Summer Temptation (Hot in the Hamptons Book 2) by Wendy S. Marcus Read Free Book Online

driving his very late model, maroon Pontiac instead of my relatively new silver Mercedes, which I kept parked in his garage. Not much need for a car in the city.
    After finding a spot of sand close to the water, I dropped my towel, chair and keys, then stripped off my shirt and set out for a nice long swim, like the good old days. The water looked relatively calm, but calm could be deceiving. It hid strong currents, which I fought through, to remain on course. By the time I finished, my arms and legs felt like lead weights. I set up my chair, plopped into it and closed my eyes, welcoming the heat on my cool, wet skin, letting the sun bake the color of life – as Jake had called it – back into me.
    As my body relaxed, my heart rate and breathing slowed. A female giggle caught my attention. It sounded close. Me, being a guy and all, I opened my eyes, using my hand as a visor to shield the sun. Three young women, all nice looking from the back, early twenties by my estimation, stood a few feet away, letting the waves wash over their ankles.
    In the not too distant past I would have come up with a reason to strike up a conversation, or created an opportunity to interact with them. But today, thoughts of Leigh filled my mind, like how fantastic she’d look in one of those skimpy string bikinis and how much I looked forward to seeing her in one.
    It caught me off guard, because she might be pregnant…with another man’s baby. I should have taken the chance she’d offered to rescind my dinner invitation and used my time in the Hamptons to search out an uncomplicated woman looking for a fun, sex-filled summer fling.
    Yet I hadn’t. I felt drawn to Leigh and wanted to be there for her. If anyone could give her a summer of fun, I could. At the expense of a fun summer for myself?
    No, I didn’t think so. I enjoyed her company, liked talking to her and looking at her and making her blush. And I was really looking forward to spending more time with her, which made me wonder when she’d be back? I pulled my phone out of my bag, grabbing my water bottle at the same time. Taking a few chugs, I checked the time and decided to give her a call.
    She answered on the third ring. “Hello?”
    “It’s Nick. How’s your visit going?”
    “Dad’s doing well. My grandfather is the same. I’m on my way back to Storme’s house.”
    The news gave me a little buzz of happy anticipation. “On your way back as in driving in the car right now? Are you okay to talk?”
    “I’m hands free. You’re coming at me through my speakers in surround sound.”
    I smiled. “How’d your bridal fitting go?”
    She didn’t answer right away. Uh oh. “Leigh?”
    “Yes. I’m here. The bridal fitting was…enlightening.”
    Not a word I’d expected, but okay. “Care to elaborate?”
    “Not really, except to say after what I learned, I have some doubts as to whether Storme’s wedding will be taking place as scheduled.”
    “Oh boy.”
    “Tonight the three of us are having dinner together. Storme really needs Kelsey and me right now.”
    My little buzz of happy anticipation faded. “Oh.”
    “But I was thinking, if you want to hang out, and absolutely no pressure if you don’t, but if you do, maybe you could stop by the house later on for a walk on the beach? We could discuss plans for our ‘Summer of Fun.’
    I liked the sound of that…but waited a few seconds to respond so I didn’t sound overly eager. “That’d be great.”
    “I’ll text you the address. Say around nine?”
    “Perfect.” Sure it’d be dark, so I’d have to wait a little longer to see her in a bathing suit. But that was okay, because maybe, just maybe, it felt a little odd to be lusting after a possibly pregnant woman. “Is it weird that I hardly know you, yet I can’t stop thinking about you, and I’m really looking forward to seeing you tonight?” And that I felt perfectly comfortable telling her that?
    “I hope not, because I can’t stop thinking about