Page 65 of The Sandover Beach Billionaire

Chapter Twenty-One

Jenna droveto the cottage around dusk. It was beginning to turn the slightest bit of pink toward the west. Normally, a gorgeous On Island sunset would have lifted her mood, but tonight she felt a slurry of unwanted emotions in her belly. She felt sour from her conversation with Rachel, which had riled up all her feelings and regrets about Jackson. Then there were the nerves about meeting the owner of her new place.

The listing agent hadn’t even told her if it was a man or woman. What if this was some kind of creepy guy? She had mace on her keychain, just in case. But she couldn’t imagine any agent who would agree to something like that in a contract without trusting the person. Still—why all the mystery?

As she pulled up in front of the cottage, the first thing she noticed was the twinkling strands of lights strung up over the deck. And then the reason for the mystery became immediately clear. Her heart began to speed up.

Jackson’s Jeep was parked underneath the house.

She pulled in behind it and turned off the engine. The breeze lifted her hair from the back of her neck through the open car windows. She could hear the ocean faintly and her own heartbeat in her ears. Jackson was here?

Of course. Jackson’s family owned properties all over the island under Wells Development. She hadn’t seen the name on any part of the contract, but he was a smart businessman. It wouldn’t be too difficult with as much money and property as he owned.

Her mouth felt dry and her fingertips tingled. Why was he here?

She had a few ideas—one big one, but Jenna didn’t want to hope.

Over the past few years, she had stopped trusting in hope. What she could count on was pain. And then more pain. Sliding back down into the pit when you had clawed your way almost to the top. That’s what she knew.

So, as she climbed the stairs to the porch, Jenna tempered the bright gleam of hope—but what if?—with more realistic thoughts. Maybe Jackson just wanted to clear the air. They would have an awkwardly polite conversation and he would leave. Or perhaps he didn’t know who was renting the place. With so many properties in his family’s company, he might not know. Possible, but not likely.

The lights over the deck looked enchanting. Romantic, even. They twinkled and waved slightly over the picnic table, which was set for two. There were blue and white placemats, cloth napkins with blue crabs on them, and a vase of white roses. Jenna tried to swallow down the lump in her throat.

Music filtered to her ears from inside the house. Jenna took a deep breath and knocked at the door.

“Come in!”

Jackson’s voice sent nerves flying through her body. Jenna walked inside, her hands trembling on the knob. He grinned at her from the kitchen, where he was stirring something on the stove. It smelled of garlic and something else she couldn’t identify. Just the sight of his handsome face made her stomach clench.

Jenna tried to keep her expression neutral as she sat on a stool at the kitchen island. Jackson had shaved. Lately he had grown somewhat of a beard. Jenna had tried not to like it, but truthfully, he looked great no matter what. His current look, with the barest of five o’clock shadows, was her favorite though. She wanted to feel the scratch of it against her palm or against her lips.

“Jenna. I’m so glad you’re here.”

He was acting like nothing had been standing between them. How was she supposed to respond?

I’m glad I’m here too. I’d love to have your babies.

Sorry for making you think I cheated on you. Whoops!

Can we start over? But also take up where we left off? Because I really like kissing you …

None of the above. Jenna shook her head, as though that would clear her thoughts. She chose to completely ignore what lay between them, just as he was. A smiled lifted the corner of her mouth. “I thought you said you only grilled?”

He laughed. “That’s the first thing you’re going to ask? Okay. Let’s go with that. Maybe I picked up a new hobby this past month. I would pour you a glass of water, but I might burn the garlic. No one wants that.”

“Burnt garlic is the worst,” Jenna said. “I’m glad you have your priorities straight. I’ll get the waters.”

Jenna found the glasses and got water and ice from the fridge, aware the whole time of how close she stood to Jackson in the modest kitchen. When she had seen him over the last few weeks, it had been from much more of a distance. Enough that she could keep her cool. Now, forced to be alone and close with him, her whole body seemed to vibrate with the longing to fold herself in his arms. She set a glass next to him on the counter and he smiled.

Sitting down again on the stool, she watched his hands as he stirred chicken and vegetables. She couldn’t explain the feelings that coursed through her. Too many of them, too intense and tangled. The most surprising of them all was relief. The tension that had been between them, the stiff awkwardness, was gone. At least for now. The conversation was easy, not forced.

“Dinner will be ready in five. I hope you’re hungry.”

Her stomach made an unflattering sound and she giggled. “Guess I can’t say no.” He gave her another amazing smile that sent a thrill through her. “Can I ask—why the surprise?”

His smile faded and he looked back down at the pan in front of him. “If I had warned you, would you still have come?”

Jenna knew that she would have wanted to say no, but everything in her was drawn to this man. Even if that made her feel desperate. “Yes. No? Probably.”

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