Page 12 of Love At The Shore
“I think this should do it.” Ian nodded toward the newly constructed fence she’d hired him to build. It was a darling white picket barrier that stretched from one end of the duplex’s deck to the other, neatly dividing the space in two. Better yet, Ian had managed to design it so that it stood completely on its own, so Jenna wouldn’t need to bother the beach house’s rental company for permission. At the end of the summer, she could just take it apart and move on.
Yes, it was a rather drastic solution to the Tank problem. But Lucas hadn’t given her a choice, had he? He’d refused to even entertain the notion of keeping Tank out of her space. He’d told her torelax, as if he knew anything about her at all.
Well, he didn’t. And he wouldn’t because now she could stay on her side of the fence, and he could keep his mess and his dog and his superior attitude on the other side.
Maureen planted her hands on her hips. “If I had my way, I’d lock you two in detention until you worked it out.”
Jenna shot her a knowing look. “But there’s nothing to work out because I called it.”
Maureen’s gaze narrowed. “So he really is Mr. Slack?”
“And completely arrogant, which is a deadly combo,” Jenna said.
Ian pointed at the fence with his hammer. “I thought you said this fence was for the dog.”
“It is.” Of course it was. The fact that the fence would keep Lucas away too was just a bonus. Plus, it was only four feet high—a perfectly normal, dog-sized fence. “It totally is.”
Ian stifled a laugh and Maureen just shook her head.
Whose side were they on, anyway? “Come on, don’t act like I’m the unreasonable one.”
Maureen’s gaze swiveled from Jenna to the fence and back again. “I just think it’s a little extreme.”
“Or an easy solution.” Why did Jenna sound so unsure all of a sudden? And why did a little ball of guilt seem to be curling up in the pit of her stomach? The fence had seemed like a great idea twenty-four hours ago when she’d called Maureen and Ian.
Besides, it was a little late to be having second thoughts.
“All right.” Ian nodded. “Now listen, unless you want me to start building a moat, this is as far as I can go.”
“A moat, see, that would be extreme.” Lucas would probably just surf right across it, anyway.
Speak of the devil.
The door to Lucas’s half of the house swung open and out he came, all lean muscle and easy charm. With his damp hair, flip-flops, and ocean-blue shirt, he looked as chill and perfect as a model in a J. Crew catalog. Jenna’s heart fluttered ever so slightly, which she chalked up to nerves over the fence situation.
“Oh, hey.” She swallowed.
Lucas carried a frosty glass of iced tea in his hand, which paused halfway to his mouth when he spotted the fence.
His stared hard at the crisp white wood. “Wow, that was fast.”
“So, you got my note?” Jenna gestured toward the fence, which was beginning to feel more like a line drawn in the sand. “About all this?”
“I got it. I just didn’t think anyone moved that quickly. On anything.” He rested a hand on top of one of the pointed fenceposts and peered at her from the other side. Why did it seem like every time he met her gaze her pulse kicked up a notch? “Especially a fence.”
“It helps to know a contractor.” Jenna smiled and tipped her head toward Ian.
Maureen aimed a playful grimace at her husband. “I thought it would help to marry one, but I’m still waiting on my new porch.”
“That’s because I’ve been so fixated on you,” Ian said.
Maureen shook her head. “You’re lying, but at least it sounds cute when you’re smiling.”
Jenna’s own marriage had been nothing like Maureen and Ian’s. Sometimes they were so adorable together that it hurt to look at them. Especially now, while Lucas McKinnon stood on his side of the patio looking at her like she’d lost her mind.
“Oh, sorry.” Jenna realized she should probably make introductions. Not that the four of them would be hanging out together any time soon. Or ever. “Lucas, this is Maureen and Ian. My good friends from home. Guys, this is Lucas.”
They exchanged hellos and shook hands over the top of the fence.
