Page 75 of Montana Lawman Rescuer
He patted his pocket as they stepped out into the sunlight and stuck close to her. So close that she stepped on his toes every time she turned.
“Jesse, I appreciate your concern, but perhaps a little room to breathe, if you don’t mind.” She spoke kindly, but he didn’t misunderstand her meaning that she thought him overprotective. Reluctantly, he put two feet of distance between them.
It was Sunday, and he had plans for the afternoon. Plans that would serve both their purposes. If he could get her to agree.
They refused an invitation to go the Marshall Five Ranch, though he could not say her reasons. Surprisingly, Gram agreed to ride to the ranch with Kate and Conner. No one missed the fact that Grandfather Marshall rode in the same wagon, but having her away suited Jesse fine.
Jesse stared after them. Had Gram put her life on hold because of him? He hoped not.
Annie and Hugh were preparing to go home. “Can Mikey come with us to play with Evan?” Annie asked.
“That would be fine,” Emily said.
Jesse knew by the relieved look on her face that she wanted Mikey out of the way so she could march up and down the street begging for someone to jump out of the bushes and grab her.
Well, he might have something to say about that.
“That leaves us on our own,” she said and took his arm as they headed toward home. “There’s enough bread and cheese for sandwiches. Is that okay with you?”
“Sandwiches are fine, but why not put them in a basket? I’ve got something to show you. We can eat there.”
She took a few more steps before she stopped and faced him. “Why do I get the idea you have in mind to keep me out of sight?”
“I had planned this a couple of days ago.” And if it suited him even more now, he wasn’t about to complain.
“You’re sure?”
“Do you doubt me?”
She smiled. “You’ve never given me a reason to do so.”
He grinned. “I never will.”
Her smile flattened, and her eyes got that faraway look in them that he knew signaled she’d remembered something. He kept very still, holding his breath, waiting to see if her memory would come flooding back. And if it would leave him and her time in Bella Creek forgotten.
She blinked, and her gaze came back to him, blue and focused. “I thought I remembered something, but nope. Nothing.”
They continued homeward where he got the basket and gathered together cookies while she made sandwiches. He put a dipper in with the food and covered it all with a cloth.
“Where are we going?” She had asked several different ways, but he always gave the same answer.
“You’ll see when we get there.”
“You’re a tease,” she said after her fifth attempt to get him to reveal their destination. She tickled him in the ribs.
Little did she know how ticklish he was. He laughed and pushed her away. Her eyes narrowed, and he silently groaned. Now, she knew and was determined to use her knowledge to torment him. She chased him and tickled him again before he caught her hands and stopped her.
“No tickling.” His voice and words were firm.
“Who says?” She wriggled her fingers, but he wouldn’t free her.
“I do.”
“Are you saying you don’t like it?”
He never had, but to have her touch him and make him laugh wasn’t so bad. “My mother used to tickle me unmercifully until I was sick.”
She moved closer until their clasped hands were pressed to both their chests. “I would never make you miserable. Don’t you know that?” She looked up at him with such pure sweetness that he forgot every word of warning about trust that he’d ever scolded himself with, every painful lesson about believing promises, everything but the look on her face.
