All he could think about while getting ready for the wedding was spending time with Sadie tonight. He’d even hoped to turn that almost-kiss into a real one. A summer fling wouldn’t hurt anything, right? Get back on that horse—as Sadie might say.

  But she seemed uncomfortable with him now. Detached in a way she’d never been before. Her demeanor was definitely not inspiring romantic thoughts. Maybe she wasn’t interested in him that way. Maybe last night had made her realize she didn’t want anything beyond friendship with him. His chest tightened at the thought.

  Just when he’d connected with an amazing woman. Just when he was ready to try again. Judging by the size of the knot in his stomach, he’d already grown very fond of her.

  Sadie was still talking about her day as the song’s final notes trickled out. The up-tempo lead-in to the “Cha-Cha Slide” began, and guests rushed the dance floor.

  “Oh!” Sadie drew back. “I have to find Hayley for this one.” And then she was gone, dodging dancers on her way to his sister. Sadie fell in line beside Hayley at the front of the pack and picked up the dance.

  Clearly he was out of practice. Sam tugged at his collar. What the heck was going on with Sadie?

  Thirty

  Romantic tension, mounting intimacy, and the warring of desires versus obstacles build anticipation for the couple’s first meaningful touch. In other words, a good first kiss begins on page 1.

  —Romance Writing 101

  Sadie had managed to avoid Sam most of the evening. They’d danced twice more and mingled a bit. But he had plenty of family and friends to fraternize with—every time she caught sight of him, he was busy talking or dancing.

  From her spot in line at the bar, she brushed a few tendrils from her face. A rousing country tune played and the dance floor was packed. Another group gathered around the bonfire on the beach. Smaller cloisters congregated here and there across the deck and yard. The sounds of chatter and laughter rang out in the space between songs.

  All evening Sadie had felt dazed. Dancing with Sam had been pure torture. How could this have happened? How had she fallen in love in only four weeks? More to the point, how had she fallen in love with a man who lived five states away? Instead of avoiding her parents’ fate, she seemed to be repeating it.

  A mild breeze blew, stirring the hair at the back of her neck. She couldn’t keep avoiding Sam. But she was terrible at hiding her feelings. She needed to figure out a way to act naturally—neither spouting monologues nor staying mute as a block of wood. For crying out loud, how hard could it be to find a happy medium? She ran a hand over her heated face at the memory.

  “Having a good time, Sadie?” Sam’s mom and dad appeared at her side.

  Sadie pushed away her embarrassment and greeted the couple with a smile. “Oh yes. It’s been a beautiful event from start to finish. I adore a lively party. Mrs. Ford, you look stunning in that gown. I love the way the fabric falls around your legs.”

  The woman smoothed the beige skirt. “Thank you. I was telling Dave how much I like your dress. It was just made for dancing in.”

  “Right? Who can blame me for hogging the dance floor?”

  “Not at all. I’m glad you’re having so much fun.” Mrs. Ford touched Sadie’s arm. “Honey, I’m so glad you came with Sam. Weddings can be so difficult—”

  Mr. Ford put his arm around his wife. “Remember our wedding day, honey? It was very simple compared to today’s events.”

  “It was a cake-and-punch affair,” the woman told Sadie. “I wore my mother’s gown, we used flowers from his aunt’s garden, and a friend offered to take the pictures—they actually turned out pretty good.”

  “Don’t forget the canned music,” Mr. Ford said.

  “It cut out as I was walking down the aisle.”

  “Oh no. What did you do?”

  “I hardly even noticed.” Mrs. Ford beamed at her husband. “We had love and that was all we needed. Right, honey?”

  “You said it, sweetheart.” He kissed her temple.

  Sadie smiled wistfully. Sam’s parents were so different from hers. So affectionate. “How long have you two been married?”

  “Thirty-two good years,” Mr. Ford said.

  His wife elbowed him. “Oh, stop that. We’ve been married thirty-five years next Saturday.”

