Splashing Right In

Nicole Highland

  

  

Chapter 1

Pressing the power button on the door, Jenna McAdams waited as her car window slowly shut.
Within seconds, 

the stifling heat consumed every ounce of space in her car, but even with the mugginess, she couldn’t
complain. It 

was a beautiful, sunny late afternoon in Crescent Key, Florida, and life was good. 

Better than good. 

After all, today was a special day. Or at least, that’s what she hoped. 

Jenna shifted her purse on her shoulder and glanced down at her watch. Crap. Only twenty minutes
until close. 

She’d completely lost track of time. She sighed, wishing she would’ve picked a different day to come.
Maybe she 

could come back later in the week. 

The last thing she wanted to do would be to hold up someone just before the end of the day.
Spending a few 

years in retail while she put herself through school, she knew all too well just how that felt. 

The main lobby in Bay of Hope Animal Shelter was empty, but far from quiet. Wagging tails, wet
noses, and 

boundless energy filled the puppy and kitten rooms as Jenna stepped inside, and she looked around
the room in 

awe of all the adorable, cuddly friends, waiting for their forever homes. Puppies barked with
excitement, pawing at 

the floor-to-ceiling windows, while the kittens peered out their own window, curious of their new
visitor. 
 A woman behind the reception desk spoke, her tone friendly and cheerful. “May I help you, ma’am?” 

“Well, I came to check out your cats, but I didn’t realize how late it was. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be
such a 

pain. I can come back another day.” 

The receptionist waved her hand. “Don’t worry about it. You’d be surprised how many people show
up this time 

of day.” Scooting the chair from her desk, she stood and grabbed a clipboard. “Wait just a moment. I’d
be happy to 

help.” 

Jenna leaned against the counter, mentally scolding herself once more. She really should’ve paid more
atten- 

tion to the time. 

“I’ll have some paperwork ready for you in a few minutes,” the receptionist continued. “Feel free to
have a seat 

in the meantime.” 

Jenna took a seat in the chair closest to the check-in desk and pulled out her phone, mindlessly
flipping through 

the endless sea of apps cluttering the home screen. She drifted over to the dating app she’d been
using for the past 

month, praying she would have a message on there for once. 

Or at least, a message from someone she actually wanted to hear from. 

Nope. Nothing. A small part of her wasn’t even surprised. She hadn’t had much luck on there,
anyway. 

The woman returned with the clipboard and two papers to fill out. “Let me know if you
have any questions.” 

Jenna was starting page two when the front door opened. Her mouth went bone-dry as she looked up
and stared 

at the handsome stranger in the doorway. Screw the dating app, she thought. She wanted this man.
Why weren’t 

there any guys like him on there? 

She blinked twice, wondering if perhaps he wasn’t as handsome as her initial reaction wanted to trick
her into 

believing. Damn. He still was. And he was really in the same room as her, only mere feet away. 
He spoke to the receptionist with such a buttery, baritone voice that Jenna thought perhaps it had to
be a 

dream. She was so mesmerized that she couldn’t comprehend what he was saying at all. No man
could look so 

devastatingly handsome. No man could possibly have such an irresistible voice. 

No, it couldn’t be real. Maybe in the time it took the receptionist to get the paperwork together, she’d
fallen 

asleep, and it was all a dream. 

Yes, that had to be it. Because nothing else made a bit of sense. At all. 

“Is this seat taken?” the man asked. His smile was vibrant, making Jenna’s cheeks flush as she sat
there dazed 

and dumfounded. Is he speaking to me? She chanced a glance around the room. Yes, he was, in fact,
speaking to 

her, for not a single soul was in the waiting area aside from the two of them. 

“No. No, of course not,” she grinned. “You can have it.” 

The man took a seat by her side, smiling a wolfish grin. “Looking for a companion too, huh?” he
asked. 

Still in a daze, she stared at him with vacant eyes, trying to process everything that was going on
around her. 

“Yes, I am. A cat, actually.” 

He threw her an amused look. “So am I. You know, I had one growing up, and he was the best damn
cat I’ve ever 

been around. I’ve never met one as friendly as him.” 

“Sounds like he has a very special place in your heart.” 

“He does. He always will. So, what is your story, Miss…?” He eyed her questioningly, waiting for her to
offer her 

name. 

“Oh, um, Jenna,” she offered. “Well, my story is pretty similar to yours. I had a cat too when I was
growing up. 

She was practically my best friend.” 

“It’s funny how pets can be just like family, you know?” 

Jenna smiled. “Yes, they definitely can. Sometimes they can be better than family. Or at least better
than certain 
family members.” 

The stranger laughed and ran a hand through his dark hair. “Yes, I can definitely think of a few family
members 

that weren’t as cool as my cat.” 

“You know, I never got your name.” 

“It’s Zach. Zach Williams.” 

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Zach.” 

He smiled once more, drinking her in. She was beautiful, he thought. With soft golden hair cascading
down her 

back, she was like a summery siren, beaming rays of sunshine that lit up the room. 

“Mr. Williams? Miss McAdams?” The receptionist stood at her desk with a clipboard in hand. “Are you
two 

ready?” 

The two nodded in approval, following the woman down the hall. 

“Kinda feels like a dungeon back here,” Jenna muttered. 

“Well, we are here on a rescue mission, so watch out for the dragons,” Zach teased. 

Jenna grinned. There she was, with a perfect stranger, and he was already making her laugh and
smile. The way 

her cheeks had flushed and the warm, fuzzy feeling she felt inside were feelings she hadn’t felt in
ages. She couldn’t 

remember the last time she felt so happy. Then again, had she ever felt that happy? She couldn’t help
but wonder. 

“We have all the adult cats in this room, or if you are interested in adopting a kitten, all the kittens are
in a 

separate room.” 

Unsure of where to visit first, Jenna followed Zach’s lead and headed into the kitten room. “I’m
following you,” 

she joked. 

“A very wise choice. Now, the question is, which one will you choose?” 

Kittens scampered out from every corner, eager to see the new visitors that had arrived. Among the
swarms of 

the tiny, furry friends, one, in particular, stood out and took a liking to Jenna almost immediately. 
“Aw, look, he likes me.” Jenna scooped up the tabby at her feet. “Don’t you, little guy?” Loud purrs
filled the 

room, and Zach smiled at the sight of the two of them. 

“Well, can you blame him?” he asked, flashing a grin. He flushed, realizing how quickly and
unabashedly he’d 

shown his thoughts. Part of him wished he would’ve kept his mouth shut. But, judging by the way her
cheeks had 

turned to a rosy hue, she’d been flattered. And flattery meant there might be a chance. 

Maybe. 

“So, which one do you think you’ll pick?” she asked. 

He paused for a moment, scanning the rooms as the kittens scattered around their feet. “I don’t know,
but this 

little guy here seems pretty chill.” He bent down, running his hand through the soft fur of the all-black
kitten at his 

feet. “You seem like a pretty cool dude.” 

More loud purrs filled the room, and as Zach picked up the kitten and held him in his arms, he felt a
sense of 

peace he hadn’t felt in so long. So much love filled that room, and he was glad to experience it again. 

The way his smiled beamed told her there was a heart of gold in his chest; such a rare, refreshing find
in this day 

and age. “Looks like you’ve found the one,” she commented. 

“I think so, too.” 

Jenna turned, looking down the hallway. With the receptionist nowhere in sight, she yelled down the
corridor, 

hoping to capture her attention. A minute passed before the woman appeared, carrying a cardboard
crate in each 

hand. 

“Looks like the two of you have chosen your new friends,” she beamed. 

“Well, they kind of chose us,” Zach corrected. “Didn’t you, little guy?” 

Jenna’s heart swelled with happiness at the way Zach’s eyes lit up as he stared at his new friend. He
couldn’t be 

any more charming if he tried, and even though she’d only been with him a few short minutes, she
hated to think 
they’d lose connection once they left. She wanted to say something, but her tongue couldn’t manage
the words. In- 

stead, they walked in silence as they made their way back to the check-in desk. 

Say something to him. Get his number. The inner voice in her head refused to stop advising her, but
she brushed 

the thoughts aside. It would be too forward, too awkward to ask that of a complete stranger. 

Wouldn’t it? 

Heading the warning in her head, she kept her mouth firmly shut as the woman at the front desk
processed 

Zach’s paperwork first. 

“And don’t forget, if you ever need to bring him back for any reason, don’t hesitate to reach out to
us.” 

“No need to worry about that. I think he’ll fit in just fine and feel right at home in no time,” he said
with a grin. 

Scribbling his signature across the page, he slid the form across the counter back to the receptionist.
Jenna 

stared out the glass doors, entranced by the fiery red sunset. Contentment and peace had filled her
heart, and she 

couldn’t believe she was about to be a cat mom. What a perfect day, she thought. 

Zach looked around for a moment, scouring every inch of the woman’s desk. “You don’t happen
to have a 

sticky note, do you?” 

“Oh, yes, of course. Here you go.” 

He scrawled quickly on the tiny square note, then turned, handing the note to Jenna. “Only if you
want to,” he 

said and headed for the door. 

She flipped it open, revealing the number he wrote inside. “You’re giving me your number?” she
asked, feeling 

the excitement rise in her voice. 

“Like I said, only if you want to.” 

And as he turned to head out the door, a small piece of her heart left with him. For once in her life,
she - 
she -would - herself permission to let go of all her fears and let her heart lead her right where it
wanted to go. 

It really had been a perfect day, after all. 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

With a heart full of happiness, Jenna and Toby made their way home. He was leery at first during the
car ride, cry- 

ing for several minutes before he settled down, curling up into a ball in the crate. Sleep had taken hold
after all the 

excitement, and Jenna gazed at him lovingly as the drive lulled him into a peaceful slumber. She’d
almost forgotten 

how much sleeping kittens did. 

Blaring music filled the air as her phone went off, and she reached frantically to grab the phone,
hoping the sud- 

den noise wouldn’t jolt him from his slumber. 

“Hello?” She glanced over at Toby, still sound asleep. 

“Well, hi, dear, I just wanted to see if you would like to stop over for dinner Saturday night?” 

She glanced over at Toby once more, curled up in a tight little ball. “Mom, I’m not sure if I can. I’d like
to spend 

some time this weekend with my new little friend.” 

“Your new little friend? Oh, come on now, tell me about him. Is he tall, dark and handsome?” 

Jenna smiled to herself. “Um, my new friend is a cat. I just adopted him this afternoon from the
shelter.” 

