Captiva Moonlight (Captiva Island #12)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

M aggie Moretti stood at the water’s edge and shook her head. The sunset crowd formed up and down the beach, and although most admired the sky, some enjoyed the new Christmas lights shining from several homes.

She remembered her childhood, and her parents’ pathetic attempt to decorate during the holidays. To say they waited until the last minute to shop for their Christmas tree would be an understatement.

Taylor his playboy days seemed like a distant memory now. Meeting Jacqui had changed everything.

For the first time, he was thinking about marriage and starting a family. Because of this, he knew how crucial it was to gain the approval of her friends and family. Their relationship had started on shaky ground, and they often disagreed about various things, but there was something undeniably special about Jacqui.

“So, do you think we could schedule a time for me to meet your parents?”

Jacqui turned to him with an inquisitive look. “I don’t understand why this is so important to you. Why do you care about meeting my parents?”

“Okay, it wasn’t a big deal before, but now I think I need to say something. Here’s my question: why are you avoiding having me meet your parents?”

She looked uncomfortable. He worried that if he pushed the subject further, she might actually jump off the boat. He decided to change the subject.

“Would you like some wine? I only have white if that’s okay.”

“Yes, thanks.”

She now seemed pensive, and he felt he’d ruined a perfectly lovely evening.

“Joshua, I’m sorry. I hadn’t given it much thought before, but now that I think about it, maybe I’ve been hesitant to invite you to my parents' house. It’s just… well, let me put it this way. My family isn’t the easiest. My father had a stroke last year, and my mother hovers over him constantly, which drives him nuts. My brother Clayton likes to stir up trouble, so anyone new has to deal with him. My sister Carolyn is always busy with her kids, so she’s not an issue. And of course, you’ve met Trevor, Sarah’s husband?”

“Yeah, that’s Maggie’s son-in-law. Am I right, they live in Sanibel?”

Jacqui nodded. “Yeah, Trevor’s cool, but my other brother, Wyatt, is mostly MIA. He was here for a while last year when my father had his stroke to help with the company, I guess. That didn’t last long. Let’s just say my brother Wyatt and work don’t really get along.”

“So, you don’t get along with him?”

Jacqui laughed. “Actually, I think my brother Wyatt is fun. I do get along with him, it’s just that the rest of the family thinks he’s irresponsible. I just think he’s not ready to settle down.”

Joshua saw an opportunity to test Jacqui’s feelings about marriage. “And you?”

She laughed. “Me? No way. That’s not my thing. My dad says I’m a free spirit, and I’m inclined to believe him.”

He was surprised at how much her words stung. He wasn't planning on asking her to marry him, at least not tonight. But he never expected her to say she didn’t intend to marry at all.

“That’s why everyone thought we’d get along well,” she said.

“What?”

“You never heard that? Yeah, I think it was Trevor, or maybe Chelsea. Someone back when we started dating told me they thought we’d be a good match, because we both loved adventure and having fun and weren’t the marrying kind. There was something about not taking life seriously.”

Joshua was stunned. He’d never heard anyone say that, and if he had, he would have denied it.

“I never heard that before. It’s not exactly accurate either.”

“Come on, Joshua. You have to admit, you were quite the playboy when I met you. I think you flirted with every woman on the beach.”

He hated that she was right, but those days were long gone. The moment he met Jacqui, he knew she would change his life.

“That was before…I’m not like that anymore, Jacqui.”

He wanted to say more, but she jumped up from her chair and ran to the side of the boat. Pointing, she called to him, “Joshua, look at that. What is it?”

He joined her, and they watched two dogs run in the water, every step of their paws creating an electric show.

“It’s plankton, have you never seen it before?” he asked.

“No. It’s beautiful. It’s like the stars have fallen from the sky and landed on the water.”

The blue hues shimmered, illuminating the waves. Jacqui’s eyes sparkled as she leaned over the edge, captivated by the scene. Joshua stood beside her, the moment reminding him of why he had fallen for her in the first place.

“Nature has its way of showing us magic, doesn’t it?” he said softly.

Jacqui nodded, her face bathed in the ethereal light. “It’s moments like these that make me feel truly alive. Don’t you feel like that?”

He nodded. Joshua wanted to tell her that it was her alone that made him feel alive, but he hesitated. Instead, he put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

“Maybe,” Jacqui said after a while, “I’ve been wrong about a few things. I’m not saying that I’m ready right now…but…I don’t know. Do we have to talk about it tonight?”

He looked at her, surprised. “I don’t want to put pressure on you. All I want is to meet your family and let them know that I’m in it for as long as you want me.”

She smiled, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. Turning toward him, she put her arms around his neck.

“If it’s that important to you, then I’ll make it happen. Tonight has made me realize that some adventures are better when shared. All I know is that I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Whatever the future holds, adventures or not, I want to share it all with you. Isn’t that enough for now?”

Joshua’s heart swelled. “I feel the same way, Jacqui. We don’t have to talk about it tonight, but I am glad we sound like we’re on the same page.”

As they continued to watch the plankton dance in the water, Joshua knew their journey together was just beginning. And for the first time, he felt certain that, in time, Jacqui would take that leap of faith with him.