For the Love of Ali: Removing the Fig Leaves

By Saundra Staats McLemore

Hayley later realizes it wasn't a typical summer romance, especially for an innocent teenage girl.

Hayley's been accepted at the University of Oregon and plans a career of teaching Down syndrome and autistic children. Her Christian parents own the inn where the wealthy Wentworth family has checked in for the summer. The younger son, Chase,

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: May 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685564155

Saundra Staats McLemore

Saundra Staats McLemore is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. For the Love of Ali: Removing the Fig Leaves is Saundra's ninth novel and the first book in the Bellingham Bay series. Born and raised in the state of Ohio, Saundra is a recent widow after forty years of marriage. The two members of her household are the cat Charley and the mixed Treeing Walker coonhound Sadie. Website: www.saundrastaatsmclemore.com

Book preview

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Bellingham Bay Series

Book 1

For the Love of Ali

Removing the fig leaves

Saundra Staats McLemore

Trilogy Christian Publishers

TUSTIN, CA

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

For the Love of Ali: Removing the Fig Leaves. Book One in the Bellingham Bay Series

Trilogy Christian Publishers A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2022 by Saundra Staats McLemore

All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Public domain.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without written permission from the author. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Cover design by Jeff Summers

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN: 978-1-68556-414-8

E-ISBN: 978-1-68556-415-5

books by

saundra staats mclemore

The Staats Family Chronicles Series:

Abraham and Anna

Joy Out of Ashes

Christmas Hotel Series

Book One: Christmas Hotel (New Edition)

Book Two: Christmas for Lucy (New Edition)

Book Three: Christmas Redemption (New Edition)

Book Four: Christmas Pact (New Edition)

Book Five: Christmas Love and Mercy (New Edition)

Book Six: Christmas Hotel Reunion (New Edition)

Dedication

I dedicate For the Love of Ali: Removing the Fig Leaves to my brilliant and beautiful sister Joy Staats Lightcap. Although we were not raised together, we did have the opportunity to grow close in later years. I love you so much, and I thank God for His blessing of having you in my life. You dedicated your life to teaching children, as Hayley Osborne, the main character in this story, plans for her life’s work, also.

I have added a second dedication to my son and only child, Gerald Anthony (Tony) Staats. He passed away on March 23, 2021, from lung cancer. He was three weeks shy of his forty-fifth birthday. Although he was not a teacher, he did teach me the meaning of unconditional love.

Contents

Prologue ix

Part One 1

Chapter One 3

Chapter Two 12

Chapter Three 19

Chapter Four 28

Chapter Five 36

Chapter Six 43

Chapter Seven 55

Chapter Eight 62

Chapter Nine 68

Part Two 75

Chapter Ten 77

Chapter Eleven 91

Chapter Twelve 100

Chapter Thirteen 108

Chapter Fourteen 113

Chapter Fifteen 126

Chapter Sixteen 136

Chapter Seventeen 143

Part Three 149

Chapter Eighteen 151

Chapter Nineteen 159

Chapter Twenty 169

Chapter Twenty-One 181

Chapter Twenty-Two 189

Chapter Twenty-Three 210

Chapter Twenty-Four 218

Part Four 229

Chapter Twenty-Five 231

Chapter Twenty-Six 236

Chapter Twenty-Seven 247

Chapter Twenty-Eight 252

Chapter Twenty-Nine 257

Chapter Thirty 263

Part Five 277

Chapter Thirty-One 279

Chapter Thirty-Two 287

Chapter Thirty-Three 301

Chapter Thirty-Four 306

Chapter Thirty-Five 314

Part Six 319

Chapter Thirty-Six 321

Chapter Thirty-Seven 328

Chapter Thirty-Eight 332

Chapter Thirty-Nine 341

Chapter Forty 347

Chapter Forty-One 351

Chapter Forty-Two 360

Chapter Forty-Three 368

Epilogue 375

Information as of This Writing 380

About Saundra Staats McLemore 381

Book Club Questions 383

Prologue

Bellingham, Washington, Sunday, July 28, 1991

As soon as her daughter finished nursing, Hayley shoved Ali’s and her basic needs into a rucksack and slipped quietly from Osborne Paradise Inn to the waiting taxi. At the Seaside, Oregon Bus Station, she purchased the ticket to travel as far as her money would take her, which happened to be Bellingham, Washington, and the hometown of her grandmother. She was fortunate a bus even departed from Seaside so early in the morning. Although expecting to remain in Seaside for several hours, luck appeared to be on her side. She had arrived at the bus station just in time for the next bus north.

