Free Seaside Sunsets by Melissa Foster Page B

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 God for Vera; that’s all I can say. She was the best surrogate mother I could have had.”
    “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 bring 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 damn 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