Fool's Gold, Book No. 9

Can a summer fling turn into love that lasts a lifetime?

Can a summer fling turn into love that lasts a lifetime?

Former underwear model turned entrepreneur Clay Stryker has loved, tragically lost and vowed that he’ll never risk his heart again. After making his fortune, the youngest of the rugged Stryker brothers returns to Fool’s Gold, California, to put down roots on a ranch of his own. But he’s frustrated to discover that even in his hometown, people see him only for his world-famous…assets.

Firefighter Chantal (Charlie) Dixon grew up an ugly duckling beside her delicately beautiful mother, a feeling reinforced long ago by a man who left soul-deep scars. Now she has good friends, a solid job and the itch to start a family—yet she can’t move toward the future while she’s haunted by painful memories.

Clay finds an unexpected ally, and unexpected temptation, in tomboyish Charlie, the only person who sees beyond his dazzling good looks to the real man beneath. But when Charlie comes to him with an indecent proposal, will they be able to overcome their pasts and find a love that lasts beyond one incredible summer?

"The dangers of basing opinions on appearance are examined from both angles in Mallery's newest Fool's Gold book. For both the hero and heroine, being judged or discounted because of their appearances has led to challenges and some emotional scars. Mallery does her usual excellent job of giving readers a funny, warm-hearted story that is edged with cutting emotion!"

RT Book Reviews

"I loved this book! It’s my favorite in the series. Both Clay and Charlie are wonderful characters, richly drawn with layers of complexity and genuine likeability... Clay, of course, is fantastic looking, but he’s much more than just a hot hunk. He’s strong, intelligent, and gentle with a great sense of humor, unexpected sensitivity, and genuine niceness. The latter is a quality that is sometimes underrated. His feelings about his dead wife and his past conflict with Rafe give him depth, but it is his understanding of what it means to be judged by appearance that makes him an unusual hero. Romance fiction is filled with beautiful heroines who are objectified and written off as lacking value beyond their beauty; it is much rarer to find a hero in this role... And speaking of endings, this one is guaranteed to bring a joyful sigh to romantic readers. If you’ve never read Susan Mallery, start with this book. It is Mallery at her finest. I highly recommend it."

Just Janga

"All Summer Long is by far my favorite Fool’s Gold book so far... It was a bit steamier that the last few and that was just fine with me. The sparks between Clay and Charlie are amazing. As always, I highly recommend this series for a feel good read with real life issues along the way."

Lisa's World of Books

"I think this might just be one of my favorite Fool's Gold books ever. I enjoyed every page of All Summer Long, and found myself on the seat of my pants in anticipation of when Charlie and Clay would finally get together. This was such a fun read, and ANYONE will enjoy the blooming romance between Clay and Charlie. I highly recommend this book, and I hope that you all fall in love with Clay as much as I did."

A Tasty Read

"I will not delve into what Charlie's true problem is, but I'll say that it really captures the pain she's lived with in childhood and her college years. It really helps explain why she's so strong, and even stubborn, without ever showing a weak side. Once again, the romance is spectacular."

Roundtable Reviews

"The love story was beautiful... Their gradual feelings for each other was realistic and the intensity of the attraction was obvious... my favorite Fool’s Gold Hero and this is my favorite Fool’s Gold book. We need more like this, please."

Gone Pecan LA

"Their interactions are so real and natural from an early point, and this is why their story is so beautiful... if you are looking for a feel-good, security-blanket, heart-felt book? The Fool’s Gold series is for you! And in my humble opinion? All Summer Long is the best of the 9."

For Love and Books

"More than just a pretty face (and butt), [Clay] is a kind-hearted, down-to-earth, intelligent and surprisingly insightful man... All Summer Long is a moving and heartfelt story about healing the past. It is also a beautiful romance that is slow-growing, sweet and most important, realistic. Susan Mallery handles a difficult and sensitive topic with exquisite care in a believable and forthright manner."

Book Reviews and More

"Once again Susan Mallery brings to life characters so real they feel like long-time friends, in a story that is both touching & funny. All Summer Long is a wonderful addition to the Fool’s Gold saga and I highly recommend picking it up."

Book Trib

Grade: A "...incredibly written and I really enjoyed the two of them together. They're friends and they give each other sass like friends do. It's a nice, easy, fun relationship, and no one is more surprised to find that it's more than each of them. This book was so good!"

Smitten with Reading

Rating: A "Mallery has proven once again that she deserves her spot on NYT Bestsellers list & I can’t wait to see who will be falling in love in Fool’s Gold next!"