Though, she would’ve been lying to herself if she said she hadn’t been thinking of Zach, as well. But
her mother 

didn’t need to know that bit of information at the moment. 

“Oh, that’s wonderful! What does he look like?” 

“He’s a tabby. Sweetest little guy I’ve ever seen, honestly.” She gazed longingly at the little bundle of
fur, wishing 

she could be home already, and she could hardly wait to cuddle with her new best friend. 

“Well, I am very happy for you, dear. Maybe your father and I will stop over this weekend. I know we
would 
love to meet him.” 

“We’ll have to play it by ear and see. I’ll let you know.” 

Jenna hung up the phone, feeling more ready than ever to start her weekend. With the utmost care,
she pulled 

into her driveway slowly, careful not to wake Toby as she drove over the curb at the end. He sleeps
like a rock, she 

mused. Perhaps he would sleep soundly through the night and not drive her bonkers when feeding
time rolled 

around the next morning. 

She pulled the passenger door open wide, making sure she had enough clearance to pull the crate out.
Toby’s 

eyes fluttered open, finally registering that they’d arrived. 

“You’re home now, buddy,” she whispered. “And you’ll love it here.” 

She was careful as she pushed open the backdoor and carried the crate into the house, and Toby’s
nose twitched 

as he crawled out, taking in his surroundings. New sights and new smells intrigued his senses, and he
walked 

around, sniffing everything in sight. Soon the house would be his just as much as it was Jenna’s. 

“What a curious little boy, you are,” she mused. 

He wandered a while longer, and as he roamed the house, Jenna filled a bowl of water and a bowl of
food. At 

least she’d been prepared on that front. Toby might not have been hungry at the present moment,
but after he wen- 

he wen- his adventure around the house, he was sure to feel differently. 

A growing boy needed his food, after all. 

She took a seat at the kitchen table, digging and rooting around in her purse for the note Zach had
given her. The 

crumpled paper was nowhere to be found, and a surge of panic zipped through her. 

Had she lost it? 

Surely, she couldn’t have lost it in the time it took her to get home. Slipping back into her shoes, she
headed 

back to the garage, hoping desperately to find it. After contorting herself every which way, she finally
found 
the note underneath the passenger’s seat.  

Thank heavens. She hated to think she’d lost it forever. 

Flopping down on the couch, she pulled her phone out, debating to send him a message yet. On the
one hand, if 

she waited a few days to reach out, he could lose interest. 

But on the other hand, she could build the tension, making him wonder how she truly felt about him. 

It was a good, old-fashioned catch twenty-two, and there was no way to really know which path was
the right 

one. 

Throwing caution to the wind, she typed in the number, then waited for the reply. Ten minutes
passed, and Zach 

was nowhere to be found. Neither was Toby for that matter, and a sense of dread threaded through
her, hoping 

the poor kitten hadn’t found himself stuck somewhere. Being so small meant he could find himself
in any num- 

ber of tight spaces. Fear of the unknown sent Jenna bolting upright, determined to figure out where
he was. 

The hallway was empty, and she scoured underneath her bed, hoping for a glimpse of him. The
flashlight on her 

phone beamed a ray of light under the bed, and two hazel eyes stared back at her longingly. Jenna
breathed a sigh of 

relief. 

“Whatcha doing underneath here?” she asked. 

Toby crawled to her and a slight purr rumbled in his chest as he emerged from underneath the bed.
Jenna pulled 

him out from under the bed, cradling him in her arms. 

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, buddy. You are always safe with me.” 

Off in the distance, her phone pinged, and Jenna danced down the hall with Toby in hand. “He finally
messaged 

me back!” 

Her smile widened as she read the message. 

I was hoping I’d hear from you. How’s your little one settling in? 
She flopped down on the couch, watching as Toby curled into a ball once more, and settled in for a
nap. 

He’s getting ready for his second nap. First one was on the ride home. How’s your little one doing? 

She was just beginning to settle in for the evening when her phone pinged once more, and a new
message from 

Zach appeared on the screen. 

Onyx has been a ball of energy ever since I got home. I think we will both sleep well tonight. 

She definitely understood that sentiment. Though it had been a fulfilling day, she was tired all the
same from 

the excitement of it all. 

Jenna flipped the television on, thumbing through the endless sea of channels. A little television time
would be a 

nice way to end out the day. Just a girl, her cat, and some relaxation… 

Her eyelids weighed heavy as the minutes passed, and as she drifted to sleep, she realized
how truly blessed 

she was. Life was good. 

And now she had one more reason to be thankful. 

chapter two

Faded from the sun, the coastal-themed signage on the front of Crystal Shores Gallery had seen better
days, but 

it appeared to be right at home amongst all the other beachside shops along the main drag in
Crescent Key. 

For the last few years, it had been Jenna’s home five days a week as she chit-chatted with locals and
tourists alike 

and shared her passion for the local art scene. At any given time, dozens of pieces were on display
from budding, 

aspiring talent, all the way up to seasoned veterans in the artistic realm. 

While there were many tourists that left empty-handed, there were still quite a few that bought some
of the art 
pieces; usually the smaller items that could fit into luggage or at the very least, wouldn’t cost an arm
and a leg to 

ship back home. The satisfaction of making artists and clients smile always made Jenna’s heart swell
with joy. 

Still, no matter how much she enjoyed her job, Fridays were always welcome. She could hardly wait to
get home 

and cuddle with Toby, and with as painstakingly slow as the day was going, it felt like it would be an
eternity before 

she finally arrived back home. The day couldn’t get over fast enough, and she slumped in her chair,
watching the 

front door with anticipation, wishing someone would walk in. 

“No clients yet today, I take it?” She whirled around, watching as Nolan walked in from the back of
the shop. 

Jenna shook her head. “Nope. Not yet.” 

True, Fridays weren’t exactly their busiest times, but being so slow wasn’t a good sign. Peak season
had just 

begun, and they should’ve been busier. 

And they would’ve, had it not been for the dreaded red tide. This year had been particularly bad, and
though 

Crescent Key was finally on the upswing, it had scared off many tourists all the same. 

She sighed, folding her arms across her chest. If the day kept up like that, she’d be out of her mind by
noon for 

sure. 

“Ah, chin up,” Nolan offered. “Let’s give it some time. I’m sure someone will stop by soon.” 

Nolan’s ever-positive attitude was slightly annoying on even the best of days. But now? It was almost
too much 

to bear. 

“I sure hope so,” she muttered. She turned, fully expecting Nolan to be standing behind her still, but
he’d van- 

ished into the backroom once more. 

Three older women walked on the sidewalk in front of the gallery, and a ray of hope sprang to life in
her 

chest. Maybe they’ll stop in here. She could only hope. 

But Jenna’s smile quickly faded as she realized the ladies were not coming into the gallery after all. 

So much for that. 

She sighed and walked to the front of the gallery, tidying up the displays in the window while she
waited. The 

doorbell chimed, and at last, a young woman entered, and Jenna beamed with gratitude as she
introduced herself to 

her. 

“Welcome to Crystal Shores. I’m Jenna,” she said, extending her hand. 

“Serena Thornton,” she said, shaking her hand. “I work down at Room So Chic.” With her blonde hair
pulled to 

one side and a flower in her hair, Serena was a picture-perfect representation of Crescent Key’s
laidback atmosphere. 

“Is this your first time visiting this gallery?” Jenna asked. 

Serena shook her head. “Actually, no, but it’s been a while since the last time I stopped by. I’m doing a
little 

browsing for one of my clients.” 

A little spark of hope grew in Jenna’s chest. “That’s perfect. Is there anything I can help you with? Any
specific 

sort of aesthetic you’re going for?” 

Jenna twirled around, following Serena’s gaze as she zeroed in on one of the photographs hanging on
the wall. 

“You don’t happen to know who this photographer is, do you? I love this.” Serena pointed to one of
the photos 

on the wall. The photo portrayed a cluster of shells, forming the shape of a heart in the sand. 

“Actually, that is mine,” Jenna blushed. It was nice hearing a compliment from time to time. It made
her passion 

all the more worthwhile in her mind. 

Before Jenna knew it, almost an hour had passed while she and Serena talked. But it didn’t feel like an
hour. She 

felt like she’d known the woman her entire life it seemed, and as they laughed and shared stories of
their lives in 

Crescent Key, a handsome man caught her eye as he peeked through the window. Jenna stood
motionless, her 
thoughts racing a mile a minute as she took him in. 

He sure did look an awful lot like Zach. 

But that was impossible. Or at least, Jenna thought it to be, though, in reality, she had no idea where
he lived. 

For all she knew, he lived just down the street from the gallery. He could’ve lived anywhere. She
didn’t know. And 

thus far, the topic hadn’t popped up in conversation. 

Chalking it up to a foolish desire of the heart, she brushed the thought aside, allowing her full
attention to come 

back the conversation at hand. 

It was all about the client, after all. 

But, try as she might, she still couldn’t get the handsome stranger out of her head, and thoughts of
him pinged 

in her brain the rest of the afternoon. 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

That had to have been Jenna. 

Zach could hardly believe it as he walked back to McGuire’s from his lunch break. What were the odds
that on 

the day he decided to take a different route back to work, he stumbled on to her? Not that he knew
for sure. But if in 

fact it had been her, perhaps he should start playing the lottery if he could manage odds like that. 

If only she hadn’t been occupied, he thought. 

Jenna’s client had completely derailed all his thoughts and plans, and he could’ve kicked himself for
not going 

into the gallery and waiting until she had finished her conversation. 

His brow furrowed. He could’ve done so much, but instead, he did so little, wasting a perfectly good
opportunity 

to ask her out. He could send her a message, of course. But where was the old-fashioned chivalry
in that? 

No, it would be much better to ask her in person, he decided. 

“Everything go okay at lunch?” Carl asked. 

His mind snapped back to the present. “Yeah, everything’s all right. I think.” It wasn’t entirely the
truth, but it 

wasn’t a lie, either. “Why?” 

“You seemed a little off, but all right. I’ll take your word for it.” 

Satisfied with his answer, Carl slid back underneath the car in his bay. Zach looked around at the mess
on the 

floor around him, shaking his head in annoyance. 

“It’s a wonder you find anything around here, with the messes you make.” 

“Hey, don’t make fun of my process,” he bantered. “It works for me.” 

“I think it works for only you,” Zach joked. 

Two sets of tire rotations later, and Zach still couldn’t get Jenna off his mind. Perhaps he’d only
imagined the 

small connection the two of them had shared at the shelter. Maybe she hadn’t felt anything at all,
but he certainly 

had. 

