Dirty Summer: A small town romance serial (A Dirty Summer Episode Book 4) Read online

  Dirty Summer

  Episode 4

  Violet Paige

  Copyright © 2020 by Violet Paige

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Also by Violet Paige

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Keep in touch with Violet

  Also by Violet Paige

  Cold Love Hockey Series

  Cold As Puck

  Cold As Hell

  Cold As Ice

  Football Romance

  Turn Over

  Sidelined

  Dirty Play

  Double Score

  Royal Romance

  Tempting the Crown

  Risking the Crown

  Loving the Crown

  Billionaire Romance

  Don’t Go

  Not Husband Material

  Not Daddy Material

  The Dirtiest Deal

  The Hottest Deal

  Military Romance

  Don’t Tell

  Don’t Lie

  Don’t Promise

  Ranger’s Baby Surprise

  Delta’s Baby Surprise

  Sweet Satisfaction

  Suspense

  Resist

  Surrender

  Hart Pursuit Trilogy

  Damaged Hart

  Shattered Hart

  Stolen Hart

  One

  Reid

  Reid turned to the left and spotted his assailant sitting cross-legged on the dock. He shot her a quick, playful glare before diving completely under the water. In seconds, he surfaced at the pier, propping his elbows on the dock and shaking the water from his hair in a deliberate attempt to splash Maggie.

  “Wait, wait,” she said with a laugh, wiping the droplets from her face and neck. “What did I do to deserve that?”

  “What did I do to deserve having rocks hailed at me while trying to complete my morning mile?” he countered.

  “Rocks? I see no rocks here,” Maggie said. “I was practicing my shell-skipping skills. It’s a perfect day for it. What brings you out so early?”

  “I could ask you the same,” he said, taking in her thin tank top and short boxers revealing tanned legs.

  “Couldn’t sleep,” Maggie offered, pulling her cardigan more tightly across her chest. He found himself longing to get a look at her completely out of those clothes. “It is a nice morning for a swim,” she said.

  “Yeah,” he said. “When it’s calm like this, I try to get a long swim in from home to Shell Point. Gotta stay in shape for the Coast Guard.”

  “Wait, I thought you were done with that,” Maggie said.

  “I’m still in the Reserves, so it’s important to keep up my swimming regimen. Usually, I have to do my laps in a pool, but days like this are a great way to get a little salt water in my eyes and ears.”

  “It doesn’t bother you?” Maggie asked.

  “I prefer it,” he explained. “This is where I learned to swim. There were no pools on the island in those days. The salt water never bothered my eyes. Actually, when I first started on the swim team and had to spend so much time in the pool, the chlorine bothered my eyes. Still does. The salt seems natural and healing.” He paused. “There’s just something about being surrounded by all this calm in the morning, don’t ya think?”

  “It is beautiful,” Maggie agreed. “I hadn’t seen it this calm yet. That’s what dragged me out here. And the quiet. It’s so peaceful.”

  “Not for much longer,” Reid said. “It’s goin’ to be a beautiful day. And hot. Everyone will be headin’ out to the cape in a bit. Are you goin’ with Blair and Justyn?”

  Maggie shifted positions and unfolded her legs. She moved slightly to her right and dangled her legs in the water beside Reid. Taking it as a sign she wanted to get a little closer, he swam until he was in front of her and put his hands behind her calves, massaging down to her ankle and back up again.

  “Um, I’m not sure,” she offered. “I was thinking that I would let them go alone this time. How about you?”

  “Nah,” he said, moving his hand closer to her thigh. He liked the way it made her draw in her breath. “I’ve got some work to do on the boat. And you’re probably right. We should give them a little alone time.” He flashed her a coconspirator grin.

  Maggie smiled and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer to the dock and her. He was surprised, but didn’t resist her movements.

  “So here’s the thing,” she began. “I totally heard what you said the other night.”

  “What?” he said, looking up at her, wondering what was going on behind those bright blue eyes, but not completely caring as long as she kept looking down at him like that and letting him slid his hand farther up her leg.

  “You know, the hanging out as friends thing? I’m ok with the concept, but why limit ourselves? Why not toss in a little more fun? I don’t know about you, but I’m not exactly looking for another buddy.”

  “Whoa, you’re talking all over the place. What do you mean?” he asked.

  “Something simple—you and me. No strings. No commitments. No attachments,” she said. “Just fun.”

  “So you’re talking about friends with benefits?” he asked.

  “Exactly.” Maggie ran her fingers through his wet hair. It had started to curl. “I’ll only be here another month, and I am really not looking for any kind of relationship. I know you’re busy getting your business off the ground, but you have to admit, we have fun together.”

  Where is this assertive girl coming from? He’d pegged her as the type who’d want romance and roses. The whole relationship nine yards. She moved her fingers to massage behind his neck, and he involuntarily sucked in his breath.

  Damn, he thought. What was this tiger up to? He didn’t have time for a relationship this summer.

