Secrets of Summer by Lee Tobin McClain

Author:Lee Tobin McClain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2021-07-22T14:17:00+00:00

* * *

THE KNOCK ON her door a week and a half later made Meg jump up. She started to hurry toward it and then deliberately slowed her steps. It probably wasn’t Finn, and even if it was, he was probably just coming to say a polite goodbye.

She’d seen him packing his car earlier. She’d thought he planned an early departure tomorrow, but maybe he’d decided to leave a day sooner.

And that would be fine. She drew in a deep breath, composed her features and went to the door.

Seeing him threw her emotions into turmoil again, especially when he smiled that crooked smile.

And then he said the last thing she’d ever expected: “Want to go on a boat ride to the art festival over on Teaberry Island?”

She tilted her head to one side. “What? I thought you were leaving?”

“I am. It’s my last day, and I take off early tomorrow. But I wanted to clear the deck so we...” He paused. “Well, I, but hopefully we, can go check this summer festival out. Get a little inspiration, you know?”

He was springing this on her last minute and she didn’t know why, didn’t know what to say.

Time had sped by since Kayla had confronted Finn after the nature reserve day. The day they’d kissed. Meg had worked like crazy on her thesis, finally gotten it done and turned in. And though she and Finn had greeted each other going in and out, and one night had shared burgers and a beer at the Gusty Gull, there hadn’t been any more romance between them.

“Please?” he said. “I don’t want to leave without spending at least a little more time with you.” He checked the time on his phone. “Plus, the ferry leaves for the island in forty-five minutes, and we have two seats reserved.”

She felt her eyebrows shoot up to her hairline. “We do? You were that sure I’d go?”

“I’ve always been a hopeful guy, but no pressure. You can say no.”

Could she really, though?

If she went, it would mean one thing; if she refused, it would mean another. But she wasn’t ready to make that choice. “I’ll go,” she said slowly, “but listen, this doesn’t mean... Well, it doesn’t mean more romance. I’ll go as your friend. If you want me to.”

Then she felt like she’d been forward. Maybe he’d just come over as a friend after all.

An emotion flickered across his face and was gone. “That’s fine,” he said. “We’ll go as friends.”

But you could hardly take a boat ride to Teaberry Island on a summer day that didn’t feel at least a little romantic. The waves of the bay sprayed mist against Meg’s face, and she laughed. Finn reached over to wipe it off and his hand lingered. The gulls swooped overhead and the sun warmed their backs.

The island was an artist’s paradise. So naturally beautiful, with mostly small houses and a cute tiny downtown, and rows of paintings and crafts on the lawn of the town park. He bought her a stained glass suncatcher shaped like a crab.

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