A Temporary Courtship
An Inconvenient AttractionBefore leaving for a coveted two-year musical residency, cellist Bree Anderson is taking one month for a relaxing lakefront vacation. But she's thrown off track by the instant attraction she feels for one of the resort's instructors. The last thing local Darren Zelinsky needs is a privileged summer resident like the fiancée who jilted him. Bree's no threat to his heart…until he uncovers the vulnerable woman beneath the pristine exterior. And soon Bree is in danger of falling for the rugged outdoorsman. The clock on her stay is ticking and Bree's facing an impossible choice—between a lifelong dream and a lifetime love.
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An Inconvenient Attraction
Before leaving for a coveted two-year musical residency, cellist Bree Anderson is taking one month for a relaxing lakefront vacation. But sheâs thrown off track by the instant attraction she feels for one of the resortâs instructors. The last thing local Darren Zelinsky needs is a privileged summer resident like the fiancée who jilted him. Breeâs no threat to his heart...until he uncovers the vulnerable woman beneath the pristine exterior. And soon Bree is in danger of falling for the rugged outdoorsman. The clock on her stay is ticking and Breeâs facing an impossible choiceâbetween a lifelong dream and a lifetime love.
Her eyes met his, finally.
He ran his fingertips where her dimples showed when she smiled. Bree wasnât smiling now. âWhy are you sorry?â
âBecause I have feelings for you. Because Iâm leaving soon.â
Hearing her admit she cared did something to him. Something he didnât expect. Something he didnât want to lose. âDo you really have to go way out to Seattle?â
âDonât even think of asking me to stay.â
He didnât want to let this die, but then, what kind of chance did they have? âWe can keep in touch.â
That sounded lame, even to his ears. Theyâd known each other a couple of weeks but it was long enough to have feelings for each other. Real feelings he should know better than to pursue. Hadnât he learned that whirlwind romances didnât last?
Glancing at Breeâs hand wrapped firmly in his own made him wonder if maybe they couldâwith the right woman.
Bree was real and she cared. Problem was, he didnât want her to leave. But if he asked her to stay, he might lose her forever.
JENNA MINDEL lives in northwest Michigan with her husband and their three dogs. A 2006 Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, Jenna has answered her heartâs call to write inspirational romances set near the Great Lakes.
Then the LORD God said,
âIt is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.â
âGenesis 2:18
To my husband, for supporting my dream.
I love you!
Contents
Conservation officer Darren Zelinsky blew out his breath and stared at the Bay Willows Association community building. Heâd been here more times than he cared to remember with Raleigh, the woman heâd once planned to marry. He wasnât here today by choice either.
Bay Willows was a private summer resort located within his hometown of Maple Springs, Michigan. The large white two-story Victorian structure before him, complete with a broad porch on one side, reminded him of what heâd lost. And what he hoped to gain by coming here.
Ice cream socials were held on that porch. The last time heâd been to an ice cream social two years ago with his girl, it had taken every ounce of willpower to play nice with people heâd resented since he was kid. People whoâd looked down their noses at a local, making him feel like an awkward teen trying to protect his turf.
Darren had Local Yokel stamped on his forehead, and that wasnât ever going to change. He didnât want it to. He loved not only Maple Springs but also the entire Tip of the Mitt. It was why he was so good at his job with the stateâs Department of Natural Resources.
The late April afternoon had turned warm and sunny. A perfect day for mushrooming. Teri, his supervisor, had asked him to fill in for her wild edibles class. This wasnât for fun, it was work. This was the opportunity he needed, too, because he wanted her job.
Rumor had it that Teri might not return from maternity leave with her late-in-life surprise baby. Heâd also heard that her husband relocated to the town theyâd come from downstate. Good news for Darren. He didnât want to come in second place this time. The supervisor job should have been his over two years ago, but his regional boss had gone with Teri instead, a more seasoned CO several years older than Darren. Teri was used to dealing with a more diverse population.
He glanced around the area heâd avoided for nearly two years. He had to prove himself here. Prove he had what it took to get along with these people. But so many bad memories resided here, alongside these beautiful people.
Most cottages remained shut up for winter. The majority of summer residents arrived in time for Memorial Day, a month away yet. Summertime in Maple Springs was gorgeous, but with the beauty came the crowds. His town swelled with part-timers and tourists overtaking the shops and sidewalks and slowing down traffic.
Bay Willows threw open her gates on April 1. Half a dozen or so of those early residents had signed up for this class. Every week for the next few, Darren would instruct uppity summer residents how not only to prepare but also to find wild edibles. He was more than qualified. Heâd been scouring the woods since he was a kid. He knew where to find everything Teri had planned before her doctor called her out.
