Falling for Summer Read online

  I put an arm around her shoulders and lead her out. “That sounds very tempting,” I say. “But I think I’m with Harvey on that. I’ll probably need a week’s worth of sleep afterwards.”

  Chloe pouted prettily before she smiles and says, “Your loss,” before taking off.

  I stand there looking out after Harvey and Chloe. Most guys in my position wouldn’t have turned Chloe down. She’s what guys are looking for in a plain old hookup with no worries of a commitment afterwards. Plain and simple sex. Except in Chloe’s case, it’ll be more kinky, I bet. That does make me intrigued a bit, but for right now, I’m good. I didn’t want to jump into something like that to complicate things. By things, I mean that I’m not like that. I don’t do hookups. Drew would, but not me. Having sex with someone, being intimate with someone like that, means more to me than just a casual thing. If there’s one thing I can take away from having to experience Mom and Dad’s divorce, and seeing how Dad’s affair affected everyone, is that I’m never going to take love for granted.

  I may have been guilty of that with Summer’s crush long ago, but not anymore. Not especially when it comes from someone like Summer, who has been loving, sweet, supportive, and kind to me for always. I’ve hurt her for not acknowledging her feelings for me when I’ve always felt the same. Now I know, and now I have to make it up to her.

  I am locking my front door when I get a second text from Summer.

  SUMMER: How are you, stranger?

  ME: Ready to settle in for a long night of non-stop studying for my first college exam.

  SUMMER: Oh. I wouldn’t want to come between you and that. That’s too important. Go back to studying. I’ll talk to you later.

  ME: No, that’s OK. What’s up?

  SUMMER: It’s nothing. Go back to studying. I want you to focus on that, not on me. I’ll figure it out. Bye.

  I text her a message, but she’s either ignoring it or not there. I sigh. I can stay up all night studying and I know it wouldn’t make me as anxious as I am to get a message from Summer and then not hear from her.

  Summer has texted or called me a few times since I came back to San Francisco. Most times it would be a joke or her sharing a photo or a saying, something with what’s going on in her life. Sometimes it would be about something she finds of ours…mine, Drew, or Rachel’s that Aunt Sookie had socked away in the attic or somewhere. A childhood drawing, a favorite toy, video games we played and even some ratty old pair of jeans. All of that brings a smile to my face, which I think Summer, with her heart like gold, has intended. I know she does this to cheer me up, especially after my confession to her about my mother and everything I have to deal with. Because she was there when I broke down after hearing the news about my mother’s attempted suicide. Summer’s like that, always putting everyone’s needs and feelings ahead of her own. She’s fiercely independent, too. Never asking for advice on how to run Aunt Sookie’s Academy or anything like that. Being with Astor Fairway whose profession is acting, probably helped her more than any advice I could’ve given her.

  Always being there for me, for Drew, and even Rachel. It is no wonder why I love her.

  It is no wonder why I would do everything to protect her, even by staying away from her. But this time, in her last text to me, I had to wonder if things really are all right with her. Although she says she’s fine, and that she’s happy in Malibu when she’s there at Aunt Sookie’s “Malibu Pad; I sense that there’s something wrong.

  As much as I had promised Drew that I would not get involve with Summer in that way, as much as I try to not think of Summer at all and try to forget any feelings I’ve ever had for her, I can’t help feeling this desperate need to see her, to pull her to me so I can hold her and kiss the worry or whatever is troubling her away.

  She doesn’t pick up when I try calling her. I search for Aunt Sookie’s Acting Academy on the internet to find the phone number there. Maybe she’s there and teaching a class…that’s why she’s not picking up. As I search the internet, I come across all kinds of things about the Academy. Recent things about how the Academy is a set up, a copycat acting school of another school, and how it should be closed down. There are other things about Summer, too…along with Astor Fairway since he was coached by Aunt Sookie. Photos of Summer walking with Astor Fairway to a car, and the paparazzi trying to reach them. Gossip about Summer and Astor Fairway. Even a site or two that has nothing on it except hateful things about Summer and the school.

