Summer Love at the Beach: Sweet & Steamy Instalove Romance #4 (Summer Instalove) Read online

  Summer Love at the Beach

  Sweet & Steamy Instalove Romance #4

  By Haley Travis

  Copyright 2020 Haley Travis. All rights reserved. Cover design by Lexie Renard.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted or duplicated in any form whatsoever without express written permission of the author. This book is intended for sale to adults only. This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to actual people or specific locations or details is completely coincidental, or intended fictitiously. All characters are over 18, no sex partners are related, all sex is consensual. This is fantasy. In the real world, everyone practices safe sex at all times. Right? Right.

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  PROLOGUE ~ Becca

  CHAPTER ONE ~ Becca

  CHAPTER TWO ~ Mitch

  CHAPTER THREE ~ Becca

  CHAPTER FOUR ~ Mitch

  CHAPTER FIVE ~ Becca

  CHAPTER SIX ~ Mitch

  CHAPTER SEVEN ~ Becca

  CHAPTER EIGHT ~ Mitch

  CHAPTER NINE ~ Becca

  CHAPTER TEN ~ Mitch

  CHAPTER ELEVEN ~ Becca

  CHAPTER TWELVE ~ Mitch

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN ~ Becca

  EPILOGUE ~ Becca

  Other Stories and About the Author

  PROLOGUE

  * Becca *

  *** Two Weeks Ago ***

  Settling up our bill at Julian’s Pub and hugging everyone goodbye was bittersweet. After a

  dozen promises to call and text like crazy, Kim and Laura went to catch the subway, and

  Kate and I turned east to the streetcar stop.

  “Hey,” Kate said, her thoughtful green eyes seeming even warmer in the light of the street

  lamps. “You’ve been even quieter than usual. Is everything all right?”

  I nodded, staring down at my shoes for a moment. “Yes, I’m fine.”

  “It’s okay if you’re not fine,” she said gently.

  I knew that she meant it with kindness, but it made me laugh a bit. “You know me too well.

  Okay.” As we reached the stop, we automatically stared into the distance to see if the

  streetcar was coming, but the red lights were nowhere to be found.

  Taking a deep breath, I figured I might as well be honest. “Being friends with you girls has

  helped me learn how to open up and talk to women. But talking to guys is still totally

  unnerving. It makes me feel awkward, and I hate that.” I paused, then managed to spit it

  out: “I just feel like a complete loser sometimes.”

  “First off, you’re not a loser in the slightest,” Kate said. “But I know what you mean. It’s

  gross feeling so uncomfortable and…” She rolled her eyes. “Icky.”

  “That’s it, precisely!”

  “You’ve been talking with the lawyers at your brother’s firm. Has that helped at all?” Kate

  asked.

  “A little,” I said. “But I always have work to discuss. Or silly bits of office conversation like how strong the coffee is or whether it’s going to rain later. What do people say to a

  stranger?”

  Kate nodded, obviously thinking as she smoothed back the wisps of hair that had fallen out

  of her braid.

  “One of the tricks to small talk is asking questions,” she said. “You can usually start with

  whatever is right in front of you. If you’re at a party, ask them what they think of the wine.

  Or how they know the host. If you’re at a restaurant, ask them what their favorite thing on

  the menu is.”

  “But that seems so frivolous.”

  “It always is at first,” she nodded. “It’s not really what you say, it’s how you say it. It’s more about getting to know someone’s energy. If someone asks you a question and you barely

  answer, you’re obviously not in the mood to talk. But people who can chat about anything to

  anyone usually have a big, warm energy, and that makes others want to be around them.”

  Staring up at the neon sign above us, I sighed heavily. “When it comes to talking to guys, I

  have no idea what sort of energy I have.”

  “It might depend on the guy,” Kate said, “and your energy might change over the years, as

  well. All you can do is give it a try. But I promise you, nobody will think you’re a loser.” She flashed me a grin. “I don’t hang out with losers,” she said, waving her finger under my nose.

  “So be careful how you talk about my friend.”

  “Thanks,” I giggled.

  When the streetcar came, it was nearly empty, so we were able to sit right in the middle

  where the ride was smoothest. “Tell me about this cabin you’re going to hide in,” I asked.

  “Songwriting in the forest should be fun.”

  “Yes,” Kate said, her green eyes lighting up. “It’s not so deep in the woods that there are

  bears or anything scary. Just trees and trails and a notebook. It’s going to be a great

  break.”

  “Good. I can’t imagine how stressful it must be wrangling musicians,” I laughed, leaning into her shoulder more than I needed to as the streetcar turned slowly around a wide corner.

  Kate shook her head. “Yeah. I swear, you can tell by the way they book their rehearsal time

  whether or not a band is going to make it. I know they’re creative types, but if they can’t get their crap together to rehearse, they’re never going to get it together to book great gigs.”

