Showing Jessie

by JoMarie DeGioia

“W-what?” Jessie stammered.

  “That gorgeous little figure of yours, dear. You’ve been keeping that to yourself. I say it’s high time you wore clothes that fit, don’t you?”

  Jessie nearly fainted with relief. If anyone knew just what she’d been holding last night, she’d die of mortification. Oh, but being so close to Noah, having him touch her in that wicked delicious way and letting her do likewise was something she’d think about for some time.

  “What’s going through that mind of yours, Jessie?” Lettie asked.

  “Hmm?” Jessie forced her attention to Lettie. “Nothing. Just working through my tour schedule.”

  Lettie folded her arms and leaned back. “Sure you are, honey.” A familiar silver truck pulled into the lot across the street and both Lettie and Jessie watched it for a second. “Your tour schedule. Make sure and head out to the houses that handsome Noah Brady is building. Any woman would swoon to see him, and you know you sell to the wife and the husband follows.”

  “I know that, but how do you?”

  Lettie gave her a small smile. “I have my secrets too, you know.”

  Jessie gave herself a shake. “I’d better head to work.”

  “Mmm hmm.” Lettie lifted her ever-present glass of sweet tea skyward. “Have a good day at work, dear.”

  “And you enjoy your seed shopping, Lettie.”

  Jessie turned to cross the street when she heard Lettie clicking her tongue. Jessie turned to face her. “What?”

  “Seeds aren’t all that grow here in Cypress,” the lady said in a stage whisper.

  That was enough for one day. Jessie shook her head and made her way to the Sales Center, sipping her surprisingly delicious salted caramel coffee.

  Chapter 8

  As she neared the wide steps Noah seemed to appear beside her. He was big and close, and she could almost feel him.

  “Good morning,” he said, bending so that his face was near hers. “Mmm, that coffee smells good.”

  She clutched it with both hands. “My coffee smells good.”

  He gave her that half-smile she’d seen last night, and she tripped over her own feet.

  Grabbing onto her elbow, he righted her. “Watch it, there.”

  She nodded, his touch reminding her of all kinds of things that shouldn’t be in her head right now. “Thanks.”

  Tammy pushed open the door to welcome her in. “Good morning, Jessie.” She eyed Noah and how he was standing very close behind Jessie. “And Noah. Hmm.”

  “No ‘hmm,’ Tammy,” Jessie told her as she walked past her. “I’m going to my desk.”

  She trusted Noah to keep quiet about what happened last night. He’d given her his word. From what she knew about him, he was dependable. Ben was always singing his praises regarding deadlines and orders, and he was as detail-oriented as anyone Jessie had ever met.

  As she neared her desk she found Oliver sitting on the edge, his arms crossed.

  “Good morning, sunshine.”

  She glanced down at her yellow sweater and smirked at him. “Funny.”

  Oliver scrunched up his nose, giving her an adorable grin. “I have a favor to ask.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Would you come on my tour this morning?” he asked.

  She set her coffee down on her desk and looked at him. “Why?”

  “I’m touring the sisters.”

  Jessie could guess why Oliver wanted her to come along. For a diversion. The Atkins sisters were very active in the conservation club, and it was rare for more than a couple of weeks to go by without hearing from them. They often volunteered at the Cypress Institute filing and things like that, which freed up some of her time when she was there. They also questioned her about every person who came into the Institute, too. They weren’t looking for gossip like Lettie often was, though. No. They sincerely cared about the environment in general and the property in particular.

  “Which one are you most afraid of, Oliver?” she teased. “Marge or Marigold?”

  “It’s a toss-up.”

  “Okay, you’ve got me,” she said. “Where do they want to go?”

  “The green neighborhood.”

  Jessie swallowed a curse. She just knew the sisters would have tons of questions for Noah. That would put her directly in his path again today, and for more than a few minutes.

  She settled into her chair and opened her laptop, clicking to check her own tour schedule. “What time is your tour?”

  “Eleven fifteen.”

