Can a summer fling turn into love that lasts a lifetime?
Former underwear model turned entrepreneur Clay Stryker has loved, tragically lost and vowed that heâll never risk his heart again. After making his fortune, the youngest of the rugged Stryker brothers returns to Foolâs Gold, California, to put down roots on a ranch of his own. But heâs frustrated to discover that even in his hometown, people see him only for his world-famous...assets.
Firefighter Chantal (Charlie) Dixon grew up an ugly duckling beside her delicately beautiful mother, a feeling reinforced long ago by a man who left soul-deep scars. Now she has good friends, a solid job and the itch to start a familyâyet she canât move toward the future while sheâs haunted by painful memories.
Clay finds an unexpected ally, and unexpected temptation, in tomboyish Charlie, the only person who sees beyond his dazzling good looks to the real man beneath. But when Charlie comes to him with an indecent proposal, will they be able to overcome their pasts and find a love that lasts beyond one incredible summer?
Praise for New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery
âIf you want a story that will both tug on
your heartstrings and tickle your funny bone, Mallery is the author for you!â âRT Book Reviews on Only His
âWhen it comes to heartfelt contemporary romance, Mallery is in a class by herself.â
âRT Book Reviews on Only Yours
âAn adorable, outspoken heroine and an intense hero...set the sparks flying in Malleryâs latest lively, comic and touching family-centered story.â
âLibrary Journal on Only Yours
âMallery...excels at creating varied, well-developed characters and an emotion-packed story
gently infused with her trademark wit and humor.â One of the Top 10 Romances of 2011! âBooklist on Only Mine
âMalleryâs prose is luscious and provocative.â
âPublishers Weekly
âSusan Malleryâs gift for writing humor and tenderness make all her books true gems.â
âRT Book Reviews
âRomance novels donât get much better than Malleryâs expert blend of emotional nuance,
humor and superb storytelling.â âBooklist
All Summer Long
Susan Mallery
To the one who makes every writing day wonderful. You keep me company, tell me every page is brilliant and remind me
itâs always a good idea to stop every now and then and take a well-deserved nap. To my own little princess. My sweet Nikki.
Also, a special thank-you to Bill Buchanan for all the technical help on the volunteer firefighters. He was brilliant, and any mistakes in this story are mine. (Yes, Bill, you really do have to share the dedication page
with my poodle.)
CHAPTER ONE
âDONâT TAKE THIS wrong, but seriously, a cat of your size needs to keep all four paws firmly on the ground.â
Charlie Dixon continued up the ladder, aware that Daytona was watching her with serious contempt in his large, green eyes. The black-and-white cat was about twenty-six pounds of attitude. His climbing skills might be excellent, but his ability to get down a tree left much to be desired. At least once a month he got his big furry butt to the top of Mrs. Coversonâs sycamore and yowled to be rescued. About an hour later, the old lady would panic and call the fire department. Daytona, named for Mrs. Coversonâs love of all things NASCAR, glared and hissed and threatened, but in the end, he submitted to being safely carried to the ground.
âCome on, you,â Charlie said, climbing the last two rungs of the ladder. âYou know youâre getting hungry and Iâm your ride down to your food bowl.â
On cue, the cat flattened his ears and gave an impressive growl.
âCheap talk, big guy,â Charlie said, then reached for the cat. Daytona took a swipe at the back of her hand, but the movement was halfhearted at best. He was already inching toward her, then allowed himself to be picked up and held against her.
âDonât worry,â someone called from the sidewalk. âIâve got your ladder.â
Charlie sighed heavily. âCivilians,â she muttered. âHow do they always find me?â
Daytona didnât offer a response.
Charlie looked down and saw some guy hovering by the base of her ladder. âIâm fine,â she yelled. âStep back.â
âSomeone needs to hold the ladder,â the dark-haired man insisted.
âNot really.â
Charlie tucked Daytona securely under one arm and started her descent. She went quickly, aware that Daytonaâs attention span was often shorter than the trip to safety. When he started squirming, they were both in danger of tumbling. This time she cut it a little too close.
Daytona pushed all four paws against her, then twisted in an attempt to climb down the rest of the way by himself. Charlie hung on. Not only didnât she want to fall herself, there was no way she was going to face old lady Coverson with a less-than-perfect Daytona beside her.