  “Well, they can’t all be good,” he said. “And thirty-two out of thirty-five ain’t bad.”

  Sadie laughed at their good-natured ribbing. She imagined a sense of humor came in very handy in marriage.

  Mr. Ford’s eyes caught on something down on the lawn. “Honey, Amanda’s parents are waving us down. We should go mingle with them for a while.”

  “Duty calls,” Mrs. Ford said to Sadie. “Have fun, dear.”

  “You too.” Sadie stepped forward in line at the bar. She was still smiling when Amanda appeared at her side, still looking fresh and beautiful despite her energetic dancing.

  “Is the bride allowed to cut in line?” she asked Sadie softly.

  “My friend, the bride is allowed to do anything she wants. And you should definitely take advantage of that while you still can.”

  Amanda chuckled. “I like you already.”

  They’d spoken briefly in the receiving line after the ceremony. She seemed like a nice woman. Sadie admired her confidence and the feline way she moved about, so lovely and sensual.

  “Wasn’t Sam’s speech the best?” Amanda said. “It moved me to tears.”

  “It really was beautiful.”

  Amanda touched Sadie’s arm. “I’m so glad he brought you, Sadie. We’ve all been worried about him. I felt just awful about the way things went down between us. Horribly guilty. Tag and I handled it so badly.”

  Sadie’s mind spun at the bombshell Amanda had just dropped. The fragments snapped quickly into place.

  “For the longest time we were afraid he wouldn’t even come to the wedding.”

  The couple in front of them cleared away, and Sadie automatically stepped forward and ordered her drink.

  Amanda did the same. “I’m sure you know Sam’s an amazing man. He deserves a special woman.” Her knowing smile assumed Sadie was that woman.

  “Um, thank you. He is an amazing man.”

  Her mind worked as Amanda turned away to reply to another guest. It was all making sense now. The bad breakup Sam had once alluded to. His retreat to the island weeks before his cousin’s wedding. The family tensions he’d mentioned when they first met. And Mrs. Ford’s obvious relief that Sam had brought Sadie along this weekend.

  Sam’s beloved cousin had stolen the woman he loved.

  The bartender handed Sadie her drink. She slipped a few bills into the tip jar and saluted the bride even though part of her wanted to smack the woman upside the head. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

  “You too, Sadie.”

  She walked unseeingly away from the bar, crossing the crowded deck. Hayley had given Sadie plenty of dirt on her brother, but she’d never breathed a word of this. That his sister hadn’t revealed this particular secret was no doubt a testament to the depth of his hurt and humiliation.

  And yet Sam had not only attended his cousin’s wedding, he’d stepped in as best man and delivered what now seemed like the most gracious toast she’d ever heard.

  His speech played back in her head—not a hint of hostility in his words or tone. She stopped at the top of the steps, palming her chest. He’s said such wonderful things about the people who’d hurt him so badly. His generosity made her ache for him. If there had been a shred of doubt that Sadie was in love with him before, it evaporated now.

  Her vision cleared suddenly . . . and there was Sam. He stood alone for the first time tonight, just past the yard and on the beach, staring toward the bonfire. The moonlight shimmered off his dark hair and puddled on his shoulders.

  Sadie’s heart expanded at the sight of him. All those grand emotions that had swelled inside her before the ceremony returned, along with others: respect, admiration, awe.

  Her feet moved of their own volition, carrying her down the steps. She crossed the flagstones leading toward the beach, her gaze focused like a laser on him.

  As if sensing her presence, he turned. At the sight of her striding his way, his lips lifted in welcome.

  Every fiber of her being needed him right now. The feeling swelled like the ocean, engulfing her with the force of a tidal wave. She was helpless against the strength of it.

  As she neared, Sam’s ready smile faltered. His brow furrowed. A question lit his eyes.

  She had a ready answer for him. She set her drink on a bench and took his face in her hands, barely feeling the scruff of his beard before her mouth covered his.

