Splashing Right In (Crescent Key Book 2) Read online

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Overall cover design: Nicole Highland – NH Designs

  Cover images courtesy of:

  The Killion Groupwww.thekilliongroupimages.com

  And a special thank you to Mom for the lovely beach photo in the background!

  Copyright © 2020 Nicole Highland

  All rights reserved.

  www.nicolehighlandwrites.com

  ISBN: 979-862258-486-2 (Paperback edition)

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  Let’s go over a few things before we splash right in... (See what I did there? )

  This is a standalone book, but if you read Diving Right In, you’ll notice some familiar faces in this one.

  While satisfying and sweet, this book is approximately an hour-long read on average, so if you’re into short reads, you’re in luck.

  This is a clean romance with plenty of sweetness to satisfy your sweet tooth.

  Safe to assume if you’re still reading this, you’re ready to go on a little beach vacation for the next hour or so, so sit back, relax, grab a wine cooler, and let’s head back Crescent Key.

  XOX

  Pressing the power button on the door, Jenna McAdams waited as her car window slowly shut. Within seconds, the stifling heat consumed every ounce of space in her car, but even with the mugginess, she couldn’t complain. It was a beautiful, sunny late afternoon in Crescent Key, Florida, and life was good.

  Better than good.

  After all, today was a special day. Or at least, that’s what she hoped.

  Jenna shifted her purse on her shoulder and glanced down at her watch. Crap. Only twenty minutes until close. She’d completely lost track of time. She sighed, wishing she would’ve picked a different day to come. Maybe she could come back later in the week.

  The last thing she wanted to do would be to hold up someone just before the end of the day. Spending a few years in retail while she put herself through school, she knew all too well just how that felt.

  The main lobby in Bay of Hope Animal Shelter was empty, but far from quiet. Wagging tails, wet noses, and boundless energy filled the puppy and kitten rooms as Jenna stepped inside, and she looked around the room in awe of all the adorable, cuddly friends, waiting for their forever homes. Puppies barked with excitement, pawing at the floor-to-ceiling windows, while the kittens peered out their own window, curious of their new visitor.

  A woman behind the reception desk spoke, her tone friendly and cheerful. “May I help you, ma’am?”

  “Well, I came to check out your cats, but I didn’t realize how late it was. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be such a pain. I can come back another day.”

  The receptionist waved her hand. “Don’t worry about it. You’d be surprised how many people show up this time of day.” Scooting the chair from her desk, she stood and grabbed a clipboard. “Wait just a moment. I’d be happy to help.”

  Jenna leaned against the counter, mentally scolding herself once more. She really should’ve paid more attention to the time.

  “I’ll have some paperwork ready for you in a few minutes,” the receptionist continued. “Feel free to have a seat in the meantime.”

  Jenna took a seat in the chair closest to the check-in desk and pulled out her phone, mindlessly flipping through the endless sea of apps cluttering the home screen. She drifted over to the dating app she’d been using for the past month, praying she would have a message on there for once.

  Or at least, a message from someone she actually wanted to hear from.

  Nope. Nothing. A small part of her wasn’t even surprised. She hadn’t had much luck on there, anyway.

  The woman returned with the clipboard and two papers to fill out. “Let me know if you have any questions.”

  Jenna was starting page two when the front door opened. Her mouth went bone-dry as she looked up and stared at the handsome stranger in the doorway. Screw the dating app, she thought. She wanted this man. Why weren’t there any guys like him on there?

  She blinked twice, wondering if perhaps he wasn’t as handsome as her initial reaction wanted to trick her into believing. Damn. He still was. And he was really in the same room as her, only mere feet away.

  He spoke to the receptionist with such a buttery, baritone voice that Jenna thought perhaps it had to be a dream. She was so mesmerized that she couldn’t comprehend what he was saying at all. No man could look so devastatingly handsome. No man could possibly have such an irresistible voice.

  No, it couldn’t be real. Maybe in the time it took the receptionist to get the paperwork together, she’d fallen asleep, and it was all a dream.

  Yes, that had to be it. Because nothing else made a bit of sense. At all.

  “Is this seat taken?” the man asked. His smile was vibrant, making Jenna’s cheeks flush as she sat there dazed and dumfounded. Is he speaking to me? She chanced a glance around the room. Yes, he was, in fact, speaking to her, for not a single soul was in the waiting area aside from the two of them.

  “No. No, of course not,” she grinned. “You can have it.”

  The man took a seat by her side, smiling a wolfish grin. “Looking for a companion too, huh?” he asked.

  Still in a daze, she stared at him with vacant eyes, trying to process everything that was going on around her.

  “Yes, I am. A cat, actually.”

  He threw her an amused look. “So am I. You know, I had one growing up, and he was the best damn cat I’ve ever been around. I’ve never met one as friendly as him.”

  “Sounds like he has a very special place in your heart.”

  “He does. He always will. So, what is your story, Miss…?” He eyed her questioningly, waiting for her to offer her name.

