Burning Desire: Bay Shore

By Susan V. Vaughn

A steamy night not forgotten…

One night of passion with a handsome stranger compels Louise Piekartz to change her path. Instead of finishing law school at her parents' urging, she chases her dream to Bay Shore and revives her grandmother's bakery. Now that she has secured a life of her own, she won't let anything get in her way. But can she resist the temptation of the man from her past, when he shows up to rekindle their love affair?

 

Ever since his father's death, Isaac Rybak has a burning need to fix everything around him. But his mother's addiction to drugs is not something he can cure. Consumed by his inability to stop his mother from using, he struggles with his inner demons—until the woman of his dreams walks back into his life, and all his efforts are focused on a battle he knows he can win: securing her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
• Release date: Dec 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781953335128

Book preview

Burning Desire

Bay Shore, Book 1

Susan V. Vaughn

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.

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If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher. In such case the author has not received any payment for this stripped book.

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Burning Desire

Bay Shore: Book 1

Copyright © 2020 Susan V. Vaughn

All rights reserved.

2nd edition

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ISBN: (ebook) 978-1-953335-12-8

(print) 978-1-953335-13-5

Inkspell Publishing

207 Moonglow Circle #101

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

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Cover art By Najla Qamber

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This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The copying, scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials.  Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Chapter 1

That blond giant over there. The one with all the muscles. He’s checking you out.

Louise looked up from her empty wineglass and smiled. Her best friend, Jill, had lowered her voice into almost a whisper but still managed to sound dramatic—it was her specialty. So? Louise shrugged. That’s why we’re here, isn’t it? She grabbed the rim of her empty glass, and raised it toward Jill in a salute. To drink at this dingy Bay Shore bar, and flirt with all the local boys.

No, that’s why you are here. Jill shook her head, and her brown eyes managed to look both disapproving and amused. I still haven’t figured out why I let you drive me three hours north, to the middle of nowhere—

For a vacation—

For a vacation? Jill gestured around them with a smirk on her pretty face. It’s the middle of winter, and we are in the Thumb of Michigan. The Thumb, Louise! There is nothing in the Thumb but fish, deer, and birds.

And Lake Huron, she pointed out, gesturing for the waiter to give her a refill. She needed more wine before Jill ruined her buzz completely, and just when she was starting to forget her mother’s betrayal.

Lake Huron is frozen over. Jill rolled her eyes. When will you wake up, Louise? This is no vacation.

You didn’t have to come. Louise tapped her fingers on the table with annoyance, but when the waiter came by with another glass of red wine, she couldn’t help but smile. One more glass of shiraz, and Jill’s negativity would be a distant echo.

And let you drive up here all alone? Jill gasped, looking outraged. Your mother would never forgive me if I allowed you to do that.

My mother is a liar, she grumbled, tipping her wineglass back. The red liquid burned her throat and set fire to her insides. It was a wonderful sensation, compared to the stress she had been carrying around all week.

So what if your mother didn’t tell you about your grandmother’s will? It’s not the end of the world. Jill leaned in, lowering her voice. It’s no reason to drive to the middle of nowhere and slum it with some dirty local fisherman.

What was that? she asked loudly, making a show of cupping her ear. I didn’t hear you.

Oh never mind. Jill’s face flushed pink with embarrassment. Her friend might be rich and snobby, but she prided herself on her excellent manners. Which was why Louise enjoyed teasing her.

You know what I mean, Louise.

Do I?

She in fact knew what her best friend meant, but didn’t care. It didn’t matter that both she and Jill were raised in the ritzy suburbs of Detroit, molded from birth to become wealthy future lawyers. It didn’t matter that both she and Jill were supposed to graduate from college in the spring, or that after, Louise would be expected to join her parents’ law firm and become a leading divorce attorney. That was before she learned the dirty little secret her mother had been keeping from her. Now she wasn’t so sure she wanted to graduate college. She wasn’t so sure she wanted to continue being her parents’ perfect little daughter. The only thing she was sure about was the fact that she wanted to drink away her worries, at this local dingy bar, in the middle of nowhere.

We should be at school, studying for final exams. Jill nodded, trying to look convincing.

I’m sick of studying. Louise sighed dramatically. That’s all we’ve done for over five years. I need a mental break.

You’ll get one, after this spring—

And then what? Study for the bar exam nonstop? She gestured with her wine, splashing the fluid over the rim. Work at my parents’ law firm twelve hours a day? Where’s the payoff?

What do you mean where’s the payoff? Jill looked back at her incredulously. When you’re living in your own mansion, the one you bought with your own money. When you marry your rich and handsome husband, and have his perfect-looking kids.

Louise took a long sip of her wine in response. Her friend sounded so ridiculous, it was as if she was joking, but Louise knew she was not. This was the type of world she grew up in—the privileged, rich life. Where all anyone cared about was work, money, and appearing flawless. Love and affection didn’t matter in her world; neither did true happiness. She might have money, a rich husband, and perfect-looking kids one day, but she knew she wouldn’t be happy. There would be no time to enjoy those things when she was always chasing the next dollar. Just like her parents had.

