Read Online The Giving Season by Rebecca Brock - Free Book Online

understand. “I want you to be here. For me.”
    “I don’t want to cause trouble between you—”
    “You won’t. Trust me. Our problems were around a long time before you entered the picture.” Michael’s smile widened. “So will you stay? Please? For me?”
    “Boy, you’re really working the puppy-dog eyes, aren’t you?” Jessy couldn’t help but grin.
    “Is it doing anything for you?”
    “Possibly.”
    “Then yeah, I’m working the puppy-dog eyes.” Michael batted his lashes and laughed. “Really, Jessy. I’d like you to stay.”
    Jessy took a deep breath and gazed at him for a moment, and finally nodded. “Okay. But I swear, if you two start reinacting ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ I’m out of here. Seriously.”
    Michael laughed and slung his arm around her shoulders, a casual gesture that caused Jessy’s heart to catch and stutter. “You’ve got yourself a deal. Now let’s go eat.”
    Jessy allowed him to lead her down the stairs and into the dining room, wondering just what fresh hell she’d stumbled into now.

CHAPTER FIVE

    Jessy felt as jumpy as a cat, even though dinner was blissfully uneventful, with no sign of the mythical ex-wife. Which was fine. The longer Jessy could put off that eventual confrontation, the better. The woman was in for a potentially unpleasant surprise.
    Jessy ate sparingly, even though dinner was delicious and she felt like she could demolish the entire tray of cornbread dressing by herself. She tried to relax and enjoy the dinner, but she could tell just by looking at Michael that he felt just as tense. Even Lyssa didn’t seem too happy about the prospect of hosting her ex-daughter-in-law for dinner.
    At least the kids were happy, and their unabashed joy helped Michael unclench his jaw and smile more as the dinner wore on. By the time all of the second and third helpings had been eaten, the atmosphere at the table was as relaxed as it was going to be. As they talked and laughed and got to know each other, Jessy realized that they made her feel more welcome than she had ever felt in her life.
    And it was all because of Michael. The warmth she saw in his eyes, the quiet joy in his smile, made her feel as though she truly belonged somewhere—and that scared her. She didn’t want to get too close to him and his family, but she couldn’t bear to keep her distance, either. She needed this too badly.
    “Dinner was great, Mom.” Michael smiled as he folded his napkin and leaned back in his chair, looking over to Jessy. She returned his smile and quickly looked away. Prolonged eye contact with him still made her feel antsy and way too warm.
    “Well, it wasn’t all my doing.” Lyssa looked to Ben and smiled. “I had some help, didn’t I?”
    “Yeah,” Ben said, flashing Jessy a snaggle-toothed smile. “I helped make the tea.”
    “Daddy says we make the best tea in the world,” Marie said proudly.
    “And your daddy’s absolutely right.” Jessy took another sip of tea and smiled at Michael over the rim of her glass. He grinned and lazily draped an arm over the back of Ben’s chair, unabashedly staring at her.
    Hoo boy, Jessy thought as she struggled to swallow the tea without choking. That man knows how to use those eyes. He’s lethal.
    “Michael tells me you’re a woman of mystery,” Lyssa said with a teasing smile. Jessy gratefully turned her attention away from Michael’s disconcerting stare, even though she had a bad feeling some personal questions were coming up. “What exactly do you do in Kentucky?”
    “I teach third grade.” Jessy managed to keep from glancing back to Michael, even though she could feel him still watching her.
    Lyssa’s smile widened—and if Jessy wasn’t mistaken, she thought she could see something like approval in the older woman’s eyes. “So you like children, I take it?”
    “Yes, Mom,” Michael said as he stood and began gathering plates. “Especially broiled and served with carrots.”
    Lyssa laughed.