Beauty and the Beach (28 page)

Isabelle spun around. “Courtney, what have you done?”

Courtney shot her a reproachful look. “Now, come on, don’t be like that. What I’ve done is gotten the man you’re in love with to propose to you. Besides, you only have yourself to blame. I was sick of you moping around and missing him. You know you were.”

“But lying to us both? About something so serious?”

“Hey, I’m barely eighteen. Maybe I shouldn’t have chosen this method, but again, you probably only have yourself to blame. Remember all those old romance movies you made me watch with you? It probably had a negative influence on me.” She shrugged again. “I had to do something to help you both realize how much you meant to each other. It was all I could think of. Anyway, it all worked out.”

“Courtney! Adam is on his way to jail!”

She waved a hand. “Fine. Thank me later, then. If I get a half-as-romantic proposal from the man I fall in love with, I’ll be a happy girl.” She smiled. “Now I can leave and go to college and I won’t have to worry about you all the time.” She started to walk away, then turned around and walked backward. “Send me an invite to the wedding, okay? I’ll be home for Christmas so it would be nice if you’d wait until then. In the meantime, I’m going home with Dad. I checked and Adam left his keys in his car so you can drive that home.”

“Wait!”

“What for?”

“What do I do now?”

“Get Adam out of jail and live happily ever after. Duh.”

Isabelle couldn’t think of a thing to say.

Courtney laughed and turned back around, walking toward their father, standing by his car in the distance. “Hey, Izzy!” She threw over her shoulder.

“What?”

Courtney laughed again. “Getting you two together was way more fun than I thought it would be!”

December 14th, Four Months Later

COURTNEY CLUNG TO THE ARM of a totally cute guy in dress blues as she walked up the aisle. As the Maid of Honor, she took her place off to one side and turned and faced the audience. She held her small white rose bouquet with both hands, peeked down at her dress, and couldn’t help smiling. She loved the red silk. She’d never owned a dress like it, and the fact that it had cost a fortune and didn’t come from the thrift store was an added bonus.

Moments later, she was joined by Izzy’s college friend, Becky, a beauty queen who was so totally gorgeous that Courtney could barely stand to look at her. So she didn’t.

She looked out at their friends and neighbors instead. She recognized people from the apartment complex, nurses from Izzy’s hospital, and some of Izzy’s friends from high school and college. They’d all been asking Courtney about her schooling. She gave everyone the standard answer: hard, but fun. Still, it was good to be home for a few weeks and see everyone again.

The wedding march started, played by a totally hot guy in the back on a small fold-up keyboard. Dad moved slowly up the aisle with Izzy, and she looked great. So happy. And her dress was fantastic. White, slender and silky, it was perfect for Izzy. She wore a pearl bracelet that totally didn’t match the pendant around her neck, but she’d insisted, calling it her mythical wild pearl bracelet. Whatever. At least the beautiful red roses were a gorgeous splash of color against the dress.

Courtney looked across the aisle toward Adam. In his dress blues, his medals lined up across the left side of his chest, he looked sharp. He also looked smug, like he’d just won the lottery. Twice. He was turning out to be an okay guy.

When Courtney came home from school last week, her guilt had finally gotten the better of her and she’d admitted to Izzy she’d gotten fifty grand out of Adam. As expected, Izzy had made her return the check, which was sort of a relief as she’d never dared to cash it. Adam refused to take it--said a deal was a deal--but Izzy had ripped it up.

Adam had shrugged, but then he smiled at Courtney and told her she just needed to remember that he was a soft touch. Izzy had acted mad and argued with Adam, but when he wouldn’t argue back, she’d finally thrown her hands up and left the room. He usually did anything Izzy wanted, so it was kind of a big deal that he basically taken Courtney’s side.

Case in point, Adam had wanted to be married on the beach, which would’ve been way cool. But Izzy had nixed the idea, saying it sounded more romantic than it would be in actual fact. She didn’t want to have to worry about bad weather, navigating the stairs, or sand in her shoes.