  “Just fun,” she said again. Whom was she trying to reassure? Him or herself? “Nothing more.”

  Determined to meet her challenge, Reid raised himself on the pier, using his arms to propel his upper body as if he was doing a standing pushup until his eyes were level with hers.

  “And you can do that?” he challenged, taking in the rise and fall of her chest and how she absently chewed on her bottom lip. He remembered how soft those lips felt under his.

  “What makes you think I can’t?” she volleyed back.

  “You’re a good girl, is all,” Reid said, bringing his nose down so it was touching hers.

  “Good girls know how to have fun too,” Maggie countered, leaning up enough to press her mouth against Reid’s lower lip. She traced it with her tongue, as she trailed to the corner and then down to his jawline.

  He shifted his weight so that he pinned her against the dock, and he felt the pier rock.

  “Ok. Point taken,” he muttered. “How about this for fun, good girl?”

  He didn’t give Maggie time to answer. Before she could form another word, Reid’s mouth crashed into hers. His tongue parted her lips and began exploring her mouth.

  “Too many clothes,” he mumbled, tugging the cardigan off her shoulders and kissing her neck. Maggie shirked the sweater and gripped his shoulders. Reid put his right arm under
the small of her back, bringing her closer to him.

  She moaned as his hand reached under her tank top and squeezed her breast with a firm grip. “Oh.” Maggie bowed to the roughness of his hands. He moved under her thin shirt and pushed it over her nipple. His tongue toyed with her, eliciting tiny whimpers from the back of her throat.

  He smiled, knowing he was turning her on. God, this is fucking hot. That flimsy tank top needs to go. The more she moaned, the more he wanted this good girl. Within seconds, he succeeded in peeling the thin blue material off Maggie’s damp skin and tossing it onto the dock.

  He slid his hand to the waistband of her shorts touching the sensitive skin below her navel. A roaring sound filled his ears, and his entire body shifted to the left and then jerked to the right. Maggie clutched at his shoulders as they jerked back and forth once again. The entire floating dock was bouncing over wave after wave that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

  “What in the hell?” He looked up, bracing one arm on the dock and wrapping the other securely around Maggie’s waist to steady her. “Dammit, boat wake,” he muttered under his breath, looking off to the right at the shiny silver speedboat zooming toward the cape. “Stupid ass ding-batters in their souped-up fiberglass race cars with outboards. No respect for the water. That damn Denny Zeal and his Z Power Boats guzzling gas and ruining the waters around here.”

  Maggie jerked away from his embrace, rolled left, and reached for the discarded tank top.

  He let her go, and readjusted to a sitting position. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. Just two things I take seriously—respect for the water and well, you know …’’ He watched with appreciation while she pulled the tank top over her head. “That—what you were doing to me.”

  Maggie blushed a deep red and looked away, out over the sound where the island morning had revealed itself in all its bright, sunny glory.

  “Maggie,” he said, looking over his shoulder at her. “You know what would have happened if that boat hadn’t sped by?”

  She nodded. Yeah, he thought so. She was ready for him. Right here on this pier. In broad daylight.

  Two

  Reid

  Reid turned to face her, and shifted her so she was in his lap. He ran a hand through her hair, guiding her head so she was looking into his eyes and resting his hand at her shoulders.

  He couldn’t seem to keep away from those bronzed bare shoulders. What are you doing, man, he asked himself, taking in her sweet scent laced with a hint of jasmine. All he knew was every time he got close to her, his thoughts went a little haywire, and for once, he wasn’t focused on calculating the size of wood planks or where the next dollar was coming from. He just wanted to keep inhaling this fragrance and hearing her laugh.

  “It’s daylight. We’re practically in the middle of the sound,” he said. “More boats are gonna be whizzing by in moments. As much as I hate to say it, this probably isn’t the time or place. The whole island will be talking about us by noon.”

  “I’m tired of being a good girl.” She pouted. That almost did him in. He never wanted to test out a statement like that before, but he was aching to see if it was true. “But I guess you’re right. This island is small, and I don’t want to make the wrong impression—even if I don’t know that many people. The ones I’ve met so far seem nice, and I wouldn’t want them to think badly of me. Not that you’re bad or anything. I didn’t mean that. Definitely—not bad.” She shook her head and blushed again.

  Reid gave her a half smile and placed a delicate kiss on her nose. He laughed. “Not to mention what you’d do to soil my reputation. I am one of the island’s favorite sons, you know.”

  Maggie extricated herself from his arms and rose to retrieve the cardigan at the corner of the dock. She turned and asked him, “How cold is the water?”

  “Thinking about going for a swim?” Reid said, rising to his feet and strolling over to stand beside her. “Not too bad actually. These hot summer days have brought the water temperature up lately.”

  “Too bad,” Maggie replied. Reid laughed.

  “Tell you what, good girl,” he said, looking down into her blue eyes. “I really do need to take off and finish my swim. Then get to work on the boat. Can I give you a call, and we can get together later?”

