Page 4 of Love At The Shore
The picture-perfect beach house she’d been dreaming about for weeks was, in fact, too good to be true. Her neighbor was a dog-owning slob. Were pets even legal in a short-term rental?
Don’t panic.
In the scheme of things, it really wasn’t a big deal, was it? Of course not. The mess wasn’t Jenna’s problem, even if the sight of the wetsuit activated her mothering instinct in a major way. If someone didn’t hang it up soon, the chair’s cushions would be soaked…which could lead to mold.
Again, not her problem.
She turned around and headed back to her own territory, nodding with satisfaction when she caught a glimpse of the screened-in porch on her half of the duplex—neat as a pin, complete with a stunning ocean view. Better yet, there wasn’t a wet suit or strange animal in sight.
The inside of the cottage was just as charming as the exterior. Decorated in soft blues and greens, with sweeping sea views, it felt fit for a mermaid. She’d been silly to worry about the unseen neighbor.
“I think I can see the summer day camp from my bed,” Nick said, as he and Ally sorted through a welcome basket the realty company had left on the whitewashed dining room table.
Jenna opened one of the bins they’d carried upstairs and peered inside. After a quick look at the house, they’d unloaded the car. All that was left to do was unpack. A place for everything and everything in its place. “It should be really close.”
“Like walking-distance close?” Ally lifted a jar of Easter egg-hued candy from the basket and set it on the table.
“I think so,” Jenna said.
The summer camp was situated right on the beach with its own wooden deck leading to the smooth white sand and clear blue water. Red and white bunting made it impossible to miss, as did the camp’s cheery sign, featuring a big yellow sun and swimmer and surfboard graphics.
Beyond the waterfront deck and a beach house that had been converted into the summer camp’s headquarters, the camp spread onto a vast back patio that boasted a competitive swimming pool and a tiki-style snack bar. Jenna almost wished she could sign up for day camp herself.
Ally grinned up at her, a bag of cookies in each hand. “This welcome basket is really cool.”
Maybe Jenna should put her in charge of a less sugar-centric chore.
“Why don’t you guys tackle this box while I take our beach toys out back?” She nudged a plastic bin toward Ally and Nick, then grabbed the crate containing their sand shovels and buckets.
Just as she closed the door behind her, she heard the kids’ whispered exchange.
“I’ll give you my cookies if you empty this box,” Nick said.
Ally’s response was instantaneous and enthusiastic. “Deal.”
So much for keeping Ally away from chocolate. It was okay, though. If Jenna’s biggest challenge this summer was taming her nine-year-old daughter’s sweet tooth, the next five weeks would be every bit as blissful as she hoped.
Scratch that.
Jenna wasn’t just hoping for a peaceful summer. If she wanted any chance at all of getting her book finished, sheneededit. She needed it almost more than she wanted to admit.
Lucas McKinnon unzipped his wet suit, peeled it down to his waist and let the spray of the outdoor shower beat the salt and sand off his torso. If there was one thing he liked almost as much as a morning surf, it was a nice, hot shower afterward. The fact that the shower on the lower deck of the beach house offered him a clear, unobstructed view of the shore made it even sweeter.
The sea was unusually still today, as smooth and glassy as a mirror. Not so great for surfing, but undeniably pretty to look at it. Without the usual spray coming off the breakers, he could see the lighthouse looming in the distance. Just off the shore, a pair of dolphins crested the flat surface of the water, their silver forms glistening in the morning sunlight.
The calm before the storm.
Or so it seemed. In reality, the forecast was mild. Lucas checked the surf report every day like clockwork, and according to the TybeeWaves web site, there wouldn’t be a raindrop in sight. Still, he couldn’t remember the last time his little slice of the beach had been so serene. It was nearly as unsettling as it was beautiful.
Then just as he was about to flick the shower faucet to the off position, the stillness of the moment came to a colorful, bewildering close as a woman came bounding down the stairs.
“What the heck?” She gaped at him, wide-eyed and frozen in place.
For a minute, Lucas thought she might turn around and bolt back up the stairs.
“Whoa. Sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect a shower.” Cheeks ablaze, she swallowed and averted her gaze. “Right in the middle of our place.”
“Sorry about that.” He gave the faucet a crank to the left and the shower’s stream came to a dripping halt. “You must be the new neighbor.”
