by Kailin Gow
Lasting Summer
kailin gow
A New Adult/Contemporary Adult Loving Summer Novel
Lasting Summer
Published by THEEDGEBOOKS.COM
THEEDGEBOOKS.COM is an imprint of Sparklesoup Inc.
Copyright © 2014 Kailin Gow
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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First Edition.
Printed in the United States of America.
ISBN: 978-1-59748-076-5
Thank you!
Thank you readers for loving this series and helping me mold it through the polls you answered on theEDGEbooks.com. Also, a Big Thank You to the Betas who gave me feedback about Summer’s decision before Lasting Summer was published. It is always hard to make these decisions especially when both sides feel so passionate about their favorites, but in the end, hopefully many of you will be happy.
Prologue
Nat’s Letter to Summer
My Perfect Summer,
I hope you will and can forgive me.
I never meant to hurt you, but sometimes we do things because we thought it was the best or only way out.
I don’t know where to begin. But if you are holding this letter in your hands, then I know you already have a sense of what this is about.
Again, I am writing you a letter not because I am old-fashioned, but because this time, it was necessary. It was the only way I can get word out to you that I am okay. That I am alive.
I can’t have you suffering over grief for me, thinking I was dead. I am in the sense I could not be with you in more ways than one.
I will always love you, Summer. You are the world to me, but circumstances have changed. I don’t know if I will ever be the same Nat as you loved. If I could return to be the Nat that you could be with. Sometimes in the line of duty, you are forced to do things that you would not be proud of. There were a few things I had to do in order to get the job done. But I did it, and because I did, my father will be on his way back home.
Will I come home soon? It depends. I don’t know when or if, so that’s why I’m writing you this letter.
Please go on living life to the fullest as you always have. Go on and be as happy as you can be, and don’t put your life on hold for me to be happy. I know how you feel about Drew, and I know how Drew feels about you. With me no longer there for you, please turn to Drew for support. He knows why I’m doing this, and he knows how to comfort you best, as well as how to protect you.
Life is too short to wait for love. I am so grateful for the chance we had together. I take those memories with me everywhere I go, but it is now time for me to let you go, and for you to let me go. I love you with all my heart so I am letting you go to fulfill your destiny, as I am doing so now.
Love Your Nat in Shining Armor for Always
Summer
I’ve read Nat’s letter again hoping to find some clues as to his whereabouts.
I should be happy he’s alive, which I am, but he’s put me through hell and back again when I thought he’d died. I mean I was in such despair, Drew even found me sitting in a bath tub with a razor blade nearby. I’ve never sunk so low to consider taking my own life out of despair.
Me. Summer Jones, the one everyone turns to for warmth and happiness. How can I be the Summer who have provided the Donovans the sunshine and warmth they depended on me for when I was now filled with darkness and pain?
Nat had deceived me. Drew had deceived me, and now I was truly all alone.
Nat Nat Nat! Why did you disappear like that? What are you hiding?
I know Nat. He wouldn’t pull something like this on me unless he absolutely had to…which led me to believe he may have believed there was no other way. But why? He knew I loved him with all of me since we were toddlers. I handed him my heart on a silver platter everyday hoping he would notice the love I harbored for him, believing he was my entire world. How could he lead me to believe he was dead? How could he leave me and take away my choice as to who I should love?
And Drew, the fact that he knew Nat was alive, yet saw me cry and grieve for him, saw me sink to the point I nearly lost my mind, so I can fall harder for him, choose him over Nat… I was so furious with him, I told him I didn’t want to see him ever again.
I meant it too.
It’s been two weeks since I last saw him in person, since I last spoke to him. Despite him calling me every day, texting me, and even showing up to the Pad; I’ve shut him out. The old Summer would have answered his texts and phone calls the first time and forgiven him, while apologizing to him for something he did. The new and current Summer? I needed time to step back, step away from his intoxicating sexy body and presence to think, to clear my mind.
I’ve resisted the temptation to answer him, to feel any contact with him through his words, his voice, or sight.
Until now…
His text to me couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.
DREW: Summer? I’m through begging you for forgiveness. If you won’t believe me, maybe you will believe Nat. I know you’ve been inquiring about him. If Nat is who you want, I will find him for you.
I took a deep breath before hitting reply.
ME: This had better not be some kind of joke, Drew.
DREW: It isn’t. I never meant to hurt you.
ME: You did.
DREW: I’m sorry. It seems all I wanted to do is protect you, but it has the opposite effect instead. I hurt you. Can I see you at the Pad tonight?
ME: Can’t.
DREW: Why not?
ME: Too many memories of us. Too many memories of Nat being here. When I see you again, I want to see you with fresh eyes.
