The weekend had been more fun than she’d even hoped. Max was adorable, and Noah was great with him. The little boy was friendly and asked a bunch of questions that any six year old worth his salt might. Thank goodness she could simply wait for Noah to answer the tough ones. Like why the water from the splash pad at the park didn’t just make puddles. It was clear Noah had some sort of engineering expertise to go along with his contractor’s credentials. But other, softer topics, like why they didn’t eat the catfish caught in the big lake, she fielded. Conservation was her thing, after all. Barbless hooks and catch-and-release were the standards for most of the year in Cypress.
On Saturday afternoon they decided to take Max to Old Town Village. She rode the Ferris wheel with Max and Noah and then let the two of them tackle the bigger thrills. She’d been content to watch as they took turns on the bungee-jump thing, and when one woman remarked about what a lovely family Jessie had she’d just said thanks and didn’t get into it. The truth was, she wasn’t sure where the three of them stood. It was way too early to even think about anything like family. Like permanent.
They’d even stayed as the sun began to set and the classic cars rolled out for their bi-weekly car show. Max, and Noah for that matter, had talked on and on about cars and trucks and all sorts of things that couldn’t interest Jessie less. Still, it was fun walking around with them and sharing snow cones and those little striped bags of popcorn.
Sunday afternoon they went to Harmony and Rick’s for a picnic, which had served to completely out them as a couple. Amazingly, no one there seemed the least bit surprised to see them together. And later, while Noah drove Max back to his mother’s in Melbourne, Jessie filled up the big jetted tub in Noah’s master bath and was waiting for him when he got back. A shiver chased up her spine as she recalled just how he’d reacted to her wet and steamy welcome.
“Hey, Pixie,” Oliver said. “What have you been up to?”
“What?” Jessie stared at him. “Hmm?”
“Ho, you got some,” Oliver said in a whisper. “So just what’s up with Naughty Noah?”
Jessie gave him a slow head shake. “If you think I’m telling you anything, you’re out of your mind.”
Oliver opened his mouth to say who knew what when Tammy’s scream from her office broke through.
“Oh my God!” Tammy cried.
Jessie and Oliver shared a look of confusion before hurrying down the hallway.
“Tammy, what’s wrong?” Jessie asked as she skidded to a stop at Tammy’s open door.
Tammy turned to face them, a huge grin on her face. “Nothing’s wrong, Jessie.”
Jessie saw then that Claire Chapman was in the office with her, and wearing a matching grin.
“Claire, what’s going on?” Jessie asked.
Claire flushed a little bit, and Jessie could certainly sympathize with the woman’s fair skin. “I was waiting until the twelve-week mark.”
Jessie caught on then, although Oliver was apparently still in the dark.
“Twelve weeks?” Oliver murmured.
“Oh Claire, I’m so happy for you!” Jessie wrapped Claire in a hug. “Jake must be over the moon.”
“He is.” Claire’s eyes were shiny. “We’ve been trying for what feels like forever.”
“Oh!” Oliver groaned. “A baby! Seriously, Claire, that’s great news.”
“Thanks, Oliver,” Claire said.
Jessie felt her own eyes tear up. She glanced over at Tammy. “You didn’t know?”
“I suspected,” Tammy said. “For weeks now. But this one wasn’t giving anything away.”
“So when are you due?” Jessie asked.
“Late September,” Claire said. “Just a few months after Tammy and Ben’s little ravioli.”
Jessie’s throat tightened as the love and happiness in the room hit her hard. This was what it was all about. Friends and family and babies. She thought about the weekend she’d just spent with Noah and his son, and realized that could lead to something she’d never dared to hope for. Her stomach flipped over and a wave of panic threatened like sudden dark clouds over the lake.
“Whoa, Pixie,” Oliver said, coming to stand in front of her. “You okay?”
Jessie stared up into his face. “Hmm?” she managed to utter.
“You’re white,” Claire said, placing a hand on hers.
