by Sarah Morgan
She considered the question. ‘Yes. Yes, it was. We’re healing.’ The discovery warmed her. ‘The best thing I did was to get Rebel. Lexi adores him. So do I. And we love living in the cottage. Having the beach on our doorstep is like heaven. And I’m relieved Lexi is happy, although I’m worrying that has something to do with her new friend.’
‘I don’t think you have to worry about Fraser. He’s pretty responsible.’
‘Well, if he’s the reason Lexi is happy, then I suppose he has my approval.’
Ryan strolled towards the door. His arm brushed against hers and Jenna felt the response shoot right through her body. Seeing the frown touch his forehead, she wondered if he did, too.
‘Our receptionist Janet was saying how smoothly everything is running since you arrived. The islanders love you.’
‘Everyone has been very kind.’ She wondered why she felt compelled to look at him all the time. If he was in the room, she wanted to stare. Every bit of him fascinated her, from his darkened jaw to his thick, lustrous hair. But what really interested her was him. The man.
She wanted to ask why he’d chosen to come to Glenmore, but there was something about him that didn’t invite personal questions.
Respecting his privacy, she smiled. ‘We’ll see you at the barbecue on Saturday.’
‘Good.’ He watched her for a long moment and she felt that look all the way down to her bones.
‘Thanks for seeing Lily.’
He stirred. ‘You’re welcome.’
The sun was just breaking through the early-morning mist when she walked Rebel early the following day. The garden gate no longer creaked, thanks to a regular dose of oil, and Jenna paused for a moment to admire the pinks and purples in her garden before walking along the sandy path that led through the dunes to the beach. The stretch of sand was deserted and she slipped off her shoes and walked barefoot, loving the feel of the sand between her toes. Rebel bounded ahead, investigating pieces of seaweed and driftwood, tail wagging. Every now and then he raced back to her, sending water and sand flying.
Huge foaming breakers rolled in from the Atlantic, rising high and then exploding onto the beach with a crash and a hiss. Jenna watched as a lone surfer achieved apparently impossible feats in the deadly waves. Admiring his strength and the fluidity of his body, she gave herself a little shake and turned her attention to the beach. After twenty years of not noticing men, suddenly she seemed to do nothing else.
Seeing a pretty shell poking out of the sand, she stooped to pick it up. The pearly white surface peeped from beneath a layer of sand and she carefully brushed it and slipped it into her pocket, thinking of the chunky glass vase in her little bathroom, which was already almost full of her growing collection of shells.
She was pocketing her second shell when Rebel started to bark furiously. He sped across the sand towards the water just as the surfer emerged from the waves, his board under his arm.
Recognising Ryan, Jenna felt her heart bump hard against her chest and she forgot about shells. She should have known it was him from the visceral reaction deep in her stomach. It wasn’t men in general she was noticing. It was just one man.
Without thinking, she dragged her fingers through her curls and then recognised the futility of the gesture. She was wearing an old pair of shorts and a cotton tee shirt. Running her fingers through her hair wasn’t going to make her presentable. For a moment she regretted not spending a few moments in front of the mirror before leaving her cottage. Thinking of herself doing her morning walk in lipgloss and a pretty top made her smile, and she was still smiling when he ran up to her.
‘What’s funny?’
‘Meeting someone else at this time of the morning.’
He put his surfboard down on the sand. ‘It’s the best time. I surf most mornings, but I’ve never seen you out before.’ The wetsuit emphasised the width and power of his shoulders and she looked towards the waves, trying to centre herself.
‘Normally I’m a little later than this but I couldn’t sleep.’ Because she’d been thinking about him. And then pushing away those thoughts with rational argument. But now those thoughts were back, swirling round her head, confusing her.
‘You couldn’t sleep?’ His tone was amused. ‘Maybe you were excited about the barbecue tomorrow.’
‘That must have been it.’ As Rebel bounded up to her, she sidestepped, dodging the soaking wet tail-wagging animal. ‘Sit. Sit!’ Ignoring her, Rebel shook himself hard and sprayed them both. ‘Oh, you—! Rebel! I’m so sorry.’