  “Shit, what’s going on?” Poor Summer. Is this what she’s been going through? Don’t these people have any heart? Aunt Sookie just died, and Summer has to deal with this?

  Summer has been so brave, going through what she did, with her Aunt’s sickness, taking over the school, and then with her losing her aunt. It’s so much for a girl of eighteen to take. Then she has to deal with haters?

  She can’t go through this alone. Even if I have to miss my exams for her, I would. Aunt Sookie had entrusted Summer for us Donovans to take care of, and I have failed miserably in taking care of Summer. I thought she would be fine. She acts as if she is, all the time, and with Astor.

  It hits me like a sucker punch out of the blue what I have to do. I have tried to fight it off, tried to lessen how I feel by increasing the distance between us, by acting indifferent to her, by acting like I don’t care. But deep down, I do, too much. I know I’ve made a mistake acting like I could give up Summer, acting like it’s alright for someone like Astor to date her when all he’s doing is putting her in danger. Now I have to do something crazy, impulsive, and bold.

  I’m going to go see her right now.

  I’m going to go get her away from Astor Fairway and his crazy paparazzi-filled life.

  Chapter 2

  Nat

  There are perks to being a son of a man who owns a company with a private jet.

  I’ve never asked to use it before except for that one time when I had to fly back to San Fran immediately from Los Angeles. That one time on Fourth of July when Mom had her “accident” as Dad had called it.

  That “accident” was classified as an emergency so we can go on the private jet. Strict rules.

  What I’m doing tonight…getting the private jet to fly from San Fran to Los Angeles while I skip studying for my first major exam so I can see and be with a girl I’m crazy about…can that be considered an emergency?

  If Dad only knew how much I owe her… how much it is because of Summer and Aunt Sookie that Mom, Drew, and I are even alive; he would consider any excuse to use the private jet to see Summer when she needs our help, an emergency.

  On top of that, I know now that I will eventually be expected to run Dad’s company. He’s already involving me in meetings and important projects while I work there part-time. I’m part of the company now, and like it or not, Summer is part of the reason for that, too.

  Enough justifying. Just do it.

  I dial up Steven, and he answers on the second ring.

  “Mr. Donovan,” he says.

  “Steven,” I say. “Can you get the jet ready for a trip into Los Angeles tonight? Emergency. Something’s up with Summer, and I have to see her.”

  “Certainly,” Steven says. He doesn’t say anything else or asks any questions.

  “You’re not going to run it by my father?” I ask.

  “You’re authorized to request private jet services at any time,” Steven says. “Your name’s on the list. Your father trusts you’ll make the right decisions and use discretion when you use the private jet.”

  “Oh, great,” I say, digesting what Steven said. “And here I thought I had to tell you this is an emergency.”

  “According to Mr. Donovan, everyone on that list would be using the private jet for emergencies. It doesn’t matter as long as you get to where you need to go in order to take care of an emergency.”

  “Thank you for letting me know,” I say, trying to hide my surprise. Since when did Dad care about all that, and about me?

  Si
nce when our family started falling apart…Mom tried to kill herself, Rachel changed her appearance, lost her virginity, and Drew became a kind of man whore? I’m still kind of bitter over it. I don’t know if I will get over it. I’m trying so hard to pull everyone together – Mom is getting back to normal, Drew is busy with school and football, and Rachel seems less rebellious. I don’t think it has anything to do with Dad, though, but what happened in Malibu, with Summer and Aunt Sookie. But stranger things have happened, and maybe, just maybe Dad is changing.

  *****

  The flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles is short. In less than an hour, we land in a private hangar where a large black SUV is ready for me to drive.

  One thing I learned about Donovan Dynamics from working there, is that we don’t just specialize in online security and computer security, but we handle traditional security, too. Bodyguards, secured transportation, and all that. Having a car ready for me after I land in the hangar goes along with the secured transportation bit we provide. I shouldn’t be so surprised at that, but now that Steven said I’m on the approved emergency list, that means I have access to security and transportation when I needed it.

