One Summerhill Day (The Summerhill Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

her eyes, making them shimmer in the light. All he could think of was rubbing his thumb across the plump surface of her bottom lip, and then kissing her until she melted in his arms or until she couldn’t speak, one or the other.
    What a fool he was. That type of thing only happened in the movies.
    “Hi, Caitlyn. You look nice.” She actually looked gorgeous, not just nice, but he decided that would be a little over the top for a first date. She was dressed in jeans and nice boots, with a black sweater and a red trimmed scarf wrapped around her neck, and the black set off her blonde hair.
    “Thank you, Ryan. You look nice, too.”
    He helped her on with her coat, then held the door for her as they walked into the parking lot of the B & B. He had parked close to keep her from having to walk too far, and he helped her slide into his car before he climbed in the driver’s side. Maneuvering yourself into a car after a leg injury took practice, he knew better than anyone. He noticed the way she gripped the door before she sat—she was still in pain. As soon as he closed the door, he put the keys in the ignition and turned to look at her. A warm feeling washed over him.
    “You smell good, Ryan. What kind of cologne?”
    “Honestly? I have no idea. Whatever my sister gave me for Christmas.” Damn, score one for Mallory.
    It didn’t take more than ten minutes to get there, and several patrons greeted him when they walked into Deb’s Diner. He waved to the hostess and indicated a booth in the back corner, hoping for a little privacy there. When he and Caitlyn reached their table, he helped her off with her coat. His hand accidentally brushed hers, just enough to shoot a spark up his arm. What the hell was that? Shit, all of a sudden he felt like a middle schooler with his first crush on a girl. He swallowed as he sat opposite her in the booth, suddenly very conscious of how beautiful she was. Even with the little wounds on her face from the accident, she was stunning. When had he ever dated one like this before? Shit, this was a date. He needed to text Mallory and ask her for guidance. He knew nothing about dating anymore. Before the army, he would have texted Jake, but since the army, he had grown closer to Mallory, though he wasn’t quite sure why.
    The waitress handed them each a menu, so he opened his. His stomach flipped at least ten times. Somersaults, if he had to guess. He tried to stare at the menu, but it was hard to concentrate with Caitlyn so close to him.
    “What do you recommend? You must have a favorite.” She set the menu down to await his answer.
    “Deb is a great cook. I like the turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes. One of my sisters likes the grilled chicken wrap, the spinach salad, and the quiche. The nachos are great. My other sister and my stepmother like the meatloaf.” He peered over his menu, hoping he could gauge her reaction by her facial expression.
    “I’ll try the grilled chicken wrap.”
    The waitress returned and took their order. Caitlyn glanced around the room. “They’re busy. That’s always a good sign for a restaurant.” She took a sip of her ice water, then settled her hands on her lap. “So would I have any chance of renting a place here for a couple of months? What do you think?”
    “You want to stay in Summerhill?” He tried to keep his expression neutral, though he’d love for her to stay so they could spend more time together. “I’d be happy to help you find a place. I know a couple of the real estate offices that handle rentals. On the lake or off?”
    “On, if possible.” She stared at something across the room. “I want to stay until I can figure out something…”
    “Anything I can help you with?”
    She returned her gaze to his. “I don’t know. Maybe.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “I was on my way to visit my aunt in Buffalo. That’s why I came to New York. I was leaving her house when the storm hit, which is why I took the turn-off