40 Little Kisses, Big Mistakes

Jesse thought Jill was a nice woman.

She was intelligent and full of energy, with a great physique and endlessly golden skin, both probably due to her time on the beach. Her sun bleached blonde hair fell in a cute bob around her face which housed stunningly clear blue eyes that looked at Jesse like he was a piece of prime steak she'd love to devour. She made him laugh and the few times they'd been out together had been great fun.

This lunch date was turning out to be no different. Whenever their eyes met, she would smile like she'd just won a prize. As they ate, she regaled him with stories about a family getaway she'd been on while he'd been in Brazil. Her brother had brought yet another girl along, as he was known to do, and this one had been a ventriloquist. All the stories she told had Jesse laughing throughout the meal.

Jesse also had a chance to describe what he'd been doing in South America, skimming over the parts that included caring for Pearl.

"I'd love to go to Brazil someday," Jill said enthusiastically. "Their beaches are legendary."

Jesse chuckled. "If I take the post and you travel to Brazil, I'll take you to the beaches myself."

That made Jill smile broadly. "Don't think I won't hold you to it."

Jesse didn't say anything more. He just laughed a little and shrugged.

When the meal was finally over and the gelato was comfortably digested, Jesse walked Jill to her car.

"Thanks for calling me up today. I think it's exactly what I needed," he said earnestly.

"I'm glad I could be of use to you," she replied, slowing down a few yards away from her car. "If you weren't always traveling, we'd do it more often, doc."

"Ha, yeah, well if I don't find a job, eventually I'll run out of money to treat you to Italian ice cream."

"Hey," she said easily, "money isn't the best thing about hanging out with you. I could always treat you."

"You're right." He smiled at her. "You could."

Jill blinked.

"Jesse, would you let me do something in a second?"

His green eyes met her serious blue ones and he wondered out loud, "What do you want to do, Jill?"

"This."

Taking a step forward, Jill brought herself close to Jesse. When their chests were nearly touching, she stood on tip toes and placed her lips on his. She reached her hands up to steady herself and was surprised when his hands wrapped over her elbows and gave her the needed support. Her response to him kissing back was to rest her hands against his chest and press her body nearer to his.

Jesse was over the initial shock and though he let the kiss continue for a moment, he quickly made up his mind to end it. Not even Jill's little moan could make him go in for more. Jerking his head back, he thrust his hands away from him, sending Jill with them.

"Wow," Jill bit her lip.

Silence.

"That was nice."

"Nice?" Jesse couldn't help laughing despite the foreign feeling invading his chest in waves. She had enjoyed it.

Jill made a face. "More than nice. It was… way better when you started kissing me back."

That was the last thing he wanted to hear.

"I'm sorry, Jill," came quietly.

Jill's eyes snapped to Jesse's and this time he didn't look away.

Realisation dawned on her face and Jesse sighed. "Jill, you're great. Such an amazing person but that shouldn't have happened. I just-"

"Wish I was someone else?"

Jesse's expression was clear.

"Wow," she said again. Jill nodded. "Okay…" Pause. "Now, I'm sorry."

"Don't be! I shouldn't have just stood there like a statue when you put your face so close to mine," he said half seriously.

That made Jill laugh. "Well, you're the best statue I've ever kissed… that'll be a good memory, not a regret."

Jesse's face reflected his gratitude and Jill shook her head.

Opening her car door, she muttered, "Just maybe don't smile at me for a while. Or I might try again."

Stifling a small laugh, Jesse watched her step into her car. "Get home safe. And thanks again for today."

With another nod, she let him close the door and she drove off.

Jesse stood there for a while. When he couldn't see the little Polo anymore, he ran his hand through his blond hair and took a deep breath.

"That," he said to himself, "was a mistake."

An uncomfortable sensation seemed to be creeping up his back and into his gut. Trying to shrug it off, Jesse turned to his own car, where he began to dissect this change in mood on his way home.

He had been enjoying his time with Jill. She was pleasant to be with and to look at. Even her kiss had been alright. Surprising, but not repulsive at all. But the moment he'd put his hands on her, he'd felt an uneasy jolt.

He knew exactly what had caused it.

Jill had leaned in closer and her perfume had drifted up to his nostrils. And it had been wrong.

It was the wrong scent. It was the wrong body. Hers were the wrong lips.

The moment that thought crossed his mind, one word echoed out in the midst of the unease flooding his body.

Guilt.

That kiss should have been with someone else and now Jesse felt raw and frustrated with himself.

The frustration went beyond having kissed Jill instead of Pearl. It rubbed him the wrong way to be feeling bad about it in the first place when he didn't even have a foot to stand on when it came to the lovely Hawaiian.

She didn't even know how he felt. Most likely felt nothing of the sort in return.

So why would a harmless kiss from a friend mean anything or get him so upset?

Okay, it hadn't been entirely harmless. Jill had kissed him with intent. But it still shouldn't mean anything.

"It shouldn't," he said aloud. "She's just my mother's goddaughter," he laughed humourlessly as he parked his car.

Jesse decided to stick with that. He'd have to in order to make it through the welcome back dinner his mother was hosting over the weekend.