A young summertime romance that ended too soon. An unexpected reunion years later where it all began.

Maya’s Vacation To Do List:

-De-stress!!!

-Decide what’s next for my company

-Find my inner fire (wherever the hell it went)

Stressed out, overworked, and dealing with some...slightly embarrassing gastrointestinal issues, I reluctantly agree to take the vacation my family and friends insist I need. I’ll relax, recharge, and make plans for the future of my company.

When the boy who charmed me at seventeen ends up at the same lakeside campground, grown-up Luka is just as charming now as he was then. Not that I have time for his swoon-worthy grins or that edible six-pack he keeps flashing when his shirt’s off. And his shirt is off—a lot.

At ten, he was my first kiss. Years later, he was my first something else. Now? My old flame may be exactly what I need to kindle my inner spark again. One thing’s for sure - he can light my campfire anytime.

Book one in the Season’s Detour series.

Excerpt

Following the Willow Creek Trail the next morning, I was all too aware of the shared history Luka and I had in this same spot.

Or was it that one? Farther ahead? Maybe we’d passed it already.

Having spent all day together again, including s’mores and stargazing around the fire after we’d gotten back to the campground last night, I was surprised Luka had asked me to go hiking with him today.

“More hiking? Yosemite wasn’t enough for you, you masochist?”

He laughed. “The one I’m thinking of for tomorrow is easy, I promise.” I was skeptical. So far, Luka had shown himself to be capable of any physical activity we’d done. He was in great shape.

Holy hotness, was he in great shape.

“Which trail?” My frown only seemed to encourage him. When he leaned in close, my breath caught.

Was he finally going to kiss me? Dammit, did my breath smell like s’mores or like the garlic-heavy pasta I’d eaten at dinner?

His arms wrapped around me, his mouth so close to my ear I could feel his breath on my skin. “It’s a surprise.”

The whispered words gave me goosebumps, my eager nipples perking up. Luka kissed me—on the cheek—before he strolled off into the darkness. I was one hundred percent certain the bastard knew how he’d affected me and was smirking all the way back to his tent.

That was alright. I’d deliberately worn shorts today that made my butt look much better than it actually was—something about pocket placement, I’d been informed by our fashion expert, Bailey—and I walked in front of him on the trail as often as possible. Twice now, I’d turned back to say something to him and caught his eyes focused on those back pockets. I hoped his own shorts were feeling uncomfortably tight across the zipper.

“I’ve always liked this hike,” I said when we paused for water. “I’m glad this was the surprise.”

“This is only part of the surprise, but I’m starting to worry the other part might not be possible.” He looked up and down the trail, then sheepishly back at me. “I was hoping to find our old lagoon. But now I can’t remember exactly where it was.”

Okay, that was adorable. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing. Has the terrain changed that much, do you think, or are we getting old?”

“I don’t know. I thought a trip down memory lane might be fun. But, it appears memory lane’s being a little punk.”

“Maybe we just haven’t gotten there yet.”

When I said it, I’d been thinking we hadn’t reached the physical location itself. The charged tension that passed between us had me wondering if there was more to it. Were Luka and I in a place, mentally, to follow the path a kiss would inevitably lead us down?

I could practically hear my friends telling me not to overthink it, to enjoy hot sex with an old flame.

But the more time I spent with Luka, the more I asked myself if it would be enough. This time, when I didn’t have college and my bright-and-shiny future to distract me, it wouldn’t be so easy to leave him at the end of the vacation. To forget him. Not that I’d ever really forgotten Luka.

More like, I’d tucked him into my box of special things. Memories to be smiled and sighed over once in a while before they were tucked away again. I’d told myself that was the magic of a summer fling. The spark was blindingly bright but, when the fire burned itself out—or the vacation ended and reality returned—you got to keep the warm glow of happy memories.

Being with him again forced me to see he was pretty great, now and then. I hadn’t exaggerated his thoughtfulness, his intelligence, his sense of humor. Which made me nervous I was going to make a mistake, that I’d do something to screw this up. Whatever this was.

“Maya. I think this is it.”

I’d been so focused on my whirling thoughts, I hadn’t been paying attention to the water running alongside us.

He was right, this was our spot.

We shared a smile that was sweet, tinged with spicy. In unspoken agreement, we set our packs down against a log and walked to the water’s edge. Looking out at the pool, I saw myself there in his arms at seventeen. Suddenly, I didn’t care about any of my worries or what-ifs. All I wanted was his mouth on mine.

“Did you bring your suit?”

We ditched our outer layers and waded into the water.

“Holy frostbite, it’s freezing in here!”

“It’s not so bad if you get all the way in, I swear.” When I cut disbelieving eyes at him, it only made him grin. “Come on, you know I’m right.”

“Oh, this is gonna suck.” Deep breath, full plunge.

I was right, it sucked.

A couple of guys with hiking poles and backpacks walked past our spot at a brisk pace.

Treading water, Luka looked at me, a slight frown between his brows. “This place isn’t quite as private as I’d remembered.”

His perturbed expression made me laugh. “Why, were you hoping to put the moves on me again?”

“Well...it is the site of our first kiss—”

“Second.”

Now he huffed out a laugh, swimming just a bit closer to me. “I’m not counting that little peck when we were kids.”

“It counts,” I told him, aiming a splash in his direction. I wasn’t about to let him take that sweet first kiss away from me.

“I don’t know about that.” He grabbed my wrist that was set to splash him again, gliding me through the water toward him in a move that was a near carbon copy of the one he’d made all those years ago. “Would it count now?”

“Tough to say. For a ten-year old, that first peck is a big deal. We’re not ten anymore, though.”

Luka wore a relaxed or smiling expression so much of the time, it was easy to forget the scorching heat of his hungry gaze.

It stole my breath.

“So, what I’m hearing”—he moved toward me again, a sleek predator closing in on the prey he was about to devour—“is that we’ve moved past the chaste stage.” All I could manage in light of his bikini-incinerating smolder was a nod. He planted his feet and scooped me toward him with one arm as his other hand went to the back of my head.

I gasped at the suddenness of the move. And his mouth was on mine in a searing kiss that was anything but chaste.

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About the Author

Hayleigh Sol’s first and most enduring love is reading. As an only child, books were her favorite form of entertainment and her earliest memories include laughing and crying over Charlotte’s Web.

Originally from Southern California, Hayleigh now lives in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon. She is currently a working physician who writes whenever opportunity and inspiration strike. When not treating patients or writing, Hayleigh can be found reading (of course) or running/biking/swimming/strength training with her husband in a friendly rivalry they’ve enjoyed since their second date hike.

She loves strong female protagonists, animals and vanilla chai tea.

Website: https://hayleighsol.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Hayleighsolwrites-223012119022368

Instagram: @hayleighsolwrites

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