Summary
Revenge is sometimes best served . . . in bed
When Lacey Mason was six-years-old, her family moved to the Hamptons. A beautiful location, for sure, but not much fun when you’re the only kid in the area. When Lacey stumbles upon her next door neighbor, Luke Drake, on the beach it is instant friendship. For the next four years they spent almost every waking hour together. But just as summer inevitably turns to fall, all good things must end. When Lacey’s family sells their house and leaves the Hamptons, the pair vow to always stay in touch. But a dramatic meeting when they are teens leaves their friendship in tatters and Lacey’s heart broken.
Fast forward seven years, and 22-year-old Lacey returns to the Hamptons. During a night out partying, who does she run into? Luke Drake. The only thing is Luke doesn’t recognize her. At first, Lacey thinks it’s hilarious—a case of karma finally catching up with the golden boy—but then she realizes that all the feelings she’s buried for so long aren’t going to stay buried . . . especially when she and Luke are thrown together by internships at their family run company, Drake-Mason Pharma.
Luke Drake wants to be anywhere but the Hamptons, and he certainly doesn’t want to be interning at his dad’s company. Luke’s got a secret plan: make enough money to break away from his controlling father and strike out on his own. Then one night he sees a girl at a club, and after an incredible night together, he discovers that the mystery girl is his childhood friend: Lacey Mason. He knows what he did to her when they were teenagers was wrong and is determined to spend the summer showing Lacey that he’s changed . . . and that they belong together.
However, family secrets, including the one that ended their friendship in the first place, may prove to be too much, and Lacey may not be willing to let Luke break out of the friendzone.
EXCERPTS
EXCERPT ONE
“What do you want?” The brunette asked. Her annoyance was blunt and like acid churning in my stomach. She made a point to look anywhere but in my direction.
Not a good start.
Needing a change in attitude, I shifted my attention elsewhere.
“Who’s your new friend, Rach?” I asked.
“Huh?” Multiple glances were exchanged between Rachel and the girl I was determined to win over. “Is he serious?” she asked Justin. “He has to be joking.”
“I’m not? And that didn’t answer my question. What’s your name, pretty girl?”
“What did you call me?” she asked, bewildered, as her head snapped upward. Finally. I had caught her attention.
“Pretty girl,” I repeated and offered my hand. “I promise I meant it as a compliment. I’m Luke.”
She stared at my hand like I was going to bite her if she took it. Justin and Rachel were laughing behind me, and this girl’s smile twitched like she might join them. The smile was a good sign. I was getting somewhere. She was a ten. With that smile, an eleven.
I grinned to play along. “So, about that name . . .”
Her infectious laugh returned. Her head shook no. If she was friends with Rachel, I would get her name, eventually. Rachel didn’t live that far from my father’s place.
“Fine.” I kept my hand extended. “I don’t need a name to dance with you.”
She turned to Rachel, bursting with more laughter. “This is actually happening. This has made the entire night worth it. This is really happening, right?”
Rachel, equally enthused to the point of tears, nodded yes.
Well, I had made their night. I wasn’t claiming victory yet, but it was a step in the right direction. She was amused, at the very least.
“Does that mean I get your name?”
“No. It doesn’t.” She looked up at me, finally giving me more than well-deserved eye contact.
The connection made my chest expand, followed by a feeling of déjà vu. She swallowed hard—she was feeling it too. Not only did she seem familiar but the entire conversation did.
EXCERPT TWO
“So, I get it,” she said, finishing her thought, ignoring my comment. “Everyone wants you to be your dad. Everyone wants me to be my mom.”
We sit in silence for what could have been minutes or an hour; who knows? No one came looking for us. My dad probably knew I would act like that. My plans were destroyed, and part of me wondered if he knew about them all along. The only person who had known was Justin, and he wouldn’t say anything to anyone. I was risking not only my reputation but the reputation of the Drake name, for what that was worth anymore. I had lost respect for it long ago.
“I don’t think I can go back in there. I think I’m just going to call Justin and get out of here. I didn’t mean to mess up your tour.”
Lacey pursed her lips, setting the tip of her pointer finger on them and tapping them. “What if we both left?”
“And went where?” I was amused at the thought, knowing she wasn’t serious. She was looking forward to spending the day in this hellhole.
“Who cares!” She practically bounced in her spot. With her eyes widening in excitement, I could have sworn they became an even brighter shade of blue. “We can Uber back and get your Jeep. Let’s just take a drive and see where it takes us! I have a purse full of Jolly Ranchers and uncomfortable shoes. We’ll escape the Drake-Mason shadow for a day. What do you say?”
My dad was going to be furious about this, which made the idea more appealing. Plus, I was getting exactly what I wanted. I got a day with Lacey, and one that was all her idea. She wanted to spend the day together.
“Okay, pretty girl. Let’s take a road trip.”
Review
Read more“Our history remains unresolved and now more complicated.”
