“Summer!” Mandy’s eyes shimmered under her scrunched brow, but she didn’t say anything more. At last, she dropped her head. “Fine. Do what you have to do. I need to go.”

  Her best friend stepped back and let out a breath. “Don’t throw everything away because you’re mad. It was years ago. They love you.”

  Summer barked out a laugh. “That’s what I thought back then, too, and look where it got me. My three best friends screwing each other behind my back.”

  Mandy sniffed. “I never meant to hurt you.”

  “Go back to your wedding, Mandy. Everyone’s waiting.”

  “This isn’t over. We need to talk.”

  “You know my phone number. You can call and ask me how I’m holding up.”

  Mandy took a step back.

  “There you are! Come on babe, everyone’s waiting.” Richard strode up and took Mandy by the shoulders. One look at her face, and he frowned. “Everything alright?”

  Mandy tried to smile. “It’s fine. Summer’s not feeling well. She’s going back to her room.”

  “Oh.” Richard glanced Summer’s way. “Sorry to hear that, Sum. It’s not the food, is it? I can call the cook and have him—”

  Summer held up her hand. “It’s not the food. Probably just a weekend bug.”

  Richard looked relieved. “Well, that’s good, I guess. Hope you shake it off.”

  She nodded. “Thanks. I’ll be fine once I’m back home.”

  “Good.” He turned to his bride. “Come on, let’s go.”

  * * *

  BLAKE

  Blake stalked down the hall, opening doors to side rooms and closets. He’d even scoped out the kitchen. No Summer. Where is she?

  The longer he searched, the more his unease grew. Something happened. He couldn’t imagine her mother’d gotten to her—she’d been too busy ripping him a new one. Had she fought with Devin? Tripped over a rug and twisted her ankle? Drank too much champagne?

  She couldn’t have just run out on them. Not again. As he rounded the corner to do another sweep of the ballroom, he almost careened into Devin.

  “Shit man, what’s going on?”

  Blake ran a hand over his hair. “I can’t find Summer.”

  “So? Maybe she had to take a leak.”

  “No. Something’s wrong. I can feel it.” Blake paced back and forth, hand rubbing his buzzed hair back and forth as he thought. Where else could she be?

  “Oh, well if it isn’t Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. Out looking for the white rabbit, are you?”

  Blake ground his teeth together and leaned in toward Devin. “She’s your ex. Deal with her.”

  Devin side-eyed him but walked her way. “It’s not a good time, Ivy. Go find Ian and enjoy the party, okay?”

  “Oh, I’ve already been doing just that. But it doesn’t look like your boyfriend over there is having such a good time.”

  “Blake’s not my boyfriend.”

  “Oh, right. Silly me.” Ivy fake laughed and put her hand on her chest. “He’s just the guy you screw women with. What a shame your repeat customer’s not around. The three of you made quite a show earlier. Who’s idea was that to walk down the aisle? Yours or the bride’s?”

  Blake’s anger flared. “What’s it any business of yours, Ivy?”

  “Last time I checked, I’m opening a bar with the two of you.”

  “No. Ian’s opening a bar with us. You’re just window dressing.” Devin crossed his arms and scowled.

  Ivy snarled. “See? This is exactly what I’m talking about. Before she showed up, everything was fine. On time. But with that woman around, all the two of you do is think with your dicks. You’re going to fuck it all up and it’ll be that chubby little wench’s fault.”

  Blake turned on his heel and stormed up to her. He stopped an inch away from her face and clenched his hands at his sides. “I’ve never punched a woman, Ivy, but for you I might make an exception.”

  Ivy rolled her eyes. “And Ian would throw your ass in jail so fast you couldn’t stand up. You should be thanking me, not chewing me out.”

  Shit.

  Devin stepped forward. “Lay off, Blake.” He reached out to grab Blake’s arm, but Blake shrugged him off.

  “Not until she tells us what she did.”

