Table of Contents
Summer Sizzle
Publishing Page
PRAISE FOR AUTHOR
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
About the Author
Also Available
Also Read
Thank You
Summer Sizzle
by
Samantha Gentry
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Summer Sizzle
COPYRIGHT © 2015 by Samantha Gentry
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Contact Information: [email protected]
Cover Art by Diana Carlile
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
PO Box 708
Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708
Visit us at www.thewilderroses.com
Publishing History
First Scarlet Rose Edition, 2015
Print ISBN 978-1-5092-0445-8
Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-0446-5
Published in the United States of America
PRAISE FOR AUTHOR
Samantha Gentry
AND HER BOOKS
FORBIDDEN ISLAND
“If you want a sexy read for a cool summer night, then I’d suggest Forbidden Island. I give this steamy short story 4.5 Cherries.”
~Whipped Cream Reviews
STEAMY ENCOUNTER
“Samantha Gentry is an awesome writer who spins a tale of so much interest you have to fall in love with the characters and the book itself! Trust me on this! You will enjoy Ms. Gentry’s style. I guarantee it...read this book!”
~5 Hearts - Brenda Tally, The Romance Studio
MASKED ENCOUNTER
“I found Masked Encounter a lovely and steamy way to spend a couple of hours. This is another story that will be placed prominently in my short story library.”
~Joyfully Reviewed
UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER
“Ms. Gentry has believable characters that are well written. She tells a visual tale with words.”
~5 Angels - Dawnie, Fallen Angel Review
Chapter One
“Who…who are you?” Victoria Templeton froze in the open doorway, her key still in the front door lock. A quick surge of adrenaline jumped her heartbeat into high gear. “What are you doing in my house?”
A man in his late thirties, carrying a colorful box kite, stopped in mid-stride just inside the sliding glass door from the deck. He eyed her with curiosity, dropping his gaze to the floor then slowly letting it climb up her body until he made eye contact. His obvious scrutiny sent a nervous tremor darting across the surface of her skin.
“That should be my question. Who are you, and how did you get a key to my house?” His voice had a practiced smoothness, the kind that caused her nipples to pucker and her thoughts to wander. It didn’t suggest anything threatening on his part, but it also did nothing to soothe the apprehension shoving at her.
“Your house?” She took a calming breath, but it didn’t lessen the shiver caused by the way his intense blue eyes so blatantly looked her over—a shiver due as much to her immediate physical awareness of him as to the unsettling circumstances. She attempted to dismiss the tingle of attraction while trying, without much success, to hide her nervousness.
“I looked at this house two weeks ago, signed a rental agreement after lunch today, and now I’m moving in.” Her precise, emphatic words failed to convey the control she hoped to project. “I don’t know what you’re doing here, but I insist you leave immediately, or I’ll be forced to call the police.”
“Whoa! Hold on.” He placed the kite on the floor and closed the sliding door. “You’re the one who’s made a mistake. I have a signed one year lease, and I moved in over a week ago.”
That one sentence wiped out the stranger’s sexy persona. Vicki couldn’t hide the shocked expression she knew must surely cover her face. “How can that be?” A hint of anxiety crept into her voice. “I was at the rental agent’s office just a few hours ago. I paid the rental agreement in full and picked up the key. This was the only fully furnished house they had in this neighborhood available from May through September.”
“Well, I suggest you go back to the agency, because this house is not available. I leased it from Gary Sanderson who owns this property and also happens to be a long-time friend of mine.”
Her uneasiness gave way to indignant anger. “We’ll see about that.” She brushed a loose tendril of chestnut colored hair from her face. “I’m calling the agency right now.”
He stepped aside, flashing a dazzling smile and causing her already puckered nipples to ache with need. A gush of moisture dampened her panties—both reactions involuntary and totally inappropriate for the situation.
“Be my guest. Feel free to use my phone if you’d like.” He gestured toward the phone, then turned and walked away.
Vicki emitted a little sigh of relief after he retreated to the kitchen, a response confirming just how disconcerting she found his presence. She forced her attention back to the problem at hand. Searching through her purse, she found the business card from the rental agency, picked up the handset of his phone from the charger, and dialed the number.
“Mr. Edwards, please. Victoria Templeton calling.” She replaced the card in her purse, then glanced across the room. To her dismay, she spotted the stranger leaning against the kitchen doorjamb holding a bottle of beer. The way he seemed to be studying her caused a strange combination of nervous tremor and sexual need to sweep over her. She could not deny the primal desire coursing through her veins. Primal desire? That’s a laugh. I’m horny as hell, and he’s drop dead sexy gorgeous.
Dressed in cut-off jeans, a tank top, and no shoes, he stood maybe six-foot-one. Even though it was only the first week of May, his long legs, muscular arms, and broad shoulders displayed a nice tan. His dark blond hair contained lighter sun-bleached streaks although, in her opinion, a little too long and far too shaggy. Yet somehow very enticing. He looked more like an over-aged surfer than anything else, a man trying to retain his youth rather than concentrating on the important things in life—things such as working hard to provide a comfortable and secure future.