  She slipped on her glasses and peered at the screen. “I have a nine thirty, but then I’m free until one.”

  Oliver let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Thank God! You saved me, Pixie. I owe you big time.”

  She took off her glasses and folded her arms. “They don’t bite, you know.”

  He held up his hands. “Oh, I know. I just feel like I never have all of the information they’re looking for.”

  She smiled. “I don’t think anyone has all of the information they’re looking for.”

  After more effusive expressions of thanks, Oliver left her to her own preparations. Her morning tour was a family of four who were interested in the more modestly-priced homes. It should be a piece of cake, and help keep her mind from taking the sisters out to see Noah and his team.

  Sipping her coffee, she reviewed what she knew about this family. The kids were both boys, aged six and nine years old. She couldn’t help thinking about Noah’s son, Max. He really was adorable. It was clear Noah loved him, and worried about him too. It sucked that the boy didn’t get to see his father during the week. She wondered about Noah’s ex. What was she like? Had Noah loved her? He must have. And she must have loved him. What woman could look at him and not want him forever?

  That thought made her stomach clench. The passion they’d shared last night should have left her satisfied. Heck, it was the most action she’d had in years. Truth of it was, it only made her crave more. More heat. More Noah. More of what they could be together. She had baggage. Heavy, heart-chilling baggage. He was a golden guy, with no worries except his son. He exceled at his job and everyone loved him. As for her? She had friends now but she still felt a little disconnected.

  Despite her now-contentious relationship with Shannon, the sisters had been very close growing up. They’d done everything together. That was, until Dad died. Now she wondered if they’d ever be close again.

  Closing her laptop, she finished her coffee and went to grab a bottle of water for the tour. Oliver was in the break room and when she walked in he gave her an adoring look, accompanied by a hand splayed over his chest.

  “All right,” she laughed, reaching into the fridge for a cold bottle. “I’ll be back before the sisters get here.”

  “Anything you want, Pixie. Name it. Dinner, a bottle of wine.”

  She winked. “I’ll keep you posted.”

  Her tour went as expected and, unless she missed her guess, Cypress Corners would have another new family in residence soon. As she bade the four of them farewell in front of the Sales Center, the Atkins sisters arrived early for their tour.

  “Miss Wilde,” the shorter of the two said in greeting.

  “Jessie, Marge,” Jessie corrected. “How are you today?”

  “She’s prickly,” Marigold said with her customary smile. “Good morning, Jessie.”

  Marigold was tall and thin. She had a long gray-streaked braid resting over one shoulder and wore a peasant blouse with embroidered jeans and Birkenstock sandals. Marge, on the other hand, was a little bit stockier with very short salt-and-pepper hair. She wore olive green overalls, work boots and a no-nonsense expression. Jessie wasn’t sure if they were blood sisters or sisters-in-law, but they were clearly as close as she and Shannon used to be.

  “Are we ready for our tour?” she asked them.

  “Our tour?” Marge asked. “Isn’t Oliver leading us today?”

  “Yes, I am,” Oliver said as he joined them. “I thought you two w
ould like it if Jessie came along.”

  Marigold clasped her hands. “Oh, Jessie! That would be wonderful.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Marge put in with a short nod.

  The four of them headed out to one of the golf carts parked and charged. Jessie sat in the back with Marigold while Oliver and Marge took the front.

  “I’m eager to see the progress in the green neighborhood, Oliver,” Marge said.

  Oliver threw a worried glance at Jessie before beaming a smile at Marge. “That’s where we’re headed.”

  Marigold hummed to herself as they made their way, the vehicle bouncing as they rode over the pavement. Jessie ignored the queasiness in her belly as they neared the newest part of the development. Telling herself to pull up her big-girl panties, she looked over at Marigold.

  “Did you ladies have some questions for me?” she asked.

  “Not at the moment,” Marigold answered. “It’s the builder we want to speak with today.”

