Falling For the Bad Boy: A Steamy Second Chance Summer Romance (Summer Secrets Book 1) Read online

  Falling For the Bad Boy

  Summer Secrets Book One

  Emma Tharp

  Copyright © 2020 by Emma Tharp

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Prologue- Falling For the Single Dad

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Emma Tharp

  One

  Jenna

  Memorial Day

  "I’m telling you, if I do nothing else this summer, I’m going to get laid,” I say to my twin sister Hannah as I unpack my suitcase. “I refuse to go to college in the fall a virgin.”

  Her jaw opens wide, distorting her beautiful face. "Did you just say what I think you said? My goody-two-shoes, bookworm sister wants to lose her V-card this summer?" Her tone is patronizing.

  I don't know what I was expecting. Hannah lost her virginity when she was fifteen. Dating and socializing with guys has always come easy to her. Throwing a balled-up pair of socks at her, I say, "Close your mouth or you’re going to start letting flies in. You know how many bugs are around the Cape right now."

  She stuffs her jean shorts in the middle drawer of her dresser and has to push it closed with her hip. "Sorry if I sound surprised, but I can't help it. I didn't realize that losing your virginity was so high on your priority list."

  "Going to an all-girls high school didn't help the cause, and since I’ll be at Boston College this fall, I don't want to be the only girl on campus who's never had sex." It's not like I set out to remain abstinent through high school, it's just how things ended up. Hannah is right. I did spend the majority of my time with my close girlfriends studying. She went out with friends all the time and had more opportunities to meet guys. And now with college looming in the fall, this is something I want to check off my list.

  "That's understandable. Who did you have in mind?" Hannah asks. She’s moved from unpacking to applying a coat of mascara in the mirror of her vanity. Her makeup application is always stellar, setting off her emerald-green eyes. This summer, I’m going to make an effort to step up my makeup game. Maybe I’ll ask her to help me. She and I are fraternal twins, but have many similarities. Same height, and nearly the same weight. Our eyes are different shades of green, but our bone structure is so similar there are times people think that we are identical twins.

  "That's the thing. I don't know."

  Every summer we come to The Cottages on Cape Cod. Everyone owns their little piece of beachfront so we end up seeing the same people year after year.

  "What about Leanne's brother, Martin? He looked pretty good last summer."

  I wrinkle my nose. "No. Leanne wouldn't be happy about that. The last thing I need is girl drama this summer."

  Hannah jumps on her bed and lies back, scrolling through her phone. "What about Sterling Thomas?" She flashes me a picture of him from last summer.

  "Um, no thanks. The mustache he was sporting creeps me out. It gives him such a porn star vibe."

  Hannah tilts her head back and laughs out loud. "Maybe a porn star is exactly what you need."

  Reaching into my drawer, I pull out another pair of socks and throw them at her head. "No way. Who else is there?"

  "Even though Charlie Stevens is hot, I wouldn’t recommend him. We made out last year and his tongue reminds me of a snake. It slithered around my mouth and there was saliva everywhere." She frowns and sticks out her tongue, moving it around in an S over and over again.

  "Gross. I'm afraid there isn't anyone here that I'm interested in," I sigh, resigned to the fact that there's a good chance I'll be leaving on Labor Day without accomplishing my goal.

  When I think of losing my virginity, there’s apprehension and fear of the unknown. Hannah told me that it does hurt the first time, which I’m not looking forward to. And my friend, Alice, said that her first time was so awkward, she couldn’t wait for it to be over with. So, I’d like to get the first painfully awkward moment over with so I can go off to college, looking forward to meeting someone that I can start a relationship with and have a second, hopefully more enjoyable go at it with.

  "Don't worry. There's always the tourists," Hannah reminds me cheerfully.

  "True. I should keep my options open.” I plop down on the bed beside her. “What about you? Do you have your eye on anyone special this summer?"

  She presses her lips together and shakes her head. "No one in particular, but I do have one requirement. He has to be older. I'm tired of the immature boys I've been dating."

  “Okay.” There’s sarcasm in my tone, primarily because I can only wish that I had a boy to be tired of. I’m not jealous, per se. Not of any of the guys she’s dated, just that she doesn’t need to worry about getting it over with.

  "Girls." My mom sweeps into our room in her pink plaid J.Crew skort and white polo shirt, her blonde hair freshly blown out. "You know Daddy won't be here until the weekend, but I want to go out to dinner tonight. Where should we go?"

  She tells us this like it's news to us. My dad is barely ever around during the week. He works his ass off—that's why the Hutchins Group and Holdings is so successful. And it's also why we’re able to live like we do, never wanting for anything.

  Mom will spend her time this summer playing golf and tennis with friends, working out with her trainer, and lots of afternoons at the club sipping martinis with the other ladies of leisure—chatting about their hard working husbands and the latest Cape gossip.

