Misty Lake: Book One in the Misty Lake Series by Margaret Standafer

Joe. Since Jake hadn’t brought a woman to a family function of any sort in years, he was sure word had spread and his parents, as well as all his siblings, were curious.
    Sam gave Jake a withering look then headed to the door with him. Damn, she wished she had known they were going to be spending the day with his brother. She wasn’t sure what she would have done differently, probably nothing, she decided, but at least she would have been prepared.
    She put a smile on her face as the door opened and she was greeted by Jake’s brother and his wife. Sam caught the look between Joe and Karen and their attempts to hide their grins. Hadn’t Jake ever brought a woman around before? she wondered, but found that hard to believe. Surely he must have dated, and with a family as close as he had made his sound, it seemed only natural that he would have brought her home to meet his family.
    With the introductions out of the way, during which time Sam had learned Joe was a high school science teacher and Karen a nurse, they headed to the back and towards the lake. Sam still wasn’t sure what the plan was until she saw a huge, shiny boat bouncing softly next to a long, sturdy dock. Even with her limited knowledge of boats, it was hard not to be impressed. “Wow,” she managed, glancing at Joe as they reached the dock.
    He seemed to stand a little straighter and square his shoulders as a wide grin spread across his face. “Thanks, Sam, I’ll take that as a compliment. She is a beauty, isn’t she?” he said almost reverently.
    “It looks brand new,” Sam said taking in the sleek lines and smooth upholstery. There wasn’t a scratch or ding anywhere that she could see.
    “Just got her this spring. We’d been wanting a new one for some time, right, honey?” Joe replied with a look to his wife who only raised her eyebrows. “I’ve got the motor broken in, she’s ready to fly.”
    Sam leaned back a little and craned her neck to peek at the part of the motor sticking out from the back of the boat. It looked huge. “Just how fast does this thing go?”
    “Well, that depends upon the conditions,” Joe replied, his voice slipping into what Sam could only describe as teacher mode as he started educating her on horsepower, aerodynamics, and weather conditions.
    When Karen gave a sigh and murmured, “Here we go,” Joe stopped the lecture and suggested they get in the boat and she experience it for herself.
    After a lot of loading, arranging, and situating, they pulled away from the dock, the boat fully stocked with drinks, snacks, water skis, and a giant, rather intimidating-looking tube strapped to the back. They started out slow, cruising along the shoreline with Joe and Karen pointing out the homes of a couple people Sam had met and explaining features of the lake. The weather was perfect with just the lightest breeze and not a cloud in the sky. The water sparkled and as Sam gazed across the lake, she felt herself relax.
    Jake sat with Sam in the front of the boat, pleased that she seemed to be enjoying herself. He had noticed the flash of anxiety when she first glimpsed the boat but it had seemed to pass quickly. As he watched her look out over the lake, her eyes hidden by the sunglasses she wore, he realized how little he really knew about her. Was there something in her past that made her fear the water? he wondered. Or was it just the memories of her time spent here as a child that had caused her to hesitate?
    Sam noticed the gradual increase in speed as Joe guided the boat further from the shore. Soon they were racing across the open water, the boat seeming to barely skim the surface. The wind whipped her hair back while the sunlight warmed her skin. Sam hadn’t felt this free in a long time, as if she could outrace any memories that threatened to sneak into her consciousness. She closed her eyes and ordered herself to enjoy the day for what it was, a fun afternoon spent with friends. She wouldn’t allow thoughts of