Eight Dates With Romance: An S. L. Scott Valentine's Day Collection (12 page)

When they part, she looked up at him. “Hi.” She wanted to ask so many questions, but everything about this very moment silenced her in an appreciation to want to feel it, to absorb, to live it.

Turning, he led her to the table that was draped in white and teal cloths with large, open white roses centered in a short vase. Hurricane vases surrounded them, containing sand and flickering candles. After tucking her in, he sat down across from her, his back to the ocean and setting sun.

“Do you want to move so you can see the view?” she asked.

“I’m seeing all I ever want to see. I have the perfect view.”

The smile he gave her melted her inside and she gulped, feeling like the most beautiful woman in the world. “This is a wonderful surprise. Are we celebrating something?”

“We’re celebrating life, our life together.”

“It’s the only life I want to live.”

“You never asked for anything. You still don’t, but what you don’t understand is I want to give you the world like you’ve given it to me.” He took her hand in his again. “I love you, Jude.”

“I love you, too.”

A waiter appeared, coming from behind her and served their first course as another filled their champagne and water glasses.

The courses came and the plates went until all four courses were complete and the candles surrounding the table provided the only light after the sun set. She looked around and then up. “Did you arrange the stars tonight as well, Mr. Barrett?”

“They shine all on their own just for you, Mrs. Barrett.”

She could see the candle’s light reflecting in his eyes and admired them like she does every time. “If I hadn’t already fallen head over heels for you, that line would have done it.”

Taylor chuckled just as a string quartet started playing, “I’ll Stand By You” by the Pretenders. Jude turned around and gasped in awe. Her hands covered her heart as tears filled her eyes. Taylor stood and asked, “May I have this dance?”

“You most certainly may.”

Taylor took his wife in his arms, holding her not for formality or others, but how he wanted to—close and intimate. With his head dropped down and their cheeks against each other’s. They rocked back and forth under the sky that shined for these star-crossed lovers.

“It went too quick. The whole night is magic.”

Taylor sat next to her in the car as it pulled away and replied, “It’s not over.”

“You don’t have to do anymore. This was perfect.”

“This was for me to say thank you for marrying me, for being everything I needed before I knew I needed it, and for loving me when I thought the prospect impossible.”

Jude leaned her head on his shoulder and they drove the next ten minutes, enjoying the peace that existed between them. When the car pulled into the private school parking lot, Jude was curious. “Where are we?”

“Just wait,” he replied with a twinkle of mischievousness in his eyes.

They walked toward the big brick building and entered through a side door. Jude’s mouth dropped open. Stepping forward, she still couldn’t believe her eyes and blinked several times. Strobe lights. Crepe Paper hanging from the ceiling. Fruit punch on a table off to the right. A DJ on the stage playing popular songs from a few years ago. All the details were taken care of and she jumped up in excitement, clasping her hands together. “You didn’t.”

“I did.”

“Hazel Barrett, is this what I think it is?”

“Judith Barrett, will you go to prom with me?”

“Yes. Yes. Yes!” She ran to the middle of the gymnasium and twirled under the disco ball that hung high in the air from the rafters. “This is the most amazing night ever.”

Her skirt flowed out as she spun around. When she stopped, she laughed. Reaching forward she called him to her. “C’mon Prom King. Dance with me.”

Somehow his walk turned into a strut and when he reached her he twirled her right into his arms. “Welcome to your prom.”

“You’re full of surprises.”

His eyebrows waggled, and he said, “Wait until after prom.”

They laughed, but the song changed and she had to dance so she scuttled away and moved her body how the music made her feel—alive. Taylor danced with her until he was wiped. He poured them both some fruit punch that he didn’t spike since Jude wasn’t a big drinker.

She ran to him, full of excitement, full of life. “This is so incredible. I love it. I love all of it.”

