Showing Jessie

by JoMarie DeGioia

  “Yes,” Derek said. “We’re heading back up to Boston but wanted to let you know that Bill Chapman will be in touch.”

  “With me?” They both nodded. “Why?”

  “Just touching base,” Eli said. “No big.”

  I’ll just bet. “I’m assuming Mr. Forbes will be in the loop.”

  “Of course,” Derek said. “And please tell that little sales person that she’ll be needed, too.”

  “Jessie?”

  Eli grinned. “Yeah. The pretty Pixie.”

  Noah somehow managed to not punch the guy in the face. “Okay.”

  They both walked out without saying anything more. Noah turned to find Bree wearing the same confusion on her face that he felt.

  “What was up with that?” he asked.

  “That was weird, right?” she asked.

  Noah waved a hand as he went back to the office. He knew he’d have to talk to Jessie now. Something was up with those two guys and she was the one who gave them that tour yesterday. He’d just have to put the strangeness between them aside and talk to her. Keep it all business.

  The prospect made him feel strange and out of breath. He’d fallen off one of the roofs he’d been fixing when he was a kid, and the breath had been sucked out of him. He felt a little bit like that right now.

  He wasn’t sure he could keep things all business with Jessie, but if that was how she wanted it, he’d suck it up and try his damnedest.

  Chapter 22

  We have to talk.

  The text on her phone’s screen might as well have shouted. She’d managed to avoid any thoughts of Noah for more than half the day, and now he was asking to talk? She texted him back.

  Okay. Ugh, she was getting sick of that word. When?

  I’ll come by the Sales Center before five.

  She wouldn’t text him another “okay.” She just wouldn’t. See you then.

  Leaning back in her chair, she took off her glasses and tossed them on her desk.

  “What has your panties in a twist?” Oliver asked from his work station.

  “My panties are none of your concern,” she fired back.

  He laughed. “True that. Seriously, is something wrong?”

  “Nope. Just making things right again.”

  His brows rose as he leaned forward. “Yeah? Do tell? Does this have something to do with Naughty Noah?”

  “Stop that,” she said.

  “Did something happen with you two? You know, other than the juicy stuff?”

  “I’m not talking to you about this, Oliver.”

  “Suit yourself. I’m not one to pry.”

  “Ha.” She softened her response with a small smile. “Whatever Noah and I had is over. It’s for the best.”

  “Not by the look on your face, Pixie.”

  She straightened in her chair. “Don’t you have work to do?”

  Oliver sighed. “Always.”

  Jessie dismissed Oliver from her notice as she worked through her end-of-day tasks. Reviewing her schedule for tomorrow. Check. Cleaning her work station. Check. Packing her things. Check.

  Meeting with her ex-lover. Oh, she could hardly think about that, but he’d be here any second now. Standing, she shouldered her messenger bag and headed out toward the lobby. It was probably best to meet this head on. He was waiting by the reception desk, talking with Bree who was covering the desk since Ty’s mother went home around three o’clock.

  “Noah,” Jessie said.

  He turned his head and gave her a smile. “Jessie.” Oh, the way he said her name.

  She fought its impact and merely nodded. “You wanted to talk to me?”

  His expression sobered as he mirrored her act of indifference.

  “Hey.” He nodded to Bree and gestured toward the front doors. “Can we talk outside?”

  “Sure.”

  She held the strap of her messenger bag tight against her body as they stepped out into the bright afternoon sun. He urged her over to a bench set beneath a big live oak and she sat.

  “So, what’s up?” she asked.

  His lips thinned like they had yesterday, and then he gave a shake of his head. “Those guys from Chapman came by to see me.”

  “What did they want?”

  “Apparently Bill Chapman is going to be in touch with me.” He waited a beat. “And you.”

  “Me? Why?”

  “That’s why I wanted to talk to you.”

  That’s not the only reason, she knew he wanted to say.

  “What do you want from me, Noah?”

  She could hear the weariness in her own voice.

  “I’m trying to keep this about work, Jessie. I would think you’d appreciate that.”

  She bristled but didn’t argue. “Go on.”

  “Did they give you any indication during your tour with Ty?”

  She thought for a second. “They seemed very keen to know more about the Active Adult community, but we don’t really have any info on that yet.”

  Noah nodded. “There’s big money at stake there, I’ll bet.”

  “I can see why they would want to talk to you, but why me?”

  He stared at her, making her heart race. “You’re one of the best salespeople Forbes has, Jessie.”

  When she started to shake her head, he cursed softly.

  “Why can’t you see what’s in front of your face?” he asked.

  She pulled back. “What?”

  “You’re great at your job. You have friends here. Hell, you’d have more if you gave yourself half the chance.”

  She sucked in a breath. “I can’t talk about this now.”

  “Why not?” He leaned closer, probably to keep their conversation appearing light to anyone who happened to glance in their direction. “What the hell is so important that you can’t talk to me?”

  “My sister is living with me now.”

  “What? Why?”

  “She has no job and no place to live.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, but isn’t it just a little convenient?”

  “For her?”

  He cursed again. “No, for you. Now you have an excuse to push me away.”

  “Noah, please.”

