Cape Cod Promises: Love on Rockwell Island Read Online Free PDF Page B

marriage?
    “Actually,” Shelley said, “Quinn was just saying yesterday how much he thinks Trent has changed since coming back to the island. He thinks maybe it’s because he’s watched our relationship develop and finally started to realize everything he gave up by being a workahol—” She suddenly stopped speaking, as if she’d just realized that she might have waded too deep into things. “I’m sorry, Reese. I don’t mean to stir things up for you. Sometimes I talk too much, especially when the drinks are flowing.”
    “Don’t worry,” Reese said as she picked up her own glass, “things were already stirring before any of us got together tonight.”
    But for how long? Had they been stirring only since last night, when she’d run into Trent again? Or was the truth—a truth she didn’t want to face—that they’d been stirring for far longer than that? Say, ten years or so.
    Plus, even though a part of her wanted to believe that he was learning to relax and enjoy life in a way he’d never let himself when he was practicing law in the city, she simply couldn’t believe it was true. Because if it was true, then what could have possibly been a strong enough force to make him change his approach to life?
    Lord knew her love hadn’t been anywhere near strong enough...
    Darn it. She’d come here tonight to have fun with the girls, not fall deeper into her Do I still foolishly love Trent Rockwell? hole. But before she could change the subject, Jocelyn nodded toward the front window.
    Trent and his brothers were walking into the restaurant. When they entered, Reese’s ability to think evaporated with the night breeze that followed them inside.

Chapter Five
    THE HIDEAWAY WAS supposed to be the perfect place for forgetting about Reese for an hour or two while hanging out with his brothers. But the moment Trent walked in and saw Reese sitting with Sierra, Shelley, Annabelle, and Jocelyn, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the woman he still loved.
    The amber-colored blouse she wore set off her wide, surprised eyes, and her hair was loose and carefree, the way Trent had always loved. The din of the restaurant fell away, and all that remained was the pulse of energy blazing a path between them.
    “Go on.” Derek gave Trent a gentle nudge.
    Reese was watching Trent with the same mix of confusion and interest as she had last night, while he was hit with such longing for the woman he’d once called his own that he wasn’t sure he could handle a single drink.
    “What are you doing here?” Shelley asked, clearly thrilled to see Quinn as she rose to kiss him.
    “Kissing my girl.”
    “Hey, guys.” Sierra smiled up at them rather than asking why they were crashing her girls’ night. “Pull up a seat.”
    Trent tore his eyes from Reese long enough to catch a glance between Sierra and Quinn that he couldn’t read. Had Quinn known they were going to be here? Had he and Sierra planned this to try to push him and Reese back together?
    But by the way his brother pulled up a chair beside Shelley, draped an arm over her shoulder, and whispered something in her ear that made her flush, Trent figured it was far more likely that Quinn simply couldn’t stand to be apart from Shelley—rather than that he was setting his hand at matchmaking. The guy was so damn happy it was sickening. Great for Quinn and Shelley, but nauseating all the same.
    Ethan and Derek pulled up chairs from another table and sat beside Jocelyn and Annabelle, leaving only the space beside Reese for Trent. As he reached for an empty chair from the table behind Reese, he couldn’t help but wonder about his siblings again. They’d never done any matchmaking before. And yet...
    “Do you mind if I join you?” he asked Reese.
    Though she shook her head, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. He could see the pulse beating fast at her throat—and when their eyes met, the breath caught in his throat.
    It had been ages since he’d seen that look in