When Adam said the beach was where he’d realized he loved Izzy, she’d almost caved. But in the end, the grass overlooking the cliff had turned out to be a pretty cool place to set everything up, and luckily the weather had cooperated so they hadn’t had to go inside. And the back patio really was a beautiful place for a reception, all decorated with lights and everything in red and white. The pool had been boarded over for dancing later.

Courtney glanced at Izzy again. She’d insisted on wearing the necklace with the wooden pendant. It was pretty and all, but she would have thought Adam could’ve come up with something better. When she’d mentioned it to him, he’d shrugged and said it was what Izzy wanted.

So, yep, whatever Izzy wanted, she pretty much got. But did she take advantage of it? No. Adam basically had to spoil her against her will. It was actually pretty sad. Every time he bought or did something for her, she still acted embarrassed. But Adam just teased her until she gave in.

When Courtney got married, she wanted a guy just like Adam. Someone who spoiled her rotten. But she wouldn’t say no to all the gifts. She wouldn’t protest when she got spoiled. She’d just let the guy do it. It seemed to make Adam happy, so why not?

Dad was crying as he handed Izzy off to Adam, which was making Izzy cry. Geez. Her family was so embarrassing. When Dad finally sat down, Erin had to comfort him. Good grief! She hoped her friend Monica wasn’t seeing any of this.

The ceremony was pretty awesome, with Adam looking self-satisfied and Izzy looking gorgeous. Adam was pretty much looking at Izzy like he’d die if he couldn’t kiss her soon. And, oh, yep, there he went, swooping in for the kiss, which lasted way too long.

Totally embarrassing.

Finally, it ended, which was good because Dad had pretty much cried throughout the whole ceremony and apparently it had made Izzy cry, too, which made Adam laugh.

Dad and Erin were happy about the wedding. They pretty much thought Adam was perfect for Izzy. Dad was back to managing Adam’s store again. Apparently the new manager had done something to tick Adam off. Dad had been proudly telling customers it was his future son-in-law’s store. Now he’d be able to claim him as a son-in-law.

As soon as she could, Courtney found Monica.

Monica gave her a knowing look and Courtney followed her gaze. Adam’s best friend Issac, who was completely gorgeous, was totally stalking Adam’s sister again. They giggled. “He’d better hope Adam doesn’t find out,” whispered Courtney. “Because no way would Adam put up with that.” Regardless, she had no intention of saying anything, because one, she wasn’t a tattletale, and two, it was way too amusing to watch.

“Come on,” said Monica and tugged her away.

The two of them walked past Adam’s Marine friends. Some of them were way cute. A little on the old side maybe, but still cute and flirt-worthy. The man who’d walked Courtney up the aisle smiled at them and they kept walking and went around the corner to giggle.

“Did you see the dark-haired guy with the goatee?” asked Courtney. “He’s totally hot.”

“I like the blond,” said Monica.

“Okay, let’s go back.”

They returned, but unfortunately Izzy’s older friends had shown up to talk to the Marines and the men didn’t so much as glance at them this time.

Courtney let out a breath. So much for being in college.

“Come on. Let’s join them.” Courtney nodded in the direction of the men. Monica smiled in agreement, and they started forward. They needed to hone their flirting skills, and, like Izzy always said, practice made perfect.

Christmas Eve, One Year Later

ADAM HURRIED DOWN THE STAIRS. When he reached the bottom, he looked around for Isabelle. She was standing near the entrance to the kitchen, talking to his dad, and from the pink in her cheeks and the way her gaze fell to the floor, Dad was teasing her again. Adam started forward to rescue her.

Everyone looked like they were having a good time. Christmas music played in the background as laughter, small talk, and teasing swirled around him. The big tree they’d decorated together graced the ocean-view window and Adam couldn’t help but smile as he remembered how much fun decorating it had been.

It turned out Izzy was even more traditional and sentimental than he’d suspected. Last year, newly wed, she’d ordered a First Christmas Together ornament and asked their parents for a special childhood ornament. This year, she’d ordered a Baby’s First Christmas ornament and had strung the tree with popcorn and cranberries. She also insisted on hiding the presents and placing them out on Christmas Eve. All in all, watching her savor Christmas was an experience he’d enjoyed repeating.