  He stood. “If this is what you want, fine. I’m not going to push for something if I’m the only one in it.”

  To her surprise he walked away. Just like that. He ripped her heart out, threw it on the sidewalk and then stomped on it on the way to his truck.

  She’d known this was the right thing to do all along. To end things with Noah before she got her heart broken. He would have grown tired of her anyway. Just like Mitch had. She wasn’t worth fighting for. She’d known that, too. What sucked was just how much it hurt.

  It wasn’t until Tammy came and sat next to her on the bench that she realized over twenty minutes had passed since Noah left her there.

  “Chin up, Pixie,” she said, pulling her closer.

  “It’s for the best.”

  “Are you trying to convince me or yourself of that?”

  Jessie could only shrug in answer, tears filling her eyes.

  ***

  Noah’s feet pounded on the pavement as he tried to run off his anger. What the fuck? Jessie had just sat there as she told him he wasn’t worth her time. She had her job. She had her sister. She had her life.

  He glanced at his sports watch and saw that he’d passed the six-mile mark. He was going for ten today. The sound of his feet on the road was his only music this evening. He hadn’t even taken his phone with him, which might have been a little bit stupid. At least it was a cooler now. He squirted his water bottle over his head. Maybe if he ran far enough and fast enough he’d forget the way he’d felt when Jessie had simply ended things.

  Why was he put out by it anyway? It was what he was used to. He never had to work for anything in his life, so why should this relationship be any different?

  He pounded past the turn-off to her tent-cabin and kept his trajectory forward. The Active Adu
lt community would be built out here soon, and if his strange conversation with Derek and Eli was any indication Noah would have something to do with it. That would mean spending his work days out here on the east side of the property. Close to the far lakeshore. Close to Jessie.

  “Fucking fantastic,” he grumbled on an exhale.

  At least he’d have Max in April for his school break in a couple of weeks. When Nadine had told him that last night, the first thing he’d wanted to do when he’d gotten off of the phone was tell Jessie. She was so great with the kid, and it was obvious that his son was as much in love with her as Noah was. He nearly tripped as that thought bounced through his head in rhythm to his footsteps. Love. Fat lot of good that did him.

  He rounded the scrub-covered end of the sandy road and headed back toward the town center. Once again he neared Jessie’s turn off, and nearly strained his neck keeping his gaze forward. As he came into the more populated parts of Cypress, he kept to the bike lane on the pavement. There weren’t many people out and about, since it was dinner time. Most folks were home or eating in the Clubhouse or Town Tavern. The coffee shop and bakery were closed and there was only the small light burning in the lobby of the Sales Center.

  Cutting a path around the square, he passed the market and the ice cream shop. The place was so familiar to him now. It was home, but that kind of pissed him off tonight. His watch buzzed and he saw he’d completed ten miles. Pressing down on it, he paused and straightened. Taking slower steps, he placed his hands behind his back and took in deep breaths as his heartrate began to slow. He was drenched with sweat. He drained his water bottle and shoved it into the clip on his waistband.

  The townhouses came into view a couple of minutes later, and he saw Ben sitting on his front step. He was tapping his foot on the walk and fiddling with his phone.

  “Ben?” Noah called as he came closer.

  Ben lifted his head. “About damn time you got here.”

  Noah rubbed his shirt over his face, and then brushed his hair back from his brow. “What are you doing here?”

  “Tammy sent me.”

  Noah gaped at him. “Why? Or do I even want to know?”

  “That depends, pal.”

  “On what?”

  Ben grinned. “On whether or not you want to keep being a stupid dick.”

  Anger flashed through him. “Look, man.”

  Ben stood then, staring Noah down. “I know what you’re going through. I never dated before Tammy.”

  Noah had thought about picking Ben’s brain just a few days ago. Right now, though? Right now he just wanted him to get the hell out of his face.

  “I don’t want to talk about this,” Noah said.

  “You want Jessie, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.” Noah didn’t hesitate.

  “You love her?”

  “Love her?” Certainty filled him in a wave. She was sweet and hot and wonderful. He wanted her in his life and couldn’t imagine his home without her in it.

  “Yeah,” Noah said again. “But she doesn’t want me.”

  “Bullshit. She wants you. Tammy said she cried for an hour out on that bench.”

  “She did?”

  Ben winced. “Shit. I wasn’t supposed to tell you that.”

  “I don’t understand then.” Noah sat on the stoop. “Why would she push me out?”

  “She’s afraid, man.” Ben sat back down beside him. “You know about her last relationship, right?”

  “I know the guy was an asshole, but that’s it.”

  “He treated her like shit, Noah. She doesn’t feel like she’s worth the effort.”

  “So she pushed me away.” Noah groaned and covered his face with his hands. “And I just let her.”

  Ben was quiet for a long minute. “What are you going to do?”

  Noah lifted his head and looked at his friend. “Show her she’s worth it?”

  Ben arched a brow. “Are you asking me or telling me?”

  Realization slammed through Noah, clear and bright as Jessie’s smile. “She’s so worth it, Ben. And I’m going to show her.”

  “Good.” Ben grinned. “I’d give you a bro hug but you’re a sweaty mess, man.”

