Page 71 of A Beach House Beginning

“I’ve got him,” she said, racing along beside him.

The rain hit hard as they made it the final hundred yards to the Brambleberry House beach gate.

He opened it and together they ran to the back porch.

“Is he okay?” he asked.

“He seems to be.” Jenna set the dog down. He sat on his haunches, looking far more alert in the glow from the porch light, but he didn’t seem to want to leave her side.

“Wes, thank you,” Jenna said as thunder rumbled just beyond the safety of the porch. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been here. You have come to my rescue more times than I can count.”

“I’m glad I made it back from my ride in time to help you.”

“So am I. Oh, Wes. Thank you.”

She wrapped her arms around him and he held her tightly. She was shaking, he realized.

“Let’s get you inside. You’re freezing.”

She shook her head. “I’m a little cold but I’m not the one who went for a dip in the Pacific. I was so scared when you jumped into the water. Terrified. I have never felt so helpless. I could do nothing while you risked your life for my daughter’s dog.”

“He’s a sweet little guy. I didn’t want something to happen to him. Not if I could help.”

She made a sound halfway between a laugh and a sob. “I can’t believe you risked your life for a puppy. I’m so glad you did, but I feel sick when I think of all the things that could have happened to you. To both of you. An undertow. A rogue wave. Or a shark, for heaven’s sake.”

“Nothing happened,” he said, his voice gruff. “I’m here. Just a little wet, but I was wet anyway from my ride.”

“Thank you. I can never thank you enough.”

When she placed her warm hands on either side of his face and pressed her mouth to his, she completely shattered him.

He closed his eyes and held himself still as she kissed him with a tenderness that made him yearn for more. Finally, he couldn’t bear it another moment and he stepped away.

“You’re killing me, Jenna. I can’t do this anymore. There isn’t enough pavement in Oregon for me to ride away how much I want to have you right here in my arms.”

Without looking at her or waiting for an answer, he turned around and hurried into the house, already trying to figure out how soon he could move out so he could start the process of trying to get over her.

Jenna watched him go, her heart beating hard. She had been about to tell him she was falling in love with him. What might have happened if she had spoken sooner?

She hadn’t. Once more, she had let her fear control her.

At her feet, the still-bedraggled puppy whimpered and she pushed away her angst to focus on his needs for now.

She carried him into the house, where Kim was waiting.

“You found him. Oh, I’m so glad. Where was he?”

“I didn’t find him. Wes did. He somehow had gone into the water and then couldn’t swim back out. Wes went in after him.”

“Is he okay?”

She grabbed the microfiber towel she used to dry him and rubbed him vigorously. He was warm and alert, his eyes bright as he looked over at Kim. After a moment, the puppy wriggled to be let down, and Jenna set him on the floor again, where he trotted to his water bowl and drank it empty. Poor thing, surrounded by all that salt water he couldn’t drink. There was a metaphor in that, she was fairly certain, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

She filled his bowl again, not caring that it meant she would have to take him out to do his business again in an hour.

After taking a few more sips, the puppy ate a little of his chow, then padded to his crate, where he curled up on the blankets and went immediately to sleep.

Kim, watching all of this, smiled. “Looks like he’s fine. Exhausted, but fine.”

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