by Lee Rose
He felt the laughter coming out of him and he couldn’t remember having had so much fun with a woman. “Maybe. I thought you were beautiful from day one, but also mouthy and annoying.”
She had rolled her eyes and licked her cone. He had to shift around to prevent the bulge under his jeans from showing. He didn’t want to scare her off. She was very untrusting and cynical at times. “Gee, Lincoln. Is this the kind of lines you say to your fancy women?”
“No, only to sexy brunettes who talk too much,” he teased back, surprising himself. The blush that appeared on her cheeks was adorable, but he refrained from telling her so. He got the feeling she would not find it a compliment. She listened to whatever he had to say and had no qualms about being honest with her own opinions. He respected that.
“Is she okay? No more problems?” he asked, looking at Lily. All three girls had shorts and tank tops on with their hair pulled back. He wondered what they had been up to.
Lily shook her head no, looking at him like she was upset with him, too. She glanced at Nikki with disdain. “We went bike riding. We’re ready for lunch. I better go sit with her.”
“Bike riding?” Nikki spoke up, curling her bright red lips up in disgust. “Yuk, how sweaty.”
He had been here in the diner enjoying his lunch alone after an extra-long shift. Nikki had spotted him from outside and came in to ask him why he had not answered any of her calls. Nikki would never step into the diner, or eat its greasy food, as she put it. He told her he had been busy with work, which was true.
Lily walked away and Melanie gave him that look that said you’re so dumb. Then it hit him.
Was Jessy jealous at seeing him with Nikki? She wouldn’t know Nikki was not here by his invitation. The thought lifted him up. That meant Jessy felt the same deep attraction he felt. Melanie walked away, giving him one last sad look.
Lincoln looked at Nikki, who had not even touched her glass of water. She had looked at it suspiciously. She was probably used to fancy expensive bottled water. She was way overdressed for a simple diner. He had kissed her, but even then he had been afraid to mess up her perfect hair and wrinkle her fancy dress. Jessy was sexy without all of that sophistication. She was real and down to earth. He had to try to see if she felt the same, or he would always regret it. He felt that deep in his soul.
“Listen, Nikki, I have to be honest with you,” he said politely. “We had what two or three dates, but I don’t think we’d make a good couple. We don’t have much in common.”
She looked confused. She did have a very high opinion of herself. “You kissed me and now you tell me we don’t have anything in common?”
“They were nice kisses, but we like different things. I love to fish. I rent a boat and fish all day. It’s how I relax.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Eww. Fish are smelly.”
“How do you think they get sushi?” he asked her, his eyebrow arching up. “I love to hike and do family cookouts. We’re just too different.”
She finally realized what he was saying was true, but she didn’t look upset. “You’re right, I suppose. I guess I was curious about you. Sally Lewis said you were a tiger in bed, and I thought why not see for myself.”
Lincoln ignored the anger he felt. He felt like a piece of meat and it was not pleasant. He regretted sleeping with Sally now. He had been drunk and took her home one night last year. He never saw her again, but she had not called him either. He leaned toward Nikki. “She passed out on me. Don’t tell her I told you, but we never got to the sex part. She must have been dreaming.”
Spread rumors about me now, Sally.
Nikki looked pleased and laughed. “I knew she was a liar. See you around, Lincoln. I have a nail appointment.”
She walked out of the diner and he felt like he had dodged a bullet. Shallow nights with women like Sally and Nikki no longer appealed to him. He had been celibate for months as a matter of fact, and he knew it was because of Jessy. Now how to repair the damage seeing him with Nikki had done?
Chapter Six
Jessy ordered a turkey club sandwich and fries. She needed the comfort food, she consoled herself. Lily and Melanie were talking away about the new summer line that had just arrived at the store. Jessy half listened while looking out the big picture window. She didn’t want to see Lincoln laughing and having a good time with his date.
Jessy looked up when she saw a shadow hit the table. She looked up at Lincoln’s brown eyes.