She was so kind and warm, with a hint of humor, too. And beautiful. That pretty much went without
saying. He 

pulled out his phone and typed a quick message to her. 

Do you work at the Crystal Shore Gallery by chance? Thought I saw you today. 

A tinge of doubt worked its way through his heart. What if the woman he saw wasn’t her? 

The thought continued to gnaw at him, and quite a bit of time had passed before he realized the text
hadn’t gone 

through. Odd, he thought, considering there shouldn’t be any reason his cell service would be acting
strange. 

Maybe it’s a problem on her end? 

The possibilities, especially when it came to technical issues, could be endless. 

He resolved himself, knowing he would try again Monday. He’d visit the gallery again and find out if it
really was 

her, and if in fact, it was, he could seize the moment he’d been waiting for. 

And with any luck, she would say yes. 

 
 chapter three

Monday Morning 

The pitter-pattering of feet against the blankets made Jenna stir, drawing her out of her slumber. Toby
was up 

and ready for the day, and Jenna felt ten paces behind him as she stumbled through the hallway, eyes
still weary 

from sleep. Tiny meows of hunger pierced the early morning silence like a never-ending alarm clock,
and after hap- 

hazardly dumping a cup of food into his bowl, Jenna crawled into bed, ready to go back to sleep.
Pulling the blanket 

over her head, she rolled over, drifting back to her dreams. 

Minutes later, Toby jumped on the bed again, waking her once more. She rolled over, eyes bulging
wide as she 

read the clock. She hadn’t been asleep for a few minutes. 

She’d been asleep for almost forty. 

Panic seized hold of her, and she flew out of bed like a bat out of hell. Throwing on a shirt and jeans at
record- 

setting speed, she stormed out the door and practically flew to her car. If she pushed the speed limit
enough, she 

might still be able to get there on time but given how heavily the police had been out lately patrolling,
it wouldn’t ex- 

actly be wise. 

She cruised along at a quick clip, but as she drew nearer to work, traffic slowed to a complete
standstill. A flash- 

ing sign signaled everyone to merge to the right, and Jenna cursed under her breath. She didn’t have
time for de- 

tours. She didn’t have time for any of this nonsense at all. 
More than anything, she was angry that she’d allowed herself to be put into that position in the first
place. She 

knew better. 

She squeezed into the far-right lane, and followed the detour, taking her straight through the heart of
the town. 

Businesses whizzed by in a blur as she hit the gas pedal, desperate to make up for the time she’d lost.
Four-letter 

words whirled around in her brain as the car in front of her slammed on the brake, causing Jenna to
do the same. 

“What the hell are you doing?” she shouted. 

She craned her head around, hoping she would be able to make out what was going on with the car in
front of 

her. A sick wave of dread came over her. What if they’ve had a medical emergency? True, it was
probably unlikely, 

but she’d heard of stories like that before. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. 

Slowly but surely, a pelican emerged and walked across the road, seemingly oblivious to everything
going on in 

the world around it. 

“Seriously?” she wailed. “I don’t have time for this crap.” She heaved a heavy sigh of exasperation,
slamming her 

head back against the headrest. Her eyes drifted to the buildings lining the streets as she searched for
something to 

occupy her while she waited. She zeroed in on McGuire’s, and her eyes flew open wide as she
watched a muscular, 

dark-haired man step out of a vintage black Mustang. 

Can it be? 

Surely, it couldn’t be. It was ridiculous to think that once again, she had seen a glimpse of Zach.
Everywhere she 

turned, she swore she saw him, as silly as it sounded. 

But, still, he looked just like him. And maybe it really was. She rarely traveled that way to work, and it
was entirely 

possible that he’d been right under her nose the entire time. 
The car in front of her began to move again, and Jenna craned her neck to get one final glance at the
man as she 

drove by. If it wasn’t him, it sure looked like him. 

Now, all she had to do would be to pray for a miracle and hope he’d walk by the gallery again. 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

All morning long, Jenna plagued Zach’s thoughts. She was getting to him. Even the other guys at the
shop were 

starting to pick up on that. 

He could hardly wait for lunch to arrive. Even if she was with a client, he’d march his ass in there this
time, and 

he’d wait however long it took for her to finish. 

He didn’t care how silly it sounded. He would see her again. That much, he knew. 

Excitement threaded through him when lunch rolled around, and as he turned the key in the ignition,
his eyes 

drifted to the passenger seat. God, he could just imagine her sitting there, with the hair billowing in
the breeze as 

they cruised through town… 

Only two cars remained in the gallery’s parking lot, and he prayed that one of them would be Jenna’s.
He could 

hardly wait to see the look on her face. That would be the most satisfying thing in the world to him. 

The front door opened, and Jenna nearly fell out of her chair as she examined the man in the
doorway. Her heart 

skipped a beat. 

“Zach?” 

“Jenna. Great to see you again. Glad you remembered me.” 

Oh, and boy did she. She could hardly think of anything but him since the night they met.  “Of course.
I 

thought I saw you yesterday, actually.” 

Zach raised a brow. “Really, now?” He threw her a slightly cocky grin. “Here, perhaps?” 
“So, it was you! I knew it!” She couldn’t help the grin lighting up her face. 

“Yes, it was. I didn’t want to interrupt. You seemed to be involved in a very animated conversation.” 

A flush bloomed in Jenna’s cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I hadn’t realized how long I’d been standing there
talking to 

her. I really wanted to talk to you.” 

“Well, I’m here now. And from the looks of it, I finally have your undivided attention.” 

And thank God for that, she mused. No distractions, no interruptions… 

Nolan’s voice thrust her back to reality as he stepped inside. 

So much for a conversation without distractions, she thought. Could he have any worse timing? 

“Good morning, sir. What brings you by today?” 

Zach whirled around. “Well, I’ll be perfectly honest, I’m not too much of an art guy. I’m just here to
visit Jenna.” 

Nolan tilted his head. “I see. I didn’t realize you two knew each other.” 

“Zach and I just met the other day at the shelter. Both of us adopted kittens,” Jenna offered. 

“Nice to meet you,” Nolan said, extending his hand. 

“Likewise.” Zach offered him a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Jenna took note of it, wondering
if she was 

the only one lucky enough to receive his most genuine ones. 

“Well, I’ll be in the office if you need me. Nice meeting you, Zach.” 

Finally, she thought. Now, where were we? 

Zach broke her mental reverie, wasting no time in getting to the heart of the matter. “You haven’t
gone to lunch 

yet, by chance, have you?” 

Jenna shook her head. “I haven’t, and I’m starving. Why? Did you have something in mind?” 

He leaned in a little closer, and a hint of cologne hit Jenna’s lungs like an aphrodisiac. “As a matter of
fact, I do.” 

With Nolan tucked away in the office, she scribbled down a note, letting him know she was heading to
lunch. 

Zach’s arm brushed against hers as they walked side by side out of the showroom, and she was
pleasantly surprised 

when he opened the door for her. 

“Thank you. I can’t tell you the last time someone did that for me,” she mused. 

“Anytime,” he grinned. 

“I guess I should’ve worn my walking shoes today.” She gestured down to her feet. They weren’t the
most com- 

fortable shoes, but at least they weren’t sky-high stilettos. 

“No need to worry. We’re taking the car. We could walk there, but it would be a lot faster if we take
my car.” 

Sure enough, the vintage Mustang was there, gleaming in the sunlight. “This is yours?” she asked. 

“Sure is. She’s my pride and joy, and the first car I’ve ever restored.” 

Her eyes scanned the car from one end to another, taking in the pristine level of craftsmanship that
had been put 

into the car. “That’s amazing. It looks brand new like it had been frozen in time.” 

“Well, I’d like to think I have an eye for anything beautiful.” She was fairly certain he was still
speaking of the car, 

but with the playful gleam in his eyes, Jenna wondered if he was hinting at something else instead.
With Zach, every- 

thing was lighthearted, with a hint of humor and a dash of charm. 

Charm. That was an excellent word to describe it, she thought. He certainly had plenty of that. 

Jenna wriggled her way inside, slumping down into her seat. She reached for the seatbelt, only to find
her hand 

had grasped nothing but a lap belt. “I forgot there weren’t regular seatbelts during this time,” she
grimaced. 

A nervous smile formed on Jenna’s face, and her blood thrummed through her veins. The excitement
she had 

felt earlier was slowly starting to fade, replaced by a sense of dread. 

“Well, they were regular ones. Back then, anyway.” 

Jenna’s hand reached for the center console, and before she could speak, Zach’s hand enveloped
around hers, 

letting his warmth and comfort grace her delicate skin. 

“No need to worry. I’m a fabulous driver, and if nothing else, this car is built as solid as a ship.”
Somehow, be- 

tween his words and the warmth of his hand, the worrisome butterflies in her stomach vanished,
leaving a sense of 
peace behind. She was safe with him. 

And she was in good hands. 

The engine purred as Zach hit the gas. Knowing that Jenna had been so tense, he drove like Grandpa
out for a 

Sunday drive, making sure to obey every rule like he was back in driver’s training. Ten and two, he
thought. No 

need to alarm her any more than she already was. Watching Jenna’s anxiety ratchet up was the last
thing he wanted, 

and even though he was far from a thrill-seeking speed demon when driving alone, he wanted to
make a good im- 

pression on her. 

He’d fallen hard for her and now was his chance to make the magic happen. 

“So, where are we off to?” she asked. 

Zach kept his eyes on the road ahead. “Now, you don’t want me to ruin the surprise, now do you?” 

Jenna rolled her eyes playfully. “Trust me, I’m not a fan of surprises. Unless they’re good ones.” 

“I think it’s pretty safe to say it’s a good one.” 

A group of swimsuit-clad women lined the sidewalk, proudly holding signs advertising a charity car
wash, and to 

Jenna’s surprise, his eyes didn’t stray once. Not once! With laser focus, he kept his eyes on the road
ahead, unwill- 

ing to peel them away for any sort of distraction. 

“You really are a great driver,” she mused. 

“Well, lives and machines are to be respected equally. Ever since I was a kid, my dad always
hammered that into 

my brain.” 

The somber vibe he was putting off did not go unnoticed as she studied his face. Something felt oddly
sad, but 

she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. “It sounds like cars have been pretty important in your life.” 

“They are. My dad was a mechanic, and so was my grandfather and my great grandfather when my
family moved 

here from Italy.” 

Was. She noted the past tense he used about his dad and debated whether to ask the obvious
question, or let it 

go and let him reveal the answer in time. She chose the latter. 