So now, after traveling almost three hundred miles since eight o’clock in the morning and eleven hours on the bus, including four stops, Hayley left the Bellingham bus station on foot, and her daughter harnessed to her body. She had hatched a plan during the long bus ride. Wrapping her baby tighter, Hayley hugged her close as she rounded the corner and came upon the group of pine trees. Exhausted, she needed a place to sit and rest. The singing from the church drew her like a moth to the light. It was now late July, but the night air remained cool this far north of Seaside. The hymns the congregation sang brought comfort to her tired body.

The empty bench beckoned her, a place to relieve her tired feet. Removing Ali from the harness, she laid Ali beside her on the bench. Stripping off her heavy rucksack, she let it drop to the ground at her feet with a thud. Ali whimpered from the sudden noise, and Hayley knew the baby likely needed to be changed and fed. She looked down at her swollen feet, and the huge sigh escaped her lips. Slowly removing one gym shoe and then the other, she massaged each foot. With no one around, she changed Ali and pulled an extra blanket from the rucksack. Inhaling a deep breath, she gently exhaled, and her stomach growled its request for food. She licked her lips, but her mouth was dry.

Wiping the one tear trailing down her cheek, she draped the blanket across her body, picked up her daughter, and cuddled her under the blanket while the infant nursed. She tried licking her dry, cracked lips again. I wish I’d packed snacks and bottles of water. Oh, well, at least Ali has nourishment. Hayley glanced at her watch. Eight o’clock, she noted. While Ali nursed, Hayley leaned back and looked up into the sky. It was a clear evening, and the moon was already visible, although the sun wouldn’t set for another hour. She closed her eyes and listened to the suckling sounds of Ali’s contentment. Aloud she whispered, What now, Lord? Do You know we’re here? Grandma Alice said You always have a plan for our lives. I have no place to go and no money. Dad doesn’t want me…or his granddaughter. Do You even care? You may have a plan for others, but not me. She sniffed when another tear rolled down her cheek.

Hayley stared down the street toward the church. She loved this old-fashioned traditional white church. A steeple rose about thirty feet above the building, and ten steps led up to the front door with a black railing centered on the steps. Rampant thoughts entered Hayley’s head. Less than fifty dollars remains from what Chase has given me. What will happen to Ali? I can no longer care for her. The baby had now finished eating, and Hayley placed her daughter over her shoulder, rubbing the infant’s back. Tears streamed down Hayley’s face. She kissed her baby’s cheek. I love you, Ali. I can leave Ali here with a note for someone to do what’s best. I just won’t tell anyone Ali’s my baby and that I left her. I’m sure Mother never told Grandma I gave birth. Grandma’s a registered nurse, so she’ll know what to do…or any of the other ladies of the church.

I’ll need to walk or hitchhike the fifty-something miles to Vancouver. I have my driver’s license for identification at the border. I know the church service is over around eight-thirty, from visiting here in years past. If I write the note and leave Ali now, I can walk away and decide how to get to Vancouver. Vancouver is a big city. I can always get a job in a hotel or restaurant. I’ll find a way to check on Ali when I get there. She licked her dry lips again. I could kick myself for not packing food and water.

Shuffling in the rucksack, she found a pen and paper and a tissue packet tucked into two side pockets. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Her hand trembled when she wrote the note.

Her name is Ali, and she’s nearly three months old. She’s a good baby. She doesn’t cry much. Please take care of her, because I can’t.

