Page 50 of The Coppersmith Farmhouse (Jamison Valley 1)
“It’s a couple of hours. It’s no big deal.”
He took another deep breath. “I hate that you have to deal with this shit.”
“And I hate that you are dealing with my barn. How about we get my daughter and your mother settled for the night and then we can discuss all the things we’d rather not have the other person in this relationship deal with.”
Another deep breath. “Okay, Freckles.”
“Can you call your mom and let her know the plan? I didn’t tell her about us. I wasn’t sure if you’d want that or . . . well, I just wasn’t sure,” I said.
“Georgia, I didn’t intentionally not tell her about you. Just haven’t had the chance to talk to her in person. As soon as I hang up with you, I’m calling her. Give me five minutes and she’ll know what you mean to me.”
“What I mean to you?” I whispered.
“Yeah, baby. What you mean to me.”
I stayed in the hallway for a minute, thinking about Jess’s words and their hidden meaning.
Jess meant something to me too. More and more every day, and it had only been three weeks. Not even a month since our first Friday dinner together at the café.
He’d proven not to be the jackass I had originally expected.
But I was learning that Jess wanted things done in his way. And so far, all of our arguments had ended with him winning. Was I letting him walk all over me? I wondered what would happen when he pushed me too far.
When he crossed the line and I didn’t let him get his way.
“Hello?”
We all looked to the hall as Jess’s deep voice called into the house.
“Jess!” Rowen screeched and ran out of the kitchen.
Two seconds later she was back, this time perched on Jess’s hip.
He looked tired and worn out. His eyes were bloodshot and his shoulders were hunched. He was still utterly handsome, but I could tell he’d had a long day.
I was at the stove, stirring the sauce for dinner. We were having spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread and a tossed green salad.
After ending my call with Jess at the clinic, I had rushed to close everything down for the weekend. Noelle had just hung up her phone when I walked out to the waiting room. She’d kept her eyes to the floor as she apologized for being a nuisance. I had assured her it was no problem and that I was looking forward to spending time with her. She had relaxed a bit but not entirely. But by the time we had picked up Rowen and made it back to the farmhouse, she had seemed much more at ease.
While Rowen had entertained Noelle in the living room, I had changed and started working on dinner.
Maisy had arrived right on time and thoroughly raided my closet. She had a stack of five different outfits as options for her date with Everett the next night.
Then we’d all congregated in the kitchen. I had buzzed around, preparing dinner, while Maisy and Noelle stood at the island, watching Rowen run in and out with different books, toys or stuffed animals to show our guests.
When Jess hit the island, he set Rowen down on her bum and kissed the top of her head before moving over to me at the stove.
“Hi.” In bare feet, I had to tip my head way back to look into Jess’s eyes.
“Hey, baby.” He bent down and gave me a soft, short kiss on the lips.
Next, he went to his mother, throwing his big arms around her small frame in a long embrace. “Hi, Ma. Are you feeling better?”
“Yes. Much better. I’ve been in good hands here.”
He released the hug but kept her tucked under an arm. “Hey, Maze.”
“Hi, Jess. Looks like you’ve had a rough day.”
