Page 53 of Whisper of Temptation (Whisper Lake 4)

CHAPTER 17

“Holy shit!” Shelby yelled as she pointed her finger toward Sara.

“What?” Sara worked to keep a blank expression as she stared at the screen of her phone.

She and Shelby FaceTimed a couple of times a week, but when the call from her sister had come in this morning while she was getting ready, Sara had almost ignored it. She would’ve, but she knew her sister would just keep calling back until Sara answered.

“You hooked up with Stranger Danger!” her sister exclaimed.

Sara knew she should’ve never told her sister about that nickname.

“Shhh.” She pressed her forefinger to her mouth.

The walls of the B&B were thin, which Sara had tried to keep in mind when she and Austin had hooked up, as her sister had so eloquently put it. Just because her munchkins weren’t there and she and Austin were the only two people on the first floor, didn’t mean they were alone. The entire second floor was occupied.

In the past, Sara had never been particularly loud during sex. She’d enjoyed it. It had been fine. But honestly, when she’d seen movies where people cried out in abandon, she’d figured they were just putting on a show. Last night, and again this morning, had proved her wrong on that count. It was all she could do not to scream like a banshee. Austin took her to places she never knew existed.

Which was the reason she’d suggested they go get breakfast at the Drawbridge Diner this morning, instead of eating here at the B&B. As much as she’d tried to mute herself during their hot encounters, she didn’t want to sit in a room full of people wondering if they’d overheard her escapades.

“Why do I have to shhh?” Shelby asked.

“Because,” Sara whispered. “The walls are thin, and I don’t want anyone to hear you.”

“By anyone you mean Stranger Danger?” Shelby waggled her eyebrows.

“His name is Austin.”

“Oh, I know his name.” The waggling continued. “Austin Stone. It sounds like he’s an action star.” Shelby mimicked an announcer’s voice as she said, “Austin Stone heats up the screen in Inferno of Retaliation, coming this summer to a theater near you.”

Sara’s head fell back as she cracked up. Her sister drove her crazy, but she could always make her laugh.

“But seriously, I’m so glad you went for it. I haven’t seen you this happy in…well, ever.”

“No one said that I went for it and what do you mean? I’ve been happy. I’m always happy.” No matter what was happening in her life, Sara had always tried to put on a brave face and look at things with a glass-half-full mentality.

Shelby hissed through clenched teeth as she grimaced. “You’ve been happy in a fake-it-’til-you-make-it kinda way. You plastered a smile on your face and just kept putting one foot in front of the other. Which I’ve always appreciated. Believe me, it was a lot nicer than if you’d been walking around miserable. But now you’re glowing, radiating, shining with happiness.”

“Okay, I seriously doubt you can tell all of that over FaceTime.” Sara knew she might be smiling a little more than usual, but radiating, shining, and glowing was a stretch.

“I’m your sister, of course I can tell.”

“Whatever.” Sara grinned and shook her head. She had no intention of wasting time fighting over whether or not she was happy.

“So how long is Jack keeping the kiddos?”

“Until tomorrow evening.” Sara still felt odd not having them with her.

The next two full days, and one night, were free of responsibilities. She had no one to answer to—or, more accurately, no one asking her questions she had to answer. As amazing as it was to have a break, it also felt like part of her was missing. She was completely at loose ends.

Of course, waking up wrapped in Austin’s arms while he kissed her neck, with the evidence of just how happy he was pressed against her hip, had been a nice distraction. And the half hour they’d spent making love had done an amazing job at keeping her mind and body completely occupied.

“So you and Stranger Danger have two days to Marvin Gaye it up. Nice,” Shelby enthused.

Sara was afraid to ask. “Marvin Gaye it up?”

“Yeah, you know.” Shelby’s voice dropped an octave. “Let’s Get It On.”

“Stop!” Sara laughed. “Can we please talk about something else? How are you? How’re Matt and the girls?”

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