That One Summer: A Collection of Steamy Contemporary Romance

Chapter 2

Brad

This has to work.

This has to work.

This has to work.

THIS HAS TO WORK.

Maybe if I scream it to myself long enough, I’ll start to believe it.

I scroll through the encouraging text messages on my phone one more time.

Mom: It was never and won’t ever be your fault, sweetie.

Dad: Take all the time you need. We’ll be here when you return.

Chuck: You’ve got this, brother. One day at a time.

Melissa: I’m here if you want to chat.

Jimmy: Bang a few chicks and stop feeling guilty.

I laugh again at Jimmy’s, my best friend, text. Typical of him to move straight into sex.

There’s all the support in the world, from my parents to my siblings, but it still doesn’t make the situation any easier.

With a deep breath and a dark cloud, I can’t seem to shake, I leave my room for the first time in two days and head down to dinner.

Hopefully some fresh air will help so I ask for an outside table but as soon as I step onto the patio, a gorgeous woman catches my attention. A sad looking woman with the cutest pout I’ve ever seen. As I move closer, I overhear the younger girls at the next table laughing about eating alone.

Sometimes eating alone is all you want and other times it sucks. Like at a gorgeous hotel in Key West where couples, families, groups of friends are all together.

This gorgeous woman with the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen and long wavy hair billowing down her back doesn’t look happy to be alone. She looks miserable and quite frankly pissed off as she scowls at the group of young ladies.

Before I give myself too much time to think, I step up to her table. “Babe! Why didn’t you wait for me? I told you I’d only be a minute in the bathroom.” I say in a loud voice, loud enough for the giggling ladies to hear.

They grow quiet for a second before they slip back into their conversation.

“Uh? What?” The woman across from me says and I grin.

The dark cloud slowly begins to fade the longer I take her in, and I can’t wipe the stupid grin off my face. Who is she? Is she from around here? Why is she here alone? Is she here to relax or maybe escape her life like me?

I suddenly want to know everything about her. I wink at her and watch the color in her cheeks darken.

Slow down. Hit the brakes.

I ask if she’s ordered yet and finally, she catches on and plays along.

“I did, sorry. I thought you were taking a nap. You know, long day traveling and all.”

“I would never miss dinner with a beautiful woman such as yourself.” I can’t help but compliment her. I flick my eyes over her body while pretending to browse the menu. Her dress hugs all her delicious curves and if I didn’t know any better, I’d stare at her all night long.

“So, are you going to tell me your name?”

“Oh, shit, yeah.” I laugh. She’s got me in a damn tailspin. “I’m Brad. Nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand for a shake but when she slides her fingers into my palm, I grab hold and pull the back of her hand up to my lips. I place a gentle kiss and inhale the scent of her skin, a faint whiff of sweet perfume. My dick stirs and I quickly pull back.

I clear my throat to ease the awkwardness and shift in my seat. My dick is not listening. Fucking traitor.

“Nice to meet you as well. I’m Zara.”

“Zara?” I repeat the name, wanting to hear the sounds play on my tongue. “I like it. It’s different.”

“Thanks. My mom named me after my grandma. I didn’t get the chance to know her; she died when I was a baby.”

“Wish my name had a cool story, but nope. Just plain old Brad.”

“Well, I happen to like it. Classic and strong.” Zara says just as her food arrives.

“Nachos! One of my favorites.” I declare. “I’ll take an order of those myself. And a beer, please.”

“Sure, anything else for you, miss?”

“I’ll have another margarita please.”

“Got it.” He leaves and I watch as Zara dives into her nachos, stuffing a chip piled high with toppings into her mouth.

When she sees me watching she laughs and covers her mouth with one hand. “Sorry, how rude of me. I’m starving.”

“It’s okay. It’s kinda fun watching you inhale them.”

“Want some?” She nods towards the plate.

My stomach grumbles. I haven’t eaten since this morning. “Thanks, I’d love some. I’ll make it up to you with mine.”