Maybe I don’t want those things, Jill. Louise placed her glass down and looked into her friend’s eyes. Is that so bad? What if I decided to take the inheritance my grandmother left me—

And live here? Jill shouted. She was too shocked this time to lower her voice, and the results had every eye in the bar turned in their direction.

Keep your voice down, Louise whispered harshly.

You want to give up all your hard work and dedication in law school, Jill continued loudly, ignoring her. To what? Own a stupid bakery?

It’s not a stupid bakery, she said through clenched teeth. She suddenly felt the need to strangle her friend. It was my grandmother’s—

I know, I know. You loved your grandmother. Jill swatted at the air, as if this was old news. But she’s dead, Louise. Do you really think she would want you to give up your dreams, just because she left you her small town bakery?

Becoming a lawyer was never my dream, Louise grumbled under her breath. She was done with Jill’s voice. It was grating in her head and killing her buzz. She should have never allowed Jill to come on this trip.

Not yet, but that is only because you haven’t made money—

Jill, please stop talking. Louise held up her hand. She had enough. I don’t want to talk about money, school, or my family. I’m trying to enjoy myself here.

Yes, she’s trying to enjoy herself, Jill, a deep voice echoed from behind her. Can’t you see that?

Louise arched her head back to see the blond giant towering over their table—with his arms like tree trunks, and a chest so broad, it was hard to pull her eyes away. When she finally managed to, she noticed his hair looked tousled and dirty underneath his dark red baseball cap. The ends were golden, as if he spent countless hours in the sun. His eyes were the color of fire—amber, deep, and striking against thick, dark lashes and even darker eyebrows. He had a broad smile on his handsome face, and it was filled with mischief. In one hand he held a beer, in the other a glass of red wine. He handed the wine to her, and his smile broadened into something more seductive. She could no longer feel her toes. I bought you a drink, beautiful, he said, amber eyes traveling down her neck, and lower still. I hope you don’t mind.

Not at all, Louise responded when she found her voice again. Her mouth suddenly felt so dry. She reached out and accepted the glass from his hand. For a moment their fingers touched, and his eyes were back on hers—filled with heat. The type of heat that made her finally forget all her worries.

Don’t you dare drink that! Jill cried, reaching out to grab the wine from Louise’s hand. You don’t know if he put something in it.

Her cheeks blushed with heat as she contemplated this handsome stranger drugging her to take advantage. She wasn’t sure why that thought was appealing, especially seeing as she only had sex a handful of times with her college boyfriend, and none of those times were that great.

Don’t be so dramatic, Jill. She pulled the wineglass out of her friend’s reach and took a purposeful sip. Tastes fine to me.

It tastes like wine, because that’s what it is. The stranger sat down next to Jill and placed his arm around her shoulders. Don’t worry, Jill, I don’t need to drug women to get them to come home with me.

I guess I’m just supposed to take your word for it, Jill responded dryly, pushing his arm off. A random dude from the bar.

Andrew, he corrected, reaching out his hand in Jill’s direction. Nice to meet you, Jill.

Jill narrowed her eyebrows, but shook his hand anyway. Louise smiled into her glass and took another long sip. Andrew, if that was his real name, sure knew how to charm his way into their company—even managed to make Jill blush. He might be a dirty fisherman, but he definitely was a handsome one.

Does your friend have a name? he asked Jill, taking a sip of his beer. The way his long fingers wrapped around the neck of the bottle made Louise ache somewhere deep inside her sex. What would Andrew’s hands feel like wrapped around her waist, her hips, her breasts? Her nipples strained against her shirt just thinking about his touch.

Her name is none of your business, Jill clipped back.

It’s Louise, she said, reaching out her hand to Andrew’s. She wanted to feel his skin against hers again. She wanted to feel his gaze on her chest. Even worse, she wanted Jill to get lost.

Andrew swallowed her hand in his and offered her a devilish grin, one that made her heart skip around her chest. His eyes continued to explore the neckline of her shirt, as if he could see how sensitive her breasts had become. The wine is definitely going to my head, Louise thought, or to other places. Either way, the distraction from her stress was welcome. She had a feeling this stranger could distract her more if they were alone. Andrew’s eyes seemed to echo her thoughts as he finally pulled his hand away.

Well, it was nice to meet you, Andrew, Jill said, giving Louise a knowing look. "But we better get going back to our hotel. Our husbands will be waiting for us."

Louise shook her head. Her friend was desperate for Louise to escape this stranger. Jill didn’t want her to do anything dumb, like sleep with a dirty local fisherman. She was determined to make Louise return to her old, rich, and unhappy life, untouched and unaffected. Nobody in Louise’s life wanted her to make a decision on her own, not even her best friend, and she had had enough. Whether it was the alcohol talking, or the fight with her mother, or the stress of becoming something she wasn’t, Louise knew she had to make a decision so daring, so out of character, so adventurous that she would never forget it.

