The Day He Came Back E-Book

Penelope Ward

• Herausgeber: WS
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Seitenzahl: 383

Beschreibung

The Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestseller.

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.
It was the summer of my life.
I'd met the guy of my dreams.
Unfortunately, he was the son of my uppity employer--and very much off-limits.
But Gavin was a rebel. He knew his mother would disown him if she found out about us; in his eyes, we just had to be careful.
He never treated me as his mother did--like hired help.
Instead, Gavin put me on a pedestal and loved me harder than I'd ever been loved in my life.
What a summer it was.
Until it all ended--badly.
I was never supposed to see Gavin again.
That didn't stop me from thinking about him every day for ten years.
I knew little about his life now, just that he was an entrepreneur living an ocean away.
When a twist of fate had me working again in the very place our love affair started a decade earlier, I knew it was only a matter of time before I might see him again.
But I wasn't prepared.
What if he hated me?
What if he loved someone else now?
I wasn't prepared for all the unknowns.
And most of all, I wasn't prepared for today to be The Day He Came Back.

Leseprobe

First Edition

Copyright © 2019

By Penelope Ward

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, things living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Edited by: Jessica Royer Ocken

Proofreading and Formatting by: Elaine York, Allusion Publishing

Cover Model: Christian Hogue

www.imdmodeling.com

Cover Photographer: Brian Jamie

Cover Design: Letitia Hasser, RBA Designs

table of contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Part Two

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Epilogue

Newsletter Sign-Up

Other Books by Penelope Ward

Acknowledgements

About the Author

RAVEN

I made my way to the top of the grand, winding staircase. I had to pass Gavin’s old room to get to the master suite. And every time I walked by it, I thought of him.

My working in this house was ironic, to say the least. The mansion that once held so much life within its walls was now a quiet, echoing shell. Its beauty was unchanged, though. Situated in posh Palm Beach, the house overlooked the Atlantic Ocean, the murmur of the waves always registering through the open windows.

It was here that I’d fallen in love and had my heart broken all in the same summer.

Ten years later, I was back. The only staff left were the butler, housekeeper, and myself—the day nurse. We were here for him and only him. Mr. M had treated Fred and Genevieve well over the years, so they’d remained loyal, even though I’m sure they could’ve been swooped up by some other rich clients on this island for even more money.

And me? I was here because he’d asked me to stay. When the private-nurse staffing company I worked for gave me the address for this assignment, I’d practically fainted. And I nearly turned the job down due to a conflict of interest—I couldn’t imagine working for Gavin’s dad after all this time.

But then I’d gotten curious about what I’d find here, curious about the severity of Mr. M’s condition. I’d planned to work for one day, then request they reassign me. I’d figured Mr. M probably wouldn’t even remember me. But then…he called me Renata. That was a game changer.

One day kept leading to the next, and I began to feel like taking care of him was the least I could do—he’d been nothing but good to me, then and now. It felt like fate, really.

I opened the door to his bedroom. “Mr. M, how are you feeling after your nap?”

“I’m alright,” he said, staring into space.

“Good.”

He turned to me. “You look nice, Renata.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I opened the shades to let some light into the room. “Do you think you’d like to take a walk later? It’s not too hot out today.”

“Yes.”

“Okay. It’s a plan.”

This might have seemed like a normal interaction between a client and his nurse, but this was far from ordinary. My name isn’t Renata, and Mr. M hadn’t had his wits about him for some time.

Renata was my mother. She worked here as the lead housekeeper for more than a dozen years and had been close to Mr. M—Gunther Masterson, prominent attorney to the stars. I let him believe I was her, his old friend and confidante. I knew now how much she’d meant to him. I knew I looked like her. I didn’t mind keeping her memory alive. So I went along with it.

It was pretty funny now to look back at the time when I’d been strictly forbidden from this home—a dark-haired, rebellious girl from across the bridge who stood out like a sore thumb in a sea of perfect, blond, Palm Beach debutantes; the girl who’d once won the affections of Ruth Masterson’s beloved oldest son, heir to the Masterson legacy, the son who’d defied her to pursue me.

Years later, things at the mansion couldn’t have been more different. I never imagined how much I would come to care for Mr. M.

Just as I was about to help Mr. M out of bed, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” I said.

Genevieve appeared and uttered the words that would change the entire course of the day.

“Mr. Masterson? Your son, Gavin, just arrived from London.” She glanced at me worriedly. “We weren’t expecting him. But he’s downstairs and coming up to see you shortly.”

My heart dropped.

What?

Gavin?

Gavin is here?

No.

No. No. No.

Genevieve knew what this meant. She’d worked here back when everything went down with Gavin and me.

“I’m sorry, Raven,” she whispered, low enough that Mr. M didn’t hear.

