Page 14 of Love At The Shore
Lucas wasn’t sure why he was letting his odd neighbor get under his skin. Ordinarily, he had no trouble going with the flow and minding his own business. He was a peaceful person. And Jenna wasn’t the first uptight, big-city type to rent the other half of the beach house.
But she was definitely the first to construct a fence straight down the middle of the deck.
Who did that?
He couldn’t seem to shake off the question. How could he, when every time he looked out the window, he caught a glimpse of that ridiculous white-picket monstrosity?
He’d almost let himself believe that Jenna would come to her senses and tear the thing down before the sun came up the next morning, but no. It was still there when he and Tank wandered outside to watch the sun rise over the ocean, bathing the sea in soft pinks and yellows.
Too bad the water was so calm. What Lucas really needed was a good surf, but that wasn’t going to happen. Instead, he grabbed a couple of sawhorses from his storage shed and propped one of his boards on top of them. He’d have to work off his irritation with a piece of sandpaper instead of riding a wave.
He sanded the surfboard in smooth, circular motions while Tank watched from a nearby deck chair. The tension in Lucas’s shoulders eased almost at once, and he couldn’t help smiling as Tank’s scruffy little head swiveled back and forth, following his movements.
Then two other small heads popped up from the other side of the new fence, Nick and Ally. And just like that, Lucas’s shoulders stiffened again.
Don’t engage.
Lucas wasn’t a family man. He wouldn’t know how to be one, even if he tried. His father hadn’t exactly been the best role model in that department. He’d spent more time at the office than he had at home when Lucas was growing up, right up until the day he had a fatal heart attack while sitting at his desk.
After business school, when Lucas found himself falling into the same workaholic trap, he’d gotten out while he still could. Life was a gift—one that shouldn’t be wasted. So, he’d headed to Tybee and never looked back. His life was simple now. Uncomplicated.
Just the way he liked it.
He focused intently on his board. He didn’t even make eye contact with either of Jenna’s kids, but they didn’t seem to take the hint.
“How often do you walk him?” Ally said.
Lucas looked up and found her staring longingly at Tank.
The dog was usually more into snoring than walking. Lucas shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s kind of low-maintenance.”
“Because I could do it if you want.” The girl bobbed up and down, brimming with excess energy.
Did kids always get up this early? It was summer. Shouldn’t they be sleeping in?
“I think we’re good,” Lucas said.
“Or I could teach him how to sit. Or roll over.”
Tank learning new tricks was about as likely as Jenna learning how to relax.Not going to happen. Ally called out to Tank, peppering him with orders. The dog’s eyes drifted closed.
“I bet you’re a really good swimmer, right?” Nick grinned over the top of the fence. “Since you surf all the time.”
Great. Now the little boy was chiming in. Wasn’t the new construction supposed to stop this sort of interaction?
Lucas shrugged. “I wasn’t always.”
“But you are now?” The boy’s face scrunched up, which emphasized the light sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of his nose.
Cute kid, Lucas thought. Or he might have thought so if he were a kid person. “Are you guys always this chatty in the morning?”
“Not me. She’s the early riser.” Nick tipped his head toward his sister.
She grinned and pointed double finger guns at Tank. “Which is why I can walk your dog.”
As if on cue, Tank yawned.
Lucas stifled a smile. “He likes to sleep in while I’m surfing.”