“Can I join you girls?” he asked, putting his lip out as if he wanted them to feel sorry for him. Jessy swallowed her sarcastic remark since they weren’t alone. She shrugged as if she didn’t care, and then scooted over since Lily and Melanie were seated on the opposite side.
He slid in next to her and put his arm at the back of the seat, practically touching her. She sipped on her glass of ice water hoping it cooled her desire. It didn’t.
“Miss Fancy Pants left?” Melanie gave him an exasperated look. “Eww, moving around makes me sweaty.” She mimicked his date. “Really, Brother. You need better tastes in choosing dates.”
“She wasn’t my date,” he told his sister. Jessy had seen him with that same woman before, but she kept quiet.
“I was minding my own business when she invited herself to my table and ordered water. I’ve made it clear I have no interest in getting involved with her.”
“Mm,’ Melanie said, doubtfully. Jessy wondered if it was the truth, not that it mattered, Lincoln offered her friendship. She had to remember that.
He reached across the table and snuck a fry from his sister’s plate. He made a tsk tsk sound. “Exercising and then eating fries. Not cool, Sis.”
Melanie gave him a superior look. “I am young, dear brother, so I have a fast metabolism. You, on the other hand, are so over the hill you need to live on lettuce to stay in shape.”
Lily giggled and Jessy had to smile at their bickering. She knew they were close but gave each other a hard time. She had always babied her sister, especially after her mother got sick. If things had been different, Lily might be more outgoing like Melanie was. So many regrets weighed on her shoulders.
“How was your bike ride?” Lincoln asked her in a friendly tone, tugging on her ponytail. Jessy returned his smile. Just because she lusted after him and he didn’t even notice didn’t mean she had to be rude and ignore him.
“Torturous,” Jessy admitted with a humorous smile. “These young girls left me behind several times. I had to burn some calories off after all that activity. I better have anyway.”
Lily smiled. “I jog every morning and I invite you, Sis.”
“At the crack of dawn? No thanks. My pillow needs me that early in the morning,” Jessy joked.
Lincoln chuckled and rubbed her neck with his hand. Did he do that to all of his friends? Her body shivered, but she tried to act like his touch didn’t affect her.
“I know what you mean, Jessy. Abel gets up before the sun and does a workout routine that rivals the Spanish inquisition in torture,” Lincoln joked. “I have to keep up with him though, or I’d never hear the end of it.”
Melanie agreed with a laugh. “I tried it once and couldn’t move for days.”
Jessy felt herself relax as the conversation flowed smoothly. Lincoln finished the second half of her sandwich for her, and she felt her body leaning against his. His body heat wrapped her up in a warm blanket and she wanted to take a nap.
“Let’s go see that new comedy movie,” Melanie suggested. “I don’t have to work until five this evening.”
“Me, too.” Lily perked up. “I do want to see that, but I feel sweaty and yucky.”
“You can change at my house to save time. I’ll lend you an outfit,” Melanie suggested then looked at Jessy. “You want to come with us, Jessy?”
Jessy yawned. “I have to work tonight and I need my beauty rest.”
“I’ll take you home, Jessy. I need to go home and sleep, too. I’ve been up all night. I had to fill in for someone
who got sick,” Lincoln suggested, grabbing the lunch ticket. “My treat, girls.”
Melanie and Lily thanked him and left the restaurant with a cheery wave. “You don’t have to pay for my lunch, Lincoln.” Jessy followed him to the cash register. He looked tired and she wanted to go with him and cuddle. Then she laughed to herself. She doubted he was the type to cuddle.
“I want to,” he assured her, and paid his ticket and theirs, too. He led her outside to the bright sunshine. She immediately felt hot all over again after having cooled off inside the building.
He walked to the end of the block where his car was parked.
“It was a long night last night. I broke up so many fights around town. I swear it had to be a full moon,” he told her, opening the passenger side door for her and waiting for her to get in. He started the car and drove off. Jessy took the opportunity to admire his profile. He was such a handsome man, not in a Hollywood star way, but in a tough, rugged way. He was the epitome of wilderness man. She could picture him living in a cabin, chopping wood.
