Dylan's Redemption (16 page)

Andrea had called to tell her she had some new orders.

Looking forward to making the new pieces, she desperately needed something to do to take her mind off Dylan. While she’d refused to admit to Dylan, or even give in easily to his plans, she liked that he came by this week. She thought the pizza dinner would be a quick way to show him the old spark was gone and she wasn’t interested. Instead, his charm and easygoing openness disarmed her and drew her in. She should have known better, because any time she thought about him, or he was near, she wanted to let time fall away and go back to the days she loved him and everything between them was as easy as the half grin she adored seeing on his face every time he looked at her.

She needed to find a way to tell him about Hope. Soon. She’d barely gotten a few words out last night before her emotions swamped her and pulled her back to those moments in the hospital when she knew she was losing Hope and couldn’t do anything about it.

The heat and pull still existed between them. She remembered the feel of his arms around her when they held each other close on Brian’s porch, and the way he’d pulled her backside up against him in the kitchen, his heat and strength surrounding her. The tender and sweet way he held her hand during the movie and kissed the back of it to let her know he felt the buzz of electricity arcing between them, tingling her arm, and warming her system up to him.

Yes, she needed to tell him before things went too far. She’d lost him once. She couldn’t fall for him again, build their relationship, only to lose him because she was keeping a secret he deserved to know.

She walked into the shop and spotted Andrea talking to Dylan. The rush of anticipation at seeing him again washed over her. She tamped it down, remembering her pledge to tell him everything the next time she saw him. She never expected it to be this afternoon.

Wondering why he was here, she put her finger to her lips for Andrea not to give her presence away. They stood at the back, so Jessie couldn’t hear their discussion. She made her way through some of the antiques and collectibles. Andrea had some great pieces, and she’d displayed them in cabinets and other furniture Jessie had made. She liked seeing her furniture on exhibit like this with Andrea’s pretty things. It always struck Jessie when she came into the store she had a talent for making furniture. Most of the pieces were simple. Clean lines, good construction, everything built to last. She used fine wood like oak, cedar, and walnut. Some of the children’s furniture she did in pine.

Close enough to hear the conversation between Andrea and Dylan, he said, “I’d like a dresser, twin-bed headboard, and a toy chest. Something with a horse or western theme. Can the craftsman do something like that for me?”

Andrea discreetly glanced over Dylan’s shoulder for a confirmation from her. Jessie thought about it and decided business was business. Dylan didn’t have to know she made the furniture.

She nodded to Andrea she’d fill the order. She signed in the air for her to write down the details.

“We’ll be happy to complete the order. It’ll take some time for the pieces to be finished. The person who makes the furniture does all of the items by hand. If you want them carved with a special design, that’s going to take longer.”

“No problem. About how long will it take?”

Jessie held up three fingers behind Dylan. “Maybe three weeks,” Andrea said.

“Sounds good. Call me when they come in and I’ll come and pick them up. Should I pay for them now, or when they come in?”

“When they arrive will be fine. Anything else? You’ve practically bought an entire house full of furniture from us already. I can’t imagine there’s much more you need.”

“I like the furniture. The craftsman is really into the details of each piece. You can’t find this kind of quality in mass-produced furniture.”

“I’m sure the person who makes the furniture would take that as high praise,” Andrea said.

Jessie overheard and pretended interest in an antique vase and tried to hide a small smile.

Why does Dylan need a twin-size bed?
Maybe he wanted the furniture for a spare room. It irritated her she didn’t really know anything about him. She used to know everything.

Dylan turned around to see what drew Andrea’s interest behind him. He didn’t expect to see Jessie. He also didn’t expect to see her in a dress and heels, like she worked in an office or was out to meet friends at a luncheon. The black dress, simple and elegant, like Jessie, reminded him of prom.

He’d describe her in that way. Strong too. The muscles in her arms were well defined. The dress ended a few inches above her knees, giving him a glimpse at the toned muscles in her thighs. Her job sure did keep her in shape. A very lovely shape.

“Jess, I didn’t hear you come in. You look fantastic. How are you?”

“Fine, thanks. Getting some furniture?”

“Yeah. How about you?”

