“So you caught the bouquet. Does that mean we’re in trouble?”

  Summer smiled as Devin pulled her close. “Depends. Are you the marrying sort?”

  “Maybe. But you know what I definitely am? The dancing sort. Come. Dance with me.”

  He took her hand and before she could argue, Devin pulled her out onto the floor. The band had launched into a slow number and Mandy and Richard and a sea of other couples were spinning around each other. She wrapped her arms around Devin’s neck and let him take the lead.

  “Has coming back to Midnight Cove been worth it?”

  The question startled her and she stumbled a step. “What?”

  “You heard me. Are you happy you came back?”

  She smiled. “I am.”

  “Happy you walked in on us in the dressing room?”

  She bit her lip and glanced down at Devin’s orchid boutonnière. “Yes.”

  “Still up for coming home with us tonight?”

  “You know—”

  “Mind if I cut in?” Blake slid up to Summer’s side and held out his hand. Oh, my. It never failed to surprise her. Two men vying for her attention.

  She let Devin go with a smirk. “Guess you’ll just have to wait to find out, won’t you?”

  “I don’t know if I’ll survive, Ms. Crenshaw.” He clutched at his heart in mock despair and Summer bit back a laugh as Blake spun her around.

  “Then I guess I’ll have to pick up your slack.” Blake grinned at Devin and twirled Summer again and they were lost in the dancers.

  The pair of them. Always in competition, but still friends. Willing to share her and everything that meant. She’d never get used to it, but that suited her fine.

  She glanced up at Blake and ran her tongue over her lips. “Are you happy I came back?”

  He never even paused. “Yes. More than you’ll ever know.”

  “Me too.” She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Ending up back in their arms. Dancing at her best friend’s wedding. Perfect.

  The song ended and as Blake paused, the band cranked up the bass. Oh, no. It can’t be.

  Mandy whooped from the other side of the reception hall and Summer braced herself. “Be ready.”

  “What?” Blake looked confused.

  “If you don’t want to do the electric slide, I’d run. Quick.”

  Mandy bounded up and grabbed Summer by the hand. “Come on. You’re in the front row with me! You too, Blake!”

  He held up his hands. “That’s alright. I’ve, uh, got to find Devin.”

  “Suit yourself!” Mandy tugged Summer to the front of the dance floor and before she could blink, they were sliding and clapping and slapping their feet. With every step, more and more guests filled in, until at last, the whole dance floor was packed. Leave it to Mandy to get the party started.

  Summer scanned the crowd, looking for Blake or Devin, but she came up empty. Oh, well. They could sit this one out.

  * * *

  BLAKE

  Blake leaned on the rail and sipped his scotch. Standing up at the altar with Summer right across from him and Devin to his left—it wasn’t easy. Listening to the minister remind everyone that relationships were based on honesty and self-sacrifice? Worse. But dancing with Summer at a wedding, surrounded by the who’s who list of Midnight Cove? Torture.

  He’d been an imposter through it all. Pretending nothing was on his mind. Dancing through a make-believe world Devin seemed more than comfortable to live in. He wanted Summer to move back—to stay. But she needed to know the truth.

  “Weddings aren’t your cup of tea?”

  Shit. Blake turned and forced a smile on his face. “Ms. Crenshaw, hello.”

  He held out his hand toward Summer’s mother, but she merely looked at it and snorted. After a beat, he pulled it away. Guess that answers one question. “Summer tells me you bought a condo here. Overlooking the lighthouse.”

  “Yes. I’m planning to use it as an investment property. A vacation rental.”

  Blake nodded. Could this get any more awkward? “Well, if you’ll excuse me—”

  “I’d like to talk you a moment.”

  Apparently, yes, it could. Blake pressed his lips together. “About what?”

  “You know perfectly well what. My daughter. You need to break it off with her. Stop this silly game you and that partner of yours are playing. Let her go home.”

  Blake snorted. “You mean back to New York?”

  “Yes.”

  “She hates it there.”

  Jane straightened up. “She does not.”

