Jessie Belle: The Women of Merryton - Book One

by Peel, Jennifer

“Are you sure?”

  I thought for a moment. “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I kind of wish my husband was escorting me tonight.”

  “I hope you won’t take this the wrong way, but I wish he was, too.”

  “You do?”

  “Not because I don’t want to be with you, but I want him to be the man that you deserve.”

  “Blake is a good man.”

  “I know that.”

  “Do you really?”

  “I’ve been watching him lately, and I’ve been impressed with the way he helps people in this town, especially the Richter family. And he’s a good father.”

  “Yes, he is.”

  “If only he would step it up in the husband department.”

  “You know, I’m not a perfect wife.”

  “I’ll never believe that.” He winked over at me.

  I held onto my dad’s arm as we entered The Pavilion’s ballroom. I had to say I was impressed with the decorations. It was classier than I imagined it would be. They went with a red, white, and blue theme - go figure. The round tables were dressed with white tablecloths and the chairs were also draped in white, but with red sashes tied around them. The flower centerpieces were interesting and reminded me of sparklers in blue, red, and white. Interspersed in the flowers were lighted sticks. It totally worked. The ceiling was also draped in coordinating colors with thousands of twinkle lights.

  Since I was with my dad I had to sit at the “distinguished” table with Landon’s parents, who were actually good people. Too bad they raised a louse. Fiona and Guy Riley were extremely proud of their son. Guy had been the mayor when we were in high school, so this was momentous in more ways than one for their family. And unfortunately, it meant I had to pretend to be happy for them all.

  I really wanted to sit at the table with my friends, especially when Veronica walked in and she was wearing the most hideous dress. It was a mermaid style, sequined from shoulder to ankle in bright green. I could barely control my reaction as she waddled over to our table with Landon, who was walking in like he was Don Juan. Veronica was thin, but it looked like she had to be poured into her dress and was overflowing out of the mold. And the ruffled chiffon sleeves were just the icing on the cake of the monstrosity.

  I dared a peek at Abby and Cheyenne and they were in hysterics staring at the guests of honor. I felt my phone buzzing and knew better than to look at it. I could only guess at the commentary I was getting in our group text. I would save those fun texts for later when I was sure I would need a good laugh.

  When Landon and Veronica made their way to our table, the men all stood and shook Landon’s hand. And they each lied and told Veronica how stunning she looked. Well, maybe that wasn’t a lie. She was stunning, but it was in the “I was stunned she would wear such a dress” sort of a way. And it did stop traffic. I had to give my dad credit, though. I could tell he was less than impressed and all he said was, “Green is a bold choice. Definitely stands out.”

  She took it as a compliment, just like my dad intended.

  He sat down and winked at me. I loved him.

  Landon, on the other hand, I had no love for. He made his way to me and shook my hand and held onto it much longer than he should have. “Jessie Belle, you look amazing this evening. And where is your husband?”

  This time my dad shocked me and stepped in. “He’s out being a good dad.”

  I smirked up at Landon.

  “That’s right,” Fiona Riley said, “How are you enjoying being a mom, Jessie Belle?”

  I wasn’t sure what to make of that question right away. I stared at the kindly Mrs. Riley in her salmon-colored polyester dress. Mom, I thought. Was I a mom? “Well, it’s been interesting, but I love having Maddie here. She’s added new life to our family.”

  “We are happy you finally have your family, even if it came through an indiscretion,” Veronica threw in.

  All heads turned her way.

  My dad held onto my hand as if to calm me and came to my rescue again. “What a thing to say to my daughter. You may want to look up the meaning of indiscretion.”

  She placed her hand across her chest as if offended. “I know what it means.”

  “Oh, good, then perhaps in the future you’ll refrain from making remarks that lack good judgement or truth. Or in other words, you will use discretion.” My dad put her in her place. He was my hero.

  You could hear a pin drop at the table.

  Landon cleared his throat loudly and took Veronica by the elbow. “We better be off to greet our other guests.” His words were kind, but he looked ready to lash out at his wife.

  We all turned from them. I wasn’t sure how the rest of the table would respond, but they all looked at me kindly.

  “We’re sorry about that,” Guy said.

  I gave him a half sort of smile. Landon’s parents were definitely embarrassed by their daughter-in-law’s lack of tact.

  It was definitely not a fun start to the evening. I was grateful when dinner was served and then dessert. I have to say it was fabulous. I had the triple-chocolate mousse pie, which was my favorite. Everyone at our table was very complimentary. It was the turning point of the evening.

  It was maybe evil of me, but I was happy later when a glitch added further embarrassment to the mayor and highlighted his incompetency. The program for the evening stated that the awards ceremony was to take place after dinner, but the awards had been left at City Hall. While those were being sent for, they opened up the floor for dancing. Not only was I happy to get away from the “distinguished” table, but I got to dance with my dad. The geriatric talk was getting me down and making me wish I would never age. Knee and hip replacements had been the main topics of conversation at our table, and my dad could go into graphic detail about them both.