  She nodded.

  “I want to hear more about this plan of yours,” he said. Then he leaned down and brushed his lips against her forehead before executing the perfect shallow dive into the sound. He didn’t produce even the slightest splash as he went under the blue-green depths and emerged, breaking the surface about fifteen feet away. Reid offered her a wave good-bye and started swimming toward home from the direction in which he’d emerged at daybreak.

  Three

  Maggie

  Maggie watched as the last ripple stilled and Reid was out of sight.

  Had Reid actually said those terrible things about her father? He hated Denny Zeal, owner of Z Power Boats and five other sporting businesses.

  Oh my God. This couldn’t be happening.

  She had never seen him look so angry or speak so harshly. Normally, Reid was the laid back, happy-go-lucky type, and after weeks of a constant flirty banter, she knew his serious side usually took the form of silence. She thought back to their first meeting at the clambake. She never gave him her last name. The island was so casual, and it didn’t seem important until now.

  She could still feel his kisses on her swollen lips, and the lingering vibrations where his hands had caressed her breasts and legs. This morning seemed like the absolute worst time to fill Reid in on who her father was.

  At least one thing was resolved. She was sure Reid wanted her as much as she wanted him—at least physically. He seemed to have bought her no entanglements proposal.

  Maggie headed down the pier, back toward the house, with visions of a future meeting with Reid swirling in her head. She couldn’t wait to tell Blair every last detail of what had transpired, and get her friend’s take on how to deal with the revelation about her father.

  Four

  Maggie

  Maggie sat at the kitchen island sipping coffee when Blair bounded down the stairs, an empty canvas bag draped over her shoulder.

  “Have you seen my sunglasses?” the blonde called as she headed to the back porch. “I know they’re around here somewhere.”

  Maggie took in the pink ties peeking out from her friend’s beach cover up. Blair’s going all out with her skimpiest bikini.

  “Hot beach date?” she asked over her cup.

  Blair wandered back into the kitchen. “Yep, Justyn’s picking me up in thirty minutes, and I’ve got to get all the supplies ready for a day on the cape.” She turned to the pantry for snacks and bottles of water.

  “Reid mentioned something about Justyn taking you to the cape alone today,” Maggie continued, watching her friend’s whirlwind beach day preparations.

  “Reid, hmm?” Blair stopped, stuffing a towel into the bag and turned to the kitchen island. “So you’ve been talking to Mr. Hot Swimmer recently? How’s your end of the pact coming along, G?”

  “Well, since you mentioned it, I think I finally made some progress this morning.” Maggie blushed and stared into her cup.

  “This morning! How did you see Reid this morning?” Blair pulled up a stool. “Tell me everything.”

  “I was sitting on the pier at sunrise, and he seemed to appear out of nowhere.” Maggie felt her heart skip at the memory. “He was swimming to Shell Point. You won’t believe how he looked all dripping wet and—”

  “I can imagine. I’ve seen him shirtless on the beach,” Blair responded.

  Maggie cast a stern look over her coffee cup.

  “What? A girl can still appreciate a sexy swimmer’s body, can’t she? What happened?”

  “Well, let’s just say I think I made my case for no entanglements without using any words.” Maggie giggled.

  “G! This boy is really bringing out a different side of you,” Blair observed, shak
ing her head. “It’s fun.”

  “I don’t know what to say. There’s just something about him. I don’t know if it’s the eyes or the arms or …” Maggie trailed off and tried to get her thoughts together. “But then we were interrupted by, of all things, one of my dad’s boats whizzing by.”

  “Your dad’s boats?” Blair’s eyebrows knotted in confusion.

  “Not my dad but you know, a Z Power ski boat,” Maggie said. “It kicked up such a big wake that it rocked the floating dock.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realize people drove those around here. I thought they were only lake boats.”

  “Evidently, they do, and Reid is none too happy about it.” Maggie twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “It seems like he’s not a fan of my dad. I don’t even know how to handle that one. We’re just really starting to get to know each other, and now I find out he has some bizarre thing against Z Power.”

  “Hey, don’t stress too much,” Blair offered. “This is our last fun summer, and there’s no need to bring our history or baggage from the real world onto the island. Just see how it plays out. If he mentions your dad again, you can deal with it then.”

  “Maybe you’re right.” Maggie stood and walked over to the sink, where she rinsed out her cup. She looked out the window at the sunrays dancing off the calm sound. “It’s going to be another perfect day. So, what’s Justyn got planned, and how did he convince you to agree to this date? Weren’t you ticked at him a few days ago?”

  “I’m not really one to turn down a free trip to the cape,” Blair said. Maggie guessed her friend was actually starting to have fun with the former baseball star. She’d must have finally run out of excuses and mean looks.

  “Hey, Blair. I’ll probably be gone when you get back. I’m meeting my aunt tonight, remember?”