Summertime and flirting go collectively. With lengthy days and sultry nights, even adults cannot resist that carefree “faculty’s out” feeling.
In Susan Andersen’s Some Like It Sizzling, the second guide in her Razor Bay sequence, summer season brings the brand new lady Harper Summerville to the idyllic city of Razor Bay, Washington for a seasonal job. However work rapidly turns into a pleasure when Harper meets Max Bradshaw, the city’s deputy sheriff.
Over a really sultry and suspenseful 330 pages, the 2 cannot deny their rising attraction … whilst summer season’s rapidly ending. Might Harper’s summer season fling be “The One”?
Listed below are 7 methods to show a summer season crush right into a severe relationship:
1. Begin out informal
Harper and Max are bodily attracted to one another from the second they meet. However neither is on the lookout for love. As an alternative, they take their time attending to know one another in informal group settings. At occasions, the sluggish tempo feels irritating and tense — even for readers — however this solely makes them extra sure of their attraction. Each Harper and Max see that the thing of their affection is greater than a fairly face and a sizzling physique. (Not that anybody’s complaining about that!)
2. Go on significant “dates”
As an alternative of asking Harper out on a typical date, Max invitations her to volunteer at Cedar Village, a gaggle dwelling for troubled boys, the place he serves on the board of administrators. The expertise exhibits each of them new sides of one another. Harper sees how nice Max is with youngsters, which is all the time a turn-on for a girl who needs a household of her personal sometime. Max watches how welcome Harper makes everybody really feel, though the setting is exterior her consolation zone. The “date” is not candlelit or intimate, nevertheless it makes them much more attracted to one another.
3. Open up
Harper and Max first find out about one another by way of rumour and a few informal remark. Sharing a typical expertise makes it simpler for them to open up about extra private issues, together with their pasts. Neither is able to make a transfer simply but … and that makes issues much more promising.
“Once you’re on the lookout for love, your focus must be on discovering your greatest buddy,” says YourTango Skilled Marla Martenson, a matchmaker and creator of Excuse Me, Your Soul Mate Is Ready. “Should you’re solely after chemistry, you will be lacking that important friendship. Bodily attraction can burn out if it is all you could have.”
4. Take your crush off the pedestal
Initially, Harper and Max do not assume they’ve a lot in frequent. Harper assumes that Max is aloof as a result of he is not considering her. Max assumes {that a} “silver spoon lady” like Harper is out of his league. Each are fallacious, nevertheless it takes them time to appreciate that.
Andersen considers it the most important impediment the characters have to beat. “Relationships on an unequal footing are a lot much less probably to achieve success,” she says. “Max particularly has to appreciate what he can carry to the connection.” As Max grows extra comfy, he is hotter and fewer guarded. Harper reciprocates. Earlier than lengthy, the 2 resolve to…
5. Go for it … however not too quick
It is a summer season romance novel, in spite of everything. When anybody has this a lot enjoyable collectively — and feels this a lot pressure — it is time to take issues additional. After a number of glasses of wine one night time, Harper takes issues into her personal palms. She walks to Max’s home, regardless of the voices in her head that remind her that she’s solely staying in Razor Bay till summer season ends.
“Once you get to know somebody and you continue to really feel actually strongly about them, you have to dive into love the best way you’d a lake,” says Yourtango skilled Marla Martenson. “It is a danger price taking.” Harper and Max lastly kiss, however Max insists they delay gratification a bit extra. Once they lastly do get collectively, the encounter would not disappoint.
6. Be trustworthy
After a sluggish build-up, Harper and Max begin falling for one another. Their chemistry is icing on the cake. “Nice intimacy apart, their attraction is predicated on respect for one another and comparable values and pursuits,” says creator Susan Andersen.
With summer season ending, now’s the time for Harper and Max to determine what is going on on between them, and if it could actually proceed. Might this fling grow to be one thing long-term? Harper additionally has a secret she’s been maintaining from Max, one which she’s saved too lengthy. Earlier than they will transfer ahead, she has to return clear.
7. Bend
Harper and Max weren’t on the lookout for love; it discovered them. Now they will each need to compromise to make a relationship work. Harper has traveled extensively and hadn’t deliberate on staying in Razor Bay. Max cannot think about residing anyplace else. Once they begin arguing over what to do, it is simple to return to their earlier doubts.
Max is not like the opposite males Harper’s dated — he is not as suave and complicated. And Harper is more difficult than different girls Max has recognized. However flexibility is vital. Once you meet the person of your desires, you do not all the time acknowledge him at first.
You may need to learn Some Like It Sizzling to seek out out if Harper and Max can hold summer season love scorching all 12 months lengthy.
Amanda Inexperienced is a author with expertise in copywriting, branded content material, social media, and editorial.