‘More of a problem for you than me. I’m wearing a wetsuit.’ His eyes drifted to her damp tee shirt and lingered. ‘Obviously the dog-training is progressing successfully.’
‘It’s a disaster. He obeyed me that day at Elaine’s just to charm me into giving him a home. Since then he’s been a nightmare.’ Giggling and embarrassed, Jenna grabbed Rebel’s collar and glared at him severely. ‘Sit! Sit, Rebel. I said sit!’
The dog whimpered, his entire body wagging, and Ryan sighed.
‘Sit!’
Rebel sat.
‘OK—that’s annoying.’ Jenna put her hands on her hips. ‘I’ve been working non-stop with him and you just say it once. What do you have that I don’t?’
‘An air of menace. You’re kind and gentle. A dog can sense you’re soft-hearted. Especially a dog like Rebel, who has had his own way for far too long.’
‘You think I’m a push-over?’
‘I don’t see you as tough and ruthless, that’s true.’
Her heart was pounding as if she’d run the length of the beach. ‘I’ll have you know I’m stronger than I look!’
‘I didn’t say you weren’t strong.’ The pitch of his voice had changed. ‘I know you’re strong, Jenna. You’ve proved your strength over and over again in the last month. You’ve dragged up your roots and put them down somewhere new. That’s never easy.’
His eyes were oceans of blue, waiting to draw her in and drown her.
The want inside her became a desperate craving, and when his arm curled around her waist and he drew her towards him she didn’t resist. Her thinking went from clear to clouded, and she waited, deliciously trapped by the inevitability of what was to come. She watched, hypnotised, as he lowered his head to hers. His mouth was warm and skilled, his kiss sending an explosion of light through her brain and fire through her belly.
It should have felt wrong, kissing a man. But it felt right—standing here with his lips against hers and nothing around them but the sound and smell of the sea.
Jenna dug her fingers into the front of his wetsuit, felt the hardness of his body brush against her knuckles. The fire spread, licking its way through her limbs until she was unsteady on her feet, and his grip on her tightened, his mouth more demanding as they kissed hungrily, feasting, exploring, discovering.
Rebel barked.
Ryan lifted his mouth from hers, his reluctance evident in the time he took. Dazed and disorientated, Jenna stared up at him for a moment and then at his mouth.
Now she knew how it felt…
Rebel barked again and she turned her head, trying to focus on the dog.
‘What’s the matter with you?’ Her voice was croaky and Ryan released her.
‘People on the beach.’ His voice was calm and steady. ‘Clearly we’re not the only early risers.’
‘Obviously not.’ She knew she sounded stilted but she had no idea what to say. Were they supposed to talk about it? Or pretend it had never happened? ‘I should be getting home. Lexi will be waking up…’ Feeling really strange, she lifted a shaking hand to her forehead. The kiss had changed everything. Her world had tilted.
‘Jenna—’
‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’
His gaze was disturbingly acute. ‘You’ll see me at the surgery today.’
‘Yes—yes, of course I will. That’s what I meant.’ Flustered, she called to Rebel, who was nosing something on the sand, apparently oblivious to the fact that his owner’s
life had just changed.
Ryan seemed about to say something, but the people on the beach were moving closer and he shook his head in exasperation. ‘I’ve never seen anyone else on this beach at this hour.’
‘It’s a very pretty place.’ Babbling, Jenna backed away. ‘You’d better go and have a shower—warm up—you can’t do a surgery in your wetsuit—I really ought to be going—’ She would have tripped over Rebel if Ryan hadn’t shot out a hand and steadied her. ‘Thanks. I’ll see you later.’ Without looking at him, she turned and almost flew over the sand after Rebel, not pausing until she was inside the cottage with the door shut firmly behind her.
‘Mum? What’s the matter with you?’ Yawning, Lexi stood there in tee shirt and knickers.
‘I’ve been—’ Kissed, Jenna thought hysterically. Thoroughly, properly, deliciously kissed. ‘—for a walk. On the beach. With Rebel.’