After she went back downstairs, panic set in. He’s supposed to be an ocean away! He’s supposed to tell us if he’s coming.

I had no chance to prepare myself. Before I knew it, I turned around and stared into the shocked eyes of the only guy I’d ever loved, one I hadn’t seen in a decade. I’d never dreamed that today—a random Wednesday—would be the day he came back.

RAVEN

TEN YEARS EARLIER

My mother came up behind me in the kitchen. “A bit of a change in plans, Raven.”

I stopped wiping down the sparkling granite center island. “What’s going on?”

“I need you to stop cleaning and go grocery shopping instead. The boys are coming back from London today. Ruth only now told us.”

The boys were Gavin and Weldon Masterson, the sons of Ruth and Gunther Masterson—our employers. Gavin was around twenty-one, and Weldon was three or four years younger. I’d never met them because my mother never brought me to her work when I was growing up. She would talk about the boys from time to time, though. From what I’d heard, their return from Europe every year was like the second coming of Christ. I knew Gavin had just graduated from Oxford, and Weldon attended a boarding school there.

My mother had been the Mastersons’ housekeeper for over a decade. They’d recently decided they needed some extra help around the house in the late spring and summer months while the boys would be home, so Mom got me a job as an additional part-time housekeeper this season. Unlike many other people on the island, the Mastersons weren’t snowbirds who traveled north in the summer. They stayed here year-round.

Their mansion was just over the bridge from where I lived in West Palm Beach, but it truly felt a world away.

“What time are they coming?” I asked.

“Apparently, they just landed at Palm Beach International.”

Great.

She handed me a piece of paper. “Take this shopping list and head to the store. Whatever you do, don’t buy anything unless it’s organic. Ruth will blow her lid.”

The trip to the supermarket took longer than I wanted. Having to read labels and make sure everything was organic was a pain in the ass.

As I began putting the groceries away in the kitchen, I noticed someone sitting in the corner of the breakfast nook by the window.

I recognized him from photos. It was the younger son, Weldon. He had dark blond hair and fine features. He looked a lot like Ruth.

Seeming totally oblivious to my presence, he devoured a bowl of chili con carne with his face buried in his phone.

“Hello,” I called to him. “I’m Raven.”

Nothing. Not a word.

“Hi,” I repeated.

Nothing.

Am I invisible?

He wasn’t wearing earbuds. I knew he’d heard me, yet he hadn’t even looked up.

I muttered under my breath, sure he wouldn’t hear me since he was so immersed in his scrolling. “Ohhh, okay. I get it. You’re a self-absorbed, pin-headed prick who doesn’t believe in acknowledging anyone with a smaller bank account. Why don’t you just continue to stuff your face like I don’t exist? Well, fuck you, too.”

“Fuck you three,” I heard a deep voice say behind me.

Shit!

I turned around slowly to find the most mesmerizing set of blue eyes peering at me.

The other brother.Gavin.

He flashed a huge smile. Unlike Weldon, who seemed devoid of all personality, Gavin Masterson bled charm through his smile alone. He was also drop-dead gorgeous. Honestly, he looked like a movie star—definitely way more grown up than in the photos on the walls.

My heart dropped to my stomach. “Uh…”

“It’s okay. I won’t tell.” He smirked and glanced over at Weldon. “For the record, he deserves it.”

I stuttered, “Still…that…was inappropriate. I ju—”

“I think it was great. We need more people around here who keep it real, tell it like it is.”

Ohh-kay. “Seriously, how did you even hear that?” I asked. “It was under my breath. I wasn’t even sure I said it out loud at all.”

He pointed to his ear. “I’ve been told I have really good hearing.” He stuck out his hand. “Gavin.”

I took it. “I know.”

His hand was much bigger than mine. His long, masculine fingers felt warm and electric.

“Nice to meet you, Raven.”

I hadn’t told him my name.

Feeling a shiver along my spine, I said, “You know who I am…”

“Of course I do. Your mother talks about you all the time. I knew you were working here now. I’ve been looking for you…to say hello. Although, I almost called you Chiquita just now.”

“Chiquita?”

I flinched when he reached over and pulled a tiny sticker off my shirt. The slight touch gave me goosebumps. He stuck it on the top of his hand. Chiquita. As in Chiquita banana. It must have fallen off of the bunch of bananas I’d bought.

My face felt hot. “Oh.” I had to be blushing.

I looked up at him again. Gavin’s hair was darker than Weldon’s—a medium shade of brown, longer in the front and tousled. He looked like a younger version of his dad. Gavin was exactly my type: tall and built with expressive eyes and a killer smile that held a hint of mischief. He wore a leather jacket, which added to the mysterious vibe about him.

“Did you not get the memo that it’s ninety degrees here? You’re dressed like you’re still in London. I’m getting hot just looking at you.”