Red Hot Books

"Charlie is tough—physically and mentally—because she thinks she has to be... Clay is a pretty face…or at least that’s what everybody sees but he wants more. He’s retired from his butt double work (that’s a young man’s game, says the 30 y/o hero!). He hold a college degree and has some ideas of what he’d like to do next... Mallery does a brilliant job getting into the character’s head, into her thoughts... A very good book."

Everybody Needs a Little Romance

"All Summer Long is going down as one of my favorites in the Fool’s Gold series... I adored pretty much everything about it from beginning to end."

Geeky Blogger's Book Blog

Chapter One

"Don't take this wrong, but seriously, a cat of your size needs to keep all four paws firmly on the ground."

Charlie Dixon continued up the ladder, aware that Daytona was watching her with serious contempt in his large, green feline eyes. The black and white cat was about twenty-six pounds of attitude. His climbing skills might be excellent, but his ability to get down the tree left much to be desired. At least once a month he got his big furry butt to the top of Mrs. Coverson's sycamore and yowled to be rescued. About an hour later, the old lady panicked and called the fire department. Daytona, named for Mrs. Coverson's love of all things NASCAR, glared and hissed and threatened, but in the end, he submitted to be safely carried to the ground.

"Come on, you," Charlie said, climbing the last two rungs of the ladder. "You know you're getting hungry and I'm your ride down to your food bowl."

On cue, the cat flattened his ears and gave an impressive growl.

"Cheap talk, big guy," Charlie said, then reached for the cat. Daytona took a swipe at the back of her hand, but the movement was half-hearted at best. He was already moving toward her, allowing himself to be picked up and held against her.

"Don't worry," someone called from the sidewalk. "I've got your ladder."

Charlie sighed heavily. "Civilians," she muttered. "How do they always find me?"

Daytona didn't offer a response.

Charlie looked down and saw some guy hovering by the base of her ladder. "I'm fine," she yelled. "Step back."

"Someone needs to hold the ladder," the dark-haired man insisted.

"Not really."

Charlie tucked Daytona securely under one arm and started her descent. She went quickly, aware that Daytona's attention span was often shorter than the trip to safety. When he started squirming, they were both in danger of tumbling. This time she cut it a little too close.

Daytona pushed all four paws against her, then twisted in an attempt to climb down the rest of the way by himself. Charlie hung on, knowing the cat's delusions of grandeur would not have a happy ending. Not only didn't she want to fall herself, there was no way she was going to face old lady Coverson with a less than perfect Daytona beside her.

"Stop it!" she told the cat.

"Need me to come up?" the guy asked.

Charlie briefly wondered how much trouble she would be in for kicking him with her steel-toed boots and if it would be worth it. Some of her best friends were civilians, but honest to God, there were people who totally lacked common sense.

"Stay back," she yelled. "Step away from the ladder and don't interfere."

"I'm not interfering. I'm helping."

Before Charlie could respond, several things happened at once. Daytona gave one final push for freedom. Charlie leaned over to make sure she kept a grip on the squirming cat. The ladder lurched, the idiot below started up and everyone had a moment to rediscover the power of gravity.

Daytona fared the best. He used his claws to dig in to the side of the tree, then scurry down. Charlie came in second. She was maybe six or seven feet from the ground. It came up fast, but instead of hitting the sidewalk or even the grass at the base of the tree, she slammed into the guy who'd been trying to "help."

As she lay on top of the idiot and sucked in air, Charlie watched Daytona stroll over and give a last annoyed hiss. The cat stalked away, his tail high. Charlie rolled off the guy, aware that at five-ten and well-muscled, she weighed a whole lot more than was considered fashionable. No doubt he'd had the wind knocked out of him. With luck, only his pride was hurt and then she could lecture him on why it was never good to be stupid. At worst, she was about to have to call for an ambulance.

"You okay?" she asked, shifting into a kneeling position and glancing at the man for the first time. "Did you hit your head and—"

Crap and double crap. This wasn't some random stupid person, she thought, taking in the perfectly shaped jaw, the firm, full mouth and, when his lids slowly opened, the dark eyes fringed by long lashes. This was possibly the best looking man on the planet.

Clay Stryker, model, movie butt double. His ass had been flashed in magazine ads, calendars and on the big screen. He had a killer body and his face was even better. He was the kind of man for whom, on the promise of a smile, the earth would change its rotation.