  Blake shrugged. “That’s what she told me. And you know what? I don’t blame her. She doesn’t fit in with the art crowd there. She doesn’t even have any friends. She’s lonely. What kind of a life is that?”

  “Better than one where she’s screwing around with two men who have no intention of settling down.” She clapped her manicured hands in front of her and her red lips thinned into a line.

  “You’ve got the wrong idea.”

  “Oh, have I?” Summer’s mother reached for the handrail and took a deep breath. The gray pearls around her neck reflected the lights from inside and lit her face in a ghastly glow. “It seems to me you’re hell bent on causing a scene. Disgracing my daughter any chance you get.”

  Blake’s nostrils flared. How dare she. “You’re wrong. I’d never hurt Summer.”

  She snorted and rolled her eyes. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I know a hell of a lot more than you.” Blake ran his hand back and forth over his hair until the short strands pricked his palm. “I’d never shove my daughter into a cold apartment in New York. Force her to paint in a style she hates. Demand she get in with galleries I’ve selected. I’d let her make her own choices. Live her own life.”

  “Summer is living her own life.”

  “No, she’s living the one you’ve laid out for her.”

  “And what you’re offering is somehow better? A chance to get her heart broken all over again?”

  Blake bit the inside of his cheek. He wanted to reach out and strangle her. Take those fancy pearls and rip them until they scattered all over the floor. Instead, he gave her a tight smile. “I would never do that.”

  Ms. Crenshaw scoffed. “Right. And all the rumors about the two of you, those are what? Made up?”

  “Summer left. Walked out on us. If she hadn’t, we’d never have—there’d never—” Oh, fuck it. She wanted to know why he wasn’t leaving her daughter alone? Why he wouldn’t just walk away because she asked him to? Fine. Let her choke on it.

  He turned to her and waited until she met his stare. “I love her, Ms. Crenshaw. I’m hopelessly, stupidly, and irrevocably in love with your daughter.”

  She didn’t even flinch. “Then do what’s best for her and break it off. Otherwise, she’s going to end up hurt. You think any gallery will take her when they find out what she’s up to? Cavorting with two men? It’s scandalous!”

  Blake shook his head. He’d never get anywhere with the woman at this rate. He drained the rest of his scotch and gave her a nod. “Sorry to hear you think so, Ms. Crenshaw. But I’m not walking away from Summer. Not when I’ve just gotten her back.”

  He turned on his heel and stormed off the balcony and back into the reception. Damn it. If Summer’s mom had heard stories about them, he needed to find her. People were probably gossiping all over the damn ballroom. If he didn’t find her soon and tell her everything…It would all blow up in his face.

  * * *

  SUMMER

  Summer assessed her reflection in the mirror. She’d consumed her fair share of champagne, strawberries with dollops of crème fraîche, button mushrooms stuffed with something out of this world and then shimmied and twirled until she could burst.

  It’d taken all her self-control to walk to the bathroom instead of bust into a sprint. Thank God it’d been empty.

  She washed her hands and pulled out her lipstick. A quick reapply, some mascara clean-up, and she’d be good to go. Ready to party until the sun came up.

  As she swiped the dark pink across her lower lip, the door opened.

  “Well, look what the cat dragged in. I’m surprised you’re not out on the floor, figuring out how to do the three-way tango.”

  Great.

  The stuck-up blonde walked up to the counter and unzipped her bag. Her off-white dress showed off miles of plumped-up cleavage and Summer couldn’t help but stare at the mirror. How did her girls stay put? Toupee tape? Surgical glue?

  She shook her head and finished with her lipstick. “Hello to you too, Ivy. I’m surprised you wore white. Isn’t that reserved for bitchy mother-in-laws or, you know, the bride?”

  Ivy smiled but it wasn’t friendly. “It’s not white. It’s almond. And it’s my best color. Besides, Ian said it was fine.”

  Summer snorted. “Ian has about as much know-how around women as you do around bars.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  The outrage on Ivy’s face was plain. Shit. Summer needed to lay off the champagne for sure. Too much always made her cranky. She stuffed her lipstick in her clutch and snapped it shut. “Nothing. Forget it.”

