Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(29)

Jessie paused in the kitchen and replayed the glorious kiss in her head. Not even Hollywood could have scripted a more perfect first kiss. The one by her car had also been nice, but not as intense. With a sigh, she headed into her bedroom. What did it mean? Did it mean anything? Maybe he’d just been caught up in the moment. The atmosphere around them had bordered on romantic. Right now, he might be sitting outside, thinking how their kiss had been a mistake. Tomorrow, he might keep his distance. Perhaps even call her and say he changed his mind about her joining them. If that happened, she’d understand. People made mistakes when they got caught up in a moment. But what if he didn’t cancel? What if the kiss tonight meant something? What if he did it again?

Since her recent weight loss, she’d noticed the occasional once-over she got from men, though no one ever made any advances. Well, except for Tony, but she didn’t count him because he came on to all women. She assumed it was because she’d known everyone for so long that they never asked her out, and for the most part, she rarely left North Salem.

Thanks to her limited experience with men, she didn’t know how to interpret tonight’s events. Did she even want Mack’s actions to mean something? Sure, she’d had a crush on him in high school; a lot of girls had. But they weren’t in high school anymore. Hadn’t been in a long time. What did she really know about Mack anymore? He’d moved from North Salem a long time ago, and she had only seen him occasionally during his years away. People changed. Sure, he’d been a nice enough person when he tutored her, but who knew about now?

Jeremy had been kind and considerate in the beginning, too. It had taken him a while to show his true colors.

Jessie slammed her bureau drawer shut. But Mack is one of the good guys.

Angry with herself, she tossed her pajamas onto the bed, then stripped off her jeans and shirt. She’d come a long way in getting her life back on a track she liked. After her six-year relationship with Jeremy, she’d let her life coast. She’d shut out most of the outside world and lived a sheltered existence, afraid to let anyone or anything new in. Over the past year and a half, she’d succeeded at breaking out of that bubble. She’d finally moved out on her own. She’d changed the way she looked and had started doing things she enjoyed rather than the things her grandparents enjoyed.

Whatever this thing with Mack might be, it needed to be treated in the same way. She couldn’t run from it. No, she needed and honestly wanted to see where it might go. It might go nowhere.

Pulling on her pajamas, she glanced in the floor-length mirror. After she’d gained weight in college, she’d avoided mirrors. When she’d decided enough was enough, that she had to take control of her life and change the things she didn’t like, she’d bought a freestanding, full-length mirror. It was a symbol, a reminder that she would no longer hide away.

“Just go with the flow,” Jessie said to her reflection. “Act like nothing has changed and see where things go tomorrow.” Her resolve set, she switched off the light and headed for the couch and an hour or two of her favorite television shows.





Chapter 6




Jessie spent much of the morning assisting customers. Annette, who worked Saturday mornings, called in sick, and Jessie couldn’t get anyone to cover Annette’s shift until eleven o’clock. With Brian there now, Jessie could retreat to her office and finish the schedule for the rest of the month. With the kids back in school, and high school sports back in full swing, her summer schedule no longer worked. The same thing happened every year. While the store did have regular full-time employees with set schedules, it also had a number of part-timers some of whom were students or parents who worked there for additional income. It was these part-timers that messed with her well-ordered schedule.

Jessie opened up the spreadsheet program she used for the schedule. Much of the month was done. If she didn’t have any more interruptions, she could get it wrapped up in another hour or so. Distractions from the store she could block out without a problem. All she had to do was close the office door. It was the mental distractions she couldn’t shut out.

Thoughts of Mack and the night ahead plagued her. Would he kiss her again? Grace would be there for some of the time and she doubted he’d kiss her then. But what about afterwards?

At some point Grace would go to bed. She hoped he kissed her then. Or should she make the first move this time? This was the twenty-first century. Women could let a man know how they felt.

Jessie’s mind wandered away from the schedule and she pictured them outside again. This time, however, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth to hers. In her vision, they kissed, his fingers sinking into her hair.


“You’ll never do it,” she muttered under her breath and wished she was a little more like Charlie or Mia. Both women were very sure of themselves. If they wanted something, they went after it.

The vision evaporated and Jessie looked back at the computer screen. She’d scheduled herself until three o’clock. That gave her three more hours. If she remained on task, she could get everything done by then.

Once Jessie finalized the schedule, she moved down her To-Do list. She was still reviewing the materials she’d received from a new manufacturer of eco-friendly cabinetry when Charlie appeared on the other side of the window. Before she could even knock, Jessie gestured for her to enter. She’d last seen Charlie over the Fourth of July weekend.