Excerpt: Before Summer Ends

Title: Before Summer Ends

Author: Susan Mallery

Release Date: April 27, 2021

Find it here: Goodreads

Synopsis from Goodreads: A long, hot summer with her secret crush...

What could possibly go wrong?

Nissa Lang knows Desmond Stilling is out of her league. He's a CEO, she's a teacher. He's gorgeous, she's...not. So when her house-sitting gig falls through and Desmond offers her a place to stay for the summer, she vows not to reveal how she's felt about him since their first--and only--kiss.

Desmond should've known better than to bring temptation into his house. He decided long ago that his best friend's sister was too sweet, too good, for him. She deserves a guy who can give his heart. For her sake, he's stayed away. But as her laughter breathes life into his lonely mansion, he's not sure how long he'll be able to resist.

Excerpt:

“You think you’re such a powerful CEO,” Shane said.

“I am a powerful CEO.”

“You’re talking but all I hear is a buzzing sound.” Shane chuckled. “Okay, enough of that. I need a favor.”

“Done.”

“You don’t know what I want.”

Desmond knew it didn’t matter. Shane was his best friend and he would do anything for him or a member of his family. Desmond had grown up the classically clichéd lonely, rich child. The first ten years of his life, he’d been homeschooled with excellent tutors. When he’d finally been sent off to boarding school, he’d had the education of a college freshman but the social skills of a pencil. The transition had been difficult.

Two years later, he’d been sent to a college prep school where Shane had been his roommate. They’d quickly become friends. That first Christmas, Shane had dragged him home for the holiday. Inside his friend’s modest house, Desmond had experienced what a family was supposed to be. For the first time in his life, he’d seen parents hugging their children and had felt warmth and affection. The presents had been chosen with care and love rather than ordered by staff. For those two weeks, he’d been just like everyone else and it had been glorious.

Ever since then, the Langs had been a part of his life. He would do anything for any of them, regardless of what they needed. His parents were still alive, but the Langs were his real family.

“Nissa needs a place to stay for a couple of months. She had a gig house-sitting but that fell through. She’s rented out her condo. I’m guessing backing out on that contract could be a problem. Plus she wants the money for her trip to Italy next summer.”

Technically Nissa wanted to go to Rome and Florence, rather than generically visit Italy, but Desmond didn’t correct his friend. Nor did he mention he was the one who had introduced Nissa to Mimi and her husband when Mimi had said they were looking for a dependable house sitter. Of course Mimi’s unexpected pregnancy would have changed their plans. He should have realized that himself.