Summer's Fun (The Boys of Ocean Beach 2)

He smirks at his own cheesiness, but then surprises me by moving to the floor and nudging my knees aside. He’s tall, so even in this position our faces easily meet. His kisses continue to burn. I feel desire pooling in my belly, dampening the cotton between my thighs.

I’m wearing a skirt that comes to just above my knees and his hands push under the fabric, sending tingling sensations across my skin. Everything is heightened, wanting, but he’s slow and intentional—a side of Whit I’ve only seen out on the water—in his peaceful, happy place. Justin is horny and playful. Pete, sweet and attentive. Nick, quiet and sure.

Whit? We’ve never gone this far, which is confusing, but maybe the time wasn’t right. Maybe that’s why he’s placing gentle kisses along the inside of my thigh. Maybe he was waiting for this moment.

I expect him to pull away and remove his pants. I expect him to come back to the couch and settle me astride his hips. I don’t anticipate his hands pulling at my sides, shifting me to the edge of the couch. His fingers hook in the sides of my panties. He looks up and asks in a deep, questioning voice, “Is this okay?”

I n

od, words caught in my throat. I have never done this before and the thought terrifies me, knowing someone can be so close, so intimate…they’re not just in you, they’re tasting you.

Whit’s eyes cloud as he focuses between my legs, his hands spreading me wider. The pads of his fingertips are gentle as he explores. I exhale a breath of nerves as the heat of his mouth warms me. When his tongue touches me I cry out, surprised at how sensitive it feels, how good.

I thrust my fingers into his shaggy hair and any and all thoughts vanish from my mind. All I can think is how this…this is amazing. It’s more. It’s everything.

8

Summer

The afternoon is dead, Whit’s right. The only people around right now are partying college students who want to drink and bake on the beach, not buy books. We’re locking up when I see the girls at the boutique next door on their porch, talking to a guy in a black skull-cap.

“That’s Avery, right?” I say quietly, nudging Anita.

“Ugh. Yes. Move quietly. I don’t have time for him today.”

I follow her to the parking lot but hear my name.

“Summer! Hey, Summer!”

“Dammit,” Anita says, hilariously annoyed. Something about this guy bugs the hell out of her.

I turn around. “Oh, Avery. What’s up?”

He holds out a hardback copy of my mother’s book, Scars From a Killer. “I wanted to bring this by, so you could get your mom to sign it for me.”

I take the book from him. The book jacket is worn, proving he really had read it. “She’s out of town for a few more weeks on her book tour, but I can leave it for her to get to when she gets back.”

His face brightens into a wide smile. “That’s perfect. Thank you so much.”

“Anytime.”

Anita has already walked off and I turn to follow her when he says, “Summer.”

“Yeah?”

“I know you helped your mom work on the case. She talks about it in the book and in a few interviews. Anyway, could you tell me about it sometime?”

The question is tricky. Does he just want to hang out and talk about serial killers? Or does he want to hang out with me?

Anita must have heard the question because she shouts out, “Aren’t you supposed to meet up with Justin tonight?”

His smile wavers just a little and yeah, that answers my question. “I just took notes and stuff, Avery. I don’t really know much. Come by the shop when my mom gets back and I’m sure she’ll sign and talk to you for a while.”

The smile returns and I make my escape. In the car Anita says, “So he’s really into your mom’s book?”

“Apparently, as are a ton of other people. I spent the day going through all that fan mail. People love my mom and her books.”

A twinkle sets in Anita’s eye and her hands grip the steering wheel. “Oh my god, Summer, I just had the best idea ever.” She turns to me with a wide grin. “We need to have a celebration party for your mom when she gets back at the shop. We can send out invitations and invite all the local fans. She can sign some books and talk to everyone. It will bring so many people into the shop and surely be a huge hit.”