  I laughed. Kate was the on-site manager of a huge music rehearsal space, and also did

  band photography. Although she was a great singer-songwriter, she hadn’t created enough

  songs yet that worked together as a real collection, claiming that’s what she needed before

  she could start performing.

  “You’re tapping your lucky necklace again,” Kate said gently. “That means you’re nervous,

  distracted, or both.”

  “Both, I think,” I admitted. “I think I’m mostly worried about being humiliated.”

  “Why on earth would that happen to you?”

  “If I don’t know how to navigate dating situations, I might end up in some sort of

  predicament where people are staring at me.” I could not stifle my shudder. “Having people

  watching while I am already feeling low is just…one of my biggest fears.”

  Kate nodded. “I get that. But our shy little girl is going to have to put herself out there

  someday,” she smiled, patting my shoulder as she stood up to ring the bell for the next

  stop. “You’re going to have a great time.”

  “You will too,” I said. “Lumberjacks and axe murderers. Both very sexy sorts of men.”

  “You’re terrible,” she laughed. “Take care.”

  I waved through the window as the streetcar pulled away. After I got out at my stop and

  walked the two blocks to my little apartment, I looked out at the moon rising over the city.

  Going to the beach for my vacation was going to be a fabulous break, and I looked forward

  to watching many sunsets slowly melt over the water.

  I
didn’t have to go looking for men if I didn’t want to. Sure, I had agreed to keep my eyes

  open, and speak to anyone who seemed nice. But that was it. I could draw my own

  personal lines anywhere I wanted. And if I didn’t want to be anxious, embarrassed, and

  freaked out, I didn’t have to be.

  CHAPTER ONE

  * Becca *

  As I sat on the warm sand, staring out at the gorgeous blue waves, I felt incredibly grateful.

  I was ridiculously lucky that I hadn’t had to do a thing to plan for my summer vacation. My

  brother and his wife owned a huge house by the beach of an enormous lake, and they had

  invited me to stay in their guest room for two weeks.

  Throughout my entire life, my brother had helped me out. While I was in school, I worked at

  his law firm during the summers, and after I graduated, I naturally began to work for him

  full-time.

  Watching a couple jogging past on the beach, I smiled to myself as I remembered how

  crazy my brother had been before he met his wife. Brendan had always been kind to me,

  but he had been a bit of a party animal, and not very focussed. Julie brought him balance,

  somehow, and he has been amazing ever since.

  I wondered if it was difficult for him that he didn’t grow up with a father to teach him to be a man. Our mother was so quiet that she didn’t teach us much of anything. At first, I honestly

  thought that Brendan went to law school as some kind of a dare. But when Julie came

  along during his last year, everything straightened out and he got serious. Then our mother

  passed away in a bus accident, and he had to get very serious indeed.

  By the time I started university years later, he was co-owner of a small law firm, and was

  able to hire me for any job I wanted.

  Digging my toes into the sand and tipping my face up to the sun, I recalled how incredibly

  nervous I was during my first few weeks there. Speaking to men almost always made me

  twitchy. I knew it was ridiculous, but I couldn’t help it. Luckily, everyone at the firm had been extra nice to me – especially when I showed them how to make their documents and

  proposals look much nicer.

  I studied graphic design and photography, and was delighted that the skills transferred so

  easily to legal documents. Most of them had to be crisp and corporate, but there was no

  reason why they couldn’t have a stunning cover.

  Before I knew it, I was their graphic designer, as well as a general assistant. I took photos for their weekly newsletter, and wrote most of the copy. I redesigned the stationery, and

  created graphic design guidelines for all of the documentation.

  Brendan was incredibly proud of me, and it felt wonderful to be a real member of his team

  instead of just his kid sister who was there for the summer.

  “Hey, Becca, you’re doused in sunscreen, right?” Julie called down from the house.

  Instead of hollering back to her, I just gave her a thumbs up. She nodded and ducked back inside.

  It was sweet, my brother’s wife took on a bit of a big sister role with me. She often helped

  me out of awkward situations, and it was nice having someone check in with me.

  Interacting with all of the men at work had also helped quite a lot. I didn’t think I’d ever be the outgoing sort, but at least I was usually able to speak without making a fool of myself.

  I got up and stretched a little, figuring that my tank top and shorts were good enough for a

  brisk walk along the shore. Covering more of my skin was a habit, but I needed a little sun,

  and there weren’t many people around.

  Getting more exercise was definitely on my list of things to do over the next week and a

  half. I spent the first three days reading on the patio, clearing my mind. But now I should

  find some sort of healthy routine.

  Slipping off my shoes and socks, I carried them as I began to walk ankle deep through the

  waves. The soothing sound of the waves guided my steps in a smooth, slow rhythm. The

  lake was so deep it never quite warmed up enough to swim in for very long, but it was

  refreshing on hot days.

  Since I was farther back from the enormous beach houses now, I could take a better look.

  There was a row of at least thirty, well spread apart, each of them just a one minute walk

  from their door to the water.

