Page 2 of The Beachside Rental

After fussing over the dog, Simon asked, “Do you want to go with me?”

Woof-woof.

Simon smiled as he had already known the answer.“Okay.Sit.”

And just like that, Gus sat down.The two-year-old dog had a mind of his own.Sometimes, he listened to Simon.Sometimes, he couldn’t hear a word Simon said.

He’d adopted Gus not quite a year ago when his previous owner had surrendered him to an animal shelter.Gus had picked him out, not the other way around.

Gus was unique.That much was certain.He was a wanderer but always returned home where he would stretch out on the couch for a long nap—even though he wasn’t supposed to be on the furniture.

But right now, it looked like Gus was ready for an adventure.And just so things didn’t go off the rails, Simon grabbed a leash.When he approached Gus with the bright red leash in hand, he could practically see the frown on the dog’s face as he scurried back.

When Simon attempted to hook the leash to Gus’s collar, the dog once more backed up just out of his reach.“Come on, Gus.It’s not that bad.”

Thinking of his belongings sitting unattended at Starfish Harbor, he lowered his voice.“Gus, sit.”Out of patience and anxious to pick up the last load of boxes, he said in a firm voice, “Stay.”

The dog didn’t move at all while Simon hooked the leash to the D-ring on his collar.And then they climbed into the golf cart that Simon had rented.He adjusted his ball cap low on his forehead.Then he started the cart before pressing the accelerator.

Gus sat on the seat next to him, quietly checking out all of the people they passed.There were quite a few tourists for such a small island.And the crowd was really slowing him down because they were not only on the sidewalks but also walking in the street.He had to stop numerous times and wait until the pedestrians decided to move off to the side of the road and let traffic through.

Finally, they reached the harbor, and he rushed up to the office.He was just about to the door when Gus let out a loud bark.Simon turned his head and noticed a seagull sitting on a post, staring directly at Gus.Seriously?

“Not now, Gus.”He might as well have been talking to himself for all of the good it did him.Gus continued to sit there, staring at the bird while the bird stared back at him.Just what Simon needed, a staring contest.

“He’s a beautiful dog.”The female voice came from behind him.

Simon turned around to find an older woman with snow-white hair pulled up in some sort of bun.She was short—at least compared to him.She peered at him through wire-rimmed glasses.

“Thanks.His name is Gus, and usually he’s a little better behaved than this.”

“Maybe he isn’t used to seagulls.”

Simon sighed.“He isn’t.And he’s very curious about everything.”

“Sounds like you have your hands full with him.”

“I do.”And right now, he just wanted to grab the rest of his things and be on his way.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you...”She looked at him expectantly, and it took him a second to realize what she wanted.

“My name’s Simon.”He purposely left off his last name.He didn’t want anyone to know he was on the island.“And it’s nice to meet you too.”

“My name’s Birdie.I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other again.Have a good day.”When Gus stepped in front of her, she leaned down to pet him.“And you have a good day too.”

The woman turned and sauntered off, as though she didn’t have a care in the world.He couldn’t remember what that felt like.Right now, he had a deadline pressing down on him to the point that he had insomnia, which was destroying his creativity.

But he didn’t want to think about any of that at the moment.He glanced over at Gus, who looked back at him.“Come on, boy.We have more work to do.”

When they stepped inside the office, Simon was relieved to see the remaining boxes sitting in the corner, right where he’d left them.The problem was trying to get them loaded into his cart while holding onto Gus, who wanted to wander around.

At that moment, the harbor was a busy place.He might even say it was busier than Main Street.He could only presume the ferry had docked with more visitors.He found that fascinating.Until his agent had mentioned Bluestar Island, Simon had never heard of the place.He’d had to look it up online.

He went to pick up a box just as Gus pulled on the leash.The dog pulled so hard Simon lost his balance.A bit of fast footwork had him regaining his balance.

When he straightened, he found that Gus had made a new friend.Simon was not the least bit surprised.Gus was a social butterfly.He would make friends with just about anyone.

This time it was a man about his own age.The man was petting Gus and talking to him about being a good boy, and Gus was eating it up.His tail was swishing side to side.