Chapter Sixteen
“T hat was a terrific book group,” Kim said as she carried the last of the folding chairs back to the shed.
“It was fun, wasn’t it?” Jenna said, smothering a yawn.
“And the best part is, we don’t have to host it again for a whole year.”
She smiled. “At least we made it through the book discussion before the storm hit.”
“Barely.” Kim gestured out to sea, where dark clouds gathered. Lightning arced over the water and she could hear the distant answering thunder.
“I’d better get home. Thanks for hosting. This was a lovely spot for the party.”
Her friend hugged her and hurried to her car as the first few drops of rain hit.
Jenna carried the last few serving dishes into the house, worried about Wes. She had seen him leave the house and ride away on his bike during the first hour of the party and he had yet to return.
She hoped he wasn’t caught out in the rain. She had heard raindrops could feel like tiny bullets to a motorcyclist.
Her hand throbbed as she made her way up the stairs to her apartment. She needed some ibuprofen and her bed.
She pushed open the door to her quiet apartment. Bella had left a half hour ago with Logan and Rosa, leaving Addie fast asleep in her bed. Jenna had checked on her fifteen minutes earlier when she had carried a load of items upstairs.
She spotted the empty crate as soon as she walked into the kitchen. Oh shoot. On that earlier trip up to the apartment, she had taken Theo back down with her to let him out for the night one last time and then got so busy talking with Kim and cleaning up the final debris from the party that she completely forgot him in the small fenced dog yard.
She made her way back down the stairs and out the back porch.
“Theo? Come on, bud.”
She waited for the puppy to come bounding over to her. When he didn’t, she frowned. “Theo? Come.”
Still nothing.
The storm was moving closer, she saw. A flash of lightning illuminated the yard, revealing no sign of the dog.
She moved down the steps. Where could he be?
When she reached the back of the dog yard, which accessed the beach gate, everything inside her turned cold. The gate was ajar slightly, with just enough room for a puppy to squeeze through.
A few of her guests who lived close had opted to walk home via the beach. She could only guess that one of them must not have closed the gate completely.
Theo was gone.
A storm was coming, her daughter was alone in the house and their small, defenseless puppy was lost somewhere on the beach.
This was her fault. She should have checked to make sure the beach gate was closed before she ever let Theo out into the yard.
Anything could happen to him out there. She couldn’t bear thinking about the hazards to a small puppy.
She had to find him, no matter if she had to search all night.
She turned and raced back into her apartment for her phone and a flashlight, tossing extra batteries in her pocket just in case, then hurried back downstairs.
Her fatigue, the ache in her hand and the ache in her heart were all forgotten for now as she focused on finding Theo.
After a long bike ride down to Pacific City and back, Wes hoped he might be tired enough to sleep.
Instead, his mind still raced, his heart still ached and now he was damp and cold from the rain that had caught him about fifteen miles from home.
The party was apparently over, he saw as he pulled into the driveway. The only other vehicles he could see were his pickup truck and Jenna’s small SUV.
He looked up to the second floor, where he saw only a dim light on.
Just as he was climbing off his bike, the front door flung open and Jenna raced down the porch toward him wearing a raincoat and carrying a flashlight.
“Oh, thank heavens you’re here,” she said, her voice frantic. “I am so glad I heard your bike. I need your help.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked instantly, forgetting all about his wet clothing or the chill beginning to seep in.
“It’s Theo. Somehow he wandered off through the beach gate.” Her voice bordered on hysteria. “I’m just about to go look for him. Can you help me?”
“Of course.” He didn’t hesitate for a second. “I’ve got a flashlight and my headlamp in my pickup. Let me grab them.”
He unlocked the truck and found the lights immediately. On impulse, he also threw in a couple of road flares. They might come in handy.
He shut the truck door as another flash of lightning rippled through the night, still distant but moving closer.
“What about Addie?” he asked suddenly. “You can’t leave her for long. Why don’t you stay with her and I’ll go look.”
She shook her head vigorously. “I called my friend Kim and she is on her way back to stay with Addie in case she wakes. She should be here in a few minutes. She knows the code to get in the house and I left my apartment unlocked. It’s my fault. I should have been more careful and made sure the gate was shut after some of my guests left that way.”
