Page 13 of The Beachside Rental

Was that true?She supposed so.She just didn’t realize her family had noticed.

“I’m fine.Just a little tired is all.”That was definitely true.She’d stayed up reading too late the night before.But that wasn’t her fault.It was the author’s fault.They kept putting these hooks at the end of each chapter that automatically yanked her into the next chapter.

“Okay.I thought maybe you were worried about the storm later this week.”

“The storm?”She didn’t know what her sister was talking about.

“You didn’t hear about the big storm that’s supposed to come up the coastline?”

Immediately, Jenna’s thoughts jumped to the worst conclusion.“Is it a hurricane?”

“No.I don’t think so.”

“Let’s hope not.”

“Agreed.”Myra was quiet for a moment.“So, I heard about your really hot neighbor.”

“My what?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know who I’m talking about.I briefly talked to Lily last night, and she filled me in on him.So, what’s his name?”

Jenna resisted the urge to roll her eyes.“You two are making a big deal out of nothing.For all you know, he could be married or have a girlfriend.”

But she didn’t think so.There was no ring on his finger, and she hadn’t spotted a woman coming or going.And he didn’t give off any married vibes.Not that she cared either way.

“You did get his name.Right?”

“It’s Simon.Now are you happy?”Not wanting to talk about her new neighbor any longer, she decided to change the subject.“Do you ever think about quitting the market?”

Myra’s brows drew together.“Why would I do that?”

Jenn.a shrugged and glanced away.“I don’t know.Don’t you ever want to do something different?Maybe go out on your own like Lily and Darby have done?”

Myra shook her head.“No.I’m happy here.”Her sister’s gaze narrowed in on her.“Aren’t you happy?”

“I don’t know.Maybe I’m restless.”

Myra got to her feet.“My break is over.”

“Yeah, I should be going too.”Jenna’s thoughts drifted to the book she’d stayed up reading the night before.She couldn’t wait to read the end.“You’re going to be at book club tonight, aren’t you?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

After saying goodbye, she headed into the store.On her way to the exit, she made a detour to the bakery department.She glanced around and found a tray of brownies as well as cookies and Danish pastries.Hopefully, there’d be something for everyone at that night’s meeting.

A few minutes later, she arrived home.When she entered her place, she kicked off her shoes by the door and dropped her purse on the armchair.She had to finish reading her book before book club.

She was hosting it.

In fact, the book club had been her idea.When she was younger, she and her friends would go out—sometimes on the island, and sometimes they’d take the ferry boat to the mainland.She often missed those days.Now, a number of her friends were married, and some were starting families.

And maybe that was why lately Jenna had been feeling out of sorts.She didn’t even have a serious relationship, much less a family.So, she’d started the Bluestar Book Club.It wasn’t exactly the most original name for the group, but it worked.Their first meeting was last month.

She’d picked the first book they were supposed to read.So, how would it look if she didn’t even read the book?

The problem was that she’d been reading another book at the same time.And after a slow start with a big info dump at the beginning, the book had suddenly taken off—to the point she was up half of the night finishing it.

And that left her with the problem of getting her book club title read before the meeting in exactly two hours and thirty-two minutes.Now she just had to remember where she’d left it.