Picture Perfect Summer Read online

  “The guy who cheated on you. Did you love him?” I don’t know what I want to know, beyond I’ve promised to be an open book and I want to read hers as well.

  “Yeah. I did, but he didn’t love me back. Obviously.” She leans forward, grabbing a blade of grass and putting it to her lips, making a whistle out of it. “I’m glad I found out before we got married.”

  I look at her in surprise. “You were engaged.”

  “No, but I was hoping he was the one.” She sets the blade of grass down. “I want a happily ever after and I don’t think I’m foolish to think that something like that can exist.”

  I notch my fishing pole into the space between the roots of the tree so I can take True in my arms. “I think you are the most beautiful dreamer I’ve ever met.”

  She licks her lips. “Your breath doesn’t reek of garlic.”

  “I made sure to brush and floss thoroughly.”

  “Stop talking and kiss me already.”

  I dip my head. “Yes ma’am.”

  Then her mouth is moving under mine and I don’t give a damn about dreams and fantasy or even if soulmates exist, because I have pure sunshine in my arms.

  Chapter 9

  True

  It’s been a week since Duke’s apology and I swear it feels like three months... and not because it’s so horrible.

  Actually, it’s because everything is so wonderful.

  Fairytale-like.

  Amazing.

  Spectacular.

  You get the drift.

  The old adage that time flies when you’re having fun does not apply to us. Instead, it’s like every moment we spend together is suspended in time. Or it could be because we are literally together from morning to night on the days he’s not at work, which for someone running a shipping company, isn’t that often.

  Whatever it is, I’m fully enjoying my summer and a small part of that is because my parents put off coming home during that time.

  However, tonight, my parents have requested that I come home for dinner. They got in last night, and now I find myself second-guessing everything in my closet instead of watching a movie with Duke. Okay, so we make out the entire time, but I know the major plot points happening.

  Sunny’s fiancé surprised her this morning by flying in, so it’s just me, eating with my parents while they pepper me with questions.

  “You look like you’ve been spending a lot of time in the sun. Are you using sunscreen?” my momma asks, concerned as ever with skin care. I can’t fault her since she had a scare about ten years ago with a spot on her back.

  “Yes, ma’am. I reapply as directed.”

  Her dark eyes roam over my face, as if the newly appeared freckles on my nose spell out liar. “Consider wearing a hat.”

  My dad chuckles. “Leave True alone. She’s smart enough to know how to take care of herself.”

  I flash him a grateful smile. “I managed to make it on my own all four years at Arizona State.”

  “About that.”

  Oh no. “Can we put a pin in that bunny trail and save it for later.”

  Momma shakes her head, her honey colored hair in beach waves. “Afraid not. Decisions need to be made, and I have an appointment to talk with the head of the school board next week.”

  “What? No. Don’t do that for me.” I set my fork down. “While I appreciate your enthusiasm, I can’t commit to anything right now. I’m weighing my options, and then I have the tentative commitment to teach for three years and—”

  My parents’ faces fall, almost to the floor. They look so sad that I have to stop my explanation.

  “It doesn’t sound like you’re considering Royal Bay at all, pumpkin,” Dad says.

  Oh crap, I’m going to have to tell them about Duke. “I met a guy.”

  Immediately my parents perk up, especially my momma. She’s a romantic at heart, like me, or that is to say, I’m a romantic at heart like her. Either way, I know she wants all the details.

  “Is he from here?” she asks.

  “No.”

  “Oh.”

  “He’s from Castle Beach.”

  My momma rolls her eyes. “Same thing, True.”

  “His family is super local, like so local they practically run the place.”

  My dad’s eyes narrow. “And who would this boy be?”

  Anyone under the age of thirty is a boy to my dad. I swallow. “Duke King.”

  Neither of them say a word, and I start to squirm in my seat.

