Page 28 of The Sandover Beach Billionaire

“We’ve met,” Jenna said as Rachel came in from the balcony.

“Wow. High school, huh? I bet you’ve got some great and embarrassing stories.”

“Oh yeah,” Jenna said. Jackson’s eyes went wide. “You wouldn’t believe half of them. Like that one time Jackson streaked—”

Megan’s hands flew to her ears. “La la la la la! I can’t hear you!”

Streaked? He had never streaked anything—that’s one road he’d never gone down. Jackson met Jenna’s smug face. She totally read that situation right and shut Megan down. Color him impressed. When Jenna winked at him, Jackson almost fell over.

Rachel rolled her eyes and thrust out her hand. “You must be Megan. I’m Rachel. It’s good to meet you.”

Megan shook her hand limply, with an exaggerated effort. “Cool. So, dinner, J? Tick tock. Feel free to invite your friends to daddy-daughter bonding time.”

“We’ve got dinner plans later,” Rachel said.

“Another time, maybe.” Jenna looked right at Jackson. Was that an invitation?

“We’ll leave in a few minutes, Megan. Want to meet me downstairs?”

“Yep. Good to meet you and all those polite things I’m supposed to say.”

Rachel snorted as Megan stomped down the stairs. “Is this what I have to look forward to in a few years?”

“Doubtful,” Jackson said. “I’ve seen you with your kids and you’re amazing. I have no idea what I’m doing. And Megan’s mom…” He made a face. There was nothing nice he could say about Kim.

“Hey, is this an elevator?” Jenna asked. She pulled on the locked door leading to the elevator, then ran her hand over the button on the wall next to it.

“It is.” One part of the design that the builder had insisted on was an elevator. Apparently, this was standard for houses three stories or more, especially where the living areas were up top.

“You may not think you’ll ever sell this place,” the builder had said. “But you might. And for these three-story homes, people expect these now. Think of lugging groceries up three flights of stairs.”

Reluctantly, Jackson had agreed to a small (and slow) elevator, which he almost never used. Jenna pulled at the door, which looked like an ordinary wooden door with the elevator button next to it in the wall.

“It really helps with bringing up groceries,” Jackson said. “And I’m also planning ahead for my retirement. These knees won’t last forever.”

“Can we ride in it?” Jenna asked. She looked excited suddenly, happier than Jackson had seen her.

Spending a few minutes in a small space with Jenna? “Absolutely.” He pushed the button to call the elevator. The sound of the machinery whirred to life almost as noisily as his heart beating in his ears.

Rachel frowned. “I didn’t think you liked small spaces.”

“I don’t. But it’s an elevator! In a house! It’s just three floors. I’ll be fine.”

Jenna bounced on her toes, her face bright with excitement. It was a beautiful look on her. Jackson turned back to stare at the elevator door, hoping his feelings weren’t totally obvious.

“I’ll take the stairs, thanks. Jackson, thanks for showing us around. Your place is incredible! You’re sure you can handle that, Jenns?”

Jenna rolled her eyes. “Race you to the bottom!”

Jackson turned to Jenna as Rachel started down the stairs. “She’ll win. In about ten minutes, this thing will have made its way up from the bottom floor. In another ten minutes after that, we’ll make it down.

“So, what you’re telling me is that this thing is a glorified dumb waiter.”

Jackson grinned. “Precisely.”

“Cool.” Jenna pulled at the door again. “Why is it locked?”

“That stays locked until the elevator arrives. There’s a magnet that unlocks only when the elevator stops in front of the door. Keeps people from falling down the shaft. You know. Safety first.” The elevator reached their floor with a thump. There was no ding, but a metal clack. “See? Magnet.” Jackson opened the door and pulled aside an accordion-like partition to reveal the tiny space inside. “Ta da! Welcome to the dumb waiter.”

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