Okay. That sounded bad.

“You are, huh?”

He picked up on it. Great.

“Well…” he said. “I just went from the air-conditioned car to the air-conditioned house, so it hasn’t hit me yet. But I’m quite aware it’s hot as balls out.” Suddenly, he tore off his jacket. “But since just looking at me makes you hot, I’ll take it off.” He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing a ripped chest. “Better?”

I swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

He crossed his toned arms. “Where do you go to school again?”

I pried my eyes upward. “I’m taking some time off. I went to Forest Hill in West Palm for high school. I plan to start some college classes in the fall.”

“Gotcha.”

“I’m hoping to transfer credits to a bigger university after a couple of years,” I added.

“Cool. And what are you thinking for a major?”

“Nursing. What about you? Didn’t you just graduate?”

“Yeah. Pre-law,” he said.

“You’re going to law school in the fall, then?”

He nodded. “Yale.”

I coughed, trying to seem nonchalant. “Not a bad choice.”

“Didn’t get into Harvard, so it will have to do.” He rolled his eyes—not in a cocky way, more self-deprecating.

“Right. Yale, a real concession. Your parents must be very disappointed.”

He chuckled, and his eyes lingered on mine. He was merely looking at me, but somehow I felt it.

Our attention turned to Weldon, who got up and walked toward us. He left his dirty, chili-encrusted bowl at the edge of the sink on the way.

As Weldon started to leave the room, Gavin called him out. “What are you doing?”

“What do you mean?” he answered.

Apparently, he can hear.

“Rinse out your fucking dish and put it in the dishwasher.”

Well, if I didn’t like Gavin already…

Weldon looked over at me for the first time. “Isn’t that what she’s here for?”

Forcing my mouth shut, I looked between them. Gavin didn’t have to say anything. The icy look on his face said it all.

Remarkably, Weldon followed Gavin’s instructions without further argument. It was clear who the big brother was.

After Weldon left in a huff, Gavin turned to me. “He thinks he’s fucking Prince Harry.”

I cackled. “Pretty sure Harry would have put his dirty dish away without having to be asked.”

“You got a point. Harry seems cool as shit. Will, too.”

“Speaking of the royals, I would imagine it’s pretty cool living in London.”

“Yeah. If your parents are gonna ship you off to boarding school, I suppose they could’ve picked a worse place. After going to high school there, I didn’t want to leave, which was why I chose Oxford for university. It was my excuse to stay in England. I’d love to live there again someday. I’ll miss it. It’s the total opposite of Palm Beach, and I mean that in the best possible way. It’s cloudy there most days, but people aren’t carbon copies of each other.”

“I might have to bite my lip on that one.”

“Oh, but it’s so much fun when you don’t,” he said with a glimmer in his eyes. “I prefer honesty. I can only imagine what you must go home thinking sometimes.”

“Maybe occasionally. It can be a bit militant. But I feel fortunate to work here. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever set foot in. Definitely beats bagging groceries.” I looked around. “Speaking of groceries…I’d better finish putting everything away.”

As I returned to stocking the cabinets and fridge, Gavin hung around. He attempted to help me. He lifted a package of whole-wheat flour and opened various cabinets, searching for its spot.

I chuckled. “You don’t know where anything goes, do you?”

“Not a freaking clue.”

“A for effort.”

We were both laughing when Ruth Masterson came into the kitchen. I always played evil music in my head when she entered a room, like when the Wicked Witch of the West appears in The Wizard of Oz. Simply put, she wasn’t very nice.

“Gavin, there you are.” She glanced down at his chest. “Put a shirt on, please. And why are you holding the flour?”

“I was trying to help.” Gavin grabbed his T-shirt from the counter and pulled it over his head. “What’s up, Mother?”

Her eyes darted over to me before she said, “I need you upstairs. I ordered you a tux to wear to the gala tonight. You have to try it on in case we have to make emergency alterations. We don’t have much time.” Her gaze moved over me again.

If looks could kill…

“I’ll be there in a sec.”

She didn’t budge. “I meant now.”

“Uh…alright, then.” Looking annoyed, Gavin turned to me. “Catch you later, Raven.”

I nodded, too nervous to utter a sound, given the look his mother had for me.

After Gavin exited the kitchen, Ruth lingered. Her stare was penetrating, her eyes filled with something that resembled disgust as she stared daggers at me. She didn’t speak, but I got the message.

Stay the hell away from my son.

That night, after the Mastersons left for their charity gala, it was about eight in the evening when my mother and I drove over the bridge to head home. The sun was setting, and the palm trees in the distance looked like they were slow dancing in the evening breeze.

With the exception of a few neighborhoods bordering the foot of the bridge near the water, West Palm Beach, where I lived, was working class and residential—the opposite of opulent and ostentatious Palm Beach. The giant mansions were soon replaced by modest, one-level, stucco homes.

