Just for the Summer: A Lake Bliss Novel

By Jenna Rutland

Dani Sullivan has come to Lake Bliss to write her latest cookbook and take a breather. After the year she's had, she deserves a summer retreat to reevaluate priorities and make peace with past decisions. But from the moment single dad and sheriff Matt Reagan shows up, she has a hard time convincing herself that a life away from Lake Bliss could beat the life she might have here.

Recently divorced Matt is ready for a new relationship, but he doesn't want short-term—his son needs permanence, and so does Matt's heart. Unfortunately, it's the smart-mouthed and sinfully sexy Ms. Sullivan who catches his eye. But when Matt learns Dani's secrets, will he still want her to stay? Or will her chance for love last just for the summer?

Each book in the Lake Bliss series is a standalone, full-length story that can be enjoyed out of order.
Series Order:
Book #1 Just for the Summer
Book #2 Just for Appearances

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Mar 11, 2013
• ISBN: 9781622668786

Book preview

His temptation. Her secret. Their summer.

Dani Sullivan has come to Lake Bliss to write her latest cookbook and take a breather. After the year she’s had, she deserves a summer retreat to reevaluate priorities and make peace with past decisions. But from the moment single dad and sheriff Matt Reagan shows up, she has a hard time convincing herself that a life away from Lake Bliss could beat the life she might have here.

Recently divorced Matt is ready for a new relationship, but he doesn’t want short-term—his son needs permanence, and so does Matt’s heart. Unfortunately, it’s the smart-mouthed and sinfully sexy Ms. Sullivan who catches his eye. But when Matt learns Dani’s secrets, will he still want her to stay? Or will her chance for love last just for the summer?

Table of Contents

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

About the Author

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Just for Appearances

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2013 by Jenna Rutland. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

Entangled Publishing, LLC

2614 South Timberline Road

Suite 109

Fort Collins, CO 80525

Visit our website at www.entangledpublishing.com.

Bliss is an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC. For more information on our titles, visit http://www.entangledpublishing.com/category/bliss

Edited by Kerri-Leigh Grady

Cover design by Brittany Marczak

Cover art from Shutterstock

ISBN 978-1-62266-878-6

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition March 2013

To my family for their support and faith in me. To my writing buddies who try to keep me sane, especially Shay Lacy and Constance Phillips. To my mother who instilled in me the love of reading. And to my awesome editor, Kerri-Leigh Grady, to whom I will always be grateful that she took a chance on me!

Chapter One

One of these children could be her son.

Dani Sullivan clutched the windowsill of her rented Lake Bliss bungalow and watched the small group of boys who played at the water’s edge. She searched each child for something familiar, desperate after eight years to see the sweet face of one little auburn-haired boy.

Would she recognize anything of herself in the child? Or would his features trigger an unwanted memory?

A woman clad in a floral one-piece bathing suit hustled out of a lawn chair. Her long blonde ponytail swayed as she rushed toward a boy wearing bright red swim trunks who stood near two other kids throwing sand. He wore a navy Detroit Tigers ball cap, and tufts of his brown hair peeked out the back. The shade reminded Dani of nutmeg, a color that matched her own curls at that age. The shape of his face and the way he’d run—swinging his arms like they were the source of his locomotion—seemed so familiar. So right.

Her son?

An image of a baby boy flashed in her mind. A newborn, wrapped in a hospital-issued blanket, dark-eyed with a tuft of auburn hair. Her beautiful baby, whom Dani had promised a happy life.

As another woman’s son.

Fueled by an overwhelming urge to get closer, she scurried onto the screened-in porch and grasped a wooden beam for support. Outboard motors roared on the lake, drowning out conversation. The woman appeared to scold the children next to him then guided the boy to sit on the end of the dock where it met the beach. The others gathered around. The woman removed the boy’s cap and tilted his head upward. The child swiped first at his right eye then at the woman’s hand.

That could be her son’s adoptive mother.

Nausea tightened Dani’s gut.

