The laugh, when it came out of Jessie, was something between and guffaw and a snort. As she looked at Zach’s phallic snowflake, she doubled up with laughter. The more she tried to contain it, the worse the giggle fit became.
“Momma, you shouldn’t laugh at Zach’s snowflake,” Gracie said. “You’ll hurt his feelings.”
Jessie pressed her lips together and nodded, trying her best.
“She’s right,” Zach said. “My feelings will go positively limp.”
A snort erupted and tears sprang from her eyes. Jessie gave Zach a warning look that was likely ruined by the smile that still curved her lips up.
“Here,” he said. He reached around her, brushing her side with his arm, and ripped a piece of tape off of the dispenser. “Let’s hang it right here, shall we?”
Jessie watched as he taped his snowflake along with the others they had made right in the center of the kitchen window.
“Oh, that looks good there,” Maddie said. “Don’t you think so, Momma?”
“It would be hard to find a better place for it,” Jessie said.
This time it was Zach who hooted with laughter. He didn’t even try to contain it.
As he walked past her on his way back to his seat, he leaned in close and said, “I feel compelled to say that the parrots on the snowflake are not the actual size.”
His teasing gaze held hers and Jessie felt her face get hot.
“Of course not,” Gracie said. “Everyone knows a real parrot is bigger than that.”
Zach reclaimed his seat at the table and grinned. “Man, I love these kids.”
Both of her daughters beamed up at him as he began to fold his next piece of paper, and Jessie felt something in her chest shift. This. This day of laughter and chatter was what she’d always hoped for with her ex-husband, but he hadn’t been one to spend time with his daughters.
Seth liked his daughters to be dressed prettily and to be quiet. On the few occasions that they had been in public as a family, he’d expected Jessie and the girls to make him look good. He’d certainly never thrown them into snowbanks, played board games, or made paper snowflakes with them. It used to hurt her that Seth couldn’t see the magical creatures that their daughters were but she’d adjusted, trying to fill the space where a father would usually stand in his daughters’ lives.
She watched as Zach threw an M&M in the air and caught it in his mouth. This, of course, turned into a game for the girls to see who could throw it into Zach’s mouth. When Maddie tossed up an M&M and tried to catch it, Jessie had to keep herself from telling her not to because she would choke. The M&M bounced off of Maddie’s nose and she erupted into laughs.
The happy threesome settled back down and began to work on their snowflakes and Jessie grabbed a pair of scissors and joined them. She folded her paper up and began cutting. When she opened it, the snowflake was a series of hearts. She thought it was pretty appropriate, because despite the power outage and the stress of dealing with the storm that still raged outside, she loved this day. When she taped her snowflake right next to Zach’s “parrot” one, she couldn’t help but laugh.
• • •
Exhausted from their time outside and full of beef stew, which Jessie had made in the Crock-Pot, and bread and butter, the sisters demanded three stories from Zach before they clocked out in their sleeping bags on the floor of the living room. The fireplace was keeping the first floor of the house toasty warm, but the upstairs was too cold and dark for the girls. Rufus and Chaos wedged themselves in between the girls, the four of them sleeping in a pile like all good packs did.
Zach and Jessie moved into the dining area on the other side of the room so as not to wake the girls. A chime sounded and Zach took his phone from his pocket and studied the message.
“It’s Cooper,” he said. “Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, across the street from me, are having trouble with their generator. He wants me to run over and check on them.”
“Can I help?” Jessie asked.
“No, but thanks,” he said. He dropped his phone on the table and stealthily went to retrieve his boots from where he’d put them on the hearth to dry out.
Jessie glanced at the phone. Sure enough she saw the name Coop and the name Lewis in the text. She felt bad for checking on him like she used to check on Seth, who would never have left his phone where she could read it and discover his many extramarital affairs.
That alone let her know that Zach was a good guy with nothing to hide. It was ridiculous—she had no need to check his phone—but she couldn’t help feeling possessive since Zach had been so helpful in getting them through this storm. She really didn’t want to share him, which was ridiculous because they were just neighbors. He wasn’t hers to share or not with anyone.
He moved from his boots to his coat, gloves, and hat. When he was fully covered, he started toward the door. Jessie hurried after him with his phone.
“Zach, don’t forget your phone,” she said. “In case you get into trouble and need to call for help.”
“Thanks,” he said. “Can you put it inside my coat pocket?”
He patted his chest with a thick glove and Jessie unzipped his jacket and tucked his phone into the inside pocket before she zipped him back up.
“Stay safe,” she said.
“I promise.”
He fastened the hood, which covered his nose and mouth, and his hat sat low on his brow beneath the hood, making just his eyes visible. She couldn’t hear him if he said anything more so she turned and opened the door to let him out.
“Do you want Rufus with you?” she asked.
Zach shook his head, and she got the feeling he wanted Rufus to stay here with her and the girls to keep an eye on them. It was a sweet gesture but she would have felt better if he took the dog with him. It was cold and dark outside and she couldn’t help but worry.
