Treasure on Lilac Lane (Jewell Cove 2)

“I forgot ice cream.”

Jess couldn’t have cared less if she had it or not but the chorus of dismay from the rest of the family was downright ugly. “You can’t have warm apple pie without ice cream,” Josh said with a frown. “It’s just not Thanksgiving!”

“Really, Josh? What are you, four?” Jess raised her eyebrows and teased. “It’ll be fine.”

“I can’t believe I forgot it. And the market’s closed.” Sarah looked truly distressed. Jess sighed. Only Sarah would consider the lack of ice cream a national emergency. She did have a tendency to be a bit of a perfectionist, especially when it came to hosting anything.

Rick interrupted. “I bet the G and S is still open. It doesn’t generally close on holidays. I can go get some, if you want.”

“Really?” Sarah’s face lit up. “We can let dinner settle for a few minutes, can’t we, guys?” She looked down at baby Alice, her cheeks smudged with sweet potato and peas. “I mean, poor Alice might like dessert, too.”

Jess snorted. A tub of yogurt would have done Alice just fine but when Sarah got something into her head …

“We’ll go, won’t we, Rick? It won’t take long. I could stand to walk off some of that stuffing anyway.”

“Back in a flash,” he agreed.

They put on jackets and shoes and headed out the door, making their way to a side street where the G & S Convenience was open pretty much every day of the year. The afternoon had warmed up a bit and neither Jess nor Rick seemed too concerned with hurrying back. Jess in particular was happy to be out of the commotion for a few minutes alone with Rick—even if it was simply walking to the store.

“So, did you get the third degree?” Rick asked, ambling along with his hands in his pockets.

“A little,” Jess answered. “Sarah mostly. She’s nosy. And my mom was a little concerned. Aunt Barb didn’t say much.”

“Concerned how?”

Jess shrugged. “Just doesn’t want me to rush into anything. Not when … well, we both know it’s no secret I had quite a dry spell.” She looked sideways at him and sent him a crooked smile. “You?”

“A bit. Mark and Pete didn’t say much, and Tom and Bryce gave me some shit, but Josh was a bit more, stern, maybe, than I expected. He’s pretty protective of you.”

“Josh was there that night,” she reminded him. “And he’s my big brother, not my cousin.”

Rick took his hand out of his pocket and reached down, lacing his fingers with hers. “He asked me if we were a thing. I said define thing.” He chuckled. “Poor guy couldn’t do it. Couldn’t come right out and ask if I was sleeping with his sister, so he said if I hurt you he was going to mess me up bad.”

“And you said?” She kept her hand in his. It felt good.

“I said fair enough.” He squeezed her fingers. “Except I’m not quite sure what we are either.”

“We’ll figure it out on our own time,” she said, but he stopped in the middle of the sidewalk.

“That’s what I figure, too. I mean, there’s no rush, is there?”

They were face-to-face now and she looked up at him. “No rush at all,” she answered, but couldn’t help but be a bit disappointed. It had taken her a while to be ready to be in a relationship again. It wasn’t much fun feeling like she was dragging him along with her, perhaps a little reluctantly. What was he so afraid of?

She stood on tiptoe and, regardless of any potential audience, gave him a kiss. She twined her arms around his neck as her body pressed against his, and his hand rested on the curve of her back, pulling her close.

“Jess,” he said, his chest rising and falling faster than before. “We’re in the middle of the street.”

“You really don’t want people to know we’re seeing each other?” she asked, frowning a little.

He stepped back just a little, but enough that she felt the cool November air surround her once more. “I think you’ve forgotten how gossipy this town can be.” His dark gaze met hers. “It was only a few months ago that you were pointing out what everyone thought about me, Jess. Do you really think that’s changed? That the people of Jewell Cove suddenly think I should be polishing my halo?”

She hadn’t really thought of it that way, but he was right. He’d made some mistakes, and quite visibly. As a result he’d faced a fair bit of censure. She really couldn’t blame him for not wanting his every move scrutinized and judged.

Jess reached up and touched his face with her hand. “I understand,” she said softly. “I just want you to know, Rick, that I’m sorry for how hard I was on you, and that I’m not afraid of people knowing we’re together. Whenever you’re ready for that.”

“Thank you,” he said. “For being patient with me.”

She laughed and lowered her heels, tugging on his hand. “Don’t get used to it,” she joked. “My patience has a sell-by date.”