“That’s quite the generational love.” 

“Without a doubt. Some passions come and go, but some are meant to stay.” 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

“We’re eating at Gio’s? Nice! I’ve been wanting to try their food!” Jenna’s mouth practically watered
just looking 

at the sign. 

“It’s worth every penny. Plus, it’s owned and operated by a pretty great guy,” he smirked. 

She threw him an inquisitive look. “Someone you know, I take it?” 

“Giovanni’s an old family friend. Great guy, and excellent food. You can’t go wrong with that.” Zach
offered his 

hand as they stepped onto the boardwalk. “May I?” 

She nodded, slipping her hand into his. A small crowd surrounded the outdoor eatery, and the
delicious smell of 

food filled the air. Her stomach grumbled, and she clasped her hands to it, hoping Zach didn’t hear
the 

embarrassing sound. A line was beginning to form, and Jenna’s stomach growled once more in
anticipation. 

“I’m sure they’ll get through it pretty quickly,” Zach noted. 

 She sure hoped so, considering it felt like her stomach was eating itself. Minutes later, they were at
the window, 

and a tall, older man bumbled about behind the counter. 

“Zach! Great to see ya. Who’s this lovely lady?” 

“Gio, this is my new friend, Jenna. Jenna, this is Gio.” 

“Nice to meet you,” she replied. 

“A pleasure to meet you, too. So, Zach, how did you two meet?” 
Had it been nighttime, his smile would’ve brightened the boardwalk to daytime sunshine. “We met
down at the 

animal shelter, actually. Both of us happened to pop in there on the same day.” 

“Almost like the planets aligned just for you two.” Gio placed the sandwiches on the counter. “Here
you go, two 

of my signature sandwiches, and two fresh-squeezed lemonades. These are on the house, man. I’ll see
you around. 

You take care, okay?” 

“Thanks, man. You’re the best.” 

They meandered their way through the throngs of beachgoers, dodging walkers, skateboarders, and
bicyclists 

along the way until they finally arrived at one of the few remaining picnic tables. 

“I think this is the best seat in the house,” Zach said. 

“It’s practically the only one,” Jenna laughed. At least the beach was getting back to business as usual.
It was ex- 

actly what Crescent Key needed. Taking a small bite of the sandwich, Jenna’s eyes lit up in a pleasant
surprise. “This 

is really good. I can see why you love coming here.” 

“Everything Gio does is made with love.” 

Jenna nodded. “I can definitely see that. He’s a master.” 

“You should see Onyx when I come home with Gio’s,” he laughed. “He hasn’t had a single scrap of
people food 

so far, but he loves to beg for these sandwiches.” 

She burst out laughing in surprise. “Are you serious?” 

“I’m dead serious. He’s in love with the smell, I guess.” 

“That’s so funny. You know, Toby doesn’t beg for human food at all.” 

He took another bite of his sandwich. “You’re lucky. At least he leaves you alone at dinner time.” 

And for that, Jenna was grateful. Her mind drifted back to when she lived at home, and the family cat
they’d had. 

Chloe had been a wonderful cat, but she sat under the table begging for food like a dog during every
meal she had 
with her family. Then again, it wasn’t a huge surprise given how often her mother dropped human
food onto the 

floor, or into directly Chloe’s bowl. 

“So, other than that, how are things going with Onyx?” Jenna asked. 

He paused, taking a swig of his lemonade. “He’s doing really well. He seems a little lonely at times,
though. I’m 

debating about getting another one so he could have somebody to play with during the day while I’m
gone.” 

Jenna’s mind drifted for a moment, looking to the future. Maybe someday Toby and Onyx could be 

friends. Maybe. 

But she didn’t dare utter those words. What would be the sense of getting the cart before the horse? 

“How do you know he’s lonely while you’re gone?” 

“Well, I could tell you I have a really good hunch about these things, but…I have a camera in my
house, and it 

sends me an alert every time he walks around.” 

“Wow, helicopter pet parent, much?” she teased. 

“Hey, I like to know what my son is doing at all times. That’s the only way to truly do pet parenting
the right 

way.” 

Jenna laughed, and she contemplated for a moment, wondering if she should invest in a camera as
well. Come 

to think of it, it would be kind of fun to see what Toby was up to while she was away. 

“So, how is Toby doing?” he asked. “Is he settling in well?” 

“He’s doing great. I usually find him sleeping on the couch when I come home.” 

“Don’t they sleep like eighteen hours a day, or something?” 

Taking the final bite of her sandwich, she wadded the wrapper into a ball, batting it back and forth
between her 

hands. “I think so. They’re interesting animals, that’s for sure.” 

“Without a doubt. But they’re the coolest, too.” 

♥ ♥ ♥ 
 

“So how was your lunch date?” 

With a cleaning rag in hand, Jenna busied herself, dusting the displays in the windows. “It went really
great. He 

actually seems like a genuine, compassionate, sweet guy.” 

“Throwing around a lot of adjectives, aren’t you?” he joked. 

“Perhaps. But, I really like him.” 

Nolan grabbed a cleaning rag for himself, dusting down another display. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.
Hopefully, 

things will stay that way.” 

“I hope so. I’m tired of everything going great in the beginning only to have it blow up in the end.” 

“The fall from grace is the hardest. But I don’t think you have anything to worry about. It sounds like
he has a 

pretty good head on his shoulders.” 

And boy, she sure hoped Nolan was right. 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

Another day down. 

 Jenna kicked off her shoes, happy to finally be home. The day had slogged by after lunch, and the idle
time left 

her mind wandering, drifting back to Zach. It was official: she couldn’t stop thinking about him. 

Toby rubbed against her legs as he waited for her to drop another cup of food in his bowl. She went to
the fridge, 

pulling out a container of leftovers, and tossed it in the microwave. While she waited for it to heat up,
she cast her 

work clothes aside, finally slipping into her comfy pajamas. 

Toby jumped on the couch, waiting patiently for Jenna to sit down, and she was amazed how quickly
he’d settled 

into a nightly routine. Off in the distance, her phone pinged in her purse, and she headed back to the
bedroom, 
eager to see who the message was from. 

Please be from Zach. 

Her eyes danced with happiness as she pulled out her phone, elated to see Zach had messaged her. 

I’d love to schedule date #2 if you’re still interested. 

Still interested? Like she would not be? She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him all day. Of
course, she 

was still interested. 

Absolutely. I would LOVE that. ;) 

Hitting send, she dropped the phone into her robe pocket and darted to the kitchen to snag her dinner
from the 

microwave. With her bowl in her lap, she curled up on the couch and Toby snuggled against her, his
eyes growing 

heavy by the light of the television. 

Her phone pinged again, and her heart sank a little when she realized the new message wasn’t from
Zach. 

I have some great news! Call me. 

Somehow, she wasn’t entirely certain her Mom really would have great news at all. Usually when she
said that, 

she didn’t. Heaving a sigh, she muted the volume on the television, and dialed her, hoping it would be
something 

she wanted to hear for once. 

“I see you got my text, dear.” 

Jenna pasted on a smile. True, her mother couldn’t see her, but perhaps if she faked a smile, she could
fake a lit- 

tle happiness, too. “I did. So, what’s the good news?” 

“You’ll never guess who’s single again,” she chirped. 

“You’re right, I can’t guess,” she said through gritted teeth. She didn’t have the slightest clue, and
truth be told, 

she didn’t care. 

“Belinda’s son is back on the market, and you know her birthday party is coming up. It might be a
great oppor- 

tunity to talk to her and possibly get your foot in the door with Brent.” 
If Jenna rolled her eyes any harder, they would’ve stayed there permanently, and she forced herself
not to blow 

out a breath of sheer annoyance. Dear God, was there ever an end to her matchmaking? 

“Mom, we’ve already been through this,” she said slowly. “I am not interested in anyone at the
moment.” It was 

somewhat of a lie, and she told her the entire truth, it would mean an instant barrage of questions,
most of which 

she wouldn’t be prepared to deal with. 

She and Zach were still in the early stages of getting to know each other. She wouldn’t have all the
answers yet, 

but by God, her mother would expect them all, and all at once. 

“Honey, I really think you should talk to him. He sounds like a really nice guy.” 

She squeezed her eyes shut, grasping to find the right words that wouldn’t set her mother off like a
Hawaiian vol- 

cano. “Mom, I appreciate the thought, but I don’t need you to play matchmaker, okay? Just leave that
to me.” 

“Dear, if I leave it up to you, I won’t ever have any grandchildren.” The words stung Jenna’s ears. Her
mother 

may have thought it was a lighthearted joke, but to her, it was a low blow and a punch to the gut that
she didn’t 

need. 

“I appreciate the concern, but I have to go. I’m sorry.” 

She tossed the phone aside and ran her hands through Toby’s fur, feeling a pang of envy as she gazed
down at 

him, lying peacefully on the couch without a care in the world. 

Life was so much easier for a cat. 

Chapter four

Overwhelmed with anticipation, Jenna sat at her desk, staring longingly out the window. Today was a
new day, 

and perhaps this one would be busier. She would love that. 

 Her eyes drifted to the clock on the wall next to her. Ten fifteen. She still had a good hour or
so before head- 

ing out to lunch. An idea pinged in her brain, and she pulled out her phone, ready to send a message
to Zach. An- 

other lunch date would be wonderful before the weekend. 

She paused for a moment, placing the phone back down on the desk. What if she
surprised him instead? He 

didn’t seem like the type that wouldn’t enjoy a surprise, so what harm could it possibly do? 

He’d probably be thrilled to see her. Or at least, she hoped. 

She tossed the phone into her bag. A surprise would have to do, and now she had even more of a
reason to 

look forward to her lunch hour. 

“This place sure has been quiet lately,” Nolan lamented. 

Jenna whirled around, surprised to see him so melancholy. “Yes, it has. I don’t understand why,
though. I mean, 

we’re right in the middle of peak season. We should be getting more foot traffic than we are.” 

Nolan sat his empty coffee cup down on the desk. “I know. I’ve been wracking my brain for some sort
of idea to 
take this place up a notch, but I just haven’t been able to come up with anything yet.” 

She smiled a weak smile, trying her best to stay optimistic in front of him. “I’ll think about it, and I’ll
let you 

know if I come up with something.” 

Eleven-thirty finally rolled around, and excitement zipped through her veins as she fished her car key
out, ready 

to take off for the hour. Traffic was heavy as always, but not even that could bring her mood down
today. Who 

knew a little impromptu fun could be so exhilarating? Perhaps she should’ve infused her life with a
little spontaneity 

more often. 