Sincerely,

Ali’s mom

She decided to leave out any connection to her grandmother, thinking it best for Ali…and her, too. Ali was now asleep. After rewrapping the baby blanket around her daughter and tucking the note in the blanket’s fold, she glanced around. Seeing no one, she grabbed two more blankets, and holding Ali close, she ran to the church. They’re singing again. The service must be ending. I need to hurry. At the top of the steps, she teetered and grabbed the handrail. Whoa. What brought that on? Kissing Ali one last time, she laid her daughter on the two blankets on the top step, but out of the way of people leaving the building. Retracing her steps, she picked up the rucksack, and with heart pounding, she watched the church’s double wooden doors from behind a tree.

Within minutes, both doors swung open, and the pastor stood on the threshold, shaking the hands of his congregation. A woman spotted Ali, bent down, and picked up the sleeping baby. By now, several other women crowded around, and several men looked out toward the woods or scouted around the church parking lot. Hayley knew she’d have to leave. She looked up to the sky and whispered, Well, Lord, here I go. She scoffed. If You care. At least take care of Ali, please.

Quietly, she turned and headed into the woods and walked toward the road that led to Interstate 5. Looking back over her shoulder, she viewed the women surrounding her baby. Hayley wiped tears and continued toward the road. Her head was spinning, and the last thing she remembered before she fainted was the tall, young man who rushed towards her.

Part One

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Galatians 6:7

Chapter One

One Year Earlier

Seaside, Oregon, June 1, 1990

Hayley, I need your help in the dining room. Hayley could hear her mom from clear across the wide lobby. Mom sounded stressed, and her feet were running a mile a minute, trying to get caught up for the next meal. Fortunately, no guests were within hearing distance. The few who had checked in that morning had eaten their breakfast in the dining room and taken off to the seashore or headed into town for vacation shopping. A flood of guests would check-in tomorrow, many staying all summer, and Mom and Dad wanted everything perfect for their summer guests.

Coming, Mom! As she hurried to the dining room, Hayley pulled her long blonde hair up on her head into a messy ponytail and withdrew one hair elastic and two large clips from her pocket to secure the thick mane.

She found her mom draping the starched white linen tablecloth on the last table, adding a green, pink, and white runner with a seashell pattern. Making certain no hair had fallen out of the bobby pins, mom patted her light brown hair bun, pulled a bobby pin from her pocket, and secured the small lock of wayward hair. Hayley took after her Mom, both tall and slender with bright forest green eyes. However, Mom wasn’t quite as slender as she was before Hayley was born. Hayley had seen earlier pictures of her mom when she was a teenager in the late 1950s and early 1960s; long wavy hair and wearing a bikini when they first became popular. Sometimes Hayley’s dad sang to his wife the song, Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. Her mom would giggle like a teenager.

Hayley, please finish setting the tables. Our guests will return soon, and they’ll expect dinner. I need to get back in the kitchen and take the extra pies from the oven.

Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll take care of the tables. Hayley picked up a rack of clean silverware, a rack of clean glasses, and stacks of dinner and bread and butter plates. Setting all on the rolling cart, along with a stack of pre-folded crisp white linen napkins, she walked from one table to the next, distributing the items in the proper spaces. Holding one glass to the light, she noted the water spots and exchanged it for a pristine glass.

When the tables were set, she turned her attention to the four flower pots, each sitting in front of one of the four-floor to ceiling windows. Each individual pot held a dwarf Ficus, Dracaena, or a Wisteria tree. Opening the service closet, Hayley chose a pair of pruning clippers, a waste basket, a watering can, and several rags. She shaped the trees, removed dead leaves, then watered each tree and wiped up any spills with the rags. Stepping back and crossing her arms, she carefully surveyed the dining room, which was one of her favorite rooms in the old inn. In Hayley’s opinion, the white tray ceiling with six chandeliers was the focal point, although the oversized stone fireplace and its raised hearth appeared to attract the winter guests. The walls held landscapes of Seaside, Oregon, through the decades, all painted by local artists. Oriental rugs covered highly polished wide plank mahogany floors.

Perfect, she said aloud, nodded her head, and smiled. An eerie feeling gripped her; the fine hair on her arms stood on end, and a chill attacked her body. She could feel the eyes on her. Whipping around and dropping her arms to her side, she saw him, watching and grinning or, more accurately, leering at her.

