sighed and scooped the cut onions into a big
pot. “I think part of it is that he isn’t a good multitasker. When he focuses
on something, he gives it one hundred percent of his attention.”
Trying to will visions of the wonderful things Jesse had
done to her when she had 100 percent of his attention out of her mind, she
nodded. “I understand, and I’m not trying to make trouble, but when the boys
get older, I hope she doesn’t try to hurt them. Not hit them or anything like
that, but Diane seems like the type who enjoys playing games.”
“You’re preaching to the choir, my dear. I have a feeling
once Jesse remarries, things will be different around here.”
Anya’s heart sank to her stomach. “He’s getting married?”
“What? Oh, oh no, not at all. I’m just saying that, in the
future, his wife won’t have to worry about divided loyalties. Jesse will always
stand by his woman.”
Wishing with all her heart it could be her but knowing that
was an impossible dream, Anya stood and straightened her bulky shirt. “I better
get back in there before she decides to try to suck the youth out of the boys.”
Mrs. Kline laughed and waved her knife in Anya’s direction. “You
don’t have to put up with her. Jesse would have your back if you decided to tell her to stick it where the sun
don’t shine.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Kline, but I don’t want to bring any more
stress to his life. He works hard and stretches himself thin trying to be both
a businessman and a single father. I admire him and I respect him too much to
pick a fight with that woman. It’s probably what she wants so she can have some
drama to cry about.”
With a sigh Jesse’s mother turned back to her cooking. “You
do what you think is best, but don’t underestimate my son. I think I’ve
sheltered him a bit too long from what a snake Diane is. Might be time to pull
his blinders off a bit.”
Unsure of what to say, Anya left the kitchen and almost ran
into Jesse. He was taking off his jacket in the foyer, the strength of his
shoulders evident as he moved. When he pulled off his dark gray suit jacket,
she bit back a moan at the sight of his ass. All that work in the barn kept a
man in shape, and Jesse’s rock-hard butt did not disappoint.
He turned and, before she could move, caught her staring. He
raised his eyebrows. Her heart skipped a beat, then pounded twice as hard. For
a moment their eyes met, and his expression turned from amusement to something
different. He closed his eyes and opened them again, but before he could say
anything, Diane sailed into the room.
“Jesse, it is so good to have you home. The boys have been
running me ragged today, but I do love spending time with them.”
Anya used that opportunity to duck back into the kitchen.
She practically ran past Mrs. Kline. “Hey, I have an important call I have to
make about my job over in Paris. Have a great weekend!”
Feeling like a coward, she dashed across the lawn to the
carriage house, sweating her ass off beneath the chunky turtleneck she’d had to
wear all week. Thank goodness she’d remembered her fake glasses. Now that she
was out of sight of the house, she stopped running and took the glasses off,
rubbing the space between her eyes.
Dammit, this was so messed up. Having to lie constantly was
really screwing with her sense of self. Before this she’d never lied about
anything major. Okay, so she’d lied that time she told her mom she was going to
Sarah’s house after prom and ended up in a hotel room losing her virginity instead,
but that was nothing compared to this. She’d be almost ready to call it off and
quit working at Wicked, if not for the memory of the soft brush of Jesse’s
beard against her lips, the way he held her with such…command. The thought had
her body readying for him.
Unable to resist the need to be with Jesse again, she went
into her sewing room and put various outfits on her mannequins, trying to
figure out what she wanted to wear
pot. “I think part of it is that he isn’t a good multitasker. When he focuses
on something, he gives it one hundred percent of his attention.”
Trying to will visions of the wonderful things Jesse had
done to her when she had 100 percent of his attention out of her mind, she
nodded. “I understand, and I’m not trying to make trouble, but when the boys
get older, I hope she doesn’t try to hurt them. Not hit them or anything like
that, but Diane seems like the type who enjoys playing games.”
“You’re preaching to the choir, my dear. I have a feeling
once Jesse remarries, things will be different around here.”
Anya’s heart sank to her stomach. “He’s getting married?”
“What? Oh, oh no, not at all. I’m just saying that, in the
future, his wife won’t have to worry about divided loyalties. Jesse will always
stand by his woman.”
Wishing with all her heart it could be her but knowing that
was an impossible dream, Anya stood and straightened her bulky shirt. “I better
get back in there before she decides to try to suck the youth out of the boys.”
Mrs. Kline laughed and waved her knife in Anya’s direction. “You
don’t have to put up with her. Jesse would have your back if you decided to tell her to stick it where the sun
don’t shine.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Kline, but I don’t want to bring any more
stress to his life. He works hard and stretches himself thin trying to be both
a businessman and a single father. I admire him and I respect him too much to
pick a fight with that woman. It’s probably what she wants so she can have some
drama to cry about.”
With a sigh Jesse’s mother turned back to her cooking. “You
do what you think is best, but don’t underestimate my son. I think I’ve
sheltered him a bit too long from what a snake Diane is. Might be time to pull
his blinders off a bit.”
Unsure of what to say, Anya left the kitchen and almost ran
into Jesse. He was taking off his jacket in the foyer, the strength of his
shoulders evident as he moved. When he pulled off his dark gray suit jacket,
she bit back a moan at the sight of his ass. All that work in the barn kept a
man in shape, and Jesse’s rock-hard butt did not disappoint.
He turned and, before she could move, caught her staring. He
raised his eyebrows. Her heart skipped a beat, then pounded twice as hard. For
a moment their eyes met, and his expression turned from amusement to something
different. He closed his eyes and opened them again, but before he could say
anything, Diane sailed into the room.
“Jesse, it is so good to have you home. The boys have been
running me ragged today, but I do love spending time with them.”
Anya used that opportunity to duck back into the kitchen.
She practically ran past Mrs. Kline. “Hey, I have an important call I have to
make about my job over in Paris. Have a great weekend!”
Feeling like a coward, she dashed across the lawn to the
carriage house, sweating her ass off beneath the chunky turtleneck she’d had to
wear all week. Thank goodness she’d remembered her fake glasses. Now that she
was out of sight of the house, she stopped running and took the glasses off,
rubbing the space between her eyes.
Dammit, this was so messed up. Having to lie constantly was
really screwing with her sense of self. Before this she’d never lied about
anything major. Okay, so she’d lied that time she told her mom she was going to
Sarah’s house after prom and ended up in a hotel room losing her virginity instead,
but that was nothing compared to this. She’d be almost ready to call it off and
quit working at Wicked, if not for the memory of the soft brush of Jesse’s
beard against her lips, the way he held her with such…command. The thought had
her body readying for him.
Unable to resist the need to be with Jesse again, she went
into her sewing room and put various outfits on her mannequins, trying to
figure out what she wanted to wear
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