The Pleasures of Summer (34 page)

Summer struggled, trying to digest his words. Flynn’s family lived on the other side of the lake?

‘I’ve packed your things,’ Flynn said. ‘I’ll drive you there.’

Summer gave him a look that would have stripped paint. ‘If you think I’m going anywhere with you, you need your head examined.’ She levelled a look at David. ‘I presume you have transport?’

Summer had a fleeting vision of Flynn picking her up, screaming and kicking, and attempting to strap her into the Jeep. That was
not
going to happen.

David was watching the scene with a wicked grin on his face. ‘You tell him, Summer,’ he encouraged her. ‘Don’t let him get away with anything. Come with me and I’ll look after you.’

Flynn looked resigned. ‘Have you kept your weapons training up?’ he asked David.

His brother nodded. ‘I can still hit the bull’s-eye nineteen times out of twenty.’

‘If Summer goes with you, I’ll have to take the Jeep.’

Summer remembered the weapons and electronic equipment he kept there.

Flynn handed over his Sig Sauer. ‘Take this and use it at the first hint of trouble. Make sure she gets there in one piece. Understand?’ David nodded.

Summer picked up the bag Flynn had already packed for her. They were leaving the croft. She didn’t know if she was more hurt by his deceit or the casual way he was ending their time here. All she knew was that she couldn’t be near him.

Outside, the day was warm. The sun glittered off the waters of the loch. At the jetty a sleek motorboat waited. She remembered the days that they had rowed and fished in the old wooden boat and her heart dropped at the thought that those days were now over. Conscious of David’s curious gaze on her, she linked her arm through his and gave him her best flirtatious smile. Flynn could go to his very own place in hell. ‘Let’s go. I’d love a boat trip.’

David took her past the island where she had picnicked with Flynn. A few miles beyond, she noticed a few houses dotted about the hillside. ‘Turlochmor.’ David raised his voice to be heard over the engine. ‘It’s not far now.’

A small forest swept down to the lake and around the next headland David turned the boat and headed for shore. The curved roof of the house was the first thing she noticed. This definitely wasn’t a croft. The floor-to-ceiling windows ensured a panoramic view of the loch, and the local stone made it merge seamlessly into the rocky landscape. Large solar panels were positioned on the roof. Set slightly away from the house was a small
wind turbine. Whoever designed it had taste and money. Summer whistled.

‘Aye,’ David agreed, ‘but wait until you see inside.’ He moored the boat and helped her climb out. ‘Mam and Lorna are at church. I’ll give you the tour.’

In the grounds, they passed a sunken tub, set to give the bathers a perfect view of the loch. Inside, the kitchen was filled with sleek, high-tech appliances finished in stainless steel. The glass walls and stone floors should have made the place feel cold, but they were balanced with cedar panelling. The low, comfortable chairs strewn with mohair throws made the place feel cosy.

David opened one door. ‘I’m not sure where Flynn wants to put you, but I’ll leave your things here for now.’

The king-size bed was covered in crisp white linen and looked out over the lake. One wall was covered with family photographs and pictures of men in dress uniforms. Another wall held a shelf covered with trophies. A door opened onto an en suite bathroom, with a king-size claw-foot tub and a picture window.

‘It’s a beautiful house,’ Summer said.

‘It’s Flynn’s dream home, but he doesn’t get to spend much time in it. Niall keeps him very busy.’

‘This belongs to Flynn?’

A puzzled expression crossed David’s face. ‘Aye, Mam’s originally from Turlochmor. This house is built on our grandfather’s land.’

A car pulling up distracted him. ‘That’ll be them back from the town. I’ll leave you to unpack.’

When he was gone Summer sat down on the bed. Flynn owned this stunning house, but he led her to believe that
the tumbledown croft was his home. There was something deliberate, something contrived and cruel about the whole thing. The spoilt little rich girl needed to be taught a lesson and he had taught her well. What would have happened if David hadn’t arrived? How long would they have played house together before he came clean?

The worst thing was the realization that she would have been happy to stay at the croft, to live anywhere with him. She was in love with Flynn. Hopelessly, utterly in love with the arrogant Scot and he had played her for a fool all along. He had taught her to defend herself physically, but how could she defend her heart against Flynn, knowing that he didn’t feel the same?

Summer heard voices outside. She couldn’t hide in her room all day, even if she looked like a beggar, dressed in stained shorts and Flynn’s shirt with no bra. She ran a comb through her hair, but nothing could make her look respectable. She took a deep breath before going to meet his family.

Morag Mackenzie was a petite woman with thick, dark hair shot with silver. She smiled as she came forwards to greet her. ‘Well now, isn’t this just like Flynn, to turn up without saying a word. You’re very welcome, my dear, I’m Morag and this is Lorna.’

A slender blonde stepped forwards. She gave Summer a polite smile which didn’t quite meet her eyes. She carefully avoided looking at Summer’s clothes. Summer shook her hand, cringing when she compared her broken nails to Lorna’s perfect scarlet manicure.

‘Hi there. David says you’ve been roughing it up at the croft with Flynn.’

Her words were innocent enough, but Summer caught the emphasis on the word ‘roughing’. Did Lorna think she was someone he had just picked up?

She squared her shoulders and looked Lorna straight in the eye. ‘He insisted on somewhere remote. You know how paranoid bodyguards can be. I’m Summer O’Sullivan. Flynn is in charge of my security.’

