One Perfect Summer

It’s just a summer fling…right?

Practical and reliable, Bekah Matthews is tired of her good-girl image. After her boyfriend dumps her, she decides to throw caution to the wind.

So what better way to let her hair down than to have a no-strings-attached fling while living on the paradise that is Hazel Island?

Enter: Elliot Parker and Bekah’s high school crush.

Luckily for Bekah, Elliot is just as dreamy as he was a decade ago, and he’s not looking for commitment.

This playboy isn’t about to turn down a gorgeous woman like Bekah for some steamy loving, either.

Yet with their hearts now on the line, can this fling turn into a love for all seasons?

Bekah Matthews gaped at her boyfriend of three years.

“You know we were never meant to go the distance,” Sam was saying. “We’re just not compatible. You know that, too.”

Bekah did not know that. She and Sam had been dating for three years now. Sam had given her a key to his place, and vice versa.

They’d discussed moving into their own place together just two weeks ago.

“How is everything?” asked the waiter.

Bekah had barely started eating her linguine, and now, she was seriously considering tossing it in Sam’s face.

“It’s great, thanks.” Sam barely glanced at the waiter, his tone dismissive.

As a scientist, Bekah had always prided herself on being logical and practical. When she and Sam had first started seeing each other, she’d written down a list of pros and cons about him. One of the biggest pros was that he was ambitious in his career as a lawyer. It was also one of his biggest cons, Bekah had eventually realized.

“Well? Do you have anything you want to say?” said Sam.

Bekah felt as though the English language had exited the building that was her brain. She took a long drink of water, then an even longer one of the wine she’d ordered.

“I never thought...” She swallowed. “I’m in shock.”

If she were being honest, she’d honestly thought Sam taking her to the fanciest restaurant on Hazel Island meant he might be proposing.

Well, he was proposing: proposing to end their relationship. That thought made Bekah return to her glass of wine.

“We’ve hardly seen each other in the last few months,” said Sam. “I’ve been busy with work, you with your research. The spark is gone.” He leaned forward, his voice lowering. “There hasn’t been a spark for a while now.”

Bekah felt her cheeks turn red. “No, I don’t think that’s true. I think you can create sparks, if you want to,” she said, rather sharply.

“Don’t drag this out when we both know it’s already dead.” Sam then reached under his chair and pulled out a gift bag. He plopped the bag in front of Bekah, but she didn’t reach out to take it.

“It’s a gift,” he said lamely.

“You got me a ‘I’m dumping you’ gift.” She just looked at him.

Now he finally looked self-conscious. “Now I’m wondering if that was a bad idea. I just thought...” He shrugged. “I didn’t want us to end on bad terms. I do care about you. You’re a good person.”

Bekah pulled out the tissue paper to discover a small screwdriver set inside. Screwdrivers. Bekah glanced around, wondering where the hidden cameras were, because surely this entire debacle was a prank.

A receipt fluttered out of the bag. “In case you want to return it,” said Sam.

At this point, Bekah had merely been in shock, dismayed. But when she looked at the receipt and saw that Sam had purchased this gift over a year ago, rage coursed through her in hot, quick waves.

He’d wanted to end this a year ago. Yet he hadn’t said a word until now. Humiliation made her want to sob. He’d wanted to move on and had delayed the breakup. Why?

A year ago, her beloved dog had died. Then her mom had broken her leg, and Bekah had had to help care for her that summer.

Rising from her chair, Bekah crumpled the receipt and tossed it in Sam’s face. “You know, if you wanted to make this a clean breakup, you probably shouldn’t have included a gift receipt dated from a year ago,” she snapped.

Sam’s face turned white. “Shit, Bekah—”

Bekah tossed back the rest of her wine, then did the same with Sam’s glass. “You know what? Break up with me. That’s fine. But don’t feel sorry for me. I’m a big girl, Sam. I think I’ll survive without you.”

Emboldened, she added, “God knows my vibrator has given me more orgasms than you ever did.”