Chapter One
M ax King stared at her across the crowded room. Cyn Diamond sat beside his mother as his speech regarding the community center expansion unfolded. Cyn kept her gaze averted knowing if she allowed herself to roam his body with her eyes she would have to excuse herself from the table and visit the powder room.
She recalled the feel of his callused hands on her body the summer after their senior year. Max was to leave for college in the fall. The one with a fancy name where his father was an alumni. The King family was one of the wealthiest in the country and Max had been groomed as heir apparent.
The details of that glorious summer ten years ago were etched in her memory and she treasured the secret of his hands in places none other had dared touch. She fanned herself and turned to cross her legs. It was amazing he could still affect her like she was fresh out of high school.
One night in the back of his pick up truck under the stars, she had thought he might pledge his undying love but undying lust was more like it. Still, she couldn’t fault him. They were both young and dumb, and full of that other word.
She smiled as she thought of his tender kisses, the awkward ways they explored one another, the teenage infatuation that grew hotter and brighter as summer wore on.
By the time he was leaving for college, she was sulking around the house swearing her life was over and saying she’d repent by becoming a nun. She smiled to think of those days now. There was no doubt her love life was lackluster but being a nun would have been a bridge too far.
She glanced at Amelia King. Max’s mother was beautiful in the way only wealthy women are as they age. She had worn more gray this past few weeks and Cyn longed to place a colorful scarf about her neck to bring out the twinkle that had been missing from her eyes. Mrs. King always favored having her hair done by Cyn. She swore Cyn was the only one who didn’t try to make her look like an old matron.
That was the connection she had with Max over the years. He would come back to visit Belleport and bring his mama for her hair appointment.
Cyn’s body fairly vibrated at his presence in her salon. He had only grown more irresistible since their teen romance and she thought she caught him checking her rear view on more than one occasion. She couldn’t blame him. She’d certainly noticed his.
He was six foot three easily and had filled out quite nicely through the shoulders. She wished she could lay her head on one of those shoulders when he returned to take the seat beside his mother. She heard Mrs. King remark over how pleased she was to have him back in town for good now that Mr. King had passed.
Cyn felt the tears clouding her vision. They laid his father to rest three weeks ago today. Mr. King was the most popular man in Belleport, and not just for his money. He cared about the people who worked for him and made sure their little piece of heaven had everything a city of working class people could want. He was more than boss to many of them, he was a father figure, a benefactor, a good neighbor, a city leader.
Cyn wondered if Max knew his mother expected him to continue his father’s legacy. As thrilled as she was to have him back in town for good, Mrs. King had confided in Cyn that Max seemed distracted and eager to return to New York.
Amelia King excused herself from the table and Max stood offering his arm. She smiled up at her son and nodded to Cyn. “Keep him company Cynthia. I won’t be long.”
Cyn felt the color rise in her cheeks as he sat in his mother’s seat and smiled at her. She folded her hands in her lap and allowed herself a moment to breathe before she spoke. His undivided attention felt like the sun on a particularly hot summer day.
“That was a lovely speech, Max. It’s comforting to know you care for this town as much as your father did.”
Cyn bit her tongue when she saw the pain that flickered in his eyes. It was gone almost as
M ax King stared at her across the crowded room. Cyn Diamond sat beside his mother as his speech regarding the community center expansion unfolded. Cyn kept her gaze averted knowing if she allowed herself to roam his body with her eyes she would have to excuse herself from the table and visit the powder room.
She recalled the feel of his callused hands on her body the summer after their senior year. Max was to leave for college in the fall. The one with a fancy name where his father was an alumni. The King family was one of the wealthiest in the country and Max had been groomed as heir apparent.
The details of that glorious summer ten years ago were etched in her memory and she treasured the secret of his hands in places none other had dared touch. She fanned herself and turned to cross her legs. It was amazing he could still affect her like she was fresh out of high school.
One night in the back of his pick up truck under the stars, she had thought he might pledge his undying love but undying lust was more like it. Still, she couldn’t fault him. They were both young and dumb, and full of that other word.
She smiled as she thought of his tender kisses, the awkward ways they explored one another, the teenage infatuation that grew hotter and brighter as summer wore on.
By the time he was leaving for college, she was sulking around the house swearing her life was over and saying she’d repent by becoming a nun. She smiled to think of those days now. There was no doubt her love life was lackluster but being a nun would have been a bridge too far.
She glanced at Amelia King. Max’s mother was beautiful in the way only wealthy women are as they age. She had worn more gray this past few weeks and Cyn longed to place a colorful scarf about her neck to bring out the twinkle that had been missing from her eyes. Mrs. King always favored having her hair done by Cyn. She swore Cyn was the only one who didn’t try to make her look like an old matron.
That was the connection she had with Max over the years. He would come back to visit Belleport and bring his mama for her hair appointment.
Cyn’s body fairly vibrated at his presence in her salon. He had only grown more irresistible since their teen romance and she thought she caught him checking her rear view on more than one occasion. She couldn’t blame him. She’d certainly noticed his.
He was six foot three easily and had filled out quite nicely through the shoulders. She wished she could lay her head on one of those shoulders when he returned to take the seat beside his mother. She heard Mrs. King remark over how pleased she was to have him back in town for good now that Mr. King had passed.
Cyn felt the tears clouding her vision. They laid his father to rest three weeks ago today. Mr. King was the most popular man in Belleport, and not just for his money. He cared about the people who worked for him and made sure their little piece of heaven had everything a city of working class people could want. He was more than boss to many of them, he was a father figure, a benefactor, a good neighbor, a city leader.
Cyn wondered if Max knew his mother expected him to continue his father’s legacy. As thrilled as she was to have him back in town for good, Mrs. King had confided in Cyn that Max seemed distracted and eager to return to New York.
Amelia King excused herself from the table and Max stood offering his arm. She smiled up at her son and nodded to Cyn. “Keep him company Cynthia. I won’t be long.”
Cyn felt the color rise in her cheeks as he sat in his mother’s seat and smiled at her. She folded her hands in her lap and allowed herself a moment to breathe before she spoke. His undivided attention felt like the sun on a particularly hot summer day.
“That was a lovely speech, Max. It’s comforting to know you care for this town as much as your father did.”
Cyn bit her tongue when she saw the pain that flickered in his eyes. It was gone almost as
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