The Pleasures of Summer by Evie Hunter Read Free Book Online Page B

independence?
    Molly smoothed on some lip-gloss and smiled at her reflection. ‘Promise me you’ll chat with Robert?’
    ‘I will, I promise.’
    After Molly left, she lay on the bed, thinking. Her friend was right: if she wanted to go to
Noir
, she had to talk to Robert. But how was she going to manage it with Flynn watching her every move? It was a wonder he hadn’t insisted on moving into her room.
    Her mouth curved in a smile. Mike and Gavin. Surely they could distract him for a little while. Maybe they could talk to him about rugby or something. Pleased with her decision, she slipped off the bed and riffled through her wardrobe. Just what did one wear for an interview to join a fetish club?
    She knew that she had picked the right outfit when ashrill wolf whistle announced her arrival in the sitting room. Robert and Molly were playing Wii, the Australians had opened a couple of beers and Flynn was sitting apart from the others on an antique chair with a disapproving look on his face.
    ‘Mike, can I have a word please?’
    ‘No worries.’ He handed his beer to Gavin and hurried over. ‘What seems to be the problem?’
    ‘No problem.’ Summer whispered. ‘I just need you to do me a little favour.’
    Mike gave a low laugh. ‘Just name it, darling.’ He really was rather cute.
    Gavin cheered loudly when Molly scored and Summer seized her chance. ‘Come with me.’
    Grabbing his hand, she hurried down the hallway, past the office. There was a small sitting room at the back of the house that they used during the winter. It was cosier than the gigantic lounge. It would have to do. She pushed open the door and pulled him inside. When she reached for the light switch, Mike covered her hand with his and planted a quick kiss on her neck.
    ‘That couch is a bit small, if you’re thinking what I’m thinking. Why don’t we take this upstairs?’
    ‘Will you stop that?’ Summer giggled, trying to evade his searching hands.
    Mike ignored her protests and, lifting her up, he pressed her against the wall and moved in for a lingering kiss. She caught the scent of soap and hair gel. She had a vague recollection of kissing him outside the nightclub the night she had got so sloshed with Natasha and Maya. It had been a bad idea then and it was a worse one now. Shedidn’t need a hook-up; she needed him to distract Flynn. Grabbing a handful of his hair, she tugged hard. ‘I said, stop.’
    The door opened. ‘You have two seconds to put her down or you’ll be sitting on the sideline for the next couple of seasons.’
    From anyone else, the words would have sounded like an empty threat. Mike was an inch taller than Flynn and built like a house. But there was something about the expression on Flynn’s face that made Mike hesitate. Releasing her, he let her slide to the floor and raised his hands in mock surrender. ‘Sorry mate, I didn’t realize that she was taken.’
    ‘I am not …’ Summer began, but a warning gaze from Flynn made her close her mouth.
    Mike edged past him. ‘Catch you later.’
    Summer’s attempt to follow him was rudely interrupted when Flynn’s arm blocked the doorway. ‘Back inside, Summer. You and I need to have a little chat.’

    Flynn couldn’t believe it when he saw Summer dragging that Neanderthal out of the lounge and down the hallway. Was she out of her fucking mind? Here she was, under threat from lunatics, and she ignored every bit of common sense by going off with that hormone-driven meathead.
    He followed, his mood worsening with every step. What was particularly annoying was that he didn’t have a legitimate gripe. Summer O’Sullivan was in her own house, one that he had personally checked over for security. Only a special-ops team would get in without alertinghim and he was pretty sure that was one threat Ms O’Sullivan didn’t have to worry about.
    It was her business who she kissed or caressed – or fucked, for that matter. He was the babysitter, she was the principal. It