  “Noah Brady is a gifted craftsman,” Oliver said. “All you have to do is look at the model homes and you can see how good he is at bringing the architect’s vision to life.’

  Marge harrumphed. “Ben Chapman has created some wonderful homes. That’s true. But is Mr. Brady keeping the environment completely in his sights as he builds?”

  Jessie bit down on her irritation. Giving Marge the benefit of the doubt, she leaned forward to put a hand on the woman’s shoulder. “Noah is well-aware of what’s at stake out here, Marge. Dr. Robbins is included in both the planning and the execution in this part of the property.”

  Marge nodded. “Good. It’s just that Marigold and I chose to live in Cypress two years ago, over some very attractive alternatives.”

  “Not so attractive, Marge,” Marigold put in. “That place out in Melbourne? With the manufactured homes that all looked alike?”

  A smile teased Marge’s lips. “I’ll give you that,” she said.

  “You’ve seen what we do at the Institute, Marge,” Jessie said. “Harmony Chapman is committed to making certain the plants are protected and Ty Walsh does the same for the animals.”

  “But there are more and more people moving into Cypress,” Marigold said. “We can’t help but be nervous about so many residents who might not care as much as we do.”

  “I doubt many people care as much as you do,” Oliver said with just the right touch of humor.

  Jessie’s assurances and Oliver’s natural warmth seemed to relax both sisters as they neared the green neighborhood. Bracing herself, Jessie squared her shoulders.

  Oliver parked the golf cart in front of the model Jessie had visited last Monday and turned. “Ready, ladies?”

  Marge gave one of her curt nods and Marigold gushed her enthusiasm. Jessie kept quiet. She just prayed she could look at Noah without thinking about how he’d felt in her hands. Of how his hands had felt on her. She just wasn’t going to go there.

  “Hey, there,” Noah said, stepping toward them from one of the work sites.

  Her gaze ran all over him, from his worn jeans that hung off his hips to the gray Henley shirt with just the right number of buttons undone. His hair was mussed, either from the March winds or from running his very capable fingers through it. Ooh, those fingers.

  So much for not going there.

  ***

  Noah tried to keep from watching Jessie as she climbed out of the golf cart. He had to focus on the other visitors. Oliver had sent him a distress signal soon after he’d seen Jessie this morning, advising him of the sisters’ visit. He’d met them before and had to agree with Oliver that they were a couple of tough customers. He was confident he was up to the challenge this morning.

  “Good morning,” he began.

  “Good morning, Mr. Brady,” Marge said.

  “We’re so glad we could meet with you today,” Marigold added.

  Noah caught a look of gratitude from Oliver but it was the expression on Jessie’s face that caught him. She was looking at him. Really looking at him. Christ, if she ran those eyes over the front of him one more time he’d have a lot more to explain than how the model was constructed.

  “I thought we’d tour the two story first,” Noah said.

  He waved the sisters ahead of him, and they were followed by Oliver and Jessie. As she passed him he saw she now made a show of studying details of the model that he was sure she’d already committed to memory.

  “Nice to see you again, Jessie,” he said in her ear.

  He’d done that earlier, spoken into her ear as he’d breathed her in. A rash of goosebumps rose on her skin, and he fought the urge to smooth them with his fingers.

  She flicked her gaze back to him. “Oliver begged me,” she whispered.

  “What did you get in return?”

  She smiled, her eyes sparkling. “I haven’t told him what I want yet. Should I ask for dinner?”

  He nodded. “At the tavern, I think.”

  “Yes. I don’t expect him to treat me to the Clubhouse. I think I’ll have him make it dinner for two.”

  “Yeah?” he asked. “Anyone in particular on the guest list?”

  She shrugged as she walked past him now. “Maybe.”

  That one word could be taken in so many different ways, at least in his head. Would she ask him to share that victory dinner? They’d shared a kiss and a couple of orgasms, but that didn’t mean they were dating. He didn’t date. Ever.