“No. I came in to get my orders from Andrea.”

“Orders?”

Andrea handed her a bunch of slips. One of them she’d filled out with his request. The light dawned in his mind that she was the furniture craftsman.

“J.T. Designs. I thought that business name was for the custom homes you’ve built. You made all this furniture.” He scanned the wide showroom.

“Guilty, Sheriff.” She held up her hands like he’d arrest her.

“Funny.” He smiled. His gut tied in knots just seeing her again. Last night was rough for both of them. Today, the wariness had vanished from her eyes. She seemed more at ease around him.

“Well, I’m glad I ran into you. I was going to call you in a little while and ask you to dinner. I need to tell you something.” He couldn’t expect her to open up to him about her life if he continued to keep secrets from her too. He needed to tell her about Will. How he adopted his son from a young girl in need.

“I don’t know. I’ve thought a lot about last night. I know you said we’d leave the past for another time and get to know each other better.”

“Yes. I thought we’d sit down to a meal together and I’ll catch you up on what I’ve been doing.”

“Before we move forward, we need to settle things.”

He followed her out the door and onto the sidewalk in front of the shop. Andrea had been their captive audience. There wasn’t anyone out on the street close enough to overhear them. If he could get her to open up, say yes to dinner, maybe he could convince her to take him back.

“Jess, if you’re not ready to open up to me, that’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. How can we, I, put the past behind me if I don’t face it, tell you everything, and let the chips fall where they may. Holding this back is holding me back.”

He reached for her, taking her by the shoulders, and drew her in close. Her breasts rose and fell against his chest with every breath they took in unison. His fingers gripped her tighter, and he pulled her closer. She smelled of flowers, fresh and sweet.

“If you’re sure you’re ready, I’ll listen to whatever you have to say. I swear to you, Jess, nothing you tell me will change anything. Not the way I feel about you, or the fact I want us to be together again.”

Jessie planted her hands on his hard chest and pushed away, unable to be that close to him and not give in to her need to move closer until they were one. Her body responded to the heat of his, tempting her to forget the words she still needed to speak and dive headfirst into the passion he always sparked in her. Everything inside her wanted to press closer, but she ruthlessly ignored the feelings. Instead, she focused on what she had to do. No more stalling.

“Why don’t I follow you to your place? We’ll talk.”

“Uh, no, that won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“You see, I have something I need to tell you too. Before I take you to my place, I need to tell you about the person who lives with me.”

“What? You’re living with someone?”

A million thoughts raced through her head. Did he have a wife he forgot to mention? A girlfriend? Maybe she’d read far too much into him telling her he wanted her in his life again. Maybe he truly did only want his best friend back, not anything more.

Her unfocused gaze over his shoulder cleared and panic squeezed her belly tight. A little boy ran down the sidewalk on the other side of the street calling, “Daddy. Daddy.” It took her a second to realize he wasn’t going to stop when he got to the road. Fear gripped her throat and cut off her air and stopped her heart. She didn’t think. She ran for the boy, hoping she got to him in time.

Dylan didn’t get a chance to explain anything before Jessie bolted past him and sprinted into the street.

Horns honked and tires squealed. Dylan didn’t know what happened, but he ran after her too late to catch her before she scooped up a child from the middle of the street. A car skidded to a screeching halt, hitting her, and throwing her up onto the hood and windshield with a loud thud. She held the child protectively in her arms. The car came to a jarring stop, and she flew off the hood and landed about ten feet away, hitting her shoulder and thigh, sliding several feet across the pavement. With her arms circled around the child’s head and body, he could barely be seen. All Dylan needed to see were the child’s shoes.

Panic squeezed his heart. His chest seized. He couldn’t breathe. He recognized the shoes he put on his son this morning.

Stuck behind two cars that crashed, trying to avoid hitting him, the sense of unreality made everything around him quiet. Dylan came back to himself with an explosion of sound filling his ears. Several vehicles had rear-ended each other as traffic came to a jarring halt and Jessie had gone flying off one of the vehicles with his son in her arms. He tried to get around the cars, but they were a tangled mess. He jumped up and over a few before he made it to Jessie and Will.