  He hesitated only a moment. And then he returned her kiss, his lips warm and pliable. She rose onto her toes. Wound her arms around his shoulders and kissed him like a woman in love.

  Something about the thought distracted her from the delicious moment. She fought the urge to follow it and lost. She was in love with Sam, but for all she knew he was still in love with Amanda. Beautiful Amanda with the intelligent eyes, impossibly long legs, and graceful bearing. Sadie couldn’t see her stumbling awkwardly down a porch stoop or sprawling through a door and into a man’s arms.

  Was Sam returning Sadie’s kiss only to salvage her pride? Or maybe she was simply a stand-in for his true love—a woman he couldn’t have.

  Heat flushed her skin and she pushed back, breaking the kiss. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

  He gathered her close and took her mouth with his.

  * * *

  Sam had no idea what had sent Sadie striding his way. At the moment he couldn’t care less. Her lips were soft and delicious. The slight weight of her was a welcome embrace.

  The blast of a firework interrupted their interlude. More explosions followed.

  He drew away, found himself breathless. Sadie’s heavy-lidded gaze made him downright heady. Another firework exploded. “You have impeccable timing.”

  She breathed a laugh. Her hand slid down to his chest where she could surely feel his heart pounding for want of her.

  “You’ve been avoiding me all night.”

  She looked down, but before she could pull away, he tightened his grasp at her waist, not ready to release her just yet. “Have I kissed you speechless?”

  “I believe so,” she said in a thready whisper.

  Wedding guests flooded the beach, intruding upon their space.

  Reluctantly, he pulled away and took her hand. “Let’s find a quiet spot.”

  He grabbed a blanket from the nearby stack and spread it out a distance from the others. They kicked off their shoes and he welcomed Sadie when she settled between his knees and leaned back against him.

  The fireworks shot from a barge out on the water into the sky, blooming above them. But his mind spun with questions. What had compelled her to kiss him like that after avoiding him all evening?

  She turned and gazed up at him. A boom resounded and the blooming firework cast a golden glow over her features. “Why didn’t you tell me Amanda was the woman who hurt you?”

  Vulnerability rose inside him. His walls went up. Of course he’d known it was possible she might learn about Amanda tonight. But he’d hoped the elephant in the room would remain invisible. However, it wasn’t humiliation from the betrayal that made his heart shrink two sizes.

  He forced himself to voice his fear, but he stared at the sky as he did it, not wanting to see the answer in her expression. “Please tell me that wasn’t a pity kiss.”

  “What?” Sadie turned his face toward hers. Their gazes clung for long seconds. “No.”

  Her affection for him was written all over her. In the way her eyes softened. In the release of a breathy sigh. In the gentle touch of her fingers.

  His heart answered her silent declaration with a convincing tug. Relief flowed through his veins like wine.

  “You’re a wonderful man, Sam. I knew it before today. I admired and respected you, and . . . I cared about you. But what you did for your cousin after what he did to you?” She shook her head. “You’re not just wonderful. You’re remarkable. And I needed to show you how much I believe that.”

  He was glad it was dark so she couldn’t see the heat that no doubt flushed his neck. He looked away.

  She turned his face toward her again, leaned close, and swept her lips across his in the most tender caress. “Don’t be embarrassed. It’s true.” She settled back in his arms, still gazing up at him. “Now, why didn’t you tell me about you and Amanda?”

  He tried to put words to his feelings. “I just . . . I guess I wasn’t ready to talk about it yet. The whole thing was . . . painful and humiliating. I didn’t talk much about it at all. My trust in people took a dive for a while.”

  “No wonder. I can’t even imagine the betrayal you must’ve felt. I’m so sorry you went through that.”

  He understood why she might want answers, but he didn’t want Amanda and Tag inside their private bubble tonight. “Can we table this conversation for a while? A lot has happened this weekend—all of it good—but . . . I just want you all to myself right now.”

  When she stroked his face, every cell came to life. “Of course. Let’s just enjoy the evening.”