Ah. That explained how Theo had managed his escape.
“How long do you think he’s been gone?”
“Maybe fifteen or twenty minutes. I don’t think it can be longer than that.”
A dog could move quickly in that amount of time.
As they hurried toward the beach, he wondered how they were supposed to spot a little tan-colored dog in the sand in the dark, in the middle of a storm.
He didn’t want to be the voice of doom by raising the worry. Maybe the dog hadn’t gone far. Maybe he would hear them calling him.
“I think we should split up,” Jenna said, once they left Brambleberry House property. “Why don’t you go north and I’ll go south?”
He wasn’t thrilled with the idea of separating from her, though it did make the most sense. They could cover twice the ground that way.
“Here. Take a flare. If you find him, light it so I know to come back. I should see it from far down the beach.”
“Okay. And you’ll do the same, right?”
In another flash of distant lightning, her features looked pale and frightened. He wanted to pull her against him, to keep her warm and safe from the storm, but he knew this wasn’t the time for that.
“We’ll find him, Jenna. I promise.”
“I hope so. Addie has lost enough. She’ll be devastated if something happens to him.”
“We don’t have long. As soon as that storm hits in earnest, we have to find shelter. Puppy or not. I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“It’s moving this way. We’ve maybe only got fifteen minutes before we’ll have to head back. There’s no safe shelter on the beach.”
“Let’s pray we find him soon then.”
She raced toward the water, scanning the sand with the beam of her flashlight and calling the dog’s name.
Still reluctant to leave her alone, he headed off in the opposite direction.
He had been looking for perhaps ten minutes. When he turned around, he could see her light still bobbing across the sand, though it was growing dimmer.
He called the dog but it was hard to hear anything with the waves beginning to crash and the wind blowing hard.
Lightning split the sky again, closer this time. In that instant of light, he thought he saw movement in the waves about ten yards from shore, a tiny dark head.
He thought at first it might be a seal or a sea turtle, then wondered if he had imagined it. He aimed his powerful flashlight in that direction. In a second flash of lightning, he realized it wasn’t a sea creature, it was a small dog, swimming furiously for all he was worth toward shore and being tossed back again and again by the waves.
“I see him,” he shouted, though he knew even as he did, she wouldn’t be able to hear him.
Without another thought, he lit his flare, hoping she could see it, then kicked off his boots, yanked off his leather jacket and waded into the cold waters of the Pacific.
He had hoped he might be able to walk to the puppy, but the waves were too intense. They almost knocked him over twice. Finally he dived over the next one as lightning illuminated the water and his path to the puppy. The thunder that followed only a few seconds later confirmed the storm was moving closer.
The puppy was tiring. He could tell. The next wave went over its head and it didn’t pop up again for a long moment. With a fierce burst of energy, Wes swam the last few yards to the dog and scooped him under one arm, then began the journey back to shore.
When he was a few yards from shore, he stood up and fought his way through the waves to the sand as Jenna came running down the beach.
She gasped, trying to catch her breath. “Was he in the water? I saw your flare and then you jumped in and I was so scared. Did you find him? Is he...?”
He hadn’t even had the chance to assess Theo’s condition. He held the puppy up and felt vast relief when Theo gave a weak-sounding whine.
Jenna, her breath still coming harshly from her run down the beach, reached for Theo and hugged him tightly. “Oh, you poor thing. I’m so glad you’re safe. Don’t do that again. You scared me so much!”
The labradoodle licked her cheek and rested his wet head against her chest.
Wes couldn’t help thinking he would like to do the same thing, just pull her into his arms and bask in her heat.
They couldn’t stay here, though. Not with that storm moving ever closer.
He scooped up his boots and his jacket, not bothering to put them on now.
“We have to get back to the house. The lightning is too close.”
“Are you okay? I can’t believe you did that!”
“I’m fine,” he said as they quickly raced back toward the house. “He wasn’t that far out. I wouldn’t have seen him if he’d been even a little farther out. I didn’t think I would have to swim but the waves were stronger than I was expecting, which might be what happened to him. I can carry him. He’s soaked, so he has to weigh twice as much as usual.”
“I’ve got him,” she said, racing along beside him.
The rain hit hard as they made it the final hundred yards to the Brambleberry House beach gate.