  “Oh, um, Jenna,” she offered. “Well, my story is pretty similar to yours. I had a cat too when I was growing up. She was practically my best friend.”

  “It’s funny how pets can be just like family, you know?”

  Jenna smiled. “Yes, they definitely can. Sometimes they can be better than family. Or at least better than certain family members.”

  The stranger laughed and ran a hand through his dark hair. “Yes, I can definitely think of a few family members that weren’t as cool as my cat.”

  “You know, I never got your name.”

  “It’s Zach. Zach Williams.”

  “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Zach.”

  He smiled once more, drinking her in. She was beautiful, he thought. With soft golden hair cascading down her back, she was like a summery siren, beaming rays of sunshine that lit up the room.

  “Mr. Williams? Miss McAdams?” The receptionist stood at her desk with a clipboard in hand. “Are you two ready?”

  The two nodded in approval, following the woman down the hall.

  “Kinda feels like a dungeon back here,” Jenna muttered.

  “Well, we are here on a rescue mission, so watch out for the dragons,” Zach teased.

  Jenna grinned. There she was, with a perfect stranger, and he was already making her laugh and smile. The way her cheeks had flushed and the warm, fuzzy feeling she felt inside were feelings she hadn’t felt in ages. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so happy. Then again, had she ever felt that happy? She couldn’t help but wonder.

  “We have all the adult cats in this room, or if you are interested in adopting a kitten, all the kittens are in a separate room
.”

  Unsure of where to visit first, Jenna followed Zach’s lead and headed into the kitten room. “I’m following you,” she joked.

  “A very wise choice. Now, the question is, which one will you choose?”

  Kittens scampered out from every corner, eager to see the new visitors that had arrived. Among the swarms of the tiny, furry friends, one, in particular, stood out and took a liking to Jenna almost immediately.

  “Aw, look, he likes me.” Jenna scooped up the tabby at her feet. “Don’t you, little guy?” Loud purrs filled the room, and Zach smiled at the sight of the two of them.

  “Well, can you blame him?” he asked, flashing a grin. He flushed, realizing how quickly and unabashedly he’d shown his thoughts. Part of him wished he would’ve kept his mouth shut. But, judging by the way her cheeks had turned to a rosy hue, she’d been flattered. And flattery meant there might be a chance.

  Maybe.

  “So, which one do you think you’ll pick?” she asked.

  He paused for a moment, scanning the rooms as the kittens scattered around their feet. “I don’t know, but this little guy here seems pretty chill.” He bent down, running his hand through the soft fur of the all-black kitten at his feet. “You seem like a pretty cool dude.”

  More loud purrs filled the room, and as Zach picked up the kitten and held him in his arms, he felt a sense of peace he hadn’t felt in so long. So much love filled that room, and he was glad to experience it again.

  The way his smiled beamed told her there was a heart of gold in his chest; such a rare, refreshing find in this day and age. “Looks like you’ve found the one,” she commented.

  “I think so, too.”

  Jenna turned, looking down the hallway. With the receptionist nowhere in sight, she yelled down the corridor, hoping to capture her attention. A minute passed before the woman appeared, carrying a cardboard crate in each hand.

  “Looks like the two of you have chosen your new friends,” she beamed.

  “Well, they kind of chose us,” Zach corrected. “Didn’t you, little guy?”

  Jenna’s heart swelled with happiness at the way Zach’s eyes lit up as he stared at his new friend. He couldn’t be any more charming if he tried, and even though she’d only been with him a few short minutes, she hated to think they’d lose connection once they left. She wanted to say something, but her tongue couldn’t manage the words. Instead, they walked in silence as they made their way back to the check-in desk.

  Say something to him. Get his number. The inner voice in her head refused to stop advising her, but she brushed the thoughts aside. It would be too forward, too awkward to ask that of a complete stranger.

  Wouldn’t it?

  Heading the warning in her head, she kept her mouth firmly shut as the woman at the front desk processed Zach’s paperwork first.

  “And don’t forget, if you ever need to bring him back for any reason, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.”

  “No need to worry about that. I think he’ll fit in just fine and feel right at home in no time,” he said with a grin.

  Scribbling his signature across the page, he slid the form across the counter back to the receptionist. Jenna stared out the glass doors, entranced by the fiery red sunset. Contentment and peace had filled her heart, and she couldn’t believe she was about to be a cat mom. What a perfect day, she thought.

  Zach looked around for a moment, scouring every inch of the woman’s desk. “You don’t happen to have a sticky note, do you?”

  “Oh, yes, of course. Here you go.”

  He scrawled quickly on the tiny square note, then turned, handing the note to Jenna. “Only if you want to,” he said and headed for the door.

  She flipped it open, revealing the number he wrote inside. “You’re giving me your number?” she asked, feeling the excitement rise in her voice.

  “Like I said, only if you want to.”

  And as he turned to head out the door, a small piece of her heart left with him. For once in her life, she would give herself permission to let go of all her fears and let her heart lead her right where it wanted to go.

