Susan Mallery - Fool's Gold Collection Volume 3

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Cover

Title Page Fool’s Gold Collection Volume 3 Almost Summer Summer Days Summer Nights All Summer Long Susan Mallery www.millsandboon.co.uk

Almost Summer Almost Summer A Fool’s Gold Series Novella Susan Mallery

Back Cover Text Ever since she was young, Paige McLean has longed to see the world. Still, she never imagined the world would land on her doorstep in the form of a charming British surgeon who needs a place to stay when his plans fall through. After a devastating loss, Alistair Woodbury has vowed to live his life alone. But in all his travels, he hasn’t encountered a town as welcoming as Fool’s Gold, nor a woman as caring—or as beautiful—as Paige. Her compassion warms him almost as much as their stolen kisses. When it’s Alistair’s time to leave, will his brief visit turn into a lifetime stay? A Fool’s Gold series novella.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Extract

About the Author

Summer Days

Back Cover Text

Praise

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

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

Summer Nights

Back Cover Text

Praise

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

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

EXTRACT

All Summer Long

Back Cover Text

Praise

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

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

EXTRACT

Copyright

Almost Summer

A Fool’s Gold Series Novella

Susan Mallery

Ever since she was young, Paige McLean has longed to see the world. Still, she never imagined the world would land on her doorstep in the form of a charming British surgeon who needs a place to stay when his plans fall through.

After a devastating loss, Alistair Woodbury has vowed to live his life alone. But in all his travels, he hasn’t encountered a town as welcoming as Fool’s Gold, nor a woman as caring—or as beautiful—as Paige. Her compassion warms him almost as much as their stolen kisses.

When it’s Alistair’s time to leave, will his brief visit turn into a lifetime stay?

A Fool’s Gold series novella.

Chapter One

“Stop! Don’t come any closer.”

Paige McLean stared at the man standing between her and the front door to her friend’s house. As a rule she didn’t mind a well-placed bit of instruction, but she was running late and had places to be when she left here.

“Or what?” she asked, tucking her yoga mat under one arm and doing her best to look stern and intimidating. Not that she was good at either. “This is a public sidewalk. You can’t stop me from going anywhere.”

Technically, they were standing on a private walkway but unless the guy was a lawyer or a surveyor, he might not think of that.

The man covered his mouth and coughed. He held up his other hand and waved her away. “I mean it. I’m contagious.”

He had a nice voice, she thought. Sexy, with a British accent. The thrill of the sound faded and she was able to focus on what he’d actually said.

“Yikes.” She took a step back. “What’s wrong with you?” She paused, not wanting the question to sound too hostile. “Medically, I mean. I’m not commenting on any personal issues.”

“Personal what?”

“Issues. You know. Like you’re unable to commit or you drive too fast. Whatever. It’s fine. We all have flaws. I assume the best of people, which isn’t really a flaw, I suppose. So far I haven’t been let down. I have a miserable time figuring out what to tip. I’ve heard it’s good to double the tax, but don’t different states have different tax rates? Is that really dependable?”

She paused to look into his dark blue eyes. They were slightly dilated and unfocused. “Are you okay?”

“Not really.”

The front door opened and Simon Bradley, her friend Montana’s husband, stepped out.

“Paige, you need to step back.”

“So I’ve been told. What’s going on?”

Simon sighed. “Alistair Woodbury is a colleague of mine. He’s here for a visit. Unfortunately, he has the measles. Apparently his vaccination didn’t take.”

“Uh-oh.” Paige might not have kids herself, but she knew measles and pregnant women didn’t mix. Montana was about seven months along. “He can’t stay with you.”

“We know that, thanks,” Alistair said, coughing again. He was pale and looked like he might be clammy.

“What are you going to do?” she asked, thinking a hotel wasn’t really an option. Exposing tourists to an active case of measles certainly wasn’t visitor friendly.

“I’m looking for somewhere right now,” Simon admitted.

“He can stay with me,” Paige said before she could stop herself. “I’ve had the measles. Wow, that was a painful rash. I remember it. Aunt Sophia took pictures. I still have them.”

“How helpful,” Alistair said.

Paige pointed her finger at him. “Not nice. You’re in a strange town, you’re sick and I’m all that stands between you and the infectious disease ward of the local hospital. I’d be a little friendlier if I were you.”

Alistair surprised her by flashing a gorgeous, if weak, smile. “Point taken. My apologies.”

“All of them or just some?”

“As I’m about ten minutes from passing out, you can have all of them.” He swayed as he spoke.

Paige shook her head. “Okay, this has gone on long enough. Simon, I’m going to assume you’ll confirm that your friend here isn’t a serial killer, so I’ll be safe with him. Please tell Montana she’s on her own with the yoga. I’ll take Alistair home, then call for instructions. I assume you know what I’m supposed to do with him?”

“Of course. Fluids, keep down the fever.”

Alistair looked at her. “I shouldn’t intrude.”

“No, you shouldn’t, but you’re going to. It’ll be fun. I’m a charming companion. Not that it matters because it looks like you’re going to faint. Try to stay conscious until we get home, please. I can’t carry you and you wouldn’t like being dragged.”

Alistair turned to Simon. “You actually know her, do you not?”

“Funny,” Paige said. “Now stay right here. I have to put my mat in my trunk. I don’t want it to get cooties.”

She hurried back to her small compact and dumped the mat in the trunk. On the way, she grabbed what she assumed was Alistair’s suitcase and slid it into the rear seat. Then she was back at his side. She put an arm around his waist.