  Noah laughed. “I have to go tell her.”

  “Now?”

  Noah simply turned and started to run again. By the time he reached the tent-cabin he was winded but determined. He saw Jessie’s Jeep and a Miata he guessed had to be her sister’s. Whatever. He didn’t care if they had an audience. He had to show her what he felt. Make Jessie admit what he knew. She loved him, too.

  He stepped up onto the front deck and pounded on the frame of the screen door. “Jessie!”

  The door was pulled open and her sister stood there. She wore a smug expression on a face that looked a lot more like Jessie’s, now that it wasn’t covered with makeup.

  “About time you got here,” she said.

  It was almost the same thing Ben had said, and it was just as confusing.

  “What?”

  “Jeez, what did you do run all the way here?” She pushed the screen door open. “She’s out on the back porch.”

  Noah stepped inside. “Does she know I’m coming, too?”

  Shannon smirked at him. “Did you know, up to a few minutes ago?”

  He found a smile. “No.”

  “Then get out there and make this right.” He started past her when she held up a hand to stop him. “Wait a sec. Are you a dick?”

  “No.”

  “Are you a manipulative asshole?”

  He laughed a little. “No.”

  “Then you’re better than our last two guys.” She grabbed her keys off the little table. “I’m heading out.”

  She left, the screen door slamming behind her, and he went out the back door. He found Jessie curled up in one of the chairs, that big ugly sweater wrapped around her like a blanket.

  “Hey, Jessie.”

  She started, turning to face him. “Noah.”

  There was a wealth of meaning in that word, but he was damned if he could figure it out. Her features were set, her full lips pressed in a line.

  He settled on the chair next to hers, suddenly very nervous. “Jessie, I have to tell you.” He shook his head and stood. “No, I have to show you.”

  “Show me what?”

  He fell to his knees in front of her. “That you’re worth it.”

  Her lower lip quivered and in that second he wanted to kill the guy who made her feel like she was lacking anything.

  “Worth what?” she whispered.

  He covered her hands with his, feeling how cold they were despite the warm evening air. “Worth everything, Jessie. I never had to work at a relationship, hell I never had a relationship before, but I don’t want to fuck this up.”

  When she just continued to stare at him, he went on. “I don’t want to take the easy way anymore.”

  “The easy way?” she asked.

  He nodded. “Yeah. Coasting along. Taking whatever the tide brings.”

  “The tide?”

  He shook his head. “I didn’t have to work to get Max. I lucked into it. I don’t want to luck into this with you. I want… I don’t want to lose you because I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  He was screwing this up and he couldn’t lose her. He couldn’t. He took a breath and jumped. “I love you.”

  Her eyes flared as her mouth dropped open. “You love me?”

  He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. “Yep. And you love me.”

  Her eyes swam with tears. “I do. I do love you.”

  His heart began to race. He grabbed her to him. “Thank God.” He started to kiss her and she pulled back. “What?”

  Her eyes were dancing now as she smiled at him. “You stink.”

  He barked out a laugh. “I ran here. After running ten miles.”

  She bit that full lower lip of hers and he wanted to kiss her again. “I know just how to f
ix that.”

  “How’s that?”

  Her head tilted toward the outdoor shower and he grabbed her. Peeling off that sweater, he found she wore her running clothes underneath.

  She smiled. “Great minds think alike.”

  “Okay, great mind.” He pulled his shirt over his head and grinned. “Can you guess just what I’m thinking right now?”

  She peeled off her clothes and came into his arms and he knew this was right. This was real. This was forever.

  And it was so worth anything he had to do to keep it.

  Epilogue

  “Jessie!”

  Max’s voice reached her and she rolled over to burrow under the covers. It wasn’t as strange as she’d thought to sleep with Noah when Max stayed over. Of course, that was probably because his mother and Paul shared a bedroom now. That little revelation came out over mac and cheese during the last weekend he’d spent with them.

  “Jessie!” the little boy cried, his mouth very close to her ear now. “Are you awake?”

  She stifled a laugh. “Yes,” she answered.

  “Come on, then,” he said. “Daddy has something for you in the kitchen.”

  She pushed her hair out of her eyes and sat up. So much for sleeping in on Sunday morning. And since Max would be spending a lot of time with them over the upcoming summer, things probably wouldn’t change for a while.

  “Okay.” Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she suddenly stopped. “Wait. He’s not cooking, is he?”

  Max giggled as he shook his head. “No.”

  Jessie stood and stretched. “Let me brush my teeth and stuff and I’ll be right down.”

  Max nodded and was out the door in a flash. She went into the master bath and used the facilities. Brushing her teeth, she looked at herself in the mirror. A lot had changed in the two months since she and Noah had that steamy shower by the lake. He’d made love to her that day, showed her everything they could be and everything she wanted. She was in a relationship now, and she couldn’t be happier if she tried.

  By the time she went downstairs, Max was hopping up and down on his butt in one of the barstools. Noah was waiting for her, wearing a worn T-shirt and pajama pants. A sliver of skin showed just above the waistband, but she reined in the desire to kiss him right there. His hair was a mess but his eyes were bright.