“I haven’t really done that much. You would have been just fine on your own.”
He was quiet for a moment. “You’ve done a lot. I mean it. I really appreciate it. Hope we didn’t ruin any big plans.”
Jessie shrugged. “Not really. I mean, I was supposed to go out with Justin last night, but I rescheduled.”
Jack turned to look at her. “Justin, huh? Been out with him before, haven’t you?”
His tone was light and Jessie felt her heart sink. Of course Jack didn’t care who she went out with. God, how much she wished that he did.
She nodded and tried to ignore the little ache in her heart. “Yeah. He’s really nice.”
“Well, I’m sorry you missed out on a hot date because of us,” Jack teased her.
“I don’t know how hot it was going to be, but no biggie.”
“Have you slept with him yet?” Jack asked quietly, looking away.
Jessie blushed and shook her head. “No. Oh my God, Jack! I’ve only gone out with him once!”
“How many times will it take before you’ll give him some action?” Jack smirked.
“There’s no magic number. Just waiting for it to feel… right.”
Jack laughed.
“What?” Jessie asked defensively.
“Nothing. Just wondering how many dumb-ass guys have turned themselves inside out trying to figure out how to get into your panties. All that wasted effort for nothing.”
“Maybe not every guy thinks non-stop about sex, Jack. Did you ever think of that? Maybe they just enjoy my company.”
He laughed again. “Wow, you really are naive, aren’t you? I hate to break it to you Jessie, but all guys are wondering what you look like naked and trying to figure out how they can get into your pussy.”
“First, your daughter is right over there so you should watch your language. Second, you’re not thinking about those things and you’re a guy,” Jessie retorted.
An image of her and Jack making out on her couch the night before last flashed through her mind briefly.
She felt her cheeks heat up, remembering him turning down her invitation to come to her bedroom. Ugh. Could that moment have been any more humiliating?
“That’s different. We’re friends.”
“I’m in your friend zone,” Jessie sighed softly.
Jack shrugged. “Yeah, I guess you are. I like being friends with you. I like spending time with you. If we crossed the line that wouldn’t happen anymore.”
“Why not?” Jessie felt a wave of sadness wash over her.
He was giving her the “I just want to be friends” speech. She had given the same speech to enough guys to recognize when someone was giving it to her.
“You’re not the kind of girl a guy just hooks up with, Jessie. You’re the kind of girl a guy marries and has babies with. I don’t want that. Not ever.”
“Just planning to be single forever?”
Jack laughed. “Fuck, yeah. I’ll be the creepy old guy at the bar scoping out hot, young chicks.”
Jessie forced a laugh and tried to swallow the disappointment that clogged her throat.
JESSIE TEXTED JACK ON MONDAY afternoon.
Jessie: How did it go at the doctor?
She had cooked dinner for Jack and Kennedy again the night before. She had made her grandmother’s fried chicken, bacon macaroni and cheese and collard greens, along with homemade biscuits.
Jack had raved about her cooking while scarfing down two huge plates of food. Kennedy had eaten with a good appetite as well, considering the day she’d had.
Kids are resilient, Jessie thought. They could handle bad news better than adults. Probably because they didn’t understand all of the implications of what was happening.
Kennedy had cried when they put her to bed again, but not as much as the night before. This time Jessie had laid in her bed with her upstairs until she fell asleep, and then she had gone home.
She had texted Jack this morning to find out how things were going and he had responded that everything was fine. He had taken the day off work to take Kennedy to her follow up doctor’s appointment.
Jack: Doctor says she’s good. The kid is asking for you. Let me buy you dinner. Anywhere you want.
Jessie: Okay. Meet you somewhere or come to your house first?
Jack: Come here first.
Jessie: Okay. I emailed a list of possible daycare centers for you to look at.
Jack: Great. Thanks. Like I know shit about daycare.
Jessie: LOL. I already researched them for you. The list I sent are the good ones with the best reviews and references. I already checked to make sure they have space.