You go back to the hotel, Jill, Louise said, smiling at her friend. Tell my husband not to wait up. She tipped back her wine and swallowed the rest of the contents. The liquid burned her throat and filled her body with both fire and courage. She stood up and turned to Andrew. Let’s get out of here.

Lead the way, beautiful. Andrew smiled, grabbing on to her hand, and followed her out of the bar.

Louise! You can’t be serious!

She heard Jill’s cries and chose to ignore them. Tonight she would not be listening to her friend, to her mother, or to anyone. Tonight she was not Louise the future lawyer. Tonight she was young, impulsive, and free.

When the cool night air hit her face and the door to the bar closed behind them, she turned to Andrew and offered him a seductive smile. Kiss me, she demanded. Her voice sounded throaty in her ears, and she liked the sound. It was the sound of freedom.

Andrew’s eyes hooded as he lowered his gaze to her lips. His body moved with an easy grace that contradicted his size as he backed her against the building, linked his fingers with hers, and raised her arms above her head. She felt her pulse quicken as he leaned in, brushing his lips softly against hers, filling her with just a tease of his taste, earthy, masculine, and strong.

Are you really married? he asked. His gaze was on hers and filled with fiery arousal.

No, she whispered, raising her face up to his, aching for another kiss. His scent was so deep, so delightfully masculine and strong, she could not get enough. None of the men in law school tasted or felt like this—made her feel so feminine and small, so achingly hot.

Good. He covered her mouth with his and kissed her hard and long. He flicked his tongue against her lower lip, seeking entrance. She allowed him in with a heady groan and enjoyed the feel of his possession. His body pushed against hers and made her ache so hard, she could no longer think. It was only thirty degrees outside, and yet she wondered why she was still wearing a coat.

Andrew pulled back and pressed his lips against her ear. Louise, come home with me.

I don’t know.

Her lips felt bruised. She pulled her hands out of his grasp so she could cover them. She wanted this stranger, this fisherman...wanted him to touch her in a way she never cared for a man to touch her before. She wanted to live on the edge for one second of her life, and make a stupid decision, have a one-night stand. But could she really go home with a stranger? Wasn’t that an easy way to become a statistic?

She bit her lower lip, fighting the need to scream. How could she live on the edge when her upbringing was constantly slapping her in the face? Thanks to her parents, she couldn’t even enjoy this one moment.

See that cabin? He pointed across the street, where Lake Huron’s icy surface disappeared into the dark sky. There were small houses sitting on the shoreline. Tiny, one-bedroom log cabins all in a neat row.

Which one?

The first one on the right, he said, grabbing on to her hand and pointing with her finger in that direction. She shivered from the touch.

Yes.

That’s mine, he whispered against her ear. More shivers raced down her spine.

She turned to him, looking into his eyes. They had gone so dark, so intense, she saw his handsome face in a different light. Andrew was enticing, sexy, and filled with masculine heat that demanded a release.

Come home with me, rich girl. He cocked one dark eyebrow in a sensual manner, making her heart race. I promise you won’t regret it.

How do you know I’m rich?

You look rich. He ran his hands up the leather sleeves of her coat. When he got to her shoulders, he pulled her to him and ran his lips down the side of her neck. You taste rich.

She shivered. Her body was on fire from his touch. Her mind was lost in a sea of desires so deep, and so wicked. She knew if she didn’t have more of him she would regret it forever.

You smell like a fisherman, Louise teased, pushing out of his arms. She needed the upper hand. This was her fantasy after all, and she planned to stay in control.

A dirty one too. He scooped up her hand, smiling sinfully. I can promise you that.

What else can you promise me? she played back, batting her long lashes at her tall and handsome stranger.

Come home with me, rich girl. He pressed her fingers to his lips and grazed his teeth lightly against her knuckles, making it hard for her to breathe. I’ll show you what this dirty fisherman can do.

Louise couldn’t help but smile, and before she knew it, she was nodding in consent and allowing Andrew to lead her across the street. The man was beyond sexy. He was a lethal weapon. She could not resist his voice, his body, his charm. She could not fight the urge to taste his lips again and feel his hands explore her body. She had a feeling she would never forget this night for the rest of her life—a passionate, sizzling memory to remind her she had once made a decision that was entirely hers, and entirely reckless.

Her hand shook in his as he led her across the street. Adrenaline, hormones, and alcohol were all coursing through her body, messing with her head. She felt so naughty, so hot, so dirty. She wanted Andrew to teach her about herself, the part that no man had taught her yet. The part she could feel constantly aching. He made her burn for his touch.

Andrew let go of her hand and unlocked the heavy log door of his cabin. He walked inside and she followed. They stood in a tiny, dark room that contained a full-size bed, a miniature kitchen, and a small bathroom, all in a single space. Not much of a space, especially by her parents’ standards, but it would do. She was not here to live with him. She was here to have a one-night stand.

He drew back the curtains on his one large window. It displayed Lake Huron, and the moonlight in the sky, in a way that made the space look magical and better than it actually was. He turned and smiled at her as if he