That One Summer: A Collection of Steamy Contemporary Romance

Chapter 5

Emilee

The trek back to thecabin is silent, interrupted only by the occasional squawk of a parrot flitting between palm fronds overhead. The water, a shimmering expanse of turquoise, mocks me with its calmness. Small rocks shift under my sandals with every step on the gravel path. And then I look up.

Max is a few steps ahead. His broad shoulders seem to bear the weight of our situation with ease. Clearly, nothing fazes this man. I sigh inwardly, chastising myself for noticing those broad shoulders, slim waist, muscled arms, and legs. I can’t tell about his ass because the shorts are a loose fit, but I’d bet it’s nice and tight, something a girl could sink her nails into.

“Watch out,” he suddenly says, stopping me with an outstretched arm as a sand crab scuttles across our path.

“Thanks,” I mutter, though part of me bristles at needing his assistance. Or maybe it was the touch and the zing of awareness it sent soaring through my body.

Reaching the cabin, he opens the door, stepping aside for me to enter before him. “Home sweet home,” he says dryly.

“Let’s set some ground rules,” I say, placing my hands on my hips as I turn to face him. “The kitchenette is neutral territory. Keep your stuff on your side of the living room. And please, don’t leave wet towels on the bathroom floor.”

“I think I can handle that. And no hogging the hot water in the morning.”

I’m sure there’s a hint of a smile tugging at my lips. “I make no promises.”

He picks up my romance novel from the coffee table and flips through it without reading. I’m waiting for a caustic remark that always followed when Darren found one of my books. I busy myself rearranging the decorative seashells on the windowsill. But nothing comes. He just puts the book back on the table.

“Look, Emilee, it’s not like either of us planned this.”Max breaks the silence, his voice gentler than before.

“I know.”I sigh, allowing my defensive stance to relax slightly.

When our eyes meet, a spark of something zips through the awkwardness—a mutual “can you believe this?”moment. It’s a quick break in the tension as if we both get the joke and might laugh about this whole mix-up someday.

“Perhaps we can try to make the best of it,”he suggests, and an earnestness in his voice takes me by surprise. A warmth in his blue eyes that I didn’t expect makes my heart flutter in an unfamiliar and disconcerting way.

“I suppose...”

“Truce?”He extends his hand toward me, a peace offering.

“Do I have a choice?”I shake his hand, feeling the firmness of his grip. His skin is smooth, with no calluses. It’s a simple gesture, but it signifies a new beginning—however temporary—in our sudden relationship. No, not a relationship; we’re roommates, that’s all.

“No.”He chuckles. “Not really. And I have a suggestion if you’re not busy.”

“I had no plans today other than to relax.”

“Would you be interested in a walk on the beach.”Max gestures toward the door with a tilt of his head. “We can get to know each other, since we’re stuck with one another for however long we’re each here.”

“Fine,”I relent, my interest piqued despite myself. I’m curious to know who Max Beaumont is and how he knows Marika and Shaun. It has nothing to do with how attractive I find him. “But so we’re clear, this isn’t a date.”I close my eyes as my face flushes with embarrassment.

Oh my God, I can’t believe I just said that.

“Crystal clear, not a date,”he replies with a grin.

The weather is perfect—warm but not sweltering, with a gentle breeze that plays with the loose strands of my hair. The sky is blue as far as the eye can see, and the sand is squishy, soft, and warm beneath my feet. As we walk, the rhythmic sound of waves lapping against the shore reminds me of why I’m here, and I take a deep breath, forcing my shoulder to relax and pushing away the tension.

“This place is unbelievable; they certainly made a wise decision investing in it. I think they’re going to do well here.”Max says, gazing out at the vast expanse of the sea.

The sun shimmers off the water’s surface in shades of blue and green. In the far distance, I can see a ship, probably a freighter transporting goods from somewhere. Gulls cry overhead, their wings a silhouette against the sky.

We walk side by side, attempting to maintain a careful distance. Yet, every so often, our shoulders brush as the sand shifts under our feet, sending an electric jolt through me—a silent reminder of our proximity.

“So, what brings you to this little slice of paradise?”I ask casually, breaking the surprisingly comfortable silence between us. I’m actually surprised by how far we’ve walked.

“Life got... noisy. I needed some quiet,”he confesses without looking at me. His hands find refuge in his pockets as he kicks at a piece of driftwood with his foot.

“Quiet is good.”I glance at him. “It gives you space to think.”

“My thoughts exactly.”He nods. Then, flashing a cheeky grin, he adds, “What about you? Running away from a scandalous love affair?”

If only it were as simple as that. “Hardly.”I try to laugh, rolling my eyes. But the laughter doesn’t quite reach the hollow feeling in my chest where my career and relationship with Darren used to be. “I just needed a change of scenery.”

“Sometimes that’s all we need.”His voice has an edge of understanding, suggesting his reasons run far deeper than he’s letting on.

As the sun blazes in the sky, I regret not bringing a hat.

