Seaside Embrace(15)

“We renovated it so when it rains the babies don’t have to be out under umbrellas,” Leanna explained. “It’s one thing to get together as adults under umbrellas in the rain, because, you know, we never mind that stuff.”

“But with the babies,” Amy said as she touched Hannah’s cheek, “we don’t want them to catch colds. So now we have this amazing space. It’s definitely big enough for dance classes.”

“Theresa’s approval.” Jenna narrowed her eyes at Bella. “We should have asked over the winter, when the threat of another one of Bella’s pranks wasn’t hovering.”

“Sky told me about your pranks,” Jana said. “They sound hilarious.” Every summer Bella pulled a prank on Theresa, who was the property manager, and fairly straitlaced.

“Theresa and I came to an agreement at the end of last summer. No more pranks. I’m done,” Bella insisted. She wiped Summer’s mouth and said, “I think she’d love to help you out. She might have to charge a nominal fee because of the association rules or something, but we can ask her.”

“No more pranks?” Amy shook her head. “I don’t believe it. You’ll have withdrawals.”

Bella laughed. “I think Summer will keep my mind occupied enough to take care of that. Besides, we have a dance business to plan.”

They spent the next hour planning and strategizing every aspect of Jana starting her own dance studio. Midway through their planning session, with Jana feeling like she’d just been scooped up by the most amazing team of planners she’d ever met, she called Brock and explained what she was thinking about doing and that for the first time ever she’d have to miss their training session. Brock started to give her a brief lecture on commitment, then, being the incredibly supportive big brother that he was, told her he was proud of her.

“I think we have a solid plan.” Amy flipped through the pages of notes she’d taken and read off their to-do list. “Bella, you’re going to help Jana design flyers. Leanna, you’re going to start getting contacts together that you used for your business to help spread the word, like that woman at the Cape Codder newspaper and the other media outlets we talked about.”

“Yup. I’m excited,” Leanna said. “You should have seen how happy they were when I brought them each a case of Strawberry Spice jam.” Strawberry Spice was Leanna’s newest flavor, and all the girls agreed it was the best yet.

Amy continued doling out assignments. “Jenna, you’re on list duty. You get to make lists of places for Jana to hang up flyers. And Jessica and I will work with Jamie to develop a website with online registration forms, directions, class descriptions, which Jana will need to help us with.” She set down the notebook and grinned. “I’m so excited I feel like I could burst!”

“You guys, my boss would have a fit if he saw flyers going up in town.” Jana tried to quell the worry in her stomach, but everything was happening so fast.

“Listen, that’s his issue, not yours. He’s not even here to see what you do at his studio. Do you think he’s going to worry about yours?” Jenna reminded her.

“Besides, competition is what makes a business thrive,” Jessica said. “Do you think Jamie worried about what Google would think when he unveiled his search engine?”

“Well, no. I guess you’re right.” A lump formed in Jana’s throat. “You guys…I’m so overwhelmed. You haven’t known me that long, and you’re willing to help me do all this stuff?”

“It’s not about how long you’ve known someone,” Jessica said. “Gosh, I knew Jamie was the man for me from almost the very second I threw my phone at him when I was renting the apartment above Theresa’s house.”

The girls all laughed.

Jessica laughed, too. “It was funny. I also knew instantly that you guys were as kindhearted as you seemed.”

Bella smiled warmly and said to Jana, “You still see yourself as Sky’s friend, but, Jana, we see you as our friend. We’re happy to help. Now all we have to do is check with Theresa.”

“I have an idea!” Leanna jumped to her feet, waking Sloan, who had dozed off in her arms. He began crying and she lifted him to her shoulder and patted his back. “It’s okay, baby. Mommy’s just excited,” she said in a hushed tone. Once he settled down, she spoke softly. “How about if I make Theresa’s favorite muffins and we bring them to her tomorrow morning? That should soften her up.”