  My dad was a skilled dancer and he used the arm lead technique when dancing. He held my right hand with his left hand and his right hand was placed securely on my back at my shoulder blade. He was easy to follow and made seamless transitions - a real Fred Astaire, as my mom would say. We swayed perfectly to Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon.” My dad even knew the words and sang along.

  I don’t think I could have smiled wider. But I was mistaken. Just as the song was going to end my dad stopped abruptly.

  “Dad?”

  He didn’t acknowledge me. His gaze was fixed behind me and his aged but handsome face broke out in a sly grin. My dad spun me out and there I found myself in the arms I had been wishing for all evening.

  “Blake?”

  Blake looked from my dad down to me with that intense gaze of his that seared my soul. “Jess.”

  My dad placed his hands on both of our shoulders. “I think I’m going to head home and call it a night.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He winked at me and then looked to my husband. “I trust you’ll get her home safely.”

  “Absolutely,” Blake responded. Then he quietly said, “Thank you.”

  “Take good care of my girl.”

  Blake looked down at me. “I’ll do my best.”

  My dad kissed the side of my head and left.

  “The Way You Look Tonight,” also by Sinatra, began to play, but we just stood there staring at each other. I was still in shock. “Blake, what are you doing here? Where’s Maddie?”

  He reached up and ran the back of his hand across my cheek softly and I shivered like it was the first time we had ever touched. “Maddie’s at home.”

  My eyes must have registered worry.

  “She’ll be fine by herself for the evening.”

  “You still didn’t tell me why you’re here. What about your trip?”

  “Tonight, I realized something after all these years. I’m an idiot.”

  I couldn’t help but smile.

  He matched my smile with his own. “You took my breath away tonight at the house. You’re so beautiful.”

  I reached up and held his hand that touched my cheek. He moved our entwin
ed hands and placed them across his heart and drew me closer to him. “I also realized,” he said quietly, “it’s the little things that matter to you. The way your eyes lit up at the corsage, or your dad opening your door.”

  “Were you watching out the window?”

  “I was. I didn’t want to let you out of my sight.” He sighed. “I should have told you I would take you when you first asked. I’m sorry.”

  I ran my free hand up through hair that was still damp, like he had hurried to get ready. I hadn’t really looked at him in the amazement of him being there. He was in a white button down shirt with the top two buttons undone, and a pair of charcoal gray slacks. I had forgotten he owned any dress clothes at all, but they fit perfectly and showed off his physique. He took my breath away. And his gray eyes were warm and perfectly framed by his dark lashes. That whole resurfacing thing my therapist talked about was definitely happening. I felt twenty-two again.

  “I knew you wouldn’t want to come and I didn’t expect you to.”

  “That’s one of our problems. You should expect more from me. You deserve more from me.”

  “I’m just happy you’re here.” I moved my arms and hands and placed them around his neck.

  He placed his arms around my waist and drew me to him. I don’t think we had ever danced together and I’m pretty sure he didn’t know how to, but it didn’t matter. We probably looked like junior high kids in our stance, but I couldn’t have cared less. All that mattered to me was that he was there. We barely swayed as my head leaned on his shoulder.

  “Mrs. Summers, you are beautiful,” he whispered.

  “Mr. Summers, you clean up well.”

  He chuckled low in my ear.

  I hated for the song to end, but it gave us the chance to once again put our affection on display.

  Blake cupped my face in his hands and leaned on down for what Cheyenne would call a church kiss, which meant no parting lips, but I still caught a taste of his minty fresh breath. And I’m pretty sure my leg popped.

  When his lips released mine I looked around to find most dancers looking at us. I smiled and bit my lip. “How about a drink?” I asked my husband.

  He took my hand and led me to the bar and ordered himself ice water and me some fruity non-alcoholic concoction. My dad the doctor made me swear off alcohol for life after I came home drunk once in high school. I was shown horrific pictures of alcohol-related accidents and what livers looked like after years of alcohol abuse. It was enough for me to never touch the stuff again. And alcohol had too many calories for Blake’s liking.

  We joined my friends—and I hoped he would consider them his friends—at the “fun” table. And to my ever-loving amazement, Blake held out my chair for me. It was like a small miracle. I sat down and smiled up at my husband.

  “Do you two need a room?” Cheyenne asked right off the bat. “For a moment there I thought we were watching Dirty Dancing and Blake was going to lift you over his head.”

  Everyone but Blake laughed. I doubt Blake had ever seen Dirty Dancing.

  “Thanks for raising the bar,” Shane said to Blake. “Now our partners expect us to dance with them and kiss them like we mean it in front of everybody.”

  Abby smacked Shane. “Are you saying you don’t mean it when you kiss me?”

  “Of course I mean it, baby.”

  Kent looked at Cheyenne, who was giving him a cold and calculating look. “You know I always mean it.”

  Cheyenne’s look said otherwise.

  “How about we change the subject,” I suggested.

  Blake sat back and draped his arm around me comfortably in front of my friends. “Good idea,” he said.

  Shane laughed.

  “How about Veronica’s dress,” Cheyenne said too loudly.

  “Let’s save that for later,” I responded quietly.

  “All right,” Cheyenne said, disappointed. “I suppose since we snapped several pictures of it, we’ll be good to go for later.”