• • •
An hour passed before he returned. Jessie yanked the door open and he hurried into the house on a gust of bitter cold air. Zach looked frozen, with snow caked on his hat and gloves, and Rufus mobbed him, clearly anxious about his human. Zach yanked off a glove and petted Rufus until the dog was assured that his person was fine; then the dog resumed his post between the girls.
Jessie went into the kitchen and used the extension cord from the generator to plug in the microwave to heat some milk for hot chocolate. She had noticed that Zach enjoyed it and she wanted to do something nice for him.
The fact that he had run out of a warm house to go help a neighbor in one of the worst blizzards in Bluff Point history reinforced what she was coming to believe about Zachary Caine: that he was a good man, whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not.
She wasn’t used to having someone share her responsibilities and while she knew she could have managed this storm by herself, it would have been infinitely more stressful. Zach collapsed on a chair at the dining room table, and when the cocoa was done, she pushed his mug in front of him and he glanced up at her.
“Thanks,” he said. “It’s still snowing but it looks like the worst of the storm has passed. They’re giving it another twenty-four hours to move out completely.”
“Oh, good,” she said. “And the Lewises are okay?”
“Oh, yeah,” Zach said. “I brought over some diesel for his generator and made sure he had enough firewood. He and Mrs. Lewis looked like they were planning a romantic rendezvous in front of the fire.”
“They did not,” Jessie said.
“She came out in a negligee,” Zach said. “And those little shoes with the feathers on the toes.”
“Kitten heels?” Jessie asked. She tried to wrap her head around the elderly Mrs. Lewis dressed like that.
“Yep, those are the ones,” Zach said. Then he laughed. “Mr. Lewis couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.”
Jessie sank into the chair beside his, holding
her cocoa in two hands to keep her fingers warm. She took a sip.
“Well,” she said.
“Yep, that’s pretty much all I could say, too.” Zach laughed. “Who knew Mr. Lewis had it in him.”
Jessie grinned. “Here’s to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis.” She held up her mug in salute and Zach lifted his and tapped it against hers.
They were quiet for a moment and Zach shifted in his seat, clearly restless. Jessie had the feeling he had something on his mind. She was right.
“Jessie, I know it’s none of my business, but where is Seth? I mean, maybe he’s checked in and I’m unaware, but it seems to me that when your daughters are in a blizzard, you should check on them,” he said.
Jessie could tell by the deep frown line in between his eyes that he was perturbed even though his voice was even as if he was actively trying to keep out the judgment and derision.
“Last I heard, he was in Costa Rica,” she said.
“Excuse me?”
“Right before the holidays, he announced that he was feeling depressed and needed some ‘me’ time. That’s the last I’ve heard from him.”
“He missed Christmas and New Year’s?” Zach asked. This time his voice was higher and his frown line deeper.
“Yes,” she said. “Honestly, and I don’t mean to be cruel, but I think we had a much better holiday without him. He tends to bring very high expectations and a lot of drama with him. The girls and I had a very nice, very mellow holiday for a change.”
Zach didn’t say anything but his knuckles were white where he gripped his mug. Without overthinking it, Jessie reached out and put her hand on his.
“It’s okay,” she said. “We’re doing all right.”
Zach nodded. His gaze moved from her eyes to her mouth. Before Jessie could track his movement, he was pressing his lips against hers.
She stiffened in surprise and he went still but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he put his cocoa down and cupped her face with his hands, holding her gently as if she were something rare and precious that he’d found.
Then he kissed her again. This time Jessie was ready and she didn’t jump but she didn’t kiss him back either. Truly, she was so out of practice, she didn’t know what to do, or where to put her hands, and she was pretty sure she’d forgotten how to breathe and was about to pass out.
Zach pulled away again, just far enough so he could see her face. She had no idea what he saw there but whatever it was, he must have been reassured because he came back in for more. Under his gentle pressure, Jessie actually managed to get her lips to pucker a little in return.
She felt Zach smile against her mouth and she relaxed a tiny bit; maybe she wasn’t completely hopeless at kissing. Tentatively, she opened her mouth, inviting Zach to deepen the kiss. He did. He licked across her lips and urged her to kiss him back with the same intensity. He moved one hand to the back of her head and buried his fingers in her hair, holding her steady while he took full possession of her mouth, her wits, and any sense of where she ended and he began.
He tasted of spicy cocoa and smelled of pine trees and freshly fallen snow. His body put off a heat she hadn’t felt in a long time and a part of her wanted to melt against that masculine warmth and let it consume her.
Jessie didn’t remember putting her mug down or turning into him. She only knew that when she finally came up for air, her hands were on his shoulders, her fingers clutching the fabric of his wool sweater as if she never planned to let go.
His face was inches from hers. They were both breathing hard. Zach’s gaze met hers and his brown eyes looked startled as if he hadn’t expected what had just happened.
“Well, that escalated quickly,” he said. He took her hands in his and laced their fingers together.
“Yeah.” She glanced down at the table. Oh, man, he’d probably just meant to give her a quick kiss. A sorry-your-life-is-such-a-train-wreck sort of kiss, but her lack of skill and want for affection had spiraled them into a whole new place.
