by Anne Conley
When Summer got there, they had a pretty extensive plan of action. She informed them she was able to get Whiskey Myers to play.
“The only thing is, they’re only available two weeks from Friday. After that, they won’t be able to play for six months. They’re fixing to start a pretty rigorous tour.”
“Well, that doesn’t give us much time.” Jessie said, suddenly nervous, butterflies jumping to attention in her stomach. She was getting ready to put her business on display for the community, and open herself up to criticism she wasn't sure she wanted.
“I know, which is why I stayed up late last night, finishing the flyers, and had copies made this morning.” She passed out glossy, colorful pages to Kathy and Jessie. “I’ve already started putting some around town today. They’re hanging in windows downtown, and a lot of businesses agreed to put stacks of them by the registers.” She said proudly.
“Wow.” Jessie was impressed, even more so after looking at the flyer. Summer was an artist.
A beautiful wheel of cheese dominated the page, and in a corner was a picture of Jessie holding a baby spotted goat, Domino, and in another corner was a publicity shot of the band. Summer had titled the event “Eat and Greet.” Underneath, was ‘Stillwell Dairy, producer of fine local chevre, invites you to come meet the owner, listen to local music, and sample products.’ Under that, was Jessie’s phone number, and directions to her farm.
Holding back tears of gratitude, Jessie sniffed. “This looks great, Summer.”
“Thanks.”
A short, staccato triple-honk precluded Alyssa’s entrance into Jessie’s house. They greeted each other with hugs and cheek kisses. Alyssa was a school teacher, and they used to have Wednesday night karaoke sessions every two weeks. But when she met her current husband, Dalton, they had stopped. Alyssa didn’t seem too eager to leave her hubby, and girls’ night just wasn’t the same with him there. Jessie admitted to herself she liked Dalton, a lot. She always had. Secretly, Jessie wished she and Connor could have a relationship like Dalton and Alyssa’s. That was why she was trying so hard with him.
Alyssa was tall, though still a few inches shorted than Jessie, who was close to six feet tall. She had long, blond hair that fell down her back in waves. They were built similarly, but where Jessie was muscular planes, Alyssa was soft curves. Compared to the two of them, Summer was an elf, at barely five feet tall, with short pink hair, which she was currently wearing in glittery barrettes, clipped above her ears. Kathy was a vibrant red head, who stood at about five foot six, and had a body fit for a stripper pole--tiny waist, slim hips, and huge breasts, which she flaunted with low-cut, tight fitting blouses.
Summer, Kathy, and Jessie had all gone to high school together, and Alyssa had come into the mix after college, when she moved here. They rarely had an occasion anymore where they all four got to get together, so they relished each time.
Kathy was notorious for leaving town, either to follow a job opportunity, or a man, or both. Her latest expedition to Dallas to follow Don, a museum curator had ended in tears, and more information about the dinosaur exhibits from her docent job at the museum than anybody cared to remember. In fact, she had missed all of Alyssa and Dalton’s whirlwind courtship and marriage.
Now, she was back, and the girls were glad.
Three bottles of wine, a bag of chips, and three bowls of some sort of sinful jalapeño cream cheese dip later, the girls were giggling uncontrollably at Jessie’s latest raunchy joke.
A knock at the door interrupted them.
Jessie opened the door to find a man who could only be Connor’s little brother. Kathy was right in her assessment of him. He was smaller than Connor, but still built really well, and his hair was darker and a little longer. He even wore Connor’s amused expression, identical right down to the twinkle in his cobalt blue eyes.
“I’m sorry to interrupt so much fun, but I’m Luke Wright. Connor sent me out to do a walk-about and see what needed fixing.” He held out his hand to shake hers.
“Yes, we were probably being a little loud.” Jessie smiled at him.
Luke grinned back, but noticed something behind her that made him blush slightly. “Hey, Kathy.”
“Hi Luke.” Kathy was giggling uncontrollably. “I can take you on the walk-about.” Looking at Jessie, she said, “I can show him all the stuff we talked about earlier, if you want me to.”
