by Nomi Summers
It was Dax that saved his life the summer after graduation, and Shane always felt he owed him something in return. He knew that someday he’d find a way to thank his best friend for that fateful night when Shane had taken his father’s dune buggy for a weekend camping trip with the guys. Dax and the others had stayed back at the campsite to start the bonfire, and Shane took off to get one last ride in before the sun dipped into the lake. When nightfall came and Shane still hadn’t returned, Dax went looking for him and found him trapped under the overturned cart, unconscious and bleeding from his head. He’d pulled Shane from the buggy and carried him a full mile back to the truck where they’d sped to the hospital. Shane had lost so much blood from his head injury, the doctors said much longer trapped upside down, and he wouldn’t have made it. His adoring female fans generally went crazy over the scar above his right eyebrow, but for Shane it only served as a constant reminder of just how much he had to be grateful for. And how much he owed to Dax.
A double tap of a horn from the car behind him alerted Shane that the light had turned green. How different it was to be home. In LA, he would’ve been flipped the bird for missing the changing light. He gave the man in the car behind him a wave and turned right, speeding north up the evergreen-lined coast to where the resort stood about a mile outside of town. With the top down, he was able to feel the cool June air on his face as the early summer sun fought to warm him. He took the corners at top speed, enjoying the winding road that snaked up the coast.
He slowed at the familiar sign and turned left into the resort. He followed the long drive, past the landscaped entrance with its manicured green lawn and tall pines that guarded the outside world from the oasis that awaited beyond the gate. Set atop a large hill overlooking Lake Michigan was the massive log cabin-style main lodge. The resort’s private golf course rolled down the coast on the left, each tee box providing a stunning view of the westernmost Great Lake that ran the length of the property. At the bottom of the hill were cabins spaced out along the shore, with the Beach Club in the middle of it all where guests spent their days under private cabanas around the pool or finding solace from the sun inside the Beach Café. A wave of nostalgia hit him full in the face as he took it all in, memories fighting for space in his mind. He pushed the thoughts away as fast as they came and rolled his car to a stop in front of the lodge.
Was he ready for this?
“Checking in? What’s the name?” the woman behind the front desk asked without looking up, still filing the paperwork from the last guest. Shane’s heart dropped to his groin. He couldn’t see her face as she bent down to pick up a paperclip, but he would know that voice anywhere. The voice he’d heard so many times, in so many different ways. The voice that could drop him to his knees like no other on earth.
Before Shane could answer, a large man carrying a stack of linens walked up to the counter. “Ms. Cooke, where would you like us to set up the tables for tonight’s mixer?” he asked, peeking around the side of the stack. “I’m sorry to interrupt, sir—” The stout man stopped in his tracks as soon as he caught a glimpse of Shane and rested the linens on the counter. “Well, look who it is! Shane Knox!”
The woman behind the counter shot her head up at the same time her clipboard dropped with a thud. There Shane was, face-to-face, with the one he’d let slip away so many years ago. Staring him square in the eye, was none other than Avery Cooke.
She looked even more beautiful than he’d remembered, and man, it stung. A lump in his throat threatened to choke him if he didn’t find something to say. Her eyes narrowed, and her brows pinched together as she studied him. He couldn’t help but remember how sexy she was when she’d get mad, and how her full lips would disappear into a thin line when she was about to give him a piece of her mind. That all too familiar look was now spread across her face, yet he couldn’t break the gaze. Her emerald green eyes still mesmerized him; even though he hadn’t seen those eyes in nearly nine years, he found a sense of comfort in their familiarity.
“You can set up on the terrace,” Avery responded to the man with the linens without breaking her stare with Shane. She knew he’d be coming to town for her brother’s wedding—he was the best man after all—but her plan had been to avoid him at all costs. Trapped behind the front desk, she couldn’t walk away. There was already a line of other guests forming behind Shane, waiting to check in. No matter how many times she’d run this inevitable moment over in her mind––the moment she’d come face-to-face with him––nothing had prepared her for this.