  It really had been a perfect day, after all.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  With a heart full of happiness, Jenna and Toby made their way home. He was leery at first during the car ride, crying for several minutes before he settled down, curling up into a ball in the crate. Sleep had taken hold after all the excitement, and Jenna gazed at him lovingly as the drive lulled him into a peaceful slumber. She’d almost forgotten how much sleeping kittens did.

  Blaring music filled the air as her phone went off, and she reached frantically to grab the phone, hoping the sudden noise wouldn’t jolt him from his slumber.

  “Hello?” She glanced over at Toby, still sound asleep.

  “Well, hi, dear, I just wanted to see if you would like to stop over for dinner Saturday night?”

  She glanced over at Toby once more, curled up in a tight little ball. “Mom, I’m not sure if I can. I’d like to spend some time this weekend with my new little friend.”

  “Your new little friend? Oh, come on now, tell me about him. Is he tall, dark and handsome?”

  Jenna smiled to herself. “Um, my new friend is a cat. I just adopted him this afternoon from the shelter.” Though, she would’ve been lying to herself if she said she hadn’t been thinking of Zach, as well. But her mother didn’t need to know that bit of information at the moment.

  “Oh, that’s wonderful! What does he look like?”

  “He’s a tabby. Sweetest little guy I’ve ever seen, honestly.” She gazed longingly at the little bundle of fur, wishing she could be home already, and she could hardly wait to cuddle with her new best friend.

  “Well, I am very happy for you, dear. Maybe your father and I will stop over this weekend. I know we would love to meet him.”

  “We’ll have to play it by ear and see. I’ll let you know.”

  Jenna hung up the phone, feeling more ready than ever to start her weekend. With the utmost care, she pulled into her driveway slowly, careful not to wake Toby as she drove over the curb at the end. He sleeps like a rock, she mused. Perhaps he would sleep soundly through the night and not drive her bonkers when feeding time rolled around the next morning.

  She pulled the passenger door open wide, making sure she had enough clearance to pull the crate out. Toby’s eyes fluttered open, finally registering that they’d arrived.

  “You’re home now, buddy,” she whispered. “And you’ll love it here.”

  She was careful as she pushed open the backdoor and carried the crate into the house, and Toby’s nose twitched as he crawled out, taking in his surroundings. New sights and new smells intrigued his senses, and he walked around, sniffing everything in sight. Soon the house would be his just as much as it was Jenna’s.

  “What a curious little boy, you are,” she mused.

  He wandered a while longer, and as he roamed the house, Jenna filled a bowl of water and a bowl of food. At least she’d been prepared on that front. Toby might not have been hungry at the present moment, but after he went on his adventure around the house, he was sure to feel differently.

  A growing boy needed his food, after all.

  She took a seat at the kitchen table, digging and rooting around in her purse for the note Zach had given her. The crumpled paper was nowhere to be found, and a surge of panic zipped through her.

  Had she lost it?

  Surely, she couldn’t have lost it in the time it took her to get home. Slipping back into her shoes, she headed back to the garage, hoping desperately to find it. After contorting herself every which way, she finally found the note underneath the passenger’s seat.

  Thank heavens. She hated to think she’d lost it forever.

  Flopping down on the couch, she pulled her phone out, debating to send him a message yet. On the one hand, if she waited a few days to reach out, he could lose interest.

  But on the other hand, she could build the ten
sion, making him wonder how she truly felt about him.

  It was a good, old-fashioned catch twenty-two, and there was no way to really know which path was the right one.

  Throwing caution to the wind, she typed in the number, then waited for the reply. Ten minutes passed, and Zach was nowhere to be found. Neither was Toby for that matter, and a sense of dread threaded through her, hoping the poor kitten hadn’t found himself stuck somewhere. Being so small meant he could find himself in any number of tight spaces. Fear of the unknown sent Jenna bolting upright, determined to figure out where he was.

  The hallway was empty, and she scoured underneath her bed, hoping for a glimpse of him. The flashlight on her phone beamed a ray of light under the bed, and two hazel eyes stared back at her longingly. Jenna breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Whatcha doing underneath here?” she asked.

  Toby crawled to her and a slight purr rumbled in his chest as he emerged from underneath the bed. Jenna pulled him out from under the bed, cradling him in her arms.

  “There’s nothing to be afraid of, buddy. You are always safe with me.”

  Off in the distance, her phone pinged, and Jenna danced down the hall with Toby in hand. “He finally messaged me back!”

  Her smile widened as she read the message.

  I was hoping I’d hear from you. How’s your little one settling in?

  She flopped down on the couch, watching as Toby curled into a ball once more, and settled in for a nap.

  He’s getting ready for his second nap. First one was on the ride home. How’s your little one doing?

  She was just beginning to settle in for the evening when her phone pinged once more, and a new message from Zach appeared on the screen.

  Onyx has been a ball of energy ever since I got home. I think we will both sleep well tonight.

  She definitely understood that sentiment. Though it had been a fulfilling day, she was tired all the same from the excitement of it all.