Knowing full well Kathy wanted to, Jessie nodded at her and said, “Knock yourself out.”
Kathy and Luke walked down the steps of the porch together, stopping at the bottom for Kathy to show Luke the lack of gutters around the roof. Jessie shrugged her shoulders and shut the door. She knew the look Kathy got when another man came into her sights.
Chapter 11
Connor had stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, reading Louise’s journal. When he had finished, he was nauseous. She definitely had a story to tell, and the journal had told it, but as for her spirit in the house, he still wasn’t sure what it wanted, or what he was supposed to do with her.
His thoughts were so wrapped up in the journal, he had dreamed of her last night. Disjointed images floated through his memory this morning, images he could only attribute to the journal and her story. It was heartbreaking.
Heaving a weary sigh, he rubbed his face before swinging his legs out of bed and tiptoeing down the stairs from the loft in the carriage house. Luke was still asleep on the foldout couch in the living area, and Connor didn’t want to wake him.
Walking over to the big house, he went into the kitchen to make coffee and plan his day. He had already decided to let Kathy work the lunch shift for him. She needed to know she was able to do it, before Jessie’s open house, and Connor needed to see Jessie.
He needed to get away from the restaurant, from Louise’s ghost, and memories of what she had written. He needed to be around something sweet, wonderful, and amazing.
He needed Jessie.
After drinking his coffee, thankfully without the eerie musical accompaniment, he dressed and waited for Kathy to get there.
Luke came through the kitchen to grab a thermal cup of coffee before leaving to do whatever he was doing today.
“Hey, dude. What’s up?”
“Not much, just waiting for Kathy to get here. What’s on your plate today?”
“Jessie gave me a credit card yesterday to buy materials, and afterwards, I’m going to get started on her place.”
“Wow. Credit card, huh? She must trust you. I won’t even give you my credit card.” He ducked a friendly punch.
“She’s a hell of a lot nicer than you are, man. You might could learn a little from her.” He leaned against the counter, coffee cup in hand, as he sipped the hot liquid. Connor could feel the slow burn flow up his cheeks.
Connor looked at his brother warily. Luke was wearing a smirk. “What?”
“You’ve got it bad, man.” He continued smirking as he sauntered out the door.
Jessie had already milked the goats, and since Alyssa was bringing her kids over later in the day to help with the cheese, she took the opportunity to work in the herb garden.
She had really enjoyed yesterday with the girls. She had needed a day to think about other people and their lives instead of her own. Now, she was having a reality check. She still had to deal with Chad, and getting some sort of restraining order. Maybe she could do that tomorrow.
She had no idea how to deal with the spirit at Connor’s? Just thinking of Connor brought a hot flush of desire to her cheeks.
As she dug her fingers in the soil, loosening the roots of the weeds, she remembered the feel of his skilled fingers on her body. She felt her muscles loosen at the memory, and she sighed. She wished they had been able to finish what they had started without a maniacal ghost woman in the room.
She hummed softly to herself as she diligently pulled weeds and trimmed the herbs. Jessie was putting the detritus in a sack at her feet, and herb trimmings in a basket at her side for use la
ter.
Lost in her work, she didn’t realize Connor was watching her, until he politely cleared his throat, scaring the bejesus out of her. She started, and spun around, dropping her trowel in the process.
Connor’s eyes were amused, and the corners of his mouth were quirked up. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I startle easily, you really shouldn’t sneak up on me.”
“I’ve noticed.” He was slowly stalking her, the amusement in his face turning predatory.
For some reason, the look on his face flustered her. She looked down at herself, noticing the ripped jeans, no bra, stained tank top, and everything covered in dirt. “I’m a mess.” She said to herself, still looking down, brushing dirt off herself.
“A hot mess.” When she looked up at the nearness of his voice, she realized he was right there, inches away from her. His breath caressed her face as he spoke, a gravelly whisper. “I can’t get the other night out of my mind, the taste of you off my tongue.” His lips were on hers before she could respond.
