Bayside Opposites

by Stacy Claflin

  Also by Stacy Claflin

  An Alex Mercer Thriller

  Girl in Trouble

  Turn Back Time

  Little Lies

  Against All Odds

  Bayside Hunters

  Bayside Opposites

  Curse of the Moon

  Lost Wolf

  Chosen Wolf

  Hunted Wolf

  Broken Wolf

  Cursed Wolf

  Secret Jaguar

  Fall Into Romance

  Lost in Romance

  Gone

  Gone

  Held

  Over

  The Gone Trilogy

  Dean's List

  Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Series

  Sweet Dreams

  Sweet Reunion

  The Hunters

  Seaside Surprises

  Seaside Heartbeats

  Seaside Dances

  Seaside Kisses

  Seaside Christmas

  Bayside Wishes

  Bayside Evenings

  Bayside Promises

  Bayside Destinies

  The Hunters: A Collection

  The Transformed

  Deception

  Betrayal

  Forgotten

  Ascension

  Duplicity

  Sacrifice

  Destroyed

  Transcend

  Entangled

  Dauntless

  Obscured

  Partition

  Fallen (The Transformed Prequel)

  Silent Bite: A Transformed Christmas

  Hidden Intentions

  Saved by a Vampire

  Sweet Desire

  Valhalla's Curse

  Renegade Valkyrie

  Pursued Valkyrie

  Standalone

  The Transformed Series - Four Books

  The Transformed Box Set

  No Return

  Tiny Bites

  Haunted

  Dex

  When Tomorrow Starts Without me

  Contents

  Title Page

  Author's Note: New Book Title

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  More by Stacy Claflin

  Author's Note

  BAYSIDE OPPOSITES

  A HUNTERS NOVELLA

  (Originally published as Love’s First Kiss)

  by Stacy Claflin

  http://www.stacyclaflin.com

  Copyright ©2018 Stacy Claflin. All rights reserved.

  ©Cover Design: Mallory Rock

  Edited by Staci Troilo

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental or used fictitiously. The author has taken great liberties with locales including the creation of fictional towns.

  Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without express written consent is strictly prohibited. Do not upload or distribute anywhere.

  This e-book is for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to others. If you would like to share this book with others, please either purchase it for them or direct them to StacyClaflin.com for purchase links. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

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  Author's Note: Bayside Opposites was previously published as Love’s First Kiss. It has been revised to become part of the Hunters series and has one new chapter added. Otherwise, it is essentially the same story.

  One

  Madisyn Steele slid off her sunglasses, stuck them on top of her head, then leaned back in the plush pool lounge chair. The hot summer sun beat down, warming her inside and out. It felt especially good to just relax after studying so hard in college for five years.

  She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment, pretending things were as simple as they had been before she’d left for college—before life had shown her just how cruel it could be.

  With any luck, she could forget all the guilt she had left behind.

  A wet nose nudged her arm. “Hi, Lilly.” Madisyn kept her eyes closed as she rubbed the eight-year-old black Lab’s head. The pup—she would always be a pup in Madisyn’s mind—rested her head on the chair next to Madisyn’s leg as if to say keep that up.

  If only the moment could last forever. But her dad would be home soon, and when he arrived, there would be no rest for the weary. Never mind the fact that she’d recently finished finals, had her graduation ceremony, packed her apartment into her car, and driven from Seattle to Enchantment Bay. It wouldn’t matter to her father. He worked himself to the bone and expected the same from everyone else.

  Even so, Madisyn couldn’t have been happier to leave college behind. Hopefully the horrible memories would stay there and let her get on with her life.

  Footsteps sounded behind her. Tap, tap, tap.

  She held back a groan. Please be Mom.

  “Madisyn.” Dad cleared his throat.

  So much for that. She slid her sunglasses down from the top of her head to cover her eyes and turned to look at him. “Yes?”

  He loomed over her in his perfectly-tailored silk suit accented with a matching burgundy handkerchief and tie. A slight scowl darkened his otherwise handsome face. Some things never changed. Other than Mom’s new BMW and Dad’s new Corvette sitting in the garage—and the silver hairs on Lilly’s belly and muzzle that grew more prominent every visit back home—nothing would ever change at the Steele household. Certainly not Dad’s perpetually negative expression. “We have a dinner date with the Rutherfords tonight at Roosevelt's. We’re leaving here at six sharp.”

  “I just got in. Can’t I rest for the evening?” Madisyn regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. Dad didn’t believe in relaxation.

  “You’re tired? I’ll order you their best wine—that will relax you plenty. It always works for me.” His laughter boomed across the backyard.

  She didn’t want any, but there was no use arguing. “I’ll be ready at six.” She leaned back in the chair and waited for him to leave.

  “You still don’t have a job lined up?” he asked.

  “I literally just drove in today, Dad.”

  “Don’t speak to me in that tone.”

