A wedding plan for her best friend leads to a rekindled romance for herself! But can Sandra and her ex really get over their past to find true love?
A wedding. The Beach. Romantic Sunsets. Your ex? Sandra Marshall wasn’t prepared to see Wyatt Colburn ever again. And she wasn’t expected the heat in her veins to still be there when he’s this close.
Sandra Marshall might sell her wedding shop, but wants to leave her job with a bang, so she becomes her best friends’s wedding coordinator, but with meddling mother-in-laws, a menagerie of momentary mishaps, and a surprise she never saw coming, the chances of transitioning careers are beginning to waver.
Wyatt can’t wait for his half-sister’s wedding. A cruise boat full of friends and family, fun in the sun, and his young daughter in tow, the occasion is seemingly perfect… or so he thinks.
When he and Sandra reunite, it’s not exactly how he would have hoped. He knows she has every right to hate him, but he can’t help but want to make amends for past mistakes. With so much at stake for the bride-to-be and their unresolved issues on full display, can Wyatt and Sandra work together to make sure the wedding goes smoothly, and hopefully, rekindle their romance in the process?
Buy now to start reading this New Adult romance today where best friends transform into lovers!
Sandra Marshall took off her white Prada sunglasses and assessed the brand-new ship. The cruise ship heading to the Bahamas on a four-day trip that doubled as her best friend and cousin’s wedding facility seemed perfect. If she ever decided to get married, perhaps she should be like her cousin, Jay, and her best friend, Penny, and choose a cruise ship too. Not that she had a boyfriend to worry about this, but her last name, Marshall, often landed her into needless talk. She turned and checked that the bags were being taken care of by the valets. If she lost the bride’s wedding dress or any of the outfits, she’d lose their faith.
Satisfied, Sandy breezed past the line of passengers to board, headed toward the VIP section, and handed over her passport. At least this trip gave her time to think about the buyout and merger of her name with the House of Morgan clothing line—not that she wanted to think about work this weekend. The buyout would leave her with too much free time and not much to fill her days with.
Goosebumps grew on her arm as she stood waiting for the employee to check her in. A warmness grew inside her. She flipped her hair out of the way and saw that the person next to her at the counter with another employee was Wyatt Colburn. The little girl holding his hand and a small dog must be his daughter Charlotte. Not that she’d ever met his daughter officially. She held her breath and looked in her Versace pocketbook, like she had lost something inside.
As her face felt hot, she shoved her sunglasses on to cover her face. Hopefully he didn’t see her.
Then the employee said, “Here is your passport, Miss Marshall. Please take off your sunglasses and look at the camera.”
Her skin felt jumpy as she fiddled with her sunglasses. “Fine.”
“Sandra.”
The gravel of his voice still thrilled her, even if she didn’t want it to. When they were dating, he’d cheated on her and then married the woman. She clutched her glasses tighter and pasted on a huge smile. “Wyatt.”
A little girl with brown curls and brown eyes that matched her father’s tugged on his arm. “Daddy, who’s that?”
“No one, sweetheart.”
Her face heated again as she turned and picked up her boarding pass from the counter. Her smile faltered as she said, “Thank you.”
Her mind repeated what Wyatt said. No one. Right.
Their one summer together had made her want to quit college and follow him anywhere. She’d have joined the Marines to be with him, until she went to see him and another woman named Jessica claimed to be his girlfriend. A year later, Wyatt and Jessica married and had a baby. Sandy lost faith in love, though she often heard whispers from Penny that Wyatt wasn’t happy. Then she’d heard his wife died in a car crash, leaving him a single father.
She straightened her necklace and fluffed her blond hair. The past shouldn’t still haunt her. She was a big girl now, and learned to move on. She’d dated in the years since Wyatt, and thought about her childhood best friend and one-time boyfriend less, but she could never fully get Wyatt out of her head.
Wyatt led his daughter toward the ramp. With her head low, Sandy clutched her bag and followed. Someone took Wyatt and his daughter’s picture with a photo backdrop of the ship. Unlike Sandy’s father, at least Wyatt clearly loved and cared for his own, but then, she always liked that protective part of his spirit. Once they were done, she snuck through without getting her picture taken. As she turned the corner, she almost slammed into Wyatt’s shoulder. She kept her head down and hoped he didn’t see her. However, her phone rang. With one glance, she read it was Penny, who immediately said, “Sandy, where are you?”
It must be nice to marry a man and be in love. Sandy gave up hope for those things for herself, though she kept a smile on a face. Helping with weddings was the next best thing, and maybe what she might as a career do if she sold her bridal shop, if she didn’t design for Victoria in the House of Morgan. She covered her head as Wyatt glanced at her, and right into her eyes. She trembled, though she wished she was stronger, as she wished to disappear into a hole in the ground.
