J.T. Marie

When Tara receives a wedding invitation from a cousin she hasn't seen in years, she knows it's nothing more than a bid for a gift or money. But Amanda lives in Wildwood, New Jersey, where Tara used to spend her summers as a child, and a much-needed vacation down the shore sounds like the perfect way to finish off a hectic summer.<br><br>Every hotel in the tourist trap is booked, though, so Tara's Aunt Marlene invites her to stay with them the week of the wedding. But Wildwood isn't quite the island paradise she remembers from her youth, and both her relatives would rather get drunk than have fun on the boardwalk. Plus Marlene is determined to set Tara up with a coworker of hers even though Tara isn't interested -- in men or in romance.<br><br>The vacation is beginning to look like a bust until the night of Amanda's bachelorette party, when Tara meets Delaney, a pretty bartender with fiery curls and a personality to match. Suddenly the summer heat isn't the only thing making her sweat. Can Tara salvage what's left of her time in Wildwood with Delaney's help? Or will family obligations keep her from following her heart?

Heat Wave: Wildwood

When the screen door slapped shut behind Tara, Marlene ducked her head to peer over the top of her sunglasses and grinned. “There you are. Been worried sick.”


“Yeah, I can tell.” Tara dropped into the closest chair and perched on the edge, while Amanda leaned on the back to hang on every word. “Listen, about tonight—”


“Mandy tell you?” Settling back, Marlene took a long swill of her beer and sighed. “Paul will be here around four. I figure we can go into Cape May, maybe try the Lobster House—”


“Mom, God,” Amanda groaned. “You need reservations for that place.”


“We’ll head over early,” Marlene countered. “If the wait’s too long, I know of a few other places we can go.”


Tara shook her head. “Well, y’all have fun, because I’m not going.”


With a dismissive wave, Marlene said, “Psh, you’ll like Paul. Just wait—”


“I’m going to the boardwalk,” Tara started.


Amanda interrupted. “She already has a date.”


Great, Tara thought. So much for subtlety.


Chapter 23