Page 49 of Whisper of Temptation (Whisper Lake 4)

“Austin,” Sara and Austin answered in unison.

“Austin,” Jack repeated.

Valentina smiled warmly as everyone shook hands and said hello.

“I gotta go,” Charlotte whined and twisted in Sara’s arms.

“I’m going to go grab their stuff and take her to the bathroom. Trev, you can stay here with Dad.” Sara instructed.

“I’ll go get their seats,” Austin offered, and Sara nodded as her heart took wings and flew right out of her chest.

If she’d been on the fence of falling for the man heading to her SUV to retrieve her kids’ booster seats, she was firmly on the grassy side of love now. Even in an awkward situation, Austin was still helping her. He hadn’t let Jack’s strange glances—or the fact that he’d shown up unannounced—rattle him in the least. He was still thinking of her.

“I want to go with Austin,” Trevor protested.

“Bud, why don’t you come with me to help me with your bags?” Sara prayed her son would go along with her proposal.

Trevor’s shoulders slumped as he sighed heavily. “Okay.”

“Be right back.” She smiled at both Jack and Valentina before heading into the B&B with the kids.

As Sara gathered the kids’ bags and instructed them both to remember to brush their teeth in the morning and at night, her mind was spinning like a top on a greased-up floor. Everything in her life seemed to be moving at turbo speed. The divorce. The move. Austin.

“I want to put on jammas.” Charlotte lifted the dress she had on over her head.

Knowing her daughter would probably be much more comfortable in pajamas for the car ride that Sara was praying she’d sleep through, she stepped to the dresser that held their clothes. After opening the drawer, she looked up and saw Jack and Austin talking through the window.

The two men were similar in size. Both were tall and muscular. Austin had maybe an inch or two on Jack. As Sara watched their interaction, it struck her that Jack seemed like a stranger compared to Austin. Sara had no idea what the man she’d been married to for the last eight years and had two children with was thinking. But one look at Austin and she knew he was not only sizing Jack up, but also that her ex was passing his scrutiny.

When the two shook hands and Austin walked away, she could see there was a genuine respect there, and she felt relieved. Somehow seeing that Austin thought Jack was a good guy made Sara happy.

“Mommy!” Charlotte’s demanding voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Sorry, coming.”

Sara quickly got Charlotte dressed and answered all the questions that Trev was shooting in rapid fire at her. He wanted to know everything from what they’d be eating the next two days to whether or not Valentina liked dogs. She knew she was going to miss her munchkins, but she was also looking forward to the break.

The break that, thanks to Austin, was full of possibilities.

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