R.S Grey’s Novel ‘Our Secret Summer’: Read an Excerpt (Exclusive)

If you’re looking for a perfect summer escape, look no further than R.S. Grey’s latest book!

The bestselling author of Anything You Can Do will publish their latest novel, Our Secret Summer, next year from Hachette Book Group imprint Requited, and PEOPLE has an exclusive first look.

The novel follows 26-year-old Isabel De Vere, a rising corporate star who has her life down to a tee. But Isabel’s life gets upended when her sister unexpectedly dies — especially after Isabel uncovers her sibling’s unfinished bucket list.

Suddenly, Isabel leaves her life behind for Ibiza, where she takes on a new identity to tackle her sister’s bucket list, from surfing to falling in love. That last to-do item becomes complicated when Isabel takes a job at a club, run by the charming millionaire Cristiano.

Ready to dive in? Read on for an exclusive excerpt from Our Secret Summer.

Annika taps me on my way back to the bar, pausing as she rushes past with a tray filled with colorful cocktails.

“Look up.”

Up?

I glance toward the midnight sky, and she laughs and shakes her head, shouting from behind me. “There!”

She points toward the balcony near the stage. I haven’t been up there yet because I have no business serving VIPs. My computer skills are improving every shift, and I nearly have the drink menu memorized forward and backward, but I operate at a snail’s pace compared to Simone and Annika. They can take orders in the blink of an eye and do it with a flirtatious smile. Meanwhile, I’m being outmatched by a group of Midwestern moms.

It doesn’t take me long to see what — or rather who — Annika’s referring to. I’m surprised to see the handsome devil from last week leaning over the railing that looks out over the club.

Even from this distance, he’s intimidating, and he’s just as good-looking as I remember — more so, actually. He’s wearing a white shirt that’s unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint of his tan chest. It also shows off his sculpted arms. I’ve never been into tattooed guys before now, but I love how they look on him. I like that they’re scattered, not full sleeves, not even close. There are only a few on each arm, a tapestry of his soul right there for anyone to see. Or … who knows. Maybe it’s not that deep. Maybe they’re women’s names, all his past conquests. Maybe they’re his favorite restaurants, his grocery list.

It could be that his tattoos are appealing because they contrast so nicely with the rest of him. His ink-black hair is neatly styled. His face is so meticulously chiseled. He’s scanning the floor, but his gaze isn’t intense like Ramón’s; he’s not looking for danger. It’s almost like he’s admiring the crowd, enjoying the view.

That makes two of us, I think, biting down on my mischievous smile.

I’m musing over this when his gaze shifts and our eyes meet and lock. His dark, calculating gaze takes ahold of me with all the intensity of a bolt of lightning striking me down from above. Instantly, my cheeks flood with color, but I don’t look away. Anticipation tightens my stomach and then spreads like wildfire through me.

Slowly, like melting wax, his eyes slide down me, carefully taking me in from head to toe in my revealing uniform. I feel like a butterfly pinned to a board, helpless in the face of his unwavering attention.

“Blink, babe,” Annika says with a burst of laughter.

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