Dylan’s Redemption(43)
“What?”
Marilee found her voice first. “Nothing looks the same. Jessie, the house. It’s too much. This room and the kitchen, they’re twice the size they used to be. The furniture. It’s beautiful.”
“You have to stop. I told you both I’d take care of the house. I’m glad you like it. Go look at the rest. The bathrooms have been redone and the back rooms enlarged as well. You’ll have plenty of space here. Go. Go see.” Please go. I can’t take much more.
Brian took Marilee’s hand and led her down the hallway. A series of oohs and aahs went up as they made their way from room to room. Jessie continued to unpack the box of dishes and stack them in the cupboard. Unheard, Dylan come up behind her. His hands clamped on to her hips. He pulled her back to his chest and bent to her ear.
“You’re a good woman, Jessie Thompson. You’ve done an amazing thing for your brother and Marilee.”
“I did it for the baby. He deserves a father who isn’t a drunk and a home to grow up in where he feels safe and protected.”
A squeal echoed from the back of the house, and Marilee shouted for Jessie to come.
Reluctant, she didn’t want to leave the warmth of Dylan’s embrace. The sturdy wall of his chest pressed against her back, his hips snug against her bottom. His strong, warm fingers dug into her hips, holding her tightly to him. His breath washed over her cheek. His lips barely whispered against her skin. Reluctantly, she pulled away and headed to the back of the house with him on her heels.
“What’s going on back here?” Jessie stood in the doorway of the baby’s room. Marilee sat in the rocking chair balling her eyes out. Brian crouched on bended knee, trying to console her. They made the sweetest picture. Brian swept his hand over Marilee’s hair and down her back, cooing, “Everything will be okay.”
“It’s beautiful. The furniture. This rocking chair. It’s all p-p-perfect. I’ve seen furniture like this in the antique store downtown. It’s expensive. Jessie, this is too much.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. Oh, yes. I love it,” Marilee said and sobbed harder.
“Then it isn’t too much. It’s just right. You look perfect in that rocking chair.” Her voice broke, and she turned and fled past Dylan.
She managed to run into the backyard and take a few deep breaths to clear her head and stop the tears. To her relief, no one came after her. She didn’t know what she’d do if Dylan had come after her and found her crying over a baby he didn’t know they shared. She wanted to feel his arms around her again. It was so easy to let him touch her and make the years fall away until she was that young girl in love with a boy for the first time.
A long way from being that naïve, young girl, she needed to remember that and everything that happened because she loved a boy.
Chapter Fifteen
* * *
DYLAN WAITED OUTSIDE of Jessie’s office trailer just like he had every other night of the past week. He alternated between seeing her and spending his evenings with Will. He hadn’t told her about his son. He’d do it soon, but first he needed to repair the bond they’d once shared back into a friendship and hopefully more. God, how he wanted more right now, but he could barely get Jessie to talk to him.
The first night hadn’t gone well at all. She walked out of her office, saw him standing there with a dozen red roses, and shook her head, and said, “Flowers do not make up for ditching me.”
“Do they entice you to have dinner with me?”
“No.”
She got in her truck and left. He let her. Short of following her home, handcuffing her, and making her go with him, what could he do?
He just might have to resort to handcuffing her if she continued to be this stubborn. Of course, he’d make it fun for both of them.
The second time he came by, he made sure to come after the crews left. He hoped he’d find her alone, working in the office. Luck was on his side. He brought her favorite, Gino’s Pizza. Pepperoni, extra cheese, and a couple cans of Dr. Pepper. He walked into her trailer, sat in front of her desk, set the pizza and sodas right on her work, and plated up a couple of slices.
“What are you doing?”
“Having dinner with you. You won’t go out with me, so I guess we’re staying in. How was your day?”
Stunned, taken off guard, it took her several minutes to figure out what to do with him. Since he refused to budge and sat eating his pizza as if they did this every night, she took her plate, popped the top on her soda, and sat back and ate with him. They played Twenty Questions. He asked the questions. She evaded at first, but since he kept the topics about everyday things and nothing about her, him, or what happened, she went along. After about five questions, he figured out to stop asking her questions that only required a yes or no. Stubborn woman didn’t want to like having him there, but by the end of the evening her soft smile came more easily and the wary look in her eyes disappeared. So long as he didn’t push too hard, get too close, or ask anything too personal. They’d get there.