Page 54 of Paging Dr. Summers

I wiped my mouth with a napkin after demolishing almost every bite of food. I loved the Fourth of July. It was one of my favorite holidays as a kid. Dad had always taken us camping. That was a thought.

“Camping is on your bucket list, right?”

She nodded.

“What do you think about paddle boarding over to the island to camp and watching the fireworks out over the lake? I’ll see if Eden andSophie want to come too.” I didn’t want Brooke to think I was trying to spend the night with her at this point.

“I love that idea.” Her lovely face looked like it might burst with happiness.

And her happiness made me happy. “We’ll make plans when my shift is over. I really need to go.” I grabbed the last fry and handed it to her. “You should have this.”

Brooke stared at the fry, and I swore her eyes misted over like I’d offered her an expensive gift. “You are a dangerous man, Logan Summers.”

“What? Why?”

She took the fry and shook her head. “Nothing,” she said, flustered. “Have a good rest of your night.”

I knew I would, because I would be thinking about her.

IF EVER THERE WAS A magical island, this would have to be it. The deepest greens of what felt like an enchanted forest paired with the blue, blue water of the lake made it feel like a hidden paradise where you could escape everyday life.

Ileaned against Logan as we sat on our sleeping bags in front of the fire with Eden and Sophie, waiting for the fireworks to light up the night sky. The sun had just set, and our bellies were full from the amazing foil dinners of seasoned shrimp, corn on the cob, and other veggies Eden had made. The evening air was cool, but wrapped up with Logan in front of the fire, I didn’t notice.

“Do you remember that story Dad would tell us when we were kids about Felix the Fox?” Eden reminisced, holding on to Sophie like she needed a lifeline. Eden had mentioned to me earlier that the Fourth of July used to be a big deal for her and Luca. They would always go to Nantucket to celebrate, renting a large house and inviting all their family and friends. Logan and Erica used to join them, and they would stay up late every night playing games and laughing. I’d told Eden it sounded perfect.

She’d said,“We all did a great imitation of perfection. Not to say it wasn’t wonderful, but looking back, I think we were all putting on a bit of a show.”

She didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t ask her to, feeling like it might betray Logan. He was very protective of Erica, and I respected that.Besides, I was too afraid it might give me some false notions that I could live up to Logan’s wife.

The thought of saying goodbye to Logan at the end of the next month was hard enough, knowing he was the kind of guy who would give you his last french fry without you even asking. And not to state the obvious, but his last name would go well with any first name.

Brooke Summers. Uh, hello, that sounded so good.

But our deal was simple—this was a summer romance. And so far, Mom was right—it was the most magical thing I’d ever done. I wondered if knowing the magic would only last for a short while was what made it feel so spellbinding. Like a race against time, so you made every moment count.

Whatever it was, it was incredible, and I knew I would be sad when it was over. But I knew the sadness had to come because it would mean this summer was worth all the tears. Tears for me represented deep emotion. And I was experiencing the deepest of emotions in Aspen Lake.

Logan’s chuckle rumbled in his chest. I loved how he’d seemed quicker to laugh the last few days.

“He made me believe there were golden pineapples growing on this island,” Logan said with such fondness.

“I have to hear this story,” I commented, my curiosity piqued.

“Me too,” Sophie echoed, her eyes wide.

“You should tell it, Logan, just like Dad used to,” Eden said, her voice thick with emotion.

Logan wrapped his arms around me tighter, as if he needed support to fill the shoes his father had left. I could feel the love of his memories in his embrace, and I felt honored to be a part of it.

“All right,” Logan said with a smile in his voice. “Once upon a time, in the shimmering waters of Aspen Lake, there was a mysterious island known as Whispering Pines. This island was unlike any other, filled with magic and wonder that enchanted anyone who visited,” Logan said with intrigue.

“Legend has it that Whispering Pines was home to not only talking trees, but a group of forest creatures who could talk and sing. There were wise old owls, tricky squirrels, and even a mischievous foxnamed Felix. Every creature on the island knew Felix for his clever tricks and his ability to make them laugh. But his favorite thing to do was to take people hunting for pineapples.”

“Pineapples?” Sophie giggled. “You can’t grow pineapples here.”

“But you think trees and animals can talk?” Logan teased.

“I’m just saying you could make the story more realistic if they were hunting for golden berries or something,” Sophie replied, crossing her arms in a playful pout.

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