Chapter 28

The next morning, I take Xena on her walk, then go hang out with Grams at Seaside Oasis. But she’s intently focused on rereading her favorite Sunny Palmer book, Secret Crush , because later on is her precious book club where they’ll be discussing it. I can’t help thinking about the secret crush I’m keeping from her, and I find myself driving back home not long after I arrive.

The day feels so incredibly long, and every time my phone pings, I check it hoping to hear from Beau. But I don’t. I consider texting him to give him an unsolicited update on Xena until I realize something: I still don’t have his number. He’s never used mine.

That can’t be a good sign.

I take out Xena for a second walk, then make a game-time decision and bring her and her food dish to my house. It’ll feel less lonely. She keeps me company as I browse more job listings and watch more Turkish TV. After we’re back from her evening walk and have both eaten, I turn on the TV again and invite Xena onto my bed. She curls up next to me, and I smile.

The bass line from the neighbor’s house comes through the open window. Even after closing it, I have to turn up the volume on the TV to drown it out.

When I wake in the morning, Xena’s curled up by my feet, but she’s awake. I reach for my phone, but there are no messages. The muffled rumble of a passing golf cart reaches us, and Xena’s head comes up .

“It’s not him,” I say, empathizing with her more than I care to admit. “Tomorrow, girl.”

I feel a rush of nerves at the thought of his return. I have no idea what to expect from it or how to act. My brain and heart have successfully confused me even more than when I sat down in what I thought was my Principles of Accounting class, only to discover I mistook the building and was in Advanced Puppetry.

I get so stir crazy after a few hours at home that I end up walking Xena into town to grab a couple things at the general store. The owners know Xena well and have no problem with her joining me inside. I take my time browsing the aisles, and I’m inspecting a bag of jet-puffed marshmallows when I get bumped.

“Sorry,” I instinctively say as I move aside.

It’s Marlyss Gapmeyer, the woman who owns the Beach Break Bar & Grill. She smiles at me, and it seems genuine enough, even though she falls on the Palmer side of the line.

Her gaze moves to Xena, and her brows go up slightly.

“Officer Palmer is out of town,” I explain. “Just doing my neighborly duty.”

“Ah,” she says. “Miami?”

I suppress a sigh. Does everyone know about this chick? “Yep. Quick trip.”

“Always has to get his Miami fix,” she says, reaching for some powdered sugar. “I understand you’ve got a buyer lined up for your grandma’s house.”

“Yeah,” I say, my guard instantly up. “Just have to get a couple of things squared away before we get the offer settled.”

She nods, pressing her lips together like she’s trying to keep from saying something. “Short-term leases are one of the items on the August agenda for the city council meeting.”

“Ah,” I say. “How would that affect existing rentals?”

“Oh, they’d be grandfathered in if anything passes.” She puts two bags of chocolate chips in her cart .

“Well, thanks for the heads-up,” I say.

She smiles, and I pull Xena away to look at a bag of something else I have no intention of buying.

Of course Sunset Harbor is trying to nix short-term rentals. What else would I expect as a Sawyer trying to get something done on this island? If they pass a ban before we get the house sold, it could ruin everything, since Mr. Wallace’s whole plan is to use the house as a vacation rental.

This month’s city council meeting is set for the 12th—six days away. I know that because it’s when Beau’s set to present to them. If we can get the property line issues resolved within the next few days, we should have a signed contract by mid-month. We’ll close within a couple weeks of that, well before the August meeting Marlyss mentioned, which means we’d be grandfathered in.

I take Xena back to the beach once we’ve dropped the groceries at home, and my eyes veer again and again to the water Beau pulled me into. I can still taste the saltwater, feel the press of his fingertips into my thighs, and see the way he looked up at me, inviting me to kiss him.

Why didn’t I just kiss him? You can’t just tell a guy you hate him and expect him to want to kiss you, Gemma.

When we get back to Grams’s house, it’s already dark, but the house next door is a hive of activity, with music and laughter coming through the open front door.

I blow out an annoyed breath. “Gonna be another long night, Z.”

Never have I uttered more accurate words. By ten o’clock, I feel like I’m going crazy thanks to the constant bass beat making the floor and walls tremble. I can’t be the only one on the street who thinks this is annoying. But it’s not like they can call Beau to come lay down the law. It’d be a call to the mainland stand-in, which means the guy would have to cart himself all the way over here just to tell the neighbors to shut up .

I last as long as possible, but no amount of white noise is enough to drown out the drunken laughter and constant beat, so I throw off my covers and march downstairs and outside, Xena following right behind.

I’m not going to yell at them. I’ll try to channel my inner Beau and ask them politely to turn down their music. Of course, if I was actually Beau, I’d probably be able to convince them that calming rainforest sounds make for a much better party vibe, but I’m Grams’s granddaughter, so a polite ask is as good as it’s gonna get.

When I get to the open door, I take in a breath, shake out my shoulders, and knock on it. I can see a few people in the kitchen, where the counter is covered by red Solo cups and various glass bottles. The volume of the music is such that there’s no way my knock will be heard. I don’t feel like I can just step inside, though, nor do I want to.

Luckily, one of the girls in the kitchen happens to glance over. Her gaze fixes on me, and she nudges the guy next to her. They talk briefly, then head my direction.

I smile, wishing mine was half as charming as Beau’s because that’s half his power right there—putting people at ease by giving off such friendly energy.

