Showing Jessie

by JoMarie DeGioia

  “They’re pretty close,” Ben went on.

  “That’s the problem. Women tell each other everything.”

  “Are you worried about Jessie telling my wife something, Noah?”

  “No.” He drew out the word, and immediately regretted it.

  They were both quiet for a beat.

  “Is there something to tell?” Ben finally asked.

  Noah began to shake his head when Oliver breezed into the break room.

  “Something to tell about what?” he asked.

  Noah and Ben both started mumbling something or other, but Oliver wasn’t fooled.

  He smirked, and then settled down at their table. “Is this gossip? Ooh, does one of you have a deep, dark secret?” He frowned at Ben. “Ben, tell me you’re not keeping something from my bestie Tammy.”

  “Hey, we’re just talking,” Ben said.

  “Nothing to tell,” Noah added.

  Oliver slanted them both a look, then threw up his hands. “Straight guys. You just don’t seem to grasp the concept of juicy gossip.”

  Noah crossed his arms to mimic Ben’s posture, keeping his expression even. “No gossip, Oliver. Nothing to tell,” he said again for good measure.

  “What are you three roosters crowing about?” Tammy asked as she joined them.

  Noah came quickly to his feet. He wasn’t going to say anything about Jessie in front of Ben’s wife.

  “I’m off to the work site,” he said.

  Oliver eyed him, his lips pursed. “Our newest rooster is sitting on some eggs.” He laughed at himself. “Or something.”

  “Or nothing, Oliver.” Noah nodded to Tammy and turned. “Gotta go. See you later.”

  “See you, man,” Ben said.

  Noah made it three whole steps out of the room before conversation exploded behind him. That was just great. He knew his buddy Ben pretty well, though. He wouldn’t talk about Noah and Jessie, even if he suspected something. He might say something just to Tammy, but not in front of Oliver.

  He stepped outside and threw a glance toward the Cypress Institute. He wasn’t sure what Jessie did over there every Wednesday, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to find out today. Instead, he got into his now-favorite golf cart and headed out to the site.

  He’d think about Jessie later, though. He’d relive that kiss, too. And wonder just what it was she was afraid of.

  She was a package wrapped a little too tight, and he itched for the chance to find out what was inside.

  ***

  Jessie peered at the computer screen, clicking through Dr. Robbins’ appointments for the afternoon. All were complete, she was pleased to note. It was just past four o’clock now, and there was little left for her to do here today.

  Dr. Robbins, the director of the Cypress Institute, had suggested she come work one day a week here soon after she’d joined the Cypress sales team. Rick Chapman, her boss, and Mr. Forbes, the developer himself, had both encouraged the job share. They’d seen her interest and aptitude for all things green, and knew the connection would only serve to help sales. That connection was another thing that made living and working in Cypress Corners a dream come true.

  “Hey there, Jessie,” Harmony Chapman said as she entered the reception area through the front doors.

  Jessie smiled at Rick’s wife. “Hi, Harmony.”

  Harmony had obviously been riding her beloved electric scooter out over the property. Her skin looked sun-kissed and several of her honey-colored curls had escaped her ponytail. Jessie knew Harmony was just past thirty but she looked about Jessie’s age this afternoon.

  “What are you doing at Becky’s desk?” Harmony asked.

  Jessie took off her glasses and set them on the work station. “Becky had to go up to Orlando this afternoon, so I stepped in.”

  Harmony feigned an expression of surprise. “Dr. Robbins actually let you leave the lab?”

  Jessie laughed. “For a couple of hours, yes.”

  The lab was Harmony’s domain as Plant Conservationist, but on Wednesdays she preferred to do her field work. Harmony liked being outdoors more than indoors, as she’d told Jessie many times. Jessie was inclined to agree with her, except when it came to possible encounters with the wildlife that shared the property with the residents.

  “I didn’t have a chance to ask you,” Harmony began. “How did you do on your first eco-tour?”

  “I think it went really well,” Jessie said. “The two couples were sweet, and clearly they already bought into the whole thing before they even climbed into the cart.”

  Harmony nodded. “Good, good. That’s half the battle. What about the green neighborhood? How did the models look?”

