Vera shooed him away with her hand. “He’s got nothing on you, but why give him a head start—even if you’re not looking for a girlfriend?”
Behind the cottages, the fire blazed in the large hibachi that Pete Lacroux’s brother had made as a gift for the community earlier in the summer. Hunter Lacroux worked with steel, and his hibachis and sculptures were favorites all over the Cape.
Bella and Caden sat together on a wooden bench, his arm slung casually over her shoulder. Jenna and Pete sat on the other side of the fire in deck chairs pushed so close together they could be sitting on the same one, with their female golden retriever, Joey, at their feet.
Jamie shifted his eyes to Tony, sitting between Amy and Jessica on the longer bench, leaving two empty chairs. Sky sat beside Blue Ryder on Jessica’s other side. Blue was one of the best carpenters on the Cape. In addition to being the contractor of choice for the Kennedys, where he handled everything from new construction to renovations on their multi-home estate in Hyannis, he’d built an art studio on Pete and Jenna’s bay-side property for Jenna, and he’d quickly become friends with the group.
“There’s the man.” Tony got up, pulled a beer from a cooler by the bench, and handed it to Jamie. “We had extras from this afternoon, so you gotta help me finish them off.” With a quick shake of his chin, his dirty-blond hair flopped out of his eyes and then fell right back to center. Tony had on a tank top and board shorts, despite the chilly night. Every muscle was on display. Tony put an arm around Jessica and one around Amy with a Hey man, it’s all cool over here grin on his face.
Hard to get his back up over a friend, but that didn’t mean the streak of jealousy that tore through Jamie didn’t make him stand up taller and pull his own broad shoulders back.
“Thanks, man.” Jamie took a long pull on the beer and sat in a chair across the fire from Jessica. Too far away.
“Thanks for showing up to watch Vera tonight, you guys. It meant a lot to her.” Jamie stole a glance at Jessica. She was still wearing the dress and sweater she’d had on earlier. Her exquisite long legs were crossed at the knee, and her foot kicked up and down nervously. He’d give his left leg to be Tony, with his arm around Jessica right then.
Jessica caught him looking at her and pressed her lips together in a sweet, embarrassed smile that brought out her adorably sexy dimples. What was it about her that had his interest so piqued?
“I really enjoyed hearing Vera play. She’s very talented. Does she play every night?” Jessica lifted a wineglass to her lips.
Jamie was too busy watching her lick her lips to respond.
“Weekly,” Amy said. “And sometimes she plays out on the deck here, which I personally love.”
Tony squeezed Amy’s shoulder. “Is there anything you don’t love about Seaside?”
Jessica ran her finger around the rim of her glass and glanced at Jamie. If he didn’t distract himself from her, he’d be the joke of the night. Bella would call him googly-eyed and other ridiculous names.
He shifted his eyes to Blue, who was sitting in the other seat he’d like to be in at the moment. “Good to see you, Blue. What’s new and exciting?”
“Not much. I just wrapped up another renovation for the Kennedys in Hyannis, and I’m toying with the idea of finding a property to flip to give me something to focus on this winter.” Blue ran his hand through his hair and nodded at Sky. “Unless I can convince Sky to renovate her father’s place.”
“You’re dreaming.” Sky tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. “Maybe I’ll get a place of my own soon and you can knock down walls or whatever it is that you love to do so much.” Sky and Blue had become close over the last year while he was working on Pete’s property. Sky was as beautiful as Blue was handsome, and Jamie was surprised that they’d never taken their friendship to the next level, but Blue seemed more like an older brother to Sky than a potential love interest.
“Oh, Sky, you should let him,” Jenna said. “I love my studio, and Blue’s going to put in even more cabinets so that I can organize it.” She spread her fingers, palms out, and her eyes widened. “I’ll organize my paints, brushes, tarps…I can’t wait.”
Pete pulled her closer and kissed her cheek. “She’s already organized everything in our house and my father’s house. I’m ready to set her loose with Blue at the Kennedys.”
Blue laughed. “Their staff wouldn’t know what to do with her. They have their own way of doing things, and I’ve seen the inside of their cabinets. They’re neat and organized, but not Jenna organized.”
Jamie and Jessica’s eyes connected again. He shifted in his seat. Jamie lived in Boston, and although he had a hectic work schedule and cared for his grandmother, he still found time to date. He had a handful of women he enjoyed spending time with. Women he was sure weren’t after his money, of which he had more than he could spend in three lifetimes. He lived like an average Joe, because if there’s one thing Jamie learned from a very young age, it was that life was short and what really mattered wasn’t what he had, but how he chose to spend his time. Hobnobbing with the wealthy would never bring him happiness, but hanging with the friends who knew and loved him always did. And he hadn’t realized until just now that what was missing was a woman whom he could actually share his life with—and his friends.
“Hey, we have fresh strawberries. Anyone want strawberry margaritas?” Jenna jumped to her feet and reached for Bella’s hand. “Come on.”
“I have a beer.” Bella held up her bottle.
“So what! This is Jessica’s first bonfire with us. We need to initiate her.” Jenna reached for Sky’s hand next. Joey lifted her head, then used Jenna’s escape to stand between Pete’s legs and beg for more attention.
“I’m in!” Amy jumped up, too, as if they’d both swallowed Mexican jumping beans. “Come on, Jessica.” She pulled Jessica to her feet.
“Sounds good to me, but I’m a lightweight. I never really drink,” Jessica admitted.
Jamie and Tony exchanged grins. Not that either of them would take advantage of a woman when she was drunk. They never competed for women, either. Of course, neither had ever dated the women who rented here. Even so, Jamie sensed a hint of friendly competition…Game on.
He watched Jessica walk inside trapped between Jenna and Amy and knew that before the summer’s end, she’d be considered one of them. The question was, would he be on the outside looking in, or the one sitting beside her by the fire?
JENNA’S ONE-BEDROOM cottage was nowhere near big enough for the five of them. The kitchen was about five feet long and wide enough only to open the refrigerator. The counter barely had enough room for the five shot glasses Jenna was filling with tequila. When Bella reached above Jenna and pulled down the blender from a high cabinet, she squished Jenna against the counter.