Page 59 of The Beachside Rental

When she turned around, her eyes momentarily widened.He took a quick step back.

She arched a brow.“Does the food smell that good?”

Food?What food?His gaze moved to the covered dish in her hands.And then he nodded.It was apparently the right response because the smile returned to her face.

“I just feel guilty for leaving you when you, uh...”Her voice trailed off as she stared at his face.“That must really hurt.”

“It looks worse than it feels.”It wasn’t quite the truth, but there was nothing she could do.“Go to work.My food is getting cold.”

“Oh, yeah.”She hesitated.“Okay.I’ll check in later.”

And then she was out the door with a sweet scent of strawberry trailing behind her.A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.There was definitely something special about her.

He uncovered the plate.She’d prepared him pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage links.His stomach rumbled its approval.It was very sweet of her.Whoever won her heart was going to be a very lucky man.

The work day seemed to go on forever.

Jenna just wanted to clock out for the day and go home to check on Simon and Gus.Even though she’d delivered a burger and fries at lunchtime and taken Gus out for a walk, she didn’t have time to sit down and talk to Simon.She felt bad for dashing back out the door.

But this evening, they could have a quiet meal.Perhaps they’d have dinner out on the deck, if he was feeling up to it.She picked up some shrimp and scallops as well as tomatoes, zucchini, and mushrooms to make kebabs.With a bed of rice, it would be a delicious summertime meal.

Jenna was almost done for the day.There was one more customer in her checkout lane.She put a “lane closed” sign at the end of the rotator belt.

And then she turned a smile to her last customer, Agnes Dewey.“Find everything you needed?”

The woman frowned, but then again, that was her normal expression.“You were out of orzo.”

“I’m sorry.Do you want me to have someone check the back?”She reached for the intercom.

Agnes shook her head.“I’ll come back another time.So, I hear you have a new boyfriend.”

Jenna proceeded to check out Agnes’s items.“I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Agnes’s dark brows rose.“That’s not what I heard.”

The woman was more inclined to believe the gossip she’d heard than believe the person the gossip was about.Interesting.I guess it just went to prove that people believed what they wanted to.

Jenna rang up a couple of cans of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes.“Is there anything else?”

“No.So, this guy, he’s your neighbor, right?”

Jenna wasn’t sure where she was going with this conversation.“Yes, I have a new neighbor, and he’s very nice.But he isn’t my boyfriend.”

“You’re what?A Capricorn, right?”When Jenna nodded, Agnes said, “I read your horoscope this morning.It said Capricorn needs to put up their defenses.Someone close to them will betray them.”

Jenna resisted the urge to roll her eyes.She didn’t believe in horoscopes.But everyone on the island knew Agnes was always throwing around these fictitious predictions.Jenna figured that it was the woman’s way of interacting with the community.The only problem was that her predictions were usually bleak.

Jenna’s first thought was of her brother.Would Neil back out of hearing her proposal, even if she won trivia night?

She didn’t believe it.Neil always kept his word—just like their father had done.

As she handed Agnes her change, she dismissed the horoscope.“Thank you.And I hope you have a good day.”

Agnes frowned, took her money, and pushed her cart out of the market.She was off to rain on someone else’s day.

The horoscope was just a bunch of nonsense.Jenna refused to put any credence into it.Besides, she had other things to think about.

Twenty minutes later, it was time for her to go home.She needed to check in on her neighbor and his dog.She couldn’t wait.