  "Let's go to The Crab Shell," I suggest. I think I remember that one of the servers was good-looking last summer.

  "Does that sound good to you, Hannah?" Mom asks.

  She shrugs her shoulders, still scrolling through her phone. "Sure."

  Mom claps her hands together. "Perfect. Let's kick off this summer, girls. I have a feeling it's going to be a good one."

  There's a little stirring in my belly. It's excitement and hope. I think I'm really going to pull this off. I don't want to leave this summer disappointed.

  Two

  Cam

  Getting off my motorcycle, I take my helmet off and place it on the seat. I stretch my arms over my head and take a deep breath of briny sea air. Past the cottage, the view of the pristine beach, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean’s Nantucket Sound, blows me away.

  My insides feel like they’re vibrating—humming with anticipation of what’s to come. I've been waiting three years for this. I'm finally eighteen. It's finally time.

  I take my bag off the back of my bike and bring it inside of cottage number fifty-two. It’s right down the road from the one my family used to own that’s blue now instead of yellow. The second I passed the old place, I was transported back five years—the last time we were at Cape Cod. We’d c
ome spend every summer. The Cottages have it all: upscale housing, a private beach, pools, mini-golf, hiking trails, shopping. And it’s close to Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. I always had good times here with Mom, Dad, and my brother, Max.

  "You made it. How was the ride?" Al, the caretaker of our old cottage, walks into the room, comes up to me, and shakes my hand. I appreciate that he doesn’t look me up and down or stare at my ink. Last time I saw the guy, I was a clean-cut kid training for the Junior Olympics. Things have changed.

  "It was uneventful. Great day for a ride. The place looks great. Thanks for letting me stay this summer. How have you been?" I ask. He has to be seventy years old, but he still has most of his hair and he's in pretty good shape. He’s been taking care of many families’ cottages here for as long as I’ve known him. Mine always treated him like family. I was pleased when I reached out and asked if I could stay with him. Without hesitation he said yes, and wouldn’t allow me to pay him. I’m going to find a way to make it up to him, though.

  "I'm doing well." He looks down at the floor, then back up at me. "I was sorry to hear about your dad. How has your mother been?"

  My throat constricts, like it always does when anyone brings up my father. He died suddenly of a heart attack three years ago. He didn’t have a will in place and Mr. Hutchins, his business partner, screwed us over. It was a nightmare. We lost everything.

  Grief and pain take up too much room in my chest. The only thing that has tampered it has been planning for this summer. It’s what allowed me to sleep at night and make it through my days. There is a certain amount of peace that comes with knowing I’m going to get revenge.

  Getting tattoos has also been therapeutic for me. They aren’t cheap, but I have a friend who’s an artist, so he’s done a few for me and I put aside money each week toward my next piece. Before Dad died, I only had one. Now, I can’t even count how many I have. They serve as a reminder to me, to take each day as they come. I have one in remembrance of my father—his name, and birth and death days—and in some ways it helped me in my healing process. The last tattoo I got, the artist took me through a breathing technique that was like meditation. It was an experience like no other. But no amount of ink can extinguish the pain. I know what will though.

  "Mom is okay. We've been getting by," I tell him. She’s been so distraught since Dad died. She had no idea how much money was going out or coming in. She only ever knew about her allowance. When that disappeared, the debts piled up.

  We had to move out of our house and into a small apartment. Our carefree lifestyle changed drastically. Mom was able to get a modest job as an administrative assistant. Thankfully, my grandparents have helped out as much as they can and I got a job at a local restaurant. Max is away at college on a scholarship, which is good. He’s where he needs to be. We’ve been able to scrape by financially.

  But that's why I have to take things into my own hands. I've been waiting to turn eighteen. I've been waiting for this for three years. Now that I'm here, I can finally get revenge.

  Al comes closer to me and rests his hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "No couple was more in love than your parents. I'm so sorry." He removes his hand and clears his throat.

  “Thank you. I appreciate that.” He’s right. I used to be grossed out by my parents’ public displays of affection. Dad would grab Mom’s ass all the time and she’d always have her hands all over him. Max and I would sigh and roll our eyes, but the truth is that they were a great example of a loving couple, and even better parents. Our world shifted when Dad died—and it hasn’t been right since.

  "Please tell your mother hello for me when you talk to her. And let her know I miss her pies. She always made the best lemon meringue."

  "I sure will." It's hard seeing the pity in his eyes. It's like pouring gasoline on the flames.

  It’d be nice if Mom would come and see Al and make him a pie. She hasn’t baked or done much of anything that she used to enjoy since Dad died. I’m hoping that being home this summer, alone, without me distracting her will help her heal—maybe she can go out on dates or something to help her move on.

  He smiles. “I want to say I'm proud of you, son. You're such a go-getter for coming here to earn money for college. I know Hutchins screwed you guys over."