Jenna’s eyes zeroed in on Zach as she approached. Standing just out of reach of the blazing sun, he
was fully en- 

grossed in a conversation with a woman, presumably a customer. 

Petite and short, her long ravenous hair flowed down her back in waves, nearly reaching the small of
her back. 

Coated with a sheen of sweat, Zach lifted the hem of his shirt and wiped his face, briefly exposing his
lean, mus- 

cular chest. The quick preview sent a hot flush to Jenna’s cheeks. 

 Nothing seemed particularly out of the ordinary with their dialogue.  

That is until the woman hugged him. 

With her hands on his upper arms, she gazed at him longingly, like a character straight out of a cheesy,
made- 

for-television movie. A pang of jealously shot through Jenna, twisting its way around her heart. It was
such a foreign 

feeling, but it was there, settling relentlessly in her chest. 

And then, to add insult to injury, the woman reached up on her tiptoes, hugging him again in an
embrace so 

sickeningly sweet that even Willy Wonka would’ve had a hard time digesting it. Jenna’s heart twisted
into knots. 

What nerve! 

What sort of customer would hug an employee like that? And why did he seem so eager to return her
affections? 
Didn’t he realize how unprofessional that appeared? 

Jenna had no claim to him, but the way her heart ached in her chest made her feelings about
him even more 

raw and real. 

And to think, she thought she had a connection with this man, this literal stranger she barely knew. 

Yes, it served her right to think she knew him when they’d only just met. Truth be told, she didn’t
really know 

him at all. And now it was more apparent than ever. 

There was some sort of connection with those two, and she didn’t like it. Not one damn bit. 

Rather than park her car and interrupt their merry little interlude, she hit the gas and didn’t look back.
Now all 

she had to do was pray that he didn’t see her and that she’d slipped right under his radar. The last
thing she wanted 

would be for him to have seen her cruising through the lot. 

So much for spontaneity, she thought. 

But at least now she knew the truth. 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

Jenna had just made it back from lunch before her phone went off, and she didn’t have to guess who
it would 

be. She glanced down at her phone, rolling her eyes in disgust as Zach’s name appeared on the
screen. 

Did you stop by earlier today? Could’ve sworn I saw you pull into the lot. 

Nothing got past him, apparently. So much for staying under the radar, because even as engrossed in
conver- 

sation as he appeared, the level of situational awareness he had was unparalleled. 

“Any revelations come to you at lunch?” Nolan asked. 

Jenna sighed, wishing she could muster the courage to have a better poker face. “Yeah, that men suck.
Well, ex- 

cept for a few,” she added with a faint smile. No sense in painting everyone with the same color
brush, even if 
she did feel like the entire male population was against her. 

“Lunch date didn’t go well, I take it?” 

She leaned back in her seat. “Lunch date didn’t even happen. Some woman was hugging all over him
when I 

pulled into the lot. So, I just left.” 

He arched a brow. “Without even inquiring who she was?” 

She shook her head. “No. I know it sounds stupid, but part of me is afraid of what the answer
would’ve been. I 

don’t think I could’ve handled it.” 

“Well, it may have been hard to swallow at first, but it’s better to know the truth than to be kept in
the dark.” 

Embarrassment rose in her cheeks. Maybe Nolan was right. Maybe she should’ve dug for the truth
first. It 

really did sound stupid the more she thought about it. 

“Yeah, and the worst part is, I know he saw me. He just texted me and asked if I stopped by earlier.” 

“All the more reason, you need to talk to him and figure out what’s going on. You’ll know right off the
bat if he’s 

telling the truth or not. You always have good intuition when it comes to people.” 

If only she weren’t so afraid of the answer she might receive. 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

Settling in again for another evening alone, Jenna retired to the couch early, curling up with a book
while Toby 

nestled himself in her lap. “At least you aren’t a disappointment,” she said, running her hands through
his fur. “Pets 

are never a disappointment, are they?” 

He looked up, staring hazily to her eyes. Both of them were tiring quickly, and it was only a matter of
time before 

one of the two of them fell asleep. 

She was about to do just that when a loud knock rapped against the front door, and a man’s muffled
voice 
came from the other side. 

She sat up rigidly, her heart racing as she wondered who it could possibly be, especially at such an
hour. She 

bolted to the door. 

“How… How did you find me?” she asked, standing in awe as Zach stood looming in her doorway. 

“You weren’t answering your phone, so I stopped by to talk to your boss. Nolan, isn’t it?” 

Oh, she would definitely have some words for him for pulling a stunt like this. Dumbfounded, she
stood in 

utter silence while her brain attempted to process everything. 

“Yes, it is, but I still don’t understand. How did you get my address?” 

“I asked him for it. I wanted to talk to you.” 

Her irritation was rising by the minute now. “He had no right to give you that.” 

“Look, I just wanted to talk. That’s all.” His gaze drifted to the ground, and Jenna felt the anguish in his
words. “I 

hope this isn’t a bad time,” he added. 

She looked down at her pajamas, then back at Zach. A fresh wave of heat colored her cheeks as her
mind flashed 

to earlier in the day and the sight of all that glorious muscle. Damn him. Why couldn’t she get him out
of her 

brain? 

“Well, I certainly wasn’t expecting a guest this evening,” she sighed. “And I certainly wasn’t expecting
that 

guest to be you.” 

His heart squeezed at the irritation in her voice. “I know, and I’m sorry. I just wanted to talk. You
haven’t an- 

swered your phone at all, and I was worried.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I wasn't sure what to
think, and 

now that I see you standing here… I really don’t know what to think.” 

Swallow your pride, she thought. Just tell him the truth and own up to it. 

“Come inside. Let’s talk.” 

With a hint of reluctance, Zach sat down on the couch, and Jenna sat down in her chair. 

“You know how you texted me earlier, asking if I had stopped by?” she asked. 
Zach nodded, curious to where it would lead to next. 

“I did stop by,” she continued. “And, I’ll be honest, when I saw you with that woman, I was upset. So, I
left. I 

know that sounds so stupid now, saying it out loud. But I wanted you to know the truth.” 

He stared for a moment, then shook his head. “No, no, no. You don’t understand. She’s my best
friend’s girl, 

Natalia. Trust me, there’s absolutely nothing going on there.” 

Another wave of confusion smacked Jenna in the face. “Then why did you seem so chummy with
her?” 

Now it was his turn to go on the defensive. “I wasn’t. Trust me, if you knew Natalia, you’d know that
she is like 

that with everyone. And I literally mean everyone. Nor would I ever encroach on another guy’s
relationship. That’s 

not my style.” 

She looked at him with questioning eyes. “You know, usually when people say ‘trust me,’ they’re 

usually not trustworthy.” 

Anger boiled in his veins. If only she knew how taken with her he’d been from the moment he saw her
at the 

shelter. She’d been all he could think about, and he would've given anything to make her understand
that. “Look, I 

don’t know what kind of people you’ve dealt with in your life, but when I ask someone to trust me,
I’m asking 

them to do just that. Trust me. I’m sorry if you don’t believe me.” 

He stood, raking a hand in through his hair. Something about the way he ran his hand angrily through
his hair 

was still sexy. 

And damn him for making her want him, despite being so flustered. 

“I’m sorry. It was a rush to judgment, and I shouldn’t have done that.” 

He held up his hands in a truce. “Apology accepted.” Deep down, a small part of him had been a little
amused at 

her reaction. It was all the more proof he needed that she really did care about him on some level.
And my God, 

that felt wonderful. 

He’d fallen for her. Hard. 

But he’d asked his question and said his peace, and now it was time to get out of her hair, even if he
didn’t really 

want to leave. He’d stayed long enough. “Thank you for being honest with me. I’m glad we could clear
things up.” 

Jenna stopped him as he headed to the front door. “I’m glad, too.” She stared up at him with a
melancholy ex- 

pression, feeling simultaneously sorry for being so stupid, but happy the situation had been resolved.
She bit the 

corner of her lip, trying to ease the tension she felt knotted up in her chest. “I just feel like such an
idiot,” she 

groaned, wrapping her arms around him and burying herself in his chest. Zach pulled her in closer,
basking in the 

warmth of her body pressed against his. 

“You’re not an idiot. You were just looking out for me. For us.” The word had slipped from his mouth
before 

he had a chance to stop himself. 

She pulled back, gazing up into his eyes. “For us?” she repeated. 

“Yes. For us. I’d be an idiot if I let you go. I want to see where this journey takes us.” 

The corner of her mouth twitched up in a smile, and he couldn’t fight back the urge any longer. With
an adorable 

smile like that, he wanted to kiss her until he couldn’t see straight. Hell, he wanted to
kiss her until she couldn’t 

see straight, either. 

He pressed his lips to that cute little half-smile, stealing her breath away as he did. She groaned with
pleasure, 

threading her hands through his hair as her back pressed against the door. 

He was all hard lines and edges, and she was soft and delicate as a flower’s petal, combining like yin
and yang 

and two synergies becoming one. He pulled back, resting his palm against the door as they regained
their breath. 

“I wasn’t expecting that,” she breathed. 

Truth be told, neither had he, but enjoyed every delicious second of it, and he pressed his lips softly to
hers once 

more. “So I caught you a little off guard, huh?” he whispered against her lips. She wrapped her arms
around his 

neck, pulling him in closer. 

“You did, but it was a very pleasant surprise.” Inching up on her tiptoes, she kissed him again, her
mouth 

opening fully to take in his delicious taste. Her body arched into him, aching for the physical contact
she’d craved 

for so long, and her head spun wildly as she savored this moment together. She didn’t dare think of
how long it had 

been since she felt like this. 

Or how long it would last. This time, she would live in the moment. 

When at last they were both starved for air, he pulled back gently, brushing his thumb against her
cheek. “Good 

night, and I’ll see you soon.” 

Note to self, she thought. Try to remember to breathe next time. 

Chapter five 

Abundant rays of sunshine spilled in through the gap between the curtains, and Jenna’s eyes opened
slowly, still 

heavy from sleep. A jolt of panic surged through her, and she sprang up in bed, grasping for her
phone. 

Why didn’t the alarm go off? 

And then it finally dawned on her. It was Saturday. There was no need to be in such a haste. She
slumped 

down, landing with a thud as she collapsed back onto her pillow. 

Relax. 

She heaved a sigh of relief and rolled over on her side. Large hazel eyes stared up at her from across
the room 

as Toby waited patiently for his food, and as soon as her feet hit the floor, he raced to the kitchen, his
tiny nails 

clawing against the hardwood surface. 