  As soon as we land, I’m already inside the SUV, heading out to Aunt Sookie’s. I’m used to driving, and although there are a few cars on the highway at two in the morning, I speed my way over to Santa Monica and then to Aunt Sookie’s house. The neighborhood is dark and quiet, but I can see the light on inside her house.

  My heart begins pounding faster against my chest as I park the SUV into the driveway. Summer doesn’t know I’m here. She’s not expecting me. She’s expecting me to do the right thing, to do the practical thing that everyone expects of me and that is to study for my exams all night and take the exam in the morning. Not stand here at the front door to Aunt Sookie’s house, wondering how Summer will react to seeing me here. I know she once had a crush on me growing up, and I still think she may have cared for me during last summer, but now I’m not sure. Not when she has gone off on location to be with Astor, and not when Drew has told me he wanted a chance with her and for me to step aside.

  I have a key to Aunt Sookie’s place, but I don’t want to scare Summer by barging in. So instead of using my key, I ring the doorbell. It’s a friendly chime, one I rarely hear since no one uses the doorbell these days.

  I hear a commotion behind the door, and then I see a shadow of a person outline in the frosted glass side windows of the front door. A person with long hair and a womanly body.

  The door opens, and I’m grinning widely, itching to see Summer and hold her in my arms.

  When the door swings open to halfway, I see long shapely tanned legs stretched into a pair of tight denim mini-shorts, a toned tanned stomach leading up to a pair of perfectly formed breasts, barely covered by a turquoise blue bikini top. My mouth drops open and I try to keep from drooling.

  Summer is standing there with her hair down, and it’s wet with water dripping down her chest and stomach. Her lips are full, plump, and lusciously dark pink as though she has been biting them. From just months ago to now, Summer has gone from a beautiful girl to a sexy vixen. From looking like a Victoria’s Secret model to more like Fredericks.

  “Nat!” she cries throwing her arms around me, and hugging me tightly. At her touch, I feel the stirring of blood rush to my lower extremities, making certain parts of me harden with pleasure. She’s pressed against me so tightly, I can feel her breasts soft and wet against my jacket. I can smell her damp skin, warm and sweet up against me. Suddenly I have the urge to dry her. Not with a towel. No, for something so tantalizingly wet and dewy like her skin, I’ll have to lick her dry inch by inch. “What are you doing here?” She’s smiling but then she frowns. “I thought you have exams this morning. Nat…”

  “Hi Summer,” I say. My voice comes out chocked and husky, rough almost, from fighting to sound friendly, rather than aroused, yet still recovering from the shock of seeing her looking sexy like that. I’ve seen her dressed up once in that incredible peach dress she wore to have dinner with Astor Fairway, but seeing her in cut-off shorts and a barely there bikini top with wet hair and wet skin in the middle of the night bathed only by the light of the moon, has gotten my blood rushing, and it’s not to the head on top of my body.

  “Why are you here, Nat?” Summer asks, putting her hand on her hip and fixing her beautiful green eyes on mine. “Is everything alright?”

  “I was about to ask you that,” I say. “I’m here because I got your text.”

  “What?” Summer’s face clouds in confusion. “I didn’t ask you to come here, Nat. You shouldn’t be here when you have an exam at school this morning.” She pulls me into the house and closes the door.

  “I flew here on the company jet,” I say. “It’s an emergency. The exam…I can make that up.”

  “Nat?” Summer nods her head disapprovingly. “I don’t want you to do badly on your exam or miss it. I don’t want you blowing your grades because you think I needed your help. Now go back. Whatever you thought you read in my text to you, forget about it. It can wait.”

  “Summer…” I look her up and down, taking her in before I reach out to touch her shoulders. “It’s not nothing. I don’t hear from you for a while, and then suddenly I get a text message, and it seems as though something’s up.”

  Summer bites her lips at that moment, and I can see her shift her legs nervously. “Nat, I’ll be fine. You shouldn’t have come.”

