Loving Jessie Read Online Free PDF

with Gene Simmons and Wayne Newton.
    “Ernie sold the place five years ago,” Jessie said, following his gaze as he took in the changes. “Said he was going to move to Mojave and become a hermit.”
    “I can’t imagine anyone better suited to the job,” Matt commented, thinking of the scrawny old man who’d made no secret of the fact that he considered every order an intolerable intrusion on his life. “Ernie wasn’t exactly a people person.”
    Jessie laughed at the dry understatement. “Grandad said Ernie took bad manners to new heights.”
    At the mention of her grandfather, Matt’s smile faded. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it back for the funeral, Jessie.” He reached out to catch her hand, his fingers firm and warm around hers. “By the time I heard you’d lost him, it was over and done.”
    “That’s okay.” She managed a half smile, grief a sharp-edged lump in her chest. “I got the card you sent, and you know Grandad wasn’t real big on ceremony.”
    “No, but I wish I’d been there for you.”
    The quiet words made her eyes sting. She’d always been able to count on Matt, even more than Reilly. Reilly had always started out with the best of intentions, but he was prone to get distracted and forget that he was going to pick her up after school or that he’d promised to teach her how to drive. But Matt never forgot and, on morethan one occasion, had picked up the slack for Reilly, including the promise to teach her to drive.
    “Did you see Ermingarde?” she asked, shifting the topic away from her grandfather’s death. “I just had her waxed last week.”
    “I saw her. That’s why I stopped.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe you’re still driving that thing.”
    “‘That thing’?” Jessie sniffed and tilted her nose in the air. “‘That thing’ is a classic 1967 Mustang. It features a custom restoration by Latimer Restorations, a one-of-a-kind job handled by Latimer himself.”
    “Damn right it was a one-of-a-kind job,” Matt said ruefully. “By the time I finished rebuilding that engine, I’d taken the skin off my knuckles in so many places I was a candidate for skin grafts.”
    “Well, you did a good job, because she still runs great.” Looking at him, she was suddenly aware of how good it was to see him again. Matt had been an important part of her life. One of the best parts, she thought, and felt the sudden sting of tears. Because she didn’t want him to see the emotions she knew must be swirling in her eyes, she grinned and slid her hand under his elbow, tucking his arm against her side. “Come meet Lurene. She bought the place from Ernie, and she even managed to pry his secret recipe for chili out of him.”
    Matt let her pull him forward and tried not to notice that the side of her breast was pressed against his arm. It seemed vaguely sinful to think of Jessie and breasts in the same sentence. It had to be the stress, he thought. Too many nights with too little sleep and his brain was starting to fry. That was the only possible excuse for even noticing that Jessie had breasts.
    “Matt, this is Lurene Washington. Lurene, this is Matt Latimer, one of my oldest friends. He even taught me todrive and didn’t scream at me more than eight or nine times.”
    “Once. I only screamed once,” Matt corrected her. “And that was only when you tried to murder me.”
    “One little accident.” Jessie thrust her lower lip out and slanted him a reproachful look. “It wasn’t even a very big tree.”
    “Seemed pretty big when I thought I was about to have it permanently embedded in my forehead,” he said dryly. Ignoring Jessie’s irritated hiss, he held out his hand to Lurene. “Jessie tells me you know the secret to Ernie’s chili. Did you use red-hot pincers or drugs?”
    Lurene laughed as they shook hands. “I had to promise never to contact him for any advice or suggestions once the contracts were signed.”
    Matt grinned. “Doesn’t sound like age