A Taste of Summer Read online

  Bam!

  The salacious move earned him the cover of a dozen magazines and instant fame. A few months later he signed his first movie role. The sci-fi action flick turned into a trilogy and his career skyrocketed. Ryan was a natural. He toppled the silver screen for nearly a decade and, at one point, three of the top six box-offices branded his name.

  Thirty came and went. Men came and went. But, the lasting image of their breakup left more than a profound rift in her heart. It crushed her. She never got over it. She never got over him. He’d tried to contact her a few times over the years, but she didn’t believe in second chances.

  Not even for him.

  No matter how much it hurt.

  Sitting in her car outside the gym, Carrie Ann ripped the elastic band from her hair and shoved her trembling fingers through her long dark mane. Her nose and lips burned as unshed tears blurred her vision.

  Crying over ex-lovers was for pussies.

  And Carrie Ann Lowell was no pussy.

  Anger and irritation forged its way to the forefront throttling the memories that threatened to rise to the surface. She kicked out of her cycle shoes and tossed them into her gym bag, opting to drive home barefoot. It took minutes for her pulse to settle into its normal rhythm as she headed for home along Highway 1.

  The ring of her cell phone streamed through the speakers of her Cadillac CTS-V. Seeing her best friends name flash across the dash, brought relief to her scattered thoughts. Carrie Ann pressed the call button on steering wheel. “Hey, Shayla. What’s going on? Please tell me you’re here?”

  “Hi, chica! We just got in. We’re unpacked and ready to hit the beach. Are you home?”

  “Actually, I just left the gym and I’m one exit away from you. Let me stop at home—”

  “Just swing by on your way home. The boys are dying to see you. Unless you want to go home, grab your swimsuit and spend the day with us at the beach?”

  “Can’t,” she said regretfully. “I really wish I could, but I’ve got to get the final headcount approved by the Bare Your Soul committee for the Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction. I’ll stop by, but I only have an hour.”

  Carrie Ann heard Shayla’s twins in the background. “Who’s coming over?”

  “Aunt Carrie Ann will be here in a few minutes,” Shayla boasted.

  Shrieks of excitement filled the quiet interior of her car bringing a big smile to her face.

  “Go watch out the window so you can enter the gate code when she gets here.”

  Chapter Two

  ‡

  Massive black wrought iron gates parted as Carrie Ann pulled into Tommy Clemmins’ driveway. Shayla sold her home in Malibu and moved to Las Vegas after marrying her husband, John Mathews. She visited Malibu often, spending the holidays and summer months at her uncle’s estate, nestled into the rocky cliff side.

  Richard and Thomas greeted her with toothless smiles when she got out of her car. Carrie Ann wasn’t their aunt by blood, but it didn’t matter. Being Shayla’s best friend for fourteen years gave her the eternal aunt-privileges.

  “What’s up boys?”

  “Nothin’.” they announced simultaneously, throwing their hands on their hips, elbow to elbow, as if making a blockade for her to pass.

  She clasped her fingers around her hip bones. “You’re gonna make me go through this again?”

  Their hazel eyes twinkled mischievously, saying in unison, “Yep!”

  Carrie Ann gave the identical boys an exaggerated eye roll. “Alright. Let’s see if I can get it right this time.”

  “You’re never gonna get it right.” One of them held a Mason jar turned into a make-shift piggy bank. He gave it a shake making the coins jingle.

  “I’ve got a fifty-fifty chance.”

  “Choose wisely or you shall not pass.”

  “Oh my gosh. Okay.” Her body shook with laughter wondering what movie they were quoting. Getting into character, she narrowed her gaze hunching forward to inspect their identical features. “Freckles? Check. Big round hazel eyes? Check. The tooth fairy informed me that Richard lost another tooth.”

  The boys smiled wide, orneriness flickered in their eyes. Each hooked the corners of their lips with their index fingers stretching their mouths open as far as possible. Both were missing the exact same three teeth.

  “I bet one of you yanked out a tooth while driving here from Las Vegas just to make a buck off me.” She received a round of giggles and another shake of the jar. Carrie Ann pointed to the boy on the left. “Okay, I think you’re Thomas.”

  Judging by the obnoxious grin of victory gleaming in their eyes, she was going to have to ante up.

