Beauty and the Beach Read Free Page A

here. You guys answer the door and then call me like I’m still getting ready or something. Then I’ll come out in a few minutes, okay?”
    “All right.” With one last concerned look at the necklace, Isabelle moved down the short hall and into the living room. She did a quick check to make sure the apartment looked presentable. It did. They might still be renting after all these years, and many of their possessions came from thrift stores, but things had been looking up for them for a while now. She’d managed to add a few nice touches: nice furniture, throw pillows, family photos, and decorations. Their place was pretty and homey. She stood behind Dad as he opened the front door.
    “Hello, you must be Daniel.” As always her father had impeccable manners, a trait that made him a good salesman, and even when he used to be drunk all the time, he’d never quite lost his charm.
    “Yes, sir.” The boy, blond, buff, and a little on the pretty side, was all smiles. “Is Courtney ready yet?”
    “Izzy, will you go tell Courtney her date is here? Come on in, Daniel. Tell me about yourself.”
    Izzy headed down the hall and knocked lightly on the door. Her sister opened it and waved her inside, her eyes sparkling. “Do you think I’ve waited long enough?”
    Isabelle smiled at her sister’s dramatics. “Yes.”
    “Okay. How do I look?”
    “Gorgeous.”
    “What did you think of Daniel?”
    “He’s a cutie.”
    “He is, isn’t he?” Courtney took a breath. “Okay, let’s do this.”
    Isabelle followed behind Courtney as she made her grand entrance and watched the two kids greet each other, exchange the corsage for the boutonniere, then pose for the pictures Dad took. They looked beautiful and carefree and, after they left, Isabelle finally acknowledged that, until they returned with the necklace intact, she wasn’t going to be able to completely relax.
    “Do you want to watch a movie?” she asked her father.
    “Sure. Erin’s coming over soon. Is Hondo okay?”
    Isabelle chuckled. She would have preferred a romance, but Erin and Dad both loved western movies and anything starring John Wayne made the top of the list. “Sounds good.” At this point, anything that would take her mind off the necklace was a good thing.
     
    ~~~
     
    Isabelle yawned and glanced at the clock as Erin plucked a card from the pile, then discarded another. “Don’t worry, it’s almost midnight. She’ll be home soon enough.”
    Isabelle grinned sheepishly as she took her turn. “That obvious, huh?”
    Dad reached for the discard. “She can’t help it. She’s always been a mother hen with Courtney.”
    Erin shot Dad a pointed look. “She’s had to be, hasn’t she, Stephen?”
    Brows furrowing, Dad glanced at Isabelle. “You’ve got me there.”
    As the two continued to banter, Erin never letting Dad get away with anything, Isabelle bit back a smile. When Courtney went off to school, and Isabelle left home, Dad would be just fine. It wouldn’t surprise her if he and Erin married soon. It was working out for everyone and she couldn’t be happier.
    Isabelle’s thoughts turned to Adam, the guy who’d asked her out twice now. His persistence, and the way he’d looked at her, was flattering to say the least. Her friends at the hospital were wrong about her. She’d dated. She’d simply stopped when it had become too complicated. Men tended to take up a lot of time and energy, commodities that had been in short supply when she’d been working, going to school, and spending time with Courtney.
    But now? Again she thought of the way Adam had looked at her this afternoon, and felt warmth blossoming in her chest. He’d been awfully quick to ask if he could help her move, obviously trying to insinuate himself into her good graces, and into her life. Who knew what could happen between them? One thing was for sure, based on the way she felt whenever she spoke to him, she was ready to find out.
    She heard muffled voices coming