When Wishes Collide (30 page)

He tilted his head, his gaze narrowing. "Why the hesitation?"

"I'm worried this is too good to be true."

"It's not, Adrianna. We have both been through the fire, and we survived." He paused. "But I told you I wanted to be ready, and maybe you're not there yet. It hasn't been that long since Will died."

She cut him off with a shake of her head. "This isn't about Will."

"Are you sure? You were grieving when we first met."

"I love Will as a friend, but I was never in love with him. I wanted to be, but I wasn't. I've gotten past that."

"I'm glad. So go on a date with me."

She laughed. "Okay, I will go on a date with you." She pressed her fingers against his chest and kissed him.
 

He groaned against her lips. "Damn. You taste good, and it's been too long. You don't know how much I want to take you away right now."

She smiled. "Do you have someone who can watch Stephanie on Sunday?"

"My parents can't wait to have her spend the night with them, and it is Christmas vacation," he added, with a wicked smile.
 

A shiver shot down her spine, and she really wished that Sunday wasn't three days away.
 

Wyatt stole another kiss and said, "Were you about to make a wish?"

"Yes, I thought it was time to finally throw my coin into the fountain."

"That's the same quarter?"

She nodded. "I've been holding on to it for a long time, waiting to make just the right wish, but now I don’t need to throw it in the fountain. Because I was going to wish for you, and here you are."

"And I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm so glad."

He kissed her again and then said. "Did Lindsay tell you she invited us to Christmas lunch at the restaurant?"

"That little matchmaker," she said with a smile. "I should have seen that coming."

"She told me I should get off my ass before you found someone else."

"There was never going to be anyone else." She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him. "By the way -- I love you, too."

June …

Adrianna pulled back the curtain covering the upstairs bedroom window at Wyatt's parents' house and glanced out the window. A dozen folding chairs had been placed on the grass in front of a gazebo, which was decorated with a multitude of colorful flowers. It was the perfect place for a wedding – her wedding.

Eleven months earlier, she'd met the man of her dreams, and now she was going to marry him. And she wasn't just getting a husband, but a little girl, an exuberant puppy, and a family who overwhelmed her with love. She'd come a very long way from her lonely teenage days where she'd had no one to count on but herself.

As she watched the crowd milling about below, she saw Stephanie in her pretty pink dress chasing the puppy around the yard with Sara and Ben. All the kids were doing well now. Becky continued to work at the restaurant and was making enough money to rent a small apartment. They'd become good friends over the past year. Adrianna hoped it would stay that way. She'd come to realize that her past made her the perfect person to reach out to those in need. She'd been so busy trying to outrun the insecure, scared child she'd once been, that she hadn't seen the opportunity to use what she'd learned and help other people. Now, it was very clear. And a lot of that was due to Wyatt.

The man had quite simply become her everything -- her best friend and her lover -- and soon to be her husband.

She let the curtain drop as Lindsay entered the room with two glasses of champagne.

"Almost time," Lindsay said with a big smile. "Are you nervous?"

"Surprisingly, no," she said.

"That's because you're doing the right thing." She handed Adrianna a glass. "To you – and your happiness."

They clinked glasses, and she took a sip of the bubbly liquid.
 

"Hey, drink up," Lindsay said.

"I can't," she told her.
 

Confusion and then awareness flashed in Lindsay's eyes. "Oh, my God, are you?"

She nodded. "I am."

Lindsay grabbed her glass and set it down on the table alongside hers and gave Adrianna a hug. "Congratulations."

"Thanks, no one else knows."

"Not even Wyatt?"

She shook her head. "I'm going to tell him tonight."

"He may love you even more – if that's possible," she said dryly.

"I hope so," she said with a mischievous smile. "He's very good at the love stuff."

"Now, you're going to tell me about your sex life? So I can be even more jealous of you?"

"Your time will come."

"I'm not worried. Unlike you, I'm still enjoying my single life."

As Lindsay finished speaking, the door opened again, and Summer entered with Stephanie. Summer wore a dark pink bridesmaid gown that coordinated well with Stephanie's pink flower-girl dress.

"Are you ready?" Adrianna asked Stephanie.

"Yes," Stephanie said, holding up her basket of petals. "Grandma showed me how to throw them."

"I'm sure you'll do a great job," she said.

"Adrianna," Stephanie said slowly.

She saw the nervousness in Steph's eyes and offered a smile. "Everything okay?"

"Do you want me to call you,
Mom
?"
 

Adrianna's breath caught in her chest. Jen was still in jail, but she and Stephanie continued to correspond with Wyatt's blessing. Jen had shown some remorse for what she'd done, but Adrianna doubted they would ever be able to completely trust her. But nothing would ever change the fact that she was Stephanie's mother and always would be.

"You can call me whatever you want," she said. "Adrianna is fine."

"Okay," she said with relief. "I'm glad you're marrying Daddy. He really likes you."

The other women laughed at Stephanie's innocent words.

"I like him, too," she told her.

"I think it's time for us to go," Summer said.

Lindsay handed her the bouquet, and they made their way down the stairs and out to the yard. When they reached the back deck, the music began to play, and Stephanie, Summer and finally Lindsay made their way down the short aisle.

Adrianna stood alone, feeling quite comfortable by herself. She had no one to give her away, but that was all right. Because she was giving herself away – to the man she loved.

