‘Normally I’m a little later than this but I couldn’t sleep.’ Because she’d been thinking about him. And then pushing away those thoughts with rational argument. But now those thoughts were back, swirling round her head, confusing her.

‘You couldn’t sleep?’ His tone was amused. ‘Maybe you were excited about the barbecue tomorrow.’

‘That must have been it.’ As Rebel bounded up to her, she sidestepped, dodging the soaking wet tail-wagging animal. ‘Sit. Sit!’ Ignoring her, Rebel shook himself hard and sprayed them both. ‘Oh, you—! Rebel! I’m so sorry.’

‘More of a problem for you than me. I’m wearing a wetsuit.’ His eyes drifted to her damp tee shirt and lingered. ‘Obviously the dog-training is progressing successfully.’

‘It’s a disaster. He obeyed me that day at Elaine’s just to charm me into giving him a home. Since then he’s been a nightmare.’ Giggling and embarrassed, Jenna grabbed Rebel’s collar and glared at him severely. ‘Sit! Sit, Rebel. I said sit!’

The dog whimpered, his entire body wagging, and Ryan sighed.

‘Sit!’

Rebel sat.

‘OK—that’s annoying.’ Jenna put her hands on her hips. ‘I’ve been working non-stop with him and you just say it once. What do you have that I don’t?’

‘An air of menace. You’re kind and gentle. A dog can sense you’re soft-hearted. Especially a dog like Rebel, who has had his own way for far too long.’

‘You think I’m a push-over?’

‘I don’t see you as tough and ruthless, that’s true.’

Her heart was pounding as if she’d run the length of the beach. ‘I’ll have you know I’m stronger than I look!’

‘I didn’t say you weren’t strong.’ The pitch of his voice had changed. ‘I know you’re strong, Jenna. You’ve proved your strength over and over again in the last month. You’ve dragged up your roots and put them down somewhere new. That’s never easy.’

His eyes were oceans of blue, waiting to draw her in and drown her.

The want inside her became a desperate craving, and when his arm curled around her waist and he drew her towards him she didn’t resist. Her thinking went from clear to clouded, and she waited, deliciously trapped by the inevitability of what was to come. She watched, hypnotised, as he lowered his head to hers. His mouth was warm and skilled, his kiss sending an explosion of light through her brain and fire through her belly.

It should have felt wrong, kissing a man. But it felt right—standing here with his lips against hers and nothing around them but the sound and smell of the sea.