From across the street, Dylan’s mother called to Will and screamed for help. Dylan fell to his knees beside Jessie and Will in a few quick strides. Jessie lay on her back holding on to Will with all her might. Will cried out for him.

“Daddy!”

“I’m right here, son. Are you okay, little man?” He ran his hands over his boy, checking for scrapes, cuts, bumps, and—oh God—broken bones. He didn’t find a scratch on him. By the way he moved, Dylan didn’t think he broke anything. His son was safe, thanks to Jessie.

“Jess, don’t move. You’re bleeding.” His training and experience kicked in at the sight of her blood oozing out of the gash on her head. He took out his cell phone and called his office.

“Lynn, it’s me. I need four deputies on First Street and an ambulance. There’s been an accident. A woman is down and my son may be hurt as well. Several vehicles are involved. Hurry,” he ordered and hung up.

Jessie’s eyes opened wide, her voice came out hoarse and disbelieving. “This is your son?”

“Yes. He’s who I wanted you to meet. The person I live with. This is Will.”

“She’s my mommy. Okay, Daddy?”

Dylan smiled at his son and kissed him on the head to reassure his own distressed head and heart Will was okay. Jessie didn’t look so good, and she grew even paler when he made the comment.

“He doesn’t have a mother,” Dylan explained. “Apparently, he nominates you.”

Dylan’s mother kneeled beside him and bent toward Will, placing her hand on his back. Tears streamed down her face. She pressed her other hand to her heart. “Will, I thought I’d lost you.” Her hands shook as she sat back on her heels and held her hands tightly to her breast.

At three, Will was fast as lightning. Dylan’s mother looked at her son. “Dylan, he must have spotted you across the street and took off without a word. I looked down to say something and he was gone.”

“Mommy saved me.”

His mother gazed down at Jessie, and her eyes went wide with such fear, Dylan didn’t understand her reaction. “Jessie.” She gasped.

Jessie focused on her, years of hate burned in her eyes. “You said he didn’t want me. He never wanted to speak to me again. I was nothing but a distraction, discarded like the trash I am. You said he was tired of me using him. I believed your lies and I never got a chance to tell him . . . He’s a father.” The words came out haltingly.

The color drained from his mother’s face. He’d never seen her look this haunted in his whole life. “Jessie, you saved Will?”

“I need to tell you . . . about Hope.” Jessie’s eyes closed and her whole body went from rigid intensity to utter relaxation.

“She’s confused,” his mother said, her eyes pleading with him to understand something he couldn’t comprehend.

Jessie’s words rang in his head, but he couldn’t seem to sort them out and make sense of them. Everything happened too quickly, chaos reigned around them, and he needed to get Jessie to the hospital. Panic overrode his common sense.

“Mom, I swear to God, if you know what she’s talking about and you haven’t told me, like you didn’t tell me she was alive, this is your chance.” He pinned her with a glare, disappointed when she stood on unsteady legs, opened her mouth to say something, but pressed her lips together, holding back whatever words she might have said in her defense to make him understand. She glared down at Jessie, then staggered away.

“Come here, little man. Jess is hurt. We need to get her to the hospital.”

He tried to pick up his son, but he wouldn’t let Jessie go. “Will, come on. She’s hurt. Let me help her.”

Will decided to let go and come to him. He wrapped his little arms around Dylan’s neck and held tight and cried.

“Are you hurt, son? Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. It was really scary.” His lip trembled. He glanced at all the people watching them and realized he’d done something really bad.

“Yes it was.” The accident had taken ten years off Dylan’s life. He couldn’t imagine his life without Will and Jessie. He’d just found her again.

The vision of her flying through the air with his son in her arms replayed in his mind. It would haunt him the rest of his days. He couldn’t even think about losing her.

“Jess, wake up. Come on, baby. Wake up for me.” He patted her face softly and held on to his son. His whole world was these two people.

The ambulance and deputies’ sirens wailed in the distance. Several of his men were already at the scene. People milled around and a few of the drivers of vehicles had gotten out to inspect the damage to their cars. Mostly, everyone gawked at Jessie, lying sprawled in the street.