Jack: Thanks, Jessie. You’re the best.
Chapter Four
“YOU CAN DO IT… JUST like I showed you.”
Jack watched nervously as Kennedy walked slowly up to the soccer ball.
She glanced at the goalie and then back at Jack, a worried expression on her pretty little angel face.
Jessie looked at Jack and frowned slightly. He had worked with Kennedy all week on this, every night after dinner.
The truth was, Kennedy wasn’t athletically inclined. At least not for the soccer Jack wanted her to play. She shined in her dance class, though, where she loved to wear her tutu and look pretty.
Kennedy kicked at the ball but missed it completely. She glanced back at Jack, pouting.
Jack clapped his hands together. “That’s okay. Good effort. Focus, focus.”
He was so naturally competitive and athletic, and it was clear he wanted his daughter to do well.
It was sweet to see Jack slipping into his role as a dad. Kennedy had been with him for a few weeks now.
Jack had made arrangements to have a funeral for Brandy. Sarah had advised this during one of the many phone calls she and Jack had shared about Kennedy. Sarah thought it was important for Kennedy to have that closure, not to mention a grave where she could go to visit her mother. Since Sarah was a therapist, Jack figured she knew more about this kind of thing than he did, so he had followed her advice.
To show their support, Chris and Zoey had attended the graveside service, as well as Nick and Savannah. Unfortunately, Sarah was involved in a complicated divorce at the moment and hadn’t been able to visit yet to meet her niece.
And of course, Jessie was there, trying to explain what was happening as best as she could to a four-year-old. Jack had stood silent and stone-faced as he took Kennedy’s hand and walked her to the casket, laying a rose over it and indicating for her to do so as well.
Not one family member had come forward to claim Brandy. Jack had published an obituary in the local papers, and a handful of her friends had shown up at the funeral. He had spoken to them and discovered that they were dancers that worked with her at a club. They had told him that Brandy didn’t have any family that they knew of, and no close friends either. They said that she had been seeing someone, but he was older and married, and no one knew his name.
The old lady that lived in the apartment next door hadn’t been very helpful either. She had not known much about Brandy, but had looked after Kennedy for her in the evenings while she worked, and had been paid in cash each night.
During the past few weeks, Jack and Jessie had spent almost every evening and weekend together. They had eaten dinner together almost every night, most often at Jack’s house.
On the weekends they took Kennedy to the park, to play on the beach with the dogs, or to the movies.
Sundays were still all about football. Jessie’s brother and his husband had come a couple of times and brought their son, Adam, so Kennedy had someone to play with.
Sometimes they got together with Chris and Zoey. Kennedy was a big fan of her “Uncle Chris” and he adored her, too.
Jack was comfortable taking care of Kennedy by himself now, but she loved being around Jessie. They were already very attached to each other. Jessie would sit on the floor of Jack’s living room for hours with her, coloring or doi
ng crafts, or playing with Barbie dolls. Toys and books and other kid stuff was quickly accumulating in Jack’s house.
Jack liked having Jessie around, too. It wasn’t just that she made his life easier by helping out with Kennedy. They also got along well and had a great time together.
Of course, the trade-off was that he was horny all the fucking time. No matter how many times he jerked himself off thinking about that perfect little body he couldn’t make it go away.
He knew how wrong it was to think of her that way. Jessie was the sweetest girl he had ever met and deserved his respect, but somehow all he could think about was peeling her clothes off and doing every depraved thing to her that he could think of.
Just more proof of why he should leave her alone.
He would close his eyes, remembering the feel of her soft skin under his rough hands, those little whimpering and panting sounds she made. His cock would throb harder than it ever had as he imagined what she would sound like if he made her come, what her pussy would taste like, what it would feel like to pound his dick inside of her.
Of course, in real life, they were just friends. Getting closer every day, it seemed.
Jessie had already helped him make over Kennedy’s bedroom in a princess theme. Never had Jack imagined that he would have such a pink room in his house.
