doorway of the closet, his eyes wide.
“Aww, you ruined my big entrance,” I protest. “I’m supposed to come down the stairs and do the whole big dramatic moment.”
“Sorry baby, but I gotta get dressed too. I don’t think you want me going to the party like this,” he says, looking down at his workout clothes.
I do my best to pretend to pout at him.
“Do you wanna do a twirl?” he asks with a smile.
“Yes,” I say, returning his smile. I do a slow spin and give him a seductive look over my shoulder before turning to face him again.
He comes closer and holds out a box. It looks suspiciously like a jewelry box.
I gasp. “Another surprise?”
“Oh I have a few more tricks up my sleeve,” he says. He opens the lid to show a beautiful diamond necklace. It sparkles like something straight out of a jewelry store commercial.
“Oh my—Brandon, you can’t be serious!”
“Oh, I’m serious,” he says. “Come here. Let me put it on for you.”
I spin around again and hold up my hair as he puts the necklace on. His fingers linger and slide down my back. His hands settle on my waist as he pulls me against him and he leans down to graze my exposed neck with his lips, sending a shiver down my spine.
I look up and catch a reflection of us in the mirror. The moment feels so surreal and the image staring back at me only makes it stand out more.
I feel something get pressed into my hand. I look down and see a smaller jewelry box. It’s ring sized and for a moment my heart seems to jump out of my chest. I open the box slowly to reveal two diamond studs that are the same cut as the necklace, just on a smaller scale.
“They’re beautiful. Thank you,” I whisper.
“You’re welcome. Thank you for coming with me tonight,” he says.
I reach up and kiss him softly.
Neither one of us makes a move to pull away for a long time, but the awareness that we only have a little bit of time left to finish getting ready seems to hit and we separate. Brandon gives me one final kiss before he walks to the other side of the closet and starts to grab the things he needs to get ready.
I put my new earrings in and give myself one final look over, still not used to the new ’glammed up’ version of myself. For the most part, I normally feel pretty comfortable in my own skin and with my sense of style. This whole day has been outside of my normal comfort zone, but I have to admit, I feel pretty amazing right now. I glance over at Brandon as he starts to pull off his shirt and think of how lucky I am.
I don’t know why, but suddenly the memory of the blog articles comes back to haunt me, and I can hear the echo of their harsh words in my mind. In that moment, Brandon looks over at me and smiles, and the words fade again.
Chapter Eight
The event is being held at a swanky, downtown hotel, and Brandon gives me a rundown on what to expect as we enjoy a glass of champagne in the back of a fancy limo. Part three…or maybe we’re up to four…of the surprises for the day.
We arrive at the hotel, and before the driver comes around to open the door, Brandon takes my hands. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, it’s going to be great,” I answer with a smile. “I am so proud of you.”
“Thanks, baby. That means a lot.” He gives me a quick kiss as the door opens. “Here we go.”
As soon as Brandon exits the car, the photographers go crazy. The flashes are blinding from where I sit. A heartbeat later, Brandon reaches back and helps me from the car. I swing my legs out and steady myself in my sky high heels as I stand.
The absolute last thing I need is to face plant in front of the media.
“You okay?” Brandon whispers into my ear.
“Mmhmm,” I say, nodding and smiling. I can tell I’m going to be doing a lot of that to make it through this night.
We step away, and the driver shuts the door of the limo. Part of me wishes I could back up and slide back into the safety of its dark interior. I grip Brandon’s hand
“Aww, you ruined my big entrance,” I protest. “I’m supposed to come down the stairs and do the whole big dramatic moment.”
“Sorry baby, but I gotta get dressed too. I don’t think you want me going to the party like this,” he says, looking down at his workout clothes.
I do my best to pretend to pout at him.
“Do you wanna do a twirl?” he asks with a smile.
“Yes,” I say, returning his smile. I do a slow spin and give him a seductive look over my shoulder before turning to face him again.
He comes closer and holds out a box. It looks suspiciously like a jewelry box.
I gasp. “Another surprise?”
“Oh I have a few more tricks up my sleeve,” he says. He opens the lid to show a beautiful diamond necklace. It sparkles like something straight out of a jewelry store commercial.
“Oh my—Brandon, you can’t be serious!”
“Oh, I’m serious,” he says. “Come here. Let me put it on for you.”
I spin around again and hold up my hair as he puts the necklace on. His fingers linger and slide down my back. His hands settle on my waist as he pulls me against him and he leans down to graze my exposed neck with his lips, sending a shiver down my spine.
I look up and catch a reflection of us in the mirror. The moment feels so surreal and the image staring back at me only makes it stand out more.
I feel something get pressed into my hand. I look down and see a smaller jewelry box. It’s ring sized and for a moment my heart seems to jump out of my chest. I open the box slowly to reveal two diamond studs that are the same cut as the necklace, just on a smaller scale.
“They’re beautiful. Thank you,” I whisper.
“You’re welcome. Thank you for coming with me tonight,” he says.
I reach up and kiss him softly.
Neither one of us makes a move to pull away for a long time, but the awareness that we only have a little bit of time left to finish getting ready seems to hit and we separate. Brandon gives me one final kiss before he walks to the other side of the closet and starts to grab the things he needs to get ready.
I put my new earrings in and give myself one final look over, still not used to the new ’glammed up’ version of myself. For the most part, I normally feel pretty comfortable in my own skin and with my sense of style. This whole day has been outside of my normal comfort zone, but I have to admit, I feel pretty amazing right now. I glance over at Brandon as he starts to pull off his shirt and think of how lucky I am.
I don’t know why, but suddenly the memory of the blog articles comes back to haunt me, and I can hear the echo of their harsh words in my mind. In that moment, Brandon looks over at me and smiles, and the words fade again.
Chapter Eight
The event is being held at a swanky, downtown hotel, and Brandon gives me a rundown on what to expect as we enjoy a glass of champagne in the back of a fancy limo. Part three…or maybe we’re up to four…of the surprises for the day.
We arrive at the hotel, and before the driver comes around to open the door, Brandon takes my hands. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, it’s going to be great,” I answer with a smile. “I am so proud of you.”
“Thanks, baby. That means a lot.” He gives me a quick kiss as the door opens. “Here we go.”
As soon as Brandon exits the car, the photographers go crazy. The flashes are blinding from where I sit. A heartbeat later, Brandon reaches back and helps me from the car. I swing my legs out and steady myself in my sky high heels as I stand.
The absolute last thing I need is to face plant in front of the media.
“You okay?” Brandon whispers into my ear.
“Mmhmm,” I say, nodding and smiling. I can tell I’m going to be doing a lot of that to make it through this night.
We step away, and the driver shuts the door of the limo. Part of me wishes I could back up and slide back into the safety of its dark interior. I grip Brandon’s hand
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