Step Summer

McKenna

I’ve spent the three years I’ve known Blake Reynolds looking at him out of the corner of my eye, too afraid to look closer and like what I see. No matter that he has the warm, hazel eyes of a person who’s seen the world, a body built by professional lacrosse and decorated with gorgeous tattoos, and a heart that believes in me even when no one else seems to—I can’t like him. Not the way I want to. So I don’t look until I have to, until we’re forced to spend the summer living in the same beach house.

And then I can’t look away.

Blake

McKenna Maycomb is everything the girl of your dreams should be—funny, sweet, and gorgeous. She’s more than a naive dreamer like everyone believes, and I want to protect her from the world. And from myself. With a fresh breakup behind me and an addiction I’m trying to quit, I’m no good for anyone right now. But Kenna looks past that and sees me, believes I’m the good guy she wants. She’s wrong about me, but I can’t help trying to prove her right. And the more late night swims and beach bonfires between us, the more the connection between us grows too. But I’m ten years older than her and McKenna’s not mine to love—not as long as our parents are married. That’s right, I said our parents. I’m McKenna’s stepbrother.

Loving her could destroy my family. Losing her could destroy my heart.