“The name’s Knox,” Shane said with a grin.
“Yes, Mr. Knox.” She played along, finally breaking away to type his name into the computer. She was far too busy to deal with the fact that her first true love was standing before her. A man she hadn’t seen in years, the one who’d filled her heart with empty promises before he’d left town and never looked back. “We have you in the Sycamore cabin, one of our best. I’ll need an ID and a credit card to get you checked in.”
“An ID? Really, Ave?” he asked in a playful tone, which Avery ignored. In this moment, all she wanted to do was get him checked in and out of her sight. And what a sight he was. There was something grown and mature about him, different than the teenage boy he’d once been. Sure, he was always a looker, one of the most popular boys in school, but now his features seemed more defined. His jaw was chiseled beneath his five-o’clock shadow, his upper body visibly cut underneath his snug black T-shirt. A warmth rippled through her body. She had to get him checked in and away from her counter.
Shane pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and handed over the card and ID, his eyes still locked on Avery. “I didn’t expect to see you working here.”
Avery keyed in the information as fast as she could. She caught a glimpse of his address, and it twisted at her gut: Malibu, California. What was his life like on the other side of the country? It seemed odd that Shane lived on another coast. She dismissed the thought, unwilling to entertain it. For now, she resolved to ignore any small talk and get him out of her line as quickly as possible.
“Well, you know my family owns the resort.” She turned and fetched a key from the cabinet behind her and set it on the counter in front of him. “The Sycamore cabin is down by the shore. Just follow the path down the hill, and turn left at the Beach Cafe. It’s the one on the end, set back in the woods. Would you like a map?”
“I remember where the cabins are, Avery.” This time he matched her tone, and just like that they were back to their old ways. Their relationship had always been intense; they loved hard and fought even harder. But man, how they’d always loved to make up.
“I’m surprised you remember anything about Arbor Shores at all.” She couldn’t help herself. The comment had slipped out before she could stop it, but now she was going to regain her composure. She refused to let Shane get to her. “Enjoy your stay at Arbor Shores Resort, Mr. Knox.” The key still sat on the counter between them, so Avery nudged it forward, avoiding any chance of their hands making contact. “Next in line?” She craned her neck to call out to the family of four waiting behind him, and just like that, Shane Knox had been dismissed.
“He’s arrived? How does he look?” Rylee asked with a light in her eyes as they rearranged the tables on the terrace for the evening event.
“That’s beside the point.”
“That means he must’ve looked pretty darn good,” Rylee pressed.
“He looks the same as he does online and in the magazines.”
“Ah-ha! I knew it. That means you’ve stalked him online!”
Busted. What could she say? Rylee knew her all too well. Avery didn’t want to admit that she had, from time to time, wondered what Shane was up to and who he was dating. Or that she’d not only followed his music career, but she had read every magazine article when he’d married that actress, Naomi Wilde. She’d continued to read even more when Naomi was caught cheating with her co-star on set. Avery had even indulged in the messy divorce tha
t fed the tabloids with juicy Hollywood gossip, and watched as Shane had his heart broken the way he’d broken hers so many years ago.
“Regardless of how he looks, let’s be clear; I don’t have any interest in him.”
“Well, unfortunately for you, he’s the best man in your brother’s wedding,” Rylee reminded her as she set her end of the table down to wipe her palms on her shorts before picking it back up again. “And you’re not only in the wedding party, but you’re pretty much coordinating most of the wedding festivities at the resort. It’s inevitable. You’re going to have to see him.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me.”
“This weekend’s camping trip should be interesting.” Rylee wiggled her eyebrows and smiled.
Dax and Leila had many out-of-town friends in the wedding party, so they decided to host a joint overnight trip instead of having separate bachelor and bachelorette parties. The entire wedding party was scheduled to canoe and camp tomorrow and then be back in time for the rehearsal dinner on Friday.
“I’m not going,” Avery declared. She’d made her decision the moment she’d locked eyes with Shane at the front desk.
