Page 38 of A Beach House Beginning

“I am trying to stay active like my doctor says I must do, but it is not easy at this stage. Every day, moving becomes a little harder.”

“I remember too well. I was in my first year of teaching when I was pregnant with Addie. Before she was born, I was so miserable. I wasn’t sure I would be able to survive it.”

“I am the same. I am ready to turn over the store to Carol.”

Their mutual friend Carol Hardesty worked full-time at Rosa’s gift shop as the assistant manager. She was competent and efficient but didn’t have Rosa’s business sense or her creative approach to retail management.

“I’m happy to take a few extra hours during the summer if you need me to,” Jenna said. “I can go to three days a week during the busy summer season, if that would help.”

Rosa made a face. “It is not necessary. We talked about this. You need to slow down, now that you are done with your school classes. You should take time to enjoy your summer a little bit instead of always working, working, working.”

This was the first year of her life that she had decided to take an actual summer break. She still worked twelve to sixteen hours a week at the gift shop, but compared to previous summers, when she had worked full-time and taken extra classes so she could accelerate her advanced degree, that seemed like a breeze.

She knew she would love having time to catch up on projects as well as plan ahead for the next school year.

“I don’t mind working, working, working if it will help you out,” she said to her friend, to whom she owed so much.

“We will be fine. Do not worry. I have other workers who need the extra hours. You enjoy being with your daughter.”

She looked around. “Where is our Addie?”

“Science camp. I am just heading home after walking her and Brielle Calhoun there.”

“Brielle. This is Wes’s daughter.”

“That’s right.”

“How are you getting along with my new tenant?” Rosa asked.

Jenna remembered the heat of his mouth on hers, the scent of flowers and pine surrounding them as they kissed. She did not meet Rosa’s gaze. They had been friends since being paired together as college roommates and Rosa knew her too well. Would she be able to tell the situation had become...complicated?

“He was nice enough to change my car battery a few weeks ago when I had trouble. His daughter is staying with him full-time for the next few weeks while her mother is out of town, so I’m helping out with some gap babysitting.”

“That is very neighborly of you. I am sure Wes appreciates your help.”

“He seems grateful.”

“He is very handsome, do you not think?”

Jenna gave a casual shrug she suspected did not fool Rosa for a moment. “I don’t know. I hadn’t really noticed. He’s just the neighbor who lives upstairs.”

Rosa made a disbelieving sound. “I do not believe you. How can any woman not notice a man like that? I am very happily married to my Wyatt and so huge I cannot see my toes right now. And still I would notice someone like Wes Calhoun.”

Jenna could feel herself flush. For a moment, she was tempted to confide in her old friend about that kiss two nights earlier and the heated dreams that had left her aching and alone in her bed.

In the old days, they used to wake each other up in their dorm room after dates to talk long into the night. She had told Rosa everything, though she suspected her friend had not ever been entirely truthful with her.

But they were not college students now. She was a grown woman, a respected educator, with an eight-year-old daughter. It seemed undignified, somehow, to dish with her landlady about the gorgeous guy who lived upstairs—even if that landlady was her dearest friend.

On the other hand, she could really use some advice.

She gazed at the dogs, now digging in the sand, probably on the hunt for a crab or some other poor creature.

“Okay,” she admitted. “I noticed.”

“Ha. I knew it!” Rosa looked inordinately pleased with herself. “I told Wyatt I thought maybe it would be good for you to have such a handsome man living upstairs from you. You spend too much time alone.”

Jenna frowned. “Seriously? You were trying to matchmake when you rented the apartment to Wes?”

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