  “Don’t worry. He’s hasn’t asked for insider secrets. I mean, I told him I don’t have any, but he said he didn’t care about the family business because,” I clamp my lips together for a moment. It’s not my job to reveal Duke’s secret. “We’ve been seeing each other for two weeks.”

  Momma blinks at me, setting her glass of white wine down. “You must have met the day you came home.”

  “Day after. Sunny instigated the entire thing.”

  “I knew I liked her.” This from my dad. “Is it serious?”

  I shrug. “Maybe?”

  My parents share a look, then my momma says, “We’d love to have Duke over.”

  “We promise not to ask really invasive questions or quiz him about King Global Shipping’s next move,” my dad adds.

  I wonder if they know about Duke’s marriage—or lack of divorce, but I decide against asking. “I’ll ask him to see what he thinks. No pressure.”

  “None at all, pumpkin,” my dad says, then leans back in his chair. “You know, people always tried to make it like the Kings and the Princes have this centuries old feud going on, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, my father worked for Old Mr. King, and Duke’s dad worked for my father before he passed away, but that doesn’t make for juicy gossip.”

  “Really?”

  Dad nods, encouraged by my curiosity. “Both families felt like it was good business. Besides, we don’t have the same clients or the same goals.”

  “I think it’s romantic that two of the oldest families in Royal County are finally coming together.”

  My momma makes it sound like a wedding is imminent. “I had no clue who he was when we met, but eventually he told me and we’ve been dating ever since. I really like him.”

  Momma smiles. “I really like him too.”

  “You haven’t even met him.”

  “Oh honey, I already adore the man who could do a heck of a better job of convincing you to stay.”

  “Momma.”

  “It’s the truth.” She pierces the salmon with her fork. “In my eyes, he’s prince charming.”

  “He’s a King.”

  “He’s a mere mortal,” Dad says. “Bring him around, please.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Where was your first date?” Momma suddenly asks.

  “Ten Blue.”

  She smiles widely. “How very charming of him.”

  My mom is so cute in her enthusiasm that I can’t dampen it. Instead I stick my tongue out at her playfully and change the topic, but I can’t help but think that she’s right.

  ***

  “Prince Charming, huh?” Duke asks.

  “Yeah. She’s doesn’t know you like I do.” I nudge him with my hip and he pretends to go crashing into the wooden railing on the ocean side of the boardwalk.

  We’ve just finished dinner at The Crab Shack and are headed to Bette’s so we can eat our weight in donuts. The breeze is just right and the sun setting over the sound gives off the perfect glow. In my blue romper, I feel pretty and comfortable... except when I have to use the restroom and basically undress.

  Oh well. No one said fashion was always practical.

  “But they want to get to know me.”

  “Yup.”

  Duke takes my hand in his and I swear I get goose bumps. “What do you think about that?”

  “I’m wondering how I should introduce you.”

  “Duke King is a good start.”

  “They know your name.
I mean beyond that, like this is my righteous surfer dude, Duke King, or this is the guy who always takes his little brother with us on dates during the day, Duke King.”

  He gives me one of his rare smiles, then acts like he’s mulling over my words. “What about the best kisser I’ve ever had, Duke King.”

  “Nah.”

  “Right. Parents don’t want to hear that.”

  “No, it’s not that.”

  Duke gives me a grumpy look and it’s all I can do to not laugh. “What is it then?”

  “The best kisser I’ve ever had. That’s a pretty big boast. I mean what if I haven’t finished kissing all—”

  Duke jerks me to him, his hand tipping up my chin as his mouth crashes into mine. He kisses me so hard and with so much desire that my foot pops up. We’re right in the middle of the boardwalk, but neither of us cares.

  I wrap my arms around him, returning his kiss with everything I’ve got.

  Slowly, he pulls away. “What about now?”

  I nip at his lip. “I think I’m the best kisser you’ve ever had.”

  “Hell yes, you are.” He leans his head against mine, then we break apart, moving down the boardwalk once more. “How about this—I’ll introduce myself as Duke King, boyfriend of True Prince.”