“Hey.” He let go of one of her hands and lifted her chin so that she was looking at him again. “That’s not a bad thing.”
“Oh,” she said.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since the last time and, well, pretty much since I was lying flat on my back in a snowdrift, looking up at your pretty blue eyes.”
Jessie felt her face get hot.
“But since we’re communal living here,” he said, gesturing at the girls, who were asleep in front of the fire, “I figured I’d better rein it in.”
“Yeah, good plan,” she said. “Wouldn’t want to get carried away.”
As if the universe was looking out for her, Zach’s phone chimed. He glanced at it and said, “That’s Cooper. I’d better take it.”
She nodded. “Tell him I said hi.”
As soon as Zach answered his phone, Jessie grabbed her phone from where it sat on the counter and dashed into the bathroom that was built into the space below the stairs. It was snug and tiny and with no power she had to use a candle and the display from her cell phone to be able to see but she didn’t care. At the moment she needed to put some space between her and Zach and she needed a girl squad council.
Opening her texting app, she quickly typed: Z kissed me. Twice. What do I do?
In less than thirty seconds, her phone exploded with chimes signaling incoming messages. She scrambled to turn down the volume, worried that Zach might have heard it and guessed what she was doing.
Mac: What?!
Carly: Give us deets! How was it? I bet he uses a lot of tongue, does he?
Emma: Aw!
Jillian: Depends. How do you feel about it?
Gina: Kiss him back. Duh.
Jessie read the flurry of messages which rivaled the snow still falling outside. She was looking for something. She didn’t know what. Permission? Approval? Acceptance?
She was only a peripheral part of this group and she desperately did not want to blow it by hooking up with one of their men. If anyone had dibs on Zach, she would walk away, no problem.
Mac: Hello? Jessie?
Jessie: I’m here. I just—does anyone mind that Zach kissed me? Because I will totally shut that down if you do.
Emma: Married.
Carly: I’m already taken.
Jillian: Just a friend.
Gina: What Jilly said.
Mac: I think he’s yours if you want him, but . . .
The symbol for Mac still typing came up but no words appeared. Jessie stared at her phone, willing Mac to finish her thought.
Jessie: But what?
She stared at her phone. Had she lost service? Nope. The bars were all good. The battery was good.
Carly: What Mac is trying to figure out how to say is that Zach is, well, he’s Zach.
Jessie: What does that mean?
Emma: He’s lovable.
Jillian: He’s fun.
Mac: He’s got a good heart.
Carly: He’s a great friend.
Gina: And if you fall for him he will probably break your heart.
Mac: What Gina means is commitment is not really Zach’s thing.
Emma: So, you might want to view him as a more casual situation.
Carly: He’s a fling.
Gina: Leave your heart out of it.
Jillian: On the upside, he’s the sort you can have a fling with and then downshift into friends and he’d be great about it.
Jessie stared at the messages. She wasn’t sure how she felt about this. Did she want forever? It hadn’t really worked out for her before. Maybe this was exactly what she needed. Yes, she believed it was. She just had one more question.
Chapter 12
Jessie: Do you know this from personal experience? Anyone?
Carly: No.
Jillian: Nope.
Emma: Not
me.
Mac: No.
Gina: No, but I mean, come on, it’s Zach. He’s friends with everyone.
Jessie blew out a breath. That was all she needed to know. Zach was a free agent and so was she. Excellent.
Jessie: Okay. Thanks.
Carly: Thanks? Oh, no, you don’t. Tell us what is happening!
Mac: Yeah, or we’re coming over.
Jessie: Nothing yet, but the possibility exists.
Jillian: Good for you. Now, everyone, quit badgering her.
The group chat turned into everyone sharing where they were and what they were doing. All agreed to meet up at The Grind, the coffee shop Gina managed, as soon as the roads were clear and the power was back.
One by one, they left the group until it was just Carly and Jessie.
Carly: Zach is one of my most favorite people. Be careful with him—that’s all I’m going to say.
Jessie: I promise.
Carly: Okay, then go get busy!
Jessie closed the group messages and sat on the edge of the tub. She bent over and pressed her phone to her forehead. Surely, she must be crazy. So, Zach had kissed her. Big deal. Maybe it had just been a random impulse on his part because they’d been tripping over each other all day.
She pressed her fingers to her lips. It had been a really great kiss. Granted, she was no judge because it had been so long since anyone had kissed her with any feeling. He could have kissed her like she was one of his sisters and she probably would have responded. Jessie thought about the way he’d deepened the kiss. Yeah, he didn’t think of her as a sister.
Her life had been in stasis for so long. Maybe Zach was just what she needed to move out of her rut and move forward. It didn’t have to be some emotionally heavy big deal. It could just be a fling to help Jessie get her mojo back.
Grinning, she rose to her feet, shoved her phone into her pocket, washed her hands, and patted her face with cool water in an effort to clear out the cobwebs. She was a grown woman of thirty-two with two daughters. If she wanted a fling, she could damn well have one, or so she told her reflection.
Every Dog Has His Day Page 10