He opened it and together they ran to the back porch.
“Is he okay?” he asked.
“He seems to be.” Jenna set the dog down. He sat on his haunches, looking far more alert in the glow from the porch light, but he didn’t seem to want to leave her side.
“Wes, thank you,” Jenna said as thunder rumbled just beyond the safety of the porch. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been here. You have come to my rescue more times than I can count.”
“I’m glad I made it back from my ride in time to help you.”
“So am I. Oh, Wes. Thank you.”
She wrapped her arms around him and he held her tightly. She was shaking, he realized.
“Let’s get you inside. You’re freezing.”
She shook her head. “I’m a little cold but I’m not the one who went for a dip in the Pacific. I was so scared when you jumped into the water. Terrified. I have never felt so helpless. I could do nothing while you risked your life for my daughter’s dog.”
“He’s a sweet little guy. I didn’t want something to happen to him. Not if I could help.”
She made a sound halfway between a laugh and a sob. “I can’t believe you risked your life for a puppy. I’m so glad you did, but I feel sick when I think of all the things that could have happened to you. To both of you. An undertow. A rogue wave. Or a shark, for heaven’s sake.”
“Nothing happened,” he said, his voice gruff. “I’m here. Just a little wet, but I was wet anyway from my ride.”
“Thank you. I can never thank you enough.”
When she placed her warm hands on either side of his face and pressed her mouth to his, she completely shattered him.
He closed his eyes and held himself still as she kissed him with a tenderness that made him yearn for more. Finally, he couldn’t bear it another moment and he stepped away.
“You’re killing me, Jenna. I can’t do this anymore. There isn’t enough pavement in Oregon for me to ride away how much I want to have you right here in my arms.”
Without looking at her or waiting for an answer, he turned around and hurried into the house, already trying to figure out how soon he could move out so he could start the process of trying to get over her.
Jenna watched him go, her heart beating hard. She had been about to tell him she was falling in love with him. What might have happened if she had spoken sooner?
She hadn’t. Once more, she had let her fear control her.
At her feet, the still-bedraggled puppy whimpered and she pushed away her angst to focus on his needs for now.
She carried him into the house, where Kim was waiting.
“You found him. Oh, I’m so glad. Where was he?”
“I didn’t find him. Wes did. He somehow had gone into the water and then couldn’t swim back out. Wes went in after him.”
“Is he okay?”
She grabbed the microfiber towel she used to dry him and rubbed him vigorously. He was warm and alert, his eyes bright as he looked over at Kim. After a moment, the puppy wriggled to be let down, and Jenna set him on the floor again, where he trotted to his water bowl and drank it empty. Poor thing, surrounded by all that salt water he couldn’t drink. There was a metaphor in that, she was fairly certain, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
She filled his bowl again, not caring that it meant she would have to take him out to do his business again in an hour.
After taking a few more sips, the puppy ate a little of his chow, then padded to his crate, where he curled up on the blankets and went immediately to sleep.
Kim, watching all of this, smiled. “Looks like he’s fine. Exhausted, but fine.”
“Thank you for coming back to stay with Addie.”
“Glad to do it. I haven’t even been here twenty minutes.”
“Well, thank you. I had no idea how long it might take to find him.”
“And you and Wes would have looked all night, wouldn’t you?”
Jenna gave a little laugh. “Yes. Wes was going to make me stop if the lightning got too close, but as soon as the storm passed, we would have gone back out.”
She knew she wouldn’t have stopped looking and suddenly had no doubt that Wes would have been right there at her side.
He was a man she could count on. A man any woman could rely upon to help her through the storms of life. He would do anything for a woman he loved.
She closed her eyes as the realization filled her with a peaceful assurance. She wanted to be that woman, sharing troubles and joys and life with him.
The last of her fear, any lingering doubts, seemed to shrivel away. She wanted to be with Wes. The differences between them didn’t matter. They had many more things in common.
“He’s a good guy, isn’t he?” Kim said, as if reading Jenna’s thoughts.
“The very best,” she answered.
“You should probably tell him you’re in love with him. A guy deserves to know, don’t you think? Especially after he risked his life for your dog.”
“Yes. Probably.” Jenna could feel her face heat.
