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PROLOGUE
Ten years ago
Colleen leaned her head against the pillow of the pool float and ran her hand through the cool water, making lazy circles. She should get out soon. She’d promised to help her mom get dinner ready, but she wasn’t motivated to move. It had been a scorching hot day. The kind of heat that bakes the concrete and seeps through the rubber soles of your flip flops. It was late afternoon now, and at last, a breeze had picked up and the temperature had dropped.
Opening one eye, she looked around. She had the backyard all to herself. Finn must be inside with the rest of them. Finn O’Connor.For years, the O’Connor family visited Los Angeles every summer. But Finn and his mother didn’t come last year. And Mr. O’Connor hadn’t been here for several years.Maybe it was because she hadn’t seen him for a year, but something had changed during this year’s trip. For the past two weeks, Finn and Colleen engaged in playful flirting and secretive glances.
Earlier this afternoon, she’d been helping with lunch, arranging a platter of watermelon slices, and singing along to her favorite song.
Finn walked in and came to an abrupt halt. He didn’t say a word, he just stared at her.
She had on a new bikini, but she’d worn bikinis around him before, so this was nothing new. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked, glancing up at him.
“Absolutely nothing,” he answered, leaning against the counter with his arms folded over his chest. His leisurely gaze traveled up her legs to her eyes. “You look like aSports Illustratedmodel.”
“What’s that old saying? Take a picture, it lasts longer,” she said with a toss of her head, doing her best to appear casual.
Finn’s lips lifted into a languid smile. “Believe me. If I had a camera, I would definitely take a picture.”
Colleen averted her eyes, her face flushed with heat. She’d never noticed a boy look at her with such obvious appreciation, and her body stirred with awareness that she was the one who had this effect on him.
“Who wants their picture taken?” Sean rushed intothe kitchen holding their dad’s camera.
“Not me, I’m busy,” Colleen said, picking up the platter. She took a peek at Finn, who remained quiet with a calm expression.
“C’mon, Coll. This is Finn and his mom’s last day here. Dad asked me to take some pictures.”
“Here, let me,” Finn said, taking the camera from Sean and holding it up to his eye.
Knowing Finn looked at her through the camera’s viewfinder, adjusting the lens, increased her self-consciousness.
“Smile, Colleen,” Finn said, glancing up. “Just for me.”
Maybe it was the spontaneity of the moment, but the thought of pleasing Finn made Colleen breakout in a huge grin.
That was hours ago. Settling back on the float, she adjusted her bikini top and took a deep breath, her thoughts drifting back to Finn’s sexy smile and perfect body. God, she had to stop this fixation with him. Either way, it didn’t matter because by this time tomorrow he would be back home in New York.
The sliding patio door opened and closed. So much for solitude.
A huge splash sprayed her with water.
“Hey,” she cried, sitting up, expecting to see one of her brothers. Instead, Finn’s face hovered nearby.
“Oh,” she said.
“Hi.” He casually ran a hand through his wet hair. “I like your swan float. It suits you.” He gave her a killer smile.
That smile should be illegal because it was a major distraction. Pulling herself together, she leaned up on her elbows, said, “Lucy gave it to me for—”
The patio door slammed open. Her brothers poured out of the house, shouting and jumping into the pool.
Not again, she thought with annoyance. It was impossible to have any kind of privacy around here.
“Can we talk later?” Finn asked while treading water.
“We’re talking now.” She splashed him with a handful of water.
“I mean later.” Finn tugged the swan closer to him, saying in a low voice, “Just you and me. After dinner.” Finn’s face was so close to hers; she could see the tiny drops of water clinging to his eyelashes.