  I almost stumble. “Are you serious?”

  His stormy eyes fix on mine. “If you’ll have me.”

  “You don’t think we’re moving too fast.” I want to smack myself for even saying this.

  “No. Do you?”

  Unable to verbalize my answer, I simply shake my head.

  “Great. Now that that’s settled, let’s go eat some donuts.”

  Bemused, I take his hand and walk with him.

  Chapter 10

  Duke

  I can’t remember the last time I met a girl’s parents, much less a grown woman’s, over dinner at their house.

  While this type of thing is a huge southern tradition, Laken and I never did it. Mostly because our parents already knew each other before we started dating.

  Growing up, I ate at their house as much as Laken’s brother Crew ate at mine.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” True says, and I know I can share exactly what I’m thinking with her.

  “Thinking about all the times I ate over at Crew’s house. He’s Laken’s older brother.”

  “Hmmm.” She playfully narrows her hazel brown eyes at me. “I don’t know if I want to hear about how awesome it was to be part of her family.”

  “Just kidding. You can tell me anything,” she adds a beat later.

  I gently grab her knee, squeezing it. We have about twenty minutes before we arrive at her parents’ place in Royal Bay, so plenty of time for me to stick my foot in my mouth.

  “He’s a SEAL. Been gone a long time, too.”

  “Is he stationed in another state?” she asks.

  “Try another country.” Although, he could be stateside now. I don’t know, honestly, because we haven’t kept in touch, and not solely because of what’s going on with Laken. “We were really close growing up, so it’s strange not to have him around.”

  “Maybe you should call him,” True suggests.

  I glance at her. “You’d be okay with that?”

  “With you having friends? Wouldn’t that be weird if I wasn’t okay with it? Also, I don’t think it’s good for the soul to be so closed off.”

  “I have friends,” I say with a touch of defensiveness.

  “Really? Name ones who don’t have the same last name as you.”

  I frown. “Okay, so I used to have friends, but when Laken and I split she got them, and I didn’t try to change their minds about me.” With the exception of Dave. He’s the asshole who was fucking her behind my back.

  “They’re not very good friends, if you have to change their minds.” She sighs. “What about your brothers? Besides, Laird, you haven’t spent much time with them.”

  She’s right, but I don’t know what to do about it, really. Between our dad and my need to hide away from the world while attempting to raise Laird, I have exactly zero incentive to repair a bond that might or might not be irrevocably broken.

  Fuck. And don’t I sound like a good brother for thinking that.

  “We’ve drifted apart. Knight’s at boot camp. Doesn’t help that I not only have to be the dad now, but the bad guy.”

  “You could never, ever be the bad guy.”

  I smile grimly. “You’ve never come between a man and his ability to provide for himself.” As soon as the IRS got involved, I was given the job of informing my brothers that they no longer had jobs... while I stayed on and earned what the IRS would allow.

  “Then give them the ability.”

  I shake my head. “Not my call.”

  “There has to be a way.”

  “Why is this so important to you?” I’m not mad, but I want to know her motives. I’m sure they’re pure, but it’s her insistence that I find fascinating.

  “They’re the only brothers you got. If I had siblings, I’d do anything and everything to make sure we always stayed together. I mean, sure, if they had to leave or wanted to travel, I’d support them in that, but this emotional distance that’s led to a physical one can’t be what you want,” she explains. “Sorry, if I’m putting my nose where it doesn’t belong.”

  I take a right onto Earl of Wainwright Street. “I like your nose.”

  “Har. Har.” She flips the visor down and checks her makeup, something that I find adorable. And intimate. I can imagine her doing this in the morning, after getting out of bed and padding to the bathroom. I’d come up behind her, wrap my arms around her sweet body, and kiss the spot where her neck and shoulder meets.

  Desire hits me hard. Inconvenient desire because there is no way I can go into her parents’ house with a woody.

