Summer's Desire Read Free Page A

crossed his face. “Is it
true? Are you going to cook?”
    Summer laughed. “If I can get this kitchen cleaned,
that’s the plan.”
    “Oh boy!” The excitement on his face warmed her.
    “Mark, how old are you?”
    “I’m sixteen, Ma’am.” He stood a bit taller.
    “How old is everyone else? And you don’t have to
call me Ma’am. Summer will do.”
    His smile was boyish and a bit lopsided. She liked
him instantly. “Holden is twenty-six. Matt is eighteen, Luke is fourteen, and
John is twelve.”
    “I see. I thought you all to be older.”
    “That’s because we work as hard as any man and we’re
strong.” His pride was unmistakable.
    Summer nodded. “I believe you. Now I need to get
back to the dishes, so you should get going unless you want to help.”
    His eyes widened in alarm. “No thank you, M—Summer.
I have plenty to keep me busy.”
    He practically fled the
house. They were just boys after all, except for Holden of course. Maybe she
could do some good here.
    Long hours later, she finally
glanced around the sparkling kitchen, proud of her hard work. The kitchen was absolutely
beautiful. Everything from the floor to the faucets looked brand new, and
during her deep clean she’d been lucky enough to find enough ingredients to
make spaghetti and meatballs. Jarred sauce but it would have to do. There was
even a biscuit mix she could use. Good thing she had a good teacher. The
kitchen was her comfort zone. When she’d started as a bartender at The Carlston
Bar and Grill, she didn’t know much but the owner Paul had patiently taught her
to cook and make a damn good martini.
    Rest
in peace Paul. A tear threatened to fall but she sucked
it up.
    “Done is done,” her mother always said. There was no
time to feel sorry for herself. She was still alive and able to kick where it
counted.
    The door opened and Holden walked in. She had a
great view of him from the kitchen. Her stomach clenched and a shiver went up
her spine. He was one fine specimen of maleness and her boss. This attraction needed to
stop immediately. There was no sense admiring her boss when her focus needed to
be those boys. She dried her hands with a clean towel, apparently
the only one in the house.
    “Wow.” Holden’s dark eyes reflected his appreciation.
“You have been busy. This kitchen hasn’t been this clean since we moved in.” He
made his way through the path she’d made in the great room. “I’m sorry the
place is such a mess. I’m constantly on call and the boys…”
    Summer smiled. It was nice to be appreciated for a change.
“It’s a beautiful kitchen. The Clarks owned this place, didn’t they?”
    Holden seemed caught up in admiring the kitchen.
“Yes. I guess the father is in a home and the son wanted to sell. He upgraded
the whole house, but I would have taken it anyway. The land is prime.”
    “It is a beautiful view.”
    “Sure the view is great but I’m talking about ponds
and streams and lush grass.” He had a faraway look in his eyes as he stepped
toward her.
    His shoulders were wider than she thought and he was
much taller. His hips were slim and his legs appeared solid under his Wranglers.
She stepped away from him and walked to the other side of the kitchen, putting
the large table between them. “You’re right by the way. Your brothers are
really boys.”
    “That’s why I need someone. I can’t be everywhere
and you can see what a disaster I’ve made of the house. Truthfully, my practice
has three times the patients than I was told.”
    “You call the animals the patients? What about the
humans?”
    “They are just the owners. Some should be hung out
to dry.” Sighing loudly, he sat down and ran his fingers though his thick hair.
    “Bad day at the office?”
    “Something like that. Colt had a mare named Yo-Yo he
rescued. The poor thing’s ribs and spine were showing. She has severe rain rot,
dental problems and overgrown feet. Not good at all.”
    “How the hell does that