by Lacey Black
My Kinda Night
Summer Sisters Book 2
Copyright © 2017 Lacey Black
Photograph & Cover design by Sara Eirew
Website: www.saraeirew.com
Cover Models: Mike Chabot and Rachael Baltes
Editing by Kara Hildebrand
Proofreading by Joanne Thompson
Format by Brenda Wright, Formatting Done Wright
This book is a work of fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of the author.
All rights reserved.
Index
Also by Lacey Black
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Epilogue
Another Epilogue
Letter to the Reader
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Also by Lacey Black
Rivers Edge series
Trust Me, Rivers Edge book 1 (Maddox and Avery) – FREE at all retailers
~ #1 Bestseller in Contemporary Romance & #3 in overall free e-books
~ #2 Bestseller in overall free e-books on another retailer
Fight Me, Rivers Edge book 2 (Jake and Erin)
Expect Me, Rivers Edge book 3 (Travis and Josselyn)
Promise Me: A Novella, Rivers Edge book 3.5 (Jase and Holly)
Protect Me, Rivers Edge book 4 (Nate and Lia)
Boss Me, Rivers Edge book 5 (Will and Carmen)
Trust Us: A Rivers Edge Christmas Novella (Maddox and Avery)
~ This novella was originally part of the Christmas Miracles Anthology
Bound Together series
Submerged, Bound Together book 1 (Blake and Carly)
~ An International Bestseller, reaching Top 100 in 3 charts at the same time.
Profited, Bound Together book 2 (Reid and Dani)
~A Bestseller, reaching Top 100 on 2 e-retailers
Entwined, Bound Together book 3 (Luke and Sidney)
Standalone
Music Notes, a sexy contemporary romance standalone
*Coming Soon from Lacey Black
Book 3 in the Summer Sisters series, My Kinda Song (Levi and Abby)
Dedication
To the woman who helps my words look pretty!
Kara Hildebrand
Editor extraordinaire and friend ‘til the end I really believe people come into our lives for a reason and you are one of those people! THANK YOU for your tireless work on my books, your notes that make me smile, and for always claiming each Black hero as your own before anyone else!
Chapter One
Payton
It’s a Summer sister tradition that on the first Saturday of each month, the six of us get together. We take turns picking the location or activity, anything from margaritas and a movie to wine and painting classes at the small gallery uptown. One thing, though, is as certain as the sun rising over the Chesapeake Bay every morning; there will be alcohol involved.
Always.
Tonight, it’s another stupid painting class. Create and Paint, that’s what this class is called. I prefer to call it “Painting sucks, let’s get drunk!” while I chug my fruity Moscato because that’s the only wine worth drinking. Abby whips out red every once in a while and I swear to God Almighty that I’m going to shrivel up and die like those nasty, sour grapes used to create red wine.
I’m the oldest of six Summer girls. Of course, I’m the boss, the leader, and the best at everything (except painting, obviously). As I approach my thirty-third birthday in a couple of weeks at the end of January, I also realize that spending time with my sisters as much as I do is going to become more of a challenge.
Jaime is three years younger than me. She’s the sister who ran away to college and never came back. Well, at least until her fiancé left her the week before the wedding. She moved home, had to move in with our dad and grandparents, and worked for me at Blossoms and Blooms for a short period of time.
Then she met Ryan. Watching those two discover their love for each other was like watching soft porn. Sparks and hormones flew like fireworks every time those two were within a fifty-foot radius of each other.
AJ is the third sister at twenty-eight, or Alison Jane as her birth certificate states. Though, we’ve called her by her nickname for as long as I can remember. She’s the eighth grade math teacher at Jupiter Bay Junior High, home of the Hawks, where she’s taught ever since receiving her teaching degree. She has also enrolled in online classes for her Master’s degree. As of January twentieth, AJ will be a night student.
After AJ comes Meghan. She’s twenty-six and a hygienist at the local dental office. How someone can work inside another’s mouth all day and not get grossed out is beyond me. But she does it. Daily. Meg is also engaged to Josh, a man who treats her like the princess she is. Meg and Josh became engaged in December during a romantic trip to New York City for their anniversary. He went all out: Empire State Building, fancy dinner, down on one knee. It was perfect, just like they are.
Rounding out the Summer sisters are the twins, Lexi and Abby. Lexi, short for Alexis, gives me a run for my money in the boss department and is a hairdresser uptown. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, Chris, who rarely attends any of our family functions. He’s busy trying to take over the financial world, and believes that the only way to achieve that is to work nonstop. I don’t think it’s all roses and fairytales at the Jacobson house.