He handed her a glass of punch. Her exuberance couldn’t be contained, so he took the cup from her as she swayed so it didn’t spill. The music lowered and the DJ announced, “It’s time to crown Prom Queen and King.”

Jude turned to Hazel, and said, “Fingers crossed. I hope I win.”

The DJ spoke into the microphone, “This year’s Prom King is Hazel Barrett. Come up here and help me crown our Queen.”

Jumping for joy, Jude’s arms wrapped around his neck. “Congratulations!”

Taylor was too busy laughing to respond. Her joy was contagious. Before letting him go, she added, “He called you Hazel.”

“Of course.” He hugged her tight and then walked to the steps along the side of the stage and got the crown from the DJ. After placing it on his head, he opened the envelope and said, “And this year’s Prom Queen is Jude Barrett.”

He struggled to see her with the spotlight shining right into his eyes, but he heard her squeal and that was enough to know how happy she was.

She ran up on stage and stood facing the empty gymnasium. Taylor set the sparkly tiara on her head and kissed her cheek. “Congratulations.”

Turning to him, she kissed him on the mouth. Their bodies embraced and the music got louder. Parting, she glowed, her eyes alight with everything good as she stared into his eyes. He said, “We get to do the King and Queen slow dance.”

Taylor nodded to the DJ and he started the song just as they reached the center of the dance floor. As soon as “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran started playing, he picked her up around the waist and spun around.

Jude stretched her arms above her head and leaned back. Freedom and happiness engulfed her. When her feet touched the ground again, she leaned her head against him and they slow danced.

As the song came to an end, she teased, “I’m thinking this was rigged.”

“I might have padded the votes.” He shrugged.

“You didn’t have to go to all of this trouble. You were getting lucky later anyway.”

“No regrets. Worth all the trouble.”

The DJ said, “Have a great night. Drive safe.”

The enthusiasm left her, and she started feeling a little sad. “I don’t want this to end.”

“It never will, beautiful. We have forever ahead of us.”

She sighed happily. “So true.” As they walked hand in hand toward the exit, she asked, “Can we stop for ice cream?”

“Mocha Chocolate Chip?”

“Always.”

He kissed her—good and hard with all he had to give, then said, “Never change, okay?”

“Never.”

T
he End
.

CONTINUED in the Bestselling standalone novel, Until I Met You.

http://tinyurl.com/jdgss4p

A
lways interested in the arts
, S. L. Scott, grew up painting, writing poetry and short stories, and wiling her days away lost in a good book and the movies.

With a degree in Journalism, she continued her love of the written word by reading American authors like Salinger and Fitzgerald. She was intrigued by their flawed characters living in picture perfect worlds, but could still debate that the worlds those characters lived in were actually the flawed ones. This dynamic of leaving the reader invested in the words, inspired Scott to start writing with emotion while interjecting an underlying passion into her own stories.

Living in the capital of Texas with her family, Scott loves traveling and avocados, beaches, and cooking with her kids. She’s obsessed with epic romances like The Bronze Horseman and loves a good plot twist. She dreams of seeing one of her own books made into a movie as well as returning to Europe. Her favorite color is blue, but she likens it more toward the sky than the emotion. Her home is filled with the welcoming symbol of the pineapple and finds surfing a challenge though she likes to think she’s a pro.

Visit Scott at
www.slscottauthor.com

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H
ard to Resist
Series - New York Times and USA Today Bestseller

The Resistance

The Reckoning

The Redemption

W
elcome
to Paradise Series - Bestsellers

Good Vibrations

Good Intentions

Good Sensations

Happy Endings

F
rom the Inside
Out Series - Bestsellers

Scorned

Jealousy

Dylan

Austin

S
tand Alone Books

Until I Met You - Top 100 Bestseller

Naturally, Charlie - Top 100 Bestseller

A Prior Engagement - Top 100 Bestseller

Lost in Translation - Bestseller

Sleeping with Mr. Sexy - Bestseller

Morning Glory