Treasure on Lilac Lane (Jewell Cove 2)

“I’m just working,” he answered.

“No dinner plans?”

“Well,” he said, “I have a frozen turkey dinner in the freezer. I figured I’d pop that in later.”

“That’s disgusting,” Jess replied. “It’s Thanksgiving. You need a real dinner. With mashed potatoes and gravy and my mother’s stuffing.”

“Breezes is open. I’m sure Gus has turkey and the fixings planned.”

Stubborn man. They were technically seeing each other but he was so determined to keep their relationship private that he refused to even acknowledge the hint.

“We’re all going to Sarah and Mark’s this year. Why don’t you come?”

There was a pause on the other end. “With your family?” he finally asked.

“Why not?” she asked cheerfully. “Good heavens, you’re practically family anyway. And there’ll be a mountain of food. After you have a dozen, one more person at the table is nothing.” They’d kept their relationship discreet, as per his wishes. She knew what she was asking. If they went together, questions would be asked. Assumptions made. Would that really be so bad?

“What I mean is…” His voice lowered a little. “Are you asking me to go with you, Jess?”

She cradled the phone close to her ear. “I suppose I am,” she replied. This was a new step. Asking him to a family holiday was pretty much her way of saying they were a couple.

“You’re going to tell your family we’re a thing?”

Jess frowned.

She was perfectly fine with showing up together, and she was actually okay with the idea that they were a couple. But Rick’s resistance spoke loud and clear that he wasn’t ready yet. A little voice inside her said he might never be, but she ignored it. “Why do we have to define what we are?”

“Because you know someone’s going to ask.”

She sat down on the sofa and leaned back. “I don’t think they will. It’s just dinner. You’re included in a lot of family events. The invitation just came from me this time. And I can say that I knew you didn’t have plans and invited you to come along.”

“Which is strictly true.”

“Right.” She let out a breath in relief.

“Except…”

Her breath halted.

“Except what?”

“Except that I can’t stop thinking about you, Jess. And there’s a chance your family is going to see right through me.”

Her heart did a happy flip. Maybe he was just private when it came to his personal life, because he made little statements like that and she lit up like crazy. “There’ll be too much commotion.” She hoped. Their feelings were too new and confusing to try to explain. Still, she wanted him to go. The thought of him sitting home alone on Thanksgiving, only a few months after losing his mother was just wrong. “Come on, Rick. The boys will be there. You know you’ll hang out with them anyway. You can watch football and eat pie until you burst.”

There was a sigh on his end. “What time?”

“We’re supposed to be there at one thirty, dinner at two.”

“I guess I could go.”

“I’m driving since I have food. I’ll swing by and pick you up.”

“I can always walk. It’s only a few blocks.”

“Hey. I could use a spare pair of hands.” She no longer considered his prosthetic even a disability. It was just part of who he was.

They would walk in together. People could make of that what they would. This way she had someone to help with her dishes.