DREW: I’m sorry I let you down, Summer. I will do whatever it takes to make you trust me again.
ME: Show me Nat is alive. That’s how.
I sighed. Although it was just his texts, I imagined hearing his voice saying all of this to me. I missed talking to him. I missed the close bond we’ve had since we were kids. I missed feeling his hot skin next to mine as my lover, and I especially loved hearing his voice. Loved how he said my name. Whenever he did, it sounded like he cherished the name as much as he cherished me. He’d always had a way of saying my name that made me get butterflies in my stomach.
DREW: Come to my new place then. Meet me tonight?
I hesitated again, but knew I had to see him, to finally get this out into the open and talk. If he knew where Nat was, then I need to see Drew.
ME: Okay, just to talk.
DREW: I promise. We’ll talk. I’ll pick you up at the Pad at 5.
ME: 5 is fine.
DREW: Wear your summer dress…it’s my favorite outfit, Summer.
ME: We’re just talking.
DREW: We’ll be talking, but that dress is so spectacular on you, and I love how it brings out the sunshine in you.
I had to smile. That was Drew. Can’t blame him for trying.
ME: I’ll surprise you then. Maybe I will or maybe I won’t. See you at 5.
With that, I turned off my phone and hopped into the shower. I’d nearly forgotten how easy-going we were together and how he was my best friend with whom I could talk to a
bout everything before we became more than friends. Shutting him out after what he did to me was hard. Not only was I losing the man I loved, but I also lost one of my dearest best friends.
Now I don’t know what we are anymore, but after what he did, it would take some time before I could even trust him again. It would take some time before I could trust anyone again.
Chapter 1
Drew
I didn’t want to be part of the “plan” that Nat and Dad cooked up to help Nat disappear. It wasn’t even my idea, and I felt bad about the whole thing. I didn’t want to go with it at all, especially about having to withhold the truth about Nat’s whereabouts to Summer, who was going through so much grief over Nat. It killed me to see how she took to the news that Nat was dead. Not because I was jealous of how she loved Nat, but because I could see the light, the warmth of her, her personality and soul dying. Although it was bliss for me to have her to myself, at the same time, I felt and shared her pain.
If it was up to me, I would’ve told her the truth when she first found out Nat was missing. That’s because I know Summer. She wouldn’t want anything less than that, despite how much it would hurt. Nat disappearing for her sake took the choice from under her…she never got a fair chance on which Donovan Brother she wanted to be with since Nat took that choice away from her by stepping out of the picture and wanting her to be with me.
But I couldn’t tell her. It would jeopardize the safety of Nat, my father, and even Summer’s mother.
As much as everyone thinks I would be elated about having Summer be with me, I wasn’t. That wasn’t closure to her, that only fueled her insatiable inquisitive mind to find out what happened. And coming from me, she wouldn’t believe me. She needed to hear it straight from Nat. That is how she is…she won’t accept anything less than that.
Nat? Thank God he was alive, but now comes the complicated part…I can see Summer’s pretty mind working. If Nat is alive, why isn’t he coming to see her? Why hasn’t he contacted her? It is worse knowing he is intentionally and deliberately shutting her out of his life. Now she needs to know why. She won’t move on until she finds out why.
So…I have to find my bastard of a brother. Yes, he was a bastard even in the literal sense. Now I’m furious with him. Furious for putting me in this situation with Summer. Furious for now making himself incomparable to Summer. No man can live up to Summer’s memories of Nat. No matter how much I try, no matter how much love I give her, how much of my skills at lovemaking, how much I try to be more like Nat; it isn’t working. Because I’m not him.
And now I realize, no matter how much I tried to be Nat for her, I will never be Nat to her.
So, the best I can hope, if there is any chance for me, is to be Drew. The real Drew. I’ve been trying to be everything to everyone for so long, I don’t even know who the real Drew is anymore. I guess I’ll find out soon because from now on, with Summer, I’m going to be me so she will love me for me. And she will love me. I’m sure of that. Because the real Drew Donovan is a no-holds barred, take charge, take no prisoners kind of guy. The real Drew Donovan is a beast. He will take what he wants when he wants it…including Summer. It’s the real me when I take charge on the football field, it’s me when I take charge in the bedroom with women I’ve had, who are much more experienced than Summer. I was holding back with Summer, but not anymore. She wants to know the truth? She wants the older brother just because he seems more in charge and more like a man in control, wait until she sees the real me. Given the chance at being the big brother, given the chance at really running Donovan Dynamics my way, I will unleash that part of me I’ve kept hidden. If Nat or anyone challenges me on being the alpha, I will not step aside this time. If it is true that Nat is Aunt Sookie’s son, then I am the rightful heir and son to the Donovans. Not Nat. It had never been Nat, but me.
