Page 17 of The Beachside Rental

This was her opportunity to get to know her neighbor better.“We could walk together, if you want.”

He hesitated.“I don’t want to intrude.”

“You won’t be.”

And so, they set off as the last of the sun’s rays were replaced with moonlight.The moonbeams played upon the swells of the ocean.She loved this time of the evening.It was the end of a day well-done and the promise of a chance to do better the next day.

She was dying to know more about him.“Where are you from?”

He glanced her way.“What makes you think I’m not from right here on the island?”

“Because Bluestar is still small enough that everyone knows everyone else.And no one knows anything about you.”

He sent her a little smile, as though he preferred to be a man of mystery.And then he was quiet, as though weighing his words.“I’m from Tennessee.”

“And what brought you to Bluestar?”

There was another pause.“A friend recommended the island.”

“Your friend has good taste.”

“I agree.”

He wasn’t much into making conversation.If she kept asking him questions, he was going to start feeling like she was conducting some sort of interview.And that was not what she wanted.

She would like them to be friends, and friends don’t interview each other.They open up to each other willingly.And so, that was what she decided to do.

“I was born and raised on the island.I work at the Island Market.So, if you have any questions about Bluestar, you can ask me.I’ll probably know the answer.”

The quietness stretched on long enough that she thought their conversation was over, but then he said, “What was it like growing up here?”

She shrugged.“Probably the way it is in most small towns—safe and boring.”

His brows drew together.“That’s not a very stellar endorsement.”

She let out a laugh.“Sorry.I meant to say it’s the best place to grow up.”

“Uh…huh…”

“No.Really.It is.I have lifelong friends.If I needed them, they would drop whatever they were doing to help me.”

“Were those the friends you had over at your place tonight?”

“You noticed?”

He nodded.“I had the windows open and heard the knocking.I thought maybe it was your birthday.”

“Nope.My birthday isn’t until January.It was actually my book club.”

He stopped walking.“Book club?”

Was that worry she heard in his voice?If so, why would he be worried about her book club?She gave herself a mental shake.She’d obviously imagined it.

“I started a book club a little while back.We take turns picking a book to read.We read one book each month, then we get together to discuss it.”

“What kind of books do you read?”

She was impressed that he had taken an interest.“I read a lot of thrillers, but sometimes I’ll read a romance.It depends.”