Free A Special Summer (Love Conquers All) by Victoria Wells Page A

gripping the armrest so tight he was sure fingernail prints would be left in the soft leather.
    “If you’re hot I can turn the heat down or off.”
    “I’m fine now.”
    Nick studied her stiff profile. “You sure?”
    Summer nodded her head. “Yes.”
    Nick knew she was far from being fine. She would probably be fine with swimming in the middle of the ocean with sharks than to be in such tight quarters with him.
    Nick shrugged his shoulders and tapped the steering wheel with his fingers to the tune of the song playing on the radio. He was never going to get Summer from Center City to Oak Lane with the magnitude of the blizzard. Now was just as good as any time to tell her since they hadn’t moved two blocks in the last ten minutes.
    “You know you’re not going to make it home.”
    “I know,” Summer whispered. As she peered out the passenger side window, a single tear slid down her cheek. Quickly she wiped it away before Nick could see it. She hadn’t been quick enough though. He saw the tear before it even fell.

Chapter 7
     
    A fifteen-minute drive to Nick’s waterfront penthouse had taken over an hour because of the bumper-to-bumper congestion. Everyone on the roadways was trying to make it home in what was becoming the worst storm of the season.
    The congested traffic irritated Nick to no end. Silently the pair rode the elevator to the top floor, twenty-four stories. As they stepped off the elevator into a contemporary living room, Summer was glued to the spot where she stood.
    At one time, Nick’s penthouse had been like a second home to her. She was familiar with every square foot of the spacious luxury dwelling. However, this did nothing for the level of uneasiness she was presently experiencing. Summer felt out of place, she wanted nothing more than to be at home curled up on the sofa drinking hot chocolate as she watched old movies.
    It was written all over her face, she’d rather walk on hot coals barefoot than be secluded with Nick in his tower.
    As he shrugged off his coat, he instructed Summer to do the same. Trudging in the snow and then waiting in it had completely saturated her pants from the ankles up to her mid-calves. She was not surprised when he said, “Your pants are wet. You need to take them off.”
    Summer looked down to inspect her pants, which was useless; her protruding belly obscured her view. She had been so preoccupied with thoughts of home she hadn’t noticed the
    wet cold fabric clinging to her legs. As she sneezed covering her mouth, “Aaachewww!” her mother’s words admonished her again.
    Nick said, “Bless you,” as he gestured for Summer to hand him her coat.
    “Thank you.”
    “Come with me.” Turning and going to the hall closet, hanging up their coats he made his way to his bedroom with Summer lagging behind. Dreading every step, her legs became heavy upon entering the master bedroom suite. The instant she stepped across the threshold memories of being with Nick invaded and crowded every corner of her mind. If she could turn back the hands of time, she would’ve never made the fatal mistake of treading onto forbidden territory.
    After months of dating, Nick remained a perfect gentleman. Summer, however knew it was just a matter of time before they’d become intimate. Every kiss, hug, and caress wore down her resistance. In the beginning the tiny voice in her head warned, don’t do it. After months of kisses, hugs, and caresses, the tiny voice became a faint whisper, hardly audible. When she decided to take the plunge, share his bed, the voice was buried so deep she never heard its pleas.
    Nick was a drug to Summer. She was a clean vessel tasting an illicit substance. And like many addicts the first time was a bit awkward, but nevertheless enticing enough, exhilarating enough, to keep going back for more. The addiction was so strong she let fundamentals she’d been raised with like going to church fall by the wayside. Whenever she asked, “Why don’t you