The Practically Romantic Groom (Cobble Creek Romance Book 2)
Page 17
* * *
Singing onstage at Cobble Creek’s Independence Day concert was a dream. Of course, Brooke included a rendition of “America the Beautiful” in her set, which was a crowd favorite, but she got nowhere near the same reaction to it as she did when she’d performed “Bet on Us.” She finished the set with “God Bless America” and exited on an adrenaline high. Buoyed up by thunderous applause, butterflies or no, she could get used to this performing thing. But now she was off to spend her favorite night of the year under spectacular fireworks with the man she loved. She felt so lucky.
Shifting through the crowd of performers milling about backstage, Brooke made it through and down the side steps as the last band—another country cover band—started singing one of her favorite Brad Paisley songs about a woman forgetting her purse.
“May I have this dance?”
Brooke recognized Isaac’s voice in the semi-darkness, surprised to find that he’d come to meet her. “What? Here?”
Isaac stepped up, gently guiding one of her hands—enveloped in his—to his chest and wrapping his other hand around the small of her back. “I owe you one, don’t I? I seem to remember losing a bet.”
Breathing in the calming scent of him, she sighed. She laid her head on his shoulder and swayed with him to the music. This feeling was better than she’d ever imagined it would be. “That sounds vaguely familiar,” she whispered into his neck.
“If you lost, I’m pretty sure I did too.” He swayed to the music. “Don’t you think it was more of a tie?”
“You’re a good dancer.” She closed her eyes. She would never be happier than she was here, just the two of them alone together. “I wish I would have gone to prom with you—and I might have, if you had asked.”
Isaac let a couple beats pass before he responded. “I wish I’d asked, because if I had, I never would have let go.”
Even when the music stopped, Isaac continued to dance, and there wasn’t any way Brooke was going to let go.
Until the fireworks started. Poof. Brooke heard the first of the rockets shoot off. A few moment later, the indigo sky filled with a canopy of gold sparkles—a bouquet of shooting stars just for the two of them. Even if she could wish on each of them individually, Brooke would only wish for one thing, one person, and he was right here in her arms.
Sometime during the explosions of the second and third fireworks, Brooke realized Isaac was no longer holding her. She dropped her gaze from the sky to search for Isaac and found him kneeling in front of her, holding something smaller but just as sparkly between his thumb and finger. In the crook of his other arm were the peonies and roses Brooke had excitedly arranged, the fireworks’ colorful glow reflected in the cellophane.
“I may not be the romantic you always dreamed of. I may not have a way with words. But I love you. You are my best friend. I love laughing with you, playing cards with you, even dancing with you. You taught me to love country music and flowers, and I don’t ever want to be without you again. It just makes sense—we make sense. So I have a proposal for you: what if you were my last first kiss as well as my first first kiss? I bet you the rest of my life that we can be blissfully happy together. I’m willing to take that chance; are you?” Isaac’s breath rattled nervously. “Brooke Elizabeth Holt, will you marry me?”
Brooke pulled Isaac up from the ground with both hands and then threw her arms around his neck, kissing him in answer to his question. With fireworks bursting overhead, she poured her heart into that kiss, never wanting to let go. She had found it. True, romantic love. He could call it practical. She could call it romantic. It didn’t matter as long as they called it love.
The Practically Romantic Groom Playlist
I don’t typically have a playlist when I write books, but this one just called for one. If you’re a country music fan, this might interest you. To get into Brooke’s mindset, I found myself listening to country music more than usual, and these were the songs that I felt fit best. While none of the songs fit perfectly, I had a reason behind choosing each. I hope you enjoy my playlist!
“Wanted” by Hunter Hayes
Chapter 2: “I Don’t Dance” by Lee Brice. Also, the song referred to in the chapter is “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band.
Chapter 3: “Homegrown” by Zac Brown Band. In the chapter is a mention of the musical The Music Man.
Chapter 4: “I Do” by Paul Brandt. Another appropriate one would be “Check ‘Yes’ or ‘No’” by George Strait.
Chapter 5: “For the First Time” by Darius Rucker. The chapter referenced Kenny Rogers’s “The Gambler” as well as Buddy Holly, and the composer John Williams with the soundtrack from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Also, Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C# Minor.
Chapter 6: “He Didn’t Have to Be” by Brad Paisley.
Chapter 7: “When You Say Nothing at All” by either Keith Whitley or Alison Krauss. I thought it was interesting that not only did this song fit, but it was sung by both male and female vocalists. This is significant because this is the only chapter where it started off in Isaac’s point of view and then switched partway through to Brooke’s. Songs that might be appropriate for how Gemma feels would be “Words” by Train, “Words I Couldn’t Say” by Rascal Flatts, and “More than Words” by Extreme. Again, The Music Man was referenced.
“It Goes Like This” by Thomas Rhett
Chapter 11: “Somebody Like You” by Keith Urban. The chapter mentions the Eagles.
“Complicated” by Cardyn Dawn Johnson
Chapter 17: “I Can’t Love You Back” by Easton Corbin.
About the Author
When Maria Hoagland is not working at her computer, she can be found combing used furniture stores and remodeling houses with her husband. She loves crunching leaves in the fall, stealing cookie dough from the mixing bowl, and listening to musicals on her phone.
Maria has several published works in the sweet romance and women’s fiction genres. She enjoys hearing from readers and book clubs and can be found online at mariahoagland.com.
For updates on new releases and a free copy of the novella New Year’s Resolutions, sign up for Maria’s newsletter on her website.
The Cobble Creek Series
Thank you for reading The Practically Romantic Groom. There are two more Cobble Creek Romance books in this series—one before this book and one after.
Escape into the small town of Cobble Creek, Wyoming where neighbors help each other, Main Street holds the heart of the community, and love finds a home. Three interconnected books are now available.
The Inventive Bride
Upcycling Sweet Romance
The Combustible Engagement
A fake engagement they fight to contain.