Tammy wrapped an arm around Jessie’s shoulders. “What’s up?”
Jessie managed a smile, looking from one friend to another as she struggled with every thought hitting her at once. “Nothing,” she said. “I skipped breakfast this morning, that’s all.”
Oliver gave a dramatic sigh, lightening the mood a bit. “Thank God. I thought you were going to pop out a little person, too.”
Jessie waved a hand. “Not likely.”
Tammy winked. “Not yet, anyway.”
Jessie shook her head again. “I’m going to grab an energy bar from my desk.” She touched Claire’s hand now. “I’m so happy for you, Claire.”
Claire was beaming all the way to the roots of her strawberry-blond hair. “Thanks, Jessie.”
Jessie left Tammy and Claire discussing possible names as Oliver moaned about diapers and sticky fingers. She took measured steps down the hall toward the large office space that held the general sales desks. Once at her own desk, she sank down into her chair. Covering her face with her hands, she breathed in slowly until her head felt less like a balloon full of buzzing bees.
What was she thinking, picturing herself with Noah and Max forever? They’d shared one perfect weekend together. That didn’t a future make, after all. As for her and Noah? They’d only been on a handful of dates. They’d only spent two nights together. Cold settled in her stomach, spreading through to her hands. Was she losing herself like she had with Mitch?
God, she’d thrown herself into that relationship with everything she’d had. She’d cared too much, and fallen way too fast. Shannon had warned her, but Jessie had dismissed her so many times that her sister simply stopped talking to her about Mitch. By the time it ended four months into it, Shannon was doing her own thing and Jessie was left alone.
It was a good thing Mitch had ended it. She knew that. Heck, she’d known that then too. She kept telling herself that Noah wasn’t Mitch, and that the two men couldn’t be more different. But what about her? Had she changed from that scared girl she’d been after her father died? That girl who’d been so afraid to be alone that she’d let a manipulative, possessive jackass into her life?
No matter how tempting it was to let herself fall for Noah, she couldn’t do that. She would just take things slowly and force herself to keep things nice and easy. Wasn’t that what every guy wanted anyway?
She was falling for Noah, though. That was obvious to her, if not to anybody else yet. How could she not? She knew something else was true, too.
There was no way she would ever lose herself again.
***
Noah took in a gasping breath as he fell onto the bed beside Jessie. He’d thought that what they’d shared Monday night at his place had been amazing but apparently he’d been out of his mind. They were at her tent-cabin tonight, and the sounds of the croaking frogs and buzzing bugs coming in through the opened flaps made soft music as he slowly came back to himself. Jessie was panting too, and her body was a little slick beneath his fingers as he stroked her skin.
“Baby, there are no words,” he breathed.
She sighed, and then laughed a little. “You, without words? Amazing. Not even dirty ones?”
He barked out a laugh. “Jessie, you fried my brain. And just about everything else.”
She kissed him on the side of his neck, doing that sweet breath-in thing against his skin that she sometimes did. “I’m worn out too, Naughty Noah.”
He lifted his head, opening his eyes to gaze at her. “Naughty Noah?”
She leaned up on her elbows, quirking a half-smile at him. “Oliver pinned that one on you.”
H
e winced. “Do I want to know?”
“I wouldn’t.”
“That settles it, then.”
Shifting in his arms, she curled into his side. “I have an early tour tomorrow morning,” she said around a yawn.
He shifted, cozying up into their embrace. “I thought you were at the Institute tomorrow.”
“Derek and Eli want a real eco-tour and Ty asked me to tag along.”
Something like jealousy licked along the back of Noah’s neck. He hadn’t forgotten how that Eli guy had flirted with her.
“They’re still here?” he asked.
She nodded, cuddling closer. “Apparently Bill Chapman wants them to know Cypress inside and out before they head back to Boston.” She snorted. “Like you could get to know this place in two weeks.”
“If anyone can get them up-to-speed, it’s you,” he said.
The smile she flashed was bright and quick. “Thanks.”
