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as well. ‘So why Takapuna? Auckland’s got a lot of beaches to choose from when you need an after-work dip.’

      ‘It’s been my backyard for ever. That’s my gran’s house up there.’ He was pointing to the prestigious row of houses that had gardens blending into the edge of the beach. Multi-million-dollar houses. ‘The old one, with the boat shed and the anchor set in the gate.’

      It was impossible not to be seriously impressed. ‘You live there?’

      ‘I know…’ Zac pushed his wet hair off his face. ‘It’s a bit weird. I’m thirty-six years old and I’m still living with my gran. But the house is on two levels. Gran’s upstairs and I rent the bottom half and it’s always just worked for both of us. She’d deny it but I think she’s relieved to have me back. I’m relieved too, I have to admit. I worried about her while I was away. She’s a bit old to be living entirely on her own.’

      ‘A bit old? Didn’t you say she was in her nineties?’

      ‘Ninety-two. You wouldn’t think so, though, if you met her. She reckons ninety is the new seventy.’ Zac turned his head. ‘She’d love to meet you. Would you like to come in for a drink or something?’

      Summer turned her head as well and suddenly their faces were too close. She could see the genuine warmth of that invitation in his eyes. What was the ‘something’ on offer as well as a drink?

      Whatever it was, she wanted it. The attraction was as strong as it was unexpected. She could feel the curl of it deep in her belly. A delicious cramp that eased into tendrils that floated right down to her toes.

      She’d been fighting this from the moment she’d first seen this man this morning, hadn’t she?

      He was—quite simply—gorgeous…

      It wasn’t just his looks. It was his enthusiasm for his work. His charm. That smile. The way he loved his grandmother.

      She couldn’t look away. Couldn’t find anything to say. All she could do was stare at those dark eyes. Feel the puff of his breath on her face. Notice the dark stubble on his jaw and how soft it made his lips look…

      The board beneath her rocked a little as Flint jumped off. Maybe he’d knocked Zac slightly off balance and that was why he leaned even closer to her. It was no excuse, though, was it?

      You really shouldn’t kiss somebody you’d only just met. Somebody who you were probably going to be working with on an almost daily basis.

      Summer couldn’t deny that she’d been thinking about kissing him. Couldn’t deny that sudden attraction. Had it been contagious?

      Who actually moved first or was it just the result of that movement on top of already sitting so close?

      Not that it mattered. Nothing seemed to matter for the brief blink of time that Zac’s lips touched her own. The touch was so electric that she jerked back instinctively. She’d never felt anything like that…

      Flint’s deep bark couldn’t be ignored. Jay was walking towards them. The random sound of a frog croaking from her beach bag was another alert. She had a text message on her phone.

      Real life was demanding her attention but, for a crazy moment, Summer wanted it to just go away. She wanted to sit on the sand as the sun set.

      She wanted to kiss Zac again.

      Properly, this time…

      ‘So…’ Zac had noticed Flint’s enthusiastic greeting and must have guessed that it was Jay coming to collect the board. ‘How ‘bout that drink?’

      Summer was also getting to her feet. She’d scooped up her bag and was checking her phone. It could be an emergency call-out.

      Except it wasn’t. It was a text from Kate.

      It’s driving me nuts trying to guess. You don’t mean Zac M, do you? OMG. If it is, stay AWAY.

      Somehow Summer managed a friendly introduction between Jay and her new work colleague despite the chaos in the back of her mind as memories forced themselves to the surface.

      Driving Kate up to Auckland late that night because Shelley had been hospitalised after an attempted suicide. Listening to the hysterical account of the man she’d been abandoned by. The father of her baby. The monster who’d tried to push her down a staircase when he’d learned that she was pregnant…

      So many buttons could be pushed by memories that could never be erased.

      And she’d actually wanted to kiss him again?

      ‘I’ll give you a hand closing up,’ she heard herself saying to Jay as he picked up her board. She barely glanced over her shoulder. ‘See you later, Zac.’

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