Just for the Summer Read Online Free PDF Page A

over.”
    With a sigh, Dani removed the muffins then shut off the oven. “My car’s a lemon.”
     She tossed the two flowery red oven mitts onto the counter. “I swear it’s been in
     the shop more than it’s been on the road.”
    “Stop in at the Mobil station in town. Ask for Pete. He’ll fix you right up.”
    “Okay, thanks.”
    While Dani fussed over the muffins, he surveyed his surroundings. This was the first
     time he’d been inside. Looking at the color scheme and the furnishings, no wonder
     Jack wanted to redecorate after completion of the upstairs renovation. The place reminded
     him of a dollhouse his little sister had when she was a kid.
    The rooms were tiny, the walls the color of mint ice cream, and everything else was
     white and frilly. He felt like the proverbial bull in a china shop. “I’ve never seen
     a more girlie-looking place in all my life.”
    Dani laughed as she took a seat at the table. “This is nothing. You should see my
     bedroom.”
    “I plan to.” He watched in amusement as her eyebrows shot halfway up her forehead.
     She crossed her arms over her chest. It took all his willpower not to take in what
     he knew would be award-winning cleavage.
    She gave him a knowing look. “Hope you don’t think you’re getting me into bed, Sheriff.”
    He smiled to cover his lie. “Wouldn’t dream of it. After the repairs are done upstairs,
     I’m helping Jack repaint the inside of the cottage—your bedroom included.”
    She blushed so hard, he was afraid she might develop heat stroke. “I knew that.”
    “Right.”
    Dani played with a few strands of hair that had escaped from the mess on top of her
     head. “So what brings you by? Other than to talk muffins and bedrooms?”
    “I want to apologize.”
    She playfully slapped a hand on the table. “You should—the movie you recommended sucked.”
    …
    “No, for being an ass.” Matt smiled, but the emotion never made its way to his eyes.
     Dani guessed she was about to see his serious side. Between the oven and her hormones,
     the temperature in the kitchen rivaled the inside of a pressure cooker. “Why don’t
     we sit outside?”
    She plucked up the candle from the kitchen table and took it to the porch. After placing
     it on a wicker end table, she motioned for Matt to sit on the love seat while she
     took the rocking chair to his left. She sat in silence, waiting for him to say something.
    He scratched his jaw, and his fingers rasped against the whiskers that were well past
     a five o’clock shadow. He seemed almost nervous. “The thing is, I’ve been under a
     lot of stress lately. I’m in a new job. The hours are erratic. My mother recently
     moved in with Sam and me. Plus, I’ve been—”
    “Horny?”
    She was awarded enough of a smile to bring out his dimples. Those alone could resuscitate
     a dead woman.
    “I’m a guy. We spend most of our lives in that condition.” He sighed and raked a hand
     through his short hair and focused his attention on Dani. “Look. The bottom line is,
     I could’ve been more professional in my office. So, sorry.”
    “Can you still fix my parking ticket?”
    He chuckled. “Yeah. Sure.”
    The fact that he’d made a special trip to apologize stepped up her impression of him
     a degree. At this rate, she’d be madly in love by the end of the week. Better to be
     grateful that her son had Matt for a role model…and then remember that he was Sam’s
     father and well out of reach.
    Since he was being honest with her, Dani wondered if she should level with him. Reveal
     her identity. Problem was, she couldn’t imagine any way that would end well.
    “Thanks for what you told Sam at the video store. I wasn’t sure what to say to keep
     him calm.”
    Now here she was in familiar territory. “I always try to be upfront with my patients.
     If I sugarcoat things or I’m vague, they lose their trust in me.”
    Matt smiled. “We think alike, Ms. Sullivan. It’s all about honesty and