On his way toward Izzy, he handed Courtney, sitting in the recliner, the baby bibs. “Here you go.”

“Oh, good, thanks. She’s cute, but good grief, can she spit up.”

Adam leaned over to stroke his sleeping daughter’s soft cheek.

“I don’t believe it for a minute. She’s too pretty to be spitting up.”

“Not according to the last shirt I was wearing.”

He grinned and continued on to Isabelle. As he reached her, his dad was called away by his mom and Adam moved up behind his wife, wrapped her in his arms, and pulled her close. She craned her neck to look up at him. “You couldn’t have rescued me sooner?”

He chuckled. “I was headed over here to do just that. It looks like everyone’s having a good time. How about you? Are you having fun?”

“My arms are feeling a little empty at the moment.” Isabelle looked over to where Courtney held Sara Marie. Named Sara for Isbelle’s mom, and Marie for Adam’s, she’d been a honeymoon baby, which had suited Adam just fine. Three months old, and Adam would be the first to admit he was as crazy about the daughter as he was her mother.

“Do you want me to get her for you?”

“No, let Courtney hold her. And it looks like your mom is next in line.”

Adam looked over at his mother and chuckled. His mother, eyes firmly on the baby, was perched on the edge of the loveseat, looking ready to spring up at the first sign that Courtney was done holding the baby. She even had a baby blanket, one she’d knitted herself, at the ready.

“She is kind of obvious, isn’t she?” Adam’s arms tightened and he bent to kiss her cheek. “And you’re kind of beautiful. You look fantastic.”

She glanced down at her green silk shirt, black slacks, and heels. “Thank you.”

“Do you think anyone would notice if I hauled you under the mistletoe again?”

“Don’t even think about it,” she said darkly. “Your dad has enough ammunition to tease us about.”

“My dad’s been teasing you?”

“What do you expect? You gave him plenty to talk about when you joined me in the nursery for an hour. Now he thinks we disappeared for so long because you can’t keep your hands off me.”

“Well, he’s right.”

Isabelle shook her head. “The feeling is mutual. But we don’t have to advertise, do we?”

Adam chuckled, and Isabelle shivered, and then placed a hand to her throat. “He also teased me about being spoiled. This necklace, earrings, and bracelet set are outrageous. I feel like a princess wearing all these jewels. They’re more suited to the kind of formal occasions we don’t attend.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Sometime I’ll have to share my reasons for circling your lovely throat, wrist, and finger.”

“Do I want to hear it?”

He smiled. “Probably not. But you’ll have to endure, because you’ve been particularly good this year and I bet Santa’s going to have something extra nice for your stocking.”

She groaned. “Adam. It’s too much. You have to stop.”

He laughed. “That’s not going to happen. This beast is going to keep his beauty decked out. You’re my muse. My inspiration. Get used to it.”

“You’re no beast. I never should have told you what the nurses used to call you.”

“Don’t be so hasty. Didn’t the beast turn out handsome and happy and get the girl? That, I can live with. So, what do you say I take this beauty down to the beach later tonight? I bet my mom would keep an eye on Sara Marie.”

“I bet she would, too.”

“So, how about it? We could take a few blankets to wrap up in, listen to the ocean, and watch for Santa.”

“Do I get my own chair this time?”

“No.”

She laughed again. “In that case, you’re on. I like snuggling much better.”

He smiled. “So do I. Okay, let’s feed the masses so we can go.”

They headed into the kitchen and Adam couldn’t help but think how changed his life was. So far, the only fly in the ointment had been when, right after they’d married, Caitlyn had tried to spread some nasty rumors on the Internet about the Starfire being stolen. But the new owner from back East had worn the necklace to several political events, and there’d been a write-up about it, as well as about Wilder’s Jewels. He’d taken a copy to Mrs. Gilroy, talked about a lawsuit, and that had apparently been the end of it. He was glad. He didn’t want his wife upset.