  “It’s up to you if you want to renew old friendships or make sure you don’t lose what you have with your brothers. No pressure from me because I’m sure you put enough on yourself as it is.” She closes the visor. “Not to change the subject, but to totally change the subject—did you know that our families are not actually rivals and that our dads worked for each other’s granddads?”

  There goes my semi-erection. Thank God. “No, my dad wasn’t big on sharing that sort of thing. He preferred to look at Prince Shipping as competition.”

  “That’s so strange because my dad thinks the opposite.” She shrugs as I pull into a gated driveway. “Put your window down and I’ll punch in the code.”

  I do as she asks, but as I’m about to offer to punch in the code for her, she unbuckles her seat belt and crawls across my lap. Her sweet ass is practically in my face and if I cock my head to the left, I’ll be able to see straight down the front of her dress.

  My fucking erection returns. I swallow a groan.

  “There we go.” The gate slowly opens. She pauses on her way back to her seat, kissing me with lips lightly coated in cherry lip gloss. “Don’t worry, I won’t let them see you like this,” she whispers.

  “Like what?”

  Her eyes are playful and seductive. “Hard for me.”

  “You’re not helping.”

  “I could... later.” She kisses my cheek and eases down into the seat. “But no pressure.”

  No pressure. I’m pretty sure my body is about to explode with suppressed excitement. I haven’t had sex in months, and her offer alone is almost orgasmic.

  “I’ll let you know.” I park my truck out front. “Don’t move.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Not helping.”

  She peers at me from beneath her lashes. “I’m not sorry.”

  With a half-smile, I take my time unbuckling my seat belt and move around the front of my truck so I can open her door. Luckily, everything returns to a mostly normal state by the time she slides out.

  “You are such a gentleman,” she coos. I think this is the most flirtatious she’s ever been with me, and I love it. Then again,
I can’t do a damn thing about it either and she knows it.

  Revels in it.

  The tease.

  I’m so going to make her pay by keeping my hands to myself.

  “You’re welcome.” We walk to the front door, and it opens as if by magic, but then I see her dad wearing the most stern father expression known to man. Or maybe it’s just because this is my first time seeing one.

  Around Castle Beach, the majority of parents, even the ones that I didn’t get an invite to eat dinner with, liked the fact that I picked their daughter up properly.

  “Mr. Prince.” I extend my hand, waiting for him to take it. No need to show who the alpha dog is here. This is his palace, his daughter, and I’m nothing but a potential wrecker of their kingdom.

  “Duke.” He grabs my hand and tugs, pulling me into a back beating hug. “So great to meet you. Dinner’s already on the table.”

  My gaze flies to True’s. She has an expression that I can only liken to one that my sister had while watching cute puppy videos on Facebook.

  Oh, God. I’m the puppy.

  “Thanks for having me,” I say gruffly and step back.

  Mr. Prince steps back as well, but instead of letting go of me altogether, he loops an arm over my shoulder like we’re best drinking buds. “Get the door, pumpkin.”

  “Yes, Daddy.” She beams at us, then moves out of my line of vision while I’m ushered outside to a table by an enormous pool, complete with a waterfall and two slides.

  An older version of True, with blonde hair instead of light brown, greets me warmly. “Duke. I’ve heard so many good things about you from True.”

  Mr. Prince releases me and all but shoves me at his wife. This is literally the weirdest way I’ve ever met anyone... except my first meeting with True. Maybe this is par for the course for them.

  Oh, hell. I’ll just go with it.

  “Thank you. From listening to True, I can tell how much she loves and respect you both.”

  This earns an aw from her parents and a huge smile from True. She holds out her hand and I take it, if only so that her mom will stop hugging me. I don’t have anything against hugging, but I’m out of my element here.

  “You can sit by me,” True says, as she seats me at a round table. “I know it’s not Ten Blue, but I think the view is pretty awesome. Later, we can swim if you want.”