  “Hey! What’s going on? Is there some problem?” Ian hustled up to Ivy’s side. He might be Mandy’s brother, but the similarities ended with the blonde hair. He was one of the few men in Midnight Cove who could give Blake a run for his money. “Blake, what’s the issue?”

  Blake stepped back. The last thing he needed was to fight with Ian. His girlfriend might be a bitch, but he liked the guy. He nodded at Ivy. “Ask your girlfriend. Seems she’s been sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.”

  Ivy shifted her weight on her stiletto heels.

  “Ivy? What’s he talking about?”

  She glanced up at her boyfriend and back at Blake.

  “What did you do to Summer?”

  She reached for a lock of hair and curled the blonde strands around her finger. “I might have run into her in the bathroom.”

  Blake’s nostrils flared as he breathed in. “What. Did. You. Say.”

  Ivy poured on a too-sweet smile and reached for Ian. “Do we have to do this now? I hear the band. Let’s go dance.” She tugged on his suit jacket, but her boyfriend stood still.

  “Answer Blake’s question. Please, Ivy.”

  She glanced up at Devin, but he merely scowled. No one was bailing her out this time. At last, she sighed. “I told her the truth.”

  “About what?”

  “What happened when she left.”

  Ian mumbled a curse and ran his hand over his pulled-back hair. “You promised, Ivy.”

  She shrugged. “Someone needed to tell her! As soon as she showed back up look what happened! Devin and Blake start messing things up! The permit was denied! Pretty soon the whole bar is going to fall apart. All because of her!”

  Blake swallowed. “You told her about us and Mandy?”

  “I had to!” Ivy stepped forward. “Don’t you see? She’s bad news!”

  Blake opened his mouth, but Devin reached out and held him back. “The only bad news around here is that we ever agreed to go into business with you. I’m sorry, Ian. As far as I’m concerned the partnership is over.”

  Ian scrubbed his face with his hand. “You have no idea the damage you’ve caused, Ivy. I thought I could trust you.”

  “You can!” She reached out and clawed at his jacket. Her manicured nails sunk into the blue wool and her voice turned tinny. “I did it to help you!”

  “No. You did it to hurt Summer.” He pried her fingers off his jacket and stepped back. “She’s my sister’s best friend! How could you?”

  Ivy snorted. “They can’t be that close. Mandy screwed those two behind her back! I did everyone a favor.”

  “You sure did.” Ian pulled out his phone and turned to the men. “I’m sorry, Blake. Devin. You all do what you need to do. As far as I’m concerned, the bar is a bust.”

  Blake nodded. “Thanks, man.”

  Ian turned back to Ivy. “And as for us? I never want to see you again. Not in Swallow Tail. Not here in the Inn. Not walking down the street. Nowhere. You understand? You’re dead to me.”

  Ivy paled. “You don’t mean it.”

  “Try me.” He swiped open his phone and started typing.

  “But—but—I helped you! I talked to Brad about the permit! Shoved my boobs in his face to get him to reconsider.” Ivy stepped back on wobbly legs. “I went out on a limb with everyone I know to spread word about the bar. And you’re—dumping me? Because of Summer?”

  Her eyes bugged out and she looked at each man in turn. “What’s so special about Summer? She’s a fat chick who paints the ocean for God’s sakes.”

  Ivy’s eyes went wide and Blake turned to see a large man in a suit advancing down the hall.

  “Is there a problem Mr. Knowles?” His voice boomed out.

  “Yes.” Ian waved him forward. “Will you please escort this woman from the premises? She’s not invited.”

  “Certainly.” The man held out his arm as Ivy gawked.

  “You’re kicking me out? Ian!”

  “Goodbye, Ivy.”

  The burly man took her by the arm. “Come with me, please.”

  “Get your hands off me!” She batted at his fingers with her purse. “You can’t treat me this way.”

  Ian cocked his head. “Would you rather I call the police? I’m sure they’d love to lock you up in the drunk tank for the night.”

  Blake swallowed a laugh as Ivy’s mouth fell open in outrage. He watched her stumble down the hall with the security guard until they both disappeared from sight.

