Showing Jessie

by JoMarie DeGioia

  “Hi, Shannon,” Jessie said, her mouth dry.

  Shannon’s eyes, eyes so like her own, narrowed. “Nothing happening in Stepford tonight?”

  Jessie shook her head. Ben looked between her and Shannon, and then spoke.

  “A bucket of coronas and a plate of wings,” Ben said.

  “The hotter the better,” Tammy put in. “How about a plate of nachos, too?”

  Shannon arched a brow at Jessie, who just gave a nod. Her sister’s gaze fell on Noah, who looked at Shannon for a beat.

  “Sounds good,” he said.

  Shannon watched Noah for a long minute, and then threw a smile in Jessie’s direction. “Will do.”

  She walked away, her steps quick as she went behind the bar to put in their order. Jessie finally pulled her gaze away from her sister to find Tammy staring at her.

  “You weren’t kidding,” Tammy said. “She looks just like you.”

  “Yeah,” Ben said. “But, like, in an alternate universe kind of way.”

  “That’s your sister?” Noah flashed a small smile. “I thought I was seeing things when we were here a couple of weeks ago.”

  “So you’ve said,” Jessie answered.

  Shannon came back with their bucket of beer bottles, and a couple of glasses of water for Jessie and Tammy.

  “You’ll need these with the wings,” she said. She gazed at Jessie for a second, then lifted her chin. “You look good.”

  Jessie finally looked hard and long at her sister. She was pretty tonight in an edgy kind of way, but there was something about her makeup that looked a little off. “You, too,” she said. “How’ve you been?”

  Shannon shrugged. “Good. I let the apartment go.”

  That surprised Jessie. “Oh?”

  “Yeah. I’m living with Rob.” She turned and waved toward the guy behind the bar before turning back to Jessie. “He’s the manager.”

  Jessie studied the guy in question, seeing a thick neck and big arms and a hard expression. “That’s—” She stilled as Shannon tilted her head just right and light fell on her left cheek. There was a thick layer of makeup there, hiding what was a bruise unless Jessie missed her guess. “Shannon, are you okay?”

  Her sister bristled, her mouth a thin line. “I have to check on your order.” She disappeared into the kitchen behind the bar, the door left swinging in her wake.

  Chapter 18

  A different server brought their wings and nachos, but Jessie’s appetite was gone. Noah kept looking at her but it was clear he was making an effort to talk with Ben and Tammy about Cypress and other safe topics. Jessie sipped her beer as she waited for Shannon to reappear.

  “I’m stuffed,” Tammy finally said, leaning back and resting a hand on the swell of her belly. “The little ravioli is officially appeased.”

  Ben smiled, reaching across the narrow table to cover Tammy’s hand with his. “I anticipate lots of kicking tonight.”

  “Then maybe you shouldn’t leave your dirty clothes on the floor,” Tammy teased.

  Jessie absently smiled, her eyes still searching the bar for her sister.

  “Why don’t you guys take off?” Noah asked. “I can drive Jessie home.”

  “Sure.” Ben sat back and looked at Jessie. “That okay with you?”

  Jessie nodded, her stomach in knots and her head working in circles. “That would be okay. Thanks, Noah.”

  Ben and Noah settled the bill, both of them waving Jessie away when she grabbed her purse. “After the little you ate?” Ben asked. “No way are we letting you pay.”

  “Thanks,” Jessie said, setting her purse back down on the seat.

  Tammy shifted beside Jessie and gave her a hug, and then stood. “See you in the morning, Pixie.”

  “Yes,” Jessie said. “See you.”

  After the couple left, Noah covered her hands with his. “I’ve been dying to touch you all night.”

  She freed her thumb and stroked it over the back of his hand. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a wet blanket.”

  “You’re upset. I know you have some issues with your sister, Jessie. It can’t be easy seeing her.”

  She blinked at him. “That’s not it. Something’s up with her, and I have to find out what it is.”

  His brow furrowed for a second before it cleared. “I’ll wait here for you,” he said. “Do what you have to do.”

