Stepping Into Tomorrow: A Grumpy Sunshine Romance (Book 1) (The Emerson Family of Shattered Cove Series) by A. M. Kusi

Author:A. M. Kusi [Kusi, A. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Our Peaceful Family
Published: 2022-08-03T18:30:00+00:00

32

ISABELLA

Sparks drifted into the sky riding billows of grey smoke to the dark heavens from the fire. Stacks of old pallets reaching higher than Isabella’s height flamed in the center of the meadow, giving off enough brightness that she could make out the faces of the people gathered around. Renita and James chatted with the Stone family, Mathew and Tilda. Remy, the Stones’ daughter, and their daughter-in-law, Mia, stood by Isabella, making small talk. The ladies’ husbands kept an eye on the younger kids watching the movie projected onto the side of the barn.

Ariel stayed close to her aunt Nova, sitting on her lap, her hands animatedly moving as Nova acted as translator between her and Eli. Her son sat beside them, attention locked on Ariel’s movements. He tried a few signs of his own.

Roman kept his attention divided between Andre Stone, Mikel Evans, and his daughter. He was always the watchful father when Ariel was around. How did he lose his wife?

Isabella’s skin bristled, her hair standing on end. She shivered, despite the massive heat the fire put out. Turning, she searched the field. Nash stood away from the others, beer in his hand as he stared at her. Flames reflected in his dark gaze. Shadows licked his skin, making him seem more like Hades than the god of the sea. Like gravity, his presence pulled her in. His arms were crossed, the bottle dangling from a few fingers. His expression was hard, his brow furrowed as if he were deep in thought. The urge to run her fingers over the lines and smooth them out like a sculptor, softening the ridges and finding the gentleness, lurched inside her.

“Where’s Lyra?” Mia asked, bringing her attention back to the women beside her.

Remy smiled. “Oh, she’s too cool to hang out with her parents on a Friday night. Sleepover at Jasmine’s. She and Zoey wanted some cousin time.”

“Dios, does it start that early? Ana’s only three, and Matteo, five, but I can’t imagine either one as a teenager.” Mia shook her head.

“It goes faster than you think. At least Phoenix is still seven. He’s a mama’s boy through and through.” Remy nodded towards the little boy running circles around his father.

“I think Lyra might be a little sad she missed this one, though, after I tell her how cute Eli is.” Remy snickered.

Isabella smiled. Oh, boy. Was she ready for crushes? That hadn’t been a bridge she and Eli had crossed yet.

“Speaking of crushes, you should tell Isabella how you got the bad boy of Shattered Cove to turn into such a family man,” Mia motioned between Remy and Mikel.

Remy turned to her husband and beamed, her eyes lighting up with so much affection, it stole Isabella’s breath. “It’s a long story, and not an easy one to hear. We almost didn’t make it. I think we need something a little stronger than cider to go over it.” She lifted her drink and laughed. “You should come to our book club meetings.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.