Tropical Heat Read online

  “I know. You were trying to distract yourself. You were doing everything except paying attention to Gracie and Ethan’s upcoming wedding.”

  He gazed out at the setting sun, now squashed in a crimson streak against the horizon. “Then I watched what Gracie and Ethan went through and I felt so bad for them. But no matter how bad it got, they stayed together. They solved their issues together.”

  “They did and they came back stronger than ever. It’s pretty inspiring.”

  “Well, they certainly seemed to have inspired Brittany and Josh.”

  She turned to study the bride and groom. “Yes, they have.”

  They walked a little farther along the sand as the sky darkened from crimson to magenta. Soon they’d have to go back and join the party, but for now, it was just the two of them. A chance to reminisce over the past year, to say the things they never seemed to have a chance to say at home.

  Sydney offered her own confession. “Meeting you changed me as well. I came to that resort last year for a holiday, but basically, it was to escape my life. My entire existence was out of balance. I was working far too much and thinking only of work. And even though I’d had a relationship fall apart, I still didn’t quite see the big picture. I couldn’t see the ways my life was out of balance. Not until I met you.”

  He remained silent while she gathered her thoughts.

  “Once I met you, I began to think about the future and how I wanted it to unfold. I began looking at my own life in a way I hadn’t before. And I started making changes so my life would match that vision of the future.” She stopped and stared up into his eyes. “I’m not the same person I was when I went to that resort last year, either.”

  “No,” he agreed. “You’re even more wonderful.”

  Sydney glanced down at the engagement ring on her finger. The diamond caught the last rays of the sun’s light. “But I didn’t anticipate this.” She held up her hand. “I came to see Brittany and Josh get married. This was another wonderful surprise.”

  “You were my wonderful surprise.” He pulled her closer against him and for a moment they stared out at the darkening water endlessly rushing toward the shore. “Who would have thought one little holiday could do so much for so many people?”

  “It does seem miraculous.”

  “So what do you say? Should we meet up here next year for another wedding?”

  “Yes,” she agreed. “We should definitely meet up here for another wedding and bring all our friends and loved ones. Only this time the wedding will be ours.”

  He sealed their bargain with a kiss.

  Drawing away, he stared back down the line of the beach at the wedding reception that was only a small dot in the distance. “I guess we should go back.”

  Sydney gave him a kiss of her own. “Okay, let’s go enjoy the rest of the wedding.”

  “There they are!” Josh said when they rejoined the party. “You were gone so long, we began to wonder where you were. What were you guys doing?”

  A ripple of laughter ran through the wedding guests.

  Deciding the rest of our lives, Sydney wanted to say, but she settled for a demure smile.

  “Just taking a walk,” Jesse said, completely straight-faced.

  Sydney settled for, “The sunset is beautiful.”

  She suddenly became aware everyone was looking in their direction. Why were all the wedding guests staring at them? Surely a walk on the beach couldn’t have caused so much suspicion.

  Josh held up his glass. “We were about to start the toasts and we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss this one.” Beside him Brittany offered them a wide smile.

  Josh raised his glass higher. “To my good friends Sydney and Jesse who…” The party waited as he drew out the suspense. “Just got engaged!”

  A round of applause roared through the party.

  Sydney glanced at Jesse, assuming he was behind the leak in information, but he offered her a grin and shrugged. “How did you know? We didn’t say anything. We were going to wait until after the wedding to tell you guys.”

  Brittany grasped her left hand and held it up for all to see. The diamond caught the last rays of the setting sun. “We knew because of this!”

  Josh gave Jesse a slap on the back. Gracie and Olivia came up to admire her ring.

  “Can we assume we’ll be meeting on another beach next year for the wedding?” Ethan called out.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Jesse called back.

  Ethan, acting as master of ceremonies, held up his glass. “And now, back to your regular wedding programming…”

  Epilogue

  Another year later…

  When the time came, they opted for a small wedding at a hotel in town. That way all their friends and family would be able to attend.

  Josh and Brittany were expecting a baby. Heavily pregnant, Brittany was advised not to travel, and Josh wouldn’t leave her side. Ethan and Gracie had married earlier in the year and Lucas and Olivia had recently gotten engaged.

  Jesse stood at the altar, flanked by Ethan and Josh. He and Sydney had spent the previous evening before working on the wedding décor.

  They’d opted for a white and gold theme. Gold ribbons glittered on the backs of every chair that had been lined up to form two rows. Overhead chandeliers bathed the room in golden light. At the altar, two towering arrangements of white flowers sparkled with gold ribbon. He’d deferred to Sydney on most of the decorating decision, since she had the better eye for such things. But he had to admit the effect was magical.

  His attention was not on his surroundings, though. He was waiting for his bride.

  They spent the night apart in deference to tradition. Sydney hadn’t wanted him to see her in her dress before she walked down the aisle. He knew she’d be there, so why was his heart hammering in his chest?

  The doors opened and the music began to play. Bridesmaids in gold dresses made their way down the aisle. His heart hammered harder.

  Then Sydney appeared at the end of the aisle. His gaze swept over her, taking in the strapless lace dress, the pearl combs that held her hair back. She looked stunningly beautiful. But mostly, it was her smile he remembered—that moment when they locked gazes and knew that they belonged to each other for forever.

  The End

  www.feralmartian.com

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  EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®

  www.evernightpublishing.com