  Jessie swallowed as she thought about just how good the model homes had looked, especially the one that Noah had propped up with one of his broad shoulders. “They looked good.”

  Harmony tilted her head to one side. “Are you feeling okay? You’re a little flushed.”

  Jessie wrapped her cardigan more tightly around her waist. “I feel fine.”

  “It must be the sweater then.” Harmony waved toward the wide glass doors that looked out on the front walk of the Institute. “It’s over eighty degrees today, Jessie. It’s only going to get hotter.”

  “So?” Jessie gestured to the khaki shorts she wore when she worked at the Institute. “It’s chilly in here with the A/C.”

  “Still, it’s almost April. Maybe it’s time to ditch the sweater?”

  Jessie ran her hands across the nubby knit of the sweater she wore over her Cypress Institute polo. And her shorts, if she were being honest. The sweater was big.

  She’d discovered it in a consignment shop more than five years ago. It was knit in varying shades of beige, and always reminded her of oatmeal. The buttons were thick horn, and just the size of her thumbnail. She knew it wasn’t very pretty, but the sturdy garment was her go-to sweater/jacket/blanket.

  “I don’t wear it in the summer,” she offered.

  “I hope not,” Harmony laughed.

  Jessie smiled a little. “I guess I can let it go in a couple of weeks.”

  Harmony lifted a brow and Jessie’s smile widened.

  “Okay, okay,” Jessie said, lifting her hands in defeat. “I’ll rethink my sweater choice.”

  Harmony gave a sharp nod. “Good. You know, Claire wears the prettiest cardigans. Why don’t you try something like that? You know. If you don’t want to abandon the whole sweater thing completely.”

  Claire, Jake Chapman’s wife and the CPA Controller for Cypress Corners, did have a lovely wardrobe. She liked sweaters too, but usually wore them in yummy colors like lemon yellow, mint green and her signature color, poppy orange.

  “I guess,” Jessie said. “She does wear such pretty clothes.”

  “And she’s an expert at finding bargains, too.”

  Jessie brightened. “Oh, I should go up to the outlets in Orlando.”

  “Sure.” Harmony ran her hands over her own worn and comfortable-looking camp shirt and khaki shorts. “Maybe I could use some clothes, too.”

  “Road trip?”

  Harmony smiled. “Maybe. I’ll get with Claire and let you know when we’ll go up to Orlando. Cassie might want to come, too.”

  Jessie shook her head. “I doubt Cassie buys her stuff at the outlets, Harmony.”

  Harmony nodded. “Yeah, she brought a lot of stuff with her when she came down here about a year ago. Still, she loves to take Riley shopping. She’ll take any excuse she can get.”

  “Cool,” Jessie said. “Just keep me posted.”

  Harmony waved and headed down the corridor to check in with Dr. Robbins. Jessie didn’t need to announce her. That was for sure.

  Jessie stroked her arm, feeling the thick knit once again. Yeah, she could use some new clothes. At the very least she could get some new running stuff. And maybe some pretty clothes for work at the Sales Center. Maybe a new sweater, too. One in a gorgeous shade of blue she couldn’t seem to get out of
her head. The exact blue of Noah’s eyes.

  Shaking her head, she put him out of her mind. He kept sneaking in there, darn it. And that kiss? She was pretty sure she’d think about that for a while, too.

  She smiled to herself as her mind turned to Ty and Cassie’s little niece, Riley. They were a family, even though Riley spent a lot of time with her father in St. Cloud. Ty was like a father to the little girl, though. A lot like her father had been. Caring and funny and indulgent. Maybe her dad had been a little too indulgent.

  She’d been stunned when he’d died of a brain aneurism. Adrift, she’d latched onto the first guy who showed her affection after that loss. Mitch had helped fill her loneliness. He’d been handsome and charming, and the perfect boyfriend. Until he wasn’t. She fingered the spot high on her left cheekbone, feeling the echo of the pain she’d felt when he’d hit her. Wrapping her sweater around her once more, she shivered. Her chill had nothing to do with the air conditioning. It was the thought of giving every bit of herself to someone who took even more and mistreated her, too.