  Jessie hoped her expression showed him just how much that meant to her. Standing, she eased herself out of the booth and went to the bar.

  “Yeah?” Rob, the guy Shannon was evidently living with now, finally glanced at her. His eyes rounded. “Oh, shit. She wasn’t kidding when she said you look like her.”

  “Where is she?” Jessie asked.

  “What do you want?” Shannon said, coming out of the kitchen and walking up to stand next to Rob. “We’re a little busy in here tonight.”

  Jessie wasn’t going to argue about a Thursday-night kind of crowd right now. “I have to talk to you,” she said.

  She looked at Rob, who gave her a nudge with his shoulder. “Go,” he said. “Don’t be long.”

  Shannon nodded and crossed her arms as she turned to walk into the pool room. Jessie figured it was as good a choice of setting as any, since the sound of cues cracking into balls and the ringing of old-fashioned arcade games would give them some level of privacy.

  “What’s going on with you and Rob?” Jessie asked without preamble.

  Shannon put her hands on her hips. “Rob and I are great. And what business is it of yours, anyway?”

  “Is he hitting you?”

  Shannon touched her cheek, and then fisted her hand back down at her side. “It was an accident. Is that all you wanted to know?”

  Jessie reached out to grasp her sister’s arm. “I’m worried about you, Shannon.”

  Shannon scoffed. “Yeah, right. Have you even called or texted me since you moved out to Stepford, Jessie? No.”

  Jessie flinched but she held her ground. “I left you a voicemail. You know, you haven’t reached out to me, either.”

  “You made it pretty clear I wasn’t welcome when you kicked me out of your little tent thing.”

  “You could have come to visit, Shannon.”

  Shannon waved a hand. “What’s up with you, sis? That’s the question, isn’t it? That hot guy with you tonight. What’s his story?”

  “Noah and I are friends.”

  Shannon barked out an ugly laugh. “Friends. Like you and that dick Mitch?”

  A strong point in Shannon’s favor was that she’d hated Mitch on sight. Pity Jessie hadn’t given her opinion a little more credence. “Noah’s nothing like Mitch.”

  Shannon huffed a breath. “Good. That’s something. Tell me, are you letting this one in your bed or are you still a frigid bitch?”

  Jessie’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Shannon.”

  Shannon held up her hands. “Look, Jessie. I appreciate the concern but I’m not your problem anymore.”

  Jessie bit back her own curse. “You were never my problem.”

  “Yeah? Sure as hell felt like I was.” She pushed past Jessie toward the bar area. “See you around.” She didn’t look back.

  Jessie stood there, her blood pounding in her ears. Closing her eyes, she breathed in slowly through her nose and let go with a loud exhalation. Her hands shook as she leaned forward and braced them over her thighs. Her eyes burned behind her closed lids.

  “Doesn’t look like that went well,” Noah said.

  Jessie straightened to find Noah standing there, solid and real and warm. Taking a small step, she fell against his chest and let him hold her. “That sucked.”

  He stroked her back, not seeming to care that she was losing it in a public place. “You’re going to be okay.”

  She sniffled and leaned back to look up at him. “How do you know?”

  He gave her a small smile. “I don’t know, since I don’t have any siblings.”

  “You see?”

&
nbsp; “But I know you, Jessie. You’re strong. You’ll get through this and you and your sister might even work this out someday.”

  “Someday.” She brushed at her wet cheeks and squared her shoulders. “She’s a big girl, right?”

  “Right.”

  “She has my number and knows where I live.”

  Noah nodded. “She can find you if she needs to.”

  “Exactly.” She ran her hands up and down on his strong arms, which were still draped around her. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “You got it.”

  She didn’t catch a glimpse of her sister as she and Noah made their way out of the place. Rob was still standing behind the bar, watching them with a closed expression, so Jessie put him out of her head. Shannon was a big girl. She could take care of herself.

  That didn’t stop Jessie from worrying about her, but she’d give it her best shot.