Crossing his tanned arms and leaning against the wall with one ankle overlapping the other, he boldly raked his eyes up and down her body. Licking his lips, he nodded slowly. Yes, perfect. He continued to smile his knowing grin with his whiter-than-snow movie-star straight teeth. Standing around six feet two or three inches tall, wavy blond and sun-streaked shoulder-length hair, deep blue eyes, and wearing cut-off jeans and a muscle T-shirt with Stanford University across the chest, his eyes were piercing as he stared at her. He was the typical California guy in appearance. Yes, he was also good-looking but in a scary way. Discomforting.

She shivered, and not thinking, she responded hotly. "Please put your eyes back in your head, Sonny boy. Closing her eyes, she gritted her teeth, pursed her lips, and sighed, realizing he was probably a guest. This was the first time she’d seen him, so he must not have checked in yet…or just did. She knew she must apologize. I’m sorry. Are you a guest?" Realizing her voice was flat, she held no excitement toward this stranger eyeing her.

Does it matter? he smirked, sensuously rubbing his lower lip with his index finger. Do you know your nostrils flare when you’re angry?

Hayley bit her lower lip and managed a fake smile. She accepted the fact she could not utter a polite word, so she reluctantly let him continue in his assessment of her.

He continued to smirk, licked his lips again, and responded in his arrogant manner. In answer to your belated question, the answer is yes. My parents, brother, and sister-in-law are checking us in now…along with my niece and our two Great Danes. I thought I’d explore some. I must say, the scenery is better than I expected.

He walked over to her and stood within a foot. Hayley stepped back about the same distance. I’m sorry if I scared you. The apology didn’t appear genuine to Hayley. Let’s start over. My name is Charles Spaulding Rutherford Wentworth. He held out his hand to her.

Her left eyebrow shot up. She squeezed her lips and composed herself. That’s a lot of names, she said coolly, but she looked at his outstretched hand and finally shook it. He hung on a little longer than needed. When she pulled on her hand, he finally released it.

He laughed. You can call me Chase. That’s what my close friends and my family call me. I hope we’ll be very close. His eyes sparkled; he lazily closed his eyes and slowly reopened them. His right eye twitched, and the devilish grin reappeared. After what seemed to be minutes later, but Hayley realized it was probably only a few seconds, he made a casual remark. You work here?

She thought about saying something like, No, I just set tables for the fun of it. Her mom always said, You ask a silly question, and you get a silly answer. However, it would be a rude comment to say to a guest. She nodded politely, trying to be an attentive hostess. "Yes, I do, and my parents own Osborne Paradise Inn."

Are you going to tell me your name? I assume the last name is Osborne.

She had yet to smile genuinely at him, but she forced one, hoping she was at least pleasant and professional. She wanted to make a comment such as That’s a bright assumption, tourist, but she bit her tongue and said, My name is Hayley—Hayley Sophia Osborne.

"What do you do in this town for fun, Hayley So-phi-a Osborne?"

He now slowly accented Sophia into all three syllables, obviously wanting to mock her, but rightly so. After all, she had mocked his rather long name. Did he consider himself royalty? Rude thoughts on my part. After all, he didn’t name himself. However, she graciously changed gears from hostess into tourist information mode. It’s a typical Pacific resort town. We have great beaches with beach volleyball. There’s biking and hiking. Do you kayak or surf?

He laughed again and with an edge of smugness. I’m an expert at both, adding a sniff for a personalized exclamation point…and haughtiness.

Hayley turned her back to him, gritted her teeth, not at all impressed, and rolled her eyes. Pretending to spread the branches on the dwarf Ficus, she inhaled and slowly released her breath. It’s going to be a long summer.

They both turned toward the door when they heard the voices. Her enthusiastic dad was giving the guests a tour of the inn. Tall, no middle-aged potbelly, her dad still had the physique he carried as captain of the Seaside football team in high school. In college, he didn’t make the football team, but he served four years in the army, and he did play football for the U.S. Army. Although they didn’t meet until they attended the University of Oregon, her mom still called him her hunk, and he still called her his Bikini babe.

