Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(37)

When she didn’t move, Mack stepped toward her and hugged her. The contact brought her voice back online. “Mack, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at work?”

“I left the house at four o’clock this morning. I’m done for the day.” He kissed her and pushed the door closed behind him at the same time. “I decided I’d stop in and see you before I pick up Grace. I hope that’s okay.”

His kiss and words sent a flutter of excitement through her chest. “Of course.” She wanted another kiss; the first one had been too short. So far she hadn’t initiated anything. She’d followed his lead. How would he react if she turned the tables? Some men wanted everything on their terms. Only one way to find out if Mack fit into that category.

Before she lost her nerve, Jessie captured his mouth for a light kiss. When he didn’t pull back with anger, she let the kiss become more demanding. As the kiss sent shivers of desire racing through her, Jessie parted her lips, an open invitation for Mack to enter.

He didn’t disappoint.

In a heartbeat Mack’s tongue met hers and right away, her senses reeled from the delicious sensations his kiss sent through her.

When he did pull away, she noticed how the pulse in his neck beat faster just as her own heart did. In a flash, embarrassment washed over her and she kept her eyes focused on his chest rather than his face when she spoke. “Four? Why so early?” Right now she needed a mundane conversation.

With his index finger, he tilted her face toward his while his other hand remained locked on her waist. “We did a big arrest along with the state police and the DEA.” His hand moved from under her chin and he brushed a few stray hairs from her face.

Jessie’s mind latched onto his comment. “Do you like working with the FBI?”

Mack’s fingers outlined her ear before moving down her face and neck. He stopped for a moment when he reached her shoulder, but then continued down her arm. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist and locked his hands behind her back. “Love it. I’ve been doing it for three years now.”

Locked in his embrace with his body pressed against hers, her mind struggled to keep focused on their conversation. The longer they stayed together, the faster her heart beat. “Are there others like you with the FBI?”

Mack’s head lowered again. “Task force officers?” He brushed a feather-light kiss across her mouth and then pulled back just enough to speak. “Not a lot, but there are others from various police departments.” He dropped another kiss onto her mouth, this one firmer. More demanding.

Driven by passion and the way he’d responded to her earlier, she returned his kiss with reckless abandon.

All too soon, he pulled back, his breathing heavy, leaving her mouth on fire. “I’d like nothing more than to stay and do this for a few hours, but I need to get Grace.”

Still in a kiss-induced fog, Jessie nodded.

“I haven’t seen her since yesterday. She spent last night with Erin so she could get her off to school this morning.” Mack took a step back, his arms still locked behind her. “We’re still on for the weekend though, right? Bethany’s picking Grace up at five on Friday.”

“As of Friday afternoon, I’m free all weekend.” A dose of apprehension bolted through her. They’d be alone, and she didn’t know how far things might go or how far she even wanted them to go.

Mack’s arms fell back to his sides. “Good.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “Are you free to come by for dinner this week?”

“I can come on Wednesday.” Jessie’s apprehension disappeared and was replaced with something that she suspected could easily turn into love.

“Good. I’ll see you then.” He took a step toward the door. “Does six-thirty work?”




Mack glanced back up at Jessie’s apartment before he pulled away from the curb. Again, today, much like yesterday, his attraction toward her had him shaking his head. Never in a million years would he have expected the type of relationship that was developing between them. Before his return, he’d considered her that nice girl in town who got along with everyone, but the one who spent her Saturday nights with her grandmother.

Since he’d seen her running the day he’d moved in, however, he’d viewed her in a whole new light. Sure, she was still the Jessie Quinn everyone liked. The one who wouldn’t think twice about doing anyone a favor. At the same time, however, she wasn’t the girl everyone overlooked anymore. She’d changed into a sexy woman men noticed, though she did appear oblivious to the attention. He’d sure as hell noticed her.

When he’d stopped at her place, he’d only intended a quick hello and a brief kiss. He might have managed that if she hadn’t given him that soul-searching kiss. At first, it’d surprised him. So far, he’d always been the aggressor. He assumed the nervousness he sometimes glimpsed in her was what held her back. Whatever the case, it didn’t bother him. He knew eventually she’d be comfortable enough to make the first move. He just hadn’t expected it today.

However, when she’d taken possession of his lips and then opened her sweet mouth to him, it had nearly brought him to his knees. Even now, his blood pooled below his belt, urging him to turn around and go back. Thankfully, while his body might not know it, his head did realize now wasn’t the time to take things further. Maybe this weekend, but definitely not now.