I looked around my new suite, which reflected more of my tastes since I was made President of Donovan Dynamics. It wasn’t the apartment of a college student. It was actually a penthouse in one of the buildings we’ve had near Malibu used mainly to house enormous data files. The whole setup with me here was for security reasons, because making me President of Donovan Dynamics since getting Dad back, put me at a higher risk for any attempts by the crime ring we helped dismantled. The building was near USC where I could work as a satellite headquarter for Donovan Dynamics, but also live on the top floor as a penthouse suite. Full security throughout the entire building and a place where Nat can carry out his work for dad, while maintaining his new identity as a student at USC.
Yeah, Nat was still in the picture, which made me both uneasy and at ease. Uneasy because he could take everything away from me, including Summer if he made himself known, and at ease because he could help me keep Summer safe, which I know he will if he can. That’s why I think he accepted his cover as a student at USC…so he could stay close to Summer, watch out for her. That’s why, despite how hard he worked to build up Donovan Dynamics, he was willing to give that all up, give up the billions that could come with that inheritance, so he could be there for her.
In a way, I’m kind of jealous of his new identity. He didn’t have to fit into anyone’s expectations anymore…no more football hero, no more big brother to Rachel and I, no more caring son to Mom, and Dad’s secret confidante about his ex-mistress. It’s like the burden of being Nat has lifted, and he can be what he wants to be.
I haven’t seen him yet since his new identity, but I will soon. For Summer’s sake, I’m bringing Nat back from the grave so to speak…
Chapter 2
Summer
I decided to wear that white almost sheer summer dress Drew loved seeing me wear. While I was furious with him for what he’s done, a part of me cared deeply about what he thought of me, that he still wanted me as much as I had to admit, craved him too.
I dressed in my sheer summer dress with the tie around halter top with green and blue embellished gemstones lining the chest and neck area. It showed off my shoulders and arms, which were toned and tanned due to hours of playing collegiate volleyball, and slipped into pearl and silver linen white wedges. I finished my look with chandelier earrings with jade and sapphire stones that brought out the green, blue and gold specks in my eyes. Then I brushed out my long thick chestnut hair, arranging it in waves which framed my face. The look was polished, sophisticated, fun, classy and sexy. All that time when I was with Astor and his entourage of hairstylists, personal stylists, publicists, and manager did rub off on me, as they taught me how to look and dress my best, especially as Astor’s girlfriend.
This look would have Drew eating out of my hands. He is going to so regret not telling me about Nat when I get through with him tonight and teach him to never withhold information from me and never try to deceive me like that again.
I put on some mascara, lip gloss, and a bit of blush before grabbing my silver clutch purse and headed out of my room to the front door where I could see through the window panel near the door that a car had pulled up in the driveway.
Before Drew could get out of the car and come to the front door, I opened it and strode confidently to the passenger side door of the shiny black Audi and tried to look in. The windows were tinted so I couldn’t see anyone inside, but the door popped opened with a click without anyone having to get out to open it.
I opened it further and looked inside at the driver.
His face was masked in the dark of the car, and he was wearing a black suit and black shirt without a tie. He was facing forward without looking at me, with one arm casually on the steering wheel.
Really? He hasn’t seen me in two weeks, been texting me, calling me constantly, and tried to see me at the Pad a few times…so this is how he greets me? With indifference, with no show of love…almost with a huge amount of arrogance. Who did he think he was?
“Drew?” I asked.
He turned towards me then, his face coming out of the shadows and fixed me with his brilliant blue eyes. The intensity of his gaze pa
ralyzed me for a second, as he stared into my eyes, almost angrily.
What was he angry about? I was the one he betrayed.
I touched my hair, pulling one strand behind my ear as I leaned into the car. It was Drew, only more dapper, more self-assured in a grown-up manly way that was incredibly sexy. He didn’t smile. He didn’t gush. He looked me over from head to toe without any expressions of approval or disdain and said, “Good to see you, Summer. Now get in.”
Wow. I expected something a little warmer from Drew, but in a way, it sent a shiver of desire through me that cut through the anger I was feeling towards him. I got into the passenger seat, and before I can buckle myself in, Drew leaned over, his head of wavy jet black hair brushed my nose, and I could smell a musky vanilla scent that instantly made me clench. His fingers brushed against my breasts slightly as he pulled the seatbelt strap around me, and fastened it securely. His hands brushed against my thighs as he tested it to see if it was tight, and then he looked up, raising his face so close to mine, we were an inch away from being lips to lips.
“There,” he whispered, his hot breath caressing my lips, as his eyes followed the curves of my lips up to look into my eyes. “You are nice and tight now, Summer.”
You bet I am.
