“I always thought that my grandfather loved Nanny Lucy a lot to have that made for her on their first anniversary, but now that I know more, I figure it was to make up for his guilty conscience,” Nessa said.

“What would you have done if you’d found out your husband was cheating on you back in those days?” he asked. “Remember that times were different sixty years ago. Society didn’t accept divorce as well as it does today.”

“Yesterday, today, tomorrow,” Nessa said with total conviction. “I would have either divorced him and thumbed my nose at society, or I would have shot him and buried the body under that fire-ant bed by the old tree.”

“I believe you,” Jackson chuckled. “If we have a fourth date, I’ll be sure to remember to never cheat on you.”

“Wise decision.” She frowned. “Fourth date? We’ve only been on two.”

“You don’t think today counts as one? I mean, after all, you’re wearing my shirt and a smile and nothing more. I saved you from near death. If that’s not a third date, then I’m not sure what is,” he teased.

“We have had some pretty unusual dates,” she agreed.

“Have you had supper? Want to share a sandwich with me?” he asked.

“That sounds great, but only if you’ll let me help make them. I’m a gourmet at spreading mayo on bread,” she told him.

“I’d never turn down gourmet help.” He got to his feet and held out a hand to help her up. When she was upright, he pulled her into his arms and grazed her cheek with the back of his hand. Their eyes met, and she barely had time to moisten her lips before his mouth closed on hers. By the time the make-out session ended, they were both panting.

This is the third date, she thought, trying to rationalize what she wanted to happen next and yet not wanting to instigate it. Could Jackson be what she was looking for? Had fate led her to Blossom so that she would meet him and be ready to commit to a long-term, maybe even forever, relationship?

He scooped her up into his arms for the second time and carried her back to a bedroom across the hall from where she’d been before. “Are you going to say no?” he whispered as he kicked the door shut with his bare foot.

“For tonight, I’m going to live for the moment, and no is not a part of the moment,” she whispered.

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

April went to the refrigerator for milk on Friday evening, but there was none. “Hey, we need to make a run to the grocery store for milk, and we’re down to only three or four slices of bread.”