  Pushing thoughts of Mitch out of her head was a lot easier than getting Noah to vacate the premises. She wasn’t really afraid to think about Noah, though. He was even better looking than Mitch had been but, more importantly, she wasn’t dependent on Noah for her emotional wellbeing. She also wasn’t twenty-one anymore. It would be a long time before she trusted a guy like she’d trusted Mitch.

  She brushed her bangs back from her head, a nervous gesture she fully acknowledged, and put her glasses back on. A glance at the time in the corner of the computer screen showed her that it was nearly five now. The Institute closed up shop in just about ten minutes and then she could head back out to the tent-cabin. Her sanctuary. Her home.

  Again, Noah popped into her head. Noah had surprised her when she discovered him out on her back porch. And he’d thrilled her with the best kiss she’d ever tasted.

  He seemed different from Mitch. He’d pulled back when she’d freaked out, for one thing. Now she just had to avoid having any contact with him. But oh, those eyes. That build. That smile.

  She was even less sure of accomplishing that than she was of keeping him out of her head.

  Chapter 5

  As Noah drove back from Melbourne Friday evening, he glanced in the rearview mirror and checked on Max for what felt like the fortieth time. They’d stopped by his parents’ place for a visit, and the little boy’s hair was still mussed from where his mother had “hugged the stuffing out of him,” as she always said.

  The kid was playing his tablet at the moment, which Nadine had decreed was allowed as long as he didn’t play for more than thirty minutes. That would just about get them to Cypress Corners. The ride past Cypress into St. Cloud would make for a pretty long ten minutes. Once again, he wished he could just pull into Cypress and be home. He might not have a place there yet, but he could spend a little bit of time.

  “Hey, buddy?” he asked.

  “Yeah?” Max answered absently, his blond head still bent over the screen.

  “Wanna eat at the Town Tavern?”

  “What’s that?” He lifted his head a little and met Noah’s eyes in the rearview.

  “A restaurant in Cypress Corners.”

  “Where you work?” Max’s voice was raised in obvious interest.

  “Yep.” Noah had only brought him to Cypress a couple of times in the months he’d been working here, and a pang of guilt struck him. He pushed it aside and took his son’s interest as the positive thing it was. “We can grab a couple of burgers or a pizza.”

  Max grinned. “Pizza!”

  Noah chuckled. “Pizza it is.”

  The wide entrance of Cypress came up on the right side of the road, so he slowed the Ford F-150 and steered the truck into the property. The long main drive was bracketed by white ranch fencing and tall leafy trees, and led them toward the center of town. It was very different from the ranch and farm land they’d passed on the drive from the coast. The place was quaint and welcoming. Like a picture postcard of some small town where he’d love to raise Max.

  “This place looks nice,” Max said.

  “It is nice.” He slowed as they passed the coffee shop, and then pulled to a stop on the corner. “The Clubhouse is straight ahead. That’s a little fancy for two guys eating pizza on a Friday night, though.”

  “Where are we eating?”

  “Right next door.” Noah found a space in the parking lot and cranked off the engine. He opened the back door and leaned in to unbuckle Max’s car seat. “Come on, buddy.”

  Max set his tablet on the seat and hopped up and out of the truck. “I’m starving!”

  Noah smiled, ruffling Max’s corn silk hair. “Good. How about sausage?”

  “Sounds good, Daddy.”

  Noah steered him toward the entrance to the Town Tavern and pulled open the heavy wooden door. They stepped into the waiting area and Noah watched Max take in every detail. The tavern was done like an English pub, with dark woods and green-shaded lights and a lot of brass. The place looked crowded too, which was to be expected on a Friday.

  “Two for dinner, please,” he told the girl working the hostess stand. “Name’s Brady.”

  She smiled. “We’ll call you when your table’s ready.”

  “Noah!” Ben called from the takeout counter just off the waiting area.

  Noah raised a hand in greeting as he and Max made their way over. “Hey, Ben.”

  Ben nodded to him and then eyed Max. “How you doing, Max?”

  Ben was the one person Max had met when Noah brought him out to the job site over the holidays.

  “Good,” Max said.

