That One Summer: A Collection of Steamy Contemporary Romance

Prologue

Ciara Hudson exhaledheavily at the jolt of the plane as it touched down on the runway. Real-life was about to intrude, and she was already looking forward to the next trip. It was one more reminder that her wonderful vacation was officially over.

Why?

Maddox Stafford.

They’d met last year in Nosy Be, Madagascar, by accident. But it was the best incidental meeting she’d ever had.

The physical attraction between the two of them had been instant. But neither of them was in a place to start anything serious. She’d just been promoted to the IT Audit Director position at the company she worked for, and he’d just ended a serious relationship.

So they’d agreed to a casual affair for the week. One that had been life-altering. Still, they hadn’t wanted to mess up a good thing. So instead, they’d come up with the plan to meet again in Nosy Be at the same time and the same place if they were both at a point in their life where the agreement still worked.

To say it had been another mind-blowing trip was an understatement. Ciara hadn’t realized how much she’d been looking forward to seeing him again until she’d gone down to the lobby and found him standing there. For seven days, she’d lived without remorse and spent six hot nights in his company with the promise not to contact each other afterward.

Now, it was time to get back to the real world of her everyday demanding life. She looked toward the front of the plan as the safety announcement that everyone remain seated until they reached the gate, then chuckled at the sound of a few seat belts unclicking before it was even finished.

She reached for her cellphone and turned off the airplane mode. As she did, several dings rang out. Stifling a groan, she checked her text messages. When she realized the first four were work-related, she shot a text off to her parents and her brother to let them know she’d made it back home. Then she activated the do not disturb feature. Work could wait until tomorrow. She wanted to enjoy the few remaining hours of her vacation.

This was the only one she’d taken for herself this year, and she deserved it. Her hard work and dedication had paid off. She had the new job title of director to prove it.

A short time later, she made her way off the plane and toward the ramp exit. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that the light meal she’d had a few hours ago was gone. It was still early enough that she could grab something in the terminal before hailing a shared ride.

By the time she walked through the front door of her home, she was starving and even more exhausted. She glanced at the mail on her kitchen table as she put her food on the counter. Her brother had been kind enough to keep an eye on her place and collect her mail. She’d have to thank him and Eva with a nice steak dinner. Perhaps a night out on the town while she watched her nieces and nephews.

She began taking her food out of the bag, sighing with appreciation. The food was still hot enough that she didn’t need to heat it.

A few bites in, her doorbell rang. She frowned as she looked over at the clock. Surely that wasn’t her family. They couldn’t have missed her that much. She pushed back from the table with a longing look at her smoked sausage sandwich before making her way to the door.

A glance out the window revealed a man and a woman in suits standing there. When she spotted a badge, she scrambled to open the door.

“Hello?”

“Good evening, Ms. Hudson. I’m Detective Rasche, and this is Detective Parker. Do you mind if we come in?”

“Of course,” she replied as she stepped aside. “What is this in regards to?”

Sympathy was written all over their expressions, but Detective Rasche answered.

“Are you here alone?” she asked. “It might be better if—”

“No, if something is wrong. Just tell me. I don’t need anyone with me.”

The detectives shared a look before turning their attention back to her.

“Ms. Hudson, I regret to inform you that there was a fatal car accident tonight...”

Whatever the detective said next, Ciara missed as the room began to spin. The last thing she saw was Detective Parker reaching for her as the room dimmed.