“Sounds good to me,” Bella said.

“Wait, you guys. Everything is moving so fast.” Jana’s heart raced with the idea that this might be able to really happen. “I can’t just stop working and start this. I have responsibilities to Marco, and putting out flyers, getting ready, buying supplies, that all takes time. There’s so much to do.”

Amy waved her hand again. “Pfft. Easy peasy. Give Jerko a month’s notice, tell Brock you’re going to need some time off from training, and focus on making your dream a reality.”

“You make it sound so easy. What if I fail?” Her stomach sank. “There are so few dance instruction positions here that I’d probably end up having to drive to Hyannis, or farther, to find another job if it doesn’t work out. I’m sure Marco wouldn’t take me back after I leave him.”

“You don’t want to work with him anyway,” Bella reminded her.

“I’m the queen of making quick life-altering decisions,” Leanna said as she paced with Sloan, who was now sleeping again. “The way I make them is by not thinking them through.”

“Oh my God,” Jana said. “Harper would lock you in a room far, far away from me if she heard you say that.”

Leanna laughed. “That’s probably a good strategy on her part. But what I mean is, don’t think about failure. Don’t even let that enter your mind. Just decide that you’re going to make it work. What’s the worst thing that happens? You have to start over, or drive farther?” Leanna held Jana’s gaze. “Besides, how will you ever know what you’re capable of if you don’t try? It’s like with love. When you know it’s right, why question it?”

“Yeah, well. I’m not very good in that department either.” Jana glanced at the message light blinking on her phone. She must have been so caught up in the conversation that she’d missed a text from DO NOT RESPOND! She swiped the screen and opened the message.

I dreamed about you in that tub all night. It was a very long night.

Jana felt her entire body flush as she turned her phone over on the table. She had a feeling it was going to be a very long day, too, now that the image of Hunter lying naked on the bed, stroking his hard length, was in the forefront of her mind again.

She thought about that for a moment. She was already exploring uncharted territory with Hunter. Why not make her entire life a shambles and upend her career, too?

“Okay. You’ve convinced me. Let’s do this.”





Chapter Ten


HUNTER HAD BEEN in a crappy mood all day. It started last night when Jana had ended their FaceTime call without a word. After what they’d done, he’d assumed they’d talk or something. Then he’d texted her this morning, and she hadn’t texted back. Had he pushed her too far? Crossed a line she was too embarrassed to come back from? Damn, he hoped not.

Last night he’d realized just how brave Jana really was. Boxing was nothing compared to the trust she’d shown in him, the way she’d completely given herself over to their sexy video call. But what he hadn’t realized until after she’d failed to return his text this morning was that he’d opened himself up to her, too. He’d trusted her and given just as much of himself as she had.

He tried to work out his frustrations through metalwork, but even the pounding, twisting, shaping, and in the end, mangling, just left him even more annoyed. It didn’t help that Clark and Nina were arguing again. They’d had a nice time last night, and when they’d returned this morning it had seemed like they were making amends, but by noon Clark had already taken three calls from Nina, and every one of them had ended in an argument.

What was it about women and arguments?

With one last look around the shop, he grabbed his hoodie from his office and stormed up front.

“Taking off?” Grayson asked as Hunter stalked past the drawing table.

“Yup.”

“Want to grab a beer?” Grayson set down his pen and leaned back, crossing his ankle over his knee. He looked so relaxed it magnified how stressed Hunter felt.

“Not tonight.”

“What’s up?”

Jana’s got me tied in knots. “Nothing I want to talk about.”

Grayson leaned over the table. “Okay, but I’m around if you need an ear. Or a wingman.”

“Thanks.” Hunter blew through the front doors. Clark had already left for the evening to meet Robert for pizza, and he’d been in an equally bitchy mood by the time he’d left. Hunter wondered if women were worth all this shit. He had no idea how Jana had gotten under his skin, but he was bound and determined to get her out.