“At the crack of dawn? No thanks. My pillow needs me that early in the morning,” Jessy joked.
Lincoln chuckled and rubbed her neck with his hand. Did he do that to all of his friends? Her body shivered, but she tried to act like his touch didn’t affect her.
“I know what you mean, Jessy. Abel gets up before the sun and does a workout routine that rivals the Spanish inquisition in torture,” Lincoln joked. “I have to keep up with him though, or I’d never hear the end of it.”
Melanie agreed with a laugh. “I tried it once and couldn’t move for days.”
Jessy felt herself relax as the conversation flowed smoothly. Lincoln finished the second half of her sandwich for her, and she felt her body leaning against his. His body heat wrapped her up in a warm blanket and she wanted to take a nap.
“Let’s go see that new comedy movie,” Melanie suggested. “I don’t have to work until five this evening.”
“Me, too.” Lily perked up. “I do want to see that, but I feel sweaty and yucky.”
“You can change at my house to save time. I’ll lend you an outfit,” Melanie suggested then looked at Jessy. “You want to come with us, Jessy?”
Jessy ya
wned. “I have to work tonight and I need my beauty rest.”
“I’ll take you home, Jessy. I need to go home and sleep, too. I’ve been up all night. I had to fill in for someone who got sick,” Lincoln suggested, grabbing the lunch ticket. “My treat, girls.”
Melanie and Lily thanked him and left the restaurant with a cheery wave. “You don’t have to pay for my lunch, Lincoln.” Jessy followed him to the cash register. He looked tired and she wanted to go with him and cuddle. Then she laughed to herself. She doubted he was the type to cuddle.
“I want to,” he assured her, and paid his ticket and theirs, too. He led her outside to the bright sunshine. She immediately felt hot all over again after having cooled off inside the building.
He walked to the end of the block where his car was parked.
“It was a long night last night. I broke up so many fights around town. I swear it had to be a full moon,” he told her, opening the passenger side door for her and waiting for her to get in. He started the car and drove off. Jessy took the opportunity to admire his profile. He was such a handsome man, not in a Hollywood star way, but in a tough, rugged way. He was the epitome of wilderness man. She could picture him living in a cabin, chopping wood.
“Then Mrs. Miller claimed some rowdy hooligans stepped on her garden and she took out her rifle.” He chuckled with a shake of his head. “She sat on her back patio and refused to go inside. She can’t see for shit, so I was afraid she was going to shoot me for attempting to speak to her.”
“Mrs. Miller? Her husband owns the hardware store?” Jessy asked. They were an older couple in their late seventies. She didn’t know many of Brook Hollow’s residents yet. “Her husband sold me the deadbolt I put on the front door. I need to buy one for the back door now. Especially with a peeping tom on the loose.”
“Let me know if you need help,” he offered casually.
“I got it, but thanks for the offer. It’s nice having you as a friend, Lincoln.”
He pulled up in her driveway. He turned the car off and turned to look at her. She couldn’t decipher what was on his mind. His face was unreadable. He pushed a strand of hair that had fallen out of the rubber band holding her hair up. “Has Gary bothered you again? I wanted to have a man to man talk with him but Abel always ruins my fun.”
Jessy smiled, feeling like she meant something to him. Even if it wasn’t true, she wanted to hold that thought and cherish it. Her mom worked too hard to give them the attention they needed. Her dad had been too busy drinking it up with his pals. Jessy always tried to give Lily whatever attention she could, but she had always felt so alone. “It’s fine, Lincoln. Don’t get in any trouble on my behalf. Gary apologized. He truly felt bad and has been a perfect gentleman ever since.”
“Thanks again for the ride, Lincoln.” She put her hand on the door handle, feeling reluctant to go in to her lonely house. Jessy felt shy and tongue-tied. He had a date earlier and he was being nice giving her a ride home that was all. She had to get her head out of the clouds before she broke her own damn heart. He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“Maybe we can see a movie together some time,” he said.
“Maybe.” She wasn’t sure she could just be his friend. Maybe avoiding him from now on was her best bet. It filled her with sorrow but it was for the best, she assured herself.
She waved and ran up the porch steps. Lincoln had a way of turning her world upside down.
Chapter Seven
Jessy stared at Lincoln for the second time in a week, only this time the atmosphere was not as pleasant as when he gave her a ride home two days ago. He had texted her but she had not answered back. It made her feel weepy and sad but it was for the best.
She sat in Abel’s office at the busy station. His office door was closed and both men looked grim and angry. She could not think what was going on. She had been surprised when it was the sheriff who called her in and not Lincoln. It must be police business, she concluded.
“What is it? Did you find the peeping tom?” she asked, feeling like you could cut the tension with a knife.
“Was there ever one?” the sheriff asked, looking cold and scary and she felt like she had been called into the principal’s office.