Tori leaned against the door, trying to catch her breath after that kiss. Hot and cold shivers flashed through her. Why hadn’t she pushed him away, let him know she didn’t appreciate his kisses?
Because you liked it, and all outrage flew from your mind the minute you tasted him. Mint and a mild taste of brandy. And something else that was all Jesse.
She ran a shaking finger over her lips. Unlike anything she’d experienced in her life. Certainly her erstwhile fiancé, James, had never affected her in this manner. She unbuttoned her coat, expecting her heart to pop right out of her chest.
Time to get control of herself. Rubbing her hands up and down her arms to take away the chill, she circled the room a few times before going to the bedroom. She extinguished the lamp and glanced out the small window over the bed as she undressed. The moon lit up the street, leaving little in shadows. The unsettled feeling persisted, her skin sensitive where her nightgown fell. How easily would sleep come tonight?
Her answer arrived a few hours later as she tossed and turned, trying not to wake the girls, asleep in the bed they shared, across the room from her.
Jesse Cochran. She didn’t know what to make of him. For sure, what she didn’t want was for her stomach to knot, then coil like a spring when he flashed his lopsided grin. Except her brain and body didn’t agree, fighting a rough battle. And her body seemed to be winning.
Tori didn’t see Jesse the next day. He’d never stopped by to cajole a cookie or ask for a cup of coffee. Probably took her advice and ate at The Café. Good. The less she saw of him, the better.
She’d felt restless all day, a feeling of something missing. Occasionally her fingertips strayed to her lips that still tingled from the unexpected kiss. She sighed. Yes, it’s better she didn’t see so much of him. The thought went round and round in her head as she glanced up time and again when the back door opened and Jesse never appeared.
A couple weeks went by, and a mild sense of unease surrounded her. Rachel wasn’t happy, and Jesse only waved as he passed her window. He apparently regretted the kiss. Fine, she regretted it as well. Since it would never happen again, she kept herself busy, and pushed any unpleasant thoughts to the back of her mind.
When school had been officially organized, she’d been hired as one of the teachers. Right now, there were two different school buildings, one on the east side of town and one on the west. Her children were in the school closest to home, but Tori’s assignment was in the other building. At the rate the town was growing, a third school would be needed very soon.
She rose before dawn to bake cookies, pies, and cakes for the restaurant, then washed and dressed for school. By the time she came home in the afternoon, she was exhausted. Then after supper, she spent at least two hours grading papers, going over the next day’s assignments, and checking homework.
“Tori, is Rachel here?” Bright sunlight poured through the door as a somber Michael walked in from his part time job and dropped his books on the table.
Tori stopped stirring the soup. “No. She’s not home from school yet. What’s the matter?”
“She wasn’t in school today.”
Tori leaned against the stove and frowned. A sense of unease spread over her, drying up her mouth, and causing a slight flutter to tease her stomach. “Where is she?”
“I don’t know. I left after you did this morning, while she still fussed with her hair, or something. But she never came to school.”
Tori pulled out a chair and sat at the table as a wave of fear swept over her. This doesn’t sound good.
Ellie skipped into the kitchen with Hunter right behind her. “Rachel gave me a note.” She held up a piece of paper and, with a flourish, handed it to Tori.
“When did she give you this?” Her stomach rolled.
“This morning. She made me promise I wouldn’t give it to you until supper time.” Ellie drew herself up with importance.
With shaking hands, Tori unfolded the note.
Her eyes moved back and forth as she scanned the message. “Oh my God!”
“What is it?” Michael pulled the paper from her stiff fingers.
“Rachel’s gone back to Kansas.”
Chapter 5
Jesse locked his office with the intention of taking another solitary meal at The Café. He’d spent the morning after the town council meeting chastising himself for neglecting his clients. Way too much of his time had been spent hanging around Tori like some randy youth. He needed to focus on the lawsuits piled on his desk. And a good substantial breakfast at The Café each morning was much better for his health than cookies. Since school had started, she was pretty busy herself, so hanging around eating cookies in her kitchen would probably have ended anyway.
He sure missed her.
I wonder if she misses me, too.
He laughed. Tori always had a scowl on her face when they were together. Of course she didn’t miss him.
Jesse pushed his daydreams aside to focus on work. As he reached for a file, he glanced out the window to see Michael appear from his house and race toward the train station. Hunter and Ellie followed on his heels; Ellie with tears on her face, and Hunter gripping her hand. They went in the opposite direction, in a great hurry.