Small but mighty, she thought. He may have been only a kitten, but he had the appetite of a horse. 

“I’m glad to see you have so much more energy than I do this morning,” she mumbled. She couldn’t
remember 

the last time she’d slept so deeply, so soundly. 

Grabbing a bowl of cereal, she flopped down at the table, scarfing down spoonfuls while Toby stared
up at her. 

Two minutes was all it took for him to scarf down his own food, and he sat patiently, waiting for Jenna
to play with 

him. She looked around the room, slightly horrified at how messy the house was. Toys were scattered
everywhere, 

and the remnants of a ripped-up newspaper lay piled up in the corner. 

“You’ve made a real mess, you know that?” she asked Toby. He tilted his head, like a puppy
acknowledging a 

mild scolding. 

“See, you know I’m talking to you.” He walked over to her, rubbing his furry body against her legs.
“Yes, I know, 

you just want a little love and attention.” 

A quick peek at Toby’s water dish and she noticed it was bone dry. He pranced in circles as she filled
the bowl, 

and water splashed onto the floor as he ran between her legs, nearly tripping her. 

“You need to learn a little patience, mister,” she said, rubbing behind his ears. 

Her phone pinged, adding a little spring in her step. Please be Zach. 

To her delight, his name appeared on the screen. 

Want to meet up at noon? 

She glanced at the clock. That gave her two hours to get ready, which would be more than enough
time. She 

typed back a quick reply and dug around in her drawer for a fresh change of clothes. It was damn near
impossible 

to find anything. Every drawer had been crammed full of shirts of various shades, from one end of the
rainbow’s 

spectrum to the other. Finally settling on a shirt and shorts, she rummaged around her bikini drawer,
attempting to 

find the perfect suit to wear. It was a beach date after all, wasn’t it? 

She pulled one out, holding it up to the mirror. Too flashy. She pulled another one out, feeling a little
embar- 

rassed at how small it seemed. Then again, she’d had it over ten years. Of course, it wouldn’t fit the
same. 

Still, she wanted to keep something to the imagination, at least. Finally settling on a purple bikini, she
pulled it 

from the drawer. Toby chased the strings as they hung down and he followed her to the bathroom, in
the hopes she 

would let him play with the strings again. 

“Sorry, but I need to freshen up a bit. I’ll be back soon, okay?” 

Closing the door behind her, Toby pawed at the door, crying and scratching, and even over the noise
of the water 

and the fan, she could still hear his persistent meows. 

She basked in the water's warmth, letting herself relax before diving into the day ahead. Her mind
drifted, and 

soon she was there, on the beach, dipping her toes into the sand and letting the waves crash over her.
Zach was 

there, too, with drinks in hand, wading his way through the thick, soft sand, and before she knew it,
they were toast- 

ing to their life together.  

Together. She glanced down at her hand, at the sparkling diamond on her finger. Oh yes, that would
be lovely… 

A sudden yowl at the bathroom door snapped her back to reality, forcing her fantasy to crash land
with a thud. It 
had been such a lovely interlude. 

Too bad it hadn’t been real. 

She was back to the cold, hard reality now, and she’d been foolish to get the cart so far ahead of the
horse. She 

shut the water off, hastily reaching around the shower curtain to grab the towel before the cool air
could reach her. - 

her. -ing a deep breath, she roughed the towel through her hair, wrapping it tightly around her body,
and she gazed 

at her reflection in the mirror. 

A few swipes of mascara and a bit of tinted lip balm would do the trick. No need to go overboard or
fuss too 

much, considering they would be spending the day outside in the hot summer sun. 

She slipped into the swimsuit, throwing her t-shirt and shorts over it and opened the door. A wall of
cool air hit 

her as she opened it, and Toby scrambled inside, happy to see her after what seemed like an eternity
to him. 

“Did you miss me, little guy?” 

He meowed, and Jenna took that as a ‘yes.’ Excitement filled her as she checked her phone, reading
the message 

Zach had sent. 

Don’t worry about lunch. I took care of it. :) 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

With his shades on and a cooler and an umbrella in hand, Zach trudged through the thick sand in
search of the 

perfect spot to set up camp. His gaze scanned the horizon, taking in everything from the sounds of
laughing chil- 

dren playing on the beach, to the gentle way the waves kissed the sand. Most of the beach was fairly
crowded by this 

time of day and being that it was a Saturday, it was busier than usual. 

Off in the distance, a young blonde woman strode across the sand with a beach blanket, elegant as a
crane. He 
lifted his shades, trying to get a better view of her. Her long hair flowed in the warm summer breeze,
tangling 

around her face as she walked. Bikini ties peeked out from under her thin cotton shirt, and Zach’s eyes
widened as 

she turned and met his gaze. No wonder the woman looked so familiar. It was Jenna. 

And God, did she look amazing. 

“Jenna!” He hollered in her direction, waving his free hand through the air. Her eyes brightened, and
she ran 

through the sand as excitement took hold. Zach plopped everything on the ground and picked her up
in a sweep- 

ing hug, lifting her off her feet. 

“Did you miss me?” he asked, letting her back down gently. 

“I did. I wasn’t expecting such a warm welcome,” she breathed. 

“I know, I know. I tend to go a little overboard at times.” 

“A little overboard is good, sometimes,” she said, grinning. “Sometimes you have to splash right in.” 

“Well, shall we get camp set up?” 

Jenna unfolded the beach blanket, unfurling it on the sandy ground. With a flip-flop from each of
them placed at 

every corner, she hoped it would be enough to keep the breeze from blowing the blanket around. 

But just as she’d feared, a gust of wind blew, and the corner folded in, sending one of her flip flops
skittering 

across it. “Here, let’s put the cooler on top of it, too. Then it definitely won’t go anywhere,” she said.  

Zach hauled the cooler over, placing it on the corner. “That should do the trick, don’t you think?” 

“Perfect!” She flopped down on the blanket, wiping the sweat from her brow. “It’s amazing how hot is
already.” 

“Yeah, I know. Good thing I grabbed an umbrella.” 

Zach busied himself with the umbrella, then pulled the food and drinks from the cooler. He stared
with amuse- 

ment as two children jumped around in the distance. What he would give to be a kid again, to have
that kind of joy 

and freedom from responsibility. 

Then again, being an adult wasn’t so bad. Minus paying bills, at least. And it was even better with a
smart, intel- 

ligent woman added to the mix. This had been the happiest he’d felt in a long time. 

Jenna’s stomach growled in anticipation as she took a seat beside him and grabbed a sandwich.
“These look 

delicious.” 

“Thanks. I worked long and hard on these,” he teased. 

“No wonder you were busy all morning.” She shoved another bite into her mouth, savoring the flavor.
“They re- 

ally are delicious, though. Do you enjoy cooking?” 

He took a gulp of water before answering. “I do. I couldn’t cook worth a crap before I lived on my
own, but once 

I taught myself, I learned to enjoy it. I like coming up with new recipes.” 

She playfully rolled her eyes. “I wish I could say the same. I hate to say it, but if it doesn’t come pre-
made or pre- 

cooked, or it isn’t easy to make, I’m not bothering.” 

Laughter filled the air, and the conversation flowed easily as the afternoon wore on. As every hour
passed, the 

beach quieted a little more. Families had packed up to head home, and soon couples would make
their way back 

down to the beach, awaiting the view of Crescent Key’s vibrant sunsets. 

“You know,” she said, “I used to come down here all the time, taking photos.” She paused for a
moment, letting 

her thoughts drift as she watched the waves. “I would sit here and take random shots of the birds, the
people… 

there’s just something magical about being down here.” 

“So, why did you stop coming down here?” 

Jenna frowned. “I don’t know, really. Life got busy, I guess. It’s always been a hobby for me, but I just
don’t have 

the time to come down here like I used to.” 

Zach leaned in a little closer, wrapping his arm around her. “You should make time for it. You’re
phenomenal. I 

mean, I’ve seen some of the photos you have up at the gallery. They’re amazing.” 
Even in the late afternoon heat, his compliment was enough to make her feel flushed and tingly all
over. “You re- 

ally think so?” 

“I don’t think so. I know so.” 

She contemplated for a moment, watching the water retreat from the shore. “I just don’t know when
I’d have 

the time.” 

“Well, lots of things in life require time. But, if it’s something you really feel passionate about, you’ll
make time 

for it.” 

“You’re right.” An idea pinged in her mind, sending an excited thrill through her. “Think you’d be up
for a little  photoshoot with your pride and joy?” 

Zach beamed, not needing a single moment to think about it. “I think I could handle that. Just make
sure to get  my good side, you know?” 

Jenna nearly spat out her drink from laughter. “I’ll try, but I think the subject matter is pretty easy to
work with  already.” 

Chapter six

There were about two hours until the official sunset, but still so much was left to do before the
impromptu  photo session. Toby climbed up on the bed as Jenna pulled the camera from the drawer
and hooked it up to the  charger. 
“Be a good boy, and don’t chew this cord,” she warned. “I mean it. Or Zach will be very upset with
you.” 

He curled himself into a ball, ready to settle in for a nap, and Jenna breathed a sigh of relief. For the
moment,  she wouldn’t have to worry about yet another cord being destroyed. 

And thank goodness for that. 

She dug the tripod out of the closet, dusting it off with a cleaning rag. It really had been a while since
she’d  used any of her equipment. She hadn’t realized it, but it was like she lost herself one day, not
consciously aware of  how or why it happened. 

True, she didn’t have the leisure time she used to, but she still had a little free time. Why had she lost
touch 

with her passion for art? She’d been so caught up with selling other artists’ works that she’d forgotten
all about her- 

self instead of zeroing in on her craft and feeding her inner creativity. 

The hour finally drew near and Jenna kissed the top of Toby’s head before heading out the door. “I’ll
be back 

later tonight, and then we can have all the cuddle time you’d like.” 

It felt good to breathe in the salty air as she walked down to the boardwalk. Vibrant shades of pinks
and golds il- 

luminated the sky as the sun dipped low against the horizon, and she scanned the street in front of
the boardwalk, 

looking for the sleek black Mustang, but it was nowhere to be found. 

Jenna sat the bag down on the ground and leaned against the railing, taking in the view before her.
How blessed 

she was to live in a place with such beauty and such fantastic sunsets. She wouldn’t trade it for the
world. 

But even as lost as she was in her reverie, the rumble of an old muscle car behind her sent her head
whirling 

around. Zach had finally arrived, and the Mustang looked as sharp as ever. 

