That One Summer: A Collection of Steamy Contemporary Romance

Chapter 7

Max

Emilee nods, jumpsup, and sprints across the sand, hardly hesitating as she runs right into the water.

I follow slowly, willing my body to settle down before she notices. Of course, the water’s not cold, but at least it hides my condition while we frolic like two children released from the confines of a stuffy classroom.

“Race you to that rock.”Emilee calls out, her voice bubbling with happiness.

“Prepare to taste defeat.”I start swimming, but she’s already paddling ahead, slicing through the waves like a competitive swimmer, so I trail behind, allowing myself the luxury of watching her have fun. Emilee’s carefree spirit seems to meld with the sea itself. I realize this must be where she shines brightest—in moments unrestrained, wild, and beautifully accessible.

“I win,”she declares, reaching the outcrop, out of breath but gleeful at defeating me. I can only gaze at her, no words in my throat as I absorb the vision before me.

Where Audrey is a picture of stiff, fabricated sophistication, Emilee is a casual, natural beauty. Clad in a pink bikini that I got cheeky glimpses of as she stroked through the water, she’s radiant. Her shoulders are bathed in water droplets as she brushes wet hair out of her face, and her lashes are darker and heavier, giving her a sultry look.

“Only because I was admiring the view.”I swim up beside her.

“Right, of course, you were.”Her laughter is light, her eyes shining. “I can’t get over how beautiful this place is.” She’s got one hand on the rock while she treads water, catching her breath.

“The scenery is indeed stunning.”I can’t take my eyes off her.

After a short rest, we push away from the rocks and float for a bit, propelling ourselves slowly back toward the beach as the swells in the water bounce us softly, its rhythm in perfect harmony with my beating heart. It’s near impossible not to drink in the sight of her, each glance stirring a heady mix of desire and admiration within me. I used to be like her. I used to enjoy life. I used to play and laugh. Have fun.

“Max,”she says, floating closer, “what’s something you’re really proud of but don’t get to talk about much?”

I’ve been enjoying this volley of questions, filling my mental database with all kinds of interesting facts about her, things I can maybe pull out later when the opportunity arises, like in a year or two. Christ, where is my head at? I just ended a long-term relationship. I’m not in the market for another one. Turning my head, I watch her, face to the sun, eyes closed, hands at her sides, gently swaying back and forth through the water. But she’s exactly the type of woman I can envision in my future.

“Ah.”I clear my throat, forcing myself back to the moment. “I restored a classic motorcycle once—spent months on it. Not many people know that about me.”I’d saved all through high school for that bike, working every job I could manage. It remained in storage while I went to college. When I finally finished it, I looked forward to showing it to Dad. When Audrey found out, she forbade me from riding it. She thought it silly and dangerous. And unbecoming of a man prepared to rise to the top of the business world.

“Wow, that’s incredible. Do you still have it?”

“No.”Above, the blue sky is cloudless, the occasional bird passing into view on its way to wherever. “Same question. Tell me something that you’re proud of.”

“I bake. Not just cookies or muffins—I mean elaborate cakes, the kind that takes hours of preparation. It’s my secret art.”

“Maybe I’ll get to witness this mastery one day.”

“Perhaps.”A sly smile plays on her lips. “I’m curious. How do you handle stress? Are you a ‘take a long walk’person or a ‘hit the gym’kind of person?”

“Neither,”I reply. “I’m a hop-on-a-plane-and-come-to-an-island kind of guy.”

“Touché. I tackle complex financial models my head. Numbers calm me down.”

“Hmm, maybe I should have you do my taxes.”

She laughs, and the sound is beautiful as it carries across the water.

When our fingers are beginning to shrivel, we emerge from the water, andour bodies glisten with droplets like tiny crystals all over our skin. I can’t help but notice how they shimmer on Emilee’s sun-kissed figure with each sway of her hips. We trudge through the sand and collapse on our towels face first.

“That was so refreshing,”Emilee mumbles into hers.

A few minutes later, we roll over, comfortable in the following silence while our bodies dry under the late morning sun. When I look over, Emilee is tracing the outline of a cloud with a thoughtful finger. “So, where’s the one place you’d love to travel to most? And any particular reason?”

“Norway,”she says without hesitation, tipping her head to the side, her gaze meeting mine. “I want to see the Northern Lights. There’s something magical about the idea of nature’s own light show.”

“I’d like to witness that myself—one more item for the bucket list.”

She flips over and props herself up on an elbow to face me. “Ever watch a movie or read a book that just flipped your perspective on something?”

“Into the Wild. The raw call to nature resonated with me—the idea of stripping life back to the essentials.”

She nods, water dripping from her hair and running down her neck. “Ah, the allure of the wilderness.”

For a while, silence retakes hold. Only the sound of waves and gulls interrupts it as we relax and get sleepy. When the sun is right overhead, we rouse and reluctantly gather our things, seeking shelter from the heat. Beneath a palm tree offering dappled shade, we sprawl out, and I dig out the snacks.

