AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Food vendors sold everything from hot dogs to popcorn and lemonade.There were usually rows of handicrafts and locally grown vegetables and flowers, but Maureen and her friends only gave them a cursory glance as they made their way to where the action was.
The dance floor.
“The band issogood.I don’t know how I’m ever going to dance in this.”Sue Ann had opted for the black lace dress that might not be at all like anything Madonna ever wore, but it was going to be very difficult to dance in.Maureen was happy she’d opted for the denim skirt and white sleeveless blouse—with plenty of bracelets, of course.
“You’ll be fine.”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.Come on.”Sue Ann pulled her toward the dance floor as soon as they got close enough.“Let’s dance.”
“With who?”
“With each other, silly.”Sue Ann grabbed her hands and spun her around and around until they were both out of breath and laughing.
“Okay, okay.”Maureen pulled herself away from her friend.“I need a break.Let’s go get a lemonade.”
“You go.”Sue Ann waved her away.“I’m not ready yet.”Sue Ann grinned at Maureen and danced her way toward a circle of girls they knew from summers past as also beingsummerkids.
During the summer season, Cedar Springs was made up of two groups: the locals and the summers.Maureen and her family fell into the latter group, having spent all of her summers since she’d been a small child in the big wooden house on the lake.
The two groups would mingle occasionally, but for the most part, there were clear dividing lines, and it was unusual to see new faces in either group.But that didn’t keep Maureen from dreaming, the way teenage girls did, that this would be the summer a new, handsome young man would show up in town and sweep her off her feet.
She’d been dreaming especially hard this year, as she was newly graduated from high school and, as she’d tried to tell Sue Ann earlier, ready for aman.She’d had enough of the silly boys from home, and although she wouldn’t turn down the prospect of a summer romance, her eye was on the fall, when she’d finally be able to leave home for college and start her adult life.
Maureen watched Sue Ann and the other girls for a moment before turning away with a laugh and going in search of the lemonade stand.
“One please.”She placed her order and began digging in her purse for the change to pay for her drink when an unfamiliar voice stopped her.
“Make it two.”
Her head snapped up and the words of protest she’d been planning to speak died on her lips as she stared into the deepest, greenest eyes she’d ever seen.
She stood unspeaking as the boy—no, the young man—handed over the money to pay for the drinks.He took a paper cup and handed it to her.It was only then that she found her voice once again.“I can pay for my own drinks.”
“I have no doubt you can.”
Maureen looked at the refreshment in her hand and back to the unfamiliar face.
“A simple thank-you would do.”His eyes sparkled, and his lips twitched up into a grin.
Maureen found herself smiling in return.“Thank you…”
“Adam.”He extended his free hand.“It’s nice to meet you…”
“Maureen.”She put her hand in his, and immediately a flash of heat shot through her.She’d only read about such things in the novels that she and Sue Ann would sneak from their mothers’ nightstands.Never had she guessed such a thing existed in the real world.
She didn’t release his grasp, but instead looked from their joined hands, up to his face and back to their hands.
“Maureen.”
The way her name slipped from his lips mesmerized her.Or maybe it was the touch of his skin on hers.Or maybe it was just him.But she seemed to have the same effect on him.She didn’t know how long they stood there staring at each other, but finally, someone jostled past them to get a drink, and the spell was broken.
Her hand slipped from his, and they were forced apart.There was a moment of irrational panic, and then Adam was there, his hand lightly on her back.“Maybe we should get out of the way.It’s a little quieter over there.”
Maureen let him lead her to an empty picnic table.
“I’ve never seen you here before,” she said once they were seated facing each other.“Are you visiting?”
“I guess I am.”He shrugged one shoulder.“I’m visiting my aunt and uncle for the summer before…well, I guess before I have to become an adult in the fall.”He laughed.