“Come on in,” says the guy as loudly as the music requires. He’s tall with curly brown hair and a cup in hand. I don’t recognize him or the girl he’s with. But given the number of people here, that’s not shocking.

“Thanks,” I say. I suppress the part of me that says I’d rather shove my head in a blender .

The girl slinks her arm through his in what’s obviously meant to be a possessive gesture.

He’s all yours, sister .

“I actually came to see if you wouldn’t mind turning down the music?” I keep my smile intact because how great a neighbor am I! I even give Xena a little noogie to show what a great, playful mood I’m in.

“Huh?” the guy says, his face scrunched up.

“The music!” I say louder, tapping my ear. “Would you mind turning it down?”

He pulls the girl with him onto the doorstep and shuts the door halfway behind them, effectively blocking four of the five hundred decibels. “How’s that?” he asks, apparently very amused with himself.

“It’s still very loud,” I say.

“Okay, grandma ,” he says, scoffing and looking at his arm candy to share in his amusement.

She smiles up at him admiringly like he just landed a knockout shot.

“Oh, believe me,” I say with a chuckle, imagining what Grams would do if she were here, “if my grandma were here, this would be a very different conversation.”

Xena pads over to them and sniffs at the girl’s legs. She shrieks, and the guy gives a little kick at Xena.

I grab the dog and pick her up—she’s no spring chicken—trying to keep my bubbling frustration in check. “Legally, it’s quiet hours right now, and a lot of people are trying to sleep since the start of the workweek is tomorrow. It would go a long way if you turned the volume down a bit.” I smile again to soften my words.

“Legally,” the guy says, looking emboldened by the response of the girl on his arm, “you’re on my property, and it would go a long way if you and your ugly dog would get off. Right now.”

My smile flickers. “I will gladly leave this property—which isn’t yours, by the way—when you get your music off of my property and every other property on this street.”

“And what’re you gonna do if I don’t?” He leans toward me. “Sick your fur ball on me?” He flicks Xena’s nose, and she sneezes .

“Don’t touch my dog,” I say through clenched teeth, setting her down behind me. “Look, your music doesn’t need to be this loud for you to have a good time. I’m trying to be a nice neighbor by asking politely, but I can call the cops if you’d rather do things that way.”

“Oh yeah?” he says, getting up in my face even more.

My nostrils fill with his alcohol breath, but I don’t back down.

“Do it,” he says softly. “Then they can arrest you for trespassing.”

“Jimmy,” says his girlfriend warningly.

He pokes a finger into my sternum, and I smack it away forcefully as Xena barks.

The guy’s face screws up as Xena takes off, running away.

Before I can turn to see where she’s going, Jimmy shoves me.

I stumble back, trying to find my footing, but the edge of the top stair is all I get, and I pitch backward, bracing for impact.

Two arms hook under me, and impact never comes. I hesitate, then open my clenched eyes, but the smell of Beau hits me before the sight of him does.

He helps me to my feet, his breath coming quickly, his nostrils flared. He turns me toward him, looking at me intently and ignoring Xena crowding his feet. “Are you okay?” His fingers brush through the hair near my temple.

I nod quickly. His hand shifts down to my cheek, and his eyes search mine like they’re trying to confirm my answer.

“I’m fine,” I reassure him, even though adrenaline and his sudden appearance have my heart racing.

He nods, then turns to Jimmy, his jaw hardening. I’ve never seen him look this intent, this…angry. My skin prickles.

Jimmy’s breathing hard too. Apparently, pushing around smaller women is straining for a 6’3” man in his prime.

“What?” Jimmy says, taking another gulp from his cup as he comes down the steps. “You got a problem, man?” His girlfriend stands behind him, her eyes wide and wary. I can’t imagine she’ll risk telling him to calm down now that she’s seen what he did to me.

“I’m a police officer, sir,” Beau says, not moving as Jimmy approaches. “I need you to take a step back.”

Jimmy snickers. “Right. You’re a cop. And I’m Aquaman. Woooo!” He makes a quick movement with his Solo cup and splashes beer all over Beau’s T-shirt, grinning like a fool.

Beau doesn’t budge, though the muscles in his jaw shift.

Jimmy’s eyes flit to me, amused under their heavy lids. “Oops. Forgot to give your grandma some to help loosen her up.” He tries to toss the rest of his cup’s contents, but before I know what’s happening, it’s knocked to the ground and Beau’s got the front of Jimmy’s shirt by the fists.

I can see the struggle in the white of his knuckles and the rise and fall of his chest. He stares at Jimmy for a few seconds, then reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his badge, putting it right in front of Jimmy’s nose. Then he slips it back into his pocket. “Unless you want to add to your assault and battery charges, step back inside and turn down the music.”

Jimmy’s eyes fix on the badge, and for the first time, he looks uncertain.

“Now,” Beau says through gritted teeth.

Jimmy puts his hands up. “Okay, okay. Chill, dude. I hear you.”

“Good,” Beau says, letting go of his shirt.

Jimmy backs up toward the stairs, then turns his body while keeping his eyes on Beau.

The girl grabs Jimmy’s arm and pulls him toward the door.

“I’ll wait,” Beau says.

The girl nods and guides Jimmy inside. Ten seconds later, the music volume plummets until it’s appropriate for hot yoga or a breathing class .

Beau hurries back to me, his hands grabbing my upper arms as he looks at me intently. “Are you okay?”