  ***

  Noah drove her back to Cypress, following Jessie’s lead. They were quiet, and he could tell she was still upset about whatever went on with her and her sister.

  As they pulled into the community, Jessie angled her body toward his. “Take me home, Noah?”

  He started to turn toward the far lakeshore but she put her hand on his hand.

  “Your home,” she said.

  He nodded, correcting the wheel to steer toward the townhouse. They didn’t even talk about her Jeep tonight, but he made a mental note to walk back to the Sales Center and retrieve it for her later.

  After parking in his garage and turning off the engine, he faced her. He had trouble reading the expression on her face. Her brows were a little creased and her mouth was an even line.

  “You okay?” he asked her again.

  She nodded, facing him at last. “Yes. I’m sorry to be such a downer.”

  He drew her to him as close as he could manage with the console and gear shift between them. “Hey, you can let go with me, Jessie. This is a judgment-free zone.”

  She looked genuinely surprised, which only served to remind him that he had no clue about how to do this dating stuff. He wanted to figure it out, though. With Jessie, he thought he just might learn to work things out with another person for once in his life.

  “Come on,” he said, opening his door. “How about I find us something to eat?”

  She nodded and slid out to join him as they walked into the kitchen. She settled on one of the barstools she’d picked out, her expression still pensive as he turned on the oven.

  “Frozen pizza okay?” At her nod he rooted around in the bottom freezer of the big stainless fridge and pulled out a flat box. “It’s not from the tavern but I think it’ll do.”

  “It’ll more than do,” she said. “I really didn’t eat much at the End Zone.”

  “I did all right but I was a little worried there.”

  “About what?”

  “Every time I took another wing, Tammy growled at me.”

  That got a laugh out of Jessie, even if it was a small one. He found the wine bottle they’d opened the other night and poured them each a glass. He tapped his glass to hers. “To the benefits of dining alone.”

  She lifted her glass, and one of her brows. “Alone?”

  “Just the two of us, Jessie.”

  She dipped her head, her cheeks warming to a pretty pink. “Something occurred to me tonight at the End Zone.”

  “Yeah? What’s that?”

  “I think we’re dating, Noah.”

  “Oh, we’re dating.” He took a sip, and then leaned in to kiss her. “No question about it.”

  Her eyes were huge as he pulled back. “Are you sure you want that? It won’t be a problem with Max?”

  Noah shook his head. “Max likes you, Jessie. His mother dates, so he won’t think it’s weird if I do.”

  She nibble her lower lip. “But we both work here.”

  “So what?” Noah tamped down the frustration that was beginning to bite at him. “I know you’ve had an emotional night. Just know that I’m not going away.”

  Her eyes were clouded now. “Why?”

  “Because I like you.” He touched her face, feeling her soft skin with his fingertips. “I know you like me.”

  A flash of a sassy smile curved her lips. “You do, do you?”

  He let his desire for her to show. “I’m pretty sure, Jessie. I have the scratches on my back to prove it.”

  That earned him a full, bright laugh. Worry seemed to fall off of her as she settled back into the barstool.

  “Let’s get that pizza cooked then,” she said. “You’ll need your strength.”

  As they shared their meal he marveled at this new relationship they’d stumbled into. No. Not stumbled. He’d been attracted to her from the first minute he saw her in that big ugly sweater.

  And later that night, when he had her spread beneath him in his bed, he couldn’t imagine loving any other woman. Every inch of her body, every touch of her skin to his, made him burn hotter than he could have imagined.

  “This is new for me too, Jessie.” He ran his hands all over her body, every dip and hollow, as she moaned softly. “We’d be stupid to let this go.” He kissed the side of her neck, breathing in her sweet scent. “Don’t you think?”

  “Yes.” She gasped as he nibbled on her breast. “Stupid.”

  She was wet when he parted her thighs. Hot and slick when he slid two fingers inside of her. Every sound she made ratcheted up the pleasure as he settled between her legs.

  “You want me, Jessie.” He kissed her, still moving his fingers inside her. “Say it.”