‘You’re his client?’ The relief in Lorna’s eyes gnawed at Summer. Lorna was marrying his brother. Why would she be jealous that Flynn was with someone else?

‘
The
Summer O’Sullivan.’ Morag gasped and fluttered. ‘Oh my dear, I didn’t recognize you. Your hair and …’

She had almost forgotten about that. A month ago she had designer clothes and trademark long, blonde tresses that were a bit like Lorna’s. No, come to think of it, they were a lot like Lorna’s. The niggling doubt returned. Maybe she was just a physical type that Flynn liked. Summer ran her hand through her hair. She hadn’t had a decent bath in a month. ‘This was more practical, but I wouldn’t mind cleaning up. The facilities at the croft were a bit …’

She allowed her voice to trail away and Morag took the hint.

‘Why don’t you go have a nice long bath and I’ll start dinner.’

Relieved to make her escape, Summer returned to her room, ran a bath and stripped off her clothes. The bathroom was equipped with everything a girl might need. Toiletries, piles of towels and a fluffy white robe. She immersed herself in the warm water and sighed with pleasure.

Through the large window she had a perfect view of
the loch and the glen. There were no curtains, but then the nearest neighbour was miles away. It really was a perfect place. What a pity she didn’t belong here. Summer closed her eyes and lazed in the bath, letting the stresses of the day drift away.

A tap on the window made her eyes fly open. It was Flynn and the hunger in his eyes was unmistakable. He could go to hell if he thought that he could pick up where they left off. Summer stood up slowly, allowing the water to drip down her body. She stepped out of the bath and reached for a towel. Flynn could look, but he could no longer touch.

The sight of Summer’s wet, naked body made his cock twitch. She had given him a show deliberately, but he was betting that she had done it to spite him. She hadn’t forgiven him yet for the shock and embarrassment she had suffered when David discovered them. And the hurt expression on her face as she left with his brother nagged at him like a festering wound.

He had fucked up badly. Now he had to face his mother and tell her that he had been holed up in the croft with a celebrity for the past month. He would never hear the end of it. How the hell was he going to make up with Summer while the others were here?

Flynn caught the aroma of food as he entered the house. His mother’s Sunday roast lamb with garlic and rosemary was something he had missed. Morag would be beside herself at the thought of having a real live celebrity staying. He would have to warn her that she couldn’t tell
the neighbours about Summer. Maybe he would have time for a quick shower before she noticed he was …

‘Flynn Grant, and just when were you going to tell me that we were having visitors?’

Damn. He turned and followed his mother back to the kitchen. David had the good sense to make himself scarce but Lorna was there, watchful as a hawk. He nodded politely to her. ‘Lorna.’

‘How are you, Flynn?’ There was an edge to her voice that he hated. She was marrying his brother but there was still so much between them. How could David not see it?

Trying to distract her, he dutifully admired his mother’s orchids. He was away so often that he couldn’t keep a plant alive in the house, but his mother was a different matter. He had known soldiers who weren’t as tough and ruthless as she was when she entered a horticultural competition. Her latest prize-winning specimen took pride of place beside the window.

The pale waxy petals reminded him of Summer’s creamy skin, and the touch of pink at the centre reminded him of how she had been earlier, laid out for his delectation like a feast. His cock twitched again. He had to stop thinking about her like that. As if she were his. As if there were any possibility that they had a future together.

He became aware of the silence. His mother had obviously asked him a question and he had no idea what she had just said. He guessed that it was about Summer. ‘She’s a principal, I can’t discuss her. Sorry, Mam.’ He kissed her cheek, hoping to soften his words. ‘I’ll just go check on her.’

Check on her. He wanted to devour her. Damn David
for walking in on them like that. He had a lot of making up to do. He ducked into the small guest bathroom and showered and dressed in clean clothes, telling himself that he wasn’t putting off speaking to her, but he knew there was no avoiding it.

Flynn tapped on her door and stepped inside. Summer was lying on the bed, reading her Kindle. She sat up quickly and he could tell by the set of her shoulders that she was preparing for battle.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said.

She shot him a look that would terrify a regiment. ‘Don’t bother with the niceties. You’ve had your fun, but it’s over. Tell Niall that I want out of here.’

The hostility radiating from her was a physical thing that he could almost touch. She had resumed her spoilt heiress persona again, but he knew the real Summer was hiding just behind it. Ignoring her frosty glance, he sat down beside her on the bed and pulled her into his arms.

She lashed out like a wild cat, wild eyed and furious. Both of them were conscious that they weren’t alone in the house and their struggle was silent but violent, until the bed looked like a battleground and he had her pinned beneath him. His treacherous cock woke again, wanting nothing more than to be buried inside her. Summer was his. He knew that as surely as he knew his own name.

The hammering pulse at her throat told him that she wasn’t immune to him, despite her anger. He pressed his mouth against it and was rewarded with a throaty moan.

‘I hate you.’

‘I know you do,’ he murmured against her neck as he continued kissing her, using every trick he knew to give
her pleasure. He pushed her clothes aside and feasted on her breasts, sucking her tender nipples into hard peaks while she writhed beneath him. He couldn’t get enough of her.

A discreet tap on the door brought him to his senses. ‘Dinner is in ten minutes.’ David’s voice came from the hallway.

‘Hell,’ he muttered. He looked at Summer’s flushed face and parted mouth. How the hell was he going to sit through dinner? Flynn brushed his lips against hers in a tender caress. ‘I never meant to deceive you.’