Forever Hope excerpt
Breakers was a popular bar and grill, but being locals, Hope and Alex were assured a table even without a reservation. The hostess gave Alex a long look before leading them to a front-row table nestled in the sand. On the glass tabletop, a candle glowed in a red glass jar while waves lapped the shore just twenty feet away.
“You want a bottle of wine tonight?” Hope asked.
“Red sounds great.”
She ordered a bottle of Cabernet, and they were quiet as the server poured. Hope raised her glass in a toast before taking a drink of wine, savoring the velvety smoothness. “So you’re planning on hiring someone to install the gates over the passage and not doing it yourself?”
Alex’s brows flew up. “I don’t have a clue how to do that.” Then he grinned. “If you need the gates blown up, I can manage. But we’ll leave construction to an expert.”
“Let’s try not to blow them up. Perhaps you can obtain the keys.”
He watched her over the rim of his glass. “That takes all the fun out of it.”
“I’m sure you can find other ways to have fun.” She sent him a blistering look that he returned with interest. Then they both broke into smiles. “I still can’t believe it!” Hope said. “How are we going to handle all this?”
Alex sobered. “Carefully. And slowly, so we can come up with a good plan.”
“A plan, huh? That reminds me, there’s another minor matter we haven’t had a chance to really discuss yet.”
“Oh? What might that be?” His eyes sparkled in the candlelight.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. What kind of wedding would you like?”
“I’m the groom. I don’t get an opinion.”
“You’re going to make this difficult, aren’t you?”
His eyes softened as a tiny smile rose. “I wanted to give you a little time to think about it, and I’m happy with whatever you want. All I care about is that you show up.”
She set her glass down, laughing. “I think that last sentence is supposed to be my line.”
He took her hand, rubbing his thumb over the ring. “That’s a pretty major promise sitting on your finger right now. You don’t need to worry about me showing up.”
Her heart melted. She was well aware of how he felt about promises. “I know. And I hope you know I feel the same way.”
“I do.” He pulled his hand away as their entrees came and they settled in to eat. “What’s your idea of the perfect wedding?”
“I’ve never been a traditionalist, and I think we’re a little old for a big formal affair anyway,” Hope said. “My perfect wedding would be a small, casual ceremony at sunset on the beach of our resort.”
An enormous smile spread across his face. “That sounds perfect to me.”
“You don’t have your heart set on an underwater ceremony?” she teased. “I’ve heard they’re popular with divers.”
“No, the underwater proposal was good enough for me.” He became serious, sending her a look that went straight to her heart as he tightened his hand around hers. “I can’t imagine anything better than marrying you on the beach at sunset.”
Preorder Forever Hope today!
“You want a bottle of wine tonight?” Hope asked.
“Red sounds great.”
She ordered a bottle of Cabernet, and they were quiet as the server poured. Hope raised her glass in a toast before taking a drink of wine, savoring the velvety smoothness. “So you’re planning on hiring someone to install the gates over the passage and not doing it yourself?”
Alex’s brows flew up. “I don’t have a clue how to do that.” Then he grinned. “If you need the gates blown up, I can manage. But we’ll leave construction to an expert.”
“Let’s try not to blow them up. Perhaps you can obtain the keys.”
He watched her over the rim of his glass. “That takes all the fun out of it.”
“I’m sure you can find other ways to have fun.” She sent him a blistering look that he returned with interest. Then they both broke into smiles. “I still can’t believe it!” Hope said. “How are we going to handle all this?”
Alex sobered. “Carefully. And slowly, so we can come up with a good plan.”
“A plan, huh? That reminds me, there’s another minor matter we haven’t had a chance to really discuss yet.”
“Oh? What might that be?” His eyes sparkled in the candlelight.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. What kind of wedding would you like?”
“I’m the groom. I don’t get an opinion.”
“You’re going to make this difficult, aren’t you?”
His eyes softened as a tiny smile rose. “I wanted to give you a little time to think about it, and I’m happy with whatever you want. All I care about is that you show up.”
She set her glass down, laughing. “I think that last sentence is supposed to be my line.”
He took her hand, rubbing his thumb over the ring. “That’s a pretty major promise sitting on your finger right now. You don’t need to worry about me showing up.”
Her heart melted. She was well aware of how he felt about promises. “I know. And I hope you know I feel the same way.”
“I do.” He pulled his hand away as their entrees came and they settled in to eat. “What’s your idea of the perfect wedding?”
“I’ve never been a traditionalist, and I think we’re a little old for a big formal affair anyway,” Hope said. “My perfect wedding would be a small, casual ceremony at sunset on the beach of our resort.”
An enormous smile spread across his face. “That sounds perfect to me.”
“You don’t have your heart set on an underwater ceremony?” she teased. “I’ve heard they’re popular with divers.”
“No, the underwater proposal was good enough for me.” He became serious, sending her a look that went straight to her heart as he tightened his hand around hers. “I can’t imagine anything better than marrying you on the beach at sunset.”
Preorder Forever Hope today!
Copyright2022 - Erin Brockus
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