Her huff of indignation confirmed how he grated on her sense of the order of things. He didn’t display the proper and prudent actions of someone striving for success. Regardless of how gorgeous he looked and that aura of pure sex surrounding him, he was obviously nothing more than a local beach bum who had somehow managed to gain access to her house. She shot him one last contemptuous look. Another little huff of disgust escaped her lips, signaling her opinion of his obvious lack of mature responsibility.
Still, something about him…a sort of animal magnetism that reached out and grabbed at the very core of her existence. Her pulse rate increased. A sensual surge raced through her body, sending another rush of moisture to the crotch of her panties.
She quickly dismissed the totally inappropriate, conflicting, and troubling thoughts, along with the unwelcome feelings that tried to gain a foothold in her normally sensible and well-ordered life. The last thing she needed—a physical attraction to this unacceptable man no matte
r how handsome, sexy, and desirable she found him. Regardless of the sensual impact he had on her body.
She returned her attention to her phone conversation as the other person came on the line.
“I’m sorry, Miss Templeton. Mr. Edwards has already left the office.”
“What? That can’t be. Is he gone for the weekend?” She glanced at her watch. Only four-thirty, a little early for a rental agent to disappear for the weekend in a beach community with summer approaching. “Is there someone else who can help me? There’s a man here who claims to have signed a lease with the owner of this property, and he’s already moved into my house. This is a totally unacceptable situation. I discussed my needs with Mr. Edwards in great detail. This is the only property that met all of my requirements.”
“I’m only the answering service, not an agency employee. All I can do is take a message.”
Her words were not what Vicki wanted to hear. She glanced at the stranger again, who continued to lean against the doorjamb staring at her.
Blake Callahan took another swallow of his beer and studied the woman who had suddenly invaded his space. She definitely presented an unwanted interruption in his day. Not that he had anything special planned. In his life, one day had become like another. He shook his head, resigning himself to the fact she wasn’t going to go away on her own. He would be forced to deal with the problem. He scrutinized her more closely.
She stood about five-foot-six, appeared to be approximately thirty years old, maybe a year or two more, and she wore her long hair pulled back at her nape fastened with a gold clasp. Her face showed a minimal amount of makeup. He studied her delicately sculpted features and bright hazel eyes, allowing that she would be truly beautiful if she replaced that scowl with a smile.
His gaze once again took in the entire woman. She wore a simple green T-shirt, its soft fabric caressing her full breasts and revealing the distinct outline of taut nipples. Her matching shorts showed off her shapely legs. He could almost feel them wrapped around his waist as her breasts pressed against him.
A tight sensation pulled across his chest and continued down to his groin. He took a deep breath in an attempt to break the constriction, but it didn’t help—his response to her physical presence more akin to that of someone who hadn’t had his cock inside a hot pussy in months rather than the reality of having enjoyed that pleasure only two days ago.
Nothing could be worth the concentrated amount of energy she seemed to be devoting to this. Life was much too short to be wasted on silly inconsequential mix-ups. For the past two years, he had embraced one philosophy above all others. Life needed to be lived for today because no one was guaranteed a tomorrow.
A little twinge of despair jabbed at his insides. The twinges had almost disappeared, but every now and then an errant one resurfaced as a cruel reminder of the past. He quickly buried the painful memory and raked his gaze across the contours of her breasts before lowering it to her crotch. She definitely wasn’t wearing a bra. Did that lack of underwear extend to a lack of panties under those shorts? His cock twitched to life and threatened to stand at attention if he didn’t divert his thoughts in a hurry. Her expression had turned from anger to distress. He concentrated on listening to her phone conversation as he stared out the window at the ocean.
“You’re sure there’s no one in the office who can settle this problem?” Her voice suddenly sounded less sure, more tentative. “Well, then…will you please contact Mr. Edwards and have him call me? I paid in advance for the entire five months with a cashier’s check. I have a signed rental agreement…” Her words trailed off as if she didn’t know what else to say.
The same determination she had displayed earlier—what he would call aggressively pushy, if he needed to label it—abruptly returned.
“This matter must be resolved today. I want this man out of my house immediately.”
She listened to the person’s response and replied in a disappointed tone. “All right. I’ll wait here until I hear from Mr. Edwards. The number is…” She stared at the phone for a second, then jerked her head up and looked at him.
She suddenly seemed to him more like a lost child trying to find her way in a confusing world rather than the uninvited intrusion who had invaded his day. Her helpless expression somehow managed to pierce his jaded exterior and struck a chord of sympathy and concern somewhere deep inside him, a place he hadn’t realized still existed. No reason why he shouldn’t let her wait for her phone call. She had already ruined what remained of his day. No purpose would be served by sending her away right now.
