Page 27 of Always Another Sunset

Walking back to where the other two waited, JC considered her question.We definitely don’t want her to get lost again,she thought, starting to nod. “You’re right,” she said. “Probably better to keep her on the lead, and we can wade in together.”

JC watched Bella hesitate, but after a moment, she stood with Roxie’s leash in her hand. “I’ll come too,” she said, a sliver of doubt in her tone but determination too. “Then you can still swim.”

“You’re sure?” JC asked, proud of her for being brave but not wanting to make her do something she didn’t want to do only for her.

Starting to walk to the water’s edge, Bella nodded. “I know I’m safe with you,” she said, and JC agreed. Nothing on earth would keep JC from trying to keep Bella safe. Reaching the edge of the waves, JC waded out, and Roxie started into the water too until she was lightly pulling on the lead. As if not understanding why they stopped, the dog looked back at Bella, who was barely in the waves. “She wants to keep going.”

Even more curious, JC turned back to take the end of the leash from Bella’s hand. “Well, let’s see what she wants to do,” she said, and as soon as she had the handle, Roxie headed further out.It’s a good thing I had a firm hold on it,she thought, trotting deeper into the waves. After a moment, they were past the wave break and waist deep, making Roxie paddle in place. Looking at the dog, JC would swear she saw a smile on Roxie’s face. It was clear she was not only familiar with the water but loved to be in the ocean.She has to have grown up on the island. With a shake of her head, JC simply didn’t understand.So then where are her owners?

27

Sitting on the blanket, Bella watched JC playing with Roxie in the water. Both looked to be having the best time ever as they splashed, swam, and rode the short waves. Once it was clear Roxie liked the ocean, JC had run back up the beach to grab her boogieboard from the jeep while Bella held the dog’s leash. When she came back and started to ride the shallow waves with Roxie splashing along beside her, barking the whole time, Bella left them to their fun. She knew without a doubt that Roxie wouldn’t be running off as long as she was playing with JC, and so had returned to her Kindle. The story was good, as she expected it would be, and she was completely into the life of the characters when Roxie ran up to her. Her tongue wagged, and water dripped from her fur. JC was close behind. “Watch out,” she called. “I think you’re about to get sprayed.” At the last possible second, Bella tucked the e-reader under a towel as Roxie shook her body from head to tail.

Water went everywhere, and as unpleasant as the cold water was on her skin, the playfulness of the scene made her laugh. “Roxie,” she protested between giggles. “Stop.”

JC grabbed another towel from the bag and started to dry off. “I love that you’re laughing,” she said, squeezing some water from her hair. “You’re still sure you don’t want me to show you how to boogieboard?”

“I’m sure,” she said, picking up her own towel to wipe her face. “But you two did make it look like a lot of fun.”

Plopping onto the sand beside Bella, JC nodded. “That dog sure does like the water,” she said. “I imagine someone taught her to swim in the ocean from when she was a pup. I’ve never seen anything like it.” She reached for the cooler at her feet. “Thirsty? Hungry?”

“A bottle of water would be great. Are you having a sandwich?” Bella asked a moment before JC pulled one out.

“Yep,” she said, starting to unwrap it. “Want half? I don’t want to fill up yet. Not until we get further north.” She grinned. “Then we’ll stop at the shrimp truck and get stuffed.”

Bella held out her hand to accept a share. “This shrimp truck must be quite some place,” she said. “I’ve seen ads for it in every tourist brochure, and you’re very excited.”

“It is,” JC said, leaning in for a kiss. “Just wait and see.”

Liking the tiny tingles she felt knowing JC wanted to kiss her, Bella met the woman halfway and touched her lips with her own. “I’m sure it will be wonderful. Everything’s been perfect,” she murmured against JC’s mouth and wished the beach was empty. A make-out session on the blanket sounded incredibly erotic. Getting ready to tell JC precisely that, a buzzing phone interrupted the moment. It took her a second to realize it was JC’s making the noise.

JC frowned as she dug in the bag for her phone. “I hope everything is okay with Blake,” she said before fishing the thing out. Bella watched her glance at the screen and then grit her teeth.

Not sure what to think about the reaction, Bella touched JC’s shoulder. “Is something wrong?” she asked, and JC sighed as she silenced the call.

“Not exactly,” she said, facing Bella to look into her eyes. “It was Chris again.”

Bella blinked. “Again?” she asked, not liking the idea the woman called JC often. “As in she calls you a lot?”

Shaking her head, JC looked away to put her phone back. “Once a day,” she said. “And I let them go to voicemail. At some point I need to call her back.”

“What does she want?” Bella blurted, not liking the hint of anxiety she felt over JC’s ex calling her. It didn’t help that she had no idea the calls were happening.But this is JC, she thought.She wouldn’t do anything to hurt me, and I have nothing to worry about.

“Well,” JC said as she unwrapped her sandwich, “for the most part, she wants to go to dinner.”

Feeling a pinch of worry, Bella forced her voice to remain even. “And do you want to do that?”

JC was quiet for a moment, clearly thinking over her answer. “I think that I do,” she finally answered. “But if I do agree to meet her, I want you to come with me. Would you be willing to do that?”

Bella wasn’t sure exactly how she felt about JC’s request, but she was smart enough to know the right answer. “Yes, I would be,” she said, then picked up her e-reader again. “But for now, I think I’d rather focus on eating my sandwich, this great book, and wonderful day than get anxious over dining with Chris.”

Leaning closer, JC kissed her cheek. “Thank you,” she said before folding her towel to use as a pillow and lay back. “And I agree. Let’s not let anything take away from this.”

Lying on the blanket,soaking up the sun, JC felt fantastic. On one side of her, Bella sat enjoying the book on her Kindle and on the other, Roxie lay on the warm sand asleep.This is perfect,she thought, knowing at some point they needed to get going if they wanted to reach the shrimp truck before it closed but not ready to leave yet. Although JC had thought her life was near perfect before the fateful kayaking tour where she found Bella again, everything was so much richer with the woman in it. Things were simply falling into place both with finding Roxie and Bella being able to write from the house.

For a brief moment, after her phone rang and she saw it was Chris, JC worried the wonderful day might be in trouble, but thankfully, that didn’t happen. Although the decision to include Bella in dinner plans had been spontaneous, JC was glad she asked her to join in a meeting with Chris. In JC’s mind, the get together was not intended to be romantic, and Bella joining them would ensure Chris knew it too.

Suddenly, JC’s stomach growled loud enough to make Roxie raise her black and white head. Bella giggled. “Am I to assume that means you’re hungry?” Bella said. Rubbing her tanned stomach, JC smiled. “I see,” Bella continued. “Well, I’m about starving too, but I ignored it to keep reading this exciting story.”

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