His kiss was gentle at first, tasting her. He sighed, sending a trembling shudder through her body. Her arms wound around his neck, pressing her body closer to his as he lifted her by her rear, pulling her against his hard body. She intensified the kiss, opening up to him, hoping he could feel her need.
She wanted to finish what they had started, too.
They tumbled to the ground, reaching for each other in unison. Her hands were in his pants as his mouth nibbled lower on her neck, his hands under her tank top. He groaned, loudly as she felt the smooth heat of him spring free from his jeans.
“Oh my…” She said at the sheer enormity of it. She looked up into his eyes, glazed with desire. She slowly stroked the length of his shaft, and his body shuddered at her touch. He was squeezing her breasts, tweaking the nipples, and she gasped at the shock of electricity shooting through her body.
She devoured him in a hungry kiss. She wanted him, now, and she was going to have him. Her tongue melded with his in an appeal, an entreaty to take her now, here. Her hand continued stroking him, as she moaned into his mouth from the sensations of his hands on her breasts.
When he broke off the kiss to lower his mouth to her nipples, she was panting.
“Connor…Please…”
“What?” His mouth paused in their ministrations.
“I want you. Now. In me.”
That was all the encouragement he needed. His hands were on the snap of her jeans in a heartbeat, pulling them down, as he eagerly pressed his erection against her opening. Pausing to look into her eyes, she was overwhelmed at the yearning on his face.
“Say it again…” He begged her.
“Jessie? Are you back here?”
The surprise frozen on his features would have been comical, if they hadn’t been nearly naked. It was his brother, Luke.
“Stay there, Luke!” Muttering curses under his breath, Connor rolled off her, helping Jessie to re-order herself before he pulled up his own pants. They could both hear Luke chuckling on the other side of the bush of bridal wreath. “What do you want?” Connor growled at his brother as he stood, helping Jessie to her feet.
Luke came out from behind the large, flowering shrub, with a huge grin on his face. Jessie touched Connor’s arm.
“I forgot to tell you. Luke’s starting on the house today.”
“And now I know why Kathy had to work the lunch shift.” Luke waggled his eyebrows at Connor good-naturedly.
“Well, Kathy has to know she can do it. I will need her to do that from time to time.” Connor’s voice was gruff. It was apparent he was now in a foul temper.
“And Alyssa will be here, soon. With her children.” She looked at Connor, lust and desire fading into disappointment and frustration. She could see he felt the same way.
“Go ahead and get started, Luke. My tools are in the shed over there, if you need anything.” She grasped Connor’s hand and pulled him around to the other side of the house, for a little privacy. Not that anything would happen now, the moment had passed.
He pulled her to him, and dropped his mouth to hers in a scorching kiss. He rested his forehead on hers. “If it’s not one thing, it’s another…”
“Yeah. I know.” She kissed him again, not able to help herself. As if just touching lips with this man could quench her thirst for him.
“Come to the restaurant tonight? Please?” His eyes had rekindled their lusty gleam.
“Um…” The memories of the last time at his place were still fresh in her mind.
“I’m not sleeping in the big house anymore. I moved a bed to the carriage house. We can be there. There’s nothing there.” A lock of his sandy blonde hair had fallen over his forehead, and he looked like a little boy, begging for a puppy.
“Okay.” She said reluctantly. She wanted to be in this man’s bed, so bad, she would have agreed to anything.
He gave her one last lingering kiss before leaving.
That evening, Connor was be-bopping through the dinner rush, singing along with the Black-Eyed Peas’ newest hit, when Jessie walked into the kitchen. They were busier than she had seen them, and she didn’t want to disturb the flow, so she leaned in the corner, crossed her arms, and watched him work.
His movements were fluid, as if without thought, yet his expression was intense. His actions were filled with purpose, yet at the same time graceful. He seemed totally at ease cooking in the kitchen, and Jessie settled in for a show. She winked at Kathy, who was acting as sous-chef, holding her finger to her lips. Kathy smiled back at her.
