The Summer We Loved
Forgiving yourself can be the hardest task of all.Dr Peter Florin is the sexy bad boy of St Steven’s hospital. Despite his love ‘em and leave ‘em attitude, every woman still wants him – and nurse Jenny White is no exception. For one night she thought she saw the real Pete, but ever since then he’s kept his distance and so she has kept hers…Only Pete is a man haunted by a dark childhood and a tragic loss, and as she watches him spiral down into despair, Jenny realises she might be the only one who can drag him back. So she does – at the risk of her own, already bruised and battered heart. For no matter what she tells herself, such a man is surely impossible to change – and even more impossible to resist.A brand new emotionally gripping love story from Wendy Lou Jones.
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HarperImpulse an imprint of
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First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2015
Copyright © Wendy Lou Jones 2015
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Cover design by Michelle Andrews
Wendy Lou Jones asserts the moral right
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A catalogue record for this book is
available from the British Library
This novel is entirely a work of fiction.
The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are
the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to
actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is
entirely coincidental.
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Ebook Edition © July 2015 ISBN: 9780008124755
Version 2015-07-30
'Powerful and emotional…and unlike so many other emotional romance novels.'
Reviewed the Book
'Both heartbreaking and at the same time an uplifting read…have a box of Kleenex at the ready.'
Rea Loves Books
'Wendy Lou Jones has done it again! She made my cry so badly it felt like my heart was being ripped to shreds.'
Romance Book Haven
'The perfect read if you like medical romance with strong, emotional characters and are prepared to open your mind to new possibilities.'
Jane Hunt Reviews
'A very moving and emotional book. I cried buckets and I'll say no more!'
Annie's Book Corner
'One of the best books I've read this year.'
Librarian Lavender
To my fellow guinea pig loving editor, Charlotte, whose refusal to let me off easy during the creation of By My Side meant I fell in love with Peter too.
Contents
So Adam had done it again. Twice now he had found love; binding himself to a woman ‘till death do us part’. He made it look so easy, stood up there in front of the congregation, eagerly saying ‘I do’. Peter Florin couldn’t think of anything worse. To have your own happiness bound so tightly to another’s that you had no choice but to feel their pain? No. That was not an option he was willing to pursue.
Still, a wedding was a wedding: plenty of women in fancy frocks, drinking merrily and expecting to be flirted with. You couldn’t knock it, really. His eyes scanned the guests at the church, rapidly surveying the offering. Had her. Had her. Ugh! Won’t be having her. His gaze came to rest on Kate’s friends a few rows ahead of him: Flis, Jenny and Soph.
From what he had heard, Soph was off the market now. Flis still held a torch for him, he had known that for a while, and although not exactly his type, he would keep her in mind just in case. But then there was Jen. Jenny Wren. He hadn’t had much to do with her yet, and looking at her now, he couldn’t imagine why. Her skin, where it rose up the back of her neck, was like cappuccino silk. He licked his lips. As he watched, she turned her head to whisper to the friend next to her and Pete could see the light dancing in her eyes. Yes, he was going to enjoy this.
Before he could deliberate much further, the organ started up, breaking his reverie, and the congregation began to stand. It was over.
Throughout the dullness of the small talk and speeches that followed, Pete kept Jen firmly on his radar. He smiled across at her when she caught his eye and relished the faint blush of crimson that appeared in his wake. Everything about this was wanton anticipation and, beat after beat, it was building.
Outside, it was a warm summer’s evening. Kate and Adam’s reception was being held in a marquee on the back lawn of an expensive hotel, and in the aftermath of the meal a disco was slowly warming up on one side of the tent, leaving the tables being cleared on the other. In the relaxed atmosphere of the early evening, when groups of guests were milling about, catching up with old friends and relatives and congratulating the bride and groom, Peter Florin could be found leaning up against the bar.
He stood there watching her and nursing a fresh pint of beer. She was dancing now – an observer’s sport, in his books. She had looked over at him once or twice and he had been busy studying her reaction. She liked him. This was good. Just being there that day, with Adam, had been hard for him; he would welcome a challenge, if only for distraction.