  He and Nadine had hooked up that one time in the parking lot of the Wild Cherry Gentlemen’s Club. They’d been hot and horny, but that was all they’d shared that night. Hell, he hadn’t heard from her again until a month later when she’d found out she was pregnant. It wasn’t a love story. That was for sure. They both loved Max, though. That was the only thing they had in common.

  As for him and Jessie, though? He wanted to find out if they had more in common than mutual attraction, no matter how smoking hot that attraction was.

  He’d gotten the impression that Jessie was pretty private. He’d never heard anything about her family until she’d talked about her parent’s passing. He thought Tammy had mentioned that Jessie had a sister, but he wasn’t sure.

  Shifting gears, he followed her and the others into the house.

  “So, what would you like to know?” he asked.

  Marge and Marigold turned to focus on him and he gave them a wide smile. He could get through this. He could show them just how awesome Ben’s design and his build were. He just had to keep his attention from Jessie and the possibility of a date.

  Jessie managed to slip past him while he showed the sisters the backyard. There was a small pool here, and they seemed very impressed by the geothermal heating and non-chlorine filtration system. Noah hadn’t built it, but he’d been damn sure there would be minimal care for the future homeowners and minimal impact on the groundwater.

  “The main pool at the fitness center is heated and treated the same way,” he told them.

  Marge and Marigold nodded in unison.

  “That was one of the features that drew us here in the first place,” Marigold said with a smile. “We like our water-aerobics.”

  “And don’t forget the hiking trails,” Marge put in. “The recreation café on the trails was built to blend in with the surroundings, which we appreciate.”

  “That’s a great example of Cypress’s commitment,” he said.

  He knew the story well. The café was built by Rick Chapman five years earlier, and Harmony’s parents ran it. In fact, the café’s story was Cypress Corners lore by now. It had been one point of contention between the Institute and the development company back then, and had served to forge the partnership the two entities enjoyed today.

  “I hope you’re as pleased with the homes being built here,” he added.

  They both nodded vigorously, and he waved them back into the house. Oliver waited for them in the kitchen, leaning against the recycled-glass countertop.

  “Where’s Jessie?” Noah asked him.


  “She’s out in the cart.”

  Noah forced himself to keep from looking toward the front door. “Oh.”

  “Did you need her?”

  Noah was beginning to think so. “Nope.”

  Oliver narrowed his eyes, but before he could ask a question Noah expected would be intrusive and possibly off-color, Marge and Marigold strolled back inside.

  “Is there anything else?” Noah asked them.

  They both shook their heads.

  “Thanks for all of the information,” Marge said. “Oliver and Jessie are taking us over to the east side now.”

  “Good,” Noah said. “Lots to see out that way.”

  “See you, Noah.” Oliver led the ladies out onto the front porch.

  Noah followed them out. Jessie waved at the three of them, and then her gaze caught on Noah’s. She gave him a tiny wave of goodbye, and he returned the expression with a lift of his chin.

  As Oliver steered the cart away from the model home, Noah thought about that tiny wave. He’d seen a spark of something in those big eyes of hers. Was she was thinking about that “maybe,” too?

  He just hoped he didn’t have to wait long to find out.

  Chapter 9

  Ben held the keys out to Noah. “It’s all yours, man.”

  Noah took the keys and slid the signed lease agreement back across the table. “Thanks.”

  They sat in the main room of the tavern, toasting their agreement with a couple of cold ones. It was Tuesday night, and Noah was once again putting off the short drive home to St. Cloud.

  “When are you moving in?” Ben asked.

  “Before the weekend, I hope. I’d love to have Max in his new room when he visits.”

  “So you only get him on the weekends?”

  Noah nodded. “That’s the agreement. For now.”

  Ben arched a brow. “You want to change that?”

  “I’ve been thinking about it. Nadine is a great mom, don’t get me wrong.”

  “Nadine?” Ben took a sip of his beer. “Your ex?”

  “No.” Noah didn’t tell many people this particular truth, but Ben had been a good friend from the jump. “We were never a couple.”