  “What Cheyenne means by we is she,” Abby chimed in.

  It didn’t matter anyway because the awards had been delivered by a harried Lucy, the mayor’s secretary.

  “Looks like you’re going to get your award after all,” Cheyenne said.

  I shrugged my shoulders. I didn’t really care one way or the other about it. But someone else did.

  Blake leaned in close and whispered. “You’re getting an award?”

  I turned to my husband, who almost looked hurt. “Uh, yeah, Jessie Belle’s won Best Business of the Year.”

  He shook his head slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Honestly, I didn’t think it would matter to you.”

  His eyes definitely said ouch. He stood up abruptly and held out his hand to me while turning to everyone else at the table. “Excuse us,” he said.

  Everyone nodded curiously.

  I took his hand and he helped me up and then led us to a quiet, empty corner outside the ballroom. He backed me up against the wall and I couldn’t tell if he was angry or not, but his impassioned look had me feeling warm. He leaned in and his forehead met mine.

  “Jessica, how do you not get that you matter to me? Have I been that terrible of a husband to you?”

  “No. It’s just that we’ve lived these separate lives for so long.”

  “Jess, I’m proud of you and the last thing I want is to be separated from you.”

  “You’re proud of me?” I almost giggled.

  “Not like in a parental sort of way, but yes, I’m proud of you and proud to be your husband. I don’t know many women who would have taken Madeline in and loved her the way you have, all while running your own business and trying to save the world.”

  “I’m not trying to save the world.”

  “You right a lot of people’s worlds, so same thing.”

  “Do I right your world?”

  “Every day,” he said before he pressed me against the wall and kissed me like there was no tomorrow. It was definitely not a church kiss. And I’m pretty sure my lips and hair didn’t survive as his hands wove their way through my hair and he drank me in as fast as he could. We only broke apart when we thought we heard steps in our direction. It was a false alarm.

  He smiled down at me. “You didn’t tense up.”

  “I know.” I grinned slyly. “I love you, Blake.”

  “I’ve been waiting to hear those words.”

  “Are you ready to move back into our room?”

  “More than ready, but can it wait until tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “What I have planned for tonight doesn’t involve clothing.”

  I think I may have blushed. “Are you ready to go home?”

  “What about your award?”

  “What award?”

  Blake practically growled before he took me up in his arms and kissed me deeply.

  We could hear my name being called as we walked briskly passed the ballroom on the way to the exit. “This year’s award goes to Jessie Belle’s Café. Jessie Belle, come on up here.”

  We grinned slyly at each other. Oh, there was going to be talk. My little ladies at the café were going to be so thrilled. And even better, this time the rumors were going to be true.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Good morning.” I smiled as I curled in closer to Blake, if that was actually possible.

  He did his best to bring me in as close as he could.

  “Did you sleep well?” I asked.

  “It was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in months.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Why do you ask?”

  I looked up into his smiling eyes. And guess what? They were the happiest I’d ever seen them. That gave me a great sense of pleasure and peace. “You’ve always said you could never sleep next to me.”

  “Well, I was an idiot.”

  “I’m so happy you’ve finally come to that realization.”

  He groaned before his lips found
mine and we began to pick up where we had left off in the wee hours of the very early morning. Oh, I had missed him.

  And apparently someone else was missing us. First my cell phone went off, which I ignored, but then the house phone rang and rang and rang.

  Blake used some of those nice four-letter words and I had to say I agreed. We reluctantly disentangled ourselves and I answered the phone, though Blake reached for it. I figured I would spare the poor caller his wrath.

  “Hello.”

  “Jessie Belle! Abby and I have been trying to reach you since you bailed last night,” Cheyenne said in her too loud voice.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked her as I sank back against Blake. He promptly began kissing my neck, making it hard for me to concentrate. I had to make myself not sigh.

  “No, we just wanted to make sure everything is okay with you.”

  “I’ve never been better. Thanks for asking.”

  “Oh. Oooh. I guess I should let you go then.”

  “Uh, huh.”

  “When you get a chance, check out the Daily Press,” she quickly said before I hung up.

  I clicked end and threw the phone and turned back to Blake, who didn’t miss a beat.

  But apparently our romantic interlude wasn’t in the cards this morning. Within seconds of being wrapped back up in each other there was a knock on our door.

  “Jessie,” Maddie called.

  “Did you lock the door?” I quietly asked Blake. We had never had to worry about that before.

  He grinned seductively at my paranoia and nodded his head.

  I sighed out of relief before calling out, “Yeah, honey?”

  “Do you know where my dad is?”

  It was my turn to smile at Blake. He sat up and ran his fingers through his tussled hair. “I’ll be right out, Madeline.”

  She didn’t say anything in response.

  I sat up, too. Blake turned and kissed me once quickly. “Do you think your parents would take her one weekend?”

  “Sure. What do you have in mind?”

  “As long as it is you and me alone, I don’t care about the particulars.”

  “I’ll come up with something.”

  He smiled in response.

  “So what do you want to do today?” I asked as he threw on a shirt.