Abby, or Abigail, was born mere minutes before Lexi, but is as different as can be. She’s reserved, quiet, and shy in ways that the rest of us aren’t. Abby is an English Literature major and works as an editor for a major publishing house out of California. She’s on her computer all day, and rarely ventures out of her little apartment. It’s my goal in this new year to get her out and into the dating world, especially in light of the fact that her love for her best friend is unrequited. Levi is a great friend, but doesn’t see the wonderful woman before him. He’s too busy sticking his penis inside of every woman in the state of Virginia. (I say that lovingly.)
Let’s not forget our father, Brian, and our grandparents, Orval and Emma. Inappropriate doesn’t quite adequately describe the older couple who helped raise all six of us after our mom died. I was seventeen when she succumbed to ovarian cancer, leaving my father behind to get six girls through the teenage years. Enter the grandparents. I’ve got stories for miles, but we’ll get to those later.
Born and raised in Jupiter Bay, a small town of about eight thousand along the Chesapeake Bay, I’ve become accustomed to the small town lifestyle. I own the local flower shop, where I devote every ounce of my soul to making it
a success. I’m not gonna lie, I had my doubts there at the beginning. I didn’t know anything about running a business, but was determined to make it work. It’s a lot of work, especially with a small staff of one other employee to keep overhead down, but I’m successful. And proud of it!
And that brings us to tonight. It’s the first Saturday of the New Year and we’re busy celebrating with sandcastles and wine. Hops and Grapes, a local retailer for microbrews and wines made on the east coast, is the place for tonight’s Paint and Create class. Right now, my beach scene resembles something a kindergartener would draw with finger paints.
“Mix together a little white with the brown until you get the light sandy color you’re looking for. Dab your brush in the water and then in the paint, and make long strokes across the canvas.”
Giggles erupt beside me. “She said long strokes,” Lexi whispers not so quietly.
“I get to make long strokes. Ryan is impressively large in the man-junk area,” Jaime says, gulping the last of her wine.
“Yes, we know. You tell us every chance you get.” This from Abby.
“Yeah, it’s starting to get annoying. If I had an impressive man-sword waiting for me at home every night, I’d never leave the house,” AJ adds.
“Not worth it. I’ll take my rabbit over a man any day. That baby has seven speeds and a rotating head,” I grumble, making a mess out of my sandy beach.
“Stop being so grumpy. Maybe if you actually had the real deal for a while, you wouldn’t be so damn cynical all the time,” Jaime says from across the table. She never takes her eyes off her canvas as she makes smooth, straight brushstrokes.
My face burns and I pray the vultures I share genes with don’t notice. Of course I don’t get so lucky. I’ve always said if it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all. Trying to concentrate on my masterpiece, I keep my eyes down and focused on the sandcastle in the corner of the scene.
“I think there’s more to the story! Do you see her blushing?” Meghan’s laughter flits from the opposite end of the table. How in the hell she can see my face is beyond me. It’s probably that sister-radar all of us possess. It’s so damn annoying.
“I am not.” It’s a weak defense, I know, but it’s all I’ve got.
“Deny it all you want, big sister, but your face is definitely blushing,” Lexi adds.
“Ladies, when you get your sandcastle the way you want it, we’ll add a few details and highlights before moving on to the water.” The woman instructing our class has worn a constant smile the entire hour we’ve been here, and frankly, I’m starting to think she hit the sauce way before our arrival tonight.
“Why does my sand look like cellulite?” AJ asks. “I give up. I’m just drinking from here on out.”
Jaime glances over at our sister’s painting. “My God, that’s horrible. Thank God you’re not the art teacher!”
“Cheers,” AJ replies, raising her glass and tapping it against Jaime’s.
“Any wedding plans yet, Meg?” Abby asks, wetting her brush before swiping it through the paint. Always the perfect student, that one.
“Not yet. We’re thinking fall, though.” Meghan’s face lights up at the mere thought of her pending nuptials to Josh.
“That’ll be the perfect time.” Abby’s able to keep her smile happy when she’s in discussion, but I’ve seen the desolation in it too. Even tonight, I see something in her eyes that makes me sad. I’m sure her best friend is the root of her anguish, but I won’t call her out on it tonight. That’s a conversation to have at another time (with less alcohol).
By the time our three-hour torture session is up, each of us has painted waves rolling onto the beach, with a shovel, pail, and sandcastle. We pose as a group for pictures, each of us proudly displaying the fruits of our labor. My sisters each discuss where they’re going to hang their newest creation, while I contemplate which closet I’ll throw it in.
“Yours is great,” Abby says with a big smile.
“Helen Keller could have done a better job,” I retort with a snort of laughter.
As we say good night and thank the instructor, we all walk out together into the crisp early-January night. Not surprisingly, Josh and Ryan are waiting. Jaime and Meg practically run towards their men, each one jumping into their arms as if it’s been days since they’ve seen each other instead of a few hours. Longing rips through my chest and settles into my stomach, heavy and unrelenting. I try to push those pesky feelings aside, but sometimes, it’s just no use. They plant in my chest and brain and dig in deep.