Then she frowned, pulling slightly away from him. “I should get some sleep.”
“Okay, I can take a hint.”
He was smiling but he couldn’t help but feel like she was giving him the bum’s rush. It was strange, since he was always the one to leave whenever he’d hooked up with any woman before Jessie, but he found he wanted to stay with her.
After he pulled on his briefs and jeans, he faced her. She was sitting now, her knees drawn up to her chest beneath the quilt. That slight frown still puckered her brow until she flashed him another smile.
“See you tomorrow?” she asked.
He pulled his shirt on over his head as he nodded. “Count on it.”
The words meant more than any he’d ever uttered to a one-night stand. Damn, that seemed so far in the past for him at the moment.
Leaning down, he kissed her. Their lips clung for a few sweet seconds until he pulled back.
“Good night,” he said.
“Good night.”
He could feel her watching him as he stepped into his work boots and walked outside to his truck. Something had shifted tonight between them. It was hard to put his finger on it, but it was like she was half in/half out. While he’d been loving her, she’d been right there with him. Hot and determined and eager to give them both what they needed. And for those moments after? He’d never wanted to let her go.
He drove back home, his mind still working even as his body was completely satisfied. It was too confusing to think about tonight. He and Jessie seemed in sync. In fact, he’d never felt that level of comfort and connection with a woman before.
He’d never been in a relationship before, though. It was possible that this was simply the ebb and flow of two people beginning to share something bigger than the two of them individually. Something that was probably normal for most of the adult population.
Maybe Ben could give him some insight. He’d said something once about Tammy not wanting to date when they’d first met. Just what had happened to change that for the man’s wife, Noah had no clue.
Vowing to shelve the matter until tomorrow, he fell into bed. He couldn’t get Jessie out of his head, though. God, he was so out of his comfort zone with this whole thing. Taking somebody’s feelings into consideration wasn’t something he really had to think about with guys. He made friends pretty easily but, now that he thought about it, he didn’t really keep in touch. There were a few guys in Melbourne he used to hang out with, but he was damned if he could remember the last time he’d spoken to any of them. Maybe he wasn’t any good at long term. Maybe he wasn’t any good at making any effort to keep in touch.
“Maybe I’m just a shithead,” he muttered, punching his pillow.
This relationship stuff was very involved. He could read a specification sheet and know precisely the amount of a product needed to satisfy a project’s build. He knew how to get the best materials and still bring a project in within budget. This kind of thing was so far out of his wheelhouse. He was working without any plans on this, and he couldn’t help but worry that he was going to fuck it up.
He was sure Jessie was worth the trouble. On that, he had complete confidence. They were creating a foundation as strong as any he’d built in his career. Firm footings. Sturdy walls. Weathertight fittings.
If anyone could make this project work, it would be him.
Chapter 20
In the morning, Noah drove over to the Sales Center. He knew Jessie wouldn’t be there and, frankly, relief mixed with the disappointment he felt about that. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she was pushing him out. Why, though? That was a whole different question.
“Noah!” Sharon Walsh smiled over the reception counter in the lobby. “You have to have some cake.”
Noah blinked. “Cake?”
She nodded, pushing up from her seat. “We’re celebrating this morning. Claire and Jake Chapman just announced they’re having a baby.”
Noah smiled. “That’s great news. Wow.”
“I know!” Sharon said. “Two Chapman babies are on the way.”
“Wow,” Noah said again.
He was at a loss to come up with anything else to say, really. When he’d been told about Max’s imminent arrival, he and Nadine had been less than acquaintances. And, not to put too fine a point on it, there hadn’t been cake.
“Go to the break room, Noah,” Sharon urged with a frantic wave her hands. “Go and eat cake.”
Nodding, Noah headed toward the break room. Tammy and Ben were there, along with the newly-expecting couple. Rick, Harmony and Mr. Forbes were also taking part in the celebration.