As I gazed out the window at a woman rollerblading on Flagler Drive, my mother snapped me out of my thoughts.

“I was so busy getting everyone ready for the gala, I didn’t see whether or not you got to meet the boys.”

“I did. Just briefly. Weldon is a douche.”

My mother laughed. “Yeah. He can be. What about Gavin?”

I felt my cheeks heat up.

What’s that about? Pipe down, Raven. You don’t have a chance in hell where that’s concerned.

“Gavin is really nice, actually.”

She glanced over at me. “That’s it? Really nice?”

“He’s…” I decided to be honest. “He’s sweet…and hot.”

“He is a very good-looking guy. Weldon, too, but you tend not to notice it as much because of his personality. Gavin is a good egg. I’ve known them since they were small, and your initial assessment is correct on both. It’s amazing how kids can take after different parents. Gavin is all Gunther. And Weldon…he’s the clone of Ruth.”

The thought of Ruth made me shiver. “She’s such a bitch. And what’s up with that diamond necklace she always wears? It’s like she wakes up and puts it on. I saw her wearing it the other day in her pajamas.”

“Harry Winston. Ruth likes to flaunt her wealth. That necklace is her way of identifying herself as above everyone else.”

“She’s so snobby. And rude.”

She shook her head. “I’ve been dealing with that woman for years. The only reason she hasn’t fired me is because Gunther won’t let her.”

“You know, she saw me talking to Gavin and gave me the dirtiest look.”

“Well, believe me, she won’t let you anywhere near him, if she has her way.”

“You don’t have to tell me that.”

RAVEN

When I arrived at the house the following day, I had my work cut out for me. The Masterson boys were having a pool party. Great. A bevvy of beautiful, blond girls in skimpy bikinis hung around the large, in-ground pool. At first, I thought Gavin was nowhere to be found, but then I realized he was just hidden behind a collection of said girls surrounding his lounge chair. One of them, in particular, was hanging all over him.

I hated that it made me a little jealous. You’d better get over that one real quick.

It was bad enough that I’d overheard these girls while they were changing in the bathroom earlier—gossiping about Gavin’s sexual prowess, among other things I pretended not to hear. I’d managed to avoid going outside.

Then my mother appeared and said, “Raven, take these fresh towels out to them, and find out if they want anything to drink or eat, either from here or elsewhere.”

Shit.

Begrudgingly, I walked out there. The sun beat down on me as water from the pool splashed my feet and soaked my shoes. I tried to just leave the towels on one of the empty lounge chairs so I could escape back into the house, but then I remembered Mom had asked me to find out if they wanted anything.

Even though we were housekeepers, we were in charge of everything from shopping to serving guests—anything aside from wiping asses. Normally, I didn’t mind any of it. But catering to Gavin and Weldon’s whores was the last thing I wanted to be doing.

I coughed out the words, “Does anyone need anything?” My voice was higher than normal, a disingenuous expression of niceness.

While I’d hoped no one would hear me, the opposite occurred. Each person started talking over the other with requests—from Starbucks runs to sandwich orders. It was impossible to keep it all straight.

Gavin finally emerged from beneath the harem surrounding him. “Whoa. She’s only one person. Pick a place.” When no one seemed able to decide, he said, “Fine. I will. Starbucks.” He handed the girl next to him his phone. “Type in what you want, then pass it around.”

After everyone had entered their orders, Gavin took the phone back.

Then he threw on a T-shirt and nodded. “Let’s go.”

“You’re coming with me?” I asked as I followed.

“Yeah. You shouldn’t have to carry all of their shit. You work for my parents, not them.”

Gavin led us to a shiny black Mercedes parked out front. I typically drove my mother’s old Toyota Camry to run errands. I’d never been inside a ride as nice as Gavin’s.

He disarmed the car alarm, and we got in. The leather felt hot against my skin, and the interior smelled of Gavin’s woodsy cologne—intoxicating and arousing. It felt sort of dangerous to be in here.

I turned to him. “You didn’t have to come with me. I could have handled it.”

Putting his seatbelt on, he said, “I needed a break.”

He then turned the ignition and took off faster than I was expecting.

“You seemed pretty happy to me,” I told him.

His brow lifted as he glanced over. “What makes you say that?”

“Well, you had a harem of beautiful girls flanking you. What guy wouldn’t be pleased with that?”

“Being a rich prick does have its perks, but it’s not always what it looks like.”

“Oh yeah?”

“I’ll give you an example. Did you see that blond girl next to me?”

I laughed. “You’ll have to be more specific. They’re all identical.”

“I guess that’s true, huh? Anyway, the one in the green bikini who was stuck to me the whole time?”

“Oh…yeah.”

