Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(51)
Two sets of eyes turned toward him. “Sorry. I wasn’t sure she wanted me telling anyone.”
“We just started telling people, Mack.”
The two women went back to discussing Jake and how well he’d handled his nephew, leaving Mack to once again zone out. This time, rather than wandering aimlessly, his mind drifted toward children.
He’d become a father a little earlier than planned. When he and Bethany married, they’d decided to wait before starting a family. Bethany had wanted to wait six years before starting and she’d only wanted one or two children. He’d agreed, assuming she’d change her mind and want to start a family after a year or so. Nature had had its own plans, however, and three months after getting married, they learned Grace was on the way. From that point forward, their relationship had begun to change.
After Grace’s first birthday, he’d brought up trying for a second baby. Bethany had flipped out and they’d never discussed it again as their relationship deteriorated further. Since the divorce, he’d accepted that Grace would remain an only child. The more he saw Jessie with Grace, though, the more he wondered if he’d been wrong. Judging by the way she treated his daughter, he knew she’d make a great mother. Did she want children? She’d never given any indication either way, but his instincts told him she did. A mental image of her holding their baby while she sat and read to Grace warmed his soul.
“What do you think is the hardest part about having a newborn in the house, Mack?” Charlie’s question invaded his peaceful image and tugged him back to the present.
***
When he’d asked her to spend the night, he’d assumed her answer could go either way. After her soul-bearing confession, he’d decided to give Jessie control over how fast their relationship progressed. Under no circumstances did he want to make her uncomfortable—or worse—scare her away. He hoped his actions the Sunday she’d spent the night and he’d only held her while she slept, as well as his actions since then, demonstrated that he didn’t expect anything she wasn’t ready to give. Since she’d agreed to spend the night again, he assumed his strategy was working.
Jessie unlocked her apartment door. “Mrs. O’Brien, I mean Mrs. Larson, looked so happy today.” She switched on the lights. “It’s sounds weird to call her Mrs. Larson. She’s been Mrs. O’Brien my entire life.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“Let me change and grab a few things, then we can go.” Jessie went into her bedroom, leaving Mack alone.
She’d told him she’d moved in the previous winter. It had been her final step before leaving therapy for good. Judging by the looks of it, she’d turned the small apartment into her own warm and inviting space, a place that showcased her personality and welcomed visitors.
“I’m shocked Grace’s dress survived the entire day.” She re-entered the living room as she spoke.
Mack looked away from the family pictures Jessie had on a table. She’d changed from her dress into dark gray leggings and a long, fitted sweater. “She does love it. I told her we could talk about wearing it to school after the wedding.”
“Sounds fair. I’m all set if you are.”
“One thing first.” He crossed the room and pulled her close. In response, Jessie opened her mouth as if to speak, but he didn’t give her the opportunity. Bringing his mouth down on hers, he made love to her mouth, his tongue mating with hers. Kissing her like this had invaded his thoughts all day, anticipation building inside him. Now, alone with her, he let the desire loose, drinking his full as he held her close, throwing more fuel on the constant desire humming in his body.
Her lips left his, her breathing rapid. Rather than say anything, she pressed her forehead against his shoulder, her heartbeat thumping against his chest.
“I’ve wanted to do that all day.” His voice came out ragged. “I wanted to thank you, too.”
When she looked up at him, he brushed a soft kiss against her forehead. “For all your help. Grace is crazy about you. After your shopping trip for that dress, all she could talk about was you and how much fun you had together. You really are great with her.”
Jessie’s lips titled upward in a smile and then she looked down at the floor. “I had just as much fun. When you told me she was spending the night with your parents, I was a little disappointed. I enjoy movie night with you two.”
“Next weekend, after Grace’s birthday party we’ll all watch a movie together.” Mack released her and grabbed the bag she’d dropped to the floor when he’d pulled her into his arms.
Without missing a step, Jessie followed him toward the door, switching off the apartment lights along the way. “I still need to get her a birthday present. Every time I settle on one thing, I think of something else and change my mind.”
He preceded her down the stairs. He’d already decided on his own present for Grace and now was as good a time as any to present his idea to Jessie. “Before you do that, I have an idea.” He’d wrestled with the decision, but in the end, after a conversation with his daughter, he’d decided to go with his gut on this one. “Grace has been asking for a while to go to the theme parks in Florida, so this year I’m going to surprise her with a week there. Come with us. That can be your present to her. We can get adjoining rooms or maybe one of those family suites with more than one bedroom.”