One Hot Summer Anthology Read Free Page A

out there. The ball’s in her court now.”
     
    * * * *
     
                  Imani stared off into the horizon, watching the sun set. It was a breathtakingly beautiful sight. She looked at her easel with the depiction of the wildflowers in the field behind the beach house. It was pretty decent. Pride surged through her at her first completed attempt. The sunset would be her subject tomorrow. She couldn’t wait to try it. For the first time in several weeks she felt lighter.
                  After her brief conversation with Carson at lunch, she’d gone straight home and pulled out her painting supplies. Dragging her comfortable chair outside and setting it up in front of her easel, she’d taken a deep breath and went straight to work.
                  She couldn’t wait to share the news with Naja. Her sister would be stoked. Her mind drifted back to her run in with Carson. When he’d placed his hand over hers, it’d taken everything inside of her not to jump over the table and throw herself into his arms. She’d never been so affected by a man’s touch. It’d been obvious he’d felt the connection as well. She’d read it in his eyes.
                  Yet what stood out to her the most was how he hadn’t pushed her when she told him she had a lot going on and didn’t want to talk about it. He’d immediately backed off, extending her an open invitation if she were ever ready.
                  His response confused the hell out of her. It was the last thing she expected from a guy who appeared to be all about having fun. He wasn’t supposed to be considering and caring. Perhaps she’d misjudged him. Maybe there was more to him than what was on the surface. Did it mean she should take him up on his offer? She truly didn’t know.
                  A strong breeze swept over her, pulling her from her thoughts. A shriek of joy from kids playing nearby in the water had her looking to the water’s edge. Two little boys played under the watchful eye of their mother.
                  Her hand immediately began to itch. She’d have enough remaining daylight to capture their images, but it gave her an idea for another painting she might attempt along with the one of the sunset.
                  Imani smiled. For the first time in a long time she felt like she’d made the right decision by coming to the beach. She just might have a plan in place by the end of June.
                  The peacefulness of the moment was pierced by the shrill of her cell phone. She recognized the ringtone.
                  “Hi, Naja,” she greeted.
                  “Hey, Imani. How did your day go?”
                  “Really good. I finished a painting.”
                  “That’s great. What did you paint?”
                  “A lovely field of wildflowers not too far from the beach house.”
                  “How does it feel to have a completed project?”
                  “It feels good. I honestly have to say up until today I felt like coming up here was a big mistake. I hadn’t been able to focus at all. I’d become frustrated enough to almost call this entire thing off and just go home.”
                  Naja sighed. “I’m glad you didn’t, Imani. I can’t even pretend to act as if I know what you’re going through. This situation would be difficult for anyone, but I know it’s especially hard for you. You’re the one who likes to know what to expect. This time you were completely blindsided. The company you worked for pulled an asshole move. They knew they were in trouble, but to keep you all from jumping ship they lied to everyone and told you everything was fine. Then they pulled the rug from underneath you. Sure, they tried to sweeten the blow with a hell of a severance package, but that’s only a bandage to cover