An irresistible new love story from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Foolâs Gold series, set in a town Library Journal calls âso appealing, readers will want to start scoping out real estate.â
To overcome her painful past, baker Shelby Gilmore goes on the hunt for a friendâa male friendâto convince her stubborn psyche that men can be trusted. But where in a town as small as Foolâs Gold will the petite blonde find a guy willing to not date her?
Dark, charming Aidan Mitchell puts the âadventureâ in Mitchell Adventure Tours...and into the beds of his many willing female tourists. Until he realizes heâs inadvertently become that guyâthe one-night Casanovaâand worse, everyone in town knows it. Maybe Shelbyâs boy/girl experiment will help him see women as more than just conquests so he can change his ways and win back his self-respect.
As Aidan and Shelby explore the secret lives of men and women, the heat between them fires up the Foolâs Gold rumor mill. If no one will believe theyâre just friends, maybe they should give the gossips something to really talk about!
Praise for Susan Mallery and her New York Times bestselling Foolâs Gold series
âSusan Mallery is one of my favorites.â
â#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber
âRomance novels donât get much better than Malleryâs expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.â
âBooklist
âTouching, insightful, and funny, this lively romance addresses some serious relationship issues as it delivers another satisfying, page-turning winner.â
âLibrary Journal on Kiss Me
âHeartwarming... Deft characterization and an absorbing story line will keep readers coming back.â
âPublishers Weekly on When We Met
âMs. Mallery masterfully weaves new characters into the fabric of Foolâs Gold, but always catches us up on the lives of its very unique residents. Foolâs Gold has a certain rhythm that makes it a warm, homey place with a little bit of magic.â
âFresh Fiction on Thrill Me
âMallery delivers another engaging romance in magical Foolâs Gold.â
âKirkus Reviews on Just One Kiss
âThe wildly popular and prolific Mallery can always be counted on to tell an engaging story of modern romance.â
âBooklist
âMallery infuses her story with eccentricity, gentle humor, and small-town shenanigans.â
âPublishers Weekly on Summer Days
This book is dedicated to Sarah S. You are adorable and charming and I hope you love Aidan and Shelbyâs story as much as I do. This oneâs for you...
* * *
Being the âmomâ of an adorable, spoiled little dog, I know the joy that pets can bring to our lives. Animal welfare is a cause I have long supported. For me that means giving to Seattle Humane. At their 2015 Tuxes and Tails fund-raiser, I offered âYour pet in a romance novelâ as a prize.
In this book you will meet a bichon frise named Charlie. He has a sparkling personality and couldnât be cuter. Every time he appeared in the book, I had the biggest smile. What a sweetie! I loved everything about himâfrom his trying to drive to his insistence that meals be on time.
One of the things that makes writing special is interacting in different ways with people. Some I talk to for research. Some are readers who want to talk characters and story lines, and some are fabulous pet parents. Charlieâs real-life family adore him and he brings hours of pleasure to them.
My thanks to Charlieâs family, to Charlie himself and to the wonderful people at Seattle Humane (SeattleHumane.org). Because every pet deserves a loving family.
CHAPTER ONE
âABOUT LAST NIGHT...â
The words were softly spoken. Almost a question. Still, they were enough to make Aidan Mitchell consider pounding his head against the table. Or the wall. He was pretty sure the table was closer. Not that he was going to pick either because he honestly didnât need any more head pain. Not with the raging hangover heâd more than earned.
âI have nothing,â he admitted, squinting into the, what seemed to him, overly bright light of Brew-haha, the local coffee place. Because when a man felt as bad as he did, coffee was the only solution. âNo excuse, no explanation.â
He wanted to say more. That it hadnât been his fault. Only it had been.
Aidan wanted to point out that he was usually a decent guy. He loved his mom, paid his taxes and ran a successful business, yet somewhere along the way, heâd become a total jerk. But why state the obvious?
The woman standing next to his table pointed to the empty seat across from his. âMay I?â
He nodded, then wished he hadnât when more pain exploded across his eyes. He reminded himself it was a small price to pay for what had happened.