Summer Love in the Country (Summer Instalove)

“With one new guy.”

“Ryan?”

“Yes,” Miriam said, drying her hands and facing me. “A hot guy closer to your own age who

was flirting with you shamelessly.”

“I was just making conversation,” I said quickly. “He can’t think–”

“A man in love doesn’t always think straight,” she said gently. “He might feel easily

threatened. Or he might be looking for any excuse to call things off before they really get

started, so that he can’t get hurt. Or so that he can guarantee that he doesn’t hurt you.”

“That makes no sense. Shouldn’t a man go after the girl he wants?”

“Honey, I’m not an expert by any stretch, but if I’ve learned anything about men, it’s this.

They’re downright strange, and when they’re busy falling in love they sometimes don’t have

the common sense of a cabbage. The only way around it is to sit him down and talk.”

I felt my entire face scrunch up. “I’m not good at awkward conversations.”

“Then you’ll need a lot more of them to get used to it. Get crackin’.”

“Thanks, Miriam.”

“You’re welcome, honey. I’ll bet you a pie he’s in the barn, sharpening things. He does that

when he’s upset.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

* Dean *

Running the sharpening stone along the edge of the hoe over and over, I tried to force

myself to become lost in the rhythm. Sometimes a repetitive task calmed my mind, helping

me to release anger and frustration.

Watching Joanna with Ryan had confirmed all of my fears. I didn’t think I could ever make

her laugh that hard. I didn’t think I had any stories of my life that would entertain her nearly that much.

That sweet beautiful girl needed so much more than what I could give her. There was no

way in hell that I was going to hold her back, with nothing to offer but a simple country life.

And all of my love. Considering that I’d never really loved before, and had no idea if I was

any good at it, that probably wasn’t enough.

Joanna had her whole life ahead of her to find interesting men, have a few relationships,

and figure out what she truly needed. The only honorable thing I could do was step out of