Fresh Temptation

her mother one last kiss on the cheek, then stood back to make sure she had left no lipstick on her skin. “I love you, Mom.”
    Patty’s eyes welled up. She could only smile and nod, afraid that speaking would cause a torrent of tears to flood her cheeks.
    Cara looked down at Isaac, the ring bearer, and said, “Remember, count to ten before you walk out.”
    Isaac nodded. He had already peeked inside the sanctuary at all the people sitting there, and he was nervous. What if I drop this pillow? But then he remembered what Victor said. The rings on the pillow are fake. Don’t let all the people scare you. Just walk down the aisle and find me on the front row. After this is over, we can eat cake .
    Isaac felt a lot better when he thought about that cake. And he knew Grandma had made the cake herself, so it would be extra good. She even let Isaac pick the flavor: chocolate. He tensed a little when he felt Grandma patting his shoulder, urging him to enter the room full of people; he had forgotten to count to ten.
    When Isaac entered the room, it felt so much bigger than it had when it was empty. The people inside were all dressed so nice, all of them smiling and pointing at him. Some of them waved. He smiled and waved back at a woman he recognized as Grandma’s neighbor, but the pillow almost fell to the floor. “No!” Isaac gasped and quickly shuffled the pillow back into place, safely resting it in his arms. He saw Mommy grinning at him from the front of the church, and he grinned back at her, then started to walk a little faster than before. When he got closer to the end of the aisle, he saw Victor waving from the front row.
    Victor scooted over and patted the empty space on the pew, then patted Isaac’s back when he sat down. “Good job.”
    Isaac gave him a big smile.
    And then the music changed. Victor said, “Come on. Let’s stand up and watch Grandma walk down the aisle.”
    Throughout the ceremony, Victor couldn’t take his eyes off Cara. She was stunning in her dress. A true vision to behold. Everything about her was lovely, both inside and out. He put a friendly arm around Isaac’s shoulders as he contemplated how lucky he was to have found this amazing woman and her amazing son, and how much better they had both made his life. Soon, Victor would tell Cara that he was going to stop putting in so much time at work. He had invested well, and he wanted to spend more time with the people he loved, not in stuffy board rooms in endless meetings.
    Victor would take Cara home to Texas, show her the beauty of the landscape and introduce her to the friends and family he loved so well. The ring purchased five months earlier would finally come out of its hiding place, and they’d take the next step in their lifelong journey together.
    He would take Isaac to the ranch where he grew up, and have Ramon show him around. Horses beat fast cars any day of the week. At least, that’s what Victor was counting on.
    His gaze caught Cara’s for a moment. He saw the same look in Patty’s eyes during her vows. That look was something special. It would last. It would be Victor’s, for the remaining days of his life.
     
     
    The End
     
    Follow the continuing story of the Barboza Brothers in Book Two: Armando Returns .
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Other Books by Reeni Austin
     
    Author’s note:  Victor and Cara will return in books two and three.
     
    Book Two : Armando Returns – Expected release date: December 14, 2012 .  
    Armando Barboza is a successful businessman in Los Angeles. One loss haunts him to this day, and the need to rectify the situation still hangs heavy on his mind.
    One call from his brother, Victor, will turn his world upside down: Katie McCormack is getting married.
    It could’ve been Armando. It should be Armando. It isn’t.
    Join Armando, Victor, and Cara as they set out to right a wrong from years ago, and in the process learn more about their family than they ever expected in
Armando Returns
.
     
    Book Three – Title: To Be Announced. Expected release date: January 25, 2013.
    This is Ramon and Marcy’s story, along with Victor and Cara’s Wedding. The full truth about the Barboza family is finally revealed.
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