Half-Hitched. Isabel Sharpe

He let her go. “Make a wish.”

      “Okay, okay.” Sarah thought—took her about half a second to decide—then reached up to the sky and wished with all her might that she might love a man who loved her back. It was all she’d ever wanted. So many people managed it. Her parents. Paul and Ellen. Why not her?

      “Finished?”

      “Yes.”

      “Should I check?”

      Sarah frowned. “Check what?”

      “To see if the six hottest members of the U.S. Navy are waiting naked in your room?”

      She giggled. “That’s not what I wished for.”

      “Then I hope you get whatever it was.” He got to his feet, reached down and pulled her up opposite him as if she weighed nothing. “And I think you need to go to bed.”

      “Yes, Dad.” She didn’t resist when his arms came around her. He was such a good friend. So patient with her, so nonthreatening. Why couldn’t she fall in love with him?

      “Listen to me.”

      “Mmm?” She laid her head on his solid shoulder.

      “You are going to sleep really well tonight.” He started stroking her hair, working the tense muscles at the base of her scalp. “And tomorrow you are going to wake up and realize you’ve put this Derek demon totally to bed.”

      “Okay.” She closed her eyes. As if. She’d be happy if she could think about him without getting wet. And talk to him without getting so flustered and guilty she could barely form words.

      “And.” Joe rocked her back and forth. “You are going to remind yourself that I love you no matter how insane you get, no matter how completely and insufferably annoying, no matter how—”

      “Uh, Joe?” She patted his chest. “Yeah, um, thanks. That’s enough.”

      “No problem.” He squeezed her then took her hand. “Let’s go.”

      “I’m ready.” She followed him across the beach, fumbling for her flashlight. “Hey, who was that girl you were talking to all night? The cute little one.”

      “Carrie?”

      “Yeah. Where’s your flashlight?” She tried to remember seeing him use one, still not having any luck extracting hers from her sweatshirt pocket since it was on the side of the hand Joe was holding.

      “Don’t need one. Just follow me.”

      “Wait, seriously? Through the woods? The path is treacherous and it’s pitch-black. I’ve come here all my life and even I wouldn’t do it.”

      “I have cat eyes.”

      “Joe…” She hung back, still trying for the flashlight, until he tugged her impatiently forward.

      “Just lift your feet so you don’t trip. You’ll be fine.”

      “Okay. But if you kill me I’m suing.” She followed him a few more steps, getting braver as it became apparent he was navigating nicely. “So…what about Carrie?”

      “Nice girl. What do you want to know?”

      “I don’t know.” Her voice came out too high and she had to relax her throat to get it back to normal. “Do you like her?”

      He snorted impatiently. “No, I talked to her all night because she repulsed me.”

      “Okay, okay. Never mind.” Sarah’s giggle felt forced. What was wrong with her, she was so self-absorbed she couldn’t even be happy for her best friend? “I’m glad for you. I hope something comes of it. You deserve someone wonderful.”

      “I think so, too.” He pulled her up unerringly through the trees, finding the path past the blueberry patch and up to the house, supporting her when she stumbled. It was actually kind of mysterious and cool.

      “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Joe.”

      He chuckled and opened the back door for her to go inside. “I hope you never have to find out.”

      She kissed his cheek and crossed through the living room toward the bedroom she shared with Addie, noticing how much calmer and lighter she felt, how much more clear and slow-moving her brain was. Joe was good for her. He always had been. Knew her inside out, tolerated her worst faults and adored her strengths. What more could a woman want?

      Macho alpha sizzle. Daring, adventure, challenge.

      Sarah sighed and used the hall bathroom, then climbed into bed, careful not to disturb Addie.

      Sometimes she thought she must be the most shallow person alive. But if she was deep-down wired to be attracted to guys like Derek, Ethan and Kevin instead of guys like Joe, there wasn’t a single damn thing she could do about it.