He hadn’t realized he’d pulled her into his arms and was now holding her so tight she couldn’t even move. He kissed her on the forehead and dropped his hold on her.
“Sorry, honey, I was just thinking about how great it is to be with you.”
“So you decided to squash me like a bug to prove it?” s he teased.
Mitch looped his arm around her waist and propelled her towards the entrance to the Co-Op. “Any excuse I can come up with to hold you close is a good one.”
As they approached the door, Jessie started to pull away then looked up at him uncertainly when he tightened his hold on her. He stopped and brushed her lips with a soft kiss.
“You’re mine, Jess, and I intend to make sure everyone in this town knows it. And that includes Del and Wilkinson or any other man who has been trying to steal you away from me, understood?”
Jessie was too choked with emotion to say anything. She nodded mutely then stepped into the grain store practically glued to Kincaid’s side. She’d never been so proud or happy in her life as when they walked in and got a double take from the store manager, Orin. A quick glance around revealed a few other astonished faces, among them was Orin’s wife and the town’s biggest gossipmonger, Sally.
Sally bustled over to them before Orin had a chance to recover. “Jessie, how good to see you.” She didn’t bother to hide her distain as her gaze shifted to Kincaid . “I see you’re back for another short visit.”
Mitch smiled down at Jessie who was obviously uncomfortable with Sally’s open hostility. “Actually, I’ve decided to stay permanently. Or until Jessie gets tired of having me trail after her like a love-sick fool.” The look of pure adoration on Jessie’s face made his heart do a wild flip in his chest. “I think I upset the balance of her life,” Mitch whispered when Sally stomped off with a loud huff.
Jessie tried unsuccessfully to stifle the giggle. “She’ll really hate you now. You were one of her greatest sources of gossip.”
“Really? And just what sordid things has sour Sally been saying about me?”
Jessie giggled again. “Nothing you would care to hear, believe me. Now, if you’re through causing trouble, I’d like to get the grain loaded up so we have time to do the grocery shopping.”
Mitch groaned. “You never said anything about grocery shopping.”
“You never complained before.”
“Well I’m complaining now. I would rather be back on the ranch, specifically upstairs. In bed.”
“ Kincaid , hush, someone will hear!”
“Good, I want them to hear.” Mitch pulled her up hard against his chest. “I want them to know I’m crazy about you and that I’m done drifting in and out of your life.”
Jessie’s lips trembled. “Are you trying to make me cry?”
“No, sweetheart, I’m trying to make you happy.”
“I am happy, Kincaid , happier than I’ve been in my entire life.”
“Prove it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Prove it. Kiss me. Right here, right now, in front of all these people.”
A small sob caught in the back of her throat as she pulled his mouth down onto hers and it was the sweetest kiss she had ever known. From the corner of the store she heard Sally’s grunt of disapproval, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was that Kincaid was kissing her in full view of everyone there, without hesitation, without embarrassment, and he wasn’t holding back anything.
When he finally released her, Jessie noticed with some satisfaction that Sally’s face was almost as flushed as her own face was. The heated kiss was apparently all the proof the woman needed that Kincaid was serious about sticking around because she dropped the haughty demeanor and was actually civil to him while she rang up the grain purchase.
At the grocery store, Kincaid was just as open with his display of affection. If he didn’t
“Sorry, honey, I was just thinking about how great it is to be with you.”
“So you decided to squash me like a bug to prove it?” s he teased.
Mitch looped his arm around her waist and propelled her towards the entrance to the Co-Op. “Any excuse I can come up with to hold you close is a good one.”
As they approached the door, Jessie started to pull away then looked up at him uncertainly when he tightened his hold on her. He stopped and brushed her lips with a soft kiss.
“You’re mine, Jess, and I intend to make sure everyone in this town knows it. And that includes Del and Wilkinson or any other man who has been trying to steal you away from me, understood?”
Jessie was too choked with emotion to say anything. She nodded mutely then stepped into the grain store practically glued to Kincaid’s side. She’d never been so proud or happy in her life as when they walked in and got a double take from the store manager, Orin. A quick glance around revealed a few other astonished faces, among them was Orin’s wife and the town’s biggest gossipmonger, Sally.
Sally bustled over to them before Orin had a chance to recover. “Jessie, how good to see you.” She didn’t bother to hide her distain as her gaze shifted to Kincaid . “I see you’re back for another short visit.”
Mitch smiled down at Jessie who was obviously uncomfortable with Sally’s open hostility. “Actually, I’ve decided to stay permanently. Or until Jessie gets tired of having me trail after her like a love-sick fool.” The look of pure adoration on Jessie’s face made his heart do a wild flip in his chest. “I think I upset the balance of her life,” Mitch whispered when Sally stomped off with a loud huff.
Jessie tried unsuccessfully to stifle the giggle. “She’ll really hate you now. You were one of her greatest sources of gossip.”
“Really? And just what sordid things has sour Sally been saying about me?”
Jessie giggled again. “Nothing you would care to hear, believe me. Now, if you’re through causing trouble, I’d like to get the grain loaded up so we have time to do the grocery shopping.”
Mitch groaned. “You never said anything about grocery shopping.”
“You never complained before.”
“Well I’m complaining now. I would rather be back on the ranch, specifically upstairs. In bed.”
“ Kincaid , hush, someone will hear!”
“Good, I want them to hear.” Mitch pulled her up hard against his chest. “I want them to know I’m crazy about you and that I’m done drifting in and out of your life.”
Jessie’s lips trembled. “Are you trying to make me cry?”
“No, sweetheart, I’m trying to make you happy.”
“I am happy, Kincaid , happier than I’ve been in my entire life.”
“Prove it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Prove it. Kiss me. Right here, right now, in front of all these people.”
A small sob caught in the back of her throat as she pulled his mouth down onto hers and it was the sweetest kiss she had ever known. From the corner of the store she heard Sally’s grunt of disapproval, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was that Kincaid was kissing her in full view of everyone there, without hesitation, without embarrassment, and he wasn’t holding back anything.
When he finally released her, Jessie noticed with some satisfaction that Sally’s face was almost as flushed as her own face was. The heated kiss was apparently all the proof the woman needed that Kincaid was serious about sticking around because she dropped the haughty demeanor and was actually civil to him while she rang up the grain purchase.
At the grocery store, Kincaid was just as open with his display of affection. If he didn’t
Similar Books