Without thought, she pushed open the screen door and took a few steps toward the beach. The sun was harsh on her face; the mixture of dried-out grass and weeds pricked her bare feet. She pulled her sunglasses from on top of her head and slid them onto her nose.

The voices at the beach escalated, and the woman grasped the boy’s hand. Once again, he swatted her away and rubbed his eye. She massaged her temple in apparent agitation.

Instinct kicked in. Dani jogged the few yards to the beach and made her way to where the boy sat on the dock covering his eye. Can I help? I’m a nurse.

The woman turned, her eyebrow raised in question.

I’m Dani Sullivan, the new renter in cottage three. I thought maybe the boy needed help.

The woman glanced at the child, then back to Dani. I think he’s got sand in his eye. He won’t let me look, and I’m not sure what to do.

Dani removed her sunglasses and squatted to get a better look at him, and he pulled his hand away from his face for just a moment. Though his eye was red, she didn’t see any sand on his cornea, and his eye was no longer watering. She took the opportunity to scan his eyelashes, his mouth, his nose. Did they resemble hers? She’d seen her son eight years ago for barely an hour. Would she even know if this boy was him?

He rose from the dock. The faintest hint of unease surfaced in his uncovered eye. Don’t even think about giving me a shot.

His comment surprised a laugh from her. She would have made a similar remark. I promise—no shots. Okay?

After a quick nod, he lowered his hand, uncovering his eye. She took a few steps closer, the sun-heated sand gritty between her toes. She concentrated on dragging the humid air into her lungs. What’s your name, honey?

Sam Reagan.

Sam. A name she knew but hadn’t chosen.

Her son.

Invisible hands constricted her throat, and she fought away tears, thankful her back was turned toward the woman.

Despite the battle between joy and sadness she felt in this moment, she cursed her impulsive need to come so close. She’d promised herself that she’d keep her distance, and she’d agreed to a closed adoption with no contact before he turned eighteen. She had no ill intentions. Her only goal was to see her son, to know he was happy, to be assured he was healthy. Didn’t she deserve to at least know how the baby had fared?

She swallowed. Swallowed again. She could do this. A child needed help. How many other children had she cared for over the years? Countless times she’d pushed aside her personal feelings and forced herself to act professionally. She was a nurse; she had a duty.

Dani sat where she’d squatted, within arm’s reach of Sam despite his retreat. It’s important not to rub your eye. You don’t want to scratch the surface. How about if your mom and I get you inside so we can remove whatever’s in there?

She’s not my mom. He ducked his head, kicking the sand with his toe. I don’t have a mom.

Dani pushed away the alarm his pronouncement gave her and turned a questioning look to the woman with the kids. What had happened to Sam’s adoptive mother?

I’m Rachel Clarke, the woman said. Sam’s with us today while his father’s at work.

My dad’s the sheriff, Sam informed Dani.

She smiled at his obvious pride. Hmm…I got a parking ticket yesterday. Wonder if he gave it to me?

Dad didn’t have to work yesterday. We went fishing. Sam stopped rubbing his eye but continued to squint.

Want to know how I treat little boys who get sand in their eyes?

He gave an enthusiastic nod.

I flush it out.

The kids doubled over with laughter. Sam rewarded her with a grin that revealed two missing front teeth. He looked so darned adorable with the big gap in his smile. Her heart warmed. This was what her soul had craved.

Their laugh was contagious and she found herself grinning. What did I say that was so funny? Dani asked Rachel.

You don’t have boys, do you?

Dani felt her smile diminish. Nope.

"You say the word flush and they think toilet. That’s pretty much all it takes to set them off. Whatever you do, don’t pull their finger if they ask." More hysterical laughter. One little boy giggled so hard he fell off a child-sized lawn chair.

Dani motioned toward her cottage. I’d like to run some water across his eye to see if we can get the sand out. Maybe when we’re done, we could all have some homemade muffins.

Rachel nodded in agreement. What do you say, Sam? Dani asked.

His attention shifted between the two women. Can everybody come?

Absolutely.