  “I’m picking up takeout,” Ben said. “Tammy wants a big, juicy burger. She’s growing a carnivore, apparently.”

  Noah smiled. “We’re just stopping by for some pizza.”

  “On your way to St. Cloud?” Ben asked. When Noah nodded, Ben shook his head. “You know, you could change that. Driving all the way to St. Cloud every night.”

  “What’s he mean, Daddy?” Max piped up.

  Noah looked down at his son, thinking about the offer Ben had made more than once. Tammy’s townhouse was just a couple of streets from the town center, and would be pretty perfect. If he decided to go for it.

  “I might be able to get a place here,” he told Max.

  Max’s eyes went round. “Really?”

  “Do you like Cypress Corners, Max?” Ben asked him.

  “I guess,” the little boy answered. “Daddy builds houses here.”

  “Houses that Ben designs,” Noah said.

  Max just nodded at that bit of information.

  “You haven’t spent much time here, huh Max?” Ben asked.

  Max shook his head.

  “We’ve been sticking to St. Cloud and Kissimmee on the weekends,” Noah said.

  “Oh, yeah?” Ben asked. “Been out to Old Town Village?”

  Max’s face lit up. “Yeah! We love that place, don’t we Daddy?”

  Noah smiled and placed his hand on the top of Max’s head. “We do, buddy. Lots of fun out there.”

  “My sister Cassie and her husband Ty take Riley out there all the time,” Ben told Max.

  “Riley?” Max asked.

  “Ty’s niece,” Noah said. “She’s about four now, I think.”

  “Riley’s a girl?” Max asked, wrinkling his nose.

  “Afraid so, pal,” Ben said. “You should meet my nephew Nick. He’s about your age. What are you, five?”

  Max puffed out his chest. “Six.”

  Ben slowly nodded, a look of respect stamped on his face. “My mistake.” He looked at Noah again. “Why don’t you bring Max by Rick and Harmony’s on Sunday? Around one o’clock.”

  “The barbeque?” Noah guessed.

  Ben grinned. “You know it. My big brother loves to cook meat over fire.”

  Noah thought for a second. Rick had extended an open invitation to the barbeque picnic he and Harmony had n
early every Sunday. Another thing that set Cypress apart from other developments in Florida, the Sales Center was closed on the weekends. Forbes, and by extension Rick, wanted family to be first and foremost in the community. Having mothers and fathers work on the weekend wasn’t the way to do that.

  Noah hadn’t made the time to go to one of the picnics since he’d been at Cypress. He and Max usually rolled around St. Cloud or Kissimmee all weekend and then he had to get the boy back to Nadine’s Sunday evening. She was reasonable, though. She never gave him a deadline or anything.

  He looked down at Max. “What do you think, buddy? Do you want to go to a picnic on Sunday before we head back to your mom’s?”

  Max nodded, a big smile splitting his face. “Yes, yes, yes!”

  Noah laughed and looked at Ben. “Tell Rick we’ll try to make it.” He winked at his son. “I think Max really wants to meet Nick.”

  Ben nodded. “Will do.” The kid working the takeout counter brought over two bags of food and Ben stood. “I’ll see you guys Sunday, then.”

  “See you, man,” Noah said.

  “Brady,” the girl called from the waiting area. “Your table’s ready.”

  Noah placed a hand on Max’s shoulder and the two of them followed the hostess to their table. They ordered their drinks, soda for Noah and a lemonade for Max, and sat there. Noah could tell Max was thinking about everything Ben had said. He was fiddling with the edge of his napkin, nibbling on his lower lip.

  “What do you think, Max?” Noah began.

  Max’s head shot up. “About the pizza?”

  “No, buddy. About getting a place here.”

  Noah caught the glimmer in his blue eyes. The kid favored his mother with his light blond hair and finely-boned face, but his eyes were all Noah. He was a looker. That was for sure.

  “Maybe we can hang around here for a little while before the picnic on Sunday,” Noah said. “Sounds good?”

  Max grinned. “Sounds good.”

  Noah shoved aside his uncertainty and chose to focus on the very real possibility of putting down roots in a place where he worked. Where his friends were. Where he was certain to run into Jessie.

  And suddenly, it felt like a really good idea.