“Good night,” Abby says, pulling me into a hug.
“You going out tonight?” I ask, recalling her mention of Levi’s gig earlier in the evening.
“No, I’m going to take my new painting home and hang it on the wall.”
“Wow, don’t overdo it now on a Saturday night, Abs. Too much excitement will cause wrinkles.”
“I just, I don’t really go to his gigs anymore.”
“Why?” I ask, though already knowing the answer.
She shrugs her shoulders and gives me a small smile. “Just not feeling up to it.”
I let it go. I already know she doesn’t go anymore is because it’s too painful to watch him leave with some skanky bimbo with a dress size bigger than her IQ. Levi may very well never know what he’s missing with Abby, but the romantic in me is still hopeful of him getting his shit together and realizing he loves her.
Hey, I may be cynical as hell in the love department, but I’m still a woman. And this woman wants only the best and a happily ever after for every one of her sisters.
As for me? Well, I’ve decided that my happily ever after will be in the form of cats. I’ll be the little old lady wearing hair curlers and her bathrobe around town, picking up every stray feline she can find.
And you know what? That’s okay. Not everyone is cut out for the spouse, house, and perfect postcard life. Despite what they tell you in the romance novels or in Disney movies, there isn’t someone out there for everyone. Sometimes, a person is just supposed to be alone.
That’s my destiny.
Chapter Two
Dean
Sundays are always the same. Wake up, get dressed, make coffee, and breakfast. Grocery shopping, lunch at the café with my mom, and then whatever afternoon activity my five-year-old daughter deems necessary. Followed by dinner, bath, a story or two, and bedtime. That’s my life.
She’s my life.
I’ve become accustomed to going with the flow. When you’re a single dad, you learn to bend your knees in just about every little detail of life. Schedules change, things happen, or more often than not, things don’t happen. It’s a part of life for everyone, but none more than when you’re a singular parental unit taking care of a child.
My schedule isn’t my own. I know that, understand, and accept it. It’s been that way from day one. From the moment that tiny, wrinkly little girl was placed in my arms, I’ve been a goner, a victim of eternal love.
If only I could say the same about Brooke, my ex.
I have exactly seven minutes left before my daughter wakes up, and I’m not about to let unpleasant thoughts of my past damper my morning. As soon as Bri wakes up, my day officially begins. Never mind that I’ve already finished two loads of laundry, emptied the dishwasher, worked out, and showered, all before seven. Sleep is something I gave up years ago, and if I’m being honest with myself, I lost it long before Bri came into my life. I was in no way a partier in college, but I could stay up all night studying or getting lost in whatever book series I was reading. College was more about making good grades and securing a well-paying job than anything else for me. In fact, I think the only party I went to in those four years at university was when I went inside one to deliver a pizza.
My mother was a single parent and barely made ends meet. She worked her ass off at two jobs so that I could have the necessary basics that most other kids receive day in and day out. She did the best she could, even
if we had to do without, and I’m forever grateful for her sacrifice.
I make sure the house is ready for the hurricane that comes with a five-year-old. The toys are picked up and neatly stacked in the storage bins, but I smile knowing that it’ll only last just a bit longer. As soon as she’s up, Bri will be all over this place, playing with every toy she can find.
When the clock finally hits seven, I set my coffee cup down and head towards her room. The pink walls are bright as the sunlight reflecting off the Bay filters through white curtains. She helped me pick out everything in her room a year ago when I purchased this house and we made the move to Jupiter Bay. It wasn’t a far move, nor a difficult one to make. Especially in light that we were only heading one town over from Ridgewood, the place where I was born and raised. And it’s also still close enough to my mom, who helps when she can with Bri.
She’s sleeping on her stomach, with her rear up and her knees tucked beneath her. She’s slept this exact same way since she was an infant. Another smile spreads across my face, especially when I gently shake the sleeping girl.
“Sweetie, time to get up,” I say soothingly.
“No,” she grumbles, turning and facing away from me.
“’Fraid so. Let’s get up and have breakfast. We have to meet grandma in a few hours.”
“I don’t wanna.” Her surly attitude doesn’t surprise me in the least. Waking up in the morning is her least favorite thing to do. She’s more of a night owl the way her mother was. Sometimes it’s difficult to get her in bed at a decent hour.
“Too bad,” I say with a laugh. Grabbing the Frozen blanket, I pull it off her and scoop up her small body. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s go to the bathroom and then get breakfast.”
I deposit my daughter in the bathroom and proceed to the kitchen. The griddle is hot and ready to make pancakes. I pour a few onto the pan just as Sleeping Beauty enters the room.
“I’m tired, Daddy. I want to go back to bed.”
