Page 78 of The Beachside Rental

Simon arched a brow.“Wait.You already know?”

“Know what?”She was confused.

His brows drew together.“So, what’s your good news?”

“Well, I had my meeting with Neil.”

He reached over and took her hand in his.“Wait.Did you go to trivia night and win?”

She shook her head.“I didn’t want to go without you.”

His gaze lowered.“I’m sorry I let you down.I was a fool.”

She reached out and touched his arm.“It’s okay.We both had stuff to figure out.The point is that I didn’t need to win a bet in order to have this meeting.I just needed to stand up for myself.”

Simon smiled.“Good for you.Was he impressed with your presentation?”

She smiled and nodded.“We’re going to implement it next month.”

“That’s wonderful.”He gave her hand a squeeze.“I knew you could do it.”

He turned his head at the same time that she did.He leaned over and caught her lips with his own.He gave her a tender kiss.Her heart fluttered in her chest.She was never going to get tired of his kisses.They were sweeter than the iced tea at the Lighthouse Cafe.

When Simon pulled back, she asked, “What’s your news?”

“Well, how would you feel about a chartered dinner cruise?”

“Wait.What?”Her mind whirled.“You won the lottery?”When he grinned and nodded, she said, “Wow.That’s awesome.I’ve never done that before.”

“Me either.”

“And I seem to remember you not wanting to enter the contest.”

He shrugged.“What can I say?You had a good idea.”

“So, when are we going?”

“I don’t know.We have to call and make a reservation, I guess.I’ll get the details when I stop by the restaurant to pick up the tickets.”

Just then a movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention.Gus grabbed her keys and took off down the steps.

“Gus, stop!”She took off in her bare feet after the dog.

Simon was behind her.“Why are we chasing the dog?”

“He stole my keys.”At the bottom of the stairs, she turned right and lost sight of the dog.“Gus!Come back.”

“Gus!”Simon called from behind her.

When she turned the corner of the house, she didn’t see the dog.She came to a halt.Simon practically ran into her.His hand came to rest on her shoulders as he attempted to keep both himself and her upright.

“Where is he?”Simon asked.

“I don’t know.It’s like he disappeared.”She started walking along the side of the house where there was a bunch of overgrown vegetation that needed to be trimmed back.And then she spotted a tail.

“He’s right there.”She pointed.

As they closed in on Gus, it appeared he was digging.Dirt was flying.