Page 5 of Stolen Summer

The house’s pristine dove-gray siding glistened under the glow of the sun. It had an impressive five bedrooms and six bathrooms. My house could fit into any of the single rooms. Hydrangeas bloomed everywhere. I swore the landscaper bought every last plant in the state that year. White columns graced the entrance as well as the back patio. All the houses on the Strand had a private dock and pier. And the icing on the cake was the infinity pool. I’d never seen anything like it and sighed thinking about it.

I dreamed about that damn pool, especially on the hottest days of the summer when I was melting in my room.

I knew much about my neighbor's house, including how beautifully the rooms were decorated, even though we definitely weren’t friendly. They refused to look in my direction the few times my path crossed with the owners. I’d never been invited in, but I did have a bad habit of sneaking into places I didn’t belong. The first year I’d broken into the house next door had been out of spite. It had been months after my father’s accident, and I was so fucking angry at everything. I hated the world.

And I longed for an escape.

The house next door provided that refuge if only for a short while. When I’d snuck around the large empty rooms, I could pretend to be someone else—have a different life. It let me forget my problems, my worries, and my burdens if only for a few hours.

So, whenever I needed to step out of my life, I slunk off next door. What a waste to let such a spectacular home go unoccupied for such long periods. A damn shame. In my mind, I was doing the Rileys a friendly service by breaking into their house.

If they hadn’t wanted anyone to wander in, they shouldn’t have used such a stupid code to unlock the doors. Our zip code was hardly creative. How cliché.

Rich people.

Biting the spoon between my teeth, I mulled over an idea. It had been months since I strayed next door. I’d been too busy with work and school to have any free time to myself.

But it was summer break, and it was so fucking hot.

It had a pool—a sparkling, cool, very vacant pool.

Surely, a dip wouldn’t hurt.

I mean, who in their right fucking mind built a home like that to only use three or four weeks a year?

The Rileys were very routine in their visits. They would be down for their annual Fourth of July party, which was three weeks away.

Fuck it.

Why the hell not?

It had been a long day, and nothing sounded better than to end it with a quick dip before settling inside for the night.

Scooping up the last dripping bit of pie, I set the container aside and stood. Forgoing shoes, I stripped off my socks, tossing them near my abandoned sneakers. The last thing I wanted was to try getting them back on my swollen feet.

Hot sand squished between my toes as I padded down the beach toward the Rileys’ house. No fence broke up our property lines, only towering trees and hydrangeas. Lots of fucking hydrangeas. But they smelled fantastic under the sinking sun, perfuming the salt air with their floral sweetness.

I squeezed between two pencil evergreens and let myself in through the stone and iron gate. I stared at a slice of heaven. My heart literally beat in excitement.

The houses on the Strand were a decent distance apart, and the trees offered nice coverage from creeping neighbors. Stripping off my clothes, I went to the edge of the water and dove in, not bothering to test the temp. Anything had to be better than this sweltering heat.

Cool bliss washed over my face and skin, the water slicing along the contours of my body as I moved, diving deeper into the pool’s depth before breaking the surface for air. I came up smiling. The pool company did a fantastic job maintaining the water year-round. Its crystal blue color shimmered under the waning sun. I could see to the bottom.

I did only a few laps. My body had suffered more than enough after being on my feet to put it through any serious swimming. Wading in the deep end near the infinity edge, I leaned my elbows onto the ledge and gazed at the view. I lived here my entire life on this beach, and as much as I wanted to escape Fallen Oaks and all the memories haunting me, this view was the one thing I never tired of.

Feet dangling in the water, I rested my chin on my hands and closed my eyes. A minute might have passed. Perhaps two when I heard the distinct sound of water splashing, followed by a ripple in the pool that hadn’t come from me.

What the hell?

Chapter Two

My heart went from the calm I’d been searching for all day to hammering in my chest. Holy fuck. I whirled, doing a quick scan of the backyard before searching the pool. A dark figure glided in the water toward me.

I was no longer alone.

My gaze followed the shadow as it drew closer. I should get out of the pool. I should get out of the pool now.

Twisting, I braced my arms on the edge to hoist myself out when cool fingers closed around my ankle. I squeaked right before water rushed over my head and I was dragged under, almost swallowing a mouthful of pool water.

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