Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(64)
“That was better than I expected,” Bethany said from the backseat.
He’d thought the same thing, but not in terms of the hike. Rather, he’d expected Bethany to bitch and moan the entire time like the one and only time they’d tried camping together. It’d gone so poorly that after the first night, they’d packed up and stayed in a hotel. Today, though, she’d kept any complaints to herself.
“And it tired out our daughter. She’s already asleep.”
Mack cringed at the added emphasis Bethany put on the word our. If they’d been alone, he would’ve said something. Instead, he took Jessie’s hand and squeezed it.
The car ride that afternoon would go down as the quietest and most uncomfortable in history. With Grace asleep, she couldn’t fill the car with her usual chatter much to Mack’s disappointment. And when they reached their destination, he’d never been so happy to see a garage.
“It’s all set. Thanks for the ride today. Tell Grace I love her when she wakes up and I’ll see you both next weekend,” Bethany said when she returned to the car where he waited.
Next weekend? She’d come this weekend, so Grace could skip the next visit. “Grace has her school picnic next weekend, remember?” Bethany had her faults, but she was an organized woman who didn’t forget changes in her schedule.
“I know, but you said it was a family picnic. I am Grace’s mother, so I thought I’d come, too. It’ll give me a chance to meet more of her friends.” The cold stare she threw in Jessie’s direction canceled out Bethany’s smile. The one she’d not intended for him to see, judging by the fact that she leaned close to his window, giving him an unobstructed view of her breasts. A view that at one time would’ve had him ready to go, but now did nothing for him.
The last place he wanted Bethany was in North Salem again next weekend. “It is a family event, but that’s a long drive just for a school outing.” He couldn’t tell her outright not to come. “The kids usually run around. It’s a little like a zoo. Maybe you should just wait until Grace’s holiday concert to meet her other friends.”
She waved a hand in front of her. “I don’t mind the drive. I’ll call you during the week and let you know where I’m staying. If I can get here early enough on Friday, I’ll stop in and see Grace.”
Bethany walked away before he could speak again. With any luck, she’d change her mind between now and then. It happened all the time. Maybe if he hoped and prayed enough, it’d happen again.
“Anywhere you want to go on the way home?” He glanced at Jessie, but she didn’t notice as she glared after his ex-wife, her expression reeking of jealousy.
Rather than starting the car, he reached for her chin and turned her face toward him. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“Who said I was worried?”
You did. “I don’t know what she’s up to, but it doesn’t matter, Jessie. I love you.”
Before she said anything, she kissed his cheek. “Really, Mack, I’m not worried. I trust you.”
Her tone sounded normal. Her smile looked sincere yet he doubted her words and didn’t blame her for the feelings she had. She’d witnessed Bethany coming on to him all weekend and the kiss that morning. While he knew it had meant nothing and had told her so, he understood how she might have issues with it.
“Good. I’m glad. And I promise to never give you any reason not to.” He let the matter go after that. Rehashing that morning’s event accomplished nothing.
***
“I’m glad you found the time for dinner with your old man.” Her dad sat on the couch while Jessie got them something to drink Monday night. He’d stopped by for their weekly father-daughter dinner, but the roast needed more time in the oven, so he’d taken a seat in the living room while they waited.
Her conscience already bothered her enough without his little reminder that she’d canceled their last few dinners. “Life’s been a little crazy, Dad. I’m sorry. But Ty’s feeling better and Sue is back from vacation, so my hours at the store should go back to normal.”
“Just giving you a hard time. I know you’ve been busy at work and I’m glad you’re seeing Mack.”
She’d never come right out and told her dad that she and Mack were together. She didn’t need to; the town gossip chain had done that for her.
“It would’ve been nice if you told me. Instead, I heard about how you spent the night from Mrs. Mitchell.”
Jessie squirmed in her seat. Having her dad assume she had sex was one thing; having him know it for a fact… well, that was something different.
“You okay with him having an ex-wife and a kid? Raising someone else’s kid is different than raising your own. Not everyone can do it.”
She loved them both and didn’t care that Grace wasn’t her daughter. Up until last weekend, she hadn’t cared that Mack had an ex-wife either. Since then, her opinion had changed. If Bethany continued her behavior from last weekend, Jessie feared she’d lose it and tell the woman off—or worse.
“No matter what, that little girl will always keep Mack and his ex-wife involved in each others’ lives.”
Once again, she saw them kissing in his kitchen. Mack insisted she’d come on to him and she believed him. But if Bethany kept doing that, would Mack eventually succumb? A lot of men would take one look at Bethany and fall to their knees, begging for her attention.