Page 85 of Second Time Around

Kelsey’s pretty eyes went wide. “I hope that happens someday.”

“I bet it’ll be sooner than later.”

“You sound so sure.”

Jenna shrugged. “I’m an expert at reading people, and I can always spot a person in love.”

“Me too,” Kelsey said pointedly.

“Oh no. Not me. Been there, done that.”

“But now you have a second chance, just like in the romance books.”

Jenna shook her head vehemently. “Romance books aren’t real. Case in point, how many people do you know that are currently involved in a ménage à trois?”

Kelsey’s eyes danced with amusement. “I doubt they’d run around advertising it.”

“True,” said Jenna, laughing.

“Well, I should get going before Hudson wonders what’s taking me so long.”

“You and Stacy are always so anxious to get back to your men.”

“It’ll happen to you too. You’ll see.”

Not if I can help it, Jenna thought as she walked her friend to the door.

After Kelsey left, Jenna grabbed her purse and keys and headed out the door. While she believed Kelsey’s intentions were pure, she wasn’t so sure about Beck’s. Instead of calling, she decided to confront him face to face. That was the only way to assess what his motivation was; it had nothing to do with her wanting to see him.

He’d told her he only worked until two on Sundays, and since it was almost three, she figured he’d be home. When she drove into his cul-de-sac, she saw him right away, but she hadn’t expected to find him like this.

He was bent over the hood of his car, washing it in big, circular motions with a bright yellow sponge. His forearms were covered in soapsuds, and his shirt was damp from leaning over the wet car. Since he hadn’t noticed her yet, she stopped and admired the efficiency of his movements and the way his muscles flexed with the effort. The man was a fine-tuned machine, much like his car.

Then, as if he’d sensed her staring, he looked right at her and broke out in a grin that made her toes curl on the brake pedal. Since she’d been spotted, she pulled up in front of his house and parked. She thought he might walk down the driveway to greet her, but instead, he casually picked up the hose and rinsed the soap off the hood.

Something about his calm demeanor unnerved her, and she marched up the driveway in a huff, prepared to give him a piece of her mind.

“There’s such a thing as an automated car wash,” she scoffed.

“Hello to you too,” he said and set down the hose. Then he pulled the sponge out of a bucket and started washing the driver’s side door. “What brings you by?”

“Stacy’s engagement party.”

“What about it?”

“Why did you agree to cater it?”

Finally, he turned to look at her. The soap dripped off the sponge and onto his bare feet, which were as unfairly gorgeous as the rest of him. “Because your friend asked me to.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“What other reason would I have?”

Narrowing her eyes at him, she said, “Maybe to ingratiate yourself with my family.”

“Why would I do that?”

“To get closer to me,” she said as if he were dense.