“Want me to stay with Addie a little longer while you do? I can even stay all night, ahem, if necessary. I don’t mind sleeping on the sofa.”
Jenna could only shake her head. “Not necessary. I need to change into some dry clothes, then I’ll go talk to him. Thank you again.”
“Anytime. Though I hope your little buddy over there learns to stay put after his little adventure.”
Kim let herself out while Jenna hurried to change into dry clothes. What did a woman wear when she was about to put her heart on the line? She had no idea, so she settled on a pair of yoga pants and a soft sweater that always gave her comfort.
After checking on her sleeping daughter and puppy, she opened her door, drawing on all her courage to make her way up the stairs to his apartment.
As she went, she thought she smelled flowers on the stairs. Was Abigail there, giving her strength? It was a comforting idea, though she still wasn’t sure she was buying the whole ghost thing.
At his door, she lingered for a long moment. What if he was asleep already?
He wasn’t. She was suddenly sure of it.
There isn’t enough pavement in Oregon for me to ride away how much I want to have you right here in my arms.
She shivered, took a deep breath and knocked softly, then waited what felt like an eternity for him to open the door.
He had changed into dry clothes, too. Had possibly showered. His hair was damp and sticking up and he smelled clean and masculine and wonderful.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, his voice so remote she had to pause, some of her uncertainty fluttering back.
No. She wouldn’t give in to it. This man had risked his life to save a puppy from drowning in the Pacific in the middle of a lightning storm.
She could certainly take a chance and tell him how she felt.
“Yes. Something is wrong,” she murmured.
“What?”
“I need to tell you something. May I...come in?”
He appeared reluctant but finally opened the door further. She walked into the apartment, so different now than it had been when Rosa lived here. It was comfortable and clean, though fairly utilitarian and sparsely decorated. Rosa had taken all her personal things when she moved out to marry Wyatt.
Now that she was here, she didn’t know where to start. Doubt began to creep back in but she firmly pushed it away and faced him.
“When my husband died, I told myself I was done with love. I didn’t need or want the vulnerability and pain that went hand in hand with it. Then everything happened with Aaron, which only reinforced that relationships were far too messy.”
She let out a breath and realized her hands were shaking. She curled them into fists and hoped he didn’t notice.
“I told myself I was happy on my own. I had Addie and my students. A life here in Cannon Beach. I didn’t need anything else.”
She met his gaze but couldn’t read anything in his features that looked as if they had been carved from a block of wood.
“And then you moved in and...everything changed. You kissed me. You made me feel cherished. You reminded me that I’m still a woman. A woman who...who apparently can still fall in love.”
He gazed at her, still expressionless except for his eyes, which suddenly blazed with emotion.
“Are you?”
“In love? Yes. I’m afraid so. I didn’t want to be, but you rode into my life and changed everything.”
The last word barely emerged when he crossed the space between them in a blink, pulled her tightly into his arms and kissed her with a humbling mix of ferocity and tenderness.
“Oh, Jenna,” he said against her mouth a long moment later. “I love you. I think I have from the moment I moved in, when you were terrified of me.”
“Not you,” she assured him, kissing the corner of his mouth, arms around him as tightly as she could manage. “It was never you. It was the image of who I thought you were.”
“An ex-con.”
“A big, intimidating man who rode a motorcycle and had tattoos.”
“I’m still that guy,” he pointed out.
“No. You’re so much more.” She kissed him again, loving the feel of his arms around her and the knowledge that she was exactly where she wanted to be. Where she needed to be.
Where she belonged.
“You’re so much more,” she repeated. “You’re a loving father. A loyal friend. A man willing to drop everything to come to the rescue of a fourteen-pound puppy.”
She paused and kissed him again, her mouth slow and lingering. “And you’re the man I love with all my heart.”
He gave a low sound, picked her up as if she weighed nothing and carried her to the sofa.
“You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever known,” he said, his voice low and rough. “We both know I don’t deserve you, but I don’t care. I swear to you, Jenna, that I will spend the rest of my life trying to be the man you need.”
His mouth brushed hers with a tenderness and care that made her eyes burn.
“You already are,” she whispered.
She loved this man deeply. This was right between them.
No. Better than right. It was perfect.