“No, Jack, please. Take it.”
He pushed up from the table and went inside, leaving me sitting there with the money still in my outstretched hand. I sighed and pocketed it again. “Your dad is a little stubborn, huh?” I said, looking over at Princess.
Jack returned after a few minutes inside, and without a word, started for the sand, heading back to where we’d parked the car. The sky was painted burnt orange with flares of red and pink as the sun sank down over the water.
It was breathtaking and peaceful, but I couldn’t fully enjoy it with the awkward silence hanging between us as we walked with our dogs back to the parking lot. I stayed a few paces behind, shuffling my feet and wondering—not for the first time—what the hell was wrong with me. I’d met a gorgeous man on vacation, and I was so terrified of the unknown that I wouldn’t even agree to having lunch or coffee with him.
We were almost back to the parking lot when Hunter started lagging way behind. Jack noticed and stopped to scoop him up. I smiled as the puppy settled down against his chest, his chin and front paws resting on one of Jack’s broad shoulders, bouncing softly with each footstep.
At the car, Jack deposited the sleeping pup into the backseat and then ushered Princess inside, before adjusting the passenger seat for me to get in. I stepped in closer and dared to place a hand on Jack’s back. His eyes found mine and I smiled. “Thanks for carrying him all that way.”
“My pleasure,” he replied, his voice low and soft.
“If the offer is still open, we’d love—I’d love, to get lunch or coffee or something.”
He smiled. “That would be great.”
“One condition, though.” I held up a finger. “My treat next time.”
Jack started to protest, but I stopped him. He frowned but then said, “All right. All right.”
“Good.” I smiled and hopped into the passenger seat. Jack closed the door and went to the back of the car. I turned at the sound of the trunk unlatching, my eyebrows knit together, wondering what he needed from the trunk. He closed it seconds later and returned to my side of the car to offer me a thick, flannel blanket.
“It’s gonna be a little chilly on the ride back with the top down,” he explained, matter of fact.
“Right. Thanks.” I took the blanket and smoothed it over my legs, marveling at the sweet gesture. As I unfolded the top layer, the smell of Jack’s cologne wafted to my nose, and I smiled to myself as his scent enveloped me.
The sound of rustling wind and other cars on the road made it hard to carry a conversation, so Jack switched on some music. A soft, jazzy mix of songs tinkled through the air to accompany the wind through the trees. As we neared Holiday Cove, he turned down the music. “Where in town did you leave your car?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t. It’s back at my rental.”
“Okay. Well, lead the way, I’ll drop you off there.”
He took my directions and minutes later, we were parked in the small lot in front of the three matching houses. “That one’s me,” I said, gesturing to the center house. For a moment, I considered asking him to come in for a drink but decided against it. “Thanks again for today. We had fun,” I said, peeking into the backseat. Hunter was awake, but his eyes were sliding closed as we idled.
“You need help packing him in?”
I looked between the sleepy pup and Jack, twisting the end of my hair. “Um, sure. That would help.”
Jack smiled and hopped out. He leaned over the back and scooped the puppy into his arms. “Lead the way.” Princess stood up and started pacing, obviously anxious that she was getting left behind. “Stay here, girl.”
She lay back down again with a pathetic sigh to let him know she would listen, but she wasn’t happy about it. I laughed softly and shook my head. “You’re seriously going to have to teach me how to get him to listen like Princess does. She’s so well behaved. I guess her name is pretty fitting.”
At the front door, I fumbled with my keys as I unlocked it, before pushing inside the house. I flicked on the living room lights.
“Wow, pretty sweet digs,” Jack said. “Where do you want him?”
“The couch is fine.”
Jack crossed the room and gently laid Hunter down. Hunter stirred, but his eyes barely opened before he was back to sleep. Jack straightened and crossed to the large windows. The beach was dark, but the moon was reflecting off the ocean, and a blanket of stars was starting to unfold in the night sky above the ocean. The view was gorgeous, but my eyes were busy taking in the strong lines of Jack’s body, memorizing every detail as he slid his hands in the back pockets of his jeans.