Free The Lure of White Oak Lake by Robin Alexander Page A

if you don’t, the weight distribution is going to be messed up, and you’ll sink faster.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Morgan said with a smile.
    Jaclyn nodded. “You’re a fast learner, Morgan Chassion. Now, Austin, come with me. Morgan, go shower and come down to the house when you’re finished. I have spaghetti in the Crock-Pot.”
    Austin cuffed Morgan again. “Cool! We’ll talk about our plans while we eat.”

    ~~~

    “I like her,” Austin said as he sloshed alongside Jaclyn toward the house.
    “Oh, I’m sure you do since she was nice enough to ruin the bookcase she just bought for the regatta.”
    “I liked her before that. She hears me, ya know. When I talk to her, I don’t feel like a little kid, and she looks at me. Sharon, your last girlfriend, used to say, ‘yeah, uh-huh,’ but she was always looking at her phone or something else.”
    “Don’t take it personally, baby, she did the same to me. That’s why we stopped dating. And Morgan’s not my girlfriend, we’re just friends.”
    “But she’s like you, isn’t she? She likes girls?”
    “Yeah, but that’s her business, so don’t tell anyone. Let her do that in her own time.”
    Austin grinned as he looked at his mother. “So you like girls and she does too, so…”
    “You sound like your Aunt Maddie. Morgan and I are like everybody else. Just because we share that in common doesn’t mean we’re automatically going to get together. And besides, baby, she’s just here for a short time. Once she finds a job, she’ll have to move on.”
    Jaclyn could tell by the expression on Austin’s face this news wasn’t pleasant, but she felt he should understand that before he let himself get too attached. “If she falls in love with you, she might stay.”
    “Oh, my God, you are your Aunt Maddie in male form.”
    Austin grinned and bumped into Jaclyn, soaking her hip. “I’m your kid, though.”
    Jaclyn laughed and looped her arm around his. “Yes, you are. I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”

CHAPTER 10

    J aclyn couldn’t help but grin as she listened to the two sitting at the kitchen table. Morgan’s damp hair had begun to curl at the base of her neck and around her ears. A small line formed between her brows as she sketched something. Austin’s head was almost touching hers as he watched the drawing intently.
    “Yeah, yeah, I see what you’re saying. The pontoons would keep us afloat. But we can’t paddle if they’re on those long arms. Could we glue them to the side of the shelf?”
    “There’s not enough glue on the planet.”
    “Brackets,” Jaclyn offered as she set the bread on the table. “Some sort of bracket to hold them to the side of the not-boat.” She pointed to the top of the squared-off case. “That’s going to cause a lot of resistance, too.”
    “Yeah, I’m not sure what to do with that yet.” Morgan looked at Austin. “Any ideas?”
    They began brainstorming again, and Jaclyn developed a new respect for Morgan. She was intelligent, despite the fact she was going to try to cross the lake in a bookcase. But Morgan asked for Austin’s input instead of just taking over. She was making him strategize and think.
    “Okay, set your plans aside, dinner’s coming.” Jaclyn began bringing the plates to the table. Morgan jumped up and began to help, and this prompted Austin to do the same.
    Austin grinned as he sat and picked up his fork. “I can’t wait to tell Logan that I’m in the regatta, he’s gonna crap a kitten.”
    “We’re eating, son.” Jaclyn gave him the “shut up” eye.
    “Sorry,” he said, looking over at Morgan. “First prize is always cool. Last year, Mom donated a stocked tackle box and a rod and reel. Aunt Maddie and Uncle Heath put in a deer stand, and Rosie’s gave out a certificate for free pie for a whole month. If we win, we could divide the prize.”
    “I’ll take the pie,” Morgan said with a smile. “You can have the rest.”
    Austin looked surprised. “You don’t