  “No, Summer, I have to. I promised I’ll watch out for you, I promised Aunt Sookie,” I stare into her eyes intensely, hoping to drive in the message. “Now don’t argue with me and take me into the living room where we can talk.”

  Summer shivers a little, and I realize she’s still in her bikini top, wet, and probably freezing. Not probably. Is. It’s almost like she’s wearing nothing at that moment, but better, because her wet bikini top leaves a little bit to my imagination… which at the moment, is imagining a lot.

  I almost groan with the image of us naked, sweaty and with our lips all over each other. Whenever we hug, she always fit against me so well, like yin and yang. I know when we get together, I’ll fit her like a glove, a tight glove, that is so tight, you can feel the blood rush through the veins.

  “You’re freezing,” I scold playfully.

  “No, I’m not,” Summer says, blushing. “You surprised me, that’s all. It’s warmer in the heated pool.”

  “Where’s your towel?” I look around for one, but didn’t see one in sight. I take off my jacket and put it around her. “Tsk tsk, Summer. You know better than to get out of a heated pool dripping wet like that and standing here in the cold. You’re going to catch a cold if you don’t get covered up.” I take Summer’s hand and gently pull her into the living room I spent so many hours in growing up. The jacket has given her some warmth, but I can see her still shivering underneath. I wish I can take off the jacket and her wet bikini and warm her up the natural way…with my naked body pressed against her, and my hands rubbing each part of her.

  Summer swat at me, her nose tickled a lovely shade of pink. “You surprised me, Nat. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and thought it was just the wind at first.” She smiled mischievously at me. “No one and nothing special.”

  “Really?” I grin. My finger reaches out to touch her nose lightly. “I thought I was someone special for you.”

  “Was,” Summer said lightly. “Now, you’re Nat, just light a big gnarly gnat.” She laughs at her own joke, and I can’t help chuckling alongside her. I know it’s not all that funny, but the way she’s laughing with a little bit of an adorable snort in there, makes me laugh, too. For someone who looks as hot as Summer does, and how nice she is, snorting is not what you expect. But it reminds me, that I’m with Summer, under that hot vixen body and adorable face.

  I kiss her on the top of her head then and there. “I didn’t think showing up unexpected would get this much of a cold shoulder. And even calling me by my childhood nicknam
e…”

  “Ah, I think ‘gnarly gnat’ is a cute nickname for you,” she says, sitting us down on the white and blue slipcovered sofa in the living room. “It’s one of my better names for you. You should hear what nicknames Rachel and I came up with for Drew.”

  “I can imagine,” I say, taking her hand into mine and entwining my fingers with hers.

  One moment we’re laughing at sharing an old childhood memory, the next we’re looking into each others’ eyes. She stopped smiling. “I wish you wouldn’t do that,” she says.

  “What?” I ask. Show affection for an old friend? Hold her hand to comfort her, show her that I care?

  “Play with me,” Summer says, her eyes looking pained. “I’m too vulnerable for your games right now, Nat.”

  “I’m not playing,” I protest. “I want to be here for you anyway I can. That’s why I’m here. I flew here to see you, to make sure you’re alright.”

  “But, just now…your fingers, your kiss…”

  So Summer can still feel the electricity between us. It’s not just me imagining the spark that always courses through us when we’re near each other. “Just on your forehead,” I said. “Like the way I would kiss my own sister Rachel. I promised Aunt Sookie I’d look out for you as I would Rachel. That’s what I’m doing now.”

  Summer lifts her head to look at me, before looking away. Is it disappointment I see in those green eyes? Or is it anger? Her expression shifts so quickly I have to guess. Luckily, Summer answers that question for me. “Just like Rachel?” she asks, a little angrily. “If that’s the case, then you would be calling me or seeing me more often, like you do Rachel. But this, touching me here, and kissing me there…”

  “Just a friendly kiss on the forehead,” I said. “I’m sorry if you think it’s more.”