* * *
Robert sentDaniel a quick text to let him know he was bringing Jessie in before he slid from his truck and walked around to Jessie’s door.
He’d kept Jessie out much later than he’d planned, but having her in his home after all these years...
He never wanted her to leave.
Jessie turned to him as they reached the front porch, and once again he fought the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her. His restraint tonight had been tested to the limits. He should qualify for sainthood.
“Wait here. I have something for you.” Jessie disappeared inside the house.
Despite the chilly late-September night, Robert opted to wait outside on the porch, rather than face Daniel’s knowing grin. The kid was doing much better, and his joking personality had returned. He frequently teased Robert about marrying Jessie already.
If only it were that easy.
Jessie came back out the door carrying a large, flat package wrapped in brown paper. She gave him a shy smile as she handed it to him.
Warmth settled over Robert, and he sucked in a sharp breath. “You finished it?”
“A while ago.” Jessie stuck a fingernail between her teeth.
Why hadn’t she given it to him sooner?
Had she been waiting for the time to feel right, just like he’d been waiting to make sure she wouldn’t leave again?
He lifted the picture and grabbed the edge of the paper.
“Don’t open it yet.” She grabbed his hand.
He shot her a questioning glance. She usually liked to see the recipient’s reaction to her gifts.
She smiled, and he looked deeper into her amber eyes. He saw a light there that radiated inner peace. Jessie didn’t need validation from him that her work was amazing. She knew she’d painted her best work.
He held the picture up in front of his chest to keep himself from pulling her into his arms again. “Thank you, Jess. I can’t wait to open it.” His next words came out through a clenched jaw. “Now go inside before I kiss you.”
She giggled and backed toward the door. “Goodnight, Robert.”
“Goodnight.” He stepped down a step, then hurried to his truck, knowing Daniel would make sure the door got locked behind Jessie.
In fact, it was a good thing Daniel was in the house, or Robert might have followed Jessie inside.
Anticipation of opening Jessie’s painting helped Robert get home much faster than usual. It’s a good thing he didn’t cross paths with Brady working the night shift; the deputy would have pulled him over just to give him a hard time.
After parking in his garage, he pulled Jessie’s painting from the back seat. His hand stilled as he looked at the guitar that had ridden there for the past few weeks. He’d played it several times with Daniel just for fun, and he’d been toying with the idea of learning a new song for Jessie. But he hadn’t quite found the courage.
Yet.
He picked up the guitar case with his free hand.
He let himself into the house and set the case on the couch beside him. Laying the painting across the coffee table, he gently pulled back the paper.
His lungs stalled. The painting had looked amazing when he pulled it from the trash, but the finishing touches Jessie had put on it made the image look so real. He could practically smell the fresh air—scented by pines trees and the fresh-water lake—and hear the birds singing in the trees. The gentle waves lapping at the shore appeared to be in motion.
The painting blurred.
Robert blinked away tears and sucked in a sharp breath.Jessie is so incredibly talented.He’d meant it when he said he’d support her in her art and follow her to the ends of the earth.
She wanted to stay in here, though.
