Haven Shores by Ella Jade

Welcome back! If you missed week one of my micro-novel At the Beach, Haven Shores click here.

Part two

Rosa continued to wipe the dog slobber off her face before prying the sticky material of her sundress from her lap.

"I'm terribly sorry, Miss." The gorgeous man held the dog by the collar.

"Isn't there a leash law?" Rosa stood from the sand.

"Calvin ran out of the back porch and headed straight for the beach before I had a chance to put his leash on. He means no harm."

"Hmm…" Rosa glared at the tan Lab. "He ruined my dress."

"I apologize," he said. "I'd be more than happy to compensate you for the dress."

"That won't be necessary, Mr.—"

"Logan Collins." He extended his hand. "I live along the cliffs." He pointed to a rather large home overlooking the ocean. It was the biggest one on the block.

"I'm Rosa." She took his strong hand in hers. As soon as she touched his warm skin, she felt a charge course through her body. She'd never felt anything like that before.

"Rosa Gallo?" He looked amused.

"How did you know my last name?"

"I designed your house. Your father told me you'd be coming. He said I should introduce myself when you arrived." He shoved his hand in his crisply pressed khaki's. Rosa noticed he was barefoot and his five o'clock shadow was more than appealing.

"I've been here for two weeks."

"I just got back from Greece," he said. "I thought I'd introduce myself tomorrow, but Calvin forced my hand."

"Greece?"

"Some of my family lives there."

Now it made sense why her parents made her come to the beach. They had an attractive, successful Greek man waiting for her. Well, no thank you. Mr. Designer Clothes was too old for her anyway. He looked as if he was in his early thirties. Not that he wasn't totally doable, but she wouldn't be doing him anytime soon. Damn her father for ruining that!

"I guess you know my parents pretty well."

"I've designed many properties for your father." He attached Calvin's leash and then plopped down in the sand, digging his toes in the powdery surface. "I've been working for him since I graduated from college ten years ago." Calvin rested his chin on Logan's thigh.

"And he just decided to build a beach house on the same block as you?"

"The land was available and he said it would be a nice graduation present for you. Congratulations, by the way. Princeton, huh?"

"You seem to know a lot about me. What else has my father told you?"

He shrugged.

"That I'm getting old, I need a husband and he doesn't trust me to find a suitable one on my own?"

"Not in so many words."

"Wonderful." She rolled her eyes.

"He asked me to look out for you. Your parents are going to be away for another six weeks and your dad wanted to make sure if you needed help with anything you'd know to come to me."

"I don’t need any help," she said. "Sorry my father bothered you." Rosa was infuriated. She had a hot next door neighbor. One she probably could have had sex with all summer, but her father had to play some half-assed matchmaker and ruin everything.

"You're not a bother," he said. "Maybe we could hang out. Get to know one another?"

"I don’t think so, Mr. Collins. I don't know what type of picture my father painted of me, but I'm not up for auction. Sorry if he gave you the wrong impression."

She turned and headed for the path that led back to her house, but before she could reach the wooded boards she felt his hand on her shoulder. He was fast."What makes you think I'm interested in you, Princess?"

"Excuse me." She turned and glared at him but he didn't release her.

"Your father went to a lot of trouble and expense to build you that house. He wanted it perfect for you."

"I didn’t ask him for that," she said. "I wanted to go to New York this summer."

"We don't always get what we want. You have an amazing education, great parents and a gorgeous new home. There are many young girls who would love to have what you have."

"You don't know anything about me."

"I think you're a rude, self-centered brat and if you belonged to me, I'd take you over my knee and show you how disrespectful you are."

"What?" She stepped back. His threat should have repulsed her, but she liked his firm tone. The thought of him spanking her did strange things to her body, especially between her legs.

"I'm sorry." He pulled on Calvin's leash. "That was inappropriate. I just meant your father adores you and wants what's best for you."

She continued to stare into his mesmerizing blue eyes for a few seconds, before he and Calvin headed down the path. He left without another word to her. She wanted to know who the tempting stranger was, and what he'd meant by that comment.

***

Check out Tamaria Soana's blog tomorrow for her next installment of Sand, Sun & Sex.