  “I want you, Noah.” She bit her lip again and arched. “Just you.”

  He managed somehow to grab a condom from the nightstand and take care of it before finally coming into her. This was different from their first time together. Sweeter. Sharper somehow. More in focus even as the edges blurred until he saw nothing but her. Felt nothing but her body gripping him as he rode her.

  She began to sob, soft sounds that told him she was close. Bending his head, he suckled her breast. As he pulled hard on her nipple, she began to climax.

  “Oh God!” she gasped, wrapping her legs around his waist liked she’d done before. “Oh!”

  He sank farther into her, feeling every tremor as she came under him. Finally giving in to his own orgasm, he held himself up on his arms as he let the pleasure wash over him.

  “Jessie,” he said, throwing his head back with a shout. “Christ, Jessie.”

  He thought she might have come again, he couldn’t be sure as his own climax squeezed every muscle, before he let himself fall into her arms.

  Her breath came fast in his ear as he pillowed his head between her breasts. Her scent was stronger here, her heart beating rapidly beneath his cheek as her damp skin drew his kisses again.

  “Okay,” she sighed, running her fingers through his hair. “You were right.”

  He tried to think. He really did. But her body still held him just right and they were still tangled up in each other.

  “Right about what?” he asked.

  Her chest hitched as she softly laughed. “I like you.”

  Something shifted in his chest. Something he’d never felt before.

  “I think I could love you, Jessie.”

  “Don’t say that,” she whispered.

  He lifted his head to find worry stamped on her face. Damn it. “I’m not that asshole who hurt you.”

  “I know.”

  “Do you?”

  She nodded, bringing her hand up to his cheek. “Yes.”

  “Then know this too. I told you I don’t lie. Not to Max and sure as hell not to you.”

  “Okay,” she said again.

  “I have to know if you’re in, Jessie. Are you?”

  Her eyes were shiny. “I’m in.”

  He kissed her then, savoring the taste of her as he reveled in the feel of her. Grinning down at her, he brushed her silky hair back off her forehead.

  “I have Max a
gain this weekend. Will you hang out with us?”

  She nodded, a smile teasing her lips. “I think that would be great.”

  He kissed her again and soon they started something he couldn’t wait to finish. This time Jessie took the upper hand as he willingly gave everything over to her. Letting her take her pleasure on top of him was phenomenal.

  Later, as she cuddled against him and their bodies cooled, he knew he’d found something wonderful. Luck had smiled on him again, giving him a fantastic woman he could maybe even see a future with. A doubt niggled at the back of his mind, though. He might have fallen ass-backwards into a relationship with Jessie but he couldn’t help but worry that at some point his luck would run out.

  And right now, with Jessie softly slumbering in his arms, he knew that if he lost her he’d never get this lucky again.

  Chapter 19

  “Now that’s a smile I haven’t seen on your pretty face before,” Lettie said from her customary spot beneath the crepe myrtle.

  Jessie couldn’t rein in her happiness this Monday morning as she neared Lettie’s table. “Good morning, Lettie.”

  “And just what has you grinning like that this morning, as if I didn’t know.”

  Jessie lifted her café latte to her lips. “It must be the coffee.”

  Lettie folded her hands on the table, her sweet tea apparently as inconsequential as the seed catalogs she pushed to one side. “Mmm hmm. Seems to me a certain handsome man of significant proportions who knows how to swing a hammer might have something to do with this.”

  Now Jessie’s face was burning hot, and she still couldn’t manage to wipe the grin off of her face. “Lettie, please.”

  Lettie gave her a sly smile in return. “Jessie honey, you deserve whatever happened to make you turn that particular shade of pink. I believe I have a peony growing on the east side of my yard that blushes that exact color.”

  Jessie laughed. “I have to get to work.”

  “Do say hello to that sun-kissed man for me, would you? Mmm, that man is mighty fine.”

  Jessie shook her head at Lettie and crossed the street to the Sales Center. That woman was incorrigible, but she was right on at least one count, though. Noah was mighty fine indeed.