Page 49 of Dreaming at Seaside
“Here’s the thing. I’m not worried about dating Caden, and I wonder if that means I’m already not paying enough attention to red flags or something. We’re already serious. Super serious. I mean, Jenna, serious like I’ve-never-been-this-serious-in-my-life type of serious. And what if my house doesn’t sell? Then what will I do? What if the job doesn’t come through here? What if it does but my house doesn’t sell? Then what will I do?”
“The answer to the first question is that I’m not seeing any red flags. I think Tony was right. The guy’s been a single dad for fourteen years. He’s a committer for sure. As far as the rest goes, you’re asking a lot of questions to a woman who isn’t holding a margarita.”
“You’re right. Sorry. That was the big question that I was stressing over.” She folded her chair and gathered her belongings. “But if you think I’m seeing clearly, and you know I trust you to not let me fall into some dark man-abyss, then let’s go home and we’ll fill you up with the good stuff.”
“First of all, put that stuff down and look at me.” Jenna stood with her hands on her hips.
Bella dropped her beach tote and looked at her.
“Here.” Jenna pointed to her eyes.
Bella stared into her eyes, and Jenna leaned in so close Bella thought they might bump noses.
“Nope. Those eyes are wide open and wiser than mine will ever be.”
“You’re such a fool.” Bella picked up her tote.
Jenna swung her tote over her shoulder, and they carried their chairs up toward the parking lot. “I say trust your gut with Caden Too-Good-To-Be-True-Grant.” Jenna stopped at the bottom of the dune.
“Why’d you stop? Let’s go. I want to stop at the package store.”
Jenna pointed to the top of the hill, where Caden stood beside his police car.
Bella ran up the dune with Jenna laughing as she hurried behind. Bella was out of breath by the time she reached the parking lot. She dropped her tote and chair and ran into his open arms.
“I’m sorry to just show up.” He kissed her quickly and shifted his eyes to the people watching them.
“Sorry,” she whispered. She cleared her throat. “I forgot you’reat work, and I’m glad you just showed up.” She raked her eyes down his body. She hadn’t seen him in uniform since the night they’d met, and boy he looked hot. But Bella wasn’t looking at the same things the other women were ogling in the gray evening light. She saw past the six-pack abs and the sculpted body that she knew lay beneath his handsome uniform. She pushed aside the clean-shaven cheeks that she loved to touch and the sense of pure hunky male that he radiated. As she drank him in, she saw the person he was on the inside. The way he loved Evan and would do anything to keep him safe. The way his eyes dampened as he talked about losing his best friend and partner and the way those same expressive eyes never wavered from hers when she spoke. When she added those qualities to his intelligence and the way he touched her, as if bringing her pleasure was what he lived for, well, who on earth could be sexier than Caden Grant?
“Bella.” Jenna elbowed her.
Bella startled out of her thoughts. “Sorry. What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been trying to reach you all day. Amy said you were here a few hours ago, and when I still couldn’t reach you, I got a little worried.”
“He worried,” Jenna whispered.
“Yeah, I know.” Bella glared at her.
“I’m going to put these things in the car. Nice to see you, Caden.”
“You too, Jenna,” he said, then drew his eyes back to Bella.
“I missed you,” she whispered.
“Me too.” His eyes darkened.
“It was so nice to spend the day with Jenna that we decided to stay late. Did you get my text?” Bella had to fight the urge to reach out and touch him again. To hold his hand or hook her finger into the waistband of his pants. That hug and peck would have to hold her over until he was off duty.
“Only the one you sent before you went to the clinic. That’s why I was worried.” He stepped closer and placed his hand on her hip.
I really love that.
Heat spread from beneath his hand across her hips, coiling down low in her belly. Bella forced the lascivious thoughts away for now.
“Sometimes I hate cell phones,” she said. “I sent you a text after my meetings. I signed up four more companies today.” She went up on her toes to kiss him, then remembered he was at work and bit her lower lip as she sank back down to her heels.
He smiled and tightened his grip on her hip. The combination told her he wanted to kiss her just as badly. “That’s awesome. We should celebrate.”
