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‘You weren’t a push-over. You were in shock, and I’m guessing you just wanted it to end.’
‘I didn’t want it dragging on and hurting Lexi. The whole thing was very hard on her.’ Jenna rubbed her hands up and down her arms. ‘And she was so angry with me.’
He took a slow breath. ‘You did a brave thing, coming here. Was it the right thing to do?’
She considered the question. ‘Yes. Yes, it was. We’re healing.’ The discovery warmed her. ‘The best thing I did was to get Rebel. Lexi adores him. So do I. And we love living in the cottage. Having the beach on our doorstep is like heaven. And I’m relieved Lexi is happy, although I’m worrying that has something to do with her new friend.’
‘I don’t think you have to worry about Fraser. He’s pretty responsible.’
‘Well, if he’s the reason Lexi is happy, then I suppose he has my approval.’
Ryan strolled towards the door. His arm brushed against hers and Jenna felt the response shoot right through her body. Seeing the frown touch his forehead, she wondered if he did, too.
‘Our receptionist Janet was saying how smoothly everything is running since you arrived. The islanders love you.’
‘Everyone has been very kind.’ She wondered why she felt compelled to look at him all the time. If he was in the room, she wanted to stare. Every bit of him fascinated her, from his darkened jaw to his thick, lustrous hair. But what really interested her was him. The man.
She wanted to ask why he’d chosen to come to Glenmore, but there was something about him that didn’t invite personal questions.
Respecting his privacy, she smiled. ‘We’ll see you at the barbecue on Saturday.’
‘Good.’ He watched her for a long moment and she felt that look all the way down to her bones.
‘Thanks for seeing Lily.’
He stirred. ‘You’re welcome.’
* * *
The sun was just breaking through the early-morning mist when she walked Rebel early the following day. The garden gate no longer creaked, thanks to a regular dose of oil, and Jenna paused for a moment to admire the pinks and purples in her garden before walking along the sandy path that led through the dunes to the beach. The stretch of sand was deserted and she slipped off her shoes and walked barefoot, loving the feel of the sand between her toes. Rebel bounded ahead, investigating pieces of seaweed and driftwood, tail wagging. Every now and then he raced back to her, sending water and sand flying.
Huge foaming breakers rolled in from the Atlantic, rising high and then exploding onto the beach with a crash and a hiss. Jenna watched as a lone surfer achieved apparently impossible feats in the deadly waves. Admiring his strength and the fluidity of his body, she gave herself a little shake and turned her attention to the beach. After twenty years of not noticing men, suddenly she seemed to do nothing else.
Seeing a pretty shell poking out of the sand, she stooped to pick it up. The pearly white surface peeped from beneath a layer of sand and she carefully brushed it and slipped it into her pocket, thinking of the chunky glass vase in her little bathroom, which was already almost full of her growing collection of shells.
She was pocketing her second shell when Rebel started to bark furiously. He sped across the sand towards the water just as the surfer emerged from the waves, his board under his arm.
Recognising Ryan, Jenna felt her heart bump hard against her chest and she forgot about shells. She should have known it was him from the visceral reaction deep in her stomach. It wasn’t men in general she was noticing. It was just one man.
Without thinking, she dragged her fingers through her curls and then recognised the futility of the gesture. She was wearing an old pair of shorts and a cotton tee shirt. Running her fingers through her hair wasn’t going to make her presentable. For a moment she regretted not spending a few moments in front of the mirror before leaving her cottage. Thinking of herself doing her morning walk in lipgloss and a pretty top made her smile, and she was still smiling when he ran up to her.
‘What’s funny?’
‘Meeting someone else at this time of the morning.’
He put his surfboard down on the sand. ‘It’s the best time. I surf most mornings, but I’ve never seen you out before.’ The wetsuit emphasised the width and power of his shoulders and she looked towards the waves, trying to centre herself.
‘Normally I’m a little later than this but I couldn’t sleep.’ Because she’d been thinking about him. And then pushing away those thoughts with rational argument. But now those thoughts were back, swirling round her head, confusing her.
‘You couldn’t sleep?’ His tone was amused. ‘Maybe you were excited about the barbecue tomorrow.’
‘That must have been it.’ As Rebel bounded up to her, she sidestepped, dodging the soaking wet tail-wagging animal. ‘Sit. Sit!’ Ignoring her, Rebel shook himself hard and sprayed them both. ‘Oh, you—! Rebel! I’m so sorry.’
‘More of a problem for you than me. I’m wearing a wetsuit.’ His eyes drifted to her damp tee shirt and lingered. ‘Obviously the dog-training is progressing successfully.’
‘It’s a disaster. He obeyed me that day at Elaine’s just to charm me into giving him a home. Since then he’s been a nightmare.’ Giggling and embarrassed, Jenna grabbed Rebel’s collar and glared at him severely. ‘Sit! Sit, Rebel. I said sit!’
The dog whimpered, his entire body wagging, and Ryan sighed.
