Free Love and Rumors: A Summer Sisters Beach Reads Contemporary Romance (The Summer Sisters Book 1) by Jean Oram

drawn back to his eyes. There was something consuming in his intense gaze. Primal. As if he had plans for her. Plans that involved getting her into compromising positions.
    Hailey studied her leather sandals, tapping the toes together. Normally, she’d run if she got anywhere near a man like this. He was too distracting, making it too easy to get consumed and forget about your own life. Your own needs. Your own wants. He was someone who would love her and leave her, like all those boys who had tempted her and her sisters all through their high school summers.
    She was already in too deep with him. She already wanted whatever he was willing to offer.
    “What?” Finian asked, his eyes flicking over her face. “What’s wrong?”
    She smiled and waved off his concerns.
    What did it matter, anyway? He’d never…she’d never…
    And anyway, all those easy women fawning over him would surely be the ones he’d take home. Not her. Hailey was safe.
    She almost laughed at herself. How had she believed even for one second that he’d choose her instead of the buxom babe trying to get his attention?
    Oh, right. Because he’d asked her to come with him.
    Maybe he thought she was an easy target. Or wanted free head shots.
    It was probably that.
    She could say no to free head shots.
    “Do you like to dance? The band’ll be starting in a minute.” He lightly touched her elbow, eyebrows raised in question. Nervously, she strode to the spot he’d pointed to, near the stage. Turning, she waited for him to catch up. He was slowly making his way through the crowd as people paused to say hi, offer compliments, and generally distract and waylay him. Hailey rolled her eyes and turned to watch the band’s roadies set up, ignoring the way Finian’s broad shoulders cut a path, his moves relaxed and confident. There was something about the way he dressed casually in worn clothes that made him seem so real, so “boy next door.”
    Damn, but she wanted to know what he looked like under that faded T-shirt, and how he moved those denim-clad hips when they were free of cotton. She closed her eyes and told herself to stop thinking about him that way. Finian Alexander wasn’t going to take her to bed. And anyway, she’d say no before she played the fool. It would be all right. All she had to do was enjoy the night and live a little while she waited for him to be the screwup he was.
    She felt a zing as a warm hand touched her lower back and Finian wrapped himself around her protectively, possessively. She went to step away from his embrace, but realized he wasn’t actually touching her, other than that gentle, resting palm. She turned back to the stage, where the band was starting into their first song, and tried to block out the subtle aftershave that made her want to move closer and inhale deeply.
    Finian was a good dancer, Hailey discovered. The way he moved with ease, not just shuffling from foot to foot as he swayed to the music. She liked how he’d reach out to lightly touch her, drawing her closer when the crowds started to pull them apart. It felt like a real date. As though she was someone he wanted to be with. He had boundaries out in the real world and she was within them.
    His dance was a seduction and she moved closer, intrigued. Every time he prolonged their eye contact beyond a casual, comfortable glance she felt herself flush with heat. And every time he used his body to gently block someone from honing in on them, she fell a little deeper for this version of Finian. She felt safe, protected. Wanted.
    Hailey saw a flicker of discomfort in his eyes when wandering female hands brushed his body. He flashed the offender a smile as he spun to slap her on the ass, hard enough to send her back into the throng of other dancers, giggling and with eyes that were filled with excitement and a hint of lust.
    These women would rip him to pieces if given the chance. How could he stand it? Hailey’s temper was getting the best of her on his