“I happen to love ice cream,” she admitted.
“See, I didn’t know that about you.” His eyes were filled with heat that made her shiver but not with fear.
Jessy licked her lip and almost groaned out loud. This was a very different Lincoln than she was used to seeing. She barely resisted him before, but if he suddenly became Mr. Nice Guy, would she still be able to resist him?
“What’s your favorite color?” he asked as he watched her lock the front door.
She couldn’t think with him standing so close behind her. She could feel his warm breath on her shoulder. She wanted to just throw herself in his arms and beg him to kiss her again.
“Um, all of them,” she said without thinking.
“Figures you’d be difficult.” He shook his head walking with her down the porch steps. Jessy felt like she was walking on air. Too bad it had come too little too late.
Chapter Five
“That was fun but my legs ache.” Jessy’s breath came out in a whoosh.
Lily gave Jessy a humorous look. She handed Jessy a bottle of water. “That’s a good sign. I told you all those long naps were not doing your body any good. You should jog with me.”
“I just started,” Melanie spoke up with a light laugh. “She is a slave driver, Jessy. Don’t do it.”
Lily looked at her friend. “You said you wanted to lose weight to impress John Lopez.”
“Eh. I’m over him. I guess it can’t hurt to show him what he missed, though,” Melanie said playfully, flipping her hair in a dramatic fashion making them all laugh. Her dark hair was put up in a ponytail like Lily’s and Jessy’s.
Jessy had agreed to rent bikes and spend the morning bike riding through the trails of the park with them. The park was beautiful and the breeze was nice, but she’d rather be sitting on the bench admiring the view. It was a busy day at the park with families and couples walking around. It all seemed so idealistic and safe, but Jagger and now her peeping tom was still on her mind. She found herself observing every biker who passed them in the trails earlier.
“Two miles is my limit, girls.” Jessy hopped off the bike, giving it back to the man at the stand. “I deserv
e food now.”
Lily and Melanie handed in their bikes, too. “I could eat,” Melanie agreed. ‘This was fun. It’s nice to have new friends. I am so glad you both moved here.”
Jessy was pleased Melanie was such a sweet outgoing girl. She was the same age as Lily. Jessy didn’t want Lily to be a constant bundle of nerves and worry. They walked the two blocks to the diner. It was lunchtime. Jessy hoped they found a table or booth.
The cool air hit her face as they walked up the two steps that led into the restaurant. Lily pointed out a small table in the back. As they headed toward it, Jessy spotted Lincoln. Only he wasn’t alone. An overdressed blonde sat across from him looking at him with adoring eyes. She felt jealous even though she had no right. He offered her friendship. Anything else was obviously in her imagination. She would have walked right past them without acknowledging him or his date, but Melanie stopped at his table.
“Linc.” She smiled at him. “I thought you were working nights this week.”
“I am,” he answered, glancing at them. He made eye contact with Jessy, but she avoided meeting his eyes. He would see the jealousy in hers.
“I’m going to snag the table,” she whispered to Lily, wanting to get out of there before she scratched his date’s eyes out. Jessy walked away and sat down at the empty table. She made sure her eyes stayed on the menu and not on Lincoln. She felt ugly and sweaty while his date looked like she didn’t even know how to sweat.
* * * *
Lincoln watched Jessy walk away, barely glancing at him. Was she mad at him? He thought they had a good time a few days ago. They had bought an ice cream cone and sat on the benches talking. He really liked her, which surprised him. He had even told her. She had laughed instead of getting offended like he thought she would. She was easygoing when she wasn’t using her attitude as a shield.
“Words you never thought you would say, huh?” She had teased him with her green eyes filled with joy. He liked the look of her being happy and not eyeing everyone with suspicion.
He felt the laughter coming out of him and he couldn’t remember having had so much fun with a woman. “Maybe. I thought you were beautiful from day one, but also mouthy and annoying.”
She had rolled her eyes and licked her cone. He had to shift around to prevent the bulge under his jeans from showing. He didn’t want to scare her off. She was very untrusting and cynical at times. “Gee, Lincoln. Is this the kind of lines you say to your fancy women?”
“No, only to sexy brunettes who talk too much,” he teased back, surprising himself. The blush that appeared on her cheeks was adorable, but he refrained from telling her so. He got the feeling she would not find it a compliment. She listened to whatever he had to say and had no qualms about being honest with her own opinions. He respected that.
“Is she okay? No more problems?” he asked, looking at Lily. All three girls had shorts and tank tops on with their hair pulled back. He wondered what they had been up to.
Lily shook her head no, looking at him like she was upset with him, too. She glanced at Nikki with disdain. “We went bike riding. We’re ready for lunch. I better go sit with her.”