Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction (27 page)

“
Not a one. I’m not a murderer, Mary T.” There was that smile again. It made her stomach do the happy dance.

He
put his hand out for hers. “There’s more. Come here, I wanna show you somethin’.”

They
walked up a steady incline, between trees, fields of tall grass, and flowers, to level ground at the top of the hill. Tess gasped when she looked down at the hill they were on. It was a rocky incline, with a pronounced drop, dotted with scraggly trees and huge boulders, and ending with a beautiful lake at the base.

They
stood side-by-side for a few minutes, just taking in the glory of the day. Big, billowy clouds bumped each other in the sky, and the sun was starting to make its descent. The caw of a bird brought Tess’s mind from wonder at the beauty of her surroundings to wonder of how she could have allowed herself to be brought to the middle of nowhere, with a man she really didn’t know all that well, to the top of a hill with a very steep drop, where one push would send her crashing into the jagged rocks, careening to her death . . .

Jack
squeezed her arm. “I’ll be right back.” His touch made her jump. He headed back to the car and returned with a huge blanket under one arm and a picnic basket in his other hand. He spread the blanket out and disappeared once more. “Can I help?” Tess called after him. Her moment of doubt was over and she felt guilty.
What was I thinking?
Just a moment later, he was back with a cooler.

“
Jack, I can’t believe you’ve gone to so much trouble!” Tess tried to open the basket, but he swatted her hand away. “Ah, ah, ah! No peeking! And it was no trouble. I did some shopping this afternoon, a little
mowing, and here we are.”

Jack
opened the picnic basket and pulled out two huge roast beef sandwiches on homemade buns, a container of potato salad, pretty plates, napkins, and forks. She watched, wide-eyed, as he brought out a container with big, deep red strawberries, chunks of fresh pineapple, and bite-sized banana slices, followed by a bowl of melted milk chocolate. “For the fruit,” he explained. Two bottles of sweet tea were pulled from the cooler, and he poured it into two plastic wine glasses, handing one to her. Her stomach did a little flip and she pulled her eyes from his, taking a sip to mask her nervousness.

“
I remember you saying you weren’t all that fond of wine, right?” He waited for approval.

“
Sweet tea will do just fine, Jack.”

Soon
they were talking, laughing, and eating, and Tess’s nervousness dissipated. Having been so engrossed in conversation, they hadn’t
noticed the sky getting darker, not from the setting sun, but due to the increasing clouds. The low rumble of thunder off in the distance made them look up.

“
Uh-oh,” Jack said, looking at the darkening skies, “I didn’t think to look at the weather report, it’s been so nice all day.”

“
Oh Jack, I saw there was a chance of rain, but I didn’t think it would come on this quickly. We’d better start packing up.”

Tess
felt a few raindrops, and looked up at the trees as a gust of wind pushed through them, sending the branches swaying wildly and the leaves singing. More drops fell as they threw things in the basket and cooler. Tess felt and heard the wind as it surged through the trees. All of a sudden, the skies opened up, unleashing sheets of rain. They scurried to finish packing up, but decided to run for the shelter of a huge maple tree instead of getting totally drenched by going to the car. Even so, by the time they were safely under the tree, they were both soaking wet.

Jack
scrounged in the picnic basket for some paper napkins, handing them to Tess so she could dry some of the rain from her arms and legs. He leaned back against the tree trunk and watched as she moved the napkins over her glistening skin. She heard his breath catch and looked up to find him staring at her. She looked down. The rain had completely soaked the white linen of her blouse and

lacy bra, making it practically see
-through. She saw that not only had the

rain made the cloth transparent, but the blouse now clung to her breasts,

forming their perfect outline.

He brought his gaze up to hers, and she could see the heat in his eyes and the look of pure desire on his face. They looked at each other for what seemed like thirty minutes, but was actually only a few seconds. The rain plopped loudly on the leaves above them and poured down around them, but the tree’s dense foliage kept them from getting wetter. The pounding of the rain mingled with the pounding of Tess’s heart as she returned Jack’s gaze, aching for him to touch her.

“
Damn, Tess. I’m not going to be able to hold back for much
longer. If this is too much too soon, we’d better make a run for the car. Because with you standing there looking like that, in about five seconds I’m not going to be able to keep from touching you.”

Eyes
locked on Jack, Tess took a small step toward him, and he reached for her, pulling her into his arms. As he kissed her, he turned her around, gently pinning her against the tree. He parted her lips and explored her mouth, running his tongue along her lower lip
,
and then back into her mouth. She kissed him back, arms wrapped around his broad shoulders, and widening the stance of her legs so he could fit in between them, drawing him closer to her. The kiss was electric and hot and intimate, urged on by the sound of the rain. Jack brought the kiss to a gradual halt so they could both catch their breath. She leaned back, resting her head on the tree trunk behind her. He braced his hands on either side of her head and pushed back from her a bit, looking into her eyes.

“
Wow,” she laughed softly, “when you plan a picnic, you really plan a picnic.”

He
leaned in again for another kiss. The sound of the rain, the
cocooning effect of the sprawling tree, and the darkness falling around them made the moment feel very intimate. He groaned and pulled back slightly, studying her face.

“
I wasn’t ready for it to end.” He outlined her bottom lip with his finger. “Although I have to admit I liked the special effects.” He indicated her wet blouse.

“
Jack, why don’t we go to my house, and get out of these wet clothes . . . “

He
leaned in to her and nuzzled below her ear. She said, “I mean, we can change clothes—I have a few of my son’s things I think you can wear while I put your clothes in the dryer. And we can continue our
picnic.”