  The flames get higher and my blood pumps harder. But I'm not going to let Al know about my plan. He wouldn't approve.

  I'm doing this for myself.

  Glancing at my watch, I cringe. “Damn. I have to run. I’m going to be late for the lifeguard meeting.”

  Three

  Jenna

  The smell of someone’s coconut tanning oil and the sharp tang of the over chlorinated pool floods my senses. Sweat trails down my chest as I reposition myself on my lounge chair to get a better view. My Cape Cod friends and I decided to hang out poolside today instead of the ocean due to the highly anticipated beginning-of-the-season lifeguard meeting. We like to come every year to see if there will be any summer eye candy.

  Someone shouts, “cannonball” a split second before they break the surface, rippling the water and suddenly, I’m doused with lukewarm water. Normally getting splashed would annoy me, but today, it’s quite refreshing.

  "Anyone catch your eye?" Juliann asks as she slathers her pale skin with more pasty-white 100-SPF lotion.

  Scanning the back corner of the pool area, I take note of all of the guards. "Not really," I sigh. Most of them are returning from last year. None interested me then, and it doesn’t look like they will now, either.

  “Are we going to use Uber Eats for lunch, or do you guys want to go into town? I’m starting to get hungry,” Juliann says, patting her nonexistent stomach.

  "I don’t care. I’ll eat anything. Wait, did Freddie Johnson get more buff or is it just me?" Hannah asks, shifting her chair to change positions in the sun.

  Taryn lifts her sunglasses and sets them on the top of her head. "Looks like it. He's kind of hot. Why don't you go for him, Jenna?"

  I wrinkle my nose. His hair is a little too perfect and he looks like he just stepped out of the J.Crew catalog. I'm hoping for someone a little bit rougher around the edges. "No, I don't think so. But if you think he's so cute, why don't you ask him out, Taryn?"

  She tugs a small bag out of her purse and opens it. It's full of several different shades of nail polish. She chooses red and starts shaking the bottle. "I don't know. I'm still kind-of dating Oliver."

  "Your boss? Still? I thought you ended that months ago. It unethical. Not to mention, he’s so much older than you," Juliann huffs. She’s the most goody two-shoes of all of us sitting here. In fact, she's the only one who doesn't agree with my decision to have sex before college. She thinks that I should wait for someone special or for marriage.

  "I don't think it's such a bad idea to date someone older. I'm tired of younger guys and all of their immaturity," Hannah chimes in. She paws through Taryn’s nail polish bag then takes out a coral color.

  "Dad will love that. And he's going to love it when you tell him you want to take a gap year." I laugh, imagining the dirty look on my father's face when she finally works up the courage to talk to him about her choice. My parents think she’s all set and ready to go in the fall. She filled out the application and was accepted to art school. I’m not sure if they’ve paid a deposit yet. I certainly hope not. It’ll only make things worse for her.

  Hannah rolls her eyes and taps the nail polish bottle against the palm of her hand. "Just because you’re going to Boston College in the fall to get your business degree so you can eventually work with Daddy does not mean you’re perfect."

  "Touché." I roll my eyes. I’m far from it. But, in Dad’s eyes, I know I’m the daughter he doesn’t have to worry about. The one who will always make the right choice. I’ve always been the bookworm, the rule follower, and the one who does what’s asked of her without question. My sister likes to push Dad’s buttons.

  Juliann adjusts her red ponytail and re
positions the brim of her enormous straw hat to block out all of the sun's rays. "I think that taking a gap year is a perfectly normal and healthy idea. Personally, I can't wait to get to Stanford to start my engineering physics degree this fall, but not everyone knows what they want to do with the rest of their lives when they're eighteen years old. The expectation is ludicrous. Take your time, Hannah. Your dad will understand."

  Hannah applies a layer of polish to her nails and starts to blow on them. "If only our father was that evolved in his thinking."

  "Yeah. He's really not,” I agree, grabbing my towel to wipe the sweat off my forehead. “I think I'm going to have to get in the water soon. I'm melting out here." As soon as I say it, my attention drifts to a guy walking toward the lifeguard meeting. There's something about his demeanor, his swagger that steals my focus. He has blond, spiky hair and tattoos up and down his arms.

  "We can get in now," Juliann suggests.

  "In a minute," I say, unable to take my eyes off this guy. When his gaze finds mine, my mouth goes dry. His eyes are sapphire blue, deep and intense, and there's something more behind them that I simply can't read. In that moment, I know that I have to figure him out. I want to take him apart and put him back together like a puzzle so that I can learn every intricate part of him—to understand his story. It sounds crazy, but it's like a crushing desire in my chest and it's all from one stare. A glance.

  If it’s possible, my skin feels flushed, hotter than before as the guy’s eyes scan my bikini-clad body. His gaze holds weight and it feels like it’s unraveling me. Sucking on my bottom lip, I cross my legs to extinguish some of the heat.