  Thirty-One

  Write your couple into a corner—then find a way to get them out.

  —Romance Writing 101

  It wasn’t until the next day that fear struck Sadie. But the bustle of packing and saying goodbyes at the hotel usurped her time and focus. Now she and Sam were alone for the first time this morning.

  He reached across the truck’s cab and took her hand.

  She laced her fingers with his. The merest touch from him made her heart fight its confinement. She cut a glance his way as he turned onto the interstate, heading home.

  In the back seat Rio settled into her new reality with a heavy sigh.

  Sadie’s thoughts turned to the previous evening. They’d sat on the beach, talking and kissing, until long after the smell of fireworks faded from the air. Despite his intentions, he told her about the day he’d found Amanda with his cousin. She ached for him as he shared and marveled at his ability to put the betrayal in the past.

  Later he walked her to her door and sent her to bed with a kiss that kept her tossing and turning all night. She reveled in his kisses. In the intensity of these new feelings.

  But now, reality was setting in. She and Sam could never work out. Their lives were simply too far apart. She could never give up New York, and she could never ask him to leave his family’s business.

  The memory of her parents’ bitter arguments, stony silences, and long separations plagued her. As a child she’d never known what was going to happen next. During the times they got along, she waited anxiously for the other shoe to drop. There was no stability in that. No assurance that all was well or ever would be. Just a constant uneasiness about what would happen next. And what would happen to her if their family eventually splintered apart for good.

  Sam squeezed her hand. “You’re quiet this morning.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

  “I didn’t either. A certain someone was on my mind.”

  She pushed her troubled thoughts aside and returned his flirty glance. “Anyone I know?”

  “Are you trying to cause an accident with that sultry look of yours?”

  “Maybe you’d better keep both those hands on that steering wheel, mister.”

  He shot her a sly grin. “At least you got plenty of romantic inspiration for your book this weekend.”

  “Was that the intention of all those stolen kisses? To inspire me?”

  “Let’s call it a happy by-product. But maybe your writing will come more easily when we get home.”

  “It had better. I don’t have time for writer’s block.” She had gotten inspiration—and in ways she’d never planned or expected. The deadline loomed, the pressure returning with each mile of their trip.

  “You’ll find the words—I know it.” They shared a smile. “But now that we’re alone, maybe we should talk about us. About how we’re feeling. I’ve been sensing some reservation from you this morning.”

  She gazed out the passenger window. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to put words to her thoughts and feelings.

  “Am I wrong?”

  The fluttery feelings and new sensations were overwhelming. The thought of being with Sam was exhilarating and . . .

  Terrifying.

  “I—I guess I’m just concerned about what’s next. I’m uncertain about your expectations.”

  “Fair enough. Let me be clear then—I’d like to be with you, Sadie. I enjoy spending time with you. I’d like to see where this could go.”

  Her heart gave a tight squeeze. She met his gaze. “I’d like that, too, but . . .” She wasn’t sure how to complete the thought.

  “Are you worried I still have feelings for Amanda? Because I don’t. This weekend put that question to rest for me.”

  “I believe you. I’m worried about something else—we live so far from each other. I’ve never dated anyone outside the city.”

  “I understand your reservations. But feelings like this don’t come around every day. At least, not for me they don’t.”

  “Believe me, I know that.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t jump ahead of ourselves. All relationships have obstacles. But when it matters enough, people work through them.”

  She didn’t see how this particular obstacle could be overcome. She wouldn’t leave the city and he’d made it clear his future was in South Carolina.

  She caught his glance and found his gaze warm and full of affection. She drank it in. With a mere look he gave her heart wings. How could she not allow these feelings to develop when they were so very enticing? The magnitude of their pull was impossible to resist.

  And if you let these feelings play out, a seductive voice whispered, wouldn’t that be good for your story?

  She already knew what the first flush of love felt like. But what came next? It could be the most important research she would ever do for her novel.