Under the Apple Blossoms — Deanna Lynn Sletten

A Lake Harriet Novel

Sometimes the only one standing in the way of your happiness is you.

Debbie Adams has never thought of herself as beautiful or witty. Her short, curvy stature has always made her feel self-conscious. As the owner of Deb's Bridal Boutique near Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Debbie runs the business she'd inherited after her mother's death. But owning a bridal shop has never been her dream - it had been her mother's. And as the years go by, Debbie sees friends and neighbors pairing off and building a future while her life remains stagnant. Then, one March day, frantic to get in shape before a friend's wedding, Debbie forces herself to go biking. As she rides along the icy lake path, she's startled by a runner and slips and falls. Regaining her bearings, she looks up into a pair of warm, brown eyes and the most handsome face she's ever seen. Could this tall, extremely fit, and good-looking man be her destiny?

Marc Bennett's life is amazing. He owns a chain of fitness centers around the Twin Cities and lives in a beautiful mansion that overlooks Lake Harriet. The only thing missing from his life is a wonderful woman to share it with. Not that he's lacking in applicants for the position. He's a handsome man with a warm, caring personality and women flock to him. But at thirty-six, he's had the shallow relationships and he's not in a hurry to commit to anyone. Then one crisp, spring day, as he's running the lake path with his dog, Bernie, he literally crashes into a woman on a bike. As he attempts to help her up, he finds himself looking into the most beautiful pair of blue eyes. Eyes he can't seem to get out of his mind.