Freda Ann, Author

Copyright © 2025 by Freda Ann

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof in any form.

No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment and is a work of fiction. All names, people, places, incidents, events are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people (living or dead), businesses, places or events is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

Chapter 1

(Amelia)

Turning onto US 19 I accelerate my Harley up the coast of Florida, the state where I was born, towards my favorite vacation spot.

A smile tickles my lips as I can’t resist a trip down memory lane. When I was a somewhat outgoing sixteen-year-old girl, my parents took me to an island named Bliss Cay where I met my first crush. His name was Lewis and we ran into each other just a few hours after arriving.

“Amelia, Casey, have you unpacked yet?” Mom yells up the stairs of the townhouse they rented for this summer’s family vacation. My parents try to take us someplace new every year.

Glancing at my little sister, who’s seven years younger than me, she’s staring out the window overlooking the beach. I grin before yelling, “We’re almost done.”

Casey turns around and takes more stuff out of her luggage. “Do you think Mom will let us go see the beach after we’re done?” She asks.

“If we finish unpacking, I don’t see why not.”

“Okay, good.” Casey picks up the pace tossing her clothes in the drawers before shoving her luggage under her twin bed and standing upright. “Done.”

I smile. “Wow, look at you. That’s got to be the fastest you’ve unpacked since you were born. You must really want to go to the beach.”

“Did you see the beaches around the island when Dad drove over the bridge?” She enthusiastically asks. “They’re so much prettier than the beaches close to our house.”

“I agree. We’re actually on the west coast of the state where the ocean is much calmer and the water is more turquoise than blue, as it is on the Atlantic coast. This side also has smoother sand than the east coast does. You’ll see when we get to walk on it.”

Rushing to the bedroom door, she looks back at me. “Are you coming?”

Giggling, I smile and follow her down the stairs while she darts around searching for Mom and Dad. “Hey, slow down before you run into someone.” I tell her.

Dad rounds the corner from the kitchen narrowly missing a collision with Casey who’s careening towards him. “Hey, hey, slow down. What’s the rush, Peanut?” He asks, using the nickname he gave her when she was born.

“Can Amelia take me to see the beach… please Dad?” Smiling large, she puts her hands in the prayer position waiting for him to answer.

Cutting his eyes to me, he asks, “Would you mind taking her Amelia, so Mom and I can finish unpacking?”

“Of course. I’m also wondering what this place has to offer. I have my phone if you need us before we return.”

Since my parents bought me a portable phone last Christmas, my very first one, I carry it everywhere I go. Most of my friends still haven’t gotten one yet so it’s nice to show it off.

When my sister tries to head for the door, he reaches out and grabs Casey’s shoulder turning her around to face him. “Make sure you listen to your big sister. If you give her the least bit of trouble, you won’t be going anywhere else until me or your mother are available to take you, got it?”

“Got it Dad.” She says sprinting to the door and flinging it open.

“Hey, you need to stay by me and not run ahead.” I scold her before Dad takes a step closer.

When she turns around, her smile fades as Dad scrunches his eyes. “Don’t make me regret this. Stay with your sister.”

“Sorry, I will.” She assures him freezing in the open doorway waiting for me to walk with her.

We stroll along the trail which takes us away from the house, across a hard dirt horse and bicycle pathway, ending at a picturesque white sandy beach. From what I can see it appears to run along the entire side of the island.

“Whoa… I love this place!” I catch my sister’s mouth lingering open while she scans the beach.

“Me too, pretty cool huh?”

“Uh-huh.”

Glancing to the right, I state, “Let’s go this way. I see a pier not too far away.”

“Sure, that sounds like fun.”

As we take our time splashing through the water, I notice kiosks scattered along the upper portion of the beach by the bicycle pathway. Some have beverages and food while others rent beach equipment.

“Can we go to the end, please?” Casey pleads staring down the pier.

“I don’t see why not, but you have to stay by me. No running either, or I’ll tell Dad.”

Peeking at me, she adds, “I will.”

Meandering from side to side we browse the small booths placed sporadically along the pier. Most of them contained a mixture of food, clothing and souvenirs.