  “Ha! Fooled you again, Aunt Carrie Ann!”

  She ruffled her fingers through two heads of blond layers, placing smooches to the twin’s foreheads. Digging into her wallet, she asked, “What’s it gonna cost me this—”

  “Five bucks,” rolled off Richard’s tongue before she could even finish her sentence.

  “Five bucks?!”

  “Infation, Aunt Carrie Ann.” The L lost to the missing gap of Thomas’s two front teeth.

  “You’re trippin’ kid! How ’bout two bucks? And you can make the difference later if I accidentally say a bad word.”

  The boys looked at each and shrugged. “Deal.”

  She folded the bills and shoved them through the slot cut into the lid. Richard and Thomas hugged her around the waist before taking off in a gallop, trotting past their mom standing in the doorway.

  Shayla leaned against the opening as the hem of her summer dress danced in the breeze.

  “I had to pay homage to the Mason jar.”

  “I was watching through the window,” Shayla chuckled, giving her a welcoming squeeze. “Yesterday it was a tarantula cage…today it’s a vault for all their loot.”

  “What happened to the tarantula?” Carrie Ann’s eyes fell to floor beneath her bare feet, making a quick but thorough inspection of the tile.

  Shayla frowned. “Casualty of war. It accidentally crawled under my tire.”

  “You ran over their tarantula?” Her bottom lip protruded. “That had to be awful.”

  “It was terrible, but they’re okay now. Optimus received a beautiful departing ceremony in the backyard.”

  “You are going to have your hands full in a few years. Those two boys are too adorable for their own good.”

  Linking arms at the elbow, they made their way inside, joining Shayla’s uncle Tommy and his daughter, JC at the kitchen counter. JC’s husband Reed was in the middle of talking, but all discussion came to halt, leaving Carrie Ann to assume perhaps she was intruding on an important conversation.

  “Am I interrupting?” She questioned, cutting off the awkwardness.

  Tommy greeted her with a warm, uncle-like embrace. “No, of course not. Come on in.”

  JC nodded, slipping a strand of her long caramel hair over her shoulder. Struggling to keep her expression neutral, she chimed, “We were just talking about how excited we are about attending the premier. Weren’t we?”

  “Yes ma’am,” Reed agreed sweetly. His Texan accent, muscular build, and ice blue eyes were warm enough to make every woman in a five mile radius swoon. A crimson glow burnished over the bridge of Reed’s nose.

  Unable to shake the feeling she’d stumbled right into the middle of something, she wondered what could make a man like Reed blush. She observed the couple share a small timid smile. Carrie Ann’s brows lifted to a doubtful point.

  “Sounds exciting.” Carrie Ann snickered.

  “It is exciting. You’re going to have a great time.”

  “Me?” A jolt of anxiety rushed through her.

  “Yeah, you.” Tommy’s dark brown eyes twinkled impishly, locking on Carrie Ann, making it impossible for her to look away.

  “No, no, no. I’m not going to the premier.”

  “Sure you are.” Tommy’s lips remained pressed together as a convincing grin broadened across his face. Carrie Ann knew
he was saving the full flash of pearly whites in case he needed to pull out all the stops. After a few beats his lips parted exposing a dazzling gorgeous smile. One that could melt any woman of any age for any reason. “Now, Carrie Ann, how long have you known me?”

  “A long time, Tommy—” She cast a small vexing eye roll to the side. “—but that has nothing to do with it.”

  “Sure it does. You’re going to attend the premier to support your favorite uncle. And as an added perk you’re going to take the opportunity to invite some last-minute heavy hitters with deep pockets to your Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction next weekend.”

  This struck a chord. He knew damn well it would. Fuck! Fuckity-fuck! She folded her arms on the counter and dropped her forehead, hiding her face. A low groan of disapproval crooned in her throat.

  “Oh come on, Carrie Ann. It’s not that bad.”

  “It is that bad, Tommy.” She lifted her head meeting him with a hard glare. “I ran into him this morning at the gym. If I go to the premier Summer’s going to think—”

  “You and Ryan had a thing?” JC interjected, eyes wide drooling with curiosity.

