Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(38)
The physical reaction he had wasn’t the only thing that had him shaking his head. After all, Jessie was, as Tony said, hot, and he was a single guy who hadn’t had sex in months. The emotional attraction between them surprised him the most. He’d known Jessie all her life and had never considered how much he might enjoy her company. Now, he looked forward to their time together. In fact, even though they’d spent much of the weekend together, he’d missed her yesterday afternoon when she left. Then, the thought of not seeing her today had caused him to make a detour on the way to his sister’s house.
As he drove, the memory of Jessie and Grace painting the previous Friday night popped up. Many women he’d considered dating hadn’t been interested once they learned he had a child. Jessie hadn’t blinked an eye at the fact. Rather, she treated his daughter much the same way a mother or aunt would. While she’d never said it, he knew she cared about Grace, and there was no question that Grace adored Jessie.
Mack passed by the river and the new Stonefield Dam before turning onto Church Street. The apartments that had once lined the street were all gone. Hurricane Andrea had destroyed them a few years earlier. Now, single-family homes and young trees lined the street, another reminder of all the changes around him. When he reached the stop sign, he turned right and pulled into his sister’s driveway.
Yeah, a lot of things were changing, but while that might bother some people, he embraced it. He didn’t know what more would change between him and Jessie, but he was eager to find out.
The door flew open before he pressed the doorbell. “Hi, Uncle Mack,” Brianna said.
Prepared to scold her for opening the door, Mack opened his mouth, but his sister beat him to it.
“Brianna Stone, what I have I told you about opening that door?” Erin stood in the hallway, her arms crossed.
Brianna’s grin disappeared. “Not to unless you or daddy tells me it’s okay.” His niece glanced at him as if she hoped he’d save her.
When he remained silent, she looked back at her mom. “But I saw it was Uncle Mack through the window.”
Erin shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Now go upstairs and tell Grace her dad’s here.”
His niece darted up the stairs, the fairy wings on her back bouncing.
“Last I checked, they were playing dress-up. This might take awhile.” Erin headed back down the hall and indicated Mack should follow. “Help yourself to anything.” Erin stopped at the crockpot and stirred its contents, the scent of the meal inside making his stomach rumble.
Passing his sister, he opened the refrigerator and grabbed a can of soda. “Thanks for all your help.”
“Anytime. Those two play well together.” Replacing the cover, Erin turned from the counter. “Grace filled me in on how Jessie spent much of the weekend with the two of you. Care to share or should I wait and hear it all from Mom who will no doubt hear about it from one of her friends?”
He heard a loud shriek upstairs, followed by running feet. For a moment, he considered checking it out, but when Erin remained unconcerned, he pulled out a kitchen chair. “Since you got everything from Grace, what do you need me to tell you?” His sister had always been a bit of a busybody.
Erin’s eyes narrowed. “I assumed there was more to tell, smart ass. I didn’t even know you two were seeing each other.”
What he and Jessie did wasn’t anyone’s business, but than again, this was North Salem and people noticed everything. “I’m just seeing where things go, sis. Okay?”
“Fine by me. It just surprised me when Grace told me. I like Jessie, but she doesn’t seem like your type. I thought you liked women more like Bethany.” Erin’s voice took on a sour note when she mentioned his ex-wife. From the day he’d first introduced Erin to his ex-wife, they had disliked each other.
While he had no desire to have a relationship with a woman like Bethany, his sister was correct. Jessie wasn’t his usual type. Since his days in college, he’d gone for the more worldly women, for lack of a better word, rather than those who preferred small town life. His ex-wife had grown up in Philadelphia and done some modeling in high school and college before moving to Massachusetts. Jessie, on the other hand, was the living, breathing definition of small town. Unlike in the past, though, he no longer found that a turn-off. He found it the exact opposite.
“People’s preferences change, and the last thing I want is another Bethany.”
“You and me both. You know how I feel about her.” Erin grabbed his soda and took a sip. “I’ve been craving cola all day. I have to get some caffeine-free soda next time I’m out.” She passed the can back to him then her face turned serious. “I don’t think Jessie has dated much. I can’t recall ever seeing her with anyone.”
Jessie’s relationship history didn’t matter to him, although he found his sister’s revelation odd. “So?”
“So I think you should take things extra slow with her. I don’t want you to hurt her feelings. We’re not best friends, but I like Jessie a lot.”
Big surprise there; everyone in town liked her.
“Daddy!” Grace flew into the room and hugged him before he said anything else. “Look at the dress Brianna said I could have.” She pulled back and did a little twirl for him. “She already has one just like it.”