As she started her walk, her gaze locked with Wyatt's, and she saw in his expression the promise of a lifetime of love. She had never been more certain of the path she was taking.

When she reached his side, they joined hands. He looked down at her and said, "I love you."

"I love you, too," she said.

The minister interrupted them. "I didn't get to that part yet."

They looked at each other and laughed. Wyatt said, "Sorry, I couldn't wait."

"Me, either," Adrianna said.

"Shall I start now?" the minister asked.

"One second," Adrianna said.

For a split second, Wyatt looked nervous. "Everything okay?"

"I finally threw my coin into the fountain last month, and my wish came true. I'm pregnant, Wyatt. We're having a baby."

A wide grin spread across his lips. "Are you serious?"

"Are you happy?" she countered

"Happier than I've ever been in my life. I'm never letting you go, Adrianna. I will fight for you and support you and love you every day of my life. I promise you that."

Her eyes blurred with tears. "And I'll do the same."

"I don't think you two need me at all," the minister joked.

"We just need each other," she said.

Wyatt sealed her words with a kiss.
 

THE END

If you enjoyed, WHEN WISHES COLLIDE, don't miss the first two books in the WISH SERIES, A SECRET WISH and JUST A WISH AWAY, now available.
 

Continue reading for an excerpt from JUST A WISH AWAY …

@Copyright 2012 – Barbara Freethy

All Rights Reserved

Prologue

Fifteen years earlier …

"Race you to Dragon Rock," Braden Elliott challenged.

Twelve-year-old Alexa Parker barely heard him. Her attention was focused on the pile of pebbles and shells that had washed ashore. She was looking for tiny shards of sea glass or mermaid tears, as the locals called them. The Sand Harbor Beach on the coast of Washington State was known for the glass that the sea tossed up after years of being tumbled and turned by the waves and the salt water, finally landing on the sand as beautiful, colorful gems. When she grew up, she wanted to become a glassmaker, turn all those broken pieces into something amazing.

"Come on, Alexa," Braden urged.

She looked up at him, her determination wavering as she stared into his beautiful green eyes, that sometimes reminded her of the glass she collected. Braden had grown three inches over the summer, now towering over her at nearly six feet. His brown hair was thick and wavy and messed up by the wind. He was so cute; sometimes she just couldn't stop looking at him.

They'd known each other since they were ten, but this was the first summer she'd looked at him as more than just a friend. In fact, her stomach did a little flip flop every time he smiled at her. She didn't really know what to do about her new feelings. Part of her wanted to say something and the other part of her was just too scared. A couple of her friends had boyfriends, but she wasn't sure she was ready, and she only saw Braden in the summer.

While Braden lived at Sand Harbor year round, she only came for holidays and summers. Every June, she and her mom packed up the car and left Seattle to stay with her Aunt Phoebe at the beach. Her dad would come down on Thursdays and take long weekends in July and August.
 
It was the perfect way to spend the summer.

She'd met some of Braden's Sand Harbor friends over the years, but when she was in town it was mostly just the two of them. They would meet up every morning on their bikes and take off to explore one of the three beaches that dotted the coastline. They'd search for sea glass, fly kites, build sand castles and make up stories about the people who vacationed in the big houses along the bluff. Sand Harbor was a quiet fishing village in the winter, but in summer, the town filled up with tourists and celebrities looking for a summer escape. Every year there seemed to be new houses being built along the bluffs.

"Alexa," Braden said impatiently. "You're daydreaming again."

It was a bad habit of hers, but one that didn't usually make him mad. Braden put his hands in the pockets of his jeans and stared out to sea, and she realized Braden's bad mood was more about his dad than about her. Braden's father was a soldier in the Army, and he was supposed to have come home by now, but they kept postponing his release date. Now they were talking about Christmas. Braden seemed to grow more worried with each passing day, and she knew that deep down he was afraid that his dad would never come home.

Wanting to cheer him up, she got to her feet. "Okay, I'll race you," she said. Making Braden smile again seemed more important than finding glass to add to her collection.

Her words did make him smile and no wonder. Braden loved action, running, biking, hiking. He hated to stand still.

She tossed the few pieces of glass she had collected into her backpack.

"I'll carry it for you," Braden said, taking the pack out of her hands. "I don't want you to say the backpack slowed you down."

"Fine." Braden would beat her whether she was carrying anything or not. She couldn't keep up with his long legs.

"And I'll give you a head start," he added.

She didn't bother to say thanks, just took off down the beach. She didn't like to run as much as Braden did, but there were times like this afternoon when it felt good to have the wind in her hair and the sun on her face. She was going to miss summer, and she was going to miss Braden.

Moisture filled her eyes. She hadn’t told him yet about the change in plans. She hadn't wanted to ruin the day, but as the sun sank down to meet the sea she knew she was almost out of time.

Braden passed her, his stride long and easy, as if he wasn't making any effort at all, and he probably wasn't. He was a born athlete.

By the time she got to the rock that looked like a dragon, Braden was sprawled on the sand, a satisfied smile on his face.

She flopped down, breathless, her cheeks warm from the sun and the run.

Braden gazed at her with an odd expression in his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat.

He looked like he wanted to kiss her
.

Surprise and nervousness flared. She'd never kissed a boy, but she wanted to kiss Braden. She just didn't know how to get from where she was to where he was. There had to be at least three feet between them.