Read The Wedding Wish (Summer Grooms Series) for Free Online

is? That there is someone else?”
    Cindy laid a hand on her arm to comfort her. “Then, it’s
better to know now. Don’t you think?”
    Isabel met her best friend’s eyes, knowing Cindy was right. “It
really stinks being a grown-up sometimes.”
    “I know it does,” Cindy said, leaning forward. “But at least
we can be grown-ups together.” Her face was etched with sympathy. “And if he
gives you bad news, I don’t want you to think your world has ended. Because,
let’s face it, Isabel, you’re a great girl. Plus, you’ve got your whole life
ahead of you… A career. A future. And someday, yes, someday, you’re going to
find a way to share it with the perfect guy.”
    Isabel felt like she’d already found the perfect guy.
Perfect for her in so many ways. The only question was, did Robert feel the
same way about her?

 
    Early the following Sunday morning, Isabel found herself at
the shore with Robert. They’d spent a wonderful evening having a picnic in the
park before an outdoor movie screen. They hadn’t watched an action film or a
chick flick this time, but rather a classic oldie instead. It had been a fun
and refreshing story, one of those old wartime love stories from long ago. As
the last scene faded, closing on a couple kissing on a beach, Robert had taken
her hand. “Let’s go somewhere,” he’d said. “Do you want to?”
    “What do you have in mind?” she’d asked him. And when he’d
said the beach, Isabel had found it impossible to say no. She loved the majesty
and romance of the seashore and always had since she was a kid. It was a four-hour
drive, but she didn’t mind, as long as she was taking it with him. They’d
driven mostly in silence, listening to funky jazz tunes on the radio that
caused her heart to pulse in rhythm just at the thought that he was still
holding her hand. She had to brave the question, and she knew it. As soon as
they got to the shore, she was prepared to ask him. But then they’d gotten
there, and everything had been so beautiful as he led her across the dunes and
down to an empty stretch of sand.
    “You know what I like about being here?” he asked her. “I
like the fact that’s it’s just me and you.”
    And it was. Not even the gulls were awake at this hour, and
all the sand crabs had long since been tucked in. “I like that too,” she
answered.
    He spread his car blanket on the ground and offered her a
seat beside him, tucking her under his arm to shield her from the early chill. “Robert,”
she said as the waves crashed and roared before them, “I’ve got something to
ask you.”
    “You can ask anything you want. But first, I need to do
this…”
    When he brought his mouth to hers, Isabel thrilled at the
moment. She’d wanted him for so long, and his slow, languorous kiss was like warm
molasses on a sultry afternoon. Isabel sighed against him as she kissed him
back and he threaded his fingers through her hair.
    “You’re even prettier than I remembered,” he said, gazing
down at her. He lightly brushed his lips to hers. “And you’re a helluva a lot
better kisser too.”
    “You’ve improved yourself.”
    His brow rose in mock offense. “You mean I wasn’t good then?”
    “You were fine then,” she said with a smile, “but you’re
rocking now.”
    He growled lightly and pulled her to him. “You don’t know
how much I want you.”
    “I want you too,” she breathed, even sensing it was wrong
with her not fully knowing the truth.
    “I think I’ve always wanted you,” he said. “But somehow,
with time and space…and life moving on…it’s almost like I’d forgotten.”
    “Yeah.”
    He kissed her again, then spoke in a husky whisper. “I want
to make this work. You and I… We have something, Isabel. Something worth
fighting for. I believe that.”
    “I do too.” She met his eyes as the sky streaked purple with
the dawn. “But, Robert, I’ve got to know… Is there somebody else?”
    Robert broke their