Page 63 of The Beachside Rental

He opened the bag, expecting another burger but was surprised to find an Italian hoagie.The wrapper said it came from a place called Hamming It Up.He made a point of remembering the name for a future visit.

After lunch, he got back to work.With the salty ocean breeze, he was relaxed.He switched back to his laptop to do a bit of editing and to add a new scene.

Gus started barking.It was the type of bark he used when someone was at the door.Simon stopped typing and listened.There was the faint sound of a knock.

Simon didn’t move.He knew that Jenna would let herself in, but when she didn’t show up, and Gus was still barking, Simon went to stand.His laptop slipped from his grasp and crashed to the floor.He inwardly groaned.As the knocking continued, he picked up the laptop and carried it into the house.

He moved to the door and opened it to find his agent standing there.He knew she was anxious for his overdue manuscript, but he didn’t expect her to show up in person.

Gwen was more than just his agent; she was his friend.Their relationship moved beyond a professional interaction when he’d been stalked by angry readers.She’d been very helpful, and he’d appreciated everything she’d done for him, which went above and beyond her job as his agent.

He tried to remember if she mentioned she was coming to Bluestar Island.He couldn’t recall her bringing up the subject.“Gwen, what are you doing here?”

She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him.When she pulled back, she said, “I came as soon as I heard.”

He stepped back, allowing her entrance.“Heard what?”

After she stepped inside, she said, “I heard you were severely wounded during the storm.”

“What?”He was confused.“Heard this from whom?”

“It’s all over the tabloids.I tried to call, but I couldn’t get through.”Her gaze scanned him from top to bottom.“You don’t look good, but you don’t look like you were facing life and death.”

“That’s because I wasn’t.It was a stupid accident.Nothing more.Where did you read this?”

“I don’t know how you missed it.It’s the headline news on all of the tabloid sites.One of them even has you on life support.”

“Are you serious?”

She nodded.

“Wait.”He took the steps two at the time and then rushed into his bedroom.

He snatched his now fully charged phone.When he checked it, there were numerous phone calls including several from his parents.

He immediately called them.They sounded so worried.They were making arrangements to fly to Massachusetts.He told them it was all lies.He was perfectly fine.He failed to mention his bruised face, sprained wrist, and stitched-up arm.

Once he had his parents calmed down, he headed downstairs, where he found his agent and dog staring at each other.The awkward scene would have made him laugh if he wasn’t so annoyed about the news story.

“Who did this?”he asked.

Gwen looked at him.“I don’t know.Have you talked to your ex lately?”

He gave a firm shake of his head.He pulled upThe Gossiperwebsite on his phone.“It couldn’t be her.”

He’d only told one person his true identity—Jenna.But she wouldn’t do something like this, especially after he’d told her about his past.He refused to believe it.

After all, he had been in town a few times.Someone could have recognized him.Although his face wasn’t highly publicized.His agent and publicist had worked hard to keep his image off the internet as much as possible.And thankfully, he didn’t have that unique of a name.

“You know who did this, don’t you?”Gwen arched a precisely penciled brow.“Who is it?”

“I have no idea.”

She sighed.“The good news is that the tabloids don’t know your location.Or if they do, they haven’t printed it yet.Instead, they focused on your being in the hospital.They have photos of you in the hospital.Do you remember anyone taking your photo?”

He stopped to think about it.He’d been in a lot of pain that day, and his eyes had been watering.Someone could have taken his photo, and he wouldn’t have noticed.

He shook his head.“I have no idea who took the photo.”