“Almost on board.” She took off her sunglasses. “Why?”
“My mother is driving me crazy.”
Yes. She understood part of her job as the maid of honor and wedding planner was to keep Penny away from Geneva, her mother. Geneva had tried to trick Penny into getting pregnant to force the wedding to happen.
“Ten minutes. There is a line to get on the ship.” Wyatt’s daughter took her hand. Sandy’s heart pumped, and she nearly dropped her cell phone as she looked into his brown eyes again. “Wyatt.”
“Sandra.” He nodded but didn’t stop his daughter. They all walked in step for a second as the line moved slowly.
On the phone, Penny said, “Tell my half-brother I’ll need him.”
She lowered her phone. “Penny’s mom is driving her crazy and she wants your help.”
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
His words were clear and sure. If Sandy’s father or brother spoke about her like that, perhaps she’d have turned out different and stronger.
She smiled as she said, “Did you hear him?”
“Yes,” Penny said. “I’m going to hide in the spa. Find me.”
“Of course.”
Sandy hung up and then took another few steps with Wyatt in line. The silence between them grew more apparent as families and couples whispered when they saw the ship. As they turned the next corner, he said, “You and Penny still talk like high school.”
Startled, she said nothing as they turned the corner. Wyatt added, “It seems like it was practically yesterday, seeing you both drinking coffee and jotting down math for mathletes while in your cheerleader gear. And now she’s marrying Jay.”
In high school, she’d been absolutely in love with him, and he had known it. Before she could say anything, his daughter swung their hands in the air as she said, “Dad, did you know this lady when you were in school?”
“Yes.” Wyatt dropped down to one knee. “Charlotte, this is Sandra. Sandra is your aunt Penny’s best friend. We were all in the math league together. I didn’t think she’d want me to speak to her, though.”
“I’d like for us to talk again. It would be nice.” Sandy surveyed the girl. No one in Wyatt’s family had those wild curls his daughter had. Sandy nodded. “Nice to meet you.”
“You’re very pretty.” Charlotte curtsied.
“Who’s this?”
“This is my dog, Candy Cane.”
“She’s her emotional support animal,” Wyatt added.
Charlotte hugged the terrier with a big, toothy grin. Clearly she had her father’s charm. Wyatt stood, and they walked a few feet. Sandy’s heart melted as she winked. “So are you.”
Charlotte squeezed her hand. “Do you have a husband?”
Jitters rushed through her as she fumbled to put her sunglasses into her bag. Wyatt should know this question sent her into anxiety. “No. Why?”
Good. Her words were clear. At least she hadn’t dropped her pocketbook.
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. “A boyfriend?”
Sandy broke up with her last boyfriend a year ago. It hadn’t been that long, but Sandy couldn’t quite picture him or remember his name with Wyatt standing so close. Caleb? Colin? No. Charles. She fidgeted with her bag. “Not at the moment. I’ve been dealing with my business. I haven’t had the time.”
“Dad, I think she’s perfect.” Charlotte tugged their hands closer together as she held on to both of them.
Wyatt’s face darkened as he led them up the ramp. “No, Charlotte.”
Sandy glanced at the ship they were about to enter, once the people in front passed security. Then she stared at Wyatt as they stepped forward. Something was going on. She curled her free hand to her side as she asked, “No what?”
“My dad needs a wife.”
Sandy clutched her pendant. “What?”
“Grandpa said it would keep me safe.”
Those words clearly weren’t Charlotte’s. She stared at Wyatt, whose cheeks were red. “Charlotte”—he massaged his chin—”let’s not tell Sandra everything.”
Charlotte shook her head and said, “My dad is staring at you, a lot. You should marry him!”
Wyatt’s cheeks turned red. “Stop. We’re here for your aunt’s wedding to Sandra’s cousin.”
Sandy’s heart was still racing. If Wyatt looked at her in any special way, then maybe he regretted how they broke up years ago. The whisper in her heart had to be wrong, that there might ever be anything else. He’d cheated on her, and Charlotte was the evidence.
Charlotte had no idea of Sandy’s dark thoughts as she said, “Jay’s your cousin? I don’t have any cousins.”
“Family is always good.” Charlotte let her hand go. Their handholding must be done. Wyatt led Charlotte to slide her identity card through the machine and helped her pass security. Sandy followed behind them. Once all three of them were through, Wyatt said, “Charlotte, we’re on board. Say goodbye to Sandra so we can get to our room.”
“Bye,” Charlotte said with a huge smile, leading her dog. “I’d like you for a new mom.”
Sandy stared after the girl and her father. Other passengers brushed past her, but she didn’t move. She should never speak to Wyatt, but if he asked her to marry her, then it might be a chance to prove to herself and everyone else that she could lead a normal life.