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“Of course not. I’ll be out here, take as much time as you need.”
Shannon took a seat as I went to the bathