Page 41 of The Beachside Rental

“I don’t know how I feel about ditching my only ride on the island.Does everyone do this?”

She shrugged.“People that don’t have a garage and especially those that live along the beach.”

“So, you just park them along the street in town?”

She shook her head.“No.There are designated emergency parking areas.I’ll show you.Get your cart and follow me.”

“Like right now?”

She nodded.“Let’s go before it starts to rain.”

And so, he did as she asked.The drive was just a few minutes.They parked in the church parking lot with a lot of other carts.Instead of them having to walk home, the town had shuttles set up to help people.

And so, less than a half hour later, they were back at the duplex.When they stepped onto the porch, she could hear Gus barking.She wished she had time to play with him, but she really did have to go secure the deck.

With regret for having to end their nice evening, she said, “Thank you for putting up with my family.”

He sent her a smile.“I had a good time and your family is interesting...in a good way.”

She let out a laugh.“Thanks.I think.”

She turned and headed for the door to her place.She let herself inside and closed the door behind her.She leaned back against it and closed her eyes.Immediately, Simon’s image filled her mind.

Would it have been so bad if he was her date, and she’d brought him home for her family to meet?In that moment, she didn’t think so.In fact, she liked the idea more than she was willing to admit.

After all, he was nothing like her last boyfriend.She couldn’t imagine Simon cheating on her.He struck her as a man of his word.

She ran upstairs and changed into some casual around-the-house clothes.All the while, she had a smile on her face.She noticed that she’d been smiling more since Simon had come into her life.Okay.Maybe not at first but after she got to know him, she knew he was different from the other men she’d dated.

In a pair of jean shorts and T-shirt, she headed back downstairs.She opened the back door and came to a halt.Her gaze swept across the empty deck.Wait.What?

She blinked, but it was still empty of everything but the grill.How could that be?

And then she realized she’d been so caught up in her thoughts about Simon that she hadn’t paid attention when she’d walked through her house.When she retraced her steps, she found the furniture neatly stacked in her dining room.But how?

Simon.

The smile returned to her lips.Aww...That was so sweet of him.

Just then she heard a bark.It took her a moment to realize that it was coming from out back.She rushed back to the deck.And that’s when she spotted Simon and Gus out on the beach.

The wind swept her hair into her face.“Hey, Simon!”

At first, she wasn’t sure that he’d heard her, but then he stopped and turned.When his gaze met hers, a smile lifted the corners of his lips.

She rushed down the steps.When she reached him, she said, “I can’t believe you moved all of my stuff.Thank you.”

“No problem.I knew you had a busy schedule today, so I cleared your deck before I took care of my own.”

“I appreciate it.I owe you.”

There was no sunset that evening.The sky was gray.It was windy, and the ocean was churning.

It wasn’t exactly walking weather, but she didn’t have anything else she wanted to do at the moment.So, when Gus noticed her and ran up to her, she fussed over him.Then Simon handed her Gus’s red ball.She sent it sailing down the beach.

Simon had to raise his voice to be heard over the sound of the ocean and the gusty wind.“Even though Gus is two, he acts like he’s still a puppy.”

“He’s really cute.”