Hayley listened to her dad’s canned speech narration. Except on Sunday, we serve two meals each day in our dining room: breakfast from six to eight every morning, and dinner is from six to eight evenings. Our menu has varied selections and prices, but mostly varieties of fresh Pacific Ocean fish. Assorted restaurants in Seaside are open Sundays. However, we will serve a gratis continental breakfast on Sunday before church services. Dad then noticed Hayley and smiled. Hayley, I’d like you to meet the Wentworth family.

Hayley noted the casual but perfectly creased attire on the older and younger couple. Definitely not the type to wear crumpled clothing crammed in a suitcase. The men had medium brown freshly trimmed and neatly combed hair, unlike Chase. The two women had lovely blonde hair; the elder Mrs. Wentworth appeared fresh from the beauty salon with a tightly curled short coif, and the younger Mrs. Wentworth wore her shoulder-length wavy hair more casual in a long bob.

Hayley, I want you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Garrett Wentworth, their son Beau and his wife Judith, along with their daughter Celeste. Hayley is our daughter, who recently graduated high school, and she’ll attend the University of Oregon in the fall. Her mother and I are very proud of her. She plans to graduate and work with autistic and Down syndrome children.

The elder Mr. Wentworth eyed Chase, and cautiously, Hayley thought, Possibly a warning to Chase? However, he held a pleasant demeanor, and he nodded toward her. Hayley, I see you’ve met our younger son, Chase. His warm smile directed to Hayley relaxed her. At least his father seems kind.

Yes, Dad. Hayley and I have been getting acquainted while you checked us in. Hayley noted Chase spoke in a respectful tone of voice. At least he appeared courteous toward his father. Probably phony, too, she prejudged.

Are we staying here in the main inn or in one of the cottages? All the while, Chase smiled pleasantly toward his family.

The elder Mr. Wentworth nodded. I rented the largest cottage with four bedrooms and four attached bathrooms. We should have plenty of room for all of us. There’s even a wood-burning fireplace in the great room and an outdoor fire pit for cool evenings. At that, a couple of barking dogs could be heard outside. He turned to Hayley. That would be Liesel and Hans, our Great Danes. No worry, they’re both well behaved.

Chase smiled his cheesy fake grin toward his father and slowly blinked his eyes. Well, it sounds like it’ll be a spectacular summer…just like the summers we’ve enjoyed in Nice, France, Chase’s words dripped in sarcasm, and he slowly batted his long eyelashes toward Hayley in a bored manner.

His father’s eyes narrowed, and he spoke in a calm but stern voice, Give it a chance, Chase.

Certainly, Father. Chase walked to the door of the dining room and turned on his heel. Do we have someone to carry the luggage, or do we carry our own?

This time Mrs. Wentworth spoke, and in a strict voice. Don’t be impolite, Chase.

Victor Osborne answered Chase’s question. You won’t need to carry your luggage, sir. I’ll have it deposited in your cottage. All of you, please feel free to stroll down to the seashore while you wait. There are plenty of tables and chairs there, and I’ll have Hayley deliver some fresh lemonade.

Chase sent Hayley another phony smile, a slight bow, and added a wink. Charmed, I’m sure.

His nickname should have been Chad the Cad instead of Chase, she thought. However, she offered her sweetest smile. Please excuse me, and I’ll meet you at the beach shortly with the lemonade. At that, she turned and strode to the kitchen, letting the swinging door close a little too hard.

Chase had to admit, the main inn was nice. In the nineteenth century, it may have originally been a wealthy man’s vacation home. He’d check the brochure about the history. As his family meandered down the paver walkway to the ocean, he stopped and looked back. The large yellow frame structure, which set up high above the ocean, probably had a minimum of thirty rooms. Three turrets and four fireplaces could be seen from the outside, the main entrance faced the ocean, and a white picket fence surrounded the inn. Set back about a hundred feet from the ocean, the lovely house offered a picture-perfect view of the Pacific Ocean.

However, not nearly as spectacular as the Wentworth estate in Atherton, California, or Grandfather’s estate in Oxford, England, but still a nice beach inn. Homey is the word the middle class would use. We could have been in Nice with the people of our class. Hayley may be my distraction for an otherwise bad family summer vacation. I’ll need to turn on the charm. Her first impression of me didn’t go well. Oh well, easily fixed. She’s young and naïve.

