Promised by Michelle Turner Page B

it.

    I hold out my arm for her to take as I ask, “Ready to see the inside?”

    “We better or I might freeze in this dress.” She laughs as she takes my arm. She had to bring my mind back to that dress. Damn! The only thing I can see of it is a hint of black lace showing from beneath her coat. But if how much leg is showing is any indication, it’s short and sexy as hell. I’m trying to be a gentleman, but that mystery dress is going to make my goal near impossible to complete.

    “Well, that’s the last thing I want to happen. But if it does, I’ll gladly warm you up.” I say as I guide her into the cabin, kicking the door shut behind us, and pulling her to my chest. Placing a gentle kiss to her lips, I confess. “I’ve missed not seeing you every day.”

    “Me too. Thankfully, school starts back in a few days and we’ll be able to see each other more.”

    “Who would’ve known we’d be thankful for Christmas break to be over?” I chuckle. Taking a step back, I say. “Here, let me help you with your coat.”

    She turns her back to me as she unbuttons the coat, slowly sliding it down her shoulders and revealing the see-through, black lace covering her right shoulder and the bare skin of her left. Her curls have been twisted into some intricate design so they’re off her shoulders, except for a few that have worked their way loose. Those loose ones are like arrows, drawing my attention to the soft exposed skin below. I pull myself together and help her take the coat the rest of the way off and hang it on the coat rack by the door. I take a deep breath in an attempt to control myself before I turn around to see the whole dress, but no amount of deep breaths would’ve prepared me for the sight that meets my eyes when I turn back to face her.

    The black lace clings to every perfect inch of her delicately, curved body. The lace sleeve on her right arm starts right above her elbow and reaches the top of her shoulder before it slices at an angle across her chest. The material is completely sheer until it hits a satiny material that lies underneath the lace at her chest and stretches down to the top of her thighs. The lace continues a few inches below the satin material. Her long, bare legs take over from there, stretching on for what seems like miles before you hit the delicate material of her black lace heels. I have no clue how anyone can walk in shoes that tall, but she does. And somehow, she does it gracefully.

    My eyes trail back up her body and I stop at the neckline of her dress where I notice the four leaf clover charm. “You wore it.”

    Her fingers lift to touch the fragile charm and she smiles at me. “I haven’t taken it off.”

    I lift the dog tags out from underneath my button up shirt. “Neither have I.”

    She sucks in the corner of her lip and releases it before asking. “Are you going to show me around, or are we going to stand in the doorway all night?”

    I take her hand in mine and tell her honestly. “Sorry, that dress distracted me from the surprise.”

    She giggles at my honesty and follows me towards the back of the house where the great room is located. The back wall of the house is made up of nothing but windows that show off the view of the lake and mountains. To the right side of the room is a huge stone fireplace that already has a fire roaring in its hearth. Directly in front of the fireplace, like I planned, is a table set for two: white linen table cloth, a bouquet of white roses in a vase at the center flanked by lit white pillar candles, and real silverware wrapped in cloth napkins.

    Wyn releases my hand and crosses to the table. She runs one manicured finger along the table cloth, and then lifts it to touch the petal of one of the roses. Turning to look at me over her shoulder, she asks. “How did you do all of this?”

    “I’ll never reveal my secrets.” I say as I join her by the table and pull out her seat.

    “I have ways of getting even the