Page 56 of The Beachside Rental

At that moment, it was a game show.It didn’t particularly interest her, but without her phone to scroll, it would have to do.

She just hoped the staff would hurry things along.Simon was looking a little pale, and he’d gotten quiet.

At last...

They’d taken Simon to an exam room.He told Jenna to join him.He preferred her company to the alternative of staring at the walls.

After he’d been examined and tests had been run, he’d been returned to his cubicle, where Jenna was waiting for him.He was so ready to go home, but he still had to get stitches.So, more waiting was required until they could get to him.

“Can I get you anything?”Jenna asked.

“Yes, can you get me out of here?”

“I will just as soon as the doctor discharges you.”

“I feel like that isn’t going to be until tomorrow.”

“It won’t be that long.”She was quiet for a moment.“I downloaded your book before the power went out—Time’s Ticking.”

“Do I even want to know what your first impression is?”

She pursed her lips and looked thoughtful.“I’m intrigued.I only read a few chapters, but I’m looking forward to seeing where you are going with it.”

Just then a young woman who appeared to be part of housekeeping appeared.“Oops.I didn’t know anyone was in here.”And then she looked at Simon.Her eyes momentarily widened.“Sorry.”She retraced her steps into the hallway.

“So, what’s your new series about?”Jenna asked.

He went to shake his head and quickly regretted it.“You don’t want to hear about that.”

“Sure.I do.”

Since he couldn’t think of anything else to talk about, he told her the highlights of his upcoming series or at least the parts he’d figured out.

At last, the doctor appeared.He informed Simon he wouldn’t need surgery for his nose.But the doctor wasn’t ready to let him leave quite so soon.His nose and arm needed some stitches.His scrapes on the side of his face had to be properly cleaned out.And his sore wrist was sprained.

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”He felt as though a load had been lifted from his shoulders.“Now I can get back to work.”

The doctor, whose badge said his name was Dr.Grant Turner, arched a brow.“What kind of work do you do?”

Automatically Simon replied, “I’m a writer.”

“That’s interesting.Are you published?”

He nodded.Not wanting to talk about himself, he said, “Can you tell me how soon I can get out of here?”

“Very soon.”

The young woman he originally thought was part of the janitorial staff was standing in the hallway.He wasn’t so sure she worked there.Maybe she was waiting for a patient.

She was busy on her phone.She glanced up, and her eyes momentarily widened as though she had been caught doing something wrong.She slipped the phone into her pocket and walked away.

It was another hour until he had stitches, and he had the paperwork.They put a brace on his wrist and told him to rest it.He also had a mild concussion, but it should resolve on its own.

“All in all,” Doctor Grant said, “you got lucky.Now take it easy for a few days, and you should start to feel better.”

“I’ll make sure he rests,” Jenna said.

The thought of getting to spend more time with her certainly appealed to him.Maybe they could pick up where they left off the night before with playing cards, revealing intimate details of their lives, and kissing—definitely the kissing.