The boys ran ahead, scaring a group of squawking seagulls into flight.

Thanks for the help, Rachel said. You’re good with children. Do you work in pediatrics?

Used to. But the craving to see her son had escalated with every little boy she treated. After that, I worked on the medical/surgical floor. For the last year, I’ve been on a leave of absence while I took care of my ill mother. She passed away a few months ago.

Sorry, Rachel said. I know how hard that is. She stared down at her empty hands.

Yeah. It’s been difficult. I’m looking forward to a much-needed break before I return home to my job. A quiet summer in Lake Bliss will be perfect. Not to mention how it would help to know her son was happy before she returned to her life alone.

The boys waited patiently on the stoop outside the screened-in porch of her cottage. Dani ushered them inside.

I noticed you were alone when you arrived yesterday, Rachel said. Are you married?

Single.

Sorry for being nosy. I’m divorced, so I’m always hoping to chat with other single women. Seems like everybody I know is married except for Sam’s dad, but he’s been even less prone to chatting since his divorce.

Dani smiled. Came close once. Until she’d told her fiancé about the horrible night of her attack and Sam’s conception. Stephen had run from her life so fast he could have won an Olympic medal for the 100-meter dash.

Once in the kitchen, Dani turned to Sam. I want you to hop up on the counter next to the sink. Need a boost?

The get real look on his face made her smile. He jumped up and waited for more instructions. At the close range, Dani took the opportunity to make a quick catalog of her son. He would never know where his features came from, but some of them were clear to Dani. Freckles dotted his sweet face—freckles that would disappear in his teenage years if he took after her. The slightly upturned nose belonged to her father. But the cleft in his chin…that didn’t come from her side of the family.

Are you gonna flush my eye now? He imitated a toilet flushing. Right on cue the other boys cracked up.

Dani gave him a slight push on his shoulder. Lie down and Rachel will support your head over the sink. I’ll pour a bit of water into your eye. Hopefully we’ll wash out whatever’s there. Any questions?

Nope.

Five minutes later, Dani blotted his eye with a towel. Blink a few times. We’ll see if the sand is gone.

It doesn’t hurt at all. It feels normal. He hopped off the counter. Can we have the muffins now, Ms. Sullivan?

You can call me Dani. She opened a plastic container. I made these last night. I’ve got blueberry and banana nut. She’d no sooner set them on the kitchen table than Sam grabbed one.

Rachel laughed. You and your sweet tooth, Sam. She helped herself to a muffin.

Sounded like he had inherited that, too.

Can’t tell you the last time I baked. Rachel peeled back the paper liner. She took a bite and closed her eyes. These are fabulous.

Feel free to stop by if you ever have a craving. Baked goods are my downfall, so I usually have something around.

Mom, can we take these down to the beach?

Rachel gave the boys a thumbs-up.

Don’t go in the water until I get there. They tore out of the kitchen and down the porch stairs. What do you say to Ms. Sullivan? Rachel yelled before they got too far. The boys shouted their thanks then took off running. And no throwing sand. She turned to Dani. I better head down there. Nice to meet you. Thanks again for your help.

Dani walked her to the door. Glad to lend a hand. Especially since it had allowed her to meet Sam. A twinge of guilt settled over her at violating the spirit of the adoption agreement, but she would never regret the opportunity to speak to him or to see him laugh.

Rachel paused at the porch steps. There’s a cookout tomorrow night, just a casual thing for all the guests. I’ll pass around flyers later today. Hope you can join us.

Dani raised her eyebrows and nodded. I’d love to, thanks. She should probably work on some new recipes for the cookbook she was contracted to write this summer, but she could spare an evening for dinner. And Sam.

Take your parking ticket to the sheriff and tell him I sent you. He’ll toss it in the trash. When she smiled, the tiny worry lines between her eyebrows disappeared.

