Page 17 of Hearts at Seaside
THE BAND AT the Beachcomber played a mix of top forty and country music. The deck was dimly lit, the music was loud, and the dance floor was packed. They claimed the only empty table, a table for four on the corner of the deck, and thanks to a helpful waiter, they were able to secure extra chairs from around the room. The ten of them squeezed in around the small table. Jenna sat beside Charlie, directly across from Pete, who was sitting beside Amy. Dane and Lacy were at one end of the table, and Bella and Caden sat at the other, with Kurt and Leanna squeezed in at the corner.
“That was a fascinating documentary, Dane,” Caden said. “So you’re a shark tagger and a marine biologist, and you combined the two when you founded the Brave Foundation?”
“Brave’s mission is to use education and innovative advocacy programs in an effort to enlighten those that are fearful of sharks, and work toward their protection, and in a broader sense, protecting the oceans as well. Tagging is part of the process.” Dane pulled Lacy closer to him and kissed her temple. “But enough about work. Kurt said Evan wanted to come out on the boat. Why don’t we make a day of it and all go out for an afternoon? Lacy could use some girl time. We’ve been on a research mission in Bermuda for the past three weeks, and she’s probably pretty sick of me.”
Lacy wrapped her arm around Dane’s middle and pressed her body to his. She narrowed her baby blues and looked into his dark eyes. “Never, but I would love to hang out with Leanna and the girls on the boat.” Lacy smiled at Leanna. “We can sun ourselves while the boys play fishermen.”
“Sounds great to me. Kurt’s ahead of his deadline, so he can take an afternoon, right?” Leanna reached for Kurt’s hand.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Kurt brought her hand to his lips.
Jenna felt something against her foot and glanced beneath the table. Pete’s giant boot was pressed against her sandal. She bit her lower lip, unsure if he’d meant to do it, or if she should move her foot away. She glanced up at him and he pressed it harder.
She swallowed.
“Let me know when you’re thinking of going and I’ll try to get the time off,” Caden said.
Charlie placed a hand on Jenna’s thigh, and Jenna felt her cheeks heat up. She knew he was probably waiting for her to invite him on the boat trip. She chanced another glance in Pete’s direction and he arched a brow. He was amused by Charlie’s hand on her thigh? What on earth did that mean? Pete shifted his eyes to a blonde on the dance floor. Despite her decision not to be wrapped up in Pete this summer—a battle she was slowly losing grip on—jealousy wrapped its claws around her chest and squeezed tight.
“Charlie, can you get away for an afternoon to go with us?” Jenna kept her eyes focused on Charlie. She felt guilty for using him to get back at Pete, but Pete had left her high and dry for too many years for her to simply fall into his lap, even if there was nothing else on earth she’d rather do. Of course, if she fell, she’d probably turn into a blundering idiot and he’d boot her away faster than she could blink an eye.Stop it. Stop thinking about him!
She couldn’t help it. She thought of her body pressed against his in the cottage and his hot breath caressing her skin.Every erotic, sensual second.She dropped her eyes with the thought. She shouldn’t have invited Charlie. It wasn’t fair to him since her stupid mind was still hung up on Pete.
Charlie accepted her offer and draped an arm around her. His smile pounded theguiltystake into her heart a little deeper.
“Great. Amy? Can you make it?” Lacy asked.
“I can always make it. I never have any plans.” Amy ran her finger around the rim of her glass.
Pete draped an arm over Amy’s shoulder. “I could hook you up with a nice guy.”
Jenna’s stomach clenched.
Amy tucked her hair behind her ear. “That’s okay. I could have a date if I wanted one. I just…” She shrugged.
“She’s waiting for a particular pro surfer to come knocking at her cottage door.” Bella raised her eyebrows.
Amy rolled her eyes.
“If he’s not careful, he’ll have missed the boat.” It took all of Jenna’s willpower to keep her eyes trained on her glass and not lift them to look at Pete’s face. She wanted to read his eyes and see if her words hit home. Instead, she downed her drink in one gulp and hoped they did.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Pete said. “Amy’s gorgeous and sweet. She’s funny, and she’s loyal to each of you. I think she’s probably worth waiting for.”
“Aw, thanks, Pete.” Amy patted his leg.
Worth waiting for?
“Maybe you need to be more forward with Tony and let him know what you want,” Pete suggested.
Jenna didn’t have to look to know he’d shifted his gaze to her. Heat blazed across the table.
“Oh, I think he has a pretty good picture,” Bella said.
“Lacy waited more than a year for our schedules to work out so we could finally be together.” Dane smiled at Lacy. “Some things can’t be rushed.”
Jenna snuck a peek at Pete and he shifted his eyes away.
He took a long pull of his drink. “Exactly.” He eyed the blonde on the dance floor again.