  Most of them were painted white, or soft gray, some of them with brightly colored shutters.

  I’d been here a few times over the years, and the marine blue house had always been my

  favorite. It was a bit smaller, and sat back farther than the others. With the rest of them

  looking nearly identical, this one stood apart by being quieter.

  The landscaping was also much more creative, with interesting trees and shrubs forming a

  bit of a fence around the property.

  “You’re not casing the joint to plan a robbery, are you?” a deep voice chuckled.

  I nearly jumped out of my skin. As I turned, the first thing I saw in the enormous man’s eyes was regret. “I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said quickly.

  As I stepped to the side so that the sun wasn’t directly behind his head, the most handsome

  man I’d ever seen came into focus. His short hair and slight scruff of beard were dark

  against his rich tan, bringing out his sculpted cheekbones. Seeing that his warm brown eyes

  were locked on me, I had to say something.

  Strangely, instead of speaking, my hand twitched, wanting to reach out and touch him. “I’m

  fine. Sorry I jumped. I’m just, you know...jumpy.”

  “Hey,” he said softly, “Don’t apologize for a strange man scaring you.” His bright smile was instantly engaging. But he was so huge it was distracting – his broad shoulders seemed to

  block out half of the sky. His muscular frame made him look incredibly tough, and I could tell his eyes could easily get intense. But that sweet smile clearly told me that he was more of

  a gentle giant.

  “I’m Mitch,” he said, extending his hand. “The blue house is mine.”

  “Becca,” I said, trying to increase my usual volume a little to be heard over the waves. I

  liked that he shook my hand gently but firmly, not treating me like a fragile doll. Noticing how large and strong his hands were, I wondered if it was weird that I found them sexy.

  “I saw that you came down from the Wright house,” he said. “Are you one of Julie’s

  friends?”

  I shook my head, then was reminded to smooth my wavy hair back over my ears. “Julie

  married my brother, Brendan. So, I mean…”

  His chuckle was deep and friendly. “Family, then. I get it.” He looked down to where I was

  carrying my sandals, still ankle deep in the water. “Just out for a little walk?”

  I nodded, not sure of what else I should say. As if he could tell that I was nervous, he took a step back. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Becca. I hope that I’ll see you around.”

  I managed to flash him a smile, then turned back to Brendan and Julie’s house, walking

  quickly through the waves. Unable to resist peeking at him over my shoulder, I saw that he

  was looking back at me as well, giving me a little wave. That made my stomach tighten in

  an odd way.

  As I walked up the beach and into the house, I considered the exchange a tiny victory. I had

  spoken to a completely gorgeous man, and didn’t fall apart. Kate would definitely say that

  was a step in the right direction.

  Drying off my feet and heading to the kitchen, I poured myself a lemonade. Julie came

 
; darting into the room at the sound of the fridge opening. “Did I see you out there talking to Mitch Baker?” she asked, wide-eyed.

  “He just said hello.” I didn’t understand why she was staring at me so strangely.

  “And? What else?” She seemed weirdly eager.

  “That’s it, really. Why?”

  Julie plopped into a chair, gesturing for me to join her.

  “Mitch is the most eligible bachelor in the entire area,” she gushed. “I know that some of the older women have been trying to fix him up with a nice girl since he was apparently dating a

  completely …” She lowered her voice to a whisper, “batshit crazy bitch a few years ago.”

  That seemed very strange. “Why would a hot, presumably nice guy do that? ”

  “He’s unbelievably sweet,” Julie said, “so he could probably get any girl he wanted. Who

  knows, maybe the sex was amazing.”

  “But why do these other women think it’s any of their business?” I asked. “Shouldn’t people

  just leave each other alone?”

  Julie nodded. “Normally, yes. But he’s super nice. He helped the Johnsons install their patio, and always picks up groceries for Mrs. Woodmount if he’s around. We don’t want to see

  him being taken advantage of.”

  “How could anyone take advantage of him?” I asked, laughing. “He’s the size of a truck. He

  doesn’t have to put up with anything from anyone, I would think.”

  Julie shook her head. “We noticed that he was suddenly surrounded by nasty women a few

  years ago. Brendan looked into it, and it turns out that Mitch is a computer programmer

  who made a really popular app or something. He’s suddenly rich, and that’s when the

  women came flocking to him.”

  Taking a sip of my lemonade, I realized this entire conversation was making me

  uncomfortable. “This is honestly nobody’s business,” I said. “Maybe everybody should leave

  him alone and let him figure out his own life.”

  “You might be right,” Julie shrugged. “But there’s not a lot of drama out here. Once you get

  married, everyone else’s love life becomes your soap opera to watch.”

  As I stared out the window to the beach, I had to wonder if that was the case with all

  married couples, or just the weird yuppie couples who lived up and down the beach. I was

  so out of touch that I didn’t even know if people used the word ‘yuppie’ anymore.