Shattered Rose (Winsor Series) - By T L Gray Page 0,95

walked past him and shot me his signature smile…no butterflies came. “You’re going to be here, right? It’s only fitting that you would toast in the New Year with us,” he asked flirtatiously.

“Um, no, I have plans tonight with Parker. We are going to a military ball.”

“Sounds horribly boring,” he replied, raising his eyebrows as if I felt the same way. If he was trying to be charming, he was failing miserably.

I shot him a dirty look and turned away. “No, it doesn’t.”

“So, are you two going to get all shacked up in a sleazy hotel tonight and finally consummate this relationship?” Issy asked from the kitchen in her usual playful tone.

“Issy!” Jake and I yelled in unison.

“Why don’t you two worry about your party and not what I’m doing,” I retorted, frustrated with their implications. “I’ll be back tonight, but it will be well past midnight, and my clothes will have stayed on.”

Jake rested his arm on the bar and smiled mischievously at me. “I’ll be here when you get back.” I rolled my eyes and slammed my door. He frustrated me so much. Their comments did nothing but cheapen the relationship I had with Parker, one that went well beyond parties or lust. It was real and honest, and I refused to let them ruin what I knew would be a perfect evening.

Hours later, I stood staring at myself in the mirror. I was ready to go, wearing the most beautiful gown I had ever owned. I piled my hair up on my head and just let multiple ringlets hang down around my face and down my back. The exquisite shawl Issy had given me hung around my shoulders, and I chose long silver earnings as my only accessory. I examined every inch of my body and face, and it looked different tonight. It wasn’t perfect, but I was ok with it. I could even see the beauty in it.

The clock said 3:20 p.m. and I knew Parker would be here soon. I stepped out of my room, making sure to lock the door. Jake was standing near Issy’s room talking to her as she got ready. He glanced my way and I saw his face change. It was look I’d never seen before, but so intense that I had to look away.

I heard a knock on the door and Jake yelled, “Come in,” without once taking his heated eyes off me. I started to feel insecure, wondering what he was thinking, until I saw Parker step through the door. He looked breathtakingly handsome in his military uniform. It looked much like a tuxedo, complete with a bow tie, but had metals on the front and rank on the shoulders. It fit him perfectly and showed off how incredibly fit he was.

He walked right up to me without saying a word, and I immediately felt good again. I looked in his eyes, realizing how lucky I was and how absolutely special this man was to me. He was gentle and loving and made me feel like a princess.

“You’re a vision,” he said softly.

I smiled playfully and looked him up and down. “You’re pretty dashing yourself, soldier.” I felt his fingers lightly touch my face as he leaned down for a soft kiss, not wanting to mess up my masterpiece.

We said our goodbyes and Issy was over the moon about how we looked. She doted and cheered and of course made inappropriate comments, but she was sweet, and I couldn’t help but hug her before I left. She had made all this possible. Jake didn’t say a word, but I didn’t expect him to, nor did I need him to. Tonight wasn’t about him.

We got to the car, and Parker stopped me before I opened the door.

“I have something for you,” he said as he pulled out a long, white jewelry box. “I know we already did Christmas, but I saw this and it reminded me so much of you that I had to get it.”

I opened the box and pulled out a delicate silver necklace that had an intricately carved silver rose in the center of it. It was finest piece I’d ever seen and the detailing was so precise, there was even one small thorn on the side of the stem.

“It’s beautiful,” I exclaimed.

He put the necklace on me and stared lovingly in my eyes. “It’s a gift for when you reach the one month point. You can look at it every day and know you accomplished