“I’m hungry.” My sister cocks her head at me.

Smirking, I admit, “Sorry Case, but I didn’t bring any money. Besides, I remember Mom saying she would make sandwiches for lunch after they unpacked.”

“Maybe we can come tomorrow.” She says.

“Possibly.” I shrug. “I’m not sure what Mom and Dad have planned.”

Casey picks up the pace the closer to the end of the pier we get. Realizing she can’t go much further, I let her enjoy the moment.

She eyes the ocean, as well as everyone and everything in it for as far as she can see. I’m leaning on the railing to the left, peeking over the side, when someone starts talking behind me.

“Wow.” I hear a man saying aloud. “I’ve never seen someone so pretty.”

Muffling a smile, I can’t help thinking how lucky the girl he’s talking to must feel. What I wouldn’t do to have a boy say something so sweet and romantic to me.

Curiosity gets the best of me when I notice a figure standing barely two feet away. I turn to get a glimpse of the person he’s obviously crazy about.

Casually surveying the ocean on my left I lock eyes with a boy who looked not much older than myself. Leaning on the railing and smiling at me, he nods.

Whoa. Butterflies flutter around in my stomach as I pinch my lips together trying to contain my excitement. He’s the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen in my entire sixteen years of living.

Once I swallow the lump in my throat, I coax my mouth to start working again. “That uh, that was really nice what you said to your girl—”

Searching behind us, I don’t see any other girls except Casey, who’s still at the end of the pier watching someone on a Jet Ski. Rather confused I scrunch my forehead wondering who he was talking to.

“I don’t have agirl… at least not yet.” He stresses with the grin still plastered across his face. That was the day I met the boy I could never, ever forget.

Snapping back from my little trip down memory lane, a blaring siren pierces my helmet. I momentarily pull my gaze from the road to check the sideview mirrors for the cause.

I catch a glimpse of the police car behind me and ease my bike into the safety zone out of its way. Upon doing so, the marked car pulls behind me. I come to a stop putting the kickstand down and shutting the engine off.

Seriously? Relaxing my arms I force a breath out and rest my hands on my thighs waiting for the cop to approach me.

Hearing footsteps closing in, I turn to face them. Despite my helmet blocking a clear view, I notice a tall, muscular figure stopping a few feet in front of my bike.

Meeting his gaze, I see a man in uniform wearing dark sunglasses and his department issued hat resting his hands on his belt.

“Ma’am.” He gives me a slight nod. “I need your license and registration, please.”

Resisting the urge to ask the common question of ‘did I do something wrong officer’, I settle for, “No problem.”

Unzipping my vest I reach for the inside pocket, where I keep the paperwork. Pulling out what I need, I hand it to him and sit up tall while he looks them over.

As he scans my driver’s license and motorcycle registration, I furrow a brow studying his facial features. But when he senses me watching him, he lowers his hand and tips his head up staring back at me.

“Is something wrong?” The cop asks.

Curiosity gets the best of me the more I hear his voice. “Have we met before?”

Giving me a boyish grin as if he thinks I’m flirting with him, he dips his head and chuckles. “Uh, no ma’am. I can assure you we’ve never met, at least not until now.”

He hands me the papers when I say, “I guess not then. So, was I speeding or something?”

“Technically Ms. Marks you were going a little over the speed limit, but that’s not why I stopped you. There’s been a bike just like yours driving recklessly and cutting drivers off for a few weeks now. I’m just trying to keep everyone on our island safe.”

“Well, I appreciate that.”

He takes a step, stopping next to me while pulling his glasses halfway down his nose, looking over the top of them. “I hope you enjoy your stay ma’am.”

Peeking at the name tag on his chest, I state, “Thank you Officer Lewis. I’m sure I will.”

When he eases his car around me, I slide the papers back into my pocket. My brows raise up as his voice and what I could see of his eyes tickle a memory. “Wait, Officer Lewis? They wouldn’t use first names here, would they?”

I stare at the back of his patrol car as he drives away. That can’t be my Lewis, no way. He didn’t live here when we met. I could never forget his voice, eyes, or smile even after all of these years. (End of Chapter 1)

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