The Player (Broken Wishes Series Book 3)

by Joanne Sexton

  A giggle erupted from Isabelle and if Mitch hadn’t been so angry, he would’ve sent her a smile in an instant.

  “I don’t have to take this from you or anyone! I was hired to shoot this bimbo a certain way and she doesn’t get it. I don’t have to listen to this! Get off my set!”

  “Look, Mate,” Mitch said, stepping up to him. “You’re the one who has no clue.”

  “I refuse to be insulted by you. I’m leaving. You can explain to the client why the job wasn’t finished.”

  Without saying another word, he packed away his gear and left.

  “I have my camera in the car,” Mitch said to Isabelle. “Wait here and we’ll get this job done right.”

  When Mitch strode onto the set with fire in his eyes, Isabelle froze. She couldn’t believe he was here and standing up to this jerk in her defense. What was he doing here?

  She watched the exchange in surprise and when Mitch went to retrieve his camera, she stood waiting in shock. After setting up in record time, he walked over to her and her breath caught. Her heart beat so hard she thought it would push its way right out of her chest. Don’t get your hopes up, Isabelle.

  “Are you okay?” he asked her in the gentle tone that turned her blood to liquid fire. She nodded and stared at the man she loved. It was so wonderful to see his face again instead of in her dreams and imagination. “Good.” He grinned. “Let’s get this in the bag so we can talk, all right?” She nodded again. Her ability to speak appeared to have disappeared. “Okay, babe, you know what to do.”

  Mitch disappeared behind his camera and she snapped herself back to the present, and focused. Without words needing to be exchanged, they completed the shoot without a hitch. While Isabelle changed, Mitch packed away his equipment.

  Isabelle located Adele, who removed her make-up wearing a secretive smile. It appeared they were going to work things out and Adele felt she’d redeemed her mistake. The electricity buzzing between Mitch and Isabelle was palpable and there was no doubt they were still in love with each other. As Isabelle went to leave Adele touched her arm.

  “I’m truly sorry about the trouble I caused. I hope everything works out for you.”

  Suddenly it hit her, Isabelle knew how Mitch came to be there. It was no coincidence, he was here for her. Adele had brought Mitch to her. A grateful smile tugged at her lips.

  “You’re forgiven. Thank you.”

  Adele nodded and they exchanged a brief hug before Isabelle went to find the man she loved.

  A beaming Mitch waited for her when she emerged and sudden shyness overcame her. All rational thought and words became lost.

  “You look beautiful, Izzy. I’ve missed you so much.” He bridged the gap between them in one easy stride. “Why did you leave?” He asked as his hand came up to caress her hair.

  “Because you asked me to.”

  “I was hurt and angry and at the time I said it I thought I meant it. When I woke up and found you gone…”

  “It hurt too much. I couldn’t stay if you didn’t love me. I… you…”

  Her words were stolen by his lips crushing hers. All the angst and heartache from the past weeks passed from his mouth to hers. Hands became a blur as his caressed her hair, and hers gripped his shoulders. Pulling back to gaze at her, he brought his hands back to cup her face.

  “Izzy, I love you so much. I want you to come home so we can be a family.”

  “Oh, Mitch,” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck and bringing his lips back to hers. “I love you too,” she said between kisses.

  After collecting Carol, Jesse and their belongings, they headed back to the house that was to become their home. Mitch helped them unpack before Carol discreetly took Jesse to the beach.

  They stood staring at each other in the hallway, drinking in every inch of the other. Isabelle leant against the wall while Mitch stood before her, his blue eyes filled with desire and love. They waited endless minutes to ensure the coast was clear, both anxious to love each other again.

  “Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed you?” he asked in a deep husk filled tone.

  “Probably as much as I missed you.”

  In an instant his lips sought hers again, his body pressed against her, pinning her to the wall. Frantically she tugged at his t-shirt and was rewarded with smooth skin, which she relished with her hands. As he kissed her neck and whispered endearments into her ear, he removed her shirt.

  He followed the trail of kisses across the curve of her clavicle and down her body. The rest of her clothes disappeared in a flurry of movement and his lips came to rest on her inner thigh, where he teased for the briefest of moment. Her moan resonated through the house as he brought her to a swift climax with his tongue. He weaved his way back up her torso with heat filled kisses as the rest of his clothes were discarded.

  As he brought his lips back to her neck, he lifted her legs to surrounding his waist and plunged inside her. She gripped his shoulders and he could feel her nails dig into his flesh as they both reached their sweet relief swiftly. Holding her up by her legs, he carried her to what would now become their room. They were both too breathless to speak. Mitch shut the door with his foot before easing her onto the bed and lying beside her.

  “Now that was worth the wait,” he said lazily, running his fingers over her silky skin.

  “Oh, but I’m not done with you yet, Montgomery,” she said as she sat astride him.

  Late in the afternoon they awoke from a sated slumber, neither of them in a hurry to unwrap their entwined limbs.

