Summer Fling

By Christa Ann

Melina Parks is looking forward to six days of sun, sand, and waves. What she doesn't expect is a summer fling with her brother's best friend.

 

A vacation to the beach is what Melina needs to escape the pressures of her daily life and the desires she feels for Connor Evans. She needs to face the fact that she and Connor will never be, but the heart wants what it wants. No other will take his place.

 

Connor's feelings for his childhood friend are growing. The more he denies his desire to make Melina his, the more he wants her. How does one tell his best friend that he's in love with his little sister? It just doesn't happen. When his friend Alan suggests a beach vacation, Connor is all in. Maybe the little getaway is what he needs to get Melina out of his head.

 

Tides turn when Melina and Connor realize they have been set up. Their travel companions know their secret and are set on making them face their feelings. Will Connor risk the possible raff from his best friend to have the one woman he wants the most, or will they both walk from each other forever?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Davis Raynes Publishing Group, LLC
• Release date: Aug 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201445317

Christa Ann

Christa Ann started out writing poems like her mother. One day, stories started coming to the front of her mind. Romance, shifter, western and places unknown but they demanded to be created. Her debut novel, Finding Love Again - a contemporary western romance and first in a tantalizing new series - releases in the fall 2016. She grew up in Maryland and now lives in Southwest Florida with her husband, daughter, and two kitties (one Bengal named Jasmine and one Maine Coon named Midnight). She's a proud grandmother of two granddaughters and one grandson. Some of her favorite things are being with her family and friends, reading, hiking, traveling and her love for chocolate. Being Irish/Scottish, Christa also Irish step dances with her daughter and loves St. Patrick Day and Bunratty Mead. She also enjoys playing her piano; she's been playing for 36 years.

Book preview

Chapter One

Melina Parks glanced up at the clock for the fifth time hoping for five o’clock. She only had five more minutes than she would be going on vacation for a week with her bestie Gail. Her boss, Kent, was driving her insane about her vacation. He was easy to work with, and she loved being his Administrative Assistant. But Kent didn’t enjoy it when she left for vacation.

She confirmed all his appointments, completed the reports, and set her phone to forward all calls to the receptionist. This time there would be no reason for Kent to call her on vacation.

Melina clicked ‘enter’ on her e-mail settings for her auto-reply when she heard him. Melina, before you leave, can you come in here.

Of course. Melina headed into his office. She took a seat and raised an eyebrow. Kent, I have everything set. You have all the folders labeled. It’s all good.

To her shock, he laughed at her. For once, I wasn’t calling you in for work. I wanted to tell you to have a great trip. Oh, and don’t think about using the excuse ‘I’m too sunburn to come to work.’ Margie wanted me to invite you to dinner on Sunday when you get back.

I’m expecting to be home around one, so I should be able to make it. Unless Lacey is having a friend there for me to meet, then I’ll be busy. Lacey was Kent’s wife and had become an instant friend. However, she enjoyed setting Melinda up with blind dates because she claimed, ‘You need a good man.’

This time, no one else is coming. Lacey didn’t want you to come home, have to unpack, and worry about dinner. Kent smiled, knowing his wife had been setting her up. I’ll let her know. Have fun, and I won’t call this time. Thank you for getting everything together. We’ve been so busy for the last three months I can’t wait for a slow down.

Well, because you are good at what you do, and the clients know it. Melina wanted to leave and get going.

She noticed Kent turned his head to see the clock. Time to close up and for me to go home and for you to start a well-earned vacation.

After being diagnosed with high blood pressure, Kent had made sure not to stay late and had everyone leave on time. Margie told her that Kent got them bicycles to start riding in the evenings on one of their shopping trips. His father worked too much and got high blood pressure and, within two years, had a severe heart attack and affected Kent.

I’ll send you a text when I’m back. Melina got her purse and made a beeline for the door, not wanting to get caught in another conversation with anyone else. The beach was calling her.

Getting into her SUV, she fired it up and called her BFF. Hi, Gail. I’m on my way to your place now.

Great. We leave early tomorrow morning, so I’m glad you are coming over tonight instead of in the morning. We can go out to dinner or order in. Gail sounded cheery.

Melina was excited to go to Gail’s, and maybe just maybe, she will get a glimpse of the one man she wanted. Okay. Sounds good. See you soon. She hung up the phone when Gail said bye.

Twenty minutes later, Melina pulled up to Gail’s apartment complex. Luckily, Melina had her bags packed and a change of clothes in her car. She couldn’t wait to be lodging on the beach wearing the new navy bikini bathing suit and drinking something tropical.

Parking her SUV, she glanced around for ‘his’ truck, but he either wasn’t home or left already. Melina hadn’t told anyone, not even her best friend Gail, about her, wanted one man.

Not even her family knew, and there wasn’t enough money in the world to make her tell her brother. Her brother, Shane, would have a heart attack if she told him, ‘Shane, I want to have sex with your best friend, Connor.’ Oh yeah, that would go over like a bomb going off.

Melina dreamed of Connor almost every other night. She was grateful they didn’t live in the same apartment complex and could run into him daily. Not what she wanted to go through.

Before getting out of the SUV, her phone rang with a ring tone assigned to only one person. Hey, big brother. What’s up?

Wanted to know if you wanted to meet up for dinner? Shane asked before he yelled at someone in the background.

Melina didn’t want to chance Connor being with him. I’m leaving early in the morning, so Gail and I are going to order in. Sorry. We can meet up when I get back.

Oh, damn. I forgot you’re going on vacation tomorrow. Have fun at the beach. Connor left today for vacation, not sure where he was going. Shane continued before she could say anything. He called wanting me to go with him and Alan, but I couldn’t get off. Short notice.

After saying goodbye to her brother and promising to get together, Melina hung up and headed to Gail’s apartment. The door swung opened as she started to knock. You and I will be on the beach and drinking by this time tomorrow.

Gail swung the door wide, letting her inside, and Melina placed her bag next to Gail’s. Don’t you know it? Maybe we can find some hot men to have a fling with. I need something new. Want to order pizza?

Melina was always amused by how Gail went from one thought to another. Shaking her head at her bestie, Pizza is good and maybe a movie.

Gail ordered the pizza while Melina picked a movie. They didn’t want to drink alcohol and risk having a hangover in the morning, so they settled for soda. With the pizza gone and the movie over, Gail turned to face her on the couch. I have to know. Who is the guy you have a thing for?

Melina almost