Page 56 of Paging Dr. Summers

Logan cringed, not sold on that plan.

“Come on, big brother, be a sport,” Eden joined my cause.

“Yeah, Uncle Logan. Don’t you think Grandpa would want youto?” Oh, Sophie was good. She was going to give all the boys in her life a run for their money.

“Fine.” Logan relented with a smile.

I kissed his nose before turning back around. I sensed he didn’t want me staring at him while he sang. Besides, I wanted to close my eyes and savor this glorious moment, knowing it would be a fantastical experience.

Logan wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close until my back was flush against his chest. “We’ll do one song. Your grandpa’s favorite camp song, ‘Home on the Range.’”

“I was hoping you would do that one,” Eden said, squeezing Sophie extra tight.

I held on snugly to Logan’s arms, closed my eyes, and braced myself to enter heaven. Logan took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling before he began to sing clearly and perfectly:

“Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play, where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day.”

Oh. My. Gosh. Someone needed to call 911. The doctor was giving me heart palpitations. His voice resonated warm and velvety in a rich baritone timbre. Every syllable wrapped around me like a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer. While the song wasn’t sexy in the least, Logan sure made it that way. Holy cow, what a gift.

I seriously needed him to sing some Frank Sinatra or Michael Bublé numbers for me. Except, that would probably torture me for the rest of my life when no other man could possibly compare to him. Scratch that. It would probably be for the best if this little camp song was all I would ever have of this part of Logan.

Eden jumped in with him for the second verse, and she helped Sophie sing along. I could hear the happiness and sadness in her sweet voice. I could only imagine how emotional this time was for her as she tried to pass on the good from her past while letting go of the heart-wrenching parts.

When the family trio finished, I opened my eyes and stared into the fire, knowing my life would never be the same after this summer. Ihad a feeling that it was exactly what my mom intended for me. I held on to Logan, determined to treasure every moment with him.

“That was amazing,” was all I could think to say.

“Did you and your mom have any Fourth of July traditions?” Eden asked, shaking me out of what felt like a fantasy.

“Oh, um ... It was mandatory that we listen to Bruce Springsteen’s albumBorn in the U.S.A.Mom would fangirl over his butt on the cover with the baseball cap hanging out of his jeans pocket.”

Everyone laughed while I tried to pull it together. Logan had just wrecked me in the best way possible.

“Other than that, it was always pretty simple. As long as Mom got to see some fireworks, she was happy. Mom loved fireworks, and even if she was in the hospital, I would sneak her out of her room and take her to the rooftop so she could see them. She always said fireworks made her feel hopeful because they meant someone was celebrating.She loved a good party. Probably because she was always the life of it.”

I couldn’t hide the emotion in my voice. Did I ever miss her. And I so badly wished I could introduce her to Logan and, of course, Eden and Sophie too.

As if Mom had orchestrated it, a huge pink-and-gold burst of light lit up the night sky. It gave me hope she was watching over me and this crazy adventure she’d sent me on. An adventure I knew I would be forever grateful for.

Everyone on the beach directed their gazes upward, excited, except Logan. He took the opportunity to nuzzle my neck; his stubble tickling my cheeks and his warm lips brushing across my skin made it feel as if fireworks were going off inside of me.

“Happy Fourth of July, Brooke,” Logan whispered between the brushstrokes of his lips. “Thanks for giving me something to celebrate.”

If this was how Logan partied, I always wanted to be invited. You know, at least for this summer. I had a feeling I was going to have to remind myself a lot over the coming weeks that this party wasn’t meant to last.

“ARE YOU SURE I LOOK okay?” Brooke twirled in her flowy sleeveless light-blue dress that perfectly complemented her figure ... for the tenth time since I’d picked her up. The evening sunlight seemed to dance around her, making her look even more radiant.

I didn’t mind the fashion show, as I loved every opportunity to gaze at her. “You’re just as stunning in it now as you were when you bought it,” I assured her.

Admittedly, I rarely enjoyed shopping for clothes with women, but Brooke had made it fun. I think she’d tried on every piece of clothing at the boutique on Main Street—even if it wasn’t her size—and had done a catwalk for me with each outfit, making hilarious commentary about her ensembles in a French accent.

“I’m just nervous. I’ve never been to something as fancy as a book launch with aNew York Timesbest-selling author.”

I took her hand and pulled her to me, feeling the warmth of her skin against mine. “You’re going to be amazing,” I whispered, looking into the eyes I was so easily lost in every time we were together. “Just be yourself.” I hated that she worried so much about belonging in Aspen Lake.

She smiled, her anxiety seeming to dissipate. “Since I don’t know how to be anyone else, I guess that’s what you’re stuck with tonight.”

“Thank goodness for that.” I pressed a kiss to her brow and lingered, soaking her in, feeling as if someone were pushing the fast-forward button on our time together. We were almost halfway through July already.

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