CHAPTER TEN #3
Striving to change topics, she asked, “I know you’re more up on Pinegrove gossip than I am, but do you know when our guests are arriving?”
Malcolm smirked. “Yeah, Maxwell texted that Javi and Trevor are grabbing the pizza. They should be here by six.”
“Well then, I guess you know it all.” Jessie stuck out her tongue, but she really didn’t mind.
It was good to see Malcolm smiling, and she was glad he had friends at the station.
And, frankly, she needed more company in this house right now.
Because despite his tired eyes and slouched posture, she desperately wanted a repeat of last night’s kiss.
As well as other activities she shouldn’t be considering . ..
Glancing at the time, Jessie asked, “What do you want to do with the next hour?” She took in the space around her, noticing how Estelle had already tidied up from the day’s activities.
Malcolm yawned. “You mind if we sit for a spell?” Malcolm patted an empty cushion beside him.
“How was the nurse’s visit?”
Malcom lifted a shoulder. “Not bad. She’s pleased with how my wounds and burns are healing, and she only managed to annoy my mother once. Win-win.”
Before Jessie joined him on the couch, she went to the kitchen to fetch a drink and his medications.
“Be right back.” She held up her hand as she darted away.
Jessie rejoined him with a glass of sweet tea and a handful of pills a minute later.
“I’d wager we’ll have about an hour until the next invasion.
Whitney said Trevor was stopping by the shop before coming over.
” She made a gagging sound, sticking her finger in her mouth.
“Knock it off,” Malcolm teased. “Whitney is great. I think it’s nice they found each other.
” His expression was soft. Malcolm was always a hopeless romantic.
A tiny pang pulled in her ribcage that she’d missed her brother falling in love, but she didn’t want to dwell on that.
A happy ending was a happy ending, regardless of who was here to witness it.
Jessie was never a fan of her brother’s ex-fiancée, Virginia.
The woman was rude and stuck-up, the opposite of sweet-hearted Whitney.
Trevor never seemed to relax around his ex, as if always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“I know, but he’s my big brother. It’s my job to knock him down a peg or two. ”
Malcolm reached for her as soon as she sat down, and she took his hand.
She promised herself this was simply to comfort her patient while he recuperated.
This didn’t have to mean anything. It didn’t mean she was still attracted to him, didn’t mean she wanted to crawl into his lap and make out until her lips went numb.
Nope, she was totally unaffected by Malcolm Smith’s touch. Yeah, right.
The quiet of the house surrounded them, and before Jessie knew it, she was dozing right beside Malcolm.
Their heads fell together, both exhausted from their days.
Malcolm’s hand was warm in hers, and every once in a while, he’d offer a gentle squeeze, almost to prove she was really by his side.
Every time she’d squeeze back with all her might, eager to savor their time together.
Their bubble burst when the doorbell rang, and several annoying knocks, jolted them back to reality.
Jessie scrambled to her feet. “Get ready for a Pinegrove FD invasion.” She laughed as she strode forward, leaving Malcolm with his leg propped up on the coffee table, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
“You can finally meet Maxwell,” Malcolm said, his voice gruff from their impromptu nap.
Jessie flung open the door, expecting to see her brother, Javi, and a random guy. What she got instead was a view of a gorgeous blonde woman with a bright smile, stunning cheekbones, and curves she’d kill for. Despite being in her new dress, Jessie felt as frumpy as a sack of potatoes.
“Hi!” The other woman waved. “I’m Tiffany Maxwell, Smithy’s partner.” She took a step forward to come inside, but Jessie didn’t budge. This might be the first time she was actually flabbergasted—her flabbers were literally gasted.
Holding up a covered dish, Maxwell added, “I brought my famous double chocolate brownies, Smithy’s favorite.
” Jessie’s lips pursed, her mouth as dry as sandpaper.
Malcolm adored anything chocolate, and this bombshell made his favorite dessert.
“Um, can I come in?” Maxwell asked, arching an eyebrow and jostling the plate.
