Finding Love on the Summer's Surf: Finding Love in Special Places Series, #2

By Stacy Eaton

Finding Love on the Summer Surf is a short story and part of Stacy Eaton's Finding Love in Special Places Short Story Series.

Cynthia desperately needs a few days of peace, and when her good friend, Janet, tells her to take off to Ocean City, Maryland, for the weekend and use their condo, she takes her up on the offer. Now she's ready for sun, sand, salty water, a few bottles of wine, and a smutty story on her audio player.

The last thing Michael wanted to do was clean out the condo. It had been his wife's sanctuary, and now that she was gone, it was painful to be there—even five years later. Michael ends up on the beach, trying to get into a novel but more interested in people-watching.

When Cynthia gets caught in a rip tide, Michael comes to the rescue. Suddenly, the weekend they both planned is pulled out to sea as these two get lost in the tumble of the surf.

When the weekend ends, will fate bring these two back together, or will their weekend of memories drift away with the ocean waves?

 

Finding Love in Special Places Short Story Series are quick, sweet, to slightly warm reads with adult language and are under 20,000 words each.

Finding Love on Christmas Vacation
Finding Love on the Summer Surf
Finding Love with Dear Santa 

Finding Love in a Champagne Toast

Finding Love on the High Seas

Finding Love on a Dude Ranch

Finding Love at the Farmer's Market

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stacy Eaton
• Release date: Dec 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201560706

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

CYNTHIA

It wasn’t until I arrived that I realized this was exactly what I’d needed. Janet, my best friend and owner of the condo, had been bugging me for a year to get away for a long weekend. I’d never had time. Or maybe I’d had the time, but it always seemed like other things needed my attention. Well, it was time for some me time, before my life got crazy again.

After lugging my suitcase up the three flights of stairs, and then gathering my two bags of groceries, along with my cooler containing more food, I got it all up the flights, and I was ready for a nap. Instead of napping, I put my food away, and then popped open a bottle of wine before kicking off my sandals and throwing open the sliding door.

The fresh ocean breeze swirled around me and pulled the thin gauzy curtains out the door as I stepped out. I put my face up to the sky, closing my eyes as the hot summer sun beat down on me. God, that felt good—so damn good.

I returned to the condo and found the cushions to the chaise lounges where Janet said they would be in the hall closet, and then brought them outside. With my wine in one hand, my sunglasses in the other, and my phone containing a trashy romance novel on the audio player in my pocket, I made myself comfortable.

I sighed as I leaned back, sipping my wine. Instead of turning on my audiobook, I closed my eyes and let the sounds of the area wash over me. The call of a seagull brought a smile to my lips, and two young children laughed not far away. The crashing of the waves reached me, and I focused on that sound, ignoring all the rest.

As I listened to them roll onto the beach, it felt like they were beckoning to me, begging me to come to them. I lifted my head, looking out toward the ocean. Janet’s condo was less than a block for the sea. I could see it clearly from where I was, and even the smaller condos that faced the beach didn’t distract from my view. It was beautiful, and my soul instantly started to reenergize.

I watched the waves, sipped my wine, and began to fidget. For the last three years, I had been going nonstop. I couldn’t remember the last time I did nothing, had no plans, no schedule, no work. It almost made me nervous, or maybe it was more anxious.

Perhaps playing in the waves would release that tension. I pushed myself to my feet and went to find one of the bathing suits I’d packed. After debating between the bright, and slightly sexy, yellow and blue or the more reserved pink and purple, I finally decided to throw caution to the win and wear the two-piece that Janet had talked me into buying.

I pulled on my cover-up, slipped my feet into my flip-flops, downed my glass of wine before grabbing a bottle of water, and then collected two towels. I’d wade in the water for a little while, perhaps swim a bit. See if the ocean waves could release the knot between my shoulders.

If that didn’t work, I had a date with my wine bottle. I let myself back out, smiled at a couple who were going into the condo beside mine, and then headed to the beckoning beach.

Several families were leaving, tugging along children and beach carts, while lugging armfuls of toys, coolers, and towels tiredly past me. When I crested the dune, I was surprised to see that there weren’t a lot of people in the water. Was it cold? Maybe people just weren’t in the mood to swim right now. I scanned the beach, seeing a lot of people sunbathing or sitting under umbrellas to protect them from the blazing sun.

Not a bad idea, I thought as I considered it. The sun was strong, and the rays would easily cause sunburn to someone who was fair-skinned. I was of Italian descent, so my skin didn’t burn quite as easily, although I should have brought sunscreen with me anyway. Well, I wouldn’t stay long. I’d take a dip, swim for a little while, maybe float a bit, and then I’d head back to the condo, shower, and maybe grab that nap, or another glass of wine—maybe both.

I found a spot to drop my towels, kicked off my shoes, and decided to keep my sunglasses on. Tucking my condo key into my cover-up, I adjusted my bathing suit slightly, feeling more naked than I had expected, and then set off for the water to hide my insecurity.

The sand felt hot under my feet, and I hurried my steps to the edge of the water where the sand