Page 30 of Second Time Around

“Maybe he was trying to get back in your good graces,” Kelsey said, giving Hudson a squeeze.

Not long ago, Kelsey and Hudson had broken up, and he’d had to work hard to get back in her good graces. He’d hidden the fact that he’d had a child with his ex-girlfriend, and Kelsey had found out from the baby’s mama. It hadn’t been easy, but they’d worked it out. Still, the incident had reminded Jenna that relationships were hard work, and she’d been glad to not be in one.

“He can try all he wants, but it’s not gonna happen,” Jenna said.

“Um-hmm,” Stacy said, looking amused.

“Kelsey, tell my sister that she’s wrong,” Jenna demanded.

“Don’t pit me between you two. Besides, in this case, I think she’s right.”

“Right about what? Why am I having trouble following this conversation?” Hudson said.

Nick laughed. “There’s a learning curve. You’ll catch on with time.”

“I’m not interested in resurrecting the past,” Jenna huffed. “And Beck was my past.”

“Sounds like he might want to be your present too,” Nick said.

“And maybe even your future,” Hudson added. Then he kissed Kelsey’s cheek, and she sighed.

“Okay, that’s enough. You couples are giving me a cavity. Where’s a dentist when you need one?”

They all laughed, but then Hudson said, “Actually, there’s a dentist right over there.”

He pointed across the pool deck to a group of guys talking and drinking out of Solo cups.

“Really? Which one?” Jenna said, suddenly perking up.

“A dentist, Jen? All day, his hands are in people’s mouths,” Stacy said, scrunching up her nose.

Nick chuckled. “Good to know I have one less guy to worry about stealing you away.”

“No one could steal me away from you,” Stacy said sweetly.

“That’s it. I’m going in,” Jenna said. Then she untied her cover-up, slipped it off, and laid it on a chair next to Stacy.

When she’d said she was going in, she hadn’t meant the pool. Instead, she strolled across the pool deck toward the group of guys, fully aware that her friends were watching her.

“Excuse me, but is it true that one of you is a dentist?” she said.

The guy with the wavy, dark hair stepped forward. “That would be me,” he said, looking like he’d just won the lottery. The other men watched with envy as Jenna worked her magic. The dentist resembled Patrick Dempsey, whose hair she would love to get her hands in.

“Great, because my friends over there are giving me a cavity,” she said, her eyes dancing. I still got it, she thought as the dentist beamed at her.

“How about a drink?” he asked.

She peered into his Solo cup and saw the golden color of beer. “Love one.”

“Have a seat,” one of the other guys said, and he pointed to an empty chair at their table.

Jenna made herself comfortable and then glanced back at her friends. Stacy and Kelsey were gazing at her with a mix of disbelief and amusement, although this was nothing new. If she saw something or someone that interested her, she went for it.

Having had her heart broken, she’d developed a tough skin, or at least a protective shell in which to camouflage herself. If she wanted to go out with a guy, she didn’t wait around for him to ask. She also controlled everything that happened afterward, as much as she could without seeming too bossy. Before things went too far or the guy got too attached, she let him down gently so he wouldn’t feel dejected.

Thus far, her methods had worked, and she’d saved herself from heartache while still enjoying the male species. Certain males, that was. She’d also become adept at reading people, and she’d made careful choices.

“Here you go,” the dentist said, handing her a red Solo cup.