Max points to a small grouping of trees a short distance away. “Want to get out of the sun for bit before we head back?”

“That sounds good.”He leads the way, and when we drop to the sand, spreading our legs out, I’m relieved to be out of the direct sun.

“Favorite food?”I ask him, deciding to play my version of twenty questions, curious about the simple, everyday things.

“I’m a sucker for Italian,”he says, his voice carrying over the sound of the surf, his gaze lingering on the horizon. “There’s something about pasta and pizza that just feels like home.”

Picking up a handful of sand, I let it drift through my fingers. “I get that, but for me, it’s all about Mexican cuisine. The bolder the flavors, the spicier, the better.”

“What about movies?”he asks.

“I’ll watch anything with a good plot twist. But I enjoy horror, action, or mysteries. And you?”

He seems surprised by my answer. “I wouldn’t have guessed. I lean more toward documentaries. Real life is often stranger than fiction, I’ve discovered.”

“Favorite ice cream flavor?”

“Strawberry, without a doubt. It’s like the essence of summer, captured in a scoop.”

“Can’t beat classic vanilla for me.”

“Never took you for a boring vanilla type.”Max laughs. “I pegged you as more of a... I don’t know, maybe and mint chocolate chip girl.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Is that so? Well, I do happen to like mint. And what exactly does that say about me?”

“Nothing bad. Mint is refreshing and surprising, like you.”His eyes gleam, and my stomach flutters in response.

“Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Beaumont.”I turn away, the heat rising in my cheeks, betraying my stern tone.

“Wasn’t flattery,”he shoots back, his smile widening. “Just an observation.”

“How old are you?”

“Thirty-six,”he says. “You?”

“Thirty-three. Where did you go to school?”

“MIT and Stanford.”

Wow. He’s got brains. “I went to NYU.”

‘What did you take?”

“Finance.”However, I’ll never get another job in the finance world again.

We spend the afternoon tossing questions back and forth, learning more about each other. More than I ever knew about Darren or any other man. As the sun starts to dip lower in the sky, casting it in a tapestry of fiery reds and purples, I catch myself sneaking glances at my unwilling roommate. The dimming light seems to trace the contours of his face with a soft, golden touch, illuminating the thoughtful furrow in his brow as he gazes out over the sand and water. With no other guests at the resort, it’s only us on the beach, in our own private world.

And I realize it isn’t just Max who has suddenly disrupted my solitude. I’ve disrupted his. I sense he needs this vacation as much as I do.

“Hey, Emilee?”His voice pulls me from my thoughts.

“Yes?”I turn to face him, and his soft look sends my heart racing.

“Thanks for going with me on this walk.”

“Thank you for suggesting it. It’s been... nice.”

“Don’t sound so surprised. I’m a very likable guy.”There’s a warmth in his gaze, a promise of something more... intimate, if I wanted to pursue it.

I giggle, a bad habit when I’m flustered or suddenly wish I had the courage to indulge in a summer fling. “I’m sure you are.”

“Let’s head back and grab dinner,”he says, his voice casual but inviting.

“I’d like that.”I find myself grinning, enjoying his company. “Marika told me the kitchen is up and running as the chef works out the menu. We can be his guinea pigs.”

Standing, we wipe the sand off and head back in the direction we came, choosing to walk along the shoreline where the briny whiff of the sea mingles with the earthiness of the damp sand beneath our feet.

“Are you thinking seafood or something more land-based?”he asks.

“Considering the view, seafood feels appropriate.”My steps seem lighter and more buoyant than earlier today. My earlier reservations about him slowly dissolve like sea foam on the shore.

“Good choice.”

I catch myself laughing freely, and my gaze wanders over to him. I note how the fading sunlight plays across his features, softening the angles of his face. Surprisingly, I’m finding a peculiar comfort in his presence.

“Never thought I’d be enjoying the company of a stranger,”I murmur, thinking he can’t hear me.

“Stranger?”He feigns offense, tilting one corner of his mouth in a smile. “I think we’ve graduated from strangers to accidental cohabitants.”

“Is that the term?”I feel a warmth bubbling inside me that has nothing to do with the tropical climate.

He winks, sending an inexplicable quiver down my spine. “That’s the best I could come up with on short notice.”

We continue walking, the silence between us no longer awkward but filled with shared anticipation. As the resort lights come into sight, signaling our return to reality, I realize this astonishing interlude with Max has altered something within me. My initial judgment of him as a rude, overbearing man was hasty, and here I am, letting my guard down, inch by inch.

“Possibly after dinner, we could...”Max starts, leaving the suggestion hanging in the air.

“Could what?”I ask, genuinely intrigued.

“Make plans for tomorrow?”His eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that makes my heart stutter.

“Hang out tomorrow? What about your need for solitude?”

He shrugs. “Possibly overrated.”

“You’re full of surprises, Max Beaumont.”

“And you’re not at all what I expected, Emilee Thompson.”