny how circumstances can change unexpectedly. And lately, unexpected was a
term I would use in regards to Blake.

Maddie
and I rushed home from spending way too much time at Cheyenne’s salon. We were
having so much fun we lost track of time. I decided I was going to have to
watch Cheyenne around Maddie. They both had a mischievous streak and Cheyenne
was filling Maddie’s head with ideas, and most of them centered on the opposite
sex.

“My
dad and Jessie said I can’t date until high school,” Maddie informed Cheyenne
as Cheyenne worked on my hair.

“Getting
strict in your old age?” Cheyenne teased.

“Hmm.
Funny how we’re the same age.”

“I’m
young at heart,” Cheyenne replied.

I
rolled my eyes at her.

“Well,
Maddie, I can’t help you with the dating restrictions, but when you do start
dating, come to me for advice. Your stepmom here thinks romance has to do with
doing the dishes and laundry.”

Maddie
giggled loudly.

“I’m
telling you, flowers wilt and die. A man that cleans up after both himself and
you is priceless.”

“That
is the lamest thing I’ve ever heard,” Cheyenne said through her laughter.

“Doesn’t
my dad ever bring you flowers?” Maddie asked.

I
looked at her through the mirror and thought about a few months ago when he
brought me flowers as his way to announce her. It wasn’t a happy occasion for
me. In fact, it was devastating. My feelings about the situation had changed so
much in that short period of time. My mother had been right. Maddie was a
blessing in disguise. I smiled at her warmly. “Oh, he does about every thirteen
years or so.”

She
scrunched her face. “That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”

“Oh,
really? And how is it supposed to be?”

“You
should at least get flowers on your birthday or anniversary.”

“I
think your dad missed that memo.”

“I’ll
talk to him,” she offered.

“That’s
not a good idea. Your dad’s not a fan of being told how things should be done.”

She
grinned like she knew. She was a smart girl.

“Well,”
Cheyenne said as she spun me around in her chair, “he’s going to be sorry he’s
missing out on tonight. You are a knockout, my friend.”

She
handed me a handheld mirror so I could see both the front and back of my hair,
as well as the makeup. She had given my hair beachy waves, but added lots of
volume. The red lip stain really offset my creamy complexion. Even though it
was way more glamorous than I usually looked, for the first time in forever I
felt like the old me, the me I missed. My eyes started to well up with tears.

“You
don’t like it?” Cheyenne asked painfully.

I
lowered the mirror and smiled at her worried face. “I love it. Thank you.”

“Now
you’re going to make me cry.” She smacked me gently. “Go home and get ready.”

I
jumped up and hugged Cheyenne tightly.

“I
missed you,” she whispered in my ear.

I
totally got what she was saying. I had missed me, too.

The
first thing Maddie and I did when we got home was to pack a bag for her. I made
sure she had outfits for any kind of weather. You never knew about camping in
Colorado, even in the summertime. One minute it could be warm and sunny, and
the next you could have snow flurries. Blake and I had been camping once in
July when it had snowed on us.

I
briefly thought back to that trip, which happened when we were first married. I
was freezing and ready to go home, but Blake promised he would keep me warm if
I stayed. We zipped our sleeping bags together and he made an exception to
sleeping wrapped up together. I say sleeping, but if memory served me
correctly, and I knew it did because I was feeling warm just thinking about it,
we didn’t sleep much that night.

Maybe
we should go camping just the two of us?
I
thought. Maybe that would help. I think Blake had given up on sex. He hadn’t
really tried to make a move in quite a while. And I was still too insecure to
make the first move. Oh well, I didn’t have time to think about my nun life.

As
soon as I took care of Maddie, I dashed to my bedroom and unzipped my party
dress from its garment bag. It was going to look perfect with my red nails and
lips to match. My black, strappy high heels would also show off the perfectly
polished red toes. I slipped into my dress and zipped it up as far as I could
in the back, then slipped on my shoes before I sought help with the remainder
of the zipper. I needed to hustle, my dad was going to arrive any minute. I
buckled the last shoe and scurried out my door only to run into Blake, who
looked like he had just got home.

I
steadied myself against him, while trying not to touch him. I didn’t want to
get dirty, and he was pretty dusty. “Sorry,” I said as I practically bowled him
over.

He
held onto my arms and righted me. “Jessica,” he said as if surprised. He then
took the opportunity to look me over from head to toe.

“Do
I look okay?” I asked nervously.

“You—”

The
doorbell rang as he started to answer.

“Maddie,
will you get that?” I yelled out and then turned around quickly. “Will you
please zip me up?” I asked Blake.

I
felt him carefully finish the job. I turned around and he was staring at me
thoughtfully. I bit my lip nervously. I wanted to ask him what he thought, but
by that time my dad and Maddie had joined us. I turned to my dad, who closed
the distance between us in one fell swoop.

“Belle,
you are as gorgeous as I’ve ever seen you, honey,” he said as he kissed my
cheek.

“Thanks,
Dad.”

He
smiled widely and held out a clear plastic box, opening it to reveal the
prettiest white rose corsage with red ribbons dangling from it. He removed the
lovely flowers from the container and securely placed them on my wrist.

“Dad,
this is so sweet of you. I can’t remember the last time I wore a corsage. Thank
you.”

“Anything
for my girl,” he responded.

I
smiled at him and then turned to my husband and Maddie. I hugged Maddie first.
“Okay, sweetie have so much fun camping, but save some fun for me.”

“I
will," she said as she squeezed me back. “You look so pretty,” she added
in.

“Thanks,”
I said as I kissed her head. I hoped it wouldn’t leave a red stain on her hair.

I
turned toward my husband, who was just staring at me. I placed my hands against
his chest and leaned in to kiss his lips, but not too close. It was a quick
peck on the lips.