Let It Snow(5)

“Hey, Tessa.” Eric moved beside Jake.

Tessa blinked, as if his brother’s words had snapped her out of a trance. “Oh, Eric. Hi,” she said, shaking her head as the corner of her mouth turned up in a half smile, the way it always did when she was embarrassed or feeling uncomfortable. Her eyes widened and she asked, “Wow, so you’re a police officer?”

“He’s the Chief of Police,” Courtney chimed in. Even through his jacket, Jake could feel her nails dig into his bicep. She gripped his arm tighter as she extended her free hand and, in a not-so-friendly tone, introduced herself. “I’m Courtney, by the way.”

“Oh, hi. I’m Tessa.” She lifted her hand in a little wave then turned to Eric. Jake watched, captivated, as her face lit up the same way it had when he’d scored the winning touchdown at Homecoming or when his little sister Nikki had learned to French braid her own hair. Tessa genuinely cared no matter how small or big the accomplishment. “Police Chief. Wow, that’s great. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. How have you been, Tessa?” Eric asked warmly.

The light that had just sparkled in her eyes dimmed slightly. Maybe no one else would even notice. But Jake had.

“Oh, you know. Hangin’ in there,” she said with a tight smile, glancing between the three of them. Jake wasn’t sure if she was just uncomfortable with the current situation or if it was more than that.

As she continued talking to his brother, Jake’s eyes traveled down her body. A loose, long-sleeved white cotton shirt that was wet clung to her body, showcasing the curves that his body still ached for. She wore light blue jeans with a hole in the knee and pink sandals. Her delicate toes were painted a deep shade of purple.

Purple. That meant she was sad.

Jake’s eyes flew to hers and he noticed things he hadn’t at first glance. Dark circles under her eyes. A small wrinkle in between her perfectly arched brows. Her skin was paler than usual—or at least what he remembered as usual.

“I’m sorry for your loss. When did she pass?” His brother’s question cut through the Tessa-induced fog that had taken up residence in Jake’s brain.

“Almost nine months ago,” Tessa’s voice wavered and her eyes filled with moisture.

“Adeline passed?” The words came out of Jake’s mouth before he could stop them.

Tessa sucked in a barely audible breath as her head jerked up to meet his gaze. Her vivid blue eyes wide and mouth open, she stared up at him silently.

Shit. He couldn’t believe that, after all this time, those were the first words he’d spoken to her. Before he had a chance to say anything else, Tessa swallowed hard and confirmed, “Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” Jake’s hands fisted at his sides. His first instinct was to pull her into his arms. To hold her and tell her that everything was going to be okay. That he would make sure of it. But the last time he’d done that, she’d left and hadn’t come back until today. His need to touch her, to comfort her, was so strong he had to actively not reach out to hold her.

Her bright baby blues bounced between Eric, Courtney, and Jake. “Well, it was great seeing you guys and nice meeting you Courtney. Um, Sue Ann is waiting for me so… Bye.” She started to step around them but Eric stopped her.

“Listen, we got some calls down at the station reporting a white PT Cruiser swerving on the highway.” Eric’s tone wasn’t quite in full on-the-job mode but it wasn’t merely conversational anymore.

“Oh.” Tessa’s hands flew to her chest and she let out a forced laugh. “I probably was. But not because I’d been drinking,” she quickly stated then laughed again nervously. “I mean…yes…I guess… Well…it was…technically because I was ‘drinking.’ But not alcohol, just energy drinks.”

Eric stared at her with a blank expression, and Jake knew that he had no idea what she was talking about.

Tessa had always had a tendency to ramble and not finish thoughts when she was nervous. The first time he’d kissed her, Tessa had spent five minutes talking about the gum she had been chewing—if he’d tasted it, how she would have spit it out if she’d known he was going to kiss her, even asking him if he wanted a piece. So he’d kissed her again until her Bubblicious bubble gum was the last thing on her mind.

Eric continued staring at her, probably trying to determine if her odd explanation was due to intoxication.

“She has a small bladder,” Jake explained.

Tessa lifted her small shoulder in a shrug as a light blush crept up her cheeks. Her eyes darted to Jake’s. “Yeah, that.”