1022 Evergreen Place - Debbie Macomber [75]
“I wouldn’t expect anything less of a man like Ben Rhodes.”
Mary Jo bit her lip. “I’d want someone else to talk to David, though.”
“Let me.” Mack would get David to sign those papers without a problem, and it wouldn’t take long, either.
“No…I was thinking I might hire Mr. Harris to do it. He could deduct his fee from my paycheck.”
It seemed she was still considering that action as she spoke. Mack took a moment to digest her words.
“So you’re willing to approach David? Or have someone approach him on your behalf?”
She hesitated. “I…don’t know yet.”
He stiffened and wanted to tell her that she should inform him when she’d made her decision. Until then, he’d rather she didn’t torment him with her wishy-washy attitude.
Again, Mary Jo sensed his irritation. “Can I change the subject for a moment?” she asked.
He wondered if this was just another delaying tactic, and then with a sigh of resignation nodded for her to continue.
“I had a wonderful time at your parents’ house last week.”
They’d barely spoken since then. Right afterward, Mack was on duty for four days straight. Once he got back home, he’d tried to talk to Mary Jo but she’d been unresponsive. He’d more or less ignored her ever since.
“I apologize if my mother embarrassed you,” he muttered.
“She didn’t,” Mary Jo told him. “I was kind of amused that she assumed we were going to announce our engagement.”
Mack shoved his hands in his pockets. “Amused?” This woman had him so twisted up in knots he didn’t know if he was coming or going. He felt he’d done nothing but make a fool of himself over her.
“Why are you looking at me like I said something offensive?” Mary Jo asked. “Honestly, Mack, you’re so prickly these days….”
“The idea of marrying me is a big joke?” he said in a sullen voice.
“I didn’t say that!”
“Sorry, maybe I need my hearing tested because that’s exactly what it sounded like.”
“Do you love me?” she asked.
Mack didn’t answer because he didn’t want her scoffing at him, didn’t want her to disparage his feelings.
“Well, I guess that’s that,” she said after an awkward moment. She reached for Noelle.
Mack knew if he didn’t say something fast, she’d leave. This might be his last opportunity and he didn’t want to waste it on resentment or retaliation. “I couldn’t have made my feelings for you and Noelle any more obvious if I tried. Yes, I love you, Mary Jo. My thoughts haven’t been my own from the second I answered your 9-1-1 call last Christmas.”
Once again Mary Jo bit her lip. “I fell in love before, and I was so stupid and foolish. David—”
“I’m not David!” he flared. “I don’t know how much longer it’s going to take you to realize I’m nothing like him. What have I ever done to make you think I’d harm you or Noelle?”
He was just warming to his subject when Mary Jo put Noelle down and walked over to him.
“I—” He wasn’t allowed to finish. Mary Jo placed her hands on his shoulders and practically forced him to look directly at her.
“I love you, Jerome McAfee,” she said.
The air rushed from his lungs and Mack found himself unable to speak—and not just because she’d used his given name, which was known to very few people.
“Did you hear what I said?” she asked.
He couldn’t respond, couldn’t even manage a nod.
“Do you need me to repeat that?”
This time he bobbed his head.
She dropped her hands and gave him the most dazzling smile he’d ever seen. “I love you. Noelle loves you, too. We both love you.”
Feeling completely out of control, it was all he could do to return her smile.
“You could kiss me now if you wanted,” Mary Jo suggested.
Mack wanted, all right. He wanted to hold her and kiss her. He gathered her in his arms and his heart seemed about to take flight. Lowering his mouth to hers, he felt an incredible surge of emotion. Just then, with Noelle holding on to his pant leg and Mary Jo in his arms, he felt