She'd met him a couple of times. At her friend Heidi's recent wedding to Clay's brother, for starters. Plus Clay lived at the ranch where she boarded her horse. They'd nodded at each other over stalls and hay bales. But she'd never seen him up close before. Not in the flesh, at least. Had never been so near to a flawless human.

Reluctantly, she had to admit, it was a little unnerving.

One corner of that perfect mouth turned up. "Hey," he said. "I saved you."

Charlie snorted. "Not likely. Did you hit your head? Because if you did, I'm hoping it knocked some sense into you."

The slight curve became a smile. "You're welcome." He sat up.

Charlie put a hand on his shoulder. "Hold on there, hot shot. Are you injured? You were at the bottom of our pile up. Make sure nothing's broken."

"My ego's a little bruised that you don't appreciate what I did for you."

"You knocked me off the ladder and nearly killed us both. No, you don't get a cookie." She stood, then held out her hand to help him up. "Can you stand?"

The smile turned into a grin. Damn, the man was pretty, she thought absently. Despite the fact that it had literally been a decade since she'd found any man attractive, there was something about his near god-like perfection that was appealing.

He ignored her hand and stood in one easy movement. "I'm good."

"Charlie, are you all right?"

"Fine, Mrs. Coverson," Charlie said, trying not to clench her teeth. Her dentist had warned her that she needed to stop grinding her jaw when she was annoyed. Which was much of the time.

Mrs. Coverson stood on the front porch, Daytona in her arms. Behind her, Michelle Banfield, who worked with Charlie, stood with a half-eaten brownie and a look of guilt in her eyes.

"I was coming back out to help," Michelle mumbled. "Um, but there were these brownies."

"That's okay," Clay told her. "I was here."

It was all Charlie could do not to smack him upside the head.  

"Here is the one place you shouldn't be. It's illegal to interfere with a firefighter at work. You do it again and I'll have you arrested."

Instead of being appropriately intimidated, Clay grinned. "You're tough."

"You have no idea."

He stuck out his hand. "Glad I could help."

"You didn't—" She shook her head. "Whatever. Fine. Thank you. Now go away."

She shook hands with him, conscious of his fingers engulfing hers. Not in a tingly, I-can't-believe-his-face-is-better-than-his-ass kind of way, but more with the awareness that his hands were bigger than hers. And he was taller, by at least four inches.

Interesting facts, but of no earthly use. First of all, she had yet to conquer her man-phobia and if she decided she wanted to, it wouldn't be with anyone like him. She would look for safe. Nice. Normal. Second, even if she was silly enough to be attracted to him, which she wasn't, there was no way in a million billion years that a guy like him would be interested in a woman like her. Men like him fell for supermodels and...and...women like her mother. Well, back when her mother had been younger.

Charlie knew what she was. Strong and capable. She could wear the fifty pounds of gear her job required without breaking a sweat. She could haul hoses up ten stories of stairs, no problem. She was self-sufficient. She knew how to change a tire and fix a leaky faucet. She didn't need a man. Except maybe for one teeny, tiny thing.

"Ah, Charlie?"

"What?" she snapped.

Clay glanced at their still joined hands. "Did you want me to leave? Because if you do, I'm going to need that back."

Damn. She released him instantly. "Sorry."

"No problem." He flashed a smile that would send a lesser woman to her knees. "I'll see you at the ranch."

The ranch, she thought blankly. Oh, right. He lived there, she boarded her horse there. They would run into each other. "Sure."

He waved at the two women on the porch. "Have a nice day, ladies."

They both nodded without speaking. As he strolled away, Charlie saw Michelle and Mrs. Coverson drop their gazes to his butt. Charlie allowed herself a quick look before heading toward the house and a freshly baked brownie.

Sugar was easy, she thought. Deliciousness followed by a blood sugar spike. But men—not so much. And Clay was worse than most. Because for a split second, when he'd tossed her that last smile, she would have sworn she felt something deep down in her belly.

Not attraction. That was too strong a word. But a flicker. The faintest whisper. The good news was that part of her wasn't as dead as she'd thought. The bad news was she'd discovered that fact by being in the presence of a butt model with the face of an angel. A man who could have any woman he wanted, simply by asking. Or maybe hinting.

His world was ruled by those who were flawless. She was broken. Maybe not where anyone could see and she'd sure learned how to fake normal. But she knew the truth.

Still, progress had been made. A flicker today, a tingle tomorrow. Give her a millennium or two and she might find her way to being just like everyone else.

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