  Old enough for wine, but she still had to watch her tone with Dad. “Sorry. And no, I don’t have anything lined up.”

  “We’ll discuss that on the way. Be ready at six on the nose.”

  “I’ll be ready.” Madisyn closed her eyes and waited to hear his footsteps walking away. They didn’t. She opened one eye.

  His arms were crossed. “Be sure to wear one of the new dresses your mother picked out for you. They’re hanging in your closet.”

  “Will do.” She closed her eyes again. Hopefully, this time he would get the clue.

  “And be sure to be friendly with Reese.”

  Her eyes flew open. She pulled her sunglasses off and stared at him. “Reese? Reese Rutherford is going to be there? Is that what this is about?”

  Reese was the son of Dad’s partner in the big, prestigious law firm a half hour outside of Enchantment Bay. Dad wanted nothing m
ore than for the two families to become one—and her older sister Layne had already married her college sweetheart and moved all the way to Dallas, where their dad was from. She was expecting a baby in the winter. That obviously exempted her from the matchmaking machinations, which left Madisyn. And now that she was back home with her double college degrees, Dad was going to pressure her to marry one of the Rutherford sons.

  “I’m not explaining myself to you, Madisyn. You two have plenty to catch up on. Just be friendly. And figure out what you’re going to do with yourself. You can have a few days to settle back in, but you need to get a job or start a business—I don’t care which. Just do something. I’m not going to support you lazing around.”

  Pain lanced through Madisyn’s temples. She hadn’t even been back home for three hours, and he was already harping on her. Lilly nudged Madisyn’s leg with her wet nose. At least someone cared about her beyond what she could do for the family.

  “Well?” Dad tilted his head and furrowed his brows.

  “I’m not going to be lazy. Launching a career is a big decision. It’s going to take some time.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic. Try something, and if it doesn’t work out, try something else. Even if it does work out, try something else.”

  Never leave all your eggs in one basket.

  “Never leave all your eggs in one basket, Madisyn.”

  She sighed. “If you want, I can look into what I want to do tonight while you guys are at the restaurant.”

  His expression tensed. “Not going to happen. Be ready at six. Not a moment later.”

  “I will.” She held back an eye roll.

  “Good.” He spun around and marched toward the house.

  Lilly whined.

  “I know.” Madisyn swung her long, slender legs over the lounger and rose. “I need to get out of here for a while before dinner. Want to go with me?”

  The dog’s tail wagged, and she rubbed against Madisyn’s legs. “You’re more like an oversized cat than a Lab. Come on.”

  Lilly trotted on ahead of Madisyn toward the tall three-story home. Once in her room, Madisyn leaned against the window sill and watched the lazy waves of the bay. Carefree beachgoers played and lounged on the sand.

  Sighing, she brought herself back to reality and looked around the room for her luggage. It wasn’t on her bed where she’d left it. Madisyn pulled open her closet and walked in. Everything hung on the racks, and the suitcases had been stored up high.

  “Well, I guess that saves me the trouble of putting everything away.” She picked out a loose top and flowing knee-length skirt and pulled them over her burgundy bikini.

  Lilly came in and sat next to Madisyn, looking at her with expectant brown doggie eyes.

  “You still like the family boat, right?” Madisyn rubbed Lilly’s head. “Hopefully, nobody will be there and we can lounge peacefully.” Madisyn grabbed a few more things before heading downstairs.

  Sally, the housekeeper, stopped dusting and smiled widely. “Great to have you back, dear.”

  “Thanks.” Madisyn wished she could say it was good to be back. “I’m taking Lilly for a ride, if anyone asks.”

  “Sure thing. I don’t think they’ll miss her. Your father has a meeting and your mother is planning a charity gala. Be sure to be back and ready by—”

  “Six sharp.” Madisyn forced a smile. “See you in a while, Sally.”

  Two

  Nate Roberts readjusted his position on the old seat only to have a spring dig into his side. He scooted over to the lumpy part of the cushion and drew in a deep breath. “Beggars can’t be choosers.”

  He closed his eyes and focused on the swaying of the boat. If it wasn’t for the movement, he’d easily forget he was even in Uncle Ray’s old, forgotten beater. It had been a family favorite years earlier. Nate and his brother William would beg to vacation on the sea with Uncle Ray and the cousins. But he’d passed away when Nate was in high school, and his cousins had let the once-beautiful vessel waste away to the eyesore Nate now called home.

  The vessel reminded Nate of his own life—how far he’d fallen. Choirboy to this. He raked his fingers through his almost-shoulder length hair. Paint chips fell onto his dirt-streaked shoulders. He needed to find somewhere to shower and wash his clothes. It was too bad the vessel didn’t have any running water or electricity.

  A rock song played from his pocket. Nate pulled his ancient phone from his pants and answered without bothering to open his eyes. “Nate here.”

  “Naaate, old buddy. How are you?”