A fresh coat of wax made her shine in a way that made Zach proud to show her off to the world. To
him, no mat- 

ter what car he would ever buy, she’d always be the favorite and the crown jewel of them all. Jenna
hurried over to 

his car, mesmerized at how great it looked. 

Not to mention how great the driver himself looked! 

“You made it shine like a diamond!” she exclaimed. 

Zach ran a hand across the car’s body. “I sure did. And, she is silky smooth to the touch.” 

Jenna arched a brow. “Really?” 

“I’m not lying. Touch it. I tried out a new brand of wax, and it’s supposed to protect it from grime for
up to three 

washes.” 

She grazed her finger along the body, amazed at how glass-smooth it felt. “Wow. That’s incredible.
You know, if I 

had a nicer car, I would buy some.” 

Zach leaned against the car, folding his arms across his chest. “Here, does this pose look good?” he
teased. 

She smiled, and a slight flush heated her cheeks. “Like a photo from a postcard.” 

Pulling her camera out, she snapped several shots, each one with a little more artistic flair than the
last. Passers- 

by threw them curious looks as Zach posed against the car, beaming like a child on Christmas
morning. 

“You’re a natural. You know that?” she asked. 

A look of skepticism clouded his face. “Somehow, I doubt that.” 

“I’m serious. The way you light up when you’re around this car… it really shines through in these
photos. I’ll - 

I’ll - a look at them when I get home and develop the best ones. That sound good?” 

“It does.” He grinned once more, making Jenna’s heart flip-flop in her chest. “I’m glad we came back
out here.” 

Jenna smiled, knowing with all her heart that she felt exactly the same. The fun, the laughs, the
beach... they had 

been the recipe for a perfect day. 

Zach’s hand slipped into hers. “What do you say we leave her here for a bit and head down for the
sunset?” 

“I can’t think of a better way to end out the day.” 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

 
Exhausted in the best of ways, Jenna collapsed on the couch, and Toby nestled in beside her for yet
another nap. 

She sank into the cushions, smiling as she replayed the day’s events. It had been yet another perfect
day, filled with 

a mix of fun, laughter and beautiful weather. And last but certainly not least, great company, too.
She’d enjoyed 

every second she’d spent with Zach. 

Sleep had almost taken hold when the ever-familiar pinging sound of an incoming text pulled her from
her slum- 

ber. With a sleepy grin, she reached over, feeling a pang of disappointment as she read the screen. 

Don’t forget about Belinda’s party tomorrow. We would hate to miss you. 

Jenna rolled her eyes. Of course, her mother would miss her, but as for Belinda? Jenna knew
she would care - 

care - 

The scheme was simply a ploy by her mother and a thinly veiled one at that. Jenna had vaguely
remembered her 

mother saying something about it, but every time she brought up Belinda or her son, the words went
in one ear and 

out the other. 

Jenna’s mother may have had good intentions, but Brent wasn’t her type, and she’d always felt a
strange vibe on 

the rare occasions she spent around him. Something didn’t feel right about him, but she could never
quite put her 

finger on it. 

Perhaps it was the heavy-handed, domineering way he steered every conversation back to him. Or, it
may have 

been the fact that on more than one occasion she caught him staring at her like a piece of meat. 

Yes, it was probably some combination of the two, and maybe a little more. And Jenna wanted no
part of it. Be- 

linda was a lovely woman, but Jenna refused to date anyone that didn’t meet her standards. She set
the bar high 

long before she entered the dating realm. 

Even as a child, she fantasized about what her Prince Charming would be like and daydreamed about
the hap- 

pily-ever-af-ter she would give anything to attain. 

And anything less than that was unacceptable. 

She flipped open the message again, resisting the urge to type out a snide response. An idea sprang to
life in her 

brain.  

Maybe she really could play it to her advantage after all.  

Bringing a date would certainly be a great distraction and an excellent way to drive any matchmaking
efforts 

away. 

Yes. This could actually work, she thought. It was the perfect plan, and it would be honest in the
effort. No lie 

would need to be conjured up. Zach just had to show up, and his mere presence alone would speak
louder than 

words. 

Perhaps then it would finally squash any fleeting hopes her mother still had pertaining to Belinda’s
son. 

Or at least, she hoped. 

But will he agree to it? She paused for a moment, pondering the thought. They’d barely been dating.
And though 

she felt close to him, were they close enough to take things to this level? 

There was only one way to find out. 

She just had to ask. 

She flipped on the screen, her fingers anxiously tapping out her idea, and the fateful response came
minutes 

later. 

It’s short notice, but not a big deal at all. I’m happy to go with you. 

She breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps this plan really could work. 

She’d find out soon enough. 

 
Chapter seven

Noon rolled around quickly the next day, and before Jenna had time to breathe, Zach was there at her
doorstep, 

ready to get the show on the road. 

“Well, don’t you look handsome!” she exclaimed as she opened the door. One glimpse at the
smattering of dark 

hair peeking out for the top of his button-down linen shirt sent a wave of heat flooding Jenna’s
cheeks. 

“Thank you. You look pretty fabulous yourself.” Wrapping his arms around her, he leaned in, pressing
a warm, 

deep kiss to her lips. “I’m a very lucky man.” 

“You’re right, and don’t you forget it,” she laughed. “Ready?” 

“Oh, as ready as I’ll ever be,” he teased. 

Zach took her by the arm as they headed to the car, and happiness radiated through her like eternal
light from 

the sun. 

“Belinda’s pretty nice, but just a heads-up, her son is… well, he’s a little strange.” 

“You’ll have to point him out to me when we get there.” 

She may have looked calm and collected on the outside, but as every mile passed, the ball of nerves in
her stom- 
ach grew and grew, and unanswered questions flooded her brain.  

Will they like Zach? Will they finally leave me alone and stop trying to pry into my life? 

Yeah, fat chance of that happening, at least for the latter. 

“You seem a little quiet,” he commented. “Everything okay?” 

Jenna bit the corner of her lip. “Yeah, I just hope everything goes well. I really want them to like you.” 

“Plan on keeping me around, huh?” he joked. 

 “Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. I plan on keeping you around for a very long time. Maybe even until
your ears s- 

ears s- drooping.” 

A burst of laughter escaped him at the mere thought, and Jenna laughed too, as the funny image
came to life in 

her mind. And in their moments of shared laughter, the nervous energy faded away into the
background. 

His levity truly was the best medicine. 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

Belinda Maxwell’s little suburban home was just outside of Crescent Key’s city limits. With a lawn so
well- 

manicured one would’ve sworn it was maintained on behalf of royalty, her home stood out like a
gem, making every 

other home on the street pale in comparison. 

“Wow, this is a pretty well-kept place.” Zach pulled up along the curb, rolling the windows up. One
could never 

be too sure of the sporadic Florida weather in summer, and the last thing he needed was a soaked
seat. 

“Yeah, I shudder to think about what she spends on the landscaping. It’s probably more than what I
make per 

month.” 

“Yeah, I’m sure it’s a pretty penny,” Zach remarked. “What does she do for a living?” 

Jenna shut the car door softly, and Zach took her by the hand as they headed up the drive. “Well,
she’s retired 
now. She’s a widow, and her husband was an investment banker.” 

“Must be nice to be retired.” 

Jenna nodded in agreement. Oh, what she would give to spend her days basking in the sun. 

That would be the life. 

She pressed the doorbell, peeking inside the window next to the door. “She’s coming,” she
whispered. 

A look of amusement and surprise filled Belinda’s face as she opened the door. “Welcome, welcome!
Jenna, it’s 

nice to see you again. And who might this be?” 

“Zach Williams,” he said, extending his hand. “Pleasure to meet you.” 

“Oh, the pleasure is all mine,” she said, ushering the couple inside. “I’m Belinda Maxwell, by the
way.” 

The freshly polished floors gleamed like new, and every inch of the living space had been thoroughly
cleaned 

from top to bottom in anticipation of the party guests. 

“You have a very beautiful home, Belinda.” 

 Belinda beamed at the compliment. “Thank you. It’s always wonderful to hear that.” 

“You haven’t seen my mother, have you?” Jenna asked. 

Belinda paused for a moment, scanning the room. “I don’t believe she’s here yet. It’s a little surprising,
really.” 

A ball of nerves knotted in Jenna’s stomach. Something about this didn’t feel right. 

Jenna glanced over at Zach, exchanging a look with him that only he could understand. “Will you
excuse us?” 

she asked Belinda. 

They stepped out to the patio, where a few other couples chatted amongst themselves. Not a single
person bat- 

ted an eye as they stepped outside. They were lost in their own little worlds. 

And that was just fine by Jenna. 

Worry colored Zach’s face. “Is everything okay? You seem a little tense.” 

She pressed her lips into a thin line. “I don’t really know. This invitation just feels like a setup, like my
mom just 
wanted to get me here to talk to Brent,” she seethed. “I don’t know what to do. Part of me just wants
to leave. I 

mean, they’re not even here yet.” 

Zach put his hand to her shoulder. “Look, I respect whatever decision you make, but this could be
a really 

good opportunity for you to show her how happy you are. How happy we are.” 

She glanced to the ground, feeling embarrassed that she couldn’t even stand up to her own mother,
of all peo- 

ple. Why couldn’t she just tell her the truth and put her foot down for once? 

“You know what? You’re right. Now’s not the time to be a coward. I’ve bent to her will for way too
long, and I 

need to stand up for myself.” 

“Are you sure this is what you want to do? I’m happy to take you home if you don’t want to stay.” 

She shook her head. “No. I need to stay. It’s time to draw my line in the sand.” 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

At last, Jenna’s parents arrived, and with the precision focus of a laser, Bonnie McAdams spotted her,
and her 

eyes bulged wide as she took in the handsome stranger standing by her daughter’s side. 

“I’m so glad you came, dear. I didn’t realize you were bringing a guest.” 

Jenna glanced at Zach, beaming with pride as she made the introduction. “Mom, Dad, I’d like you to
meet Zach, 

my boyfriend.” 

Another wave of surprise washed over her face. “Boyfriend, I see. I didn’t realize you were seeing
anyone.” 

“It’s been fairly recent,” Zach added. “I’m glad to finally meet the two of you. Jenna speaks very highly
of you.” 

“Indeed, she should,” her father said. “So, Zach, what do you do for a living?” 

Way to go for the jugular, Dad. A fresh wave of embarrassment swept across Jenna’s cheeks. Good
grief. They 

couldn’t even make it thirty seconds into the conversation without him getting down to brass tacks. 
“Well, I’m a mechanic. I grew up around cars, and they’ve always been a passion of mine.” 

