Twenty-four-year-old Storm Darlington, wealthy mogul of Darlington Securities, decides to remove himself from his heavy workload in New York City and spend a month in Barefoot Beach, Florida. In Barefoot Beach, Trent Long is happy with his lifeguarding duties. He enjoys the sun, taking photos, and saving lives. But his world is turned upside down when Storm enters it. Sparks ignite the moment their two worlds collide. The only fly in the sunscreen ointment is Storm’s best friend, and retired Wall Street stock broker, Barbara Mullen. Storm is forced to rethink his romantic feelings for the sexy lifeguard when Barbara reveals some of Trent’s secrets. But there’s very little time to think because Barefoot Beach is threatened by hurricane Edwin. Threats also come from Barbara, who insists she’ll end her friendship with Storm if he doesn’t dump Trent. During the hurricane’s fury, Storm questions his relationship with Barbara, his busy life of finances in New York City, and the secrets he’s learned about Trent. Can Storm come to terms with all three? Will he be able to navigate the stormy waters of love, loss, and a possible future in Barefoot Beach?

Barefoot Storm

What happens next is something I don’t expect. He moves up to the bungalow and crosses the tile verandah. He reaches the sliding glass doors, stands ten feet away from me in the rain, and wipes hurricane water from his face with his right palm. He points to me and calls out, “I love you, Storm. I need to tell you this. I can’t go on without confessing this to you. If you go back to New York, I will still love you. I just want you to know that. If you leave, it’s going to take me a very long time to get over you, if ever. Maybe I shouldn’t have fallen for you this month, but I did. I couldn’t help it. You’re a great guy, and everything I have always wanted in a man. The perfect somebody I can see spending the rest of my life with. A somebody I love and will always love, no matter what happens in our lives together. I just needed to tell you this. I wantedto tell you this. It is what it is, and I get that. It’s just sometimes we need to know when we are loved.”


Chapter 45