But, I was thinking about it quite a lot.
His intermittent regard for me sent heat barrelling into my cheeks and flustered my thoughts. When Bea called and said he would be picking me up, she told me,“Jesse is the sweetest, you’ll love him.”In hindsight, I could’ve used a heads up about how attractive he was.
He had every classic cowboy feature—exactly the sort of vibe the wordcowboyconjured up in my head. Scruffy facial hair, thickforearms, wide shoulders, a strong waist, and worn jeans that fit in all the right places. A true man’s man. It took no effort whatsoever to imagine him lifting a lasso over his head or tossing hay bales or whatever cowboys did.
Men rarely turned my head these days, but for some reason, Jesse did. And I found myself unable to look away. I blamed it on my curiosity; new place, new people. But it was more than that. I could tell Jesse was an amazing father—he kept a hand on Cade’s shoulder, spoke calmly, and gave his utmost respect to the medics. He was level-headed when he had every reason not to be.
That earned my instant respect.
The true heart reveals itself in crisis—no one can hide when they are thrown into the fire.
His gaze flicked to mine and I wrenched my eyes away, annoyed I’d been caught watching.
Finally, the medics helped Cade into the back of the truck and Jesse shook Phil’s hand. Then he turned toward where I leaned against the side of the Meadowbrook truck. Tucking his chin down, he made quick work of the distance between us, stopping a few feet away.
“Hi,” I said, my voice sounding wispy and shallow.
He said nothing; just stared down at me, his eyes a tortured blend of light and shadow. His composure cracked. A sudden, ragged breath filled his lungs as tears welled in his eyes. His jaw ticked and his throat rolled on a deep swallow. He pressed his lips together, fighting the way they had started to tremble.
No, I didn’t know what it was like to almost lose a child, but I knew with intimate familiarity the way a single moment could change you forever. How life could force you, with no warning whatsoever, to pick up your weapons andfight—no matter if you were already weary. I knew how a single sixty second stretch of time could haunt you for years—every time you closed your eyes.
Compassion churned my heart into mush.
“Jesse.” I whispered, “Are you?—”
My words were cut off by a bear hug.
In one swift motion, Jesse’s arms wrapped around my shouldersand crushed me against him. He dipped his face into the cradle of my shoulder as a silent sob shook his body. My hands lifted, gently hugging him back.
“Hollie.” His voice was an aching rasp. His shoulders pulsed on a sob but he stifled any noise, keeping his tone even. He squeezed tighter. Each word was labored, heavy with emotion. “Thank…you…” His inhale shuddered against me.
Relief and warmth and desperation leaked from his hug, surged into my veins, and filled my eyes with tears. I curled my head against him, snuggling in. He needed to be held for a moment.
Maybe I did too.
He kept trying to talk even though it was hard for him. “I…I can’t…thank you enough.”
I opened my palm, rubbing it across the plane of his shoulders. Defaulting to my maternal instincts, I gently shushed him.
His words were a warm whisper on my neck. “I don’t know what I would’ve done…if…”
I squeezed him firmly, stopping his train of thoughts. “There’s no use in what ifs.”
“You’re right,” he croaked. Suddenly, he pushed back, space yawning wide between us. His pink-rimmed eyes studied me for a long moment before darting to the back of the ambulance doors. “I have to go.”
“I know. It’s okay.”
He looked to the open truck doors where my daughters were wrecking havoc. “Do you want to follow us there?”
My eyes widened at the idea of driving the Meadowbrook truck. “You believe I can drive that thing?”
“It’s automatic,” he said, like that fact alone would cure any and all trepidation.
“It’shuge.”
“What do you normally drive?”
“A Volvo.”