“You better.” Zara teases and my cock twitches. Again.

Settle down, fella. Shit ain’t happening.

Women are the absolute last thing on my mind. I came here with clear intentions and adding something else into the mix isn’t going to happen.

No matter how cute she is eating nachos.

* * *

We end up having drinksand talking until well after our food is done. The conversation flows and there’s no doubt a spark between us. A little flame nipping at my edges and threatening to spread with the tiniest of sparks.

I learn she’s a kindergarten teacher from Savannah, Georgia and she drove all the way here by herself. She has a cat named Luna and lives alone in a condo. “A boring life, I guess you could say.” Zara sips her drink, her eyes twinkling under the soft patio lighting.

“It’s only boring if you think it is.”

She shrugs. “I like my quiet existence.”

I tell her how I got into professional surfing, having grown up on the coast in Pensacola.

“So, my hunch was right.”

I laugh. “Oh yeah, what was it?”

“That’s a secret.” Zara teases as she licks some sugar off her pink lips. I ignore my dick who keeps wanting to make his presence known. Like I could forget.

“You’ll spill in time. I’ve got tricks. I guess having a big family helped with that.”

“Stop, how big?” She sits up higher in her seat and leans forward.

“I’m one of eight kids.”

Zara’s mouth pops open. “Eight?! I thought more like four, or five kids max. Damn! Your mom’s a rockstar.”

I chuckle. “She’s great. So is my dad.”

“Mine are too, except my mom can be a bit of a nag. But it’s only my younger brother and I so she needs to get her punches in somehow.” Her mouth lifts in a half smile. She looks away and sighs. I wonder what that’s about, but I don’t want to pry so I change the subject.

“What brings you to Key West?” I ask her.

Zara’s gaze falls to her drink and stays there. Uh, maybe that wasn’t a good question to ask. Besides, she might ask me the same thing and what will I say? The truth I can’t bring myself to say, or will I stack the lies so high I won’t be able to see above them?

“Just needed to get away for a bit. You?”

I could easily lie and say I’m here for a surfing competition or some bullshit press release, but instead I shrug. “Guess I could say the same thing.”

A silence falls between us. Something simmers below the surface, like we both have more to say but can’t bring ourselves to speak the words.

I check the time. Just after eleven.

I should call it a night before...before what?

You know exactly what.

Now is not the time to bring back old habits.

Whatever, I’m not that guy anymore.

“Thanks for having dinner with me,” I say before finishing the last of my drink. “I added the tab to my room.” I pull my wallet out of my pocket and throw down a couple of twenties for a tip.

“Here, let me give you some cash.” Zara fishes inside her purse. My hand automatically reaches out to stop her, but I pull back.

If I touch her, I’m afraid I might not ever stop.

“No, that’s okay. It’s my treat.”

“Well, that’s very nice of you. Thank you, Brad. I had a good time.”

“I did, too.” We both stand. “Have a good night, Zara.”

“You too.” She whispers.

Before I can change my mind and do something I’ll regret, I walk away without a glance back. If I do, I know I won’t resist the urge to scoop her into my arms and carry her to my bed.

Which is the very last thing I came here to do.

Once inside my room, I take a cool shower, but it doesn’t help.

I lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. Images of Zara flow through my mind and I grab my phone in a need to distract myself.

Opening the message app, I find my brother and quickly type out a text.

Brad: Fuck dude. Did you ever just meet a woman and be like shit- she’s gonna fuck up your life?

Chuck: Yeah, bro. My wife. Wtaf?

Brad: Nothing. Actually, went to dinner and met a nice woman. That’s all. I’m overthinking shit; must be all this humid air. Night.

Chuck: You’re not getting off that easy.

After flicking on do not disturb, I shove my phone under my pillow and roll to my side.

But it’s no use.

I close my eyes and I see her.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Two months ago, you were engaged.

Yeah, but you weren’t in love, were you?

My thoughts battle and I fall into a restless sleep only to be awoken the next morning feeling worse.

Much much worse.