Lexi threw her an odd look. ‘Well, of course with Rebel—who else?’
‘No one else. Absolutely no one else.’ She needed to shut up before she said something she regretted. ‘You’re up early.’
‘I’m going over to Evanna’s to give the children breakfast before I go to the dig. She has that appointment thing today on the mainland so she took the first ferry.’
‘Yes, of course. I know. I remember.’ Her lips felt warm and tingly, and if she really concentrated she could still conjure up the feel of his mouth against hers. ‘I have to take a shower and get ready for work.’
‘Are you all right? You look—different.’
She felt different.
Up until today she’d felt as though she was surviving. Now she felt as though she was living.
Everything was different.
CHAPTER SIX
TOO dressy.
Too casual.
Too cold—
Jenna threw the contents of her wardrobe onto her bed and stared at it in despair. Was it really that hard to decide what to wear to a beach barbecue? It was so long since she’d been out socially she’d lost her confidence. But she knew that the real reason she couldn’t decide what to wear was because Ryan would be there and she wanted to look her best. Without looking as though she’d tried too hard.
Infuriated with herself, she reached for the first skirt she’d tried on, slipped it over her head and picked a simple tee shirt to go with it. The skirt was pretty, but the tee shirt was plain—which meant that the top half of her was underdressed and the bottom half was overdressed.
Looking in the mirror, Jenna scooped up her hair and piled it on top of her head. Then she pulled a face and let it fall loose around her shoulders. She gave a hysterical giggle. Maybe she should wear half of it up and half of it down.
‘Mum?’
Hearing Lexi’s voice, Jenna jumped guiltily and scooped the discarded clothes from the bed. She was just closing the wardrobe door on the evidence of her indecision when Lexi sauntered into the room.
‘Are you ready?’
‘Nearly.’ Jenna eyed the lipgloss that she’d bought. It was still in its packaging because she hadn’t decided whether or not to wear it. ‘I just need to do my hair.’ Up or down?
‘Can I go ahead? I’m meeting Fraser.’
‘We’ll go together,’ Jenna said firmly. With no choice but to leave her hair down, she grabbed a cardigan and made for the stairs. ‘I’d like to meet him.’
‘We’re just mates,’ Lexi muttered, sliding her feet into a pair of pretty flip-flops. ‘We’re not quite at the “meet the parents” stage.’
Jenna picked up her keys and the bowl containing the strawberries. ‘This is Glenmore. On an island this size you have no option but to meet the parents. Everyone meets everyone about five times a day.’ She wished she hadn’t left her hair down. It made her feel wild and unrestrained, and she wanted to feel restrained and together.
‘Are you all right, Mum?’
‘I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘I don’t know…’ Her phone in her hand, Lexi frowned. ‘You just seem jumpy. Nervous. You’ve been acting really weird since yesterday.’
‘Nervous? I have no reason to be nervous!’
‘All right, calm down. I realise it’s a big excitement for you, getting out for an evening. Don’t be too embarrassing, will you?’
Jenna locked the door because she hadn’t got out of the London habit. ‘I’m meant to be the one saying that to you.’
‘Going out with your mother would never happen in London. Just promise me that whatever happens you won’t dance.’
Ryan watched her walk across the sand towards him.
She’d left her hair loose, the way she’d worn it on the day she’d arrived on the island.
Feeling the tension spread across his shoulders, he lifted the bottle of beer to his lips, thinking about the kiss. He hadn’t intended to kiss her but the temptation had been too great, and now he couldn’t get it out of his mind.
He wondered why this woman in particular should have such a powerful effect on him. Not for one moment did he think it was anything to do with her gorgeous curves—he’d met plenty of women with good bodies and none of them had tempted him past the superficial. But Jenna…
Maybe it was her generous smile. Or her air of vulnerability—the way she was so painfully honest about the things that had gone wrong in her life when most people just put up a front. Or the way she put herself last. Either way, she was sneaking under his skin in a way that should have set off warning bells.