After saying good-bye, Dani headed toward her bedroom to

Reviews for Just for the Summer

[bette_hansen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Emotionally packed heartwarming story. After 8 years a young woman, Dani Sullivan, wants to see the son she gave up for adoption. She just wants to see that he is happy and thriving. Never did she expect to fall so hard and so fast for his now single father Matt Reagan. A very well done story that will definitely tug on your heart. I recommend this one.

[chaoticbooklover · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved the story line. I know that most mothers once they do a closed adoption, often think about how their baby ended up. Dani is no exception, she found out where her son went and figured that she would peek in and just make sure that he was doing ok. What she didn't plan on was falling for Sam's father Matt. Matt falls for Dani too and once Dani tells him towards the end of the book that she is Sam's biological mother, Matt has the predictable reaction, though of course things work out in the end. The writing was great and I was easily drawn into the story.

[mybookaddiction_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story was about Dani Sullivan who was taking a break from nursing to come to Lake Bliss under the pretense of writing a cookbook. She was actually there to check up on the son she gave up for adoption eight years before. What she found was her son being raised by Sheriff Matt Reagan who was divorced. Her intention was to only stay for the summer and make sure that her son was happy. However, once she became involved in their lives she had to decide if she could walk away or confess her secret to them.This was a refreshing love story on many levels. It showed the love a mom had for her son and the sacrifice she was willing to make for his happiness. Also, the relationship that develops between Dani and Matt was adorable. They both were not looking for a relationship so it started with flirting and sarcastic remarks but developed into so much more. Keep the tissues handy! I hope there will be additional books about the other characters that were introduced in this book.Rating-4Reviewed by Donna McClaugherty,My Book Addiction Reviews

[readyourwrites · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reviewed by Kimfor Read Your Writes Book ReviewsJust for the Summer is a touching, heartwarming story and completely different from what I was expecting. For a debut author, Jenna Rutland did an amazing job at telling a story and drawing the reader in.Dani Sullivan is one amazing woman. She’s funny, kind and strong. Nine years ago, she made a huge decision to have a child and give that child up for adoption. Now, after the death of her mother, her only living relative is the son she gave up. She has to know that he’s healthy and happy in order to start putting her life back together again. Matt Reagan has a lot on his plate. He’s a single father to adorable eight year old son named Sam. He’s recently been named the sheriff of Lake Bliss, Michigan. And his mother has just moved in with him and his son. Matt is unlike your normal romance hero. Matt wants to be married and have a family. Heck, he wants the fairy tale and he’s not willing to have a fling with anyone.Matt has to really start to rethink that fling thing when he meets Dani. The banter between these two is priceless. She’s everything he wants, but she’s only staying for the summer. Sam gets sick and is rushed to the hospital. This event leads to Matt begging Dani to move in with them and help him take care of Sam just until he figures out everything. Matt and Dani realize that they are each what they want in a partner and that this is the family they want.When Dani’s secret is exposed, hurt feelings and fears surface. It takes the love of little eight-year-old Sam to bring these two people together in a traffic-stopping, tear-jerking, perfect recipe kind of way. Be sure to have your tissues ready because you are definitely going to need them with this book.Rating: 4.5Source: Publisher

[arlenadean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

By: Jenna RutlandPublished By: Entangled: BlissAge Recommended: AdultReviewed By: Arlena DeanRating: 5Book Blog For: GMTASeries: Lake Bliss #1Review:"Just for the Summer" by Jenna Rutland was this author's first in the series 'Lake Bliss 1' and I found this quick read 'funny, sad and yet sweet.' We find that the hero and heroine both rally wanted the same things. Will they get together in the end? I enjoyed how this author brought these two together only to 'build up something more meaningful.' We find that Dani Sullivan will think of the baby she gave away and Matt Reagan is thinking only of his son's happiness. When they meet...through their banter, flirty dialog, and chemistry...were these two to be together?Quotes I loved:"Tell me what you like," Matt said. As if she heard a starting pistol, Dani leaped into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist. "Just do a bunch of stuff and I'll let you know if it's working."This is where I say you must pick up the read to see how this author will have it all to come out to the reader. Would I recommend? YES!