Not Quite Dating(58)

Jessie pulled into her parking space and turned off the engine. “Well, what do you think?” she asked, stroking the steering wheel.
“I think it’s perfect.” He leaned over then and kissed her. Sweet and short, but so very nice. “I think you need to keep wishing on falling stars,” he whispered with a grin.
Jessie watched his gray eyes sparkle and couldn’t help but think they looked like stars.
“Come on,” he said after pulling away. “Let’s tuck Danny into bed. Then I can tuck you into bed.”
She wiggled out of the driver’s seat. Now, that sounded like a perfect plan.


Jack and Jessie spent the night making love. Making up for the time they’d lost. By morning, Jack was prepared to break away for a few hours. He needed a solid plan to execute how to explain his deception to Jessie. He twisted words in his head, trying to phrase things so she wouldn’t feel lied to.
The more he pondered his approach, the more he knew she’d be angry. Hell, he would be if he were in her place.
He needed female advice.
Jack needed his kid sister.
Sliding behind Jessie as she assembled the makings for cookies, Jack placed a kiss on the side of her neck. “Sugar cookies?” he asked, holding her around the waist with one hand and dipping his finger into the sticky bowl for a stolen taste. He licked his finger and savored the flavor of the cookie dough.
“The best kind.”
“I don’t know about that. Chocolate chip cookies always sing to me.”
Jessie laughed and slapped his hand when he went in for a second taste. “Cookie cutters don’t work with chocolate chips, and you can’t frost them.”
“Yum, frosted chocolate chip cookies. I think you’re on to something.”
She giggled and picked up a spoon to stir the batter.
“I hate to say this.” Jack swiveled Jessie until they were face-to-face. “But I need to go and run some errands, check in at the hotel.”
“Do you have to work today?” She wiped her hands on a towel and set it aside.
“In a way.”
“What does that mean?” She smiled when she asked.
“I’ll explain later.” He avoided lying. Going to the hotel and working were on the agenda, just not exactly in the manner Jessie thought.
“We’ll save some of the frosting so you can make your own,” Jessie said.
Jack glanced at Danny, who was playing a board game with Monica in the living room, then leaned down to kiss Jessie.
Her lips slid over his in a soft caress. So warm. He couldn’t wait to slip a ring on her finger and claim her.
He ended their kiss and squeezed her before moving aside. “I’ll be back,” he promised.
“You better be,” she scolded lightheartedly.
He moved around the counter, waved a hand to the others. “I’ll see you later, Danny.”
“You’re leaving?” His head bounced up.
“Gotta run some errands.”
Danny scrambled to his feet and ran to hug him. There was something about a little boy tossing himself into Jack’s arms that made everything worthwhile. Jack kissed the top of his head. “Later, partner.”
“Later, Uncle Jack,” Danny mimicked.
Jack opened the door and shot a glance at Jessie. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her apron hung from her waist with copious amounts of flour on it. She was smiling, even before she looked up and caught him staring at her.
He did not want to mess this up.
Once outside, he turned on his cell phone and noticed a message waiting for him.
“Jack, dammit, where are you?” It was Katie. “Oh, never mind. Listen, Dad came home ticked that he missed you. He and Beth started talking, and between the two of them and my tight lip, they figured there is a woman involved. One you want to make permanent. I swear I didn’t say a thing. He’s on his way to you. We’re both coming. I’ll try to hold him back until you have things fixed with Jessie. You are fixing things with Jessie, right? Oh, and he said something about meeting with your contractor for the new project while he’s there. He’s been on the phone for the last hour barking orders. Anyway, consider yourself warned.”
Jack turned off his phone and jumped into his truck. With a little luck, he’d make it back to the hotel and manage to clean himself up before his father invaded.
Gaylord Morrison did everything the Texas way.
Big!


Large strides carried Jack through the lobby and to the elevators. Sam saw him from the reception desk and scrambled to catch up with him.
“Mr. Morrison…”
“Not now, Sam, I’m in a hurry.” Jack summoned the elevator to the lobby floor.
“Your father is on his way.”
“I know.” He pressed the button again, frustrated with its speed.
“The other executive suite in the hotel has a guest. Will your father be staying with you?”
The elevator light lit up.
Jack slid into the elevator. “I’ll take care of it, Sam. Don’t worry.”
Housekeeping had erased all evidence of the mess Jack had left before his short trip to Texas. Jack disrobed as he walked but made sure all his clothes were shoved into the closet like a good bachelor. Within twenty minutes, he was shoulder-to-heels Armani, his good Stetson securely on his head, his polished boots on his feet. Not a huge change from Jack Moore, he decided.
His phone rang as he was placing a watch around his wrist. “Hello?”
“Mr. Morrison, your father and sister have arrived.”
Jack drew in a deep breath.
Let the sidestepping begin.