“Yes. I’m taking a bit of a hiatus at the moment.” She sipped her iced tea, trying to ignore the way her nerves started to quiver. She wasn’t quite ready to reveal that she worked for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Vera raised her brows. “A hiatus. Oh yes, how I used to dream of those. That’s not something that is typically acceptable in the larger orchestras, unless there’s illness, of course, or something as unavoidable. But dreaming I did, for a break from the long hours of practice and working most evenings. Of course, I was married and my husband might not have liked sweets, but he loved my music. He was very supportive. But a young, single girl like you? How do you fit in a social life?”
She did understand. Jessica breathed a little easier. She felt Jamie’s eyes on her and glanced at him. Yup, still devastatingly handsome. And he was waiting to hear about her nonexistent social life. Why did she find it embarrassing that she didn’t have one?
“I’m working on the social part of my life.”
“Well, then, maybe this summer will prove to be good for both of you.” Vera rose to her feet and Jamie went to her side. Vera patted his arm. “Relax, dear. I’m just going to the ladies’ room. Sit and visit with Jessica.”
“I’ll walk you over.” Jamie kept hold of her arm.
“I’m fine, sweetheart.” Vera peered around him at Jessica. “He’s worse than a mother sometimes. Thoughtful to a fault.” She touched Jamie’s cheek. “I raised you right.”
Jamie watched her walk away. “I worry about her falling,” he said as he straddled the bench beside Jessica. She loved how he fussed over his grandmother.
Why did everything he did make him sexier?
“She’s wonderful. You’re lucky. I barely knew my grandparents.”
“Yeah.” He touched the ends of Jessica’s hair. “I am lucky.”
“Did you and your parents live with your grandparents when you were younger?”
His eyes grew serious again. Jamie ran his fingers through the ends of her hair. Her hair was so long that people often asked if they could touch it. Jamie’s touch was different, more intimate. As if they’d been dating for a long time and he was comfortable enough to do it without asking. Jessica wasn’t used to this type of intimacy. She’d never played with girlfriends’ hair or even worn her hair down often. Her performance hair, as she’d come to call it, was a tight bun secured with a million pins to ensure not a strand came loose.
He scooted closer, one strong leg behind her, the other touching her knee.
“My parents died when I was six. Vera and my grandfather raised me.” Jamie blinked several times, and when he lifted his eyes to Jessica’s, his heartache became hers. Her chest tightened, and her hand was drawn to his knee.
“I’m sorry. I can’t imagine…”
“It was a freak accident while they were on safari in Africa. A lion attack.” He breathed deeply.
“Oh, Jamie.” Her heart ached for him.
“Thank goodness for Vera; that’s all I can say. She was the best surrogate mother I could have had. I took her last name when I was a teenager. It felt like the right thing to do, and I’m glad I did.”
“Do you still live near her?” she asked. “She said she lives in Boston.”
“When we’re not at the Cape, she lives in an assisted living facility. I’m only five minutes away. I stop by and see her every day on my way home from work and on weekends. Take her out, that sort of thing.” His eyes softened. “I usually come to the Cape on weekends to spend time with her during the summer, but time is going by quickly. That’s why I’m here for the summer this year. I want to spend as much time with her as possible.”
Vera returned with a pleasant smile that reached her eyes. “It’s quite warm today. Why don’t you take me back to the cottage and the two of you can go enjoy the beach.”
Having just heard that Jamie wanted as much time with Vera as possible, Jessica didn’t want to monopolize him.
“Oh, goodness, thank you,” Jessica said. “But you must want to go to the pool and cool off. I can fend for myself this afternoon.”
Jamie took Vera’s arm as they made their way through the parking lot toward the car.
“I’ve had enough heat for one day. You two kids should go enjoy the sunshine.”
“You sure, Gram?” Jamie helped her into the car.
“Quite sure, dear.”
Jamie opened the car door for Jessica. “What do you say? Want to hit the beach for a while?”
You in a bathing suit? How on earth will I keep my lips off of you?
“Sure. I’d love to.”
Chapter Five
JAMIE HAD BEEN to the beach in the rain, fog, sweltering heat, and on gorgeous days such as today, and regardless of the weather, there was always a crowd. Cell phones didn’t work on the ocean beaches of the lower Cape, which made days spent there even more relaxing. This was his first time at the beach with Jessica, and he was especially glad that cell phones didn’t work there. The last thing he wanted was to be interrupted when he was with her. Besides, he worked hard, and he deserved a little private relaxation time without being tethered to emails and texts.
Jessica lay on her back in her light pink bikini, looking like she’d slipped off the page of a glossy magazine right onto the blanket. The bottoms tied on the sides and, thankfully, she wasn’t wearing a thong, given that Jamie’s body reacted to her every time they were close.
He lay on his side, perched on one elbow with a book beside him, although he hadn’t made it through a single page. He was too drawn to Jessica.
“What are you reading?” Her eyes were closed, the edges of her lips were curved in that sweet smile she sometimes tried to suppress, and she was so incredibly beautiful that it was hard for him not to stare.
“I’m not getting much reading done, but it’s one of Kurt Remington’s thrillers, When Evil Comes. Kurt is Leanna’s fiancé.”
She turned toward his voice and opened her eyes, shading them with her hand. “He’s an author?”
He nodded. “Bestselling author. He’s really good.”
She rolled onto her side, and her bikini top shifted, exposing the milky white fullness of her breast. He tried not to stare, but his eyes kept revisiting the view.
“That’s so cool.”
“That’s why he’s not around much this summer. He’s on a tight deadline, but I’m sure you’ll meet him at some point. He’s a great guy.” He wanted to touch her, to lay his hand on her hip, to kiss her lips, but he didn’t want to take a chance of embarrassing her on the beach. Instead, he set his book aside and moved closer, leaving only inches between them.
“I hope you didn’t mind that Vera was with us this morning. I’m glad you came along.”
“I really like your grandmother. She’s so nice, and you’re so sweet with her. I think I had more fun watching the two of you than looking around.” She was leaning on her elbow, just as he was.
Jamie moved his fingertips on top of hers on the sand and smiled. “Do you want to go in the water?”