“That’s my ex-girlfriend from high school.”

“Okay…”

“You know the guy wearing the orange board shorts?”

“Yeah?”

“That’s my former best friend, her current boyfriend. I’m sure you can put two and two together.”

“She cheated on you with him?”

“Not exactly. We broke up after I went away to London. I used to go to the high school here before my mother decided boarding school was a better idea. Anyway, I came home that first summer to find them together.”

“That sucks. And now she’s flirting with you in front of him. What a cunt.”

He laughed. “Which one, her or him?”

“Both of them.”

“You’ve got a dirty mouth, Raven. I like a girl who’s not afraid to say cunt.”

“It just came out. They deserve each other. Why do you even invite them over?”

“None of that really bothers me anymore. Those days seem like forever ago. I’ve moved on. These are just people I grew up with. I’ve known them since we were kids and can’t seem to get rid of them. They all live nearby and just come over uninvited.”

“What about the other girls? Are you dating any of them?”

He hesitated. “I’ve hooked up with a couple in the past.”

I couldn’t help but add, “At the same time, apparently.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I overheard an interesting conversation when your friends were changing in the powder room this morning. They were comparing notes and might have mentioned a certain threesome.”

They also mentioned how huge you are.

He rolled his eyes. “Great.”

His ears turned a little red. I found that interesting, because he didn’t strike me as the kind of guy who got embarrassed about stuff like that. But apparently he did.

“That was one time. It was stupid. I’d gotten a little drunk and—”

“Yeah. You don’t need to explain.”

“Anyway, I’m not currently involved with any of them. That was a long time ago. It would be nice if they weren’t blabbing where people can hear them in my parents’ house, though.” He seemed genuinely irked.

“Trust me. Girls are worse than guys,” I said.

“Oh, I have no doubt. Especially those girls.”

We pulled up to the drive-thru. He turned to me. “What do you want?”

Caught off guard, I shook my head. “Oh...I shouldn’t.”

“What do you want?” he repeated.

“A grande, hot caramel macchiato.”

He spoke into the intercom. “A grande, hot caramel macchiato and a triple shot on ice, please.”

“Anything else?” the woman asked.

“No, thank you.”

“What about everyone’s drinks?”

“They can wait. Let’s have ours in peace first.”

Huh? This was becoming an interesting outing.

She gave him the drinks at the next window, and he handed me mine before proceeding to the parking lot, finding a shady spot to park, and blasting the AC.

I took my first sip of the hot, foamy liquid. “Thank you.”

He rested his head against the seat. “Ahhh...this is nice.”

“It doesn’t bother you to leave your friends hanging?”

“Not in the least. If they need their coffee that badly, they can go into the kitchen and make some.”

I chuckled. “How did you end up so different from your brother?”

“Oh. I heard the nanny dropped him when he was a baby.”

“Really?”

“No. Just kidding.”

“I might have believed it.” I sighed, looking down at my cup. “Well, this is a nice, unexpected break. But I’m certain your mother would flip out if she knew you were here with me.”

“She doesn’t have to know.”

He made no attempt to downplay what her reaction would be: irate.

“Yeah, pretty sure I’d be toast.”

He frowned and changed the subject. “What do you like to do for fun, Raven?”

I didn’t have to think long about my answer. “Jiu-jitsu.”

His eyes widened. “No fucking way…like, you could kick my ass?”

“Maybe. Don’t make me want to, and you’ll never have to find out.” I winked.

“Well, damn. Tell me more. How did you get into it?”

“I walked by the studio one day a couple of years ago, looked through the window at someone pinning someone else down, and thought it might be fun to try. So I signed up for classes, and the rest is history.”

These days much of the money I made went to martial arts classes.

“Do you do it to protect yourself?”

I shrugged. “There’s this misconception that the only reason girls might learn it is for self-defense. I mean, that’s a benefit, for sure. I don’t live in the greatest neighborhood, and it’s nice to know I’d have a chance to defend myself if something were to happen. But that’s not the primary reason I do it. It’s just…fun. It’s amazing what the body can do, like being able to choke someone out with your legs.”

“Damn. Remind me not to fuck with you. No offense, but you’re tiny. I would never have imagined you could pin me down.”

“That’s the thing about jiu-jitsu. You don’t have to be big to be a master. I can submit people who are nearly twice my weight.”

His eyes practically bugged out of his head. “Fuck. Is it wrong that I kind of want you to try that on me?”

An image of holding him down and straddling him flashed through my brain. Not sure why his hand was around my neck in that little fantasy.

I swallowed, feeling flushed. “What about you? What do you do for fun?”

“Not sure I can top that.”

“Do you do any sports?”

“Fencing and lacrosse.”

“Fencing is considered a martial art, isn’t it?” I asked.