“Not going where?” Dax asked, walking up behind them with Shane by his side.
Avery wished she’d had time to think before Dax found out. “Uh, I’m not going on the camping trip, Dax.” She smoothed the wrinkles from a tablecloth, ignoring Shane altogether. “We’re too shorthanded, and I’m needed here.”
“No way you’re backing out, sis. You’re the maid of honor. Leila will be hurt if you don’t come.” He and Shane moved to opposite ends of a table that was left in the middle of the terrace. “This place will be fine without you for one day. I’ll talk to Mom and make sure she’s covered. Now, where do you want this table?”
“By the fountain.” Avery pointed. She couldn’t help but notice the definition in Shane’s arms as he lifted the table. Or the way his shirt clung to his defined back. Or the way he looked in those jeans.
“Like what you see?” Rylee whispered with a giggle.
Was Avery’s staring that obvious? “Shush, Rylee. Don’t you have to get to work?”
“Shoot.” Rylee glanced at her watch. “I’d love to stay and see how this plays out.” She gave Avery a quick peck on the cheek and turned to head toward the lodge as she called out to the boys, “Bye, guys. Good to see you back home, Shane.”
“Good to be back,” he said, looking straight at Avery. They locked eyes for a moment before she quickly forced herself to look away.
Her attention turned to Leila when she came bolting down the walkway, determination in her step. “Hi, Ave,” Leila greeted her future sister-in-law with a smile but made a beeline straight for her groom. “Dax, I need you to come with me. There’s been a change in plans with the menu, something about how they can’t get the scallops delivered? We need to test some other options. Chef is plating up some samples for us now.”
“Yes, dear.” Dax smiled and planted a kiss on his bride’s lips. Leila wasn’t by any means a bridezilla, but as the wedding drew closer and closer, all the details had her acting a little frantic. Leila was already extremely organized and strong-willed by nature, and Dax couldn’t be any more opposite. Dax was more of a free spirit; very little affected his laid-back demeanor. Avery loved watching the dynamic between the two of them. They were yin and yang, salt and pepper, but they balanced each other perfectly. They had been friends since high school, but their friendship blossomed into a relationship after Dax returned home from college a few years ago. They had a deep respect for one another, and the kind of love most women longed for.
As they broke apart, Leila noticed Shane. “Oh, my!” she squealed as she ran over and threw her arms around him. “You made it! We’re so glad you’re here!”
“Hey, Lei Lei.” Shane returned the hug. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Gosh, how long has it been? Eight, nine years?” she asked.
“Nine,” Avery chimed in from the table she was setting. Again, the words slipped past her lips without warning. All three of them turned and looked at her, and an awkward silence formed between the group. Avery ignored their collective stares, too embarrassed to look up from the glass she was polishing.
“Well,” Leila said, breaking the silence, “I know you two have a lot of catching up to do, and Chef is probably ready for us.” She pulled Dax by the hand, leaving Shane and Avery alone on the terrace.
Avery took a deep breath and held it, knowing what was about to come next. A moment she hadn’t planned for.
A moment alone with Shane.
Chapter 3
Finally, Shane was alone with Avery. He’d been hoping for a moment like this since he’d learned he was coming back to Arbor Shores. He had so many things he’d wanted to say for so long, and even more feelings he hadn’t realized were buried inside of him. But seeing her brought it all to the surface. It was obvious she was still upset with him, even after all these years, and he needed to make things right before the two of them single-handedly ruined Dax and Leila’s wedding.
Avery had turned her back to him and was arranging centerpieces on the tables, ignoring him altogether. Shane didn’t mind, because it was giving him a moment to check her out. He hadn’t seen her in years, but the attraction between them had always been intense. Feelings like that don’t just disappear. He had to admit, the thin teenage girl she once was had morphed into a beautiful woman, and she’d filled out in all the right places. His heart sped up as he searched for a reason to approach her.