“I’m surprised you don’t have a cell phone. I thought everybody had one.” He gave her the number, then listened as she repeated it into the phone.
“And please, have someone get back to me as soon as possible.” She gave him a nervous, almost apologetic sideways glance as she disconnected the call. “I know I should have one. My friends are amazed that I’ve been able to function without one. I’ve been meaning to get—”
“Hey, lady, how long am I supposed to hang around out here?” An angry male voice boomed into the room. “If you don’t collect your stuff and pay me right now, I’m going to charge you a standby fee.” The cab driver stood in the open front door, the expression on his face saying just as much as his angry words and tone of voice.
“I…” After another quick glance in Blake’s direction, she returned her attention to the cab driver. Clenching her jaw in determination and squaring her shoulders, she gave the appearance of someone ready for a fight. “Bring my belongings into the house.”
She reached for her purse and withdrew the money for the fare. It took the driver several trips to bring in her suitcases, plus six large cardboard cartons and a pet carrier containing a very upset Siamese cat.
The cab driver glared at Blake, obviously pissed because he didn’t offer to help, then turned his frustration on Vicki. “Next time, lady, hire a moving van instead of a taxi.”
The cabbie took the money she extended, his manner anything but gracious in spite of the generous tip she gave him. He slammed the minivan’s door and sped away.
“Well…Victoria Templeton. I believe that’s the name you gave on the phone.” Blake had tried to appear calm as he watched the boxes and suitcases being stacked inside the front door, acutely aware of the emotion still jabbing at that vulnerable spot deep inside. The desire to jump her bones came as natural to him as breathing, but the emotional thread tugging at him presented a surprising and unacceptable situation. He hadn’t been sure exactly what to do, so did nothing as the cab driver brought in her belongings.
He cast a wary eye toward the huge pile. A frown tugged at his forehead as his gaze landed on the caged animal making the type of loud, yowling noise only a Siamese cat could produce. “Does that animal always make such a racket?”
Her entire manner turned defensive. “Wouldn’t you be unhappy if you were locked in a cage?” She quickly opened the pet carrier and removed the cat, gently stroking its fur as she talked to it. “Now, now. Everything’s okay. Is that better, Ty-Ling?”
When the cat calmed down, she placed it on the floor. It immediately darted out of sight behind the couch.
He scowled and glanced in the direction the cat had gone. Returning his attention to Vicki, his expression eased, and he crossed the room to where she stood. “Since you’ve taken it upon yourself to be my uninvited guest for a short while, I suppose I should introduce myself. I’m Blake Callahan.” He held out his hand and offered her a polite, albeit uneasy, smile.
Vicki accepted his handshake. His smooth, un-callused skin confirmed her original opinion. He obviously didn’t do any type of manual work, and his longish, shaggy hair ruled out the possibility of him being a business executive. She quickly withdrew her hand from his grasp as the rush of excitement caused her tummy to clench. His touch had been just a little too warm and intimate, and he seemed to hold her hand just a little bit longer than necessary. Or had she only imagined it?
> He started toward the kitchen with his empty beer bottle, then turned back toward her. “Would you like something to drink? I have beer, wine, iced tea, water…or I could make some coffee.”
“I, uh, yes, iced tea would be nice.” She offered him a bit of a shy smile, not at all sure how to handle her inner conflict. “Thank you.”
A twinge of nervousness darted through her as she noted the way he seemed to study her again. His alert blue eyes showed a surprising amount of intelligence, something obviously wasted by his lifestyle. His tanned good looks lingered on her senses, sending another totally inappropriate sensual tremor of desire racing through her body and settling deep inside her.
“Iced tea, it is. And when I return, I’d like to see a copy of your rental agreement.” He turned and disappeared into the kitchen.
She called after him, “You want to see my rental agreement? Well, I insist on seeing your lease.”
Who the hell did he think he was, challenging her veracity that way? Then another thought struck her. Why would he have opened the subject of leases if he didn’t have one? Apprehension stirred deep inside her, leaving her unsettled. Maybe things weren’t as clear cut as she had originally assumed…or as she wanted them to be.
Vicki looked around the living room of the house she thought she’d rented for the entire summer. The monthly rent had been a little more than she had planned to pay, but she fell in love with the house the moment the rental agent had shown it to her. A little frown wrinkled her forehead as she recalled the way Mr. Edwards had looked her over while making no effort to hide his lecherous intentions, not really all that different from the way Blake looked at her. But unlike Blake’s scrutiny, the rental agent left her uncomfortable and feeling as if she needed a shower to wash away his visual groping.
The first floor of the two-story beach bungalow contained a comfortable living room with a wood burning fireplace and a separate dining room she had intended to use as her office. The living room opened onto a wraparound deck with a half dozen steps that led down to the wide, sandy beach. The bright, airy kitchen contained an island with a breakfast bar, plus a breakfast nook in a sunny corner. Beyond the kitchen, a separate laundry room and a full bathroom with an outside door from the deck.
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