Sunset on Moonlight Beach - Sheila Roberts Page 0,101

the little cleft in it fascinating. Almost as fascinating as his deep voice that rumbled like thunder. A part of her that had been asleep appeared to be awakening, and it wanted more than friendship, yearned for a man’s touch. Could she love another man after so many years of carrying the torch for her husband?

“I don’t know,” she said.

“I do.” He took the nearly empty chowder container out of her hand and set it next to him on the log. Then he put both arms around her and drew her up against him.

Her heart began to flutter. Nerves? Excitement? Fear? Maybe all of the above.

“Ellis, what are you doing?” she protested. A mere formality and they both knew it.

“Something I should have done long before this,” he said, and kissed her.

Kissing was like riding a bike. You never forgot how.

And like getting back on a bike, it felt great.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The days began to bleed together as the last of summer slipped away. Sun, beach, waves...just another day in Paradise.

Jenna remembered her mother’s words, and kept doing her best to put one foot in front of the other, keeping the house clean, taking her turn baking cookies for the Driftwood’s reception desk, working hard to ensure things ran smoothly and their guests were happy. Keeping her massage business going and working the kinks out of her clients’ muscles. If only she could work out the kinks in her attitude as easily.

Celeste and Henry settled into their house and, come Labor Day, the family gathered there for dinner. Mel brought over potato salad to go with the burgers Henry was grilling on the back porch, and Jenna brought ice cream from Good Times Ice Cream Parlor.

“It’s so great to all be together,” Celeste said as the three women sat at the patio table, watching Henry slave over a hot grill. “You should have invited Ellis, Mom.”

“Sometimes it’s nice to just have family,” Mel said. “Isn’t that right?” she cooed to baby Edie, who was in her lap.

Edie gave her grandma a big smile and a laugh to say she agreed.

“He could end up being family,” Celeste said with a sly grin.

Mel’s cheeks took on a rosy hue. “He’s an awfully sweet man.”

“He’s a hottie. Better than Sam Elliot, right?” Celeste said. “Is he a good kisser?”

The roses on Mel’s cheeks went from pink to crimson. “That will be enough questions, Miss Snoopy.”

Celeste giggled and Jenna smiled. There were still things in life to be happy about. She needed to remember that.

But it was hard to stay happy when you hurt. Happiness was such an energy-sapping emotion.

So was sorrow, and she alternated between the two. Even though Sabrina was at home (sort of) and Jenna and Pete often shared a meal together, the house felt empty, like something precious had been lost. It was hard to walk into the kitchen and not cry. Aunt Edie should have been at the stove, baking cookies.

Jenna was determined to be a faithful guardian of the Driftwood, but she often felt like a deserted lover, hanging around where she was no longer welcome. I’m only going through the motions, she thought. At home, at the motel, especially when she went to her city council meetings. Who cared about beautifying the town or building a new dog park? Who cared about a convention center?

Parker Thorne, that was who. “How are you doing?” she asked when she came to Jenna for a massage.

“I’m all right,” Jenna said as she worked on the mayor’s shoulders. “Your shoulders are really tight, Mayor.”

“I do carry all my stress in my neck and shoulders. But I know you’ll get the kinks worked out. Let’s not talk about me though. I’m concerned about you,” Parker said. “You’ve been such a great addition to our city council, but you seem to have lost your steam.”

“I’ve lost more than steam. I lost my aunt,” Jenna reminded her. Not to mention the future she’d looked forward to.

“I know. And we all miss her. But don’t you think she’d want you to carry on in her absence? She was one of Moonlight Harbor’s early visionaries.”

Jenna concentrated on putting more massage oil on her hands. “I’m aware of that.”

“Your constituents are depending on you.”

“I’m doing my job,” Jenna insisted. Even if only half-heartedly.

“You are. But I know you had big dreams for this town. I’d hate to see you lose sight of them. The council needs that young blood.”

She was the youngest one on the council. Funny, she