Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(27)

Giving her a slight push, he stood behind her. “We’ll see. Say good night to Jessie.”

Finding a new way to stall, Grace ran around to the other side of the fire pit and threw her arms around Jessie. “Good night, Jessie. I had fun with you.”

He watched as Jessie hugged Grace. “Any time. I had fun, too.”

Before Grace realized it, Mack scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder. “I’ll be back as soon as I put this monkey to bed.” He tickled Grace’s side as he spoke.

In the past year, bedtime had gone from being a chore to just another routine part of the day, so it didn’t take him long to get Grace tucked into bed. “No story tonight, buddy. It’s too late.” Mack kissed her on the forehead. “We’ll do something fun tomorrow.”

“Can Jessie come over tomorrow? I liked having her here tonight.”

Funny, so had he. “We’ll see. No promises.”

Grace gripped her stuffed dog, Mr. Whiskers, tighter her eyes already starting to droop. “Love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, too.”

When Mack went back outside, he found Jessie still sitting near the fire. “She’s already asleep.” Rather than take his seat from before, he sat in the one to Jessie’s right.

“I guess she had to run out of energy at some point. I ran out of it an hour ago.”

In the fire pit, a log crackled sending tiny sparks up. “Tell me about it. I wouldn’t know what to do with all her energy.” Mack watched the flames dancing for a moment, the sight a bit hypnotizing. “She liked having you here tonight.” He realized that now with Grace in bed Jessie would be leaving. Although he’d never once considered spending an evening with Jessie before, he didn’t want her to leave now. “She wants you to come back tomorrow.” He leaned a little closer, his forearm brushing hers.

Jessie moistened her bottom lip and swallowed. “Don’t you—”

Before she could finish her sentence, he leaned even closer. “ I want you to come back tomorrow.” Mack closed the distance between them and touched his lips to hers.

Jessie remained rigid, reminding him of a stone pillar with her hands gripping the chair, but she kissed him back as if not a hundred percent sure she should. When he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, she relaxed, but her kisses stayed tentative.

Slipping his other hand under her hair, he cupped her head as he traced her lips with his tongue, hoping she’d get the hint and open her mouth to him. He didn’t have to wait long. The moment her lips parted, he surged forward. She tasted like marshmallow, chocolate, and something unique and appealing, something that was a part of Jessie and Jessie alone. Applying more pressure with his lips, he let his tongue meet hers, allowing them each a chance to get to know each other better.

A feather-light touch brushed his arm then moved higher until it left his bare skin and continued up his shirtsleeve. A similar touch slid across his other arm, and soon both of Jessie’s hands rested on his shoulders, sending warmth through the cotton material and into his body.

After a week of Jessie popping up in his thoughts, the feel and taste of her was taking over his brain and bringing other parts of his body online. It had been months since he’d last had sex and his body was taking this opportunity to remind him of that fact. As if sensing where his thoughts had headed, Jessie pulled away. In the firelight, he saw her eyes grow wide as her brain registered what they’d been doing. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but snapped it shut just as fast. Then she dropped her hands back into her lap. Even without her hands on his shoulders, want coursed through his body.

With his arm still around her waist, he kept her close while his other hand rubbed the soft skin on the back of her neck. “So will you?”

Jessie swallowed and licked her lips. “Will I what?” Her usually soft voice was almost inaudible now.

His gaze dropped to her lips, surprised by just how much he wanted to kiss her again. Rather than remain there, though, he looked back up. For as long as he’d known her, she’d worn glasses. With those gone now, he noticed how beautiful her eyes were. Framed by long dark lashes, her eyes were not just a simple shade of brown. Rather flecks of chestnut and mahogany mixed with a hint of gold to create a shade unique to the woman in his arms. Unable to look away for a moment, he lost himself in the depths of her eyes catching a glimpse of the questions and apprehension reflected there.

No, there was more than just apprehension. He saw some fear as well, or at least, he thought it was fear. Then she blinked and whatever emotion he thought he saw disappeared, leaving only the questions behind.

Mack gave himself a mental shake. “Come back tomorrow?”

“I’m opening the store tomorrow. I’ll be there most of the day.”

If he hadn’t been so close to her he never would’ve heard her response.

At the moment, her coming back meant a great deal to him, but he’d ask himself why later. “How about afterward? On Saturdays, Grace and I usually get takeout and watch a movie. Come and join us.”

Jessica bit down on her lip as she considered his invite. “That sounds like a special tradition between the two of you. I shouldn’t intrude.”

Mack moved the hand that rested on her neck forward, tracing her jaw with his index finger. “You wouldn’t be intruding. We both want you here, remember?”