Summer in Good Hope (A Good Hope Novel Book 2)

by Cindy Kirk

  “You’ll have to introduce me before you leave.”

  “Before I leave?”

  “You’re off the clock. I’m ready and willing to assume sand castle duty.” She gave him a mock salute, then glanced doubtfully down. “I assume that’s what that blob of sand is supposed to be.”

  He quirked a brow. “What if I’m not ready to leave?”

  “Then stay.” Her heart quickened. “It’s a public beach.”

  “Do you want me to stay?”

  “Sure.” She spoke quickly, too quickly, then added, “If you want to, I mean, that’s your decision.”

  His smile slowly widened until Prim felt tingly all over. She was trying her best not to stare but it was becoming increasingly difficult. While she’d seen a lot of men in swimming attire, the sight of Max in striped board shorts made her mouth water. His skin was a light golden brown, and his broad, taut chest held just the slightest dusting of hair.

  She’d let her eyes drift downward, admiring the cut of his suit . . .

  “Have you been in the water yet this year?”

  She jerked up her gaze. He’d lifted his sunglasses, and she flushed at the knowing look in his eyes. “Is it cold?”

  He held out his hand. “One way to find out.”

  With the surface a vivid blue and smooth as glass, the water did look enticing. But she wasn’t a single female out for a day of fun at the beach. She had responsibilities, and they were sitting at her feet, covered in sand. “I can’t leave the boys by themselves.”

  “Cory will watch them.” Waving broadly, Max caught the man’s eye and gestured for him to join them. “You can trust him. He teaches with your dad at the high school.”

  Prim hesitated. “It’s not that, it’s the boys. They’re very fast and—”

  “He’s also the father of three little ones. He knows how slippery they can be at that age. He won’t let them out of his sight.”

  In his early-to-midthirties, Cory had short, sandy-brown hair and a ready smile. After the introductions were complete, he made a shooing motion with his hands. “Enjoy the water. I’ve got this under control.”

  “Thanks, Cory.” Prim shifted her gaze from one twin to the other, her voice stern. “You listen to what Mr. White says.”

  She got two impatient nods in response.

  Max crouched down, put a hand on each of her sons’ shoulders. “Don’t forget the moat.”

  “We won’t,” Callum said. “That’s my favorite part.”

  “Listen to Mr. White.” As she’d done only moments before, he focused on one boy and then the other. “Promise?”

  “We promise,” they said in unison.

  Prim breathed a little easier as she slipped off her shorts and placed them on top of the towels.

  She smiled at Max. “I’m ready.”

  “Then let’s get wet.”

  Prim waited until she reached the water’s edge to tell Max the news that had been on her tongue since she’d arrived. “You should have been at the meeting today. Eliza was in rare form.”

  As she stepped farther into the water, she gave him a blow-by-blow account. By the time she finished with Eliza’s compliment, they were chest deep in cold water. Max raised one hand and high-fived her. “I’m proud of you, Prim. I wish I could have been there to see you shine.”

  Despite the coolness of the water, Prim felt warm all over.

  They swam nearly to the buoy, putting needed distance between them and all the inflatable rafts, water toys, and jostling bodies.

  The sun, high and hot overhead, warmed her face as she treaded water. It had been a long time since she’d been able to relax in anything other than a bathtub. And that was for five minutes at best.

  “My arms are getting tired.” She shot Max a sheepish smile. “But this is so pleasant I don’t want to get out. Not just yet, anyway.”

  “I’ll hold you up.” Without waiting for an answer, Max moved closer. “Arms around my neck.”

  “Bossy, much?”

  He grinned and repeated, “Arms around my neck.”

  After only the briefest internal struggle, Prim did as he’d instructed.

  They were nearly eye to eye and his were gorgeous. Flecks of gold glistened in the blue depths. Her heart gave a sudden leap and desire pooled low in her belly. She realized only a thin piece of material—that now clung to her like a second skin—separated her from the hardness of his body.

  “You have beautiful eyes,” he said unexpectedly.

