Isobel was chopping an onion when she heard a knock on the door. She quickly dried her hands and dabbed her damp eyes with a towel before answering.
Standing outside was Ryder, holding a bouquet of red roses, dressed in perfectly fitted Cinch jeans and a new blue plaid dress shirt that she hadn't seen before. As she opened the door, he removed his cowboy hat.
"Come in, Ryder," Isobel smiled warmly at him.
Ryder stepped inside, bent down to kiss her, and handed over the roses.
"For you, gorgeous."
"These are stunning, Ryder. Thank you," she said as she took the flowers to the kitchen with Ryder following close behind.
"You're really early, Ryder. Rose and Wren won't be here for another hour and a half."
"I know. I wanted some alone time with you."
"Well, I'm still making dinner, but you can sit and watch if you'd like."
Ryder set his hat on a chair and moved to stand next to Isobel at the counter. "How about I help?"
"Sure. Here, you can finish slicing these," she said, handing him the knife and sliding the cutting board with the onion toward him.
"Oh, so you can see me cry again?" Ryder teased.
"Better you than me," she joked back, nudging him playfully with her shoulder.
"So, what's on tonight's menu?"
Isobel started giggling. "French Onion Soup and roasted chicken."
Ryder laughed and took on his best Julia Child impression yet again.
Once they had the meal in the oven, they settled on her couch with glasses of wine in hand.
"Isobel, can I ask you something very personal?"
"Of course, Ryder. You can ask me anything."
Ryder sipped his wine thoughtfully. "Why have you chosen to wait until you're married?"
"What?" Isobel was taken aback and didn't immediately realize what Ryder was asking.
"Why did you decide to wait until marriage to have sex? I mean...please don't get me wrong, Isobel. I am totally willing to wait for you. I would never pressure you into anything." Ryder took a deep sip of his wine. "I was just curious about what influenced your decision. It's uncommon nowadays."
Isobel exhaled with relief before responding. "I was raised to believe that sex is a divine gift meant to be shared only between husband and wife. I strongly believe in that. I've heard countless horror stories from friends who didn't wait...how they slept with their boyfriends, only to break up soon after, and then move on to the next guy, and the next. They never had a genuine connection with any of them. By the time they got married, sex became just another routine activity."
Ryder nodded, understanding her point and feeling deep regret in his heart.
"I decided long ago to save my body for my husband. I made a vow to God and I intend to honor it."
"Isobel, please know that I'm not asking you to change your mind for me."
"I know, Ryder. And I'm comfortable talking about it. It's not something I'm ashamed of—I'm proud of my choice. It's the most precious gift I can think of giving my husband on our wedding night."
Ryder was in awe of her conviction and commitment. "I didn't think it was possible, but my love for you just grew even more."
Just then, Rose walked in with Wren following close behind.
"Hello," she greeted as she stepped into the townhouse.
"In here, Rose," Ryder called out.
"Hey, Ryder. Hi, Isobel." Wren greeted as he walked into the kitchen.
"Hey, brother," Ryder said, giving Wren a friendly slap on the back.
"What can I do to help?" Rose asked, placing a strawberry-rhubarb crisp on the kitchen counter.
"Can you take this out to the patio?" Isobel handed her a tossed salad.
Rose, Wren, Ryder, and Isobel each grabbed an item and carried them outside to the patio table.
Isobel's backyard was a verdant oasis, brimming with lush green plants, towering trees, and several clay pots bursting with colorful flowers. White tin candle holders with citronella candles flickered alongside a row of tiki torches. Her barbeque grill and a rolling cart laden with potted plants and dishes were neatly positioned on the edge of the flagstone patio. Moss carpeted the ground and crept into the gaps between the stones, adding vibrant texture and color to the grey flagstones. The wrought iron patio set featured grey cushions adorned with a few vibrant throw pillows.
"Isobel, this space is incredible," Ryder exclaimed with genuine surprise.
"Absolutely, Isobel, it's amazing," Wren chimed in enthusiastically.
"Thank you. This backyard is one of the main reasons I chose this townhouse," Isobel said with a smile.
"I can definitely see why," Wren agreed.
They placed their food on the table, which was already set with more citronella candles, place settings, and water glasses. As they savored their delicious meal, the group planned future rodeo events; Wren playfully teased Isobel about her roping skills while she gave him a hard time about his rusted pickup truck.
"I know, I need a new one. But old Bessie still gets me where I need to go," Wren admitted with a chuckle.
After spending another hour chatting and enjoying each other's company, the group carried everything back inside to clean up. Wren and Rose said their goodbyes and left, leaving Ryder and Isobel alone once more.
"We need to do this more often!" Rose called out as she exited, closing the door behind her.
Ryder took Isobel's hands, drawing her close. He gazed into her crystal blue eyes before lowering his lips to hers for a tender kiss. He softly sucked on her bottom lip before tracing his tongue along her top lip. They embraced tightly, feeling each other's warmth as Ryder's chest pressed against hers and his strong hand rested on her back.
He then stepped away slightly, took a deep breath, and looked into her eyes once again. "I think I should get going."
"Okay," Isobel whispered softly.
"You stir something deep within me, Isobel. An urge I ache to act upon," Ryder smirked. "But I won't. Not until you're ready. If that means waiting for our wedding night, so be it."
"Our wedding night?" She arched an eyebrow, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"Yes, our wedding night." Ryder planted a kiss on her lips, brief but tender. "I love you, Isobel. I want you in my life... completely."
"I want you too, Ryder."
"But I want to do this right. There are still a few things I need to sort out for myself before I can give you all of me." He rested his forehead against hers. "I'm almost there, but I need to do it the right way."
Isobel nodded and smiled warmly.