  Ivy palmed her hip and turned to face Summer. “No. You know, I’m not going to forget it. You’ve been gone what? Four years? And you waltz back in here like you own the damn place and everyone in it. Where do you get off?”

  Summer rolled her eyes. “I don’t need to rehash this with you. I get it. You don’t like me.”

  Ivy huffed. “What can I say? You’re bad for business.”

  “You mean the bar?”

  “Of course. I’ve invested my time. Effort. Ian’s money. And you show up and Blake and Devin forget all about it. First the lifeguard station, now Mandy’s wedding.” She looked Summer up and down with a sneer. “They’re out on the dance floor pawing you like a cheap cut of meat. It’s disgusting.”

  Summer’s eyes went wide. “I’m sorry?”

  “You should be. Have you no tact? Class? You think you can hook two men? That they won’t move on to the next hot piece of ass as soon as you’re gone? Think again, honey.”

  Summer crossed her arms so she wouldn’t throw a right hook. “I know they won’t. They love me.”

  Ivy’s blue eyes rolled so high her pupils disappeared. “They love how easy you are. This isn’t any more than a little trip down memory lane.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Ivy licked her lips. “Is that so? And how much do you know about them? What they’ve been doing the past four years. Who else they’ve fucked? Cause let me tell you sweetheart, you aren’t special.”

  God. Ivy was even more obnoxious than she’d given her credit for. The nerve of her. She needed a reality check. Big time. “I already know about you and Devin, Ivy. And I don’t care. He dumped you.”

  “What about Blake? Or the pair of them together?”

  Summer’s confidence faltered and she frowned. “What of them? So they had a hookup. I don’t care. It’s not like I was a nun.”

  Ivy grinned. “You don’t know, do you?” She laughed and the red of her lipstick against her teeth made Summer think of blood. “How long did they wait until after you left to jump into bed with someone new? Do you know?”

  “I don’t care.” Summer dug her nails into her arm and forced herself to breathe. She’s just riling you up. Ignore it.

  “Well, what if I said it was a matter of days? Hours, even?”

  Summer swallowed. Despite forcing her body to stay still, her heart beat faster and faster. Ivy stood there like a cat with a canary, gloating and grinning. “It doesn’t matter.” She wished she’d said it louder. Stronger. Or that her feet walked her right out the door. But she couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

  Ivy stepped closer and the gleam in her eyes was pure hate. “What if I told you it wasn’t a fling? That it wasn’t with some random girl they picked up at a bar?”

  “Spit it out, Ivy.”

  Ivy picked up her purse and turned toward the entrance. The silk of her dress flounced around her toned thighs as she walked. Teasing. Mocking.

  When she reached the door, she turned around. “If you really want to know, you should just ask the bride. From the way Ian tells it, she didn’t leave their bed for two weeks.”

  Ivy pulled the door open and Summer’s mouth fell with it.

  “It’s funny, with you all being so close, I would have thought you’d know. Guess you weren’t as tight as I thought.” Ivy spun around and swished out the bathroom in a swirl of tan and white.

  It can’t be true. It can’t. The door swung shut and open, shut and open, slower every time. She watched it until it stood still. Motionless. Like her heart.

  She rolled her lips back and forth and ran through the past in her mind like a video replay. She’d left in a whirlwind all those years ago. Determined never to come back.

  Mandy had driven her to the airport. Told her she’d see her again when classes started up. Two weeks. Summer’d hugged her, sobbing, begging her to call every day. And she had. Sometimes twice.

  Are you okay? How are you holding up? Getting enough sleep? Good food? I’ll be there soon. Stay strong.

  She’d been a quasi-mom through the phone line. Her best friend thousands of miles away. And through it all, she’d been…fucking Blake and Devin?

  Summer leaned back on the counter and gripped the edge. All this time she thought she’d been the one. The woman who fit between them. The only one they could…share. Blake fucking her against the rock. Summer on her knees with Devin’s cock in her mouth. Both of them taking her in the kitchen. Their kitchen.

