With 100 5 star reviews on Amazon, The Seacrest has also won some nice awards this year: 2014 Best Beach Book Festival WINNER, Romance category 2013
ForeWord Book Awards, Romance, FINALIST
***
Hope you enjoy this excerpt from chapter 4.
July
2nd, 1997
We played with the beach
ball for about an hour, laughing and churning up sand three hundred yards up
the beach, away from the sunbathers and family picnics. After the first few
nervous minutes, the whole thing felt very natural, as if we were just kids and
there were no boy-girl elements to be embarrassed about.
But there certainly were boy-girl elements.
I watched her tawny arms as they flailed and whapped the
ball and marveled at her long, delicate legs when she ran back and forth along
the quiet stretch of sand we’d chosen. Her eyes had a way of widening in mock
horror when I tossed it too high and she missed it, quickly followed by a wide
smile that dizzied me.
She had a nice figure, with slim legs, a narrow waist, and
pretty shoulders. Her one-piece black suit covered areas I tried not to stare
at, but couldn’t help wanting to. I wondered how it would feel to touch her.
Probably softer than silk. Her hair cascaded along her back, bouncing dark
against her summer brown skin.
We collapsed on the sand with the ball between us, breathing
hard and laughing.
“You’re pretty good at this,” she said.
I leaned back on my arms and chuckled. “So are you. For a
girl.”
She sat up and hit my arm. “What? For a girl?”
Afraid she’d storm off, I took her hand and pulled her close
to me. “I’m just kidding! Really, you’re good, even for a guy.”
She smiled that lazy, sweet grin again and I felt my heart
melt.
“Okay. That’s better.”
“I haven’t seen you at my school. Are you from around here?”
I asked.
“I just came back for the summer.”
“Back from where?” I said. “Reform school?”
She hit me again and I knew I deserved it.
“Just for that, I’m not telling you. You’re horrible!” Her
smile belied her words.
I grinned back at her. “So, what’s your name?”
“Guess.”
“What?”
“Guess.”
“Okay.” I sat up, furrowed my brow, and placed fingertips
against my temples, staring at her. “I’m getting something. It’s coming.”
She laughed and poked my chest. “Oh, really? What do you
see?”
I gave it a shot. “Jennifer?”
She snorted. “No!”
I tried again. “Sarah?”
She giggled. “Heck, no.”
I tried to think of the most popular names of our
generation, hoping it was one of them. “Allison?”
“Uhnt-uh.” She shook her head.
“Give me a hint.”
“No.”
“Oh, come on!” I frowned. “How can I guess?”
“You have to.”
“Okay. Hannah? Jessica? Carly? Jenna? Lisa?”
“No, no, no, no, and no.”
“Hey. How ‘bout if I tell you my name?”
“What is it?”
I hesitated. “It’s a weird one.”
“Tell me.”
“Okay. It’s Finn.”
She tilted her head. “That’s not weird. I like it. Finn.”
She seemed to taste the letters on her tongue, enjoying the feel of it. “It’s
different. But nice.”
“Okay. Your turn.” I sat forward expectantly.
“Nope. I’m not telling. You have to keep guessing.”
I ran through all the names I could imagine, and didn’t hit
on it. Frustrated now, I flopped back on the sand. “Okay. Then I’m gonna make
up a name for you.”
She made a face. “Really?” Quickly, she leaned over me, her
face blocking the sun.
In a sudden rush of feeling, I wanted to pull her to me, to
smother her in kisses, to taste the salt on her skin.
“Okay, what’s it gonna be? What’s my new name?”
“Let me think.”
Her hair danced over my bare chest. I caught it and played
with it. “You are sweet. I could call you Honey.”
“Boring,” she said.
“How about Candy?”
“Sexist,” she pouted.
“Bambi?”
“Even worse! I’m not a playboy bunny!”
“Okay, Well, you look delicious. How about Cupcake?”
She hissed. “That sounds like a chubby girl. Or a pony.”
“Okay, okay. Let me think. Maybe I need some inspiration.
How about a kiss?”
At first I thought she’d reel back and hit me. But to my
surprise, she lowered her lips to mine, stopping just an inch apart. “Okay.
Just a little one, though.”
I reached my arms up to her neck and pulled her toward me.
At the last minute, just as I felt the soft sweetness of her mouth brushing
mine, she pulled back.
“Nope. Too soon.” She got up and laughed, twirling around
with the ball. “Come on. What’s my nickname?”
I sat up, trying to control the heat surging beneath my
bathing suit. “Okay. I’ve got it.”
“What? What is it?”
“Sassy.”
She pranced toward me. “I love that! Okay. From now on, I’m
Sassy to you.”
Her father appeared out of nowhere, his face a study in
disapproval. I think he hated me from the moment I’d asked her to toss the ball
around. I also figured he’d probably seen us lying near each other, and got
nervous.
He glared at me. “Time for lunch. Let’s go.”
There was no arguing with his stern tone. She tossed him the
ball and wiggled her fingers at me. “See ya ‘round, Finn.”
I grinned like an idiot. God, she was cute. “Okay, Sassy.
See ya.”
I watched her link arms with her father and sashay away from
me. The sun winked on the brilliant sand, almost blinding me. As if hypnotized,
I stared with slack jaw until I could barely make out her figure among the
crowded, colorful throng of beach-lovers.
Sassy.
Oh, Sassy. You’re the one
for me.
***
Books by multi-award winning author, Aaron Lazar:
LEGARDE MYSTERIES
DOUBLE FORTÉ
UPSTAGED
TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON
MAZURKA
FIRESONG
DON’T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU
THE LIARS’ GALLERY
SPIRIT ME AWAY
UNDER THE ICE (coming soon)
LADY BLUES
MOORE MYSTERIES
HEALEY'S CAVE
TERROR COMES KNOCKING
FOR KEEPS
TALL PINES MYSTERIES
FOR THE BIRDS
ESSENTIALLY YOURS
SANCTUARY
BETRAYAL
STANDALONES
THE SEACREST
DEVIL’S LAKE
DEVIL’S CREEK (coming soon)
WRITING ADVICE
WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volumes 1, 2, 3
Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. An award-winning, bestselling Kindle author of three addictive mystery series, writing books, and a new love story, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at http://www.lazarbooks.com and watch for his upcoming releases, UNDER THE ICE(2015) and DEVIL’S CREEK(2015). Contact him at aaron dot lazar at yahoo dot com.
