Chapter 1
Claire Vanderling frowned at the piece she was adjusting on the display wall. As manager of her friend Lydia’s art gallery, she took pride in helping showcase such exquisite works of art. She took a step back and tilted her head to the side. It was beautiful, but she would have done the lighting and shadows differently.
She shook her head. What was she thinking? She hadn’t painted in years. No, not since she had found her ex-husband, William Rockchester, fucking his beautiful young secretary in their bed.
The only good thing to come out of her marriage was her son, Thomas. He was the joy of her life. No mother could be prouder than she was of him. He was the absolute best parts of her and William. He looked so much like his father with his sandy brown hair and tall, lanky frame. His one resemblance to her was his bright green eyes.
William had insisted she quit college while she was pregnant. He’d promised that she could return part-time after the baby was born, but that never happened. Being an at-home mom wasn’t so bad but she felt something was missing from her life.
Thinking of her little Thomas made her sigh. He wasn’t so little anymore.
Thomas graduated last year from college. He had spent the past year working in New York, coming up with his own business plan. Just last month he and his best friend, Jacob, got the financial backing to open their own IT company in Japan. They would be moving there in August.
It saddened her to know that she might not see her son for six months to a year. That’s why she decided that they should spend one more summer at their family beach home in the Hamptons. Claire wanted a month but Thomas said that he could only spare a couple of weeks. She would take what she could get.
*****
“We should be in Tokyo looking for a good work site for our office.” Jacob Tanner paced the small New York City apartment that he shared with his best friend and business partner, Tom Rockchester.
“I can’t believe you’re complaining about a free vacation. You’re nothing but work, work, work. When was the last time you had any fun?” Tom plopped down on the big comfy sofa.
Jacob thought about it for a moment. “Fun can happen later. We need to stay focused on our business plans.” He wasn’t out of shape—he usually went to the gym every morning and played basketball on the weekends—and he got plenty of sun. His new business was taking up most of his time, though, so it might have been about a month since he had done any extracurricular activities.
“When’s the last time you got laid?”
“That is none of your damn business!” He had dated some and had a few more serious relationships, but they always fizzled out. His previous one had lasted a year before she left him because he was too busy to pay any attention to her. Jacob just assumed that once he and Thomas got their business up and running smoothly, he would have plenty of time to pursue a social life.
“I’m just saying that you haven’t taken any breaks in almost two years. Leslie left you a year ago and you haven’t dated anyone since.”
“I don’t have time, and women always want you to give them plenty of attention.”
“I’m just as busy but I make the time, Jacob. Life’s too short to be all work and no play.” Tom’s cell phone buzzed so he pulled it out of his back pocket and started reading his text messages.
“Fine, I’ll go to the beach house with you.” He knew Tom wouldn’t let up until he agreed. He would take his laptop and get some work done, and maybe find time for a little surfing, too.
“Great. I’ll text you the address to the house, and here’s a spare key.” Tom handed him the key and typed a message to Jacob’s phone.
Jacob looked at the key in his palm. “Wait, aren’t we going together?”
“I have to wait on the bankers to finalize the paperwork. Then I’ll come up.”
“I could stay for that,” Jacob offered.
“Nope. If
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