He was working on making Kennedy a princess bed, complete with castle, out in his workshop, which was to be a Christmas present. He worked on it on Sunday mornings, when Jessie took Kennedy to church and brunch with her and her family.
She had invited Jack to go each week, but he had declined and she had given up.
On Kennedy’s third try she just barely made contact with the soccer ball, and it rolled only a few feet in front of her. Her eyes welled up with tears when the little girl next to her kicked the ball successfully into the goal. She hung her head and walked back to the bench, staring at the ground.
“I don’t think she’s having any fun,” Jessie said gently.
Jack glanced at her. “Maybe not yet. But when she figures out how to play better she’ll like it more.”
When soccer practice was over, Kennedy walked slowly to them, her head down.
“I’m sorry I didn’t do good.” Her voice was a small, shaky whisper.
Jack brushed his hand under her chin gently and lifted her pretty face. Tears welled up in her eyes and started sliding down her cheeks. He wiped his fingers over them and brushed the tears away.
“Hey, no crying. That’s for babies. You did fine. You just need to keep practicing. Can’t expect to be perfect right away.”
Jessie’s heart went out to the little girl. Kennedy so obviously wanted to please her father.
Later, after Kennedy had been put to bed, Jessie sat down next to Jack on the couch.
“You know Jack, Kennedy only plays soccer to make you happy. She doesn’t really like it,” Jessie told him.
“That’s not true. Every night after dinner she begs me to come outside and practice with her.”
Jessie smiled softly. “Sure, she likes playing with you in the yard because she likes spending time with you. She wants your attention, but she hates going to practices and her games. She doesn’t want you to know because she can tell how much you want her to do it.”
Jack sighed. “So what? I should just let her quit? Seems like she should at least finish what we signed up for.”
“You’re fighting a losing battle, Jack. I know you want her to be a tomboy but she’s not. She’s a total girly-girl. Your worst nightmare.” Jessie laughed.
Jack groaned. “Alright, I won’t sign her up for it again unless she asks me to. But there’s only a few more weeks. I’m going to make her finish it. Not raising one of these kids that just quit when things get a little too tough.”
Jessie smiled. “Okay. Well, I’m going to get going. See you tomorrow, I guess.”
Jack’s eyes darkened as they swept over her, lingering on the swell of her breasts. He tore his eyes away.
“Why don’t you hang out for a while?” Jack suggested, pouring himself a shot and then one for her. He slid the shot glass toward her. “We could watch a movie or something. If you get drunk or too tired you can spend the night. You can sleep in my bed and I’ll take the couch.”
“Pretty sure you just want me to stay so I’ll make breakfast in the morning.” Jessie laughed.
Jack smiled. “Now that you mention it that would be an added benefit.”
Jessie hesitated and then shrugged. “Okay. Why not? I don’t have anything else going on.”
Chapter Five
JACK DID THE SHOT OF FIREBALL that Chris handed him. It felt good to be out. He would have hated to miss this Halloween party at one of their favorite bars. Not to mention all the sexy chicks decked out in the skimpiest outfits they felt like they could get away with.
The past few weeks he hadn’t been able to get out at all. He was realizing how much having a kid was going to negatively affect his sex life. Aside from one lunchtime romp on a work day with Isabella at her apartment a week or so ago, he hadn’t gotten laid at all. He definitely needed some pussy.
His housekeeper, Gwen, was babysitting tonight. She had mentioned to Jack that if he needed a sitter from time to time, she would be more than happy to help out. Her own grandchildren lived far away and she adored Kennedy already.
His attention was captured by two hotties walking into the bar… oh wait, it was just Jessie and Zoey. Still… he swallowed hard and tried to keep his expression neutral when he saw Jessie wriggle out of her coat.
