Page 33 of Summer Affair

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “My pleasure.”

As they stood there under the soft glow of the parking lot lights, Dean realized something. He didn’t just care about Andrea as a friend. His feelings for her were much deeper than that. And he was determined to show her just how much she meant to him.

“Tomorrow?” she asked with a sigh.

“If you’re up for it,” he said, holding his breath.

Her smile was quick. “Don’t back out on me.”

He shook his head and chuckled. “Not again.”

“Good, be at my place at ten.” She pointed at his chest, and they both glanced over to see Amy and Brad’s car leave the parking lot.

Andrea’s entire attitude changed in an instant. She was far more relaxed now than she’d been all night.

“Tomorrow.” He leaned in and kissed her softly.

“Tomorrow.” She climbed into her car.

Chapter Ten

Andrea looked around her beach house the next morning, making sure everything was in order before Dean arrived. The sound of the waves crashing outside her window was a soothing background melody, and she couldn’t wait to spend the day with him. She had packed simple food for their beach picnic, including a variety of sandwiches, fresh fruit, and some homemade cookies.

It was finally full summer, so the public beach area was already crowded. The beach behind her place, however, sat empty. She missed watching people come and go after the laws had changed and the public wasn’t supposed to use the beach in front of her house. She had put up signs telling beachgoers that they could enjoy her beach if they wanted. Sometimes people did, and they often waved at her or left her gifts and tagged her place in photos.

Today, the weather was perfect and she was looking forward to some relaxation and fun with Dean.

It was just before noon when Dean knocked on her door. She’d changed outfits at least a dozen times and had finally settled on a black-and-white striped bikini with a flowing white coverup. She’d braided her hair in one long braid that lay over her left shoulder and had added her sunhat to her beach bag.

Dean was dressed pretty much like he always was at work during the day. Board shorts, flip-flops, and a camp T-shirt. His hair had grown a little longer and was flopping in his eyes when she opened the door.

“Looks like you need a haircut,” she teased.

He chuckled. “Yeah, it was on my list to do today. I’d much rather be spending it on the beach. I need a day off.”

She motioned for him to step inside. “We can head out the back. I’ve packed us a lunch.”

“I brought the drinks.” He held up a small cooler.

“Perfect.” She grabbed her beach bag and the cooler that held their lunch and snacks.

“What can I carry?” he asked her as they stepped outside on the deck.

“This,” she said as she handed him one of the bags she had packed. She grabbed her beach chairs and umbrella from the back deck as they made their way down the long staircase that led to the beach far below.

They walked down to the beach, the white sand warm beneath their feet. The teal waters glistened under the midday sun, inviting them in. They set up the umbrella and chairs at the edge of the wet sand, creating a small oasis for themselves.

She spread out the towels and pulled out the lunch she had packed then pulled off her coverup. Dean pulled off his camp shirt, and they settled into their chairs.

“I’ve missed just chillin’ on the beach,” he said. While she pulled out food, he added, “The food looks great.” Dean shifted his feet in the sand.

“Thanks,” Andrea replied, passing him a sandwich and a bag of chips.

While they ate, the conversation flowed easily between them. She felt so comfortable around him that she opened up about the recent pressure her mother and sister had been putting on her to find a different job.

“They just don’t get it,” she said, after finishing her sandwich. “I love what I do here. I love River Camps. But they think I should be doing something more ‘prestigious.’ They even tried to talk me into opening my own place. Like I have that kind of money lying around.” She rolled her eyes.

Dean frowned. “You’re amazing at what you do. Don’t let them make you feel like you’re not. Don’t let them dictate what makes you happy.”