“Hey, Noah!” Jake said, coming up to swing an arm around Noah’s neck. “I knocked up my wife. Have some cake!”
Claire groaned as she rolled her eyes, but the glow on her face was unmistakable. Ben and Tammy laughed and Noah joined them.
“Congratulations,” Noah said, shaking Jake’s hand before turning to Claire. “To both of you.”
Claire beamed, her eyes sparkling. “Thanks, Noah. We’re so excited.”
Noah nodded, once more thinking about how he’d taken the news about Max. Somebody shoved a plate of sunny yellow-frosted cake into his hands and he took it automatically. Animated conversation filled the break room as the rest of them talked over each other.
“So what do you think about this plague of babies, Noah?” Oliver asked, sidling up to him.
“Two babies are hardly a plague.”
Oliver threw up his hands. “Yeah, but it’s only a matter of time.”
“Until what?” Noah arched a brow. “Are you and your guy thinking of joining the ranks?”
Oliver let out a hoot. “Todd and I are so not there yet, Noah. We haven’t even talked about getting a dog together.”
“Maybe someday, Ollie,” Tammy said, swooping in with her fork to take a bite of Oliver’s cake.
“Hey, hey,” Oliver said, holding his plate away from her questing fork.
“Spoil sport,” she grumbled. “You know the pregnant lady wants what she wants.”
Ben was at her elbow with another slice immediately. “Easy there, sweetheart. Here’s reinforcements.”
Tammy threw her arms around his neck and gave him a loud kiss. “My man!”
Ben let her have the piece of cake and then turned to face Noah. “So what brings you by so early today, Noah?”
“They’re painting the interior at the model today, so I’m going to give them a chance to get started. Actually, I wondered if you had a minute.”
“Sure,” Ben said. “What’s up?”
Noah realized then that the rest of the makeshift baby party was quiet all of a sudden. Even the men were staring in Noah’s direction.
“Uh, never mind,” Noah rushed out.
Ben’s eyes narrowed for a second before he nodded. “I’ll be around for most of the day if you need me.”
“Okay, thanks,” Noah said.
Noah set his untouched plate on one of the round tables. He congratulated Claire and Jake again, said good bye to the others,
and then headed back out to the lobby.
He’d been truthful when he’d told Ben he wasn’t going out to the model this morning, but there were other things that could use his attention out in the green neighborhood. Standing outside his truck, he glanced over at the coffee shop. Maybe he’d get a cup for Jessie. He could use a cup himself, since he needed to do something to take his mind off of the winding track it had been on since going to that baby’s-coming party.
Lettie waved to him as he neared her table. “If it isn’t my favorite new builder here in Cypress Corners. How are you, Noah?”
“Great, Lettie.” He stopped only long enough to give her a smile. “How are you doing?”
“Mighty fine,” she answered.
Since her eyes were running all over the front of him, maybe he didn’t want to know just what she might mean by that.
“I need to grab a couple cups of coffee.” He lifted his chin toward the plastic cup on the table in front of her. “Can I get you anything?”
“Nothing, dear,” she said. “Though I do thank you for the offer. I wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble.”
He found himself bowing his head at her. “No trouble at all.”
She sighed, fanning herself with one of her seed catalogs. “A true southern gentleman. I must say it’s some kind of wonderful to have your sort here in Cypress.”
He smiled. “Are you saying you have something against those Yankee Chapmans, Lettie?”
She threw her head back and laughed, drawing barely any attention from the people coming and going from the coffee shop. That wasn’t surprising, since every regular of the place had to be very familiar with Lettie Fairfax.
“Oh Noah Brady, you are too much,” she said. “I do hope one of those coffees is for a particular pretty little Pixie we all know and love?”
His face grew hot. Damn, could the woman read minds?
“It just might be,” he said. “I’ll see you later, ma’am.”
On his way back out of the coffee shop, he held the two cardboard cups aloft in Lettie’s direction by way of salute before turning toward the Cypress Institute. The girl at the front desk, Becky, waved at him.
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