“There’s some debate about that. In certain ways it is—the marksmanship, using cover and concealment. But at the same time, it’s a sport. I basically just try not to get stabbed. It’s a good way to get my frustration at Weldon out.”

“Wow. Yeah.” I laughed. “What else did you do in London?”

“I like improv.”

“That’s, like, where people make shit up as they go along?”

“Yup. Exactly.”

“You go to watch those shows?”

“No. I like to do it. I like to perform.”

“Really? That’s so cool. Where?”

“There was this club near my school. I convinced the guys who run it to let me play along, even though I was the youngest one there.”

“It must be so hard to think off the top of your head like that.”

“Yeah, but that’s what makes it fun. You’d be surprised what your mind is capable of under pressure. And there really is no wrong way to do it, because when you fuck up, it’s even funnier.”

“Do your parents know you’re into that?”

“I’ve mentioned it once or twice. My father thought it was cool. My mother doesn’t have much of a sense of humor to appreciate it.”

“Yeah. I can see that.”

Speaking of his mother…as much as I wanted to stay here with him, I was getting a little nervous being away from my post back at the house. My mom would also wonder where I was. I always worried about how my actions would reflect on her.

Still, we stayed in his car talking for a while longer before I finally looked down at my phone. “We should probably get going.”

“Do we have to? I much prefer sitting here and talking to you. It feels good to have a real conversation for once, instead of listening to how old you have to be to get Botox or the best place to get your nails done on the island.” He sighed. “But I guess I should get you back so no one gives you shit.”

Gavin started the car and circled back around to the drive-thru to place the large drink order for his friends. As he spoke into the speaker, I took the opportunity to admire him: His big, veiny hands wrapped around the steering wheel. The chunky watch around his wrist. His thick hair, windblown from being outside all day. He already looked tanner than he had yesterday, after just one afternoon in the sun.

He had the most beautiful face. Maybe that’s an odd term for a guy, but it was a fitting word to describe someone who had eyelashes longer than most women’s and perfect, full lips that I so wished I could feel against mine, even just once.

He suddenly turned to me, and I looked away, worried I’d been caught in the act of staring. But he just handed me a couple of trays to hold during the drive back to the house. I placed a third tray at my feet. The ice cubes shook around in the cups as he sped off.

We passed all of the posh shops on Worth Avenue—stores where one item in the window cost more than my annual salary—before turning onto the side road that led to the Masterson estate.

The heat hit my skin as I got out, a stark contrast to the air conditioning in Gavin’s car.

When we returned to the pool area, his friends were all talking over each other again. Now one of the girls was sitting on Weldon’s lap. While Gavin was away, they apparently went for second best. Weldon didn’t seem to mind one bit.

“What took you so long?” Green Bikini Girl asked.

Ugh. His ex-girlfriend. Hate her.

“Long-ass line.” He shot me a knowing look that gave me goosebumps.

The rest of that afternoon, I kept peeking out at the pool while I worked inside. Every time I saw those girls hovering around him, I cringed.

At one point, Gavin escaped from the pack, lifted off his shirt, and dove into the pool with clean precision. I could have witnessed that over and over. I pretended to wash the windows on the French doors leading out to the patio just so I could watch him.

When Gavin finally exited the pool and pushed his wet hair back, he seemed to move in slow motion as I admired the ripples of muscles along his torso.

As if he could feel me watching him, he looked over in my direction. I turned away, pretending once again to be immersed in my cleaning.

When I looked back at him, he was still staring at me. He flashed that wicked smile, and I returned it. I could feel my face heat.

He walked over to the door and pressed his nose against it before crossing his eyes. Cracking up, I sprayed some Windex and wiped the window over his face in circles. He smiled wide, his breath steaming up the glass.

That might have been the first moment I realized I was screwed.

That evening, my mother was working late. Ruth needed her to serve dinner for some friends they’d invited over. So Mom dropped me off at home and drove right back to the mansion.

Since my mother wouldn’t be home for dinner, my friend Marni brought Mexican takeout over. She had been my friend since childhood. We grew up on the same street, and we had a lot in common, being the only children of single mothers who worked service jobs on Palm Beach. Marni’s mother, June, worked in catering.

“How’s the new gig going?” Marni asked, shoving a taco into her mouth.

I peeled the foil off my burrito. “I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would.”

“I give you credit. I would hate to be at the beck and call of a bunch of rude, rich people all day. Fuck that. I’ll work at the mall.”

“Not all rich people are jerks,” I defended.

“Well, that’s been my experience. My mother has worked on Palm Beach for years, and believe me, I’ve heard enough stories to draw that conclusion.”

“Well, they’re not all bad.” I felt like I might have been turning red.

She squinted her eyes and examined my expression. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”’

“What makes you say that?”

“You’ve got a look...the one you have whenever you’re keeping something from me.”

