Just for the Summer by Jenna Rutland Read Free Book Online Page B

the dog.
     “Larry it is.”
    “Larry,” Sam called. “Come here, boy.” Sam scowled when the dog failed to respond.
     “Dad, I gotta go teach him his new name.” Sam jumped from his seat.
    “Hang on a second, bud. Finish your dinner first.”
    He shoved the rest of his hot dog into his mouth. The crowd at the table laughed as
     he raced off with the dog. Dani’s eyes burned, and though she knew to blame Sam’s
     adorable nature, she decided the sun was too bright and pulled out her sunglasses.
    Jack joined the group, depositing two heaping plates on the table next to Rachel and
     giving her a friendly elbow to scoot over. She gave him some serious side-eye. “Did
     you save some food for anybody else?”
    He ignored her barb, and turned his attention to Dani. “How’s the cottage? You okay
     there?”
    “Yes, thanks. It’s wonderful. I appreciate you renting me the place.” Which hadn’t
     been an easy feat. Jack had initially told her they were full for the summer. When
     she’d persisted, he’d admitted severe storm damage had reduced a cottage to only one
     useable bedroom. Good thing she only needed one bedroom.
    “The work’s just beginning. Hopefully, you’ll still be able to get your book done.”
    “Book?” Rachel and Matt asked simultaneously. If Dani wasn’t mistaken, they both sounded
     a bit startled to find they’d been left out of the loop. Mentioning her book to Jack
     had helped coax him into renting her the place.
    “I’m writing a cookbook. My fourth.” Dani took a swig of her soda. “I only have a
     few months to finish the recipes.”
    “What’s the topic?” Matt asked.
    “Healthy eating. The book I’m working on now is low-calorie meals in minutes.”
    Matt gave her greasy—and empty—plate a prolonged look and grinned.
    “How’d you get into writing cookbooks?” Rachel asked. “Do you have a blog or something?”
    “Yeah, actually. I’ve always loved to cook, so when I went to nursing school, I minored
     in nutrition. When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, food didn’t always settle
     well with her. Together, we created meals that she could enjoy, and I blogged the
     results. After so many recipes, I found a publisher.”
    Rachel gestured with the muffin she’d just removed from its wrapper. “You including
     these?”
    “Yep.”
    “I hate to cook,” Rachel said. With a glimmer in her eye, she added, “Guess I’ll have
     to accidentally stop over at dinnertime.”
    Warmth radiated throughout Dani’s body at the thought of company. “You’re welcome
     anytime. It’d be nice to have a dinner companion.”
    Matt leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Maybe sometime you could cook for me.”
    Dani flashed him what she hoped was a cocky smile. “Not sure I could keep up with
     your appetite, Sheriff.”
    “What’s the title?” Rachel crumbled her napkin, tossed it on her plate.
    “Still need to find the perfect name. I’m open for suggestions.”
    “How about Hot Stuff ,” Matt offered. “Could be the name of the book or the cook.”
    She angled her head to give him an eye roll, but inside, she was thrilled. He thought
     she was hot.
    Rachel threw an empty beer can at his head, while Jack untangled his legs from the
     picnic table. “Hope you like the single life, pal, because with lines that bad you
     can forget about finding a wife.”
    Wife . The thought should excite Dani. After all, a new wife meant a new mom for Sam. But
     the curl in her chest wasn’t happiness. She pushed her plate away.
    Jack pitched his plate. He turned toward Dani. “After the cookout, I’m having a bunch
     of people out to my place for a party. These two morons,” he said, hitching his thumb
     toward Rachel and Matt, “are going to be there. I’ve got music and beer. If you’re
     not busy, why don’t you stop by?”
    Her stomach dropped, and she wrangled her way from the picnic table. When she stood,
     her legs were weak like she’d just done a hundred