  “Thank you.” Even though she knew this was dangerous territory, pleasure rippled through her at the compliment. Apparently she wasn’t the only one who’d been doing some surveying.

  Focus, she told herself. On anything but his handsome face, broad shoulders, and muscular legs. “Want to know how my conversation with Ami before the meeting went?”

  A wave broke over them but Max held her tight. “Not particularly.”

  “Strange,” she managed to stammer. “All she wanted to do was grill me about you.”

  His lips curved. “I do have a way with women.”

  Max said this as if it were a joke, but the statement made Prim wonder. Max was no longer a gawky adolescent boy with a passion for math and baseball. Though he seemed totally unaware of his charisma, he definitely had a quality that made a female take a second look.

  The thought had her tightening her hold on him. “Ami thinks you’re wonderful.”

  He stilled as if waiting for the punch line.

  Prim leaned close. “Want to know what I think?”

  Red flags popped up faster than kernels in a hot skillet, but Prim paid them no mind.

  After a glance at the shore to confirm the boys were fully engaged in the building of their castle, she slid her fingers into his hair and brushed a kiss across his cheek. “You’re a good guy, Max Brody. The best.”

  He’d given her a compliment; now she was giving him one. She was grateful for what he’d done to protect Gladys, grateful he’d taken time to play with the twins. Yes, she was very grateful.

  “Prim.”

  How could he make her simple name sound so sexy?

  “Yes?”

  “I apologize in advance if I’m misreading the situation.”

  She tilted her head back and studied him. “What are you talking about?”

  “Let me show you.” He lowered his head and covered her mouth with his.

  His lips were warm from the sun. The tenderness in the touch stirred a part of her that had been cold and dark for a long time.

  As she clung to him in the waters of Green Bay, Prim was forced to admit what she’d tried so hard to deny: the fire that once burned for this man still smoldered.

  Now she just had to figure out how to put out the embers before it burst into flame and consumed them both.

  Prim stood in the shower and let the warm spray soothe her sore muscles. She tried not to think of Max and the kisses they’d shared.

  Instead, she reflected on all she’d accomplished in the past twenty-four hours. Thirty minutes ago, she’d reached the finish line. At least in terms of the house. The last of the moving boxes had been brought in from the garage and emptied. All contents were now neatly stowed in closets, drawers, and cabinets. Her new house finally felt like a home.

  She stepped back from the pulsating spray to squirt coconut-and-lime-scented gel onto the loofah. She sang along with the radio while smoothing the light green soap over her skin.

  Though way too many freckles dotted all visible surfaces, Prim was generally pleased with her body. She’d once feared her stretched-out belly would never recover after delivering two seven-pound baby boys.

  She slid the loofah across her lower abdomen. While that section of her body might not be as flat as it had been when she’d gotten pregnant at twenty-one, a slight pooch was a small price to pay for her wonderful sons.

  As she moved the sponge upward, she recalled how Max’s gaze had lingered on her chest when he’d seen her in her swimsui
t.

  The tips of her nipples hardened with the memory and a tightness filled her belly. Prim could no longer deny the electricity between her and the handsome CPA.

  Back in high school she’d done her best to explain away the connection. She’d told herself the kiss they’d shared after their mathlete win was simply due to excitement over the victory. When she’d been unable to completely silence the doubt in her head, she’d blamed it on Calvin Klein Eternity. The totally awesome scent had to have contributed to her losing her head and kissing Max back.

  “M-om.” A pounding sounded against the bathroom door, making it rattle.

  Startled, Prim whirled. The loofah spurted from her hand.

  “Callum won’t let me have any grapes.” The whine in Connor’s voice came clearly through the closed door.

  Prim closed her eyes and counted to five.

  “Tell your brother I said he has to share.” She leaned over and scooped up the pouf. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  She’d put in a movie and sat the boys down with a bowl of grapes hoping for fifteen minutes of peace. She’d gotten five.