  “I’m sorry, guys. I never thought—” Ian started to apologize, but Blake cut him off.

  “It’s okay. The truth needed to come out. I just wanted to be the one to tell her.”

  Devin patted him on the back. “It’ll be okay. We’ll find her and explain.”

  Ian chimed in. “Dev’s right. I’m sure she’ll understand.”

  Blake exhaled. “If it were any other woman, I’d say you were right. But Summer? She has a tendency of running away instead of thinking.”

  Ian nodded. “If there’s anything I can do—”

  “We’ll let you know. Thanks.”

  Mandy’s brother nodded and headed back into the reception.

  “So what the hell do we do now?”

  Blake looked up at Devin. “We find her.”

  * * *

  SUMMER

  Summer shoved her toes further beneath the sand. How had she let herself fall for them? Again?

  It was bad enough the first time—she’d moped through her senior year of college in a self-made funk. Sad and depressed and focused on how she’d screwed everything up. Sleeping with two men? Who does that?

  But now? Now she’d gone and given them her heart. Now she had to drag herself back to New York and leave a part of herself behind. A tear slid down her face and landed on her dress. It fanned out in a circle, staining the blue silk with a salty ring.

  “Summer.” Blake’s voice carried over the waves and Summer wiped at her face. She wasn’t giving him the satisfaction.

  “Go away.”

  “No. Not until you talk to us.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about.”

  “Yes, there is.” Devin crouched next to her and she rolled her eyes.

  “Fine. How many times did you screw my best friend?”

  “A few.”

  “Before I slept with you?”

  “No. Never.”

  She snorted. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” She stared at the ocean waves cresting out in the distance as the lighthouse’s light spun around. Every minute, it washed over the shore and lit up the three of them like a beacon of clarity.

  She’d been so blind.

  Blake crouched on the other side. “We’re sorry, Summer. We should have told you.”

  “You’re damn right you should have.” She kicked at the sand. “Did you all date?”

  “No.”

  “Then what was it? Fuck buddies?”

  Blake hung his head as he balanced his forearms on his thighs. “More like a three-way pity party.”

  “Right. And I’m a supermodel.”

  “It’s true.” Devin offered. “We’d spent all summer together. You and Blake and me. We’d fallen so hard. That night—Blake and I thought—”

  “You’d finally scored?”

  “That we’d found the one. You, Summer.” Blake reached out, but she shied away. He dropped his hand.

  “Must have changed your mind pretty quick.”

  “Blake’s right. When you ran away—we tried. Don’t you remember? All the calls? Emails? Letters? Shit, I even booked a flight out to see you.”

  Summer blinked. “You did?”

  “Yeah. Blew all my savings just to fly out.”

  “I never saw you.”

  Devin nodded. “I got a call from your mom. She…talked me out of it. Said you’d already moved on. That I should too.”

  “So even my mother was in on it. Figures.”

  “Summer, please. Give us a chance.”

  She closed her eyes. “I did, Blake. I came back here determined not to see you. Talk to you, nothing. But there you were. And like an idiot, I let you both back in. My mother was right. I never should have come back here.”

  Blake reached for her hand and before she could tug it away, he grabbed it. “Summer. Look at me.”

  “That won’t change anything.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Please.”

  Summer blinked back a fresh a wave of tears and opened her eyes.

  “I love you. I want you in my life.”

  Devin leaned forward and took her other hand. “I love you, too. We were idiots all those years ago. We should have tracked you down, refused to let anything get in our way. Showed you how much you meant to us.”

  “Instead you screwed my best friend.”

  “And we’re sorry. But, please. Don’t give up on us.”

  Summer pried her hands out of both men’s grips and pushed herself up to stand. “I’m sorry. I just don’t think there’s anything worth saving. I’m done.”

  “Don’t say that.” Blake reached for her, but she batted him away.