  She choked on a breath. Guess I was wrong. About Devin and Blake. Mandy. So many things.

  With her clutch gripped in one hand, she pushed herself off the counter. There was only one thing to do.

  She wasn’t going to be made a fool of anymore. Not that night. Not the next day. Not ever.

  Chapter Thirteen

  SUMMER

  Summer busted out of the bathroom fighting back a wave of tears and nausea. Just get out of here before anyone sees you. Mandy can go on her honeymoon, Devin and Blake can go to hell. You can go back to New York. She skirted the open doors of the reception hall, keeping to the hallway and run-walking toward the exit.

  Cool night air and the smell of the ocean. That’s what she needed. She’d take a walk. Regroup. Book an earlier flight to NYC. Easy.

  “Summer! There you are!”

  Shit. Mandy’s voice echoed down the hall. Summer kept walking.

  “Hey! Wait up! I can’t run in these heels! Summer!”

  She slowed.

  “Don’t tell me the crab dip made you sick! Summer!”

  Five feet from the door, Summer stopped. She wanted so badly to pretend everything was fine. To smile at Mandy on her wedding day and ignore the tumult inside her.

  With a deep breath, she turned around.

  Mandy stuttered to a standstill. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

  Summer swallowed. “I’ll be fine. I just need some air.”

  “I’ve been looking all over for you. We’re about to cut the cake. I didn’t want you to miss it.”

  “I’m sorry Mandy. I have to—I’ve got to go.”

  The bride frowned. “Not until you tell me what’s going on. I want my best friend in there. It’s my wedding.” She crossed her arms and crushed the pleated tulle of her bodice.

  “I can’t—Mandy—you don’t want me in there.” She scrunched her eyebrows and wrung her hands and tried to come up with something to say. But all the anger and tension and confusion welled up inside. If she didn’t get away from her best friend, she’d burst.

  “Is it your mom? Did she say something?”

  Summer snorted. “No. For once, my mom had nothing to do with it. In fact, I probably should have been listening to her all along.”

  “What’s that supposed to—Oh my God. Did you have a fight with the guys? Did Devin do something? Blake?” Mandy reached out, but Summer shook her off.

  “I don’t know, Mandy. I guess I should be asking you. Apparently you know them a whole hell of a lot better than I thought.”

  Mandy’s arm fell to her side. “What are you talking about?”

  Screw holding back. If Mandy wasn’t going to say it, Summer’d just do it for her. “You know damn well what I’m talking about. Were you just not going to tell me? None of you? How many people know? The whole town?”

  “Who told you?” Mandy’s voice came out in a tortured whisper.

  “Does it matter?”

  “It does to me.”

  “Oh, and I suppose that should still carry some weight with me? Well, if you must know, it was Ivy. Your brother has a big mouth.”

  Mandy closed her eyes. “Summer, I’m sorry. If you’ll just let—”

  “You explain? What’s there to explain? I leave town and you jump into bed with them. Did you even wait ’til the bed was cold? Change the sheets?” Summer glanced toward the door. “I can’t believe I came back here.”

  “You’re my best friend, Summer.”

  “Then why couldn’t you tell me? You called me non-stop when I left. Asking how I was every single day. You counted down until class started, telling me to just hang on for a few more days. Why would you do that?”

  “Because you were hurting. I thought I was helping.”

  “You showed up at campus like nothing had happened. Like you’d been dying to get back to school. How long had you been fucking them? Before I even showed up here?”

  “No!” Mandy stepped forward and grabbed Summer’s arm, yanking her until she looked up. “It wasn’t like that. They were devastated when you left. I didn’t mean for it to happen. It just did.”

  “Sure, Mandy. Whatever you say.”

  “Damn it, Summer. It’s the truth.”

  Summer inhaled through her nose and reached for Mandy’s fingers. One by one, she pried them off her arm. “Don’t you have a cake to cut? I’d hate for you to keep your new husband waiting. Or the groomsmen. I’m sure they’re eager to see you too.”