  Groaning, Nate sat up, earning himself another spring digging into his side. “Vinny, I told you. I’m done with all that.”

  “I know, I know. But hear me out.”

  “Do you know the meaning of done?” Nate sat up and stared at the peeling green paint across from him. “I moved away, remember? I’m in Oregon now. New Mexico is behind me. Way behind.”

  “Here’s the thing. There’s a package that needs to be delivered to Portland. Your neck of the woods. And it needs to move stat, man. A real emergency. You’d get twice the usual pay. Twice.”

  “Vinny…” Nate’s tone held a warning.

  “Twice the pay, Nate. You know what that means? Double. I’d do it, but I’m in New Mexico, man. My grams is on her deathbed. Can’t travel, ya know.”

  “Both your grandmas are already buried, Vinny.” Nate rose and dusted some dirt from his torn pants.

  “I know. Can’t get more of a deathbed than that, right? Will ya do it?”

  Nate held back an eye roll. “You’re gonna have to call someone else. I’m done.”

  “Not even for double?”

  “No.”

  “Think about it.” The call ended.

  Shaking his head, Nate stuffed the phone back into his pants and headed outside. The sun’s glare off the bay nearly blinded him. He squinted and grabbed a dusty pair of Uncle Ray’s aviator sunglasses from next to the steering wheel. He wiped them off with his shirt, put them on, and leaned against the railing.

  He really needed to find a job and quick, or he’d end up getting back into business with Vinny—and after nearly getting arrested a week earlier, Nate was done. He needed to get back on the straight and narrow. Or at least get off the path of being the errand boy for criminals. He could try and tell himself he wasn’t as bad as them, but moving their products made him guilty by association. Maybe worse. He didn’t know exactly what was in the boxes he delivered, but he sure knew it wasn’t legal.

  Clack, clack, clack.

  Nate turned to see a woman in high heels walking on the dock with a black dog. Who wore heels to the docks? He blocked the sun with his hand and craned his neck to see her better. She was gorgeous, that much was for sure. Her long brown hair flowed halfway down her back and she walked with confidence, like she owned the place.

  Instantly intrigued, he watched as her hips swayed and her pink floral skirt waved with the slight breeze. Almost without thinking, he pulled a rubber band from his wrist and twisted his hair into a ponytail.

  She slowed as she neared him and waved. “Nate? Nate Roberts?”

  His elbow slipped off the railing and he stepped back to hide his momentary clumsiness. They knew each other? He tilted his head and studied her.

  The woman pulled her sunglasses off and held out her hand. “Madisyn Steele.”

  “Madisyn?” Nate stared at her for a moment before leaning over the boat and shaking her soft, smooth hand. The last time he’d seen her had been high school. She’d been a scrawny pipsqueak of a freshman when he had been a senior back at Enchantment Bay High. Now she was all grown up—and wow. She’d really grown up.

  She smiled and pulled her hand back. “What are you doing out here? I don’t think I’ve seen you since high school.”

  Nate cleared his throat. “I’m helping to fix up my uncle’s boat.” That wasn’t an actual lie—he had hammered a couple loose boards and taped a broken window. He didn’t need to tell her he wa
s squatting there.

  Madisyn glanced around. “Looks like you have your work cut out for you.”

  He shrugged. “I’m not afraid to get dirty. Speaking of, I really should get back to work.”

  “Wait. Are you thirsty?” She held up a striped beach tote with a bottle of champagne sticking out. “I’m headed over to my parents’ boat, and I wouldn’t mind some company.”

  His pulse quickened. Sipping an expensive drink with a beautiful woman on a nice boat? Nate didn’t know which one belonged her family, but the Steeles were one of Enchantment Bay’s richest families, so whatever they owned would be jaw-dropping. “Yeah. Let me put on some cleaner clothes. I don’t want to get your boat dirty.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Dad hires people to clean it every week whether we use it or not.”

  Nate glanced down at his dirt-stained clothes. “You sure?”

  “Yeah, come on.” She waved him over, seeming not to care that he looked like he just stepped out of a dumpster.

  He climbed over the edge and jumped onto the dock. The black dog sniffed him and wagged its tail.

  Madisyn smiled. “She likes you.”

  Nate couldn’t find his voice, so he patted the dog and followed them down to a different section of the docks.

  He had underestimated the Steele’s boat—it was a yacht, and the biggest one in sight, at that. What on earth was he doing there? Someone was bound to throw him over the edge of a boat that nice.

  Three

  Madisyn sipped the champagne and moved her gaze from the clear bay to Nate. He didn’t complain about the heat as they sat on the deck. Sweat was already forming on her forehead, but she didn’t want to go inside. It was unusually warm for this early in the summer, but she loved it. She was grateful, especially given that in the Pacific Northwest, sometimes she wore her winter coat until the beginning of July. How many pictures did she have of herself with friends or family, and they were all bundled up in coats and blankets while watching the fireworks show?