Her father’s eyes narrowed. “I see. Very well.” 

Jenna resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Perhaps with time, she could learn to stand up to her father as
well. 

Lest she should forget, he was every bit as rigid as her mother at times. 

And at times, even more so. 

“So, tell me, dear, how did you two meet?” her mother asked. 

“We met at the animal shelter, actually. He was there the same afternoon I was.” 

“What a unique way to meet,” she added. 

A moment of awkward silence passed, and nervous smiles were exchanged. “May I have a word with
you?” her 

mother asked. She glanced at Zach, then glanced back at Jenna. “Privately?” 

Jenna nodded, feeling a prickling sensation of alarm zip through her as the two slipped off to another
room. 

Nothing good ever came from that phrase. 

She didn’t know what her mother was up to, but it made her feel uneasy, nonetheless. Her mother
pulled the 

door shut behind her, leaning against it as she spoke. 

“Why didn’t you tell me about him? He seems like a very nice man. Why would you keep such big
news from 

me?” 

Jenna sighed and took a deep breath. “Mom, you pick apart everything and everyone. I wasn’t sure
how you’d 

react.” 

“Well, to be perfectly honest, I had every intention of getting you to talk to Brent today. You threw off
my plans.” 

She shook her head. “Look, I know you really like Belinda, and you’ve been friends with her for a very
long time. 

But, there just isn’t any chemistry between us, and quite frankly the way he stares at me and other
women is a lit- 

tle… dis-turb-ing.” She nearly winced at the word, knowing how awful it must’ve sounded. “Haven’t
you ever no- 
er noticed how creepy he is?” 

“Well…” She paused for a moment, trying to choose her words carefully. “I don’t spend much time
around 

him, so I wouldn’t be in the best place to judge that.” 

And that was Jenna’s point, exactly. 

“That’s my point, Mom. You don’t know that much about him. And what you do know are all the
glowing things 

Belinda tells you. She’s his mom. Of course, she’s going to talk him up. That’s what most parents do.” 

Her mother shrugged, giving a half-hearted smile. “I suppose you have a point. I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t
mean to 

be so hard on you about this. I just want you to be happy. I want you to find someone you
are absolutely giddy 

with. Because if they don’t make you feel that way, it isn’t worth it.” 

Jenna held her hands up. “Trust me, there’s no shortage of giddiness when I’m around Zach. He
always makes 

me smile. And laugh. It’s like living in a Hallmark movie, really.” 

Her mother wrapped her arms around her, squeezing her tight. “And that’s the best feeling in the
world to 

have.” 

♥ ♥ ♥ 

“Well, you survived the day with my parents. I’d say you probably deserve a medal for that.” Jenna
flopped down 

into the Mustang and kicked off her heels, letting her tired feet rest on the dash. 

“Oh, they weren’t that bad. I’ve been around more intimidating ones.” 

For some unexplainable reason, his words pricked at her like little needles as a wave of jealousy took
hold. “So, 

this isn’t your first time meeting someone’s parents, I take it?” 

He shook his head. “No. It’s not. But, that’s in the past. I only want to focus on the
future. Our future.” 
She looked at him wide-eyed. “So, even after today, you really think you can potentially handle a
future with my 

family?” 

He let out a laugh. “Trust me, they really weren’t that bad. They want what’s best for you. That’s what
any good 

parent should want for their kid.” 

She sighed, gazing absent-mindedly out the window. “I know. My mom seems to be more in favor of
us than 

my dad is.” 

“Dads are always tough nuts to crack. He’ll get there. He just needs a chance to get to know me.” 

All of that made sense, but it still didn’t prevent the pang of anxiety from invading in her chest. “It will
probably 

take some time before he comes around,” she warned. 

“For you, I have all the time in the world.” 

  Chapter eight

There was a moment of pause as Zach pulled up to Jenna’s house to drop her off, and though all was
silent in 

the car, a touch of sadness could be felt. He wasn’t ready for the day to be over. And truthfully,
neither was she. No 

amount of time could ever satisfy the need to spend time in each other’s presence. A meet up for a
few hours 

wasn’t nearly long enough. 

“Do you want to come inside?” she asked. “I’m not sure I’m ready for our date to be over yet.” 

He ran his hands along the rim of the steering wheel. “You know what? I’d love to.” 

Once inside, Jenna pulled down two glasses, filling each of them with her favorite red wine; the kind
she reserved 

only for special occasions. It was a special occasion, after all. 

She’d finally stood up to her mother, and to her great surprise, it went far better than she’d expected.
So much 

anxiety and worry had filled her heart, but in the end, all went well, and she was glad she’d broached
the subject. 
She sat down on the couch and Toby followed closely behind. 

“I think he stole my spot,” Zach teased. 

“He’s good at doing that.” She ran a hand through his fur, and Toby gazed up at her, purring contently
as she 

rubbed his ears. “Thank you again for coming with me today.” 

“The pleasure was all mine,” he said, taking a seat in the empty space next to her. “It was nice to meet
your 

family.” 

“Even if my dad wasn’t exactly the friendliest?” 

“Of course, it was nice to meet him. You know, I’m thinking maybe next weekend the four of us
should go out 

to dinner.” 

Jenna’s eyes went wide. “You’d be okay with that?” 

“Absolutely. How else will I get your dad to warm up to me?” 

Jenna sighed. “I’m hoping it won’t take long. I know it didn’t take long for me to warm up to you,” she
grinned. 

Zach scooted in a little closer next to her, draping his arm around her. She leaned in, resting her head
against his 

shoulder as she closed her eyes and replayed the day. Even with the little bit of awkward tension at
first with her 

parents, it had still been a great day. Then again, she’d had many great days as of late. And the
common denom- 

inator? 

Zach. Always Zach. 

“Something on your mind?” he asked. 

Jenna let out a deep sigh of contentment and snuggled against his arm. “Nope. Just thinking how nice
it is to 

have you in my life.” 

“It’s nice to feel wanted.” His fingers grazed her arm up and down, teasing her skin delicately while
butterflies 

fluttered in her stomach. Was this what it felt like? Was she finally falling in love? 
It was an entirely new, foreign feeling. But it felt real, magical even. Like everything she’d ever
wanted. Like every- 

thing that left her speechless during a soft, romantic movie. But this was real. 

Yes, for once, she was willing to drop all the barriers around her heart. And she’d already done that
from the 

moment he stepped through the front door at the shelter. It seemed so symbolic to meet him there,
in hindsight. He 

felt like home, like the shelter she hadn’t realized she’d been craving so badly. And of all the places to
meet him in. 

There was something so powerfully divine about that, as though the planets had aligned intentionally.
Perhaps her 

prayers had finally been answered. 

She opened her eyes, letting reality soak into her veins. He was real. This moment was real. And
through that 

moment of clarity, she finally realized she had well and truly fallen in love. She was more certain of
that now than 

ever. 

She sat up slowly, and Zach’s lips met hers. No words were needed, and nothing had ever felt so right
before. 

Where words failed, each kiss so soft and tender expressed the very feelings deep within their souls. 

“You know what I’d love to do?” he asked, his voice low and husky. 

“What would that be?” 

He kissed her again, soft and slow, taking his time as he explored and tasted her. “I want to watch the
sunrise 

with you.” 

Heat rose in her cheeks. “You want to stay the night?” 

He stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. “I do. I want to watch the most beautiful moment of
the day 

with the most beautiful woman in the world.” 

“You know, I’ve never actually watched the sunrise before.” 

He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Well, there’s always a first time for everything.” 

 
♥ ♥ ♥ 

The pact to stay up until the sunrise almost didn’t come to fruition. Zach’s eyes flickered open just in
the nick 

of time, and Jenna’s eyes fluttered as he stirred, waking from her slumber. 

“We didn’t miss it, did we?” she mumbled. 

He kissed the top of her head. “No, but we will if we don’t head out there soon.” 

Still half-asleep, she grabbed a throw blanket, wrapping it tight around her body as they fumbled their
way down 

to the beach. 

“I hope that’s big enough we can share,” he teased. 

The beach was silent as the two sat down in the sand, swaddling themselves in the blanket, all cozy
and warm. 

“I wish I would’ve brought my camera,” she mused. She wanted to freeze the moment forever and
never let it go. 

Zach leaned over, kissing the top of her head. “Even if you would’ve, there are just some moments
that can’t be 

done justice on film.” 

Chapter nine 

The first crests of light peeked out from the horizon, bringing both the promise of a new day and a
renewed 

sense of hope. The hours of conversation flew by with ease, but just before sunrise, all was silent
between the two. 

“Something on your mind?” Jenna asked. 

Zach’s gaze focused straight ahead as rays of light began to reflect in his eyes. “I’m just thinking. I’m
thinking 

about what you said earlier, about the gallery. What if you offered to do photoshoots for the pets
down at the shel- 

ter? Maybe that could spark some new interest in the gallery.” 

Jenna quirked a brow, slightly surprised and slightly amused at such a cute idea. “I mean, that would
be fun, but 

how would that help the gallery?” 

Zach sat up straight, stretching his arms high above his head. “It would make for a great PR campaign.
Maybe 

you could feature a different pet each week. If you told the local news about it, they’d eat it up. They
love stuff like 

that.” 

Jenna could practically feel the gears clicking in her mind. “I love that idea. It’s a win for everyone.
Plus, I’m pret- 

I’m pret- I can get Nolan on board, too.” 

He leaned into her, resting his head on her shoulder as he pulled her in closer. “See what we can
accomplish 

when we put our heads together?” 

In all honesty, when it came to him, she felt like she could take on anything. 

 
EPILOGUE 

  One Month Later 

“Turn it up! I can’t hear it.” 

Zach reached for the remote, tapping the volume button frantically as the six o’clock news segment
came on. 

Colleen Smith’s cheerful voice filled the room as she introduced the familiar face that Zach Williams
had fallen in 

love with over the last month. It was an extraordinary feeling, knowing that his girlfriend’s face was
beaming with joy 

on tens of thousands of televisions all across the viewing area. 

Jenna’s face lit up like Christmas as the camera panned across the numerous photos she’d taken since
starting 

the project. She was like a true animal whisperer, knowing just the right way to get each animal to
pose without mak- 

ing them uncomfortable. 

They looked happy. Truly happy. And why shouldn’t they? It was impossible not to smile while being
in Jenna’s 

presence. She was the ray of light Crescent Key needed. 

And someday soon, he’d ask her to be his wife. 

♥♥♥ 

The End