  “Just go. Leave me alone. I head out Tuesday. I don’t want to see you again. Go find some other woman to fall into bed with.” She picked her shoes up off the sand and shook them off. “I’m sure there are plenty of drunk women inside you could take home right now.”

  She pushed past both men and headed for her room. As she stepped onto the stairs, the lighthouse’s beam lit up the beach. She knew she shouldn’t turn around. Shouldn’t look. But she couldn’t stop.

  Summer turned and bit back a sob.

  Blake and Devin stood out in the sand—a pair of handsome groomsmen in tuxes, stark against the ocean waves. A perfect picture. Too bad she’d never paint it.

  Chapter Fourteen

  SUMMER

  The sweater slipped from her grasp and she bent to pick it up. A few more clothes and she’d be packed.

  “Do you need some help, dear?”

  Summer shook her head. “No, Mom. I’ve got it.”

  “Good.” Her mother adjusted her skirt and folded her hands in her lap. “I’ve decided to come back with you.”

  “You have? I thought you were spending all month here.” Summer folded the last dress and added it on top.

  “The ocean views are lovely, but this isn’t the town for me. Not when it seems to bring you so much heartache.”

  Summer frowned. Was her mother being nice? “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Don’t mention it. Besides, tourist season is just beginning. No sense in missing out on a whole month of rental income when I can come back to New York.”

  Ah, there we go. Even in Summer’s darkest hour, her mother had a way making everything about herself. “I see.”

  “I’ve spoken with a few other galleries. Specter’s interested in some of your abstracts.”

  Summer nodded. Of course they are. “I’ve never been interested in abstract work, mom. You know that. I only painted those because you asked me to.”

  “With good reason. Galleries want that sort of work right now.”

  Summer sighed. “I know.”

  Her mother smiled at her and the corners of her eyes wrinkled. “You should come back to New York. Regroup. Pick a new style. Become the artist you’re meant to be.”

  “What if I’m not meant to be an artist?”

  Her mother’s smile deepened. “Then you can figure out something new. Reinvent yourself. Use this whole weekend as closure on this part of your life. I know some of your father’s old coworkers would love you have you.”

  “I am not going to law school.”

  “It was just a thought.” Her mother checked her watch. “Well, I’ve got to go. I’ve got a spa appointment.”

  Of course you do. “Okay.”

  Her mother stood up and smoothed her skirt. “Think about your future, Summer. What it is you want to make of your life. I’ll see you when you get back to the city.” Her mother leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

  Summer patted her stiff back. “Thanks for coming by.”

  Her mother smiled again and headed for the door. “Be sure to call before you come to the flat, dear. I’m going to be in and out working on the foundation gala.”

  “I will.”

  The door to her room shut and Summer slumped down on the bed. Was this what she had to look forward to?

  Going home to New York and scheduling visits with her mom. Afternoon tea in the parlor while she listened to her mother go on and on about this gala and that silent auction. Never once falling into bed with Blake’s arms wrapped around her. Devin’s lips hot on her neck.

  She beat the top of her bed with her fists. Damn them! Even if she accepted their apologies, how could she trust them? Every time they fought, she’d wonder. Did they run out to some bar and hook-up with the first woman they saw? Someone she knew? Her best friend?

  Pinching the bridge of her nose, she willed the tears away. I’m not crying over them. Not again.

  She stood up and flipped the lid of her suitcase shut. One more night. I can make it through one more night. As she stood up, a knock sounded on her door. She frowned. I didn’t order room service.

  She walked over and looked through the peephole. Odd. Summer pulled the door open and a delivery man smiled. “Ms. Crenshaw? I have a delivery for you.”

  “Um…okay.”

  He held out a clipboard and she signed on the line.

  “It’s right here. Watch out, it’s kinda awkward.” The man stepped to the side and in a second was back, carrying an oversized paper-wrapped parcel.

  Summer’s stomach flipped. “Who is this from?”

  The man carried the package into the room and leaned it against the wall. “Let me check. He flipped the sheet over and glanced at the bill. “Doesn’t say. Want me to call in and check?”