Page 44 of The Sandover Beach Billionaire

His lip quirked, but he didn’t smile. “A fight, huh? Who’s winning?”

“Definitely not me. I’m not sure he’s actually fighting, so it’s a little one-sided.” It felt like a relief to say the words, especially to see the way Jackson nodded like he understood. And he seemed to get the fact that this was a hard admission to make because he turned and picked up the plates. “Where are we eating?”

“How about the back deck? It’s not as great a view as yours, but still pretty nice.”

The wrought iron table and chairs on the deck were covered in a thin layer of pollen, so Jenna wiped them down and Jackson carried out the plates. Jackson jumped up as soon as they sat down. “One more thing! I left it in the car. Eat—don’t wait.”

He ran down the steps from the porch to the driveway and returned a moment later with a small plastic bag from Surly’s, a big box store near the edge of the island that sold everything from clothes to home goods. He set it in front of her plate and sat down again, smiling and looking pleased with himself. Jenna pulled a small box from the bag.

“Excuse the wrapping. It’s a Bluetooth speaker,” Jackson said. “You said you wanted music.”

“I meant for you to bring something, not buy me something.”

“I knew what you meant.”

Jenna took the small gray speaker out of the box, trying not to look at Jackson. It was a small cylinder that fit in the palm of her hand. Surly’s wasn’t a high-end kind of store, but the gesture was everything. She very clearly remembered the last gift that Mark had bought for her. Not a Christmas or birthday gift, but a just-because gift. The kind with no occasion.

The memory was clear because it was so rare: five years ago, he had picked up a hardcover book for her from the airport bookstore on his way home from a business trip. A thriller, when she usually read women’s fiction. “I thought you might like it. I read it on the plane,” he had said. Not really a present at all.

“I can set it up for you if you want.” Jackson’s voice jolted her back to the present. “Bring me your phone.”

Jenna couldn’t speak until she had gotten the thick knot of emotion in her throat under control. She passed it across the table and got up to get her phone from the kitchen. When she brought back her phone, he had everything set up.

“It’s ready. It should automatically connect to the speaker whenever you’re home. If not, just open the Bluetooth settings on the phone and make sure they’re on. Think you can handle that, Monroe?”

She grinned at the nickname. It immediately made her feel closer to Jackson. She wanted to ask him to say it again and again. “I think I can handle this.”

“Pick a song. Let’s see this baby in action.” He clapped his hands together.

Jenna scrolled through her music and hit play. The speaker came to life and Jenna leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes with a smile. Despite the pressure of all she still had left to do inside the house, the music instantly relaxed her. She finally stopped hearing the doubt from Rachel’s warning and the other worries that had gathered like storm clouds. The song swept them all away.

“Care to dance?” His chair scraped back and Jenna opened her eyes to see him standing over her, holding out his hand.

“Shouldn’t we eat?”

“Food can wait. The music’s calling.”

“I don’t really dance. And this isn’t exactly dancing music.”

“I’m a terrible dancer. I just sway. You can handle that. Sway with me, Monroe.”

Taking his hand, Jenna let him pull her up and then flush against him. True to his word, he swayed her in small circles over the porch. Though she had never danced with Jackson, everything about this felt familiar. The feel of his hands on her waist, the way their bodies aligned perfectly, and even his smell. It was not something she could name, exactly, but just Jackson.

This was her favorite kind of music—folky and acoustic with rich lyrics. It seemed to wrap around them, blanketing them in peaceful notes and rich melodies. Even though she said it wasn’t dancing music, it was exactly perfect for this moment with Jackson. Their first dance, on the back porch of her childhood home, wrapped up in his arms.

“Who is this, by the way?”

“Iron and Wine.”

“I haven’t heard of them.”

“Him. It’s a guy.”

“I think I like it.”

“Let’s hope so. That’s kind of a prerequisite.” Jenna nestled her head closer to his chest.

“We’ve gone from sharing our weaknesses to having prerequisites. Let me know next time so I’m prepared. Here I thought this was a simple second date.”

---