Not Quite Dating (Not Quite #1)(25)
Author: Catherine Bybee

Muffled sounds permeated the line until Jack returned. “Hey.”

“You’re in bed?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s four o’clock.”

Jack released a long sigh. “We couldn’t get Dean off his binge until sunrise. Then the alcohol haunted him until noon. He was a mess, Jessie. One sorry son of a bitch.”

Jessie sighed. “So you found him.”

“We did. I might have to spike his cereal with whiskey to keep his head from exploding, but we did find him, drunk as any sailor on shore leave.”

“Where are you?”

“Up in Arrowhead.”

“Dean is taking the breakup hard, then?”

Jack’s voice sounded more alert with every sentence. “He is. No man ever wants to believe the woman he pledged his life to isn’t committed. But between you and me, I think it’s for the best. Maggie was nice and all, but not for Dean. Better they figure that out now than get married and figure it out after.”

“You didn’t tell him that, did you?”

“I’m not an idiot, Jessie.” He laughed. “I’ve seen Dean throw a punch, and I don’t want to be on the receiving end of one.”

“Good. Why did his fiancée break it off?”

Jack sounded as if he was moving around on a bed. “I don’t think he knows. She just told him she couldn’t do it. They were too different. Shouldn’t she have figured that out before she said yes?”

“I’ve never been engaged, but I think that’s what an engagement is all about. You have to spend time with each other, figure out if you work together outside of the physical.”

“Dean said the physical was amazing.”

“He’s a guy. Of course it was. Did he know about the things that count? Did they mesh outside of the bedroom? Could they talk to each other about any and everything?”

“Damn…no. I don’t think so. But I already told you I didn’t think they worked. Dean thought they did, and for that I’m bummed for him.”

Jessie watched her son on the playground and leaned on her forearms. “You’re a good friend, Jack. You were ready to accept her regardless, and you’re there for him when it fell apart.”

“I’ve known Dean since we were kids.”

“Did you grow up together?”

“Yeah. He’s like a brother to me.”

Jessie smiled. “You take care of the people you care about, Jack, and it shows. Dean’s lucky to have you on his side.”

“Ah, now, Miss Jessie, you keep talkin’ like that and I’m going to have to get down to you and show you how much I appreciate your astute attention to my divine disposition.” Jack’s accent sang like a soprano in church.

“I’m paying you a compliment, not inviting you into anything divine.”

Jack laughed.

She laughed with him. “OK, well, I’ll let you go. Just wanted to check up.”

“You just wanted to hear my sexy cowboy voice,” he teased.

“I was concerned for your friend.” The sexy voice was a nice bonus.

Jack laughed. “What are you doing today?”

“I’m at the park with Danny. We’re going to the outlet center tomorrow, get some Christmas shopping done. How long are you going to be in Arrowhead?”

“We’re going to try and get Dean off the hill later tonight. He’ll stay with Mike for a while.”

“If there is anything I can do for him, let me know.”

“I will. Dean is pissed at your whole gender right now, but I’ll keep you in mind.”

She heard Jack yawn. “Get some sleep. I’ll talk to you later.”

“OK, thanks for calling.”

She hung up and found herself smiling.

It was good to hear his sexy cowboy voice.

The outlet center was packed. Jessie held on to Danny’s hand for fear he’d get lost in the crowd. People pushed, shoved, and seldom offered an apology for stepping into her personal space. Bah humbug!

“How long do we have to be here, Mommy?”

“Long enough to pick out something for Auntie Monica and Grandma.” Her mother was the hardest person to shop for. What she really needed, Jessie couldn’t afford, and what she wanted, love from a man, Jessie couldn’t buy. There was no guarantee the outlet mall would have anything on her list.

“Can we buy something for Mrs. Ridgwall?”

“Your teacher?”

“Yeah.”

Jessie wanted to say yes, but every dime really needed to go far. “How about we make something at home for your teacher? I’ll bet she’d love some of our famous peanut brittle.”

Danny nodded with enthusiasm. “OK. I’ll make her a card, too.”

Jessie knew she had skated out of that one. In the future he wouldn’t be that easy to sway, but she was glad he was at this point.

Every toy store they passed, Danny wanted to go inside to see what he should put on his Christmas list for Santa. Jessie had explained to Danny that Santa had a lot of kids to take care of and to give Santa only a few things to choose from. Just in case the elves couldn’t come up with his most favorite toy. Steering him away from the pricey items took a certain skill that didn’t always work.

On the way into the third toy store, Jessie glanced up and noticed Jack’s hat before she recognized the man.

Jack, in his signature outfit, leaned against the massive window of the toy store with a smile on his face. It was almost as if he was waiting there for her.

“Isn’t that your friend?” Danny asked.

“It is.”

“What’s he doing here?”

“I don’t know.” But seeing him brought a smile to her face and gooseflesh to her arms.

“Hey, darlin’.” Jack tipped his hat when she walked up to him.

“What are you doing here?”

He ignored her question and bent down to talk to Danny. “Hey, Danny. Are you dragging your mother through the mall today?”

Danny laughed. “She’s dragging me,” he revealed.

“She’s dragging you, huh? Into a toy store? I didn’t know your mom played with toys.”

Jessie felt the warmth of Danny’s giggle and couldn’t hold back the grin on her face. “My mom doesn’t play with toys. I play with toys.”

“Oh, so you are dragging her into the toy store.”

Danny shrugged. “I guess.”

Jack stood and winked. His flashy smile and dimples matched his mood.