The Summer Series

He was my boyfriend’s best friend—and the bane of my existence. I wanted to hate Luke Taylor. I did hate him. I just never hated him enough. Now, a decade later, tragedy has brought us back to the place where it all happened—my best times and my worst. Our lives have changed, but that pull between us is just as strong as ever. Only this time, it’s more dangerous too.

He was my boyfriend's best friend-and the bane of my existence. I wanted to hate Luke Taylor. I did hate him. I just never hated him enough. Now, a decade later, tragedy has brought us back to the place where it all happened-my best times, and my worst. Our lives have changed, but that pull between us is just as strong as ever. Only this time, it's more dangerous too.

I came to the lake to be left alone, to lick my wounds. I wasn't counting on neighbors and I especially wasn't counting on her. Lucie was a little kid the last time I was here. Now she's grown-and God, did she ever grow up-with two little kids of her own. She's everywhere I look, no matter how hard I try to avoid her. I'd forgotten all the things I used to want, used to dream about. She's reminding me...and making me want every last one of them again.

From the moment I first saw Caleb, I knew he belonged to me. And I knew I’d have to save him—because how else does the girl nobody wants win over the boy beloved by all? Nothing about his life or mine has gone to plan. He’s isolated and miserable. I’ve got a vindictive ex, two young kids, and more problems than I can count. But what hasn’t changed is this: It still feels like he’s mine. And it sure looks like he’s in need of saving.

I tore out of rehab to win my husband back. It’ll work, too. He just needs to see that I’m clean, that I’m on my feet again. Until that happens, though, I’ve only got one guy in my corner—Beck, my husband’s best friend, who takes me in against his will and keeps me sane. Living with Beck is easier than I expected. And fun. Except I’ve got a long history of wanting things I’m not supposed to want.

I tore out of rehab to win my husband back. It'll work, too. He just needs to see that I'm clean, that I'm on my feet again. Until that happens, though, I've got only got one guy in my corner - Beck, my husband's best friend, who takes me in against his will and keeps me sane. Living with Beck is easier than I expected. And fun. Except I've got a long history of wanting things I'm not supposed to want. And Beck may be the most dangerous of them all.

What do you call a woman who wants to destroy everything you love, yet the sight of her sets you on fire? Nemesis or future wife . . . and since she can't wait to leave California, I guess I know which one she is. Emerson Hughes wants to be the villain in our town's history, and the more I learn about her past here, the more I understand it. I wanted to save Elliott Springs. I think I want to save her even more.