  Carrie Ann massaged her temples as if ridding an oncoming migraine. “Yes. We dated for a couple of years, but it was a long time ago.”

  “Really?” JC’s voice rang in astonishment.

  “Ryan? Is that the hot guy with the wolf eyes in Tommy’s new movie?” Reed asked, curling his fingers into quotation marks when he used the word hot.

  Shayla’s uncle recently made the transition from gracing audiences in front of the lens to stepping behind it, taking on the role of producer. Tommy met Summer when he attended college with Carrie Ann and Shayla. The three of them were inseparable. It seemed an easy match when Tommy collaborated with Ryan when producing his first film. The movie was set to premier in a few days, but rumors already swirled with talk of Oscars for the producer and cast.

  “Yes, that’s him.” JC laughed out loud.

  Carrie Ann and Shayla cut a sharp glance at JC.

  “What?” JC shrugged innocently. “He’s handsome.”

  A ping of jealously stabbed at Carrie Ann’s heart wondering if there was a possibility JC had been one of Ryan’s many lovers. Prior to her marriage to Reed, the gorgeous blond had been in the modeling circuit for years and was well-known for a string of somewhat scandalous outings with men from around the world.

  Carrie Ann watched as Reed coolly curled his fingers around JC’s hips drawing her back into his chest. Brushing his lips along her neck, he took a gentle bite of her lobe privately querying in her ear.

  JC’s jade eyes widened and her lip curled in revulsion. She answered her husband’s mute concerns with a quick shake of her head, “Ewww. No. Noooo. Definitely not.”

  Carrie Ann expounded, unloading the breath she’d been holding. The relief-filled exhale captured Shayla’s attention, causing her to raise a quizzical brow.

  “What?” Carrie Ann cleared her throat, automatically going on the defense. A habit she seemed unable to shake over the years. “He’s not ewww. It’s not like he’s a bad guy.”

  A snicker of doubt escaped JC’s lips right before she sealed them tight.

  “Tommy,” Shayla interjected. “Would you like to take this opportunity to explain to Carrie Ann why JC thinks Ryan is…Ewww?”

  A deep resounding chuckle sifted through the kitchen. “Umm, no, Shayla—“he drew out her name in protest “—not particularly.”

  “Tommy…” Shayla encouraged with several bats of her lashes.

  He palmed the granite counter, spreading fingers wide as if using the hard surface for moral support. “There’s the slight possibility I might’ve fibbed a little.”

  “Fibbed?”

  “Just a small harmless lie.” He fumbled through the words, mindlessly spinning a ring on his finger.

  Tommy’s wife, Tess, strolled into the kitchen. Her dark shoulder length mane was pulled back into a ponytail, wearing not a stitch of makeup and still looking absolutely gorgeous.

  “I thought I heard your voice,” Tess announced in a sing-song voice, embracing Carrie Ann.

  “Shhh,” JC exclaimed, placing an index finger to her lips. “Tom’s about ready to get into some hot water for lying.”

  Tess wrapped her arm around her husband’s waist giving a look of mock-disbelief. “You? Get in trouble? Never.”

  Shayla interceded, “Tommy was just getting ready to come clean to JC about Ryan.”

  “Ahh…the reckoning. I knew this would come to light one day.” Tess gave a sinister snicker. “By all means, please carry on.”

  “I didn’t really lie, per say. I simply told a small story.” He paused to clarify, “Reed, this was before you and JC met. We were all together at a party in Italy. Production on the film had just launched, so I invited Ryan to join us. That’s when I encountered my first case of OPFS.”

  Noticing Carrie Ann’s confusion, JC explained, “Over Protective Father Syndrome. He had a bad case of it.”

  “Oh, gotcha.”

  “The last thing I needed or wanted was Ryan near my daughters.”

  “Or any other man.” Tess teased.

  “So…I took the liberty of implying that Ryan was into some not so reputable things.”

  Carrie Ann wasn’t sure who looked more shocked, her or JC. Both let out a little gasp when their mouths dropped open.

  “It wasn’t a big deal.” Tommy wafted his hand in JC’s direction. “I simply used it as a little deterrent for the girls to stay as far away as possible from him.”

  “You said, and I quote, ‘He’s into some really freaky shit!’” JC reminded.