“
That sounds perfect.” Jack kissed her again. “Well not perfect,
because perfect would have been finishing our picnic back there on that hill as the sun set, but I like your solution.” The rain was letting up and had slowed to a steady stream. They picked everything up and ran to the car. She managed to slip only once on the dash back down the trail.

Jack
opened Tess’s door and stowed everything in the back once she was inside. He got in behind the wheel and slumped back into the seat, laying his head against the headrest, catching his breath. He sat up,
put the key in the ignition, and then turned to look at Tess. He leaned over to give her another long, mind-blowing kiss. His hands began to unbutton her blouse.

“
Jack . . . “

He
sat back, reaching for the back of his polo shirt. He pulled it off over his head, leaving on the t-shirt underneath, and handed it to Tess. “Here. You’d better put this on if you want us to safely get to your house.”

allgitou
t: adjective \awl-git-out\ all get out

I’m attracted to you as allgitout.

[  July
2010  ]

Jack and Tess walked into her kitchen to find the freezer door wide open and an empty gallon carton of chocolate ice cream on the floor. Ezzie had somehow managed to open the freezer side of Tess’s side-by-side refrigerator and helped herself to some ice cream. She’d licked the container so clean it looked as if she’d washed it. She looked up at them from under the kitchen table with guilty eyes and ears droopier than usual.

“
Really, Ezzie? Again?” Tess said in exasperation.

“
Oh, for cryin’ out loud, Esmerelda! What did you do?” Jack
bellowed. Ezzie shrunk back further under the table. “You come out here right now!” She looked at him pitifully, her tail hanging down in guilt.

“
Ezzie . . . “ Jack warned. She slowly made her way to him.

“
You’ve never behaved this way at home! What’s the matter with you?” He was down on the floor, looking at her eye-to-eye. Ezzie whined. Her tongue took a big, wet swipe at his nose.

“
Jack, she’s licked this carton clean. It was almost full! How did she do that? I’ll bet her little tummy hurts. That's a lot of ice cream, not to mention chocolate's not good for dogs. Do you think we should take her to the vet?”

“
No, I think we should just watch her. Tess, I’m so sorry. She really never has done anything like this at my house. I don’t know what’s come over her.”

“
Maybe she’s rebelling. She doesn’t want to stay here.”

“
Now who wouldn’t want to stay here with you? She’s got it made in the shade!”

“
Mmm hmmm.” Tess didn’t sound convinced. She walked toward the door. “C’mon. Let’s find you some dry clothes.”

She
showed Jack into the guest bedroom. “I think there are some gym shorts and t-shirts in here. Why don’t you see what you can find in the dresser, and then we can stick your clothes in the dryer. I’ll change, too, and meet you back in the den.” The look on Jack’s face said he’d rather stay in the bedroom with her, but he just nodded as she closed the door.

Tess
changed into dry clothes, and went to find Jack’s wet ones, but he’d already put them in the dryer. She joined him in the den. He was sitting on the floor next to the open picnic basket, his back up against the couch, Ezzie at his feet. He’d lit three large candles that were already in the room, leaving on only one small lamp. Even though the light was low, it was apparent he was larger than her son, because the t-shirt he had on was form fitting, and the gym shorts were too short.

“
What are you smiling at?” Jack asked her.

“
I’m just really enjoying tonight. I see we’re picking up where we left off.” She sat down next to him, her back leaning against the couch.

“
Well . . . almost . . . “ Jack said playfully, turning to her.

“
Did you say something about dessert?” she asked innocently.

Jack
pulled out two huge brownies and a baggie full of green M&M’s from the picnic basket. “I can’t take credit for these brownies. They’re from Mrs. Ward—part of the outpouring of community TLC.”

“
Jack,” she laughed, “I can’t possibly eat all of that! I can’t believe you went to this much trouble.” She took a huge bite. “But thank you! Oh my gosh, this is delicious.” She looked at the bag of green M&M’s in Jack’s hand and cocked her head. “Why green M&M’s?”

Jack
got a sly grin on his face as he opened the baggie and popped an M&M in his mouth. “A buddy of mine told me he once got lucky with green M&M’s.”

“
Oh reeeeeally?” Tess said, looking him in the eye and tossing a few in her mouth.

“
Tess, I want to say somethin’.”

She
swallowed hard and looked over at him, waiting for what was to come.

“
I think you know that I’m attracted to you as allgitout. I think you’re a beautiful, smart, sexy woman. The more I get to know you, the more I like you, and the more I want to know. But I don’t want to rush you. I may not know the reasons why, but I know you’re hesitant to get involved. I was beginning to think I just wasn’t your type. But after that kiss . . . “ Jack’s voice trailed off, and he shook his head, looking down at the floor. He looked back at her and said softly, “After that kiss, I’m thinking that the attraction is mutual, but beyond that, I’m thinking that I really want to put my hands all over you.” Tess gulped.

He
took the brownie out of her hands and set it aside. Moving
closer, he put one arm on the sofa behind her head. “What are
you
thinking?”

Tess
dropped her head onto his shoulder. “I’m thinking let’s put the cards on the table, Jack. No games.”

“
Okay . . . “

“
Would you tell me why you got divorced?” Her head was still on his shoulder as she looked up at him.

“
If you promise to believe me.”

“
I promise.”

He
took a deep breath, held it, and then let it out slowly. “I’ve heard some rumors around town, and I know some people think I cheated on my wife. The fact is—Corrine was unfaithful to
me
.”