The Summer House Read Online Free PDF

been.
    The realization stunned him, then brought with it a measure of control. He eased away from her and broke the kiss. Slowly he opened his eyes.
    The flush of arousal on her face nearly did him in. Her eyes were wide and unfocused, her lips damp, parted and swollen. He could see the fluttering pulse at the base of her neck and didn’t doubt that he displayed all the same symptoms. Plus one more that was damn painful.
    The rush of the ocean drowned out the sound of their rapid breathing, but he could see the rise and fall of her chest, along with the hint of tight nipples under her dress and bra.
    She blinked a couple of times, then asked, “Who are you?”
    He chuckled. She didn’t.
    “I’m serious, Rick. That was incredible. I don’t remember passion like that before, do you?”
    “No.”
    “I wonder what’s different.”
    His brain kicked back in, offering several logical, scientific explanations. He ignored them. “ We’re different.”
    She drew in a deep breath. “I guess so. At least you are. You’re polished and charming, a great kisser.”
    She lowered her arms to her side and stepped back, forcing him to release her waist.
    Her gaze narrowed. “You’re also smart, rich and successful. Why are you still single?”
    He’d heard the compliments before. But somehow they meant more coming from Mandy. He shrugged.
    A boat moved through the ocean, the loud engine causing them both to turn and watch the craft’s progress. They were close and somehow it seemed right to slip his arm around Mandy’s waist. She leaned against him.
    Need still filled him, but he had a little more control now. However, a distraction would be nice. He eyed the ocean. A cold distraction would be best.
    “What about putting your toes in the water? There it is.” He swept out his arm to include the whole beach.
    “No splashing,” she insisted as they walked toward the shore.
    “You’re such a girl.”
    She smiled up at him. “It’s one of my best qualities.”
    He thought about holding her in his arms and kissing her. “I’d have to agree.”
    Talk about a pretty darned perfect moment, Mandy thought as they joined hands and walked down to the edge of the water. Every single cell in her body was still on full alert after Rick’s amazing kiss. Just recalling the feel of his hard body against her was enough to get her heart thumping at about a hundred miles an hour. No one had ever made her feel so alive and aware with just a simple kiss.
    They stepped into the surf. The cold water raced over her feet and up to her ankles. The contrast from the warm air and sand made her shriek, but it did nothing to quell the lingering heat inside her. It was as if her body temperature had been cranked up a few degrees. Her skin felt tight, her thighs ached, as did other more… private areas.
    “Mandy?”
    “Yes?”
    “Does Cassie’s beach house have a view?”
    She blinked at him. From the tone of his voice, he’d asked the question before, but she hadn’t heardhim. It actually took her a second to put it all together. Her first instinct was to say “Cassie who?”
    Then she remembered. Cassie Brightwell—her best friend for over fifteen years.
    Rick pulled her out of the water. “Come on. We need to go sit down.”
    “You think?”
    They walked up to the patio at the rear of the house. The weathered redwood deck held a white wrought-iron table-and-chair set, with a freestanding umbrella. There was a built-in brick BBQ in the corner, along with a gas grill. Tile countertops connected the two, and on the far end was a space to drop in a cooler. Talk about a nice setup.
    “I thought Cassie’s family’s summer house was nice, but it’s nothing compared to this.”
    Rick shrugged but didn’t say anything. Mandy wasn’t surprised. He might be content to enjoy his success, but he would never brag about it. Add that to his list of good qualities, which brought her back to her earlier question. Why wasn’t he married?
    She