Page 38 of Second Time Around
She shrugged. “My family does it too.”
“Want to sit?” he asked, pointing at the swinging bench that faced the garden.
The bench had been refurbished, but it was still in the same spot it had always been. She and Beck had often sat there, pretending to admire the flowers instead of each other. They’d been partially hidden by the branches of a large oak tree, so it had felt relatively private. Oh, the things they used to do on this bench…
They sat down, and he immediately used his feet to start swinging the bench.
“Not too fast,” she said, placing a hand over her full stomach. “We’re not kids anymore!”
He laughed and slowed down. “We’re not that old.”
“Sometimes I feel like it, though.”
“I know what you mean. After being on my feet all day, I can’t wait to get home and soak in the hot tub.”
Her eyes went wide. “You have a hot tub?”
“Yes. Well, the rental home does.”
“I would love to have a hot tub someday.”
“You can come over and use mine anytime.” He turned to face her, and his knee accidentally grazed hers, causing her skirt to rise.
She quickly pulled it back down. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not? You just said—”
“I know what I said, and it was a mistake.”
“So, you don’t like hot tubs? Or is it just me you don’t like?”
She glanced up at him and swallowed hard. “I never said that.”
He sighed. “I’m trying really hard here, Jen.”
“To be my friend?” She sounded snarkier than she meant to.
“Yes. What is so wrong with that?”
She looked at the rose bushes and tried to think of a reasonable explanation.
“Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Unless you’re afraid of falling for me again.”
Her head jerked around so fast it gave her a kink in the neck. “Not going to happen,” she said as she rubbed her neck.
“How can you be so sure? You fell for me once before.”
“That’s right, and you broke my heart.” She hadn’t meant to go there, but now the words floated in the air like the butterflies flitting around.
“I never meant to.”
Then she heard the patio door open, and Barb called, “Time for cookies!”
Jenna started to get up, but Beck clamped his hand on her leg to keep her in place. “Be right there!” he yelled back.
