Full Share (Shore House Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

stuck his nose out and begged for attention. He’d be gone by the next week.
    “It’s Scooby Doo and the Phantom Cowboy .” I looked back at Rufus, who’d returned his head to the ground but kept his eyes on me. “I mean, who doesn’t love a cowboy?”
    I read the book and stopped at each page to show Rufus the pictures. When I was almost to the end, Rufus stood and moved near me. He wasn’t close enough to touch, but he was making an effort. I kept reading and when I said, “The end,” he came and stood at the edge of the cage. I gave him a treat, and his tail wagged.
    “I’ve got to go. I’ve got a beach house for the summer and I won’t be able to come on Saturdays anymore, but I promise I’ll be back.” Rufus tilted his head as I spoke. “Be exactly like this when families come. You’re the best dog here, and nobody knows it but me.”
    I stood up, and Rufus moved to the back of his cage and laid down again. I turned and walked out knowing if I didn’t, I’d cry. If my landlord wouldn’t evict me, I’d have brought Rufus home the first day I’d met him.

    The sun was still high in the sky my entire trip down, and when I arrived at the house, half the people there were high in the sky as well. I opened the front door to a thick cloud. I waved my hand in front of my face, searching for some clean air.
    “Nora.” Rob’s voice cut through the smoke. “You want a hit?”
    “No. Thanks.” I kept moving through the room. Four girls congregated around a pizza box in the kitchen. I thought they were half shares, but I was still far from knowing who everyone was in the house. “Hey. How’s it going?” I asked as I slid past the only one I remembered. Her hair was cut into a pixie and her big brown eyes were unforgettable, unlike her name. I didn’t wait for an answer before I stepped down into my porch.
    The room, as well as the backyard, were empty. Everyone was inside getting ready to start the night. I leaned against the windows and stared at the empty picnic table in the center of the patch of grass we called our backyard.
    Jack popped up in front of the screen door, and I jumped as he pulled it out toward him.
    “Sorry.” He laughed. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He wore a gray suit and navy tie. My shock at the sight of him was replaced with admiration as I raked my eyes from his shoulders, down his arms, and then all the way to the dress shoes on his feet.
    “You’re so dressed up.” The words stammered from my lips. I’d become accustomed to managing the effect his bare chest had on me. This was a new challenge.
    “I had to go to a funeral.”
    “Oh. I’m sorry.”
    “Yeah. A teacher I worked with.” Jack’s expression turned serious. “He had a heart attack while tubing with his kids.”
    “Oh, man.”
    “I know. The funeral was really sad. He had eight-year-old twins.” Jack’s words were weighted down. “His wife’s pregnant with twins again. Everyone at the service was a wreck.”
    “Oh my God.”
    Jack didn’t move. I stood still, lost in the horror of his story. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. Sorry.”
    Two eight-year-olds no longer had a dad, and I barely spoke to mine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the floor. I let in a hint of guilt regarding my denial of both my parents.
    Jack took off his suit jacket and hung it on the hook on the side wall. “Where were you last night?” He was unbuttoning his dress shirt. I didn’t look away. I welcomed the distraction from my mind.
    “Um.”
    He pushed the shirt off his shoulders and then worked to unbutton the cuffs.
    “I had to work.”
    “Last night?”
    “No. Today. I have to work every other Saturday.”
    “Oh.” Jack held out his arm to me, and I unbuttoned the cuff. “Thanks.” When he held out the other arm, I did the same. Jack moved unbearably close, as if taunting me with his body. Which was ridiculous. What were we, fourteen? It was totally working, though. This summer was