  “Isabelle,” he said in the serious tone she’d rarely heard him use. “Don’t ever leave me, babe. I don’t think I could live through that again.”

  “Me neither.” She smiled. “Now, no more talking.”

  They made love again slowly, savoring every moment, their eyes locked together in love.

  Epilogue

  Isabelle looked into the full length mirror with a happy smile.

  Today she was getting married and she couldn’t have been more excited. Her champagne colored satin dress with a pink silky overlay was strapless, with a fitted bodice and a layered, billowing, ruffled skirt that finished at her knees. Her feet were bare, and her hair curled and pinned up to flow down her neck. There were pink frangipanis in her hair and her bouquet. She and Mitch were to be married on the beach at sunset and she was almost ready for the walk down the path to the sand.

  “You look absolutely stunning, Isabelle,” Charlotte gushed.

  “Thanks, Charlotte.” She beamed again.

  “I would love to stay and chat, but if I want to make it down there before you begin, then I best get waddling.”

  Charlotte struggled off the bed with her nine-month pregnant belly. She was due any day now.

  “I’ll help you.” Chelsea offered her arm, which Charlotte gratefully accepted. “You look beautiful, Isabelle. See you soon.”

  “Thanks, Chelsea.”

  She smiled as Chelsea helped the waddling Charlotte down to the beach. They had decided against attendees aside from Jesse, and both Mitch and Jesse would be waiting anxiously for her arrival, along with her brother Anthony. Isabelle and Carol were taking the walk to the beach together.

  “Oh, honey,” Carol sighed with tears in her eyes. She took Isabelle’s hands in hers. “You look lovely. I’m so happy for you and Jesse.”

  “Me too, but I’m still a little sad that you won’t be staying here with us.”

  “Honey, I have wanted to travel and live on my own for a long time- no offense- so I’m looking forward to my own company for now.”

  Carol had found a small apartment to rent, which she would move into after she had fulfilled her dream of visiting Italy and France. She would be gone for a month and Isabelle was going to miss having her around. She knew though, it was time for them to lead their own lives for a while. Carol deserved her freedom; it had been a long time since she’d had any.

  Twelve months had gone by to the day since they
started living together as a family. Six months prior, Mitch had proposed to her on a moonlight walk on the beach, thus the reason they decided on a ceremony on the sand.

  Isabelle had given up modelling as originally planned and completed her degree. When they returned from their honeymoon in Tahiti, Isabelle would begin teaching at the primary school nearby.

  Mitch, having had his muse return to him, was inspired and a new exhibit was planned at the same gallery. Opening night would be on the weekend after they returned, consisting of mainly artistic portraits. Using Isabelle, Charlotte, Carrie and Chelsea as his models, they were creative and striking. Isabelle was very proud of her husband to be.

  Anthony and Isabelle had stayed in touch and meet at least once a fortnight to catch-up and they had become close over the last year.

  “Are you ready, honey?” Carol asked her.

  “Absolutely.”

  They walked down together, arm in arm, where Mitch and Jesse were waiting for her. They both wore open necked summer shirts and black dress shorts. Isabelle and Mitch beamed at each other as they stood holding hands.

  Once their vowels had been exchanged and they’d kissed while the sun set, they heard a voice from the small group gathered for the ceremony.

  “Oh, I think my water just broke.”

  They turned to see Jared, in his very serious manner, shuffle Charlotte off to the car.

  After the wedding they were all waiting at the hospital for news of the arrival of the newest Montgomery member. Hours later Jared rushed out to the waiting room with unrestrained happiness.

  “Charlotte is doing great and we have a son- Ethan!”

  Everybody was overjoyed with the happy news. Isabelle and Mitch looked at each other in anticipation of their life together and the prospect of them bringing their own Montgomery into the world in the future.

  The End

  About the Author

  Joanne Sexton is an Australian romance writer and mother of two. When she isn't writing, Jo enjoys reading and floristry. She also runs her own small bookkeeping business.

  Joanne previously wrote under the name Joanne Ellis. Rich Girl (formally known as Spoilt under Joanne Ellis) held the No. 1 position on Amazon's Bestselling list in US and No.2 in the UK

  https://www.facebook.com/josextonwritesromance

  Twitter: @jowritesromance

  http://www.josextonbooks.com/

  Amazon Author Page

  Broken Wishes Series – Romantic Suspense

  Hudson

  Rich Girl

  Twisted Fire – Feb

  The Player – March

  The Rookie – April

  Surfer Girl – May

  Fly Boy – June

  Charlottesville – Historical Romance

  Control – Romantic Suspense

  Renegades – Dystopian Romance

  The Dragon’s Mate (short story) – Fantasy Romance

  Sinful Seasons Collection

  Taming Toby – Summer Envy

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  The Afterworld – Spring Gluttony

  Cowboy Daze – Autumn Lust

  Cold As Ice – Winter Pride

  Morning Glory – Summer Greed

  Caught in the Rain: Winter Sloth

  Rear-view Mirror: Spring Wrath