Jessie pressed her finger to her burning lip. Between the wings and that kiss, her lip throbbed from the cut that had happened when Big Finn had run into her.
Oh, but it was so worth it she thought as she rolled down the windows and opened the moon roof.
She was used to making the first move with men. She intimidated them either by her height or her determination.
Todd Walker didn’t seem like the kind of man who’d be intimidated by a strong woman. They surrounded him. He did, however, seem like a gentleman who wouldn’t take advantage of a woman, and that was notable.
The next morning, Jessie poured her coffee, added ample cream, and sat down at the computer to make a list of things she wanted to accomplish long term and today. Once satisfied with the list, she printed it out, and made sure it downloaded a copy to her phone and iPad.
After a shower, and some fine makeup skills to hide the bruises on her face, she headed to the hardware store where a nice man named Earl helped her pick out the perfect color for her reception area and the right shade of white for her studio.
Armed with paintbrushes, paint cans, tape, and tarps, Jessie let herself into the small space ready to begin the adventure she’d set out on when she’d signed the lease.
When she’d parked her car, she’d noticed the beer truck parked out back and the HVAC truck parked next to it. No doubt Todd’s day was well underway.
After her second trip into the shop, she looked up to see him standing in the doorway watching her. “You’re right on time,” she joked as she dropped the bags from her hands. “I’m done.”
“My mother always said I had impeccable timing when it came to helping.”
For a moment there was an awkward silence between them. It was enough time for Jessie to wonder if she’d made a mistake the night before when she’d kissed him.
But, it only took another moment for him to walk across the room, cup her face, and plant a warm and welcoming kiss on her mouth. “Good morning,” he whispered.
“Good morning.”
“I’ve waited twelve hours to do that.”
She tried to clear her mind to have a normal conversation, but he really had surprised her with the kiss. “I was afraid I scared you away.”
Todd shook his head. “Not going to happen.” He took a step back and scanned a look over her. “How’s your face?”
“Sore. Lip is very tender.”
“Your lip?”
Jessie chuckled as she picked up one of the bags she dropped to the floor and set it on the card table she’d set up. “It got a cut in the shuffle with Big Finn. The wings did a job on it and then when we kissed…” She looked up at him and smiled. “Well, it’s sore.”
Todd followed her to the table, picking up another bag and setting it next to the one she’d carried over. “Too sore to not kiss for a bit?”
Jessie looked him square in the eyes. “Never too sore for that.”
He winked and helped her sort through her items. “Dinner tonight?” he asked as he pulled out paint brushes and tape.
“What did you have in mind?”
Now his head lifted. “Maybe we could eat in. Do you cook?”
“Enough to not starve,” she said, folding the empty bag in her hand.
“We’re a match made in heaven. That’s how I cook. Your place or mine?”
Jessie placed her hands on her hips. “Mine. I don’t want to be responsible for burning down Lydia’s place with my cooking skills.”
That caused Todd to laugh. “I’ll bring the groceries. Text me your address.”
“Give me your number.”
He pulled his phone from his pocket and she added her number, but he remained close. “I have to get back to the hall. I’ll come back by and help paint.”
“I’ll be here.”
“That’s what I’m finding I like most about all of this. You’re right here,” he said as he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips before turning and heading out.
The one thing Todd would have to remember was to stay focused on his job at hand now that he and Jessie seemed to be taking their admiration to the next level.
He’d worried over that first kiss of the morning, but now he was invited to her house.
He was gentleman enough to know he’d leave by ten and not stay the night. There was a lot they didn’t know about each other, and he wouldn’t race right into sleeping together. He wanted to feel this out, and he was damn sure she did too.
The beer driver gave him his invoice, and the HVAC guy came in with a list of things that was needed fthe units to keep them running.
This would need to be a call, not just an email to Lydia to confirm all the costs. As he dialed her number, he wondered just how ready she was to coming home. He missed her terribly, but now he didn’t want to leave his post.
“Don’t be spending my money, Walker,” she answered the phone and her voice sounded lighter than normal.
“Why do you think that’s the only reason I call you?”
“Because it is.” She laughed. “But other than that, how are things going?”
“Can’t I just tell you what needs to fixed first?”
He heard the tisk sound through the phone and smiled when she said, “Oh, you’re avoiding something personal. What is it? I need gossip.”
“Nothing. I just want to wrap all of this up so I can go help the photographer paint her storefront.”
“Ah! And she’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“Blonde?”
“Yes,” he said knowing he had a weakness for that trait.
“Little bit of a thing? Like Bernadette on Big Bang Theory?” she quoted the title to his favorite TV show, and that made him bust out in laughter.
“Oh, totally the opposite.”
“She’s a heifer?”
“Lydia!”
Now she was laughing, and that melted his heart to hear it.
“No, she’s not. She’s a basketball player. She’s six-two, beautiful, unique, athletic, smart…”
“And you’re sleeping with her.”
He shook his head. “No. I’m not sleeping with her. But I’m enjoying her company. So if you’ll approve the charges that I need, I could get back to enjoying her company.”
Todd gave her the rundown of repairs that needed to be done, and she gave her approval.
“I miss you and all those women you’re related to,” Lydia said when they’d finished their business.
“And we miss you too.”
“And how many times has Phillip been there asking about me?”
He wasn’t sure if he wanted to say anything about it, but he owed it to her. “He found me last night when I was out with Jessie. He asked about you. He misses you too.”
Todd expected her to get all fired up over it, but she didn’t. “I don’t think I’ll be much longer. I’m working with another therapist here.”
“I thought you were done with all of that,” he said.
“Your mental health always needs you. I’m giving it what it needs. It doesn’t mean I’m manic or anything. It means I’m a healthier version of myself. Maybe you should try it and it’ll help you with your daddy issues.”
He wanted to argue and tell her he didn’t have daddy issues, but they’d been down that road. He did.
They ended their conversation with the words I love you and goodbye. When he hung up the phone, he saw Jessie standing in the doorway.