“Is there something you’ve always wanted to pick up as a hobby but just haven’t had the chance to yet?”I ask, handing her a bottle of water.

“Photography.”She accepts the cold bottle with a grateful smile. “I’ve always admired the way a moment can be captured forever.”

I can picture her behind a camera, her keen eyes searching for the perfect shot. “I’ve always thought sailing would be fascinating. The freedom of it.”

“Exploring the seas, Captain Beaumont?”she teases.

“Something like that.”I take a long swig of my own water. “Tell me, what’s something you find irresistibly attractive in a person?”

“Confidence, but, you know, the genuine kind. Someone who knows who they are, what they want, and doesn’t need to prove it to the world.”

“Quiet strength.”Her answer is intriguing and revealing, and it aligns with my own way of thinking. “For me, it’s wit—a sharp mind is incredibly sexy.”

“Good thing we’re both so witty then.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, good thing.”

As the afternoon sun begins to cast long shadows on the sand, I reach out tentatively, my fingers lightly brushing away that elusive strand of hair that continuously seeks out Emilee’s cheek. Her skin is warm to the touch, and the simple act sends a surge of longing through me that’s hard to ignore.

“Can you tell me a secret that you’ve never told anyone else on a first date?”I ask, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

Her eyebrows rise in surprise, her lips curving into an amused smile. “This is a date?”

“Um, yes, I think it is.”I clear my throat. “So?”

“Well, first dates really aren’t my forte,”she says, her voice lowering to a sultry whisper. “But I’ll tell you this—I’ve always wanted to dance naked in the rain, completely carefree, just letting go of all inhibitions.”

The image of Emilee naked, soaked to the skin, and utterly joyous makes my nerve endings taut, and I want to be there in the rain with her.

“Rainy days... are you the cozy up with a book type, or do you have another rainy-day ritual?”

“I’m definitely a book guy.”I laugh, butthe sound is more like a croak while I’m still picturing the rain dance. “There’s something about rain tapping against the window that makes a good story even better.”

We lapse into a comfortable silence, and I’m lost in the simple pleasure of her company, the laughter that bubbles up effortlessly, and the looks that linger long enough to promise more. The air between us is energized, and I feel her essence like gravity tugging at my core. It’s soon impossible to resist leaning in, the space between us diminishing until our breaths mingle. I pause, giving her time to say no, and back away.

But she meets my gaze, her eyes dark with a hunger matching mine.

Bolstered by the day’s intimacy, I wrap my hand around the back of her neck, bringing our faces together, and I kiss her.

Emilee’s lips are soft against mine, a tender sweetness that deepens as she responds. The taste of salt lingers from our earlier swim, blending with the heat of her mouth. The softness of her skin where my other hand rests on her waist is intoxicating, urging me to pull her closer still.

As the kiss grows more fervent, my heart beats faster, and my arousal grows at a pace that’s both thrilling and terrifying in its intensity. As we recline onto the towels, the sandy ground shifting beneath our combined weight, my body partially covering hers, I’m lost in the sensation of her beneath me as she wraps her leg around mine. A low groan escapes when she lifts her arms and spears her fingers in my hair.

I cover one breast with my hand, kneading gently. Her pleasure-filled whimper is a melody that threads through my veins, stoking the fire that’s been simmering between us all day.

The kiss tapers off, our breaths coming in ragged harmony as our lips disengage and our eyes slowly open. Swallowing hard, I adjust my lower half so I’m not prodding her with my erection.

Emilee’s chest rises and falls with quickened breaths. She looks up at me, her eyes dazed as she blinks. “Wow,”she whispers.

Words fail me. All I can do is jerk my head up and down in agreement.

“Should we head back?”I ask, my voice rough with desire.

Her nod is as erratic as mine, but her shy smile brightens her eyes and fills me with profound relief that I didn’t just overstep.

Offering my hand, we stand, our movements languid as we cling to each other for a moment, reluctant to break the invisible thread holding us together.

We pack our things silently, slide our feet into our shoes, and start the trek back to the cabin. When Emilee slips her hand into mine, a surge of happiness washes over me, and I give her fingers a gentle squeeze, welcoming the fullness that centers in my chest.

Our conversation as we walk back to the cabin is easy. We don’t speak about the kiss or the feelings it evoked. But there’s an undercurrent of sexual awareness in every look, touch, and curve of our lips. There’s an unspoken understanding that that kiss was just the beginning. And there’s anticipation for what will undoubtedly follow.

I want her—every fiber of my being shouts it loud and clear.

She wants me, too. I can see the desire in her eyes every time she looks my way.

“Max,”she says softly when we reach the cabin and are about to step up to the porch, “today has been fun and unexpected.”

“Good, unexpected, I hope.”

“Very good.”Her heated gaze holds mine, the message clear.

The air is filled with the promise of more kisses, more laughter, more intimacy.

“Thank you for sharing this day with me.”I mean every word. I came here for solitude, but I blew that idea out of the water today. I don’t want to spend a moment alone while she’s here with me.

“Thank you for giving me a reason to smile again.”