Page 18 of The Beachside Rental

“And those are the types of books you read at your book club?”

“Sometimes.There’s no rule on the type of books you can pick when it’s your turn.This month my sister Darby picked science-fiction.”

When he swallowed, she could see his Adam’s apple bob.“What’s the title?”

She arched a brow.“Why?Are you into science-fiction?”

“Sometimes.”

“Well, I don’t remember the title.It’s one I’ve never heard about before.”

He turned and started to talk again.She fell in step with him.She felt as though there was something on his mind that he wasn’t ready to tell her.The question she had was, what did it have to do with her book club?

And then the pieces came together.She’d figured out what was bothering him.“Would you like to join the book club?”

He glanced over at her.“Are you serious?”

“Of course.Why wouldn’t I be?”

He shrugged.“It’s just that everyone in your group is a woman.”

She let out a laugh.“You’re worried about a bunch of women ganging up on you.”

“No.I’m not.”His answer was too quick.

She continued to smile.“I don’t believe you.”

“I’m not.”

The more he protested, the more she didn’t believe him.“Well, if you change your mind, let me know.I’ll tell you the title of the month, and then you can get a copy at the Seaside Bookshop in town.”

“Thanks.I’ll keep it in mind.”

Gus ran circles around them as they slowly made their way down the beach.At one point, Simon pulled a ball from his pocket.In the moonlight she could barely make out the color.Red.It was a red ball.

“Surely you aren’t going to throw that in the dark,” she said.

“Why not?Gus has really good vision.”

“And what if he can’t find it?”

By now, Gus had spotted the ball in Simon’s hand and was begging for him to throw it.Simon raised his arm and let the ball go flying down the beach.Gus took off after it.

“If he can’t find it, we’ll look in the morning.And if it’s truly lost, I’ll get him another one.”

She shrugged.The man was certainly used to doing things his way.Something told her he wasn’t in a committed relationship that required a lot of give and take.But she wasn’t certain, and that nagged at her.

“So, will your wife or girlfriend be joining you while you’re on Bluestar?”She hadn’t intended to ask that question but the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

“No.Don’t have either.”

She couldn’t ignore the flutter of her heart upon hearing his admission.She told it to settle down.They were neighbors, doing neighborly things like talking as they took a stroll.But another part of her had to point out that it was a moonlit stroll along a beach.It was like something out of one of those romance novels they read for book club.

A frustrated groan swelled within her.She choked it down, not wanting Simon to get a whiff of her meandering thoughts.This was all her sisters’ and friends’ fault.They’d had a grand time teasing her about Simon a lot of the evening.She supposed some of it had stuck in her head.

And now when he looked at her, she suddenly felt awkward.Her skin warmed every place that his gaze touched.And her heart was beating double-time.

Gus ran back to them.He dropped the ball at their feet.The moment ended as quickly as it had started.