Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(34)
Now, the three of them sat together in what would be a perfect pose for a family photo. And while that might make another man uncomfortable, it filled him with a sense of contentment he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Not only did he have his daughter, whom he loved more than life itself, but he had someone he enjoyed spending time with and who accepted Grace.
Since his divorce, he’d done some dating, but none had led to anything more than dinner and occasional sex. While some of the women he’d gone out with might have been interested in more, the moment he mentioned Grace, they backed off. As a result, he’d decided not to look for anything serious until Grace was older. That was why the last few times he’d gone out, he’d done so because he just wanted a night out with someone other than his daughter or his buddies, not because he hoped they’d be the right one.
Now, though, he reconsidered his decision. Being with Jessie felt right. No, the word right didn’t describe it, but it was the only word he could find. Not only did he enjoy her company, but he found himself physically attracted to her in a way he’d not experienced before. While he didn’t know how to explain it, he knew it was true.
Even now, as they sat there, he thought about their previous kiss and the ones he intended to share with her later. He couldn’t remember any other time as an adult he’d been so consumed by thoughts of kissing. If all those reasons weren’t enough to make him reconsider his earlier decision, her treatment of Grace added even more. In the short time since his return, she’d showed Grace nothing but affection. Judging by how Grace had reacted the night of the block party, Jessie had also shown her attention in the past.
“So what do you think? Will she marry the awful prince?” Jessie asked and Mack once again looked in her direction, something he’d done a lot that night.
“Nope. She’s gonna marry Wesley.” Grace reached for another handful of popcorn.
“I still don’t believe you’ve never seen this movie,” Mack said. While he’d seen The Princess Bride years ago and knew how it ended, neither his daughter nor Jessie ever had.
“I don’t even remember it being in the theaters.” She turned her attention back to Grace. “How’s she going to marry Wesley? He’s locked up in that dungeon.”
“The prince is a bad guy. They always lose. You’ll see.”
Mack wished his daughter’s statement was true, but he didn’t correct her. She’d learn the truth soon enough.
Jessie looked at him over Grace’s head. “She sounds rather confident. Do you think she’s right?”
“You’re just going to have to watch and find out.”
***
Jessie stayed on the couch while Mack tucked Grace into bed. Unlike the last time she’d visited, Grace had given her dad a bit of a hard time. Although past her bedtime, she’d insisted that she wasn’t tired and wanted another movie. Jessie had all but laughed when Grace told her father that. As it was, the girl had almost not made it all the way through the movie. More than once, she caught Grace’s eyes starting to droop.
In the end, Mack carried Grace upstairs, and as Jessie waited for his return, her thoughts turned to the night ahead. Although he hadn’t said anything, she’d caught the once-over he’d given her when she’d arrived. And while some women found it rude or insulting, it had boosted her confidence. Men in town—at least to the best of her knowledge—didn’t view her as a potential girlfriend. Rather, they saw her as plan old reliable Jessica Quinn, the manager of the hardware store. The person they looked to when they couldn’t find the saw they wanted or when they needed to special-order a new bathroom sink.
The way Mack had looked at her, though, let her know he saw something else—and better yet, liked what he saw. At least she thought he did. Not having a lot of experience with men, it was possible she’d misread him. She hoped not.
She heard footsteps upstairs and then a door close. A thrill of anticipation mixed with nerves settled in her stomach. When he’d kissed her the night before, he’d sent excitement coursing through her body, awakening parts that had been dormant for so long. Then tonight, when he’d touched her face, he’d sent shock to those same parts, awakening them even more. What would the rest of the night bring? Would he kiss her again? Or, instead, say goodnight now and walk her to her car with a “see you around”?
“She almost fell asleep brushing her teeth. I think she gave me a hard time because you’re here. She really likes you.”
Jessie watched him as he came back into the room and her self-confidence slipped. For a moment, she wondered if she’d imagined the kiss they’d shared. This was Mack Ellsbury. The guy so many girls in town had wanted to date. The man who looked even more gorgeous now than he had back in school. Why would he kiss her?
You didn’t imagine the kiss or the way he looked at you.
Her thoughts bolstered her confidence.
“I like her, too. She’s a sweet girl.”
Mack sat next to her, his thigh rubbing against hers. “Can I get you anything?”
Yes, you. The thought popped into her head, but thankfully, not out of her mouth.
“I know I was thinking about another cupcake,” he said.
The cupcakes from Peggy’s weren’t the normal sized ones people baked at home. They were huge. Earlier in the night she’d split one with Grace. “No, thanks.”