Connor’s gray slacks-clad legs bounced to the music as he held a sauté pan, flipping peaches in it. The sleeves of his white jacket were rolled up, and she watched his tattooed forearms bunch as he poured a liquid into the pan before lighting it on fire. He continued tossing the fruit, while the blue flames burned down before pouring the mixture over a small cake. In almost the same movement, he dislodged a crepe from another pan, and slid it onto another plate before drizzling what looked like chocolate sauce over it. Plates in hand, he turned to set them on a pass-through window as he rang a bell zealously, still singing.
Jessie was mesmerized as she watched Connor work deftly. He created succulent dishes, and served them in the pass-through window, each one looking as delicious as the last. When he finally reached a stopping point, Jessie had been watching him for thirty minutes. He went to the sink to wash his hands, finally seeing her standing there.
“Hey! What are you doing here?” He came over to Jessie and put his hand on her hip, leaning over for a kiss.
“You told me to come by, remember?”
“Yeah, but I thought you would eat, or something. Not lurk back here with all of the drudgery.”
“I’ve enjoyed watching the drudgery, thank you very much.” She snaked her arms around his neck, not willing to let him go just yet. “Besides, I ate before I came over. I’m ready for dessert.” She watched his pupils dilate with desire, before kissing him one more time, sucking his bottom lip between her teeth, before letting him loose.
He uttered a low growl from the back of his throat, and reluctantly let her go. ‘Well, I think I have one more dessert to make, and then we can leave Kathy to clean up and we’ll go out to the carriage house. Okay?”
Kathy had apparently overheard this last exchange. “Sure! Leave Kathy to clean up the mess, while you guys go get it on. I see how it is…” She grumbled.
Connor smirked at Kathy, while Jessie unobtrusively crossed her legs. She was squeezing them together to ease some pressure. Watching Connor in the kitchen was causing all sorts of reactions in her body. Who knew a man in the kitchen was so sexy?
Connor was singing along with a new pop song on the top forty radio station, this one a Brittany Spears song. Jessie giggled into the back of her hand.
Connor quirked an eyebrow at her. “What?”
“Just, the music you listen too. It’s surprising.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. You’re this big manly tattooed man, listening to awful pop music. Not just listening to it, you know every word! It’s hilarious.”
“I’m glad you think it’s funny I’m in touch with my teeny-bopper side.”
From across the room, she stared him down. “I like your teeny-bopper side.”
Not taking his eyes from hers, he slid whatever was in the saucepan onto a plate, drizzled something over the top of it, and stuck it in the pass-through.
“There are more sides to me that I don’t think you’ve seen.”
A retching sound reminded them of Kathy’s presence. Jessie giggled again.
Connor held his hand to her. “Let’s go.”
Jessie followed him eagerly to the carriage house, anticipation coiling tightly in her gut. She had been looking forward to this moment all day long. She had a hard time working with Alyssa while she’d been imagining what she and Connor would get up to tonight. She shivered in delight at the thought.
Connor could not believe this was finally going to happen. As he led Jessie across the parking lot to the carriage house, his pulse pounded in his veins, his cock throbbed mightily, and he said a little prayer he would be able to last longer than thirty seconds.
He was well aware Jessie had much more experience than him of late, but he was determined to set himself apart from the others in her eyes.
After making sure Luke was not home, as his brother had promised, Connor eagerly pushed Jessie against the door, cupping her face in his hands. He intended to swallow her in a crushing kiss, but was surprised when she took the initiative, grabbing his ass and pulling him close. Her mouth searched for his, and he enthusiastically complied, their mouths joining in searching heat. As tongues entwined, fighting for dominance, Jessie's scent overwhelmed him. The sweetness was familiar, irresistible, and caused his heart to pound even harder. He was aware of her ragged breathing, as her hands moved erratically, from his ass, to his shoulders, to his chest, to his hair. Her hands on his body were driving him insane with need.