  With a sigh, Prim quickly finished her shower. She wrapped her freshly shampooed hair in one thick towel while drying off with another. Turkish bath towels, soft and known for their incredible wicking ability, were leftovers from her life with her husband.

  Nothing but the best for Rory.

  Prim brought the fluffy towel to her cheek, sighed again. One thing about Rory was he’d helped her see that life should be lived to the fullest, whether that be using premium towels or seizing every moment.

  It was sadness, not anger, she felt today. Genuine sadness at the loss of a good man who’d still had so much life to live. Sadness that his adventures had always mattered more to him than her. Sadness that despite her efforts to keep his memory alive through pictures and stories, his sons’ memories of their dad were few and faded with each passing day.

  With a towel wrapped snugly around her, Prim opened the bathroom door and listened. Hearing only the movie and childish chatter, she slipped back into the bathroom.

  She took a few minutes to blow-dry her hair, a rare luxury. Since Callum and Connor were still occupied when she finished, Prim padded into the bedroom and flung open the closet door. Normally, she put on the first thing she grabbed. But she had a few minutes now and could be selective.

  It was silly to be so concerned with what to wear to a community barbecue where you’d likely see more jeans and flip-flops than anything else.

  When Ami had called to remind her of the event, Prim had to stop herself from asking her sister if she knew if Max was coming.

  It shouldn’t matter if he was at the party or not. It wasn’t as if the kisses they’d shared had meant anything more than she was young with a healthy sex drive. And Max was an attractive man. And a sweet guy.

  She danced her fingers across her lips. There had been tenderness in his kiss, but also an underlying passion.

  It had been two years since she’d been intimate with a man. But when Max kissed her, she yearned for more. The fact that she kept imagining Max naked simply showed she was normal. End of story.

  But just because any romantic dreams he stirred would remain untapped for the next twelve years didn’t mean she had to show up at a party looking like someone’s dowdy maiden aunt. Prim gave the closet her full attention.

  Her hand settled on the hanger of a dress she’d purchased on a whim last summer. The fit-and-flare sleeveless cotton of distressed ivory covered with carnations in varying shades of pink had made her skin look peaches-and-cream pretty.

  Prim remembered that day well. She’d been feeling blue and, with the boys at an all-day birthday party, she’d been on her own. Instead of moping at home, she’d called a friend and gone shopping.

  After slipping it on, she impulsively decided to straighten her hair. The primping had nothing to do with Max and everything to do with the fact she was a Bloom. Bloom women took pride in looking their best. Which was why, when the twins’ attention remained focused on the movie, Prim grabbed her makeup bag and used the opportunity to work a little additional magic.

  Chapter Eight

  “Look at all the cars.” Charlotte McCray glanced around the nearly full parking lot, a look of stunned surprise on her pretty face. “This is like Grant Park on the Fourth.”

  “There are probably about as many people here. Tonight is for anyone—and I mean anyone—involved in the planning or execution of this year’s Independence Day celebration.” Max stepped from his vehicle into the late afternoon warmth. The surrounding land, owned by the Rakes family for generations, was some of the most beautiful on the peninsula. “Lots of community events are held at Rakes Farm. I’m surprised you haven’t been to one.”

  “I may own a business here, but I spend far more time in Chicago than in Good Hope.” Charlotte stepped from the vehicle and smoothed the front of her dress. The deep purple made her blue eyes look almost violet in the light and was the perfect foil for her brown hair and ivory complexion. “Even after four years, I still feel like a tourist.”

  Max could believe it. Until that night at the Flying Crane, his path had never crossed hers. That wasn’t especially surprising, considering he didn’t frequent high-end salons and she had yet to join any of the service organizations on the peninsula. Still, they’d become acquainted over drinks and pretzels, and a friendship of sorts had developed. Last month he’d started handling the tax work for the Golden Door, the pricey salon and day spa she owned.

  Weeks ago they’d agreed to a date to explore the possibility of expanding their friendship. He’d actually forgotten all about that promise until she’d called and told him she was available tonight for a movie and the barbecue.

  What would Prim think when she saw him with Charlotte?

