Free Extreme Love Makeover by Barbara Witek Page A

blonde. My body burned under his gaze and my insides sizzled from being so close to him. I was suddenly reminded of my own dirt-stained t-shirt clinging to my skin as my nipples saluted their long lost lover. I crossed my arms to cover myself. He did not need to see me like this.
    “Sidney Edwards, is that you?” He leaned closer and I backed away, or tried to anyway with Freddie right behind me. “What are you doing here?”
    “Visiting a friend, if you must know,” I tried to sound flip, but my brain fogged over and I dropped my gaze to the socket wrench in my hand. We hadn’t seen each other in so long, yet it felt like only yesterday as we stood in the rain with our big old awkward silence. “What about you?” I nodded toward his scrubs.
    “I work here.” He smiled his I-should-do-toothpaste-commercials smile, and I had to stomp the urge to throw myself at him. Even after all this time, he was still so incredibly hot and able weaken my self-control in an instant. How could that even be possible after what happened?
    There was a time we’d been so good together. I recalled how at the end of every summer I’d return to my home on Long Island and count the days ‘til our next summer vacation. Each purple “X” on my calendar brought me one day closer to Mitch.
    “I like what you’ve done to your hair. That color red suits you.” Mitch reached out and pulled at a soaked garnet-colored strand, bringing me back from my memories.
    I laughed a little and eased my head back, letting the hair slip through his fingers and onto my shoulder. “Just changing things up a bit, you know me, always looking--”
    “For something new,” he finished my sentence. “Yeah, I remember all too well.”
    Ouch. That stung a little. It seemed safe to assume that embracing me was probably the last thing on his mind right now. Then again, what was I expecting after all this time? Twelve years ago, I’d never stuck around to deal with the aftermath. Mitch had to clean up the mess. In all fairness, he deserved a jab or two at my expense.
    Maybe someday we’d be able to move beyond what happened. Then I could tell him how important he and his family had been in all the decisions I’d made. His father had been the one who’d mattered most.
    Every summer Mr. Case treated me more like a daughter than my own father knew how to. He spent time with me, even when Mitch was off with his friends. My dad, to this day can’t relax and enjoy life. Dad’s focus has always been, and will be, business instead of family.
    While Cape Vincent had been my family’s summer place, it wasn’t their livelihood. Seeing the rewards from my dad’s hard work founded my dreams and ambitions, unlike Mitch, who lived here year round and seemed more than happy with the laid back lifestyle. While I’d treasured my time spent here, I wanted to do more with my life, which had ultimately squelched my thoughts of settling down.
    The damage had been done as far as Mitch and I was concerned. Too much time had passed. There was no turning back even if seeing him again stirred up all those old emotions.
    Mitch had a job at the hospital now, which was a surprise in itself since the Mitch I knew wasn’t that motivated. He was, however, a smooth talker when he wanted to be. He probably wore the scrubs to make the girls think he was a doctor. I could only imagine the women he’d conned with that quick-witted charm of his.
    Another rumble of thunder sounded, reminding me how uncomfortable I felt standing here in the rain and thinking of the past. Mitch had to be on the same page, because he cleared his throat and glanced around the vacant parking lot. I followed his gaze then returned mine to my truck. Forget memory lane. For all I knew he already had the wife, the dog and 2.5 kids. My heart seemed to stop for a moment before it barreled like Niagara Falls into my stomach.
    Reality check, I scolded myself. Serves you right, Sidney.
    “So...everything all right