Page 7 of Letters From Home

Jessica walked up the porch steps, sorting through the rest of her mail while her mind wandered. Deep down, she knew Nick was a great guy. He didn’t understand what it was like to be a parent, though. It took long days, sleepless nights, and always putting your kid first.

Jack hadn’t grown up with a dad. She couldn’t let him get too attached to Nick. If she didn’t put some distance between them, and Nick only wanted a single date over ice cream, Jack would be devastated when the men moved on.

She clutched the card as she walked into the kitchen, pushing past the plastic sheeting that kept dust from spreading through the house. Jessica’s eyes widened as she looked around theroom. They'd finished working while she was gone. The new kitchen window was installed, and drywall had replaced the water-damaged plaster. Cans of sunshine-yellow paint lined the walls, ready to turn her kitchen into a cheerful haven.

“You’re ready to paint?” she asked, looking around the room. They’d made an incredible amount of progress.

“Soon,” Nick promised, standing alone in the kitchen. “The drywall joints need to dry. You’ll have a functional kitchen by the end of this week.”

Jessica shook her head in amazement. She knew Nick and Grant were hard workers, but hadn’t expected them to do their job so quickly. Maybe that was a good thing. They would be gone soon, and she could settle into a routine again with her little boy.

Nick might ask her out for lunch a time or two, but Jessica doubted he would stick around for long. Once he was done working on their house, he’d probably forget all about her.

The thought left a hollow feeling in Jessica’s stomach. She was used to being forgotten. Jack’s dad had walked out of her life without glancing back.

Nick was friendly enough, but that didn’t mean he planned to stick around.

Tomorrow’s problems would come soon enough, she reminded herself. Her visit with Brook had given her a brighter outlook, and she was determined to remain positive.

Their visit at the daycare had gone well. That meant she could work more hours at Sunset Market, and start building a solid foundation for Jack.

But if she was going to spend any time with Nick, she needed to remind him that a child was involved. Her family wasn’t a short-term commitment.

She held up the Valentine’s Day card and raised her eyebrows. “It’s a little soon to be your Valentine.”

Nick chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. “You won’t let me take you out for ice cream. I’ll have to settle for being your Valentine. I promise to go all the way, though—flowers, chocolate, a cute card with a poem inside. That’s for Jack. I’ll get you something nice, too.”

Jessica couldn’t help it. She burst into laughter, surprised at the fun Nick brought to her life. “I’m sure Jack would love all that. But let’s be serious for a minute. He's a little boy. Jack doesn’t understand that sometimes people go out for ice cream once, and then they don’t see each other again. You can’t make promises to a four-year-old and not keep them.”

The smile fell from Nick’s face. “Who says I don’t keep my promises? I know Jack’s dad didn’t stick around. If you gave me a chance, I’d show you how a real man acts.” His voice softened as he touched her hand. “We’re not all bad guys, you know.”

Guilt twisted Jessica’s stomach into a knot. Was she transferring her past distrust of men onto Nick? She’d known him for years before moving away. Nick was solid, trustworthy, and kind—even if he believed too strongly in the power of soulmates.

Love couldn’t fix everything. Perfect matches weren’t real. No one, not even the town’s most prolific matchmaker, would convince her otherwise.

“You’re one of the good guys,” she agreed, feeling the guilt wash over her a second time. “I need to get Jack settled in Sunset Cove, though, and find my place here. I’m not ready for a commitment yet.”

Nick’s lips twisted in a lopsided grin, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Maybe next Valentine's Day. I think we’d make a good pair, but it’s got to be your choice.”

They stood quietly in the kitchen, staring into each other's eyes. Jessica’s confidence faltered. She’d been single for fouryears—long enough to prove that she could handle parenthood on her own.

But did she have to do this alone? Was her independent streak dooming her to a lifetime of loneliness, when there was a great guy who wanted to be part of her life?

Jessica took a step forward. She wasn’t sure what she planned to do—reach for his hand, touch his face, or give him a gentle kiss on the lips. Jessica hovered in that awkward space, just out of reach but too close for friends. She felt like Nick’s stare had pulled her into a trance.

“Nick, I’m back!” The front door creaked open, and they heard Grant walk into the living room. “I’ve got lunch.”

Jessica jumped away from Nick. They hadn’t done anything, but her face still flushed with embarrassment. What was she doing? She was letting herself fall into a relationship again.

The last time that had happened, she’d gotten Jack. He was the biggest blessing in her life, but now she needed to keep Jack safe. Nick didn’t understand what it was like to be responsible for a child’s tender heart.

Grant pushed aside the plastic separating the kitchen from the rest of the house, juggling a pizza box and a bag filled with food. “I got extra, like you asked. In case Jessica and Jack want to join us...”

Grant turned his attention away from the plastic sheeting and toward Nick and Jessica, stopping dead in his tracks. His eyes widened as he tried to read the room.

For a moment, Jessica wondered if he could feel the electricity sparking between her and Nick. She took another step back as she smiled at Grant. “I’m sure Jack will be hungry when he wakes up. Thanks for thinking of us.”

Grant shook his head and gestured toward Nick. “It was his idea. Nick wanted to put the leftovers in the fridge if you weren’thome. We both see how busy you are with Jack, and thought it would be nice to take cooking off your to-do list for one day.”

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