When Chase joined his family, they were already seated in the Adirondack chairs, watching the waves as they hit the beach. The Great Danes Liesel and Hans sat obediently beside his mom and dad. Chase plopped in a chair just as Hayley arrived with the lemonade. His three-year-old niece Celeste squealed with joy, laughed, and clapped her hands as she watched the waves.

Her mother, Judith, had to ask her twice to stay in her seat. We’ll go down to the water soon, Celeste, but stay seated for now. Let’s enjoy our lemonade. Judith thanked Hayley when she handed her the sippy cup for Celeste.

Hayley finished serving the Wentworth family and asked, Is there anything else I can get you while your luggage is delivered to your cottage?

The family members pleasantly said no and added their thanks. Chase just presented her with his mischievous grin, licked his lips, and again eyed her up and down her body. She shot him a narrowed eye-look, turned on her heel, and stomped back up the hill to the inn.

I’ll work on the charm tomorrow, Chase thought.

Chapter Two

Saturday, June 02, 1990

Hayley had been given the whole day off from the inn. Go and have some fun with your friends, her mom said and shooed her out of the kitchen. Your dad and I have it covered.

At eleven o’clock, she met her best friend Shannon at the beach for a game of beach volleyball. Both young women brought a small picnic lunch with plenty of bottled water and sunscreen. Seated in her beach chair, Shannon threw her head back and laughed while Hayley applied the sunscreen on Shannon’s shoulders and back. Her long black ponytail was held high in the air to avoid the grease in her hair. Flashing her dark brown eyes at Hayley, she twisted in her chair. You know your nails tickle my back.

Well, wiggly worm, hold still, quit squirming, and the torture will be over soon.

While applying the sunscreen, two boys from Hayley’s high school graduating class, whom Hayley and Shannon had known since kindergarten, Matt and Brad, ambled up to them and suggested a doubles volleyball tournament; Hayley and Matt against Shannon and Brad. Hayley and Matt had once tried to be a couple but decided they were just friends. The same scenario occurred with Shannon and Brad.

Let the games begin, yelled Hayley as she shot from her beach chair, threw down her swimsuit cover-up, exposing her new yellow beach bikini, while Shannon did the same, revealing a white beach bikini.

Hayley and Matt easily won the first set, and both couples plopped down in their folding chairs to guzzle water and wipe the sweat from their faces. Hayley took a long pull from her water bottle and overheard the laughter of people heading down to the water. She looked in time to catch Chase with little Celeste on his shoulders and Beau and Judith carrying the beach bags. With a slight turn of his head, she caught Chase checking her out, but then he turned back to the others. He’s definitely unnerving.

Matt stood to his full six feet one-inch height, watching the group, too. Matt’s build was more muscular than Chase and Brad’s. In high school, he had been the captain of his wrestling team, and he wrestled in the 189 weight class his senior year, placing first in the state. Chase and Brad were more agile-looking with long, lean muscles. Brad was a long-distance runner in high school. I wonder if Chase did, too. Humph. Stupid thought. He probably would not like messing up his hair. Matt and Brad wore their hair in nice neatly trimmed cuts. None of that longish California surfer stuff for them. She shook her head. Silly me! What am I doing comparing their physiques and hair? She stood with her three friends and resumed their game, temporarily forgetting about the Wentworths.

The second set went to Shannon and Brad. Hayley, normally not self-conscience, was feeling it today. Every time she looked toward Chase, he was watching her. Actually, she decided, he was ogling her. She couldn’t ignore him, and several times she completely missed the set-up from Matt.

They stopped for lunch after the second set. Matt guzzled water, wiped his face, and spoke to Hayley with concern in his voice. What’s wrong, Hayley? You’re completely off your game in this second set.

Maybe I just needed some calories. I had a light breakfast, and that was six hours ago. The sun is really hot today, too. She glanced over at Chase, and he was staring at her this time. With a smirk and a slight wave, he nodded his head ever so slightly that probably only she noticed. Had he no shame? The four of them unpacked their lunches and plopped down in the beach chairs.

Shannon glanced in the direction where her friend