Page 16 of A Beach House Beginning

“Thank you again for the pizza, though I just realized that I owe you even more now.”

“How’s that?”

“First you kindly go out of your way to change my car battery, then you make us the best pizza ever. All I’ve done in return is bake you a batch of cookies.”

“They were delicious cookies, though. I’m sure between Brie and me, they will be gone by morning.”

“Cookies hardly compare. You make it tough for a woman to clear her debt to you.”

He gazed down at her, something in his expression suddenly that made her cheeks feel hot.

He blinked it away and returned to a polite smile. “You don’t owe me anything in return. Cookies are more than enough.”

She did not necessarily agree, but couldn’t immediately think of anything she could do to repay him for his kindness. She would have to give it some thought.

“Come on, Addie. It’s almost bedtime.”

Her daughter predictably groaned but headed for the stairs. “See you later,” she called to Brielle.

“Good night.” Jenna gave one last smile as she followed her daughter down the stairs.

On the positive side, she suddenly realized, the evening together had gone a long way toward reducing her fear of Wes. It was tough to be nervous around a man who obviously adored his daughter and who found such simple pleasure in the smell of fresh basil.

Chapter Four

“This is the one, Mom. He’s perfect. We have to get him.”

Jenna looked at the floppy tan puppy in her daughter’s lap, all paws and ears and big, soulful eyes. She was watching firsthand the process of two creatures falling in love. The dog couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off Addie and her daughter was clearly already long gone.

“He’s the cutest dog ever. The very best dog. Please, Mom!”

She had envisioned them leaving the shelter with a small older dog. A Chihuahua or a little Yorkie, some kind of petite, well-trained lapdog who didn’t bark or chew or make messes all over the floor.

“He was one of a litter of six mini goldendoodles that were found abandoned down near Manzanita.”

The shelter volunteer helping them, a woman in her forties with a name tag that read Pam, gave the dog an affectionate pat. “We’ve adopted out all but him. You could call Theo here the last man standing, I guess.”

“Hi, buddy. Hi.”

The clever dog licked Addison’s cheek, completely sealing the deal, as if he knew exactly which of them really held the power in this situation.

Jenna was suddenly quite certain there was no possible way on earth she would be able to get out of here now without taking along this dog, who literally met none of the qualities on her own personal wish list.

Her daughter clearly loved him. That was the most important thing, she reminded herself. Jenna would simply just have to figure out how to readjust her own expectations.

“How old is he?” she asked Pam.

“We can’t say for sure,” the shelter worker said. “The vet thinks maybe three to four months? They were weaned puppies when they were found and he’s been here a month. That’s just an estimate, though.”

“Why would anybody abandon a litter of puppies?” Addie looked horrified, her arms tightening around the dog as if to protect him.

Because people can be selfish and cruel sometimes.

She didn’t want her daughter to learn that lesson yet, so Jenna only shook her head sadly. “Who knows?”

“I wish I understood it,” Pam said. “I can’t comprehend how anyone could think a litter of puppies would be better off there, in the middle of a forest, than here at our shelter. It makes no sense to me.”

“Me neither.” Addie hugged Theo, her cheek pressed against the dog’s fur. “Nobody’s going to leave you anywhere now, Theo. I promise. You’re coming home with us. You’ll love our house. We even have a ghost!”

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