Dylan’s Redemption(42)

“Jess, are you okay?” He closed the distance between them, leaving the unloading of his truck for later. She needed him. He felt the pull and gave into his own need for her.

Concern filled his eyes, making them narrow on her. Jessie wanted to tell him she wasn’t okay. She was sad she didn’t have a little girl with her to run and greet her daddy as he drove up. She wanted to tell him how her heart ached every day for a little girl who’d never gotten a real chance to live. She wanted to tell him just seeing him made that ache worse and better all at the same time.

Instead, she stood staring at him as he came up the steps to the wide porch she’d built herself.

He stood right in front of her, waiting with the infinite patience he’d shown her when they were kids and she chased after him. She gave in to her treacherous heart, went to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and held him tight. He enclosed her in his arms, pulling her close. Everything inside of her melted along with her body into his. She exhaled with sheer relief. Back in his arms, the years, the heartache, the hurt washed away, leaving the way only he ever made her feel. Safe.

“I’ve waited a long time, too long, to have you this close again. I never want to let you go,” he confessed.

“You did. You will again.” The fear rose up, but she kept holding on, trying to forget he’d abandoned her, but it was no use. What happened couldn’t be erased.

“No. I won’t. Jess, come on. What’s wrong? Tell me.” He brushed a hand down her hair, and when he got to the back of her neck he pressed his fingers into the soft flesh and kneaded out some of the tension.

Brian’s truck drew closer, slowly coming down the street. Turning her lips to his ear, she whispered. “I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry.”

She pulled away as the truck pulled up, leaving Dylan’s arms and her insides empty again. The last time she felt whole he held her in his arms the night of the prom, and again just now. What she wouldn’t give to have that every second of every day. But it could never be.

“Jessie, come back. Talk to me.”

“Not now.” She nodded to her brother and Marilee intruding on their moment.

Heading back down the porch steps, Dylan met everyone on the newly paved walkway. Like a light switched in Jessie, she was back to being all business, helping Marilee unload the front seat of Brian’s truck.

Marilee stopped in front of the house and scanned the front yard and new brick path leading up to the porch with the white bench swing. The lawn sprang up green and lush around them, and where the old stump used to be stood a beautiful mature shade tree. At least twenty-five feet tall, it looked as if it had been in the yard for years.

“Oh, Jessie. How did you do this? It doesn’t look like the same house.”

“That’s the point. I didn’t want it to be or feel like the same house. This is your house.”

“The tree is lovely. How did you get such a big tree?”

“A very large flatbed truck and a crane. In a few years, you can hang a swing from one of the branches.”

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

“It’s just a tree. Wait until you see the rest of the house.”

Marilee put a hand on Jessie’s arm, waiting for Jessie to look at her. “It isn’t just a tree. You made this place a home. I’ll tell my child his aunt planted that tree the year he was born. I’ll sit on the porch swing and watch him play in the yard in the shade of that tree. Everything is perfect.” Tears rolled down Marilee’s cheeks as she studied the new yard and house.

Dumbstruck, Jessie stared blankly at Marilee at a complete loss for what to say to Marilee’s heartfelt words. Dylan grabbed a box out of his truck and set it on the driveway, still in awe of what Jessie and her crew accomplished in two weeks.

“Hey, honey, come help me with this mattress.” He tried to rescue her from the emotional moment before she wore out her shoes, shifting from foot to foot, unsure whether to stay or run. She looked lost. He’d pull her toward him and give her time to get her bearings back.

Jessie gazed over at Dylan, standing beside the truck, that cocky half grin on his gorgeous face. She remembered the feel of his arms wrapped around her a few minutes ago. She needed to get away from the temptation of him and Marilee’s overwhelming appreciation and overwrought emotions. She grabbed the armload of small boxes Marilee held and rushed into the house.

Alone in the kitchen, Jessie thought she’d be safe from everyone. Wrong. They stepped through the door, their arms full of Brian and Marilee’s things, and stopped and stood silent. Their eyes roamed the room and settled on her. They stared with blank expressions, making her uneasy.