Her naughty school girl Halloween costume was sexy as fuck, complete with a red and black plaid micro mini skirt, black halter top tied in the front to reveal plenty of eye-catching cleavage, and hair in the requisite pigtails with matching bows. The schoolgirl thing wasn’t usually something he was that interested in, but this particular one definitely had his attention.
It was a far cry from the Disney princess costume she had worn when they had taken Kennedy trick-or-treating two nights ago on the actual night of Halloween. Although, Jessie had looked adorable as Elsa, holding hands with Kennedy, who had been decked out in her Minnie Mouse costume. They had begged Jack to wear a Captain Hook costume, but he had flatly refused.
His eyes slid down her tempting body to the black thigh highs and high heels that completed her costume. When she turned to hang her coat up, he noticed that her perfect ass was peeking out from the bottom of that tiny skirt. He couldn’t help but imagine lifting it up and enjoying what was underneath. He felt an erection start stirring as he took in all that pretty skin, toned and tight and tempting the hell out of him.
Zoey looked amazing as well in her sexy Little Red Riding Hood costume, but Jack only had eyes for Jessie.
Chris, dressed up like the Big Bad Wolf, waited for the girls to make their way to the pool table they were playing on, then he wrapped his arms around Zoey and pulled her close to him.
“My, what big teeth you have!” Zoey joked, raising her voice to a higher pitch than usual.
“The better to eat you with, my dear…” Chris joked, playfully biting her neck and then pulling her in for a long, deep kiss.
Jessie laughed as she nervously perched on a high bar stool. She could feel Jack’s eyes all over her and she was too embarrassed to look at him.
“Hey,” Jack greeted her.
She finally raised her gaze, shyly meeting his. Sure enough, he was staring at her, his gaze alternating between her skirt and legs and her boobs, occasionally glancing up at her face.
“Hi.”
“Can’t believe your daddy let you out of the house dressed like that,” Jack joked. “Better be careful, princess, or some dirty old man might try to get you to sit on his lap in that little skirt.”
Jessie laughed. “God, I hope so. Otherwise what’s the point of freezing my ass off in this outfit?”
Jack smirked at her joke.
“Ah, Halloween… the one night of the year that j
ust about all women will dress as slutty as possible and not feel at all bad about it,” Chris sighed as Zoey swatted him playfully.
“Might be my favorite holiday for just that reason,” Jack replied, his eyes scanning the room at the mind-boggling assortment of sexy nurses, cops, and other provocative costumes. “I mean look at this place… crawling with hot women showing it all off. No matter where I look there’s another amazing piece of ass to check out.”
His eyes worked the room but finally settled slowly on Jessie. She blushed and looked away. She should be used to Jack checking her out by now. He did it all the time, though he rarely made any comment. But then again, she wasn’t usually quite this exposed.
He handed her a pool stick. “You break. I’ll go get us a round. What are you drinking tonight?”
“I’ll have a Malibu and Coke, please.” Jessie avoided eye contact. She felt overexposed, even though just about every other girl in the bar was also baring enough skin in sexy costumes to make it seem as if there was a lingerie catalog photo session taking place.
When Jack returned, some guy was already talking to Jessie. She was smiling up at the douchebag, with the sweet, shy smile that made her face light up like the fucking Fourth of July. When the guy saw Jack, though, he slipped off, mumbling something about needing to use the bathroom.
“Can’t leave you alone for a minute, can I?” Jack teased her.
Jessie smiled. “He was nice. I hope he comes back.”
Jessie glanced behind her toward the restrooms, trying to catch sight of him through the crowd.
Chris and Zoey were practically making out at the table. Zoey was in his lap and they were talking and laughing quietly and kissing, completely focused on each other.
“Don’t know how she can make out with him like that in that goddamn wolf costume. It’s ridiculous.” Jack shook his head.
“What girl doesn’t want a big, bad wolf to eat her all up?” Jessie teased, her eyes lighting up playfully.
It was so unlike her to say things like that. When she did, it always caught Jack a little off guard. He smiled slowly.
Burned Page 6
