That One Summer: A Collection of Steamy Contemporary Romance

Chapter 1

Jane sat in the plushinterior of the limousine, her heart racing with excitement as she smoothed down the folds of her pristine white gown. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of her life—she would finally be marrying Gary Combs, her high school sweetheart, the only man she had ever known. From the moment she set eyes on Gary, she knew she wanted to be Mrs. Combs. She had harbored a secret crush on him in high school, but he never seemed to notice her. She was a late bloomer, but after a transformative summer holiday before senior year, she returned to find herself suddenly the object of boys” attention. Gary finally asked her out, and they began their journey together as a couple. Despite attending separate colleges, their bond remained strong, nurtured by late-night phone calls and occasional visits. After graduation, Gary returned to take over the family business, and it was then that he decided to pop the question. Jane was over the moon, her heart overflowing with joy as she eagerly said yes, without a moment”s hesitation. And now, as she sat in the limousine on her way to the wedding service, she couldn”t help but steal glances out the tinted windows at the grand church facade. The sun”s warm glow only added to the sense of magic in the air, Jane had always dreamed of a summer wedding, and now, surrounded by the lush greenery of nature and vibrant blooms, her vision had come to life.

But as the minutes stretched on, anticipation gave way to a creeping sense of anxiety. Where was he? Where was her groom? Jane couldn”t shake the unease that settled in the pit of her stomach, her fingers tightening around the bouquet in her lap. With each passing second, her eyes darted nervously to the entrance of the church, searching for any sign of Gary”s arrival. Beside her, Martha, her maid of honor, offered a reassuring smile, but even her comforting presence couldn”t dispel the growing sense of worry. Jane glanced over at her friend, grateful for the support. Martha”s words of reassurance did little to quell the rising tide of panic within her.

”They must have slept in,” Martha said, her voice attempting to sound casual. ”Brian mentioned they were out late last night.”

Brian, Martha”s husband, had been Gary”s companion the night before. The thought offered a small comfort, a rational explanation for Gary”s tardiness. But Jane couldn”t shake the feeling of dread that crept up her spine, threatening to overwhelm her.

Forcing a smile, Jane nodded in response to Martha”s words, though her facade of composure was beginning to crack. Behind the forced grin, her mind raced with a million questions, each more terrifying than the last. Where was Gary? What could have possibly delayed him on the most important day of their lives?

Finally, the door of the limousine swung open, and Jack, the best man, stepped inside. His usual jovial expression was replaced by one of solemnity, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He handed Jane a small envelope, his voice barely above a murmur.

”Jane, I”m so sorry,” he said, his gaze avoiding hers.

Confused and apprehensive, Jane accepted the envelope, her fingers trembling as she tore it open. Inside, she found a single sheet of paper, adorned with Gary”s familiar handwriting. With each word she read, her heart sank lower, tears welling in her eyes until they spilled over, tracing a path down her cheeks.

”I’m in love with someone else. I can’t do this. I”m sorry.”

The note slipped from Jane”s trembling fingers, the weight of its contents crashing down on her like a tidal wave. She was left abandoned, alone on the church steps, her dreams shattered in an instant. The pain was so acute, it felt like a physical blow, leaving her stunned and breathless.

”I”m really sorry, Jane,” Jack said again, his voice heavy with remorse as he opened the door to leave the limousine. Martha, Jane”s maid of honor, reached for the fallen note, her brow furrowed with concern as she quickly scanned its contents.

Jane turned to Martha, her voice barely a whisper as she struggled to contain her sobs. ”What do I do now?”

Martha”s hand rested gently on Jane”s trembling shoulder, offering comfort and support. With a determined resolve, she spoke softly, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.

”We”ll figure it out, Jane,” Martha said. ”But first, let”s get you out of here. I”ll take care of everything else. We need to get you as far away from here as possible.”

Martha instructed the driver to take Jane back to the hotel, then enveloped her in a warm hug. ”It will all be okay, Jane,” she whispered reassuringly, her words a balm to Jane”s wounded soul. With a final squeeze, Martha left the limousine, shutting the doors behind her.

As the limousine pulled away from the curb and began its journey back to the hotel, Jane couldn”t help but marvel at the stark contrast between her current state of despair and the euphoria she had felt just minutes before. It was as if her world had been turned upside down in the blink of an eye, leaving her reeling with confusion and heartache.

Her mind raced with a whirlwind of unanswered questions, each one more agonizing than the last. Why had Gary left her at the altar? What had gone wrong? But amidst the chaos of her thoughts, one thing remained clear—she couldn”t stay at the hotel. She needed to escape, to put as much distance between herself and the painful memories as possible.

Jane remembered the suitcase tucked away in the trunk of the limousine, prepared and waiting for the surprise honeymoon destination Gary had meticulously planned. Despite the heart-breaking turn of events, she couldn”t deny that Gary had succeeded in surprising her, albeit in a way she could have never anticipated. Jane made a snap decision. She wasn”t ready to face the inevitable calls and questions from friends and family, nor was she prepared to return to her empty apartment. Instead, she would embrace the unexpected turn of events and embark on an impromptu journey of self-discovery.

Determined, Jane redirected the driver, her mind set on escape. She had no specific destination in mind, only the urgent need to flee the crushing weight of heartbreak. Yet, as the limousine raced towards the airport, a spark of hope ignited within her. Jane refused to be ensnared by despair; instead, she embraced the chance to reclaim her independence and revive her spirit, ready to embrace whatever adventures lay ahead.

As Jane stepped out of the limousine, a sense of freedom washed over her. The airport terminal loomed before her, alive with the hustle and bustle of travelers beginning their own journeys. With each step she took, Jane felt the burdens of her heartache grow lighter, as if shedding the weight of her past with every stride.

Inside the terminal, Jane approached the ticket counter, her pulse quickening with excitement. With no particular destination in mind, she opted for a flight departing soon, bound for sun, sand, and sea—allowing fate to guide her journey. Handing over her credit card and receiving her boarding pass, a surge of exhilaration filled her being.

Settling into her seat aboard the plane, Jane found solace in the gentle hum of the engines. As the aircraft taxied down the runway and ascended into the sky, she peered out the window, watching the world shrink below her.

With a deep breath, Jane closed her eyes and surrendered to the embrace of sleep.

* * *

The announcement ofthe impending landing jolted her awake, surprised at how deeply she had slumbered. The exhaustion was a testament to the whirlwind of preparations leading up to her wedding day—a week filled with final arrangements and emotional turmoil. As the plane touched down on foreign soil, Jane stepped onto the tarmac with a renewed sense of purpose. The warm embrace of the sun kissed her skin, a welcome contrast to the chill of the memories she had left behind. With each step she took, she felt the weight of the past lifting from her shoulders, replaced by a newfound sense of freedom.

Arriving at the luxurious beachside hotel, Jane felt a renewed sense of excitement bubbling within her. Allowing herself to fully embrace the spirit of adventure, she made a vow to savor every moment of her time in paradise.

Refreshed from her in-flight slumber, Jane wasted no time in exploring the hotel”s amenities. Tonight, she planned to cast off the shackles of her past and embrace the freedom of the present. This was her chance to reinvent herself, to revel in the joy of liberation, and to dance under the stars as if no one was watching.