Page 24 of The Beachside Rental

Chapter Eight

Alazysummerafternoon.

Simon knew he should be at the beach house, pounding out words, but when Jenna asked to make one more stop, he couldn’t refuse her.There was just something about her that had him wanting to make her happy.

She hadn’t mentioned where they were going.But she kept a smile on her face as she drove the short distance.And then she pulled to a stop in front of the Seaside Bookshop.

Simon stared at the bookshop with big windows.To the right were shelves and shelves of books.To the left was a seating area for people to read.He liked the way it was laid out.

“I can see by the way you’re looking at the bookshop that you’re intrigued.”Jenna smiled.“I thought you might be.A friend of mine owns the shop.”

He turned his head until their gazes met.“Is there a business in town where you don’t have friends?”

“I don’t know.”Her forehead crinkled as she gave his question some serious thought.

“You can stop mentally reviewing every business on the island.The question was meant to be rhetorical.”

“Oh.”Pink bloomed on her cheeks.“Well, come on.Let’s go inside.I have a book to pick up.”

His gaze returned to the bookshop.And this time his attention zeroed in on the book display.One by one, he took in the titles until he saw:Time’s Up.

The breath stilled in his lungs.There was his last release—the book that literally changed his world—the book that had many of his fans turning against him because he had the audacity to kill off the hero, but not before saving his son—a son he’d just found out about—a son who would grow up and one day walk in his father’s footsteps.

Because there was supposed to be a spin-off series that had the son as the hero.However, even thoughTime’s Uphad gone back to print the same week it released, and even though it was to date, his bestselling release, there was a backlash from readers that not only scored a mention on the morning news shows but was also spotlighted on the evening news.And it wasn’t him the reporters were interviewing—it was the angry readers.

Now his publisher wanted him to set aside the plans he’d had for the spin-off series.They wanted something new—something a little different.And that was how his idea for a man from another world—a superhero—was born.

“Simon, are you coming?”Jenna stood on the sidewalk and sent him a puzzled look.

His gaze moved back to the book in the window.His gaze returned to Jenna.Did she know who he was?Was this trip to the bookstore some kind of gotcha moment?

Even though he loved bookstores and could spend hours meandering through the rows and rows of books, he couldn’t go inside this one.

Jenna sent him a puzzled look.“Come on.”

Maybe she didn’t know who he really was, and if so, that was the way he wanted it to remain.“I think I’ll just go explore the block while you get your book.”

When he got out of the cart, she said, “Are you sure?”

He nodded.“I’ll just do some window shopping.”

Confusion shone in her eyes.“Okay.”She flashed him a smile.“I won’t be long.”

His gaze returned to his hardback book in the window.And for the first time ever, he wished he wasn’t an international bestselling author because then he could go into the bookshop with Jenna and spend more time with her.It was like the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to be around her.He enjoyed the warmth of her smiles, the sound of her voice, and he even enjoyed when she was giving him a hard time.

What was up with him?

It was the question Jenna asked herself as she entered the bookshop.Simon was acting a little off, but she didn’t know why.Maybe he didn’t want people to get the wrong idea about them spending time together because he wasn’t into her.The thought dimmed her smile.

The bell above the door jingled, announcing her entrance.Jenna loved this place.There was the aroma of coffee that mingled with the hint of mustiness that came from the vintage leather-bound books Melinda had along the back wall.

Just then a little boy, probably not more than seven, came charging out of a row of bookshelves with a book in his hand.His face was lit up as though he’d just found gold.

“Mom.”He ran up to the woman at the checkout counter.“I found it.Can I have it?Please...”

The woman turned to her son.“If I get it for you, you have to clean up your room as soon as we get home.Only then can you read it.Deal?”

The little boy worried his bottom lip.It seemed that cleaning his room was not something he enjoyed.Jenna wondered how big of a task awaited him.