A Summer to Remember(14)

Life was so fleeting and times like this—just taking a stroll through my family’s summer home in the Hamptons—took my mind off Kevin and what happened at Vassar. It also erased that huge hole in my heart. I was still loveable and there was someone out there for me. Perhaps I would meet him tonight.

That made my heart beat a bit quicker even if the only person I was lying to was myself.





Chapter Five



I studied myself in the full length mirror before I turned to my “good” side versus my “bad” side. I looked healthy and due to the time in the sun, my dyed hair had gained even more blonde streaks which was always a good thing.

However, I knew I would be limiting my time in the sun from then on out. I had the perfect golden tan and I had no wish to go overboard, not to mention sun damage that would have my youthful skin looking liked aged leather by the time I was in my fifties.

My mother religiously avoided the sun and her skin was gorgeous. It was easy to think it was okay to sun worship at my age. I knew if I wanted great skin well into my later years, I would have to ease up on the booze and the sun.

There was a sudden knock on my door and I yelled, “One moment!”

I quickly began to put away the dresses, still on their hangers, back in my closet. I didn’t know whether it was a woman’s intuition or just plain old logic but I knew it was Paul at my door.

“Come in!” I exclaimed after I sat down and began to study my face in the vanity mirror to make sure my makeup was absolutely perfect.

I’d decided to wear dark eyeliner, mascara and red lip gloss for my lips. I looked naturally attractive instead of a glamorous City chick and that was fine by me.

The door opened and closed behind him. I made it a point not to look at him even as he walked over and stood above me though he was behind me. I started glossing my lips again though they didn’t need any extra gloss just to have something to do with my hands. If they were free, they might act in a way I might regret for the rest of my life.

“I’m assuming Jude doesn’t know you came to personally accompany me downstairs?” I inquired as I closed the container of lip gloss and stuck the tube in my clutch purse.

“No. I needed to see you alone because I didn’t want you to freak out when we got to the club.”

I laughed though there was very little mirth in it and the act obviously made him uncomfortable enough to slip his hands in the pair of black jeans he wore. He looked dashing and very sexy, even I couldn’t deny this. His close-fitting, perfectly structured jeans were finished off with a white silk shirt that clung in all the right places and although he had a few buttons undone, he wore not a speck of jewelry. It was so very obvious we were part of the “summer crowd”, the money crowd with parents who were worth not just millions but hundreds of millions—and in the case of both our families, billions.

I didn’t know exactly how my father made his money other than he owned a major share of CDG Investments at one time and sold his share to his partners. It was, obviously, the same firm my brother worked for now. Paul’s paternal grandparents came from old money. On his grandmother’s side of the family, the money had been earned through various West Virginia coal mines her family once owned and had long since sold. The money on his grandfather’s side came from a Pennsylvania steel company.

“Why would I freak out or be upset about tonight? We’re all going to have a good time and as a group of friends. I promise no improprieties from me will happen towards you what so ever.” I turned around to face him and tried my best to wear a cordial smile on my face. “I don’t mess around with men in relationships—it is a firm policy I stick to religiously.”

“Yes, I know but Ashley has come down with her group of friends and she is going to meet us at the Beach Bar. I didn’t want you to feel like I’d betrayed or lied to you so I wanted to tell you myself,” he explained in a soft yet deep, melodic voice.

Our eyes met in the mirror as I turned away from him and steeled my own out-of-control emotions. “That’s great she was able to make it.”

Paul opened his mouth to say something else when Talia barged through the door and stood there, her hands on her hips while she worked her Christian Louboutin platform sandals she wore which matched a black velvet bustier top combined with a pair of tight violet Capri skinny jeans.

“Jude’s looking for you, Paul.”

He smiled at me before he turned away and walked out.