If his aim was to protect himself, then lusting after a recently divorced single mother with a teenage daughter was probably the stupidest thing he’d ever done.
She was clearly desperately hurt after her divorce, and any relationship she entered into now would be on the rebound.
But his body wasn’t listening to reason and he felt himself harden as he watched her approach. She’d dressed modestly, her summery skirt falling to her ankles, her tee shirt high at the neck. But the Glenmore breeze was designed to mock modesty and it flattened the skirt to her legs, found the slit and blew it gaily until the soft fabric flew into the air, revealing long slim legs and a hint of turquoise that looked like a swimming costume.
Ryan saw her clutch at the skirt and drag it back into position, her face pink as she pinned it down with her hand, defying the wind.
For a girl who was fresh out of the city, there was nothing city-slick about her. She was carrying a large flowery bag over one shoulder and she looked slightly uncertain—as if she wasn’t used to large gatherings.
He was fully aware that she’d avoided him the day before at the surgery, going to great lengths to make sure they didn’t bump into one another. Seeing her now, the emotion he felt was like a punch in the gut. He was attracted to her in a way he hadn’t been attracted to a woman in years.
‘She’d be perfect for you.’ Evanna’s voice came from behind him and he turned, keeping his expression neutral.
‘You never give up, do you?’
‘Not when I think something is worth the effort.’ Evanna replied. ‘Don’t be angry with me.’
‘Then don’t interfere.’
‘I’m helping.’
‘Do you think I need help?’
‘When you first came here, yes. You were so angry,’ she said softly. ‘I used to hear you sawing wood and banging nails. You swung that hammer as if you hoped someone’s head was underneath it.’
Ryan breathed out slowly. ‘I hadn’t realised anyone witnessed that—’
‘I came down to the lighthouse from time to time, trying to pluck up courage to ask you to join us for supper, but whenever I saw you your expression was so black and you were so dark and scary I lost my nerve.’
‘I didn’t know.’ He’d been aware of nothing, he realised, but his own pain. ‘So, have you become braver or am I less scary?’
Her smile was wise and gentle. ‘You banged in a lot of nails.’
‘I guess I did.’ He respected the fact that she hadn’t pushed h
im for the reason. She’d never pushed him. Just offered unconditional friendship. Humbled once again by the generosity of the islanders, he frowned. ‘Evanna—’
‘Just promise me that if I back off you won’t let her slip through your fingers.’
‘Life doesn’t always come as neatly wrapped as you seem to think.’
‘It takes work to wrap something neatly.’ She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. ‘You’ve been here for two years. It’s enough. Don’t let the past mess up the future, Ryan.’
‘Is that what I’m doing?’
‘I don’t know. Are you?’
Ryan thought about the kiss on the beach and the way he felt about Jenna. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I’m not.’
He knew Jenna was nothing like Connie. And maybe that was one of the reasons he was so attracted to her.
‘Is my wife sorting out your love-life?’ Logan strolled over to them, Charlie on his shoulders.
‘Who? Me?’ Her expression innocent, Evanna picked up a bowl of green salad. ‘Can you put this on the table, please? Next to the tomato salsa. I’m going to meet Jenna and make her feel welcome. She looks nervous. I’m sure she feels a bit daunted by the crowd.’
Ryan was willing to bet that her nerves had nothing to do with the crowd and everything to do with the kiss they’d shared. He’d flustered her.
He gave a faint smile. And he was looking forward to flustering her again.
‘What does tomato salsa look like?’ Logan’s expression was comical as he steadied Charlie with one hand and took the salad from Evanna with the other. ‘Is that the mushy red stuff?’ Leaning forward, he kissed her swiftly on the mouth and Evanna sighed and kissed him back.
Watching them together, seeing the soft looks and the way they touched, Ryan felt a stab of something sharp stab his gut and recognised it as envy.
Even in the early days, his relationship with Connie had never been like that. They’d never achieved that level of closeness. They’d been a disaster waiting to happen. If he hadn’t been so absorbed by his career maybe he would have picked up on the signs. Or maybe not. Connie had played her part well.