Page 5 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

“It’s me, Isabella Noveas.” She introduced herself using her maiden name.

Nova’s eyes widened. “Oh my goodness. It’s so great to see you. Are you just in town for the wedding?”

“Yes—well, at least for now. I’m moving back in a couple months with my son, Eli.”

“Wow, how many years has it been?” Nova asked.

“Twelve or so.”

“You look great. I heard you got married and moved out west.”

Isabella nodded. “Yes, Colorado actually.”

The door opened and a frazzled-looking server leaned in, relief painting her face as soon as she spotted Nova. “We can’t find the extra champagne.”

“I’ll show you where we keep it,” Nova answered before turning back to Isabella. “I’d love to catch up once you’re in town for good.”

“Me too,” Isabella agreed, following the two women out of the bathroom into the soft-lit tent. She pointedly avoided gazing at the bar, focusing instead at the couples dancing and laughing through the tent to the night beyond. Tessa and Roy weren’t dancing anymore, and their seats were empty. Had they left? She steered towards the back of the tent, walking out to the darkness. Nova chatted animatedly with one of the servers on the corner. It would be good for her to have a friend here. What had little Nova Emerson been up to since Isabella had been gone?

Hopefully, her life had been easier than Isabella’s.

Isabella gave one more scan of the room for her friends, but it seemed she was alone. Good for Tessa.

“Do you want another?” The bartender’s voice drew her attention back to the handsome stranger shaking his head.

What was I thinking asking him out?

Isabella turned and headed out of the back of the tent into the night. Her head tipped towards the sky lit up by a million stars. She moved farther from the tent, letting the cool spring air compete with the heat of humiliation still scalding her cheeks. Her heels sunk into the wet long grass, and the voices of the guests blurred with the peeping sound of the frogs.

“At least I took a chance. I tried, Robert,” Isabella whispered, continuing to walk down a path by the fence posts. Her heartbeat returned to normal.

A tiny meow drew her attention to the ground ahead of her. She narrowed her eyes in search of the noise. Another little meow sounded just ahead. She bent low to find a little kitten writhing on the ground. A piece of white string highlighted by the moonlight was wrapped around its paw.

“Are you stuck, sweetheart?” Isabella reached out carefully to grab the kitten and find the knot. “How did you get so twisted up in this, huh?”

After a little maneuvering, the kitten was freed. She tucked it against her chest and petted it while it meowed and nuzzled against her.

“You’re welcome.” She set it down and the little black thing scampered off into the tall grass.

“You still want to get out of here?” the deep bass from behind her asked.

Isabella jumped and spun around, her hand on her heart. The mystery man from the bar stood with his hands in his pockets just a few feet away. How had she not heard him approach? He was stealthy for a lumberjack of a man, and God, so much taller than she’d thought. She searched the area around them, gauging how far away everyone else was. Would anyone be able to hear what they were talking about?

“What did you have in mind?” Her voice was all breath.

For the first time, his lips parted, curving up into a smile so sexy it was almost sinister. “Ever been fishin’ on the ocean?”

Isabella blinked. That had honestly been the last thing she’d expected to come out of his mouth. But somehow, it fit her mystery man—unexpected and a little bit risky.

“I got rods we can use,” he continued.

Was he . . . was that a euphemism? Was that how dating went nowadays?

“Rods?”

“And a boat at the marina.”

He was serious. He wanted to take her fishing? She must be more rusty than she’d thought if he’d confused her offer for a midnight fishing trip.

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