“Then Mrs. Miller claimed some rowdy hooligans stepped on her garden and she took out her rifle.” He chuckled with a shake of his head. “She sat on her back patio and refused to go inside. She can’t see for shit, so I was afraid she was going to shoot me for attempting to speak to her.”
“Mrs. Miller? Her husband owns the hardware store?” Jessy asked. They were an older couple in their late seventies. She didn’t know many of Brook Hollow’s residents yet. “Her husband sold me the deadbolt I put on the front door. I need to buy one for the back door now. Especially with a peeping tom on the loose.”
“Let me know if you need help,” he offered casually.
“I got it, but thanks for the offer. It’s nice having you as a friend, Lincoln.”
He pulled up in her driveway. He turned the car off and turned to look at her. She couldn’t decipher what was on his mind. His face was unreadable. He pushed a strand of hair that had fallen out of the rubber band holding her hair up. “Has Gary bothered you again? I wanted to have a man to man talk with him but Abel always ruins my fun.”
Jessy smiled, feeling like she meant something to him. Even if it wasn’t true, she wanted to hold that thought and cherish it. Her mom worked too hard to give them the attention they needed. Her dad had been too busy drinking it up with his pals. Jessy always tried to give Lily whatever attention she could, but she had always felt so alone. “It’s fine, Lincoln. Don’t get in any trouble on my behalf. Gary apologized. He truly felt bad and has been a perfect gentleman ever since.”
“Thanks again for the ride, Lincoln.” She put her hand on the door handle, feeling reluctant to go in to her lonely house. Jessy felt shy and tongue-tied. He had a date earlier and he was being nice giving her a ride home that was all. She had to get her head out of the clouds before she broke her own damn heart. He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“Maybe we can see a movie together some time,” he said.
“Maybe.” She wasn’t sure she could just be his friend. Maybe avoiding him from now on was her best bet. It filled her with sorrow but it was for the best, she assured herself.
She waved and ran up the porch steps. Lincoln had a way of turning her world upside down.
Chapter Seven
Jessy stared at Lincoln for the second time in a week, only this time the atmosphere was not as pleasant as when he gave her a ride home two days ago. He had texted her but she had not answered back. It made her feel weepy and sad but it was for the best.
She sat in Abel’s office at the busy station. His office door was closed and both men looked grim and angry. She could not think what was going on. She had been surprised when it was the sheriff who called her in and not Lincoln. It must be police business, she concluded.
“What is it? Did you find the peeping tom?” she asked, feeling like you could cut the tension with a knife.
“Was there ever one?” the sheriff asked, looking cold and scary and she felt like she had been called into the principal’s office.
Jessy shivered with fear but tried to hide it. She didn’t understand why they were acting this way? Especially Lincoln. His mood changed too quickly. It made her head spin. She had been right to resist his offer of friendship.
“Of course. Lily wouldn’t lie.” She felt her own anger rise. “You saw how frightened she was, Sheriff. Why would she make that up? There were footprints and cigarette butts to prove someone was out there.”
Lincoln leaned against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. Gone was the friendly, sweet look he had in his eyes lately. He was back to the old Lincoln who watched her as if she was about to steal his family china. “What is going on here?”
Lily came bursting in through the door, looking pale and frightened. “What happened, Jessy? I was told to come here right away. I had to get Amy to cover for me.”
The sheriff gestured for her sister to take the seat next to Jessy. Lily grabbed Jessy’s hand and squeezed it.
“Did you find the creep spying on us? Who was it?” Lily asked, her voice trembling with fear.
“I haven’t,” the sheriff answered. “I did some digging though, and much to my surprise Jessy and Lily Simmons don’t exist. Care to explain that?”
Jessy gasped out loud. Her heart started beating at a fast rate and she felt sweaty despite the cold air in the room. “Why would you look into our background like that?”
Abel looked at Lincoln briefly, then back at the girls. “When I knew my brother had a romantic interest in you, Jessy, I figured I’d better make sure you were legit.”