I wiped my mouth. “The Mastersons’ oldest son is really cute...and nice, too.”

She let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “I pity you if you’re developing a crush on Gavin.”

The mere mention of his name caused my heart to flutter.

“You know Gavin? I didn’t know that.”

“My mom has worked some parties at their house, so yeah. She’s talked about that family before. The service workers—they all know each other. They swap stories and compare notes about which house is the best to work in, who’s the bitchiest boss, things like that.”

“Well, what did she say about Gavin?”

I gulped. Jesus, am I actually getting nervous?

“Nothing about him in particular, but apparently the mother—Ruth—has this idea that her sons are going to run their father’s law firm someday, come back after school is finished, settle on the island, and marry one of The Fab Five.”

I felt like she was speaking a foreign language. “The Fab Five?”

“There are five families with daughters who are just as rich as the Mastersons: the Chancellors, the Wentworths, the Phillipsons, the McCarthys, and the Spillaines. Apparently, Ruth will stop at nothing to ensure that her sons end up with one of those daughters.” She rolled her eyes. “God forbid the pedigree gets ruined.”

“Where did you get this information?”

“Like I said, Mama worked some of their parties. All these women get drunk and spill their secrets, not realizing the staff is listening. Ruth has a major issue with vodka, apparently.”

“Well, sober she’s a battle ax. I can’t imagine how she’d be intoxicated.” I sighed. “Okay, so what’s your point in telling me all this?”

“To warn you. Be careful. I saw the look on your face when you mentioned him—all googly-eyed and shit. I’m sure he’s very captivating and handsome, but there’s no chance in hell anything can come of it without you getting hurt. I don’t want to see that happen.”

She wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already feel deep down. Gavin was far out of my league. Still, I couldn’t help but be disappointed by the reality check.

“Aren’t you jumping the gun?” I asked. “I’ve only met him twice.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m just thinking ahead.”

“Well, you’re thinking too much. I can say someone’s nice without it meaning more.”

“Are you saying you wouldn’t want to date Gavin if you had the chance?”

“I’m saying I recognize that he and I come from different worlds, and that nothing is going to come of my finding him appealing. Whether or not I’d date him if given the opportunity is a moot point.”

She scrunched up the wrapper from her taco. “Let me tell you something about the rich and powerful, Raven. They will take you for a ride, and then shit all over you. I have no doubt Gavin is attracted to you. I’m sure he’s never seen a natural beauty like yours on the island. It’s the summer. He’s bored. I’m certain it gives him a thrill to flirt with someone like you—a real nice power trip, too. And if it makes his mother’s head spin? Probably a bonus just to spite her. But in the end, people who grow up the way Gavin did have their futures mapped out for them. And that future doesn’t include people from the other side of the bridge, like us.”

Her words really depressed me. “Jeez. I should’ve never brought this up.”

“Oh, no. I’m glad you did. Because you can always count on me to set you straight.”

GAVIN

“So where did you and Raven really go today that it took you so long to come back with those drinks?”

Fuck. Really?

Weldon was an A-one asshole. If he wanted that information, he could have asked me earlier. Instead, he chose this exact moment at the dinner table so he could witness my mother exploding like it’s a spectator sport. Weldon lived for stirring up trouble.

“Excuse me?” my mother asked, the vein in her neck popping out.

“He’s full of shit,” I said.

Her eyes narrowed. “Watch your language.”

Weldon laughed and threw me further under the bus. “I’m full of shit? Were you or were you not gone with her for almost an hour and a half when Starbucks is right down the road?”

“What’s this?” my mother asked, her face getting red.

I turned to her. “Raven came out to the pool area to find out if we wanted anything this afternoon. Everyone placed their orders for a coffee run, and it was going to be too much stuff for her to carry back alone, so I went with her. It’s as simple as that.”

“He jumped at the chance,” Weldon said, stirring the pot. “I don’t see you accompanying Fred when he goes to pick up heaps of dry cleaning. How was this any different?”

I tried to pull an answer out of my ass. “Fred works for us. No one works for the boneheads who come over here to hang out by the pool. I wanted to help.”

That was a crock of shit, but I hoped my mother bought it. There was but one reason I’d wanted to go with Raven to get the drinks: from the moment I’d met her, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was gorgeous with her smooth skin, wild black hair, and striking green eyes. But more than that, her down-to-earth personality was a breath of fresh air. I found myself drawn to her in every damn way. I couldn’t remember the last time a girl had captured my attention like this.

Weldon laughed. “Yeah, sure, it has nothing to do with her nice set of—”

“Weldon!” my father shouted.

He chuckled. “Sorry. I’m just calling it like I see it.”

My father turned to my mother. “What’s wrong with Raven, anyway?”