Jessie shook her head, coming to terms with the fact that Malcolm had failed to share that this rookie was a woman—and a total smoke show. “Uh, sure,” Jessie muttered, stepping back so Maxwell could enter. Before she could close the door, she heard the familiar voice of her brother.
“Hold the door, Jessie!” he ordered, carrying in a stack of pizza boxes, Javi hot on his heels with a couple six-packs.
“Jessie, how are you, girl? Nursing duty treating you well?” Javi pushed his way inside.
His footfalls faltered at the sight of her in a dress.
“You look nice. Dress up for me?” He made kissing noises before Jessie elbowed him in the ribs.
“Oof. I guess not,” he gasped, steadying the beers before they fell to the floor.
“Get everyone a beer, goober,” her brother ordered, earning a lewd gesture from Javi before he joined Maxwell and Malcolm in the other room.
Trevor stayed back, already clocking his sister’s weary expression. “What’s wrong? Is it Smithy? Should we call the doctor again?” His voice was low, coated in worry.
“No, he’s fine.” Jessie craned her neck to ensure they were alone. “Why didn’t you tell me that Maxwell was freaking hot?” She hissed, stabbing her brother in the chest with her pointer finger.
“Ow.” He rubbed the spot with his free hand while he balanced the pizzas with the other. “What’s the matter with you? I could have dropped these, and Buster put extra pepperoni on for free.”
Without her permission, Jessie’s mouth watered at the mention of pizza from The Pecan Pit, Pinegrove’s favorite—and only—dive bar. Buster, the owner, was a grump with a heart of gold and a surprisingly good pizza recipe.
“Did you get one with mushrooms and hot peppers?”
“Does Momma read too many smutty romance novels?” Trevor deadpanned, rolling his eyes as he took a step forward.
Jessie stopped his progression by hooking her arm around his middle. “Answer my question.”
Trevor scrunched up his nose. “I don’t remember what it was.”
Jessie swatted at his chest and swore under her breath. “Why didn’t you tell me Maxwell was a girl and hot?”
Again, Trevor stared at his sister, his head cocked to the side. “Uh, what does it matter?”
Jessie glared, her hands on her hips. “It matters,” she said through clenched teeth.
Trevor’s posture slumped as he groaned, “Oh no.” Head tipping back, he muttered something under his breath.
Jessie’s heart rate spiked. “What?”
Shaking his head, her brother looked as disappointed as when she’d left the back gate open and their old hound dog Charlie snuck out. “Are you two back together again?”
Jessie’s stomach plummeted at the mention, and she shoved Trevor two paces until his back hit the door.
“No, we aren’t. And even if we were, it’s none of your business,” she wheezed, swallowing past a lump in her throat.
Ever since Maxwell entered this house, Jessie felt like she was going through a cardiac event.
“Um, do the Mays siblings want to join us?” Javi’s question rang down the hallway, along with the sound of bottle tops clattering on the coffee table.
“Coming!” Jessie shouted, her eyes never leaving her brother’s.
Trevor sucked his teeth. “It is my business if you start something and then leave again. You’re not the one left picking up the pieces, Jessie. You can’t keep jerking Smithy around, especially after all he’s been through.”
Jessie reeled back as if she’d been slapped. “Jerking him around? I don’t do that!” She was appalled when all Trevor did was scowl. “Well, not intentionally anyway.” The admission sat bitter on her tongue, and Jessie wanted the ground to open and swallow her up.
Her brother sighed, readjusting the pizza boxes in his grip.
“Look, you’re right. Technically, it’s none of my business.
Just don’t leave him in worse shape than you found him, hmm?
” Trevor side-stepped Jessie on his way to the living room.
Before they reached the others, he tossed over his shoulder, “And Maxwell is happily married with two kids. Chill the hell out, please.”
And just like that, Jessie deflated. “Oh,” was the only response she could muster.
As she and the others dined on Pinegrove’s best pizza, she tried not to overanalyze her relief at Maxwell not being interested in Malcolm, or the burning in her ribcage. It was likely heartburn from the pepperoni. Probably ...