Jessy looked at Lincoln with shock. He looked just as scary as his brother, like he could easily strangle her. “Romantic? That’s crazy, Sheriff. We are, or were, friends and nothing else.”
Lily jumped off her chair. “Oh God. Did you look us up on the internet or call the New York police?”
“Both,” Abel answered in an unapologetic voice. “But I am the one asking the questions here. Who are you and why are you in my town? What kind of trouble do you plan on causing? Let me tell you I will not have it.”
Jessy felt her heart sink. Jagger would know where they were now. If the sheriff just did it within the last hour they still had time to run. Damn it, she hadn’t gotten paid yet. She felt panic take over her mind and her chest hurt with fear.
“Simmons was my mother’s maiden name. Our first names are real,” Lily spoke up, looking scared, too. She looked at Jessy as if waiting for her instructions. Jessy stood up and stood next to Lily’s chair. She gripped the back of it tightly, willing her knees not to buckle and cave.
“We didn’t come here to cause trouble.” She was glad she had not trusted Lincoln now, but she still felt her heart ache. For one brief moment, she had forgotten her vow of a staying away from men and their drama. Hadn’t she told Lily there was no such thing as a prince coming to the rescue? She had forgotten her own words. It had been swept away by one man’s good looks. She was the shallow one, not Lincoln.
“We’re leaving town. We haven’t committed any crimes, Sheriff.” Jessy snapped, not caring if they were upset by her bad attitude.
“You lied, Jessy. Is Jessy even your name?” Lincoln finally spoke up angrily, looking like he was going to take a step near her. Lily immediately jumped up and stood in front of Jessy.
Jessy ignored the loud thumping of her heart. “Yes. My name is Jessy.”
“Then why lie? What is your agenda here? I may have let your false innocent act fool me for a second but no more. I knew you were trouble from the moment I laid eyes on you.” He walked up to her, getting in her face. His eyes were narrow with anger and the nostrils of his nose flared. Jessy flinched and covered her face with her hands in case he hit her.
He looked shocked and took a step back. “I wasn’t going to hit you, Jessy.”
Jessy released the breath she had been holding. Abel looked just as shocked. He was standing behind his desk. He lost some of his anger. “Are you
running from someone? An abusive boyfriend?”
“No boyfriend,” Jessy answered, feeling her sister’s hands clutching her t-shirt. They were both trembling. “Yes, we are running, but we didn’t mean to bring trouble here. We love Brook Hollow. All we wanted was a peaceful life, a fresh start, but that was naïve of us to think we could run from our troubles.”
Jessy heard Lily sniff and hold back her sobs. “We should leave town, Jessy. Jagger is going to find us now.”
“Who is Jagger?” the sheriff asked her softly. He always lowered his voice when speaking to Lily, but his voice had been all hard and threatening when speaking to her. Men. Just because Jessy wasn’t as petite and shy as her sister, did not mean she couldn’t use some sympathy. She wanted the Lincoln she had gotten a brief glimpse of to hold her and tell her it was going to be okay. Men were unreliable. The first sign of trouble and they ran to cover their own asses.
“They should know,” Lily whispered in her ear.
Jessy sighed and sat back down in the chair. Lily was right. They should be prepared. She explained about her mother’s cancer, her dad drinking, and his gambling debt.
“So you had no idea he was gambling?” Lincoln sounded suspicious, and Jessy hated that he questioned her integrity.
“I was kind of busy working my ass off and nursing my mother,” she answered with an attitude. She barely had time to sleep some days. Watching her father’s habits had not been a priority.
Lily nodded in agreement, giving Lincoln a mean look. “Jessy had to drop out of college and it wasn’t fair. My dad was a worthless jerk even before he died. Instead of dealing with his life, he preferred to get drunk. Jessy took care of us, Officer Ramirez. Don’t you dare put the blame on my sister. She did nothing to cause any of this. We just wanted to live our lives as best as we could. We didn’t ask to get involved in my dad’s mess.”
Lincoln looked regretful at his outburst. His voice softened slightly, but his expression stayed the same. “So Jagger wants you to pay your dad’s debt? Ten thousand dollars?”