As if she could feel his eyes on her, she swung around and marched right up to him, stopping close enough that he could smell her intoxicating scent. Vanilla. Just as sweet as he remembered. “Listen, it’s Dax and Leila’s wedding, and I’m not going to let anything ruin their weekend.” She cocked one hand on her hip.
“I’m not here to ruin anyone’s weekend, Ave,” Shane responded.
“Please don’t call me that. Only those close to me call me Ave.”
“Okay, Av-er-y.” He made sure to enunciate every syllable of her name, trying to get under her skin. “Can’t we just—”
“No, we can’t just anything,” she cut him off before he could finish his sentence. “Let’s just keep our distance, okay? You don’t talk to me and I won’t talk to you.”
Now he was growing annoyed. They had dated nearly a decade ago. How was she still upset about things that had happened when they were kids? He knew it would be awkward to see her again after all these years, and he’d spent the past couple of months wondering just how she’d react to his return. Part of him suspected she might be a little bitter, but mostly he hoped she’d be happy he’d come home. So far, it wasn’t looking like that was the case.
Avery turned on her heel to leave, but Shane reached out and grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks. It was a move that happened so quickly he’d even surprised himself with it. Her delicate hand still fit inside his perfectly, and it felt so natural there. The feeling of her hand in his shot tingles straight up his arm.
“Let go of me,” she warned through thin lips. She twisted her hand free, placing it back on her hip.
“Obviously, there’s some unfinished business between us. Can’t we just talk and clear the air? It will make this weekend more enjoyable for everyone.”
“Unfinished business?” Her voice shot up an octave, and the couple who had come out to the terrace to snap a sunset photo quickly moved back inside. They were alone now, high atop the hill, just as the sky was turning shades of magenta and orange. To anyone else, this would have been a romantic setting. “You left town, and you never looked back. You made promises you didn’t keep. You never even called, not even when my father died, so I’m sorry if my concern is not in how enjoyable your weekend is.”
“I know, Ave, but if you could just let me explain myself.” His jaw clenched. Why was she painting him out to be the bad guy? He knew the way he’d left may not have been right, but he’d ha
d his reasons. Reasons that stretched far beyond getting too serious with Avery too fast, or his dreams of making it in the music business. Reasons that kept him away from Arbor Shores for far longer than he should have been. Reasons he needed to explain to make her understand.
“Listen, Shane.” She stepped closer, closing the space between them. She stood so close, their chests were almost touching. Seeing her up close sent electricity through Shane’s entire body. “It’s all in the past now, and that’s where I’d like to keep it. Let’s just stay out of each other’s way this weekend for the sake of Dax and Leila.”
“Fine, if that’s the way you want it.”
“Yes, that’s the way I want it,” she said, but he could swear he heard her voice shake. He watched as she turned and gathered up a stack of linens and headed back inside the resort.
Shane pushed both hands through his hair and kicked at something imaginary on the ground. Why? Why did she get under his skin so much? Man, was she stubborn, just as stubborn as he remembered. He couldn’t deny, it was that fire in her that attracted him to her in the first place. Shane turned and looked down the hill at the Beach Club below, memories flooding back.
Shane and Dax walked down the dusty path toward the Beach Club, inner tubes resting against their backs as they talked about their summer plans. It felt good to be seniors––finally––and they had every intention of making the most of their last summer in high school.
Down at the Beach Club, they headed straight for the pool, anxious to cool off. Dax’s younger sister, Avery, caught Shane’s eye. Her baby blue bikini with white polka dots accentuated parts of her figure he’d never knew existed. When had she grown up?
Avery was in the pool, laughing and playing chicken with her friends. She was a grade below him; she must have blossomed when he wasn’t paying attention. Her long chestnut hair cascaded down her back, and her tanned body was atop Darren Oberman’s shoulders. A wave of jealousy rippled through Shane. Up until that moment, she had always just been his best friend’s younger sister. Maybe it was the hormones, maybe it was being seventeen, but it was like he was seeing her for the first time. He dove into the pool and swam over to them while Dax and the rest of the guys went inside the cafe to order food.
