Dirty Summer 5

“Will you just tell her I’m here? Please, Maggie.” Justyn rested his hand on the handle of the screen door.

“She’s pissed, Justyn. I don’t know what I can do for you. She doesn’t want to see you.”

“Ok, give me five minutes with her. Please. I messed up. Come on. Let me in.”

He knew Maggie was debating. Blair was her best friend, and if the blonde was mad, there was a good chance he didn’t have a shot. She flicked the hook on the door.

“Ok, but don’t tell her I let you in. She’s in her room.”

Justyn skirted past Maggie and took the steps two at a time. He had never seen the upstairs of the Buttons homestead, but he knew he would find Blair easily. There were only four rooms to choose from.

He had left the boathouse in such a scramble that he didn’t really have a plan. Standing outside of the only closed door on the upper level, he realized he wasn’t exactly sure he knew what he was doing. All he was sure of was that he wanted what was on the other side of the door—even if it was only for one more month.

He inhaled a long, deep breath then rapped on the door with his knuckles.

“Is he gone?” Blair threw open the door. Her eyes narrowed and her hands moved to her hips. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you busy?”

“Come on, darlin’, let me explain.” Justyn waited for Blair to invite him in.

“What is there to explain? What? Do you think I’m mad or something?”

“Well, aren’t you?” Justyn was puzzled. For someone who was supposed to be mad, Blair looked completely calm. Why were girls always so damned confusing?

“Mad? About what?” Blair questioned.

“Can I at least come in?”

Blair stepped to the side and let Justyn walk past her into the inner sanctum of her summer retreat. He noticed the stack of books next to her bed, along with an open journal and pen. She rushed to the tableside and shoved the journal in the top drawer.

He sat on the edge of the bed.

“Blair. I’m sorry. That was a shitty thing I did. It’s not me.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me.” She busied herself in front of the dresser, arranging jewelry and moving her bottles of lotion around.

“Just stop, dammit. Stop.” His voice was angry and sharp.

She spun on the heels of her bare feet to face him.

Softening his tone, he looked at her startled eyes. “I know you’re pissed at me. The grapevine is rather short around here. Ok? And you have a right to be. I screwed up. That’s why I’m here—to say sorry—to tell you why.”

“Ok, why, then?” Blair treaded toward the bed and sat next to him on the white quilt.

“The other night was incredible. Maybe just a little too incredible.” He turned toward her, and realized he wanted to erase the puzzled look from her face and kiss those lips. “I mean. You said this is supposed to be a summer thing and that’s great and all, but it didn’t feel like a summer thing to me. It felt like more. And you’re leaving; I’m staying. I just needed to think. That’s all it was. I needed to clear my head.”

“And what did you come up with on this great thinking escapade of yours?”

“This.” His palm encircled her neck and pulled her toward him so that his lips were brushed against her mouth. “I want this for the rest of the summer.” He hovered there, breathing in and out, with each of Blair’s quickening breaths.

“You sure? You’re ok with us being like this until the end of the summer?”

“Never been surer.” His lips pressed into hers.

Blair responded with a sigh. He wanted to kiss her for the rest of the summer. She pulled herself up and wrapped her legs on either side of his hips. She pushed him back on the bed so she was straddling him.

“Damn, girl.” He grinned.

“Then let’s get this summer started.” She giggled and leaned down to kiss him. Justyn knew then she was turning his world upside down one hot day at a time.