Page 77 of The Beachside Rental

“I suppose that will have to do.”

As soon as the door was open wide enough for Gus to fit through, the dog was out the door.Simon followed him out onto the porch.He hoped Gus wouldn’t run off.Up until the storm, Gus had never gone far.

Simon stepped further out on the porch to see Gus scamper down the steps.He wanted to go back inside to write some more, but instead he followed Gus.Once the dog took care of business, they both retraced their steps to the porch.

They were just about to go back inside when Simon noticed a cart pull up.A smile lifted the corners of his lips when he realized it was Jenna.Then he checked the time.It was after four o’clock already.How had the day gone by so fast?

When Gus noticed Jenna, he took off.Once more, he ran down the steps.He headed for her cart, where she fussed over him.Simon smiled.He could get used to this.

When Jenna and Gus stepped onto the porch, Simon said, “It looks like I have competition for your heart?”

Her smile broadened.“Are you jealous?”

“Maybe.Just a little.”

Her eyes twinkled with happiness.“Don’t worry.I have enough love for both of my boys.”

He feigned a pout.“So, what you’re saying is that I have to share you?”

“In a word, yes.”

He let out a laugh.“Okay.I can live with that.”

Buzz.

He wasn’t expecting any phone calls.He had to start an agent search, but he wasn’t ready to do it.Yet right now, he just wanted the peacefulness of the ocean breeze while he wrote the book.

Should he get his editor’s input for his upcoming series?Probably.But this wasn’t his first book, so he was going with his gut.

When he glanced at the screen, he didn’t recognize the number.

“Is something wrong?”Jenna sent him a concerned look.

“I don’t know this number.”

“What’s the number?”After he read it off to her, she said, “It’s a Bluestar number.You should answer it.”

And so, he pressed the phone to his ear.“Hello.”

“Simon Bennett?”

“Yes.”

“This is Lisa at the Lighthouse Cafe.Could you stop by today?”

It was good to be home.

While Simon talked on the phone, Jenna set her purse, phone, and keys on the little table near the front door.And then she made her way over to the porch swing.

She sat down and adjusted the little pillow so it supported her lower back.Almost perfect.Then she kicked off her shoes and yanked off her socks.Much better.

She put the porch swing into motion.It was one of her favorite things about this place.She knew with it being a rental property that she wouldn’t stay there forever, but she dreaded the day she had to move out.This place...well, it was perfect for her.

When Simon got off the phone, he came over to join her on the porch swing.“Will you have dinner with me?We have something to celebrate.”

Her eyes widened.Simon was right.She’d been swept off her feet the evening before, and she’d forgotten to tell him about her meeting with Neil.

“You’re right,” she said.“We do have something to celebrate.”