Free The Wedding Wish (Summer Grooms Series) by Ginny Baird Page A

that’s what Isabel
would want.”
    Kip swallowed hard, thinking of the speech he’d given to
Trudy’s father. A speech not so different from this one, delivered to a man who
couldn’t stand the sight of him and abhorred the thought of someone as lowly as
a construction foreman marrying his only daughter. It had taken Brad years to
accept him. Even after Kip had started his own business and bought Trudy the
big house, Brad wouldn’t stop by to visit. It was only after Isabel was born
that Brad had finally started to soften. Isabel, Kip saw, could melt the heart
of any man. Including this one standing before him here.
    “You really do love her, don’t you, boy?”
    “With my whole heart.”
    Kip perused him a beat, his own heart telling him the truth.
His Isabel loved Robert too. “Then do your best not to muck it up.”
    “Sir?” Robert asked in surprise.
    “The proposal.”

 
    A few days later, Robert called to ask Isabel on a special
date. What was special about it was that he wouldn’t tell her where they were
going. He’d also been less than forthright about the discussion he’d had with
her father. Trudy hadn’t been able to get a word out of Kip either. In a
strange way, it was as if the two men had formed a pact. Isabel and her mom
hadn’t even realized men could be that way. So
sneaky. Something was up for sure. But, whatever it was, it couldn’t spell
gloom and doom. Her dad seemed far too chipper as of late. And why on earth was
he sorting his CDs in a way to single out dancing music?
    Robert held back the door as Isabel stepped into the car. “Your
carriage awaits.”
    She eyed him curiously as he skirted around the car and took
his own place in the driver seat. “Still won’t say where we’re going?” she
asked when he took his seat beside her.
    “On a picnic.” He beamed, patting the basket in the
backseat. It was late in the day, and the sun was just setting.
    “On the beach?” she asked, hopeful.
    “Better.”
    After a bit, Isabel realized they were driving north, headed
toward her old neighborhood.
    “Robert?” she asked uncertainly. “Don’t tell me this is a
double date with my parents.”
    “Nope, sweetheart.” He winked, and her tailbone tingled. “This
night was meant for you and me.”
    Soon they were through the gate to her old neighborhood, and
Isabel understood. Robert was taking her to his favorite place. That spot
overlooking the valley where he used to go as a kid.
    “My lady,” he said, opening her door and helping her out of
the car.
    “You’re being awfully chivalrous tonight,” she said, arching
an eyebrow.
    He opened the back door of the car and pulled out the picnic
basket. “That’s because I’m out with a princess.”
    “Let’s see…” she said, flirting. “That would make you…a
prince?”
    “Don’t make me get out my sword and show it to you.”
    “Robert!” she said with a laugh, but her heart was light.
    “Come on.” He took her hand. “The sun’s just going down.”
    She let him lead her up the winding path that snaked through
falling shadows. This was so romantic, just the two of them stealing away. Even
though it was in her old neighborhood, she couldn’t help but feel a bit
reckless. Like she was sneaking off in the night with some forbidden guy. They
climbed up on that old, flat-topped rock with the magnificent view of the city,
even more majestic now with the sky streaking purple and grenadine.
    “I hope this is all right?” he asked her.
    “It’s perfect.” She helped him spread the blanket, then took
a seat.
    “Hungry?” he asked, settling down beside her.
    “A little.”
    He rummaged in the basket and handed her half a baguette.
    “What’s this?”
    “Cheese sandwich.”
    Isabel laughed at the memory. As kids, that was what they threatened
to pack when the two of them ran away. They often made plans to run away
together, but Isabel never truly thought it would come to pass. “This is pretty
elegant