Jennaâs heart skipped a scheduled beat as a pair of amber eyes locked on her.
At some point in the past twelve hours, a startling transformation had occurred. The heavy growth of stubble that had shadowed Devâs face had been removed, enhancing the clean lines of his chiseled features.
In faded jeans and a dark green T-shirt that accentuated broad shoulders and muscular arms, Dev looked like a man totally at ease in his surroundings.
And way too attractive for her peace of mind.
Jenna stopped.
âDo you need some help?â
Heâd noticed the heel of her shoe stuck in the sand.
âIâmââ
âFine,â Dev interrupted. âI think you made that clear yesterday. But at the moment it looks like youâreâ¦stuck.â
A large hand curved around her ankle. The unexpected touch caught Jenna off guard. And sent an equally unexpected jolt of electricity running through her.
âIf youâre going to stick around for a while, you should think about getting something a little moreâ¦â With another small tug, Dev set her free. âPractical.â
Chapter One
âPlease follow the highlighted routeââ
Jenna Gardner tapped the tiny screen on the GPS and silenced the voice of her invisible navigator once and for all. Not only because the high-tech gadget seemed to be as confused as she was by the tangled skein of roads winding around Mirror Lake, but because Jenna was tempted to take its advice.
She wanted to follow the highlighted route right back to her condo in the Twin Cities.
âYou passed it, Aunt Jenna!â
A panicked cry reminded her that going home wasnât an option. Not for awhile, anyway.
Jenna glanced in the rearview mirror. Once again, she experienced a jolt at the sight of the two children in the backseat.
Silver blond hair. Delicate features. Wide blue eyes.
Jenna had met Logan and Tori for the first time only three days ago. The children were practically strangers.
Strangers who were the mirror image of her younger sister, Shelly, as a child.
For a split second, Tori met Jennaâs gaze. Then she buried her face in the tattered scrap of pink flannel that doubled as a blanket.
Jenna pressed her lips together to prevent a sigh from escaping.
One step forward, two steps back, she reminded herself. The five-year-old girl was adjusting to the idea of having an aunt the same way Jenna was getting used to the idea of having a niece and nephew.
âYou have to turn around,â Logan insisted.
âAre you sure?â Jenna tipped her Ray-Bans down and tried to peer through the hedge of wild sumac that bordered the road. âI donât see anything.â
âUh-huh. Itâs back there.â Logan, the self-appointed spokesman for the two siblings, nodded vigorously.
Under the circumstances, Jenna was willing to give the boy the benefit of the doubt. She put the car in reverse and began to inch backwards.
In Minneapolis, a dozen horns would have instantly chastised her for the move. But here in the north woods of Wisconsin, the only complaint Jenna heard came from a squirrel perched on a branch near the side of the road. More than likely voicing its opinion on her presence rather than her driving skills.
She spotted a wide dirt path that could have beenâif a person possessed a vivid imaginationâa driveway.