Page 11 of Love and Loathing

Alex rolled his eyes. “Where?”

“Harvest Ranch,” Charlie said. “It’s perfect. We’re going to be living there for a few months while we get our build going, so I can see her all the time.”

Alex stopped breathing. Did that mean Jessie lived there too? Excitement unfurled within him at the possibilities.

Charlie pointed at him, then clapped his hands and laughed. “Aha! You do like Jessie. I could see the excitement on your face just now.”

He was excited, but he had no right to be. She hated him, and he could barely stand her. “Stop. There’s no excitement. I swear. It was just refreshing not to have a woman falling all over herself for me. That’s it. It was novel, and that’s where the fun ends. Besides, I doubt we’ll even have reason to run into one another.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

Alex had to change the subject. “Earlier today, you said you had an idea you wanted to discuss with me. What was it?”

Charlie grinned and leaned back. “Oh, nothing. Just something I’m mulling over. If it becomes a sound idea, I’ll bring it up again.”

“Sounds good,” Alex said, and he stood. “I’ve got to shower. I smell like chemicals—you know the way out?”

Charlie stood. “See you tomorrow.”

Chapter 5

Jessie sat on the worn leather couch at the back of Winslow Books, an old-fashioned bookstore with wood shelves, sliding ladders, and an upstairs balcony with seating. She had her laptop open to the store’s inventory list, and there was a bag of M&Ms at her side.

It’d been three weeks since the wedding, and her video had received rave reviews. The bride and groom liked it so much, they’d made several copies to share with close friends, family, and the media. Jessie was still scratching her head over that last one. Rich people were strange. Not that she wasn’t grateful. That was good exposure for her business.

Grandpa Bo came up and leaned against one of the bookshelves. He’d been a farmer most of his life, only buying the bookstore after he’d retired. Not that he’d actually retired. He worked forty hours a week here and at least half that back on his ranch. So, despite the fact that he was seventy-six, he looked and acted more like he was in his sixties. “What’s going on, Jessie Bear? Working late tonight?”

Jessie popped a couple M&Ms and glanced at her watch. It was only five-thirty, but her shift ended at five. “Nah, I’m just filling our inventory while I wait for Caroline.”

He grinned at her. “Don’t want to go home?”

She scrunched her nose. “They’ve been on a kick the last couple weeks. I just need some space.” And boy, was that an understatement. Ever since the night of the wedding, when she’d walked into the house soaking wet, her mom and sisters wouldn’t let up about it. They’d wanted to know everything. She’d kept the particulars to herself, but Caroline had accidentally let it slip that Alexander Young had somehow been involved. She and Caroline couldn’t get away from the incessant questions.

“You still looking to buy that house?” he asked.

She and Caroline had gone to see it last week and had really liked it, but so had some other folks. They were waiting to hear from their realtor if their offer had been accepted. “Yeah, but it might sell soon.”

“Well, sugar, stay as long as you’d like.” Grandpa Bo winked. “I’m headed out. Grandma’s making Brunswick stew tonight. Did I ever tell you that’s how she won me over?”

Jessie chuckled. “Yep, but how’d you win her?”

Grandpa flexed a muscle and came over so she could feel.

She burst into giggles as she squeezed his bicep. “Oh, I see now.”

Caroline came down the aisle. “The Brunswick stew story?” she asked. They all knew it by heart.

Grandpa turned and let Caroline feel his muscle too. Caroline put her hand to her forehead and pretended to swoon, then fanned her face. He gave her a kiss on the cheek, patted Jessie on hers, then did a quick step down the hall. The sisters laughed, and Caroline plopped down on the couch, nearly making Jessie’s candy go flying. She scooped up her treat.

Jessie closed her laptop. “How was your day?”

Caroline slouched down and rested her head on the back of the couch. “Long. Of course my first graders would be crazy rambunctious after Cecilia and Maggie May stayed up all night talking and keeping the rest of the house awake.”

“I was thinking about buying a couple Super Soakers—every time they start talking, we could squirt them until they stop,” Jessie said.

Caroline giggled. “I totally support that decision. How much more do we need for that down payment?”

Jessie sighed. “Nine thousand.” The chirp alert sounded on her phone, and she scrambled to pull it out of her pocket.

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