Read Summer on Lovers' Island for Free Online Page A

“That’s definitely TMI.”
    Lizzie laughed. Maybe today’s appointments weren’t a total loss. She rather liked Josh’s niece. The tone was just a touch snooty, Susan’s eyebrow raised in a sarcastic arch. The girl had just the right amount of attitude and spunk.
    They went through the usual stuff—height and weight marked on a percentile scale, blood pressure and heart and lungs … a formality, as Susan appeared to be a perfectly healthy little girl. Lizzie chatted to her about school and what activities she liked, including piano lessons and soccer and an upcoming sleepover where the girls were going to make their own pizzas and ice-cream sundaes with a zillion toppings.
    She was a chatterbox, but a delightful one.
    â€œWell, I think you’re all set here, unless you have any questions for me,” Lizzie said, closing the chart.
    â€œDo you have a boyfriend?” Susan asked, unfazed by the dire look her mother sent her way.
    Lizzie felt a blush heat her cheeks.
    â€œDon’t answer that,” Sarah said, turning to Susan. “Suze, that was rude.”
    â€œYou’re always saying you want Uncle Josh to date. You can’t throw Summer Arnold at him forever.”
    Now it was Sarah’s turn to blush and Lizzie gave an uncomfortable laugh.
    â€œWhere on earth did you get that?” Sarah demanded.
    â€œGrandma said it last week after church.”
    There was a moment of awkward silence. “Sorry,” Sarah apologized. “Sometimes I think she’s ten going on twenty-five.”
    Lizzie flapped a hand. She’d seen a lot of things in emergency departments, had been propositioned and proposed to once by a man dressed in drag with alcohol poisoning who was brought in by his friends during a bachelor party gone wrong. One ten-year-old being slightly inappropriate was really no biggie.
    Except that it did make her blush, because she actually had noticed Josh that morning and found him quite attractive.
    â€œYour uncle and I work together, that’s all,” she said with a polite smile. “And you, Susan, are perfectly healthy. It was good to meet you.”
    Susan hopped down from the examination table. “You won’t tell Uncle Josh what I said, will you? About Summer?” She looked a little worried. The bravado of earlier had been curbed by her mother’s sharp admonitions.
    Lizzie smiled reassuringly. “Of course not.” Like she’d repeat the notion to Josh, or talk about her personal life at all. That was strictly off-limits. She winked at Susan. “Doctor-patient confidentiality. It’s our secret.”
    Susan smiled … and so did her mom.
    As Susan tied her shoes, Sarah picked up the conversation. “So, how are you enjoying Jewell Cove?”
    Lizzie thought of her morning run along Fiddler’s Beach and had to admit the fresh air and space were growing on her. “It’s very beautiful. And everyone has been so friendly.” Too friendly. Even out at Fiddler’s Rock, her arrival had prompted a basket of baked goods and a casserole showing up from well-intentioned neighbors. So much for privacy.
    â€œOur Fourth of July celebrations are in a few days. There’s always lots happening on the docks, and there are fireworks, too. You won’t want to miss it.” Sarah angled her head a little. “In fact, our family always throws a picnic on the Fourth. You should come. Charlie and Dave have accepted an invite, and you are Josh’s coworker after all. You could meet some people in town.”
    Way to put her on the spot. She certainly didn’t want to horn in on a family event, especially since she and Josh had only shared a few sentences today that weren’t about work.
    â€œI’ll definitely think about it,” she offered, trying to be positive but noncommittal. “Thanks for the invitation.”
    Sarah nodded. “Our family is always coming