James?Maxi’s husband?It couldn’t be. He never took off his suit jacket. But his profile was familiar. What was he doing with Sandee? Maxi hadn’t said anything about investing in a cottage, particularly one so close to home. Maybe Jane was mistaken. She needed a closer look.
As she started toward the cottage, the pair moved out of sight, away from the back window and into another room.
Weird. Maxi had always said she wanted to have a cottage on the beach where she could paint all day. Maybe they were finally buying one. But Jane had just seen Maxi this morning, and she hadn’t mentioned a thing.
A bark gave her thirty seconds of warning before a golden ball of fur launched into her. The next thing she knew, she was lying in the sand, an eager golden retriever nose stuck in her face right before his tongue lapped her cheek.
“Cooper! Come here!”
Jane laughed, further encouraging Cooper, who wagged his entire body. She balled her hands in his fur, trying to pat him and push him away at the same time. She had to admit the exuberant devotion of the dog felt good. That was something you sure didn’t get from people.
“Cooper.” Mike sounded exasperated this time and much nearer. A moment later, Cooper jumped off Jane.
She rose up on her elbows and caught her breath before Mike’s charming smile appeared in front of her face as he battled the dog one-handed and offered her the other.
“We have to stop meeting like this.”
She smiled back at him. “One of these days I would like to be upright when we meet.” Her voice was a little breathless. She took his hand, letting him help her to stand before she started to brush off the sand as best she could.
Cooper divided his attention between them, his tail moving back and forth in a perpetual wag.
“Here, boy,” Mike said, swiping a stick of driftwood off the beach. “Fetch!”
Cooper looked conflicted as he glanced between Jane and Mike. However, when Mike let the stick fly, the dog rocketed down the beach after it.
“Are you all right?” Mike asked, his eyes twinkling.
Jane couldn’t help but notice that in addition to a nice smile, Mike also had nice eyes. When she’d met him in front of Tall Pines,she’d thought them gray or brown. But here, in the sunlight, they looked green. A beautiful shade of green that reminded her of the ocean. Why in the world was she noticing these things about him?
“I’m fine,” she answered, her voice even quieter than usual. She glanced at the beach to see that Cooper, unable to find his initial stick of driftwood, had found an even bigger piece and was on his way back, carrying it precariously. When she risked a glance toward Mike, she found him watching her with that smile still in place.
“Did your grandfather live here on the beach?” Jane gestured back toward the cottages. “I remember you said you were staying here to care for him.”
“Actually, I’m renting one of the cottages. I was staying at Gramps’s place over on Elm Street, but it sold last week.”
Something felt sad and final about Mike’s grandfather’s place being sold, as if he could never go back. Though clearly Addie could never go back, either, especially not if Jane screwed up and didn’t get Tides profitable again. That would be doubly problematic since there would be no Tides for Addie to go back to and also no money to keep her at Tall Pines.
Mike must have sensed her thoughts. His eyes were sad as he watched Cooper. “It was kind of a bummer letting the old place go. Gramps loved living in the town. He used to be a town official here.”
“You know, I think I might remember my grandparents mentioning a George Henderson. Is that your grandfather?” Jane asked.
“Yep. They probably knew each other. Seems like most people in town did back then.”
Cooper dropped the stick proudly at Mike’s feet. It was as big around as Mike’s fist and nearly as long as the dog. Mike stared blankly at it. “What do you expect me to do with that?”
The dog sat proudly, his tail thumping the sand.
With a sigh, Mike bent to pick up the stick. “This thing has to weigh ten pounds!”
He threw the stick hard, and Cooper took off after it.
“I’m sure your grandfather appreciates you being here and taking Cooper to see him. Will you stay out here long?”
“I’m a programmer. I can work on my code from anywhere, but I’ll have to go back at some point.” Mike’s face turned serious as he looked down at Cooper, who had returned with a different stick. “I’m not sure what I’ll do with Cooper, though. My apartment in Seattle is definitely not dog friendly.”
Jane’s heart pinched as images of Cooper sad and depressed in a small apartment—or worse, inside a cage at the animal shelter—bubbled up. A dog like Cooper needed room to run.
Mike picked the stick up and threw it. “But I guess I’ll figure something out. He’s a good dog, deserves a good home. Besides, I’m not ready to leave yet. Gramps needs me.”
