Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(73)

“Can you promise she won’t be a problem again?”

His instincts said she wouldn’t. Since they’d first separated, Bethany had never acted as if she wanted them together again. He suspected she only did so now because she was single and he had Jessie, a situation that had not occurred before. In another month or so, she’d have someone else and not think about him again.

“It doesn’t matter if it does; I don’t want her. I want you. And, really, she only said that because she’s bored and lonely. Bethany doesn’t do well on her own. She needs an audience.”

Jessie took a step back and his hands fell by his sides. “And what if she wants you to be that audience?”

He understood her concerns, but that didn’t make the situation any less frustrating. “Trust me. I made my feelings clear on Saturday, but if they didn’t get through to her and she does do something again, you have my permission to deck her. I won’t tell anyone.” He wanted to lighten the atmosphere.

He didn’t get the smile he hoped for. “While that’s a tempting idea, I’m serious, Mack.”

He wished he could give her a perfect answer. Right now, he just had his gut and what he knew about Bethany to go on. “We’ll make it so she can’t try anything. If I drive Grace to New York, you’ll come with me. When she picks Grace up at my house, you’ll be there, too. We’ll make it so she’s never alone with me. Will that work for you?” He used the first ideas that popped up.

Stunned described her expression. “You’d do that?”

“I love you, remember? But we aren’t going to have to worry about it. In another month, she’ll introduce Grace to some rich guy she met in the city and all will be right again.” He waited for a smile or a nod. When one didn’t come, he went on. “Do you trust me, Jessie” Deep down, he knew she did. If she didn’t, she never would have slept with him, not after what her ex-boyfriend put her through. Once realized how much she trusted him, Jessie would know she had nothing to worry about. She had to reach that conclusion because the idea of Jessie leaving him scared the hell out of him. Somehow, in a short period of time, she’d become an essential part of his and Grace’s lives. He couldn’t imagine life without her.




The seesaw her emotions sat on leaned in his direction, and she searched her heart. Yes, she trusted him. Throughout their relationship, he’d been understanding and patient. He’d never pushed. He gave her control and let her set the pace of their relationship from the beginning. And she loved Grace. She thought of her more as a daughter than her boyfriend’s daughter. She wanted them in her life. If she let Mack go now, not only would she be losing him and Grace, but she’d also be losing some of the new person she’d fought so hard to become.

If Jessie ended things with Mack, Bethany would now have control. That, she couldn’t let happen. Whatever else took place between them; it had to be because it was what they wanted, not Bethany or anyone else.

“I do trust you.” She moved closer. “And I’m sorry about the last few days.” Jessie embraced him, managing to hit her arm on the pistol holstered on his side. She’d done it at least a half dozen times since they’d started dating. One of these days, she’d remember he wore the thing to work.

Rather than answer, Mack pressed his lips against hers. When he pulled away she wanted another kiss.

“As far as I’m concerned, the last few days never happened, Jessie.”

He bent his head toward her again, but she beat him to the punch and reclaimed his lips, infusing all the emotion she felt into that single kiss. Somehow, though, he took control of it, and she just hung on and savored every moment.

When they pulled apart, his ragged breathing matched her own, and she suspected the look in her eyes mirrored the hunger in his.

“I wish I could stay, but Grace is waiting for me.”

“I know. It’s okay.”

“Why don’t you meet me at my house?” He brushed some stray hairs behind her ear. “She misses you. You can’t even imagine how disappointed she was when you skipped movie night.”

She’d like nothing more, but she shook her head. “I can’t. Maryann is coming over. She’s got some big news she wanted to share. When you knocked, I thought it was her.” She suspected Gage had proposed. The two of them had been together forever. “I have a few things to do in the morning, but I’ll be over afterward. I promise.”

Mack’s hands brushed the sides of her breasts before traveling lower and around to her butt. “You could always call her and cancel. Tell her something came up.” He pressed her against his erection and she considered the suggestion.

“We wouldn’t have much time together anyway tonight, and Maryann sounded so excited.” She reminded herself how long they’d been friends. It would be wrong to cancel on her.

His mouth came down on hers for one long, drawn-out kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. I love you.” He released her and took a few steps away.

“I love you, too. Tell Grace I love her.”

Mack’s smile grew bigger. “Will do.” He opened the door as Maryann raised her hand to knock.





***





Everyone expected constant chatter when they walked into Peggy Sue’s Coffee Shop in the morning. However, a different noise level greeted Jessie Saturday morning.