I had to give my dad credit. He must have known that was a loaded question. My mother’s expression grew harsher, and I knew she was gathering ammunition in her brain.

She squinted at him. “You can’t be serious.”

And so it starts.

“Don’t ask a stupid question like that again, Gunther, or you can expect to sleep on the couch.”

My father raised his voice. “That girl is hardworking and respectful, just like her mother, who’s been a workhorse for this family for over a decade.”

“There’s nothing wrong with her,” my mother said. “She’s perfectly welcome to work here, so long as she doesn’t get any ideas about our son.”

“I’m the one who offered to accompany her to get the coffees,” I interjected. “I didn’t give her a choice, so how was it her idea?”

She turned to me. “Well, let me rephrase, then. Don’t you get any ideas about taking up with that girl. Don’t think I didn’t notice the way you were lingering around her in the kitchen the day you returned from London—with your shirt off, no less.”

“So, I’m not allowed to be friendly to our staff?”

“I think we’ve had enough of this conversation,” my father said smoothly. “You’re making a mountain out of a molehill, Ruth. Now eat your dinner before it gets cold.”

Several seconds of silence ensued. My mother played with the salmon on her plate. Dad flashed me a sympathetic look. Weldon smirked at me, and I had to restrain myself from dragging him out of his seat and knocking his head against the wall.

My mother finally put her fork down. “I’m just going to say one more thing.” She pointed her perfectly manicured finger at me. “You may not realize how easily your entire life could be ruined by one bad decision, Gavin. At twenty-one, you don’t know what’s good for you. You’re thinking with something other than your brain. I was young once and understand how foolish people your age can be. If you do something to ruin what your father and I have worked so hard to build for you, I assure you, I can make it far worse. I’ll see to it that you have nothing. You’ll have to find your own way to pay for law school. Do you understand?”

This whole conversation was ridiculous. I hadn’t done anything at all with Raven—except have one of the best conversations I’d had in a long time. My mother had taken this too far. It made me angry that she constantly held money over my head.

In many ways, I wished I was dirt poor, so I could be free of this kind of shit. Her threats really didn’t scare me. What did scare me was how my actions might cause her to inflict harm on others. Yes, I did like Raven—a lot. I’d ask her out in a heartbeat if I didn’t think my mother would make her life a living hell.

I needed to stay away from Raven for her own good. This was going to be one long summer.

As much as it sucked, I made a conscious effort to keep my distance from Raven over the next several days. I didn’t want to get her in trouble and knew my mother would be watching her—and me—like a hawk.

My determination stuck for a while, until one afternoon when I knew Mother was at a charity luncheon at the club. She’d be gone for at least a few hours. I told myself if I happened to run into Raven during that time, I was going to say hello. After all, I’d gone from being friendly to completely ignoring her. I didn’t want her to take it personally, although she didn’t seem like the type of girl who would be stewing over it.

But of course, with Mother out of the house, I hadn’t seen Raven anywhere. When I finally went out for a coffee run, I happened to notice her bent over on the grass, digging in the dirt.

Fuck. Me.

Her ass looked good in those tight, white uniform pants.

Had she been out here all day? No wonder I hadn’t seen her.

She had earbuds in and was shaking her ass to the music while down on all fours.

Damn.

Damn.

Damn.

Her ass was small, but perfectly round. The way it jiggled made me consider adjusting myself. I had a feeling I’d be dreaming about that ass later in the shower.

I eventually walked over and tapped her on the shoulder. “Hey...”

Startled, she jumped, removing her earbuds. “Oh...hey.”

“What are you listening to?”

“‘I Will Survive’—the Cake version.”

No way. “I love that song,” I said.

She made her way just a little further inside my damn soul when she said, “I have their whole Fashion Nugget album downloaded.”

“You like alternative rock?”

“I do.”

Of course. She has to be even more kickass than I thought.

“So do I.”

I kept hoping something would turn me off so I could get this girl out of my mind.

“What are you doing out in the dirt, anyway?”

That was a dumb question, considering it was clear she was planting flowers.

“Gardening.”

“I know. I’m just surprised.”

“Why is that such a shock?”

“We have a gardener, for one.”

“Apparently, he’s been sick. So my mother asked me to help out.”

“Ah. I guess I’m not used to girls who aren’t afraid to get dirty. But you know what? Now that you mention it, that shouldn’t surprise me about you.”

“When you grow up without a man around, you learn to do pretty much everything, both inside and outside the house. I have no problem getting dirty.”

Her face turned pink. I couldn’t tell if her last statement had been intentionally provocative or not. I wanted to believe it was.

“What happened to your dad?” With my hands in my pockets, I kicked the grass. “I’m sorry if that question is too intrusive.”

She looked up at me for a moment, and I felt a ripple of excitement that wasn’t exactly appropriate, given that I’d just asked her a serious question.