  A knot formed in the pit of Max’s stomach. It was ridiculous to feel as if he were cheating on Prim when they weren’t dating. Heck, he and Prim didn’t even have plans to date.

  But the kisses they’d shared had meant something to him. If he wasn’t mistaken, they’d meant something to her as well. None of that changed the fact that Prim had made it clear she wasn’t dating until her boys were grown.

  And even if Prim was open to exploring a relationship with him, after his breakup with his previous girlfriend, Lori, he was wary of starting up with someone whose heart wasn’t free.

  He’d known Lori was on the rebound last year when they’d started dating, but she’d insisted she was ready to move on. When she went back to her ex-boyfriend six months later, he realized she hadn’t been ready. Unfortunately, knowing that hadn’t lessened the pain of their breakup. Max wouldn’t knowingly put himself in that position again.

  “Do you have any idea?”

  Max slowed his steps. Though he was as good as any guy at multitasking, he’d obviously let his mind wander too far off course.

  Pasting a smile on his face, he turned to Charlotte. “Pardon me?”

  “Not important.” She gave a laugh, waved a dismissive hand, but he saw hurt in her eyes.

  Instantly contrite, he gave her hand a squeeze. “Tell me.”

  She hesitated only a second.

  “I was simply wondering if you could tell me some people I might know who’ll be here tonight.” Charlotte brought a finger to her brightly painted lips, effectively drawing his attention to her mouth.

  Nice enough lips, though they lacked the pouty fullness of Prim’s.

  With great effort, Max pulled his attention back to the conversation, determined to stay focused. “You’ll likely see many of your clients. And you said you’ve met Jeremy Rakes. He’s hosting the event.”

  “Excellent.” Charlotte looped her arm through his as they strolled up the sidewalk toward the sound of music and laughter.

  Jeremy’s three-story home blazed with lights. Though his backyard was the size of a football field, the Good Hope mayor had also opened the main level of his home tonight.
r />   As they passed lilac bushes heavy with flowers, Charlotte’s fingers tightened around his bicep. “Blue is a good color on you.”

  Max glanced down at his short-sleeved twill shirt, then back up. He shot her a wink. “I aim to please.”

  “You do.” She gazed up at him through lowered lashes. “You please me very much.”

  Having a gorgeous woman openly flirt with him should have made his evening. Instead, Max shifted his gaze and said nothing as they rounded the house.

  Jeremy Rakes, current mayor and a friend since childhood, had gone all out this year. Chinese lanterns in a variety of vibrant colors had been strung across the endless, perfectly manicured patch of green. Red-and-white-checkered cloths covered numerous picnic tables that held side dishes ranging from the commonly seen watermelon slices, deviled eggs, potato salad, and baked beans to the more unusual grilled pineapple and mac ’n’ cheese bites.

  For those who didn’t like pork, Floyd Lawson, Cherries board member, manned one of several large grills that included shrimp-and-vegetable skewers in addition to burgers and brats. The retired CPA, wearing an I Like Pig Butts and I Cannot Lie apron, lifted tongs in greeting when he spotted Max.

  Though Max firmly believed Floyd could have done more to keep the Cherries out of their current financial difficulties, he liked the man and admired his civic involvement.

  Steering Charlotte in that direction, he stopped by the grill. “Great apron.”

  “It’s a favorite. And who’s this lovely creature?” Without giving Max a chance to perform introductions, Floyd wiped one hand on the apron, then stuck it out to Charlotte. “Floyd Lawson, retired CPA. Most around here call me Santa.”

  “Ah, Charlotte McCray, business owner.” The brunette’s lips twitched. “Most call me Charlotte.”

  Floyd did his ho-ho-ho laugh while patting his jiggling belly.

  Noticing Charlotte’s perplexed look, Max explained Floyd played Santa Claus every Christmas.

  “I can see you as Santa.” Charlotte studied him thoughtfully. “Your beard is the right length and color, but the hair is too short. Do you let it grow out or wear a wig?”