  A huge grin of appreciation broadened over Reed’s face. Resting his cheek atop his wife’s shoulder, he gazed over her profile as one of his large hands lulled over her stomach. “I’m forever indebted to you, Tommy.”

  “I soooo would not have dated him,” JC assured Reed with a kiss. Simultaneous snickers ricocheted around the kitchen like popcorn kernels in a hot pan. “Okay, well maybe, but he really wasn’t my type.”

  “Not anymore.” Reed boomed, reaching for her hand and starting for the sliding glass door. “I’m all the type you need.”

  Carrie Ann stood there, melting into a puddle of mush, watching the ridiculously happy couple wave goodbye and mosey out the back door heading for home. It wasn’t far. They only lived next door. The notion that they would probably be in bed in a matter of minutes brought on a deep-seeded feeling of loneliness.

  “I need to get laid.” Carrie Ann muttered under her breath, but unfortunately still loud enough for everyone else to hear.

  Tommy and Tess’s mouths bowed south in sympathy.

  “Sorry. Probably too much information.”

  “And on that note I’m outta here.” Tom wrapped Carrie Ann in a bear-like-uncle hug. “I expect to see you at the premier. I’ll make arrangements for two VIP passes that way you can bring a date.”

  “Fine. Whatever. I’ll go.” Her head bobbled back and forth objectionably. “No need to worry about the extra VIP pass. I’ll be flying solo.”

  “I’ll send two in case you decide to bring someone from the HAH Foundation. Either way, you’ll be sitting with us.”

  Shayla clapped her hands together in in three rapid successions. “Yay! I’m so glad you’re coming.”

  Tess clutched an arm around Carrie Ann’s shoulder in a motherly fashion. “You’re not seeing anyone?”

  “No, not really.” She hem-hawed curling her lip. “Jason, the realtor I used to lease the mansion for the auction, is definitely interested.”

  “I take it you’re still not interested?” Relief molded over Shayla’s petite features. She’d previously expressed concerns with Jason, a mysterious flaw of some sort that she’d been unable to put her finger on.

  “Not really. I got no spark. Nada! Not a one. Jason’s a great realtor. He totally hooked me up with this amazing house in the Pacific Palisades. He’s handsome and charming. Pl
us, he’s going to show me some properties while I’m on vacation next week. He thinks he can find me a house for less than what I’m renting, but that’s where it ends for me. I mean, let’s face the facts, my father introduced us and keeps hinting around insisting that he’s the perfect man. Whatever the hell that means. That in itself is enough to scare any woman into near celibacy. Love and happiness aren’t exactly on my dad’s list of relationship requirements. Everything revolves around worth.”

  Shayla agreed, “I’m sure he has a hidden agenda there somewhere.”

  “Hmm,” Tess chimed, tapping an index finger to her chin. “I’ll have to give it some thought. Maybe I can think of a good guy to fix you up with.”

  “Isn’t it terrible? We actually have to wrack our brains to conjure up a good man. Like it’s this huge unattainable task for single women.” Carrie Ann added glumly, “The best date I’ve had in years comes with batteries. Mr. Fucking Perfect is at home taking a nap in my underwear drawer.” All of them laughed. “Speaking of home, I’ve got to get going.”

  “It’s great seeing you, Carrie Ann. I’ll see if I can come up with a few dating options for you that don’t include batteries,” Tess jeered. “See you at the premier.”

  Carrie Ann and Shayla strolled toward the front door. “Lunch tomorrow for your birthday? Or I can leave the boys with Nana and Papa tomorrow night and we can go out for dinner and a glass of wine? Your choice.”

  “I get the keys to the mansion tomorrow, so I’m slammed with meetings all day, but dinner and wine sound heavenly.”

  *

  The next morning, Carrie Ann backed out of her driveway before the crack of dawn to hit the gym. She considered skipping her morning workout fearing she’d run into Summer again, but she needed the extra energy to get through her busy schedule. The Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction was a colossal event. It required acute organization and constant attention to detail.

  Entering the gym, her eyes were on keen alert, darting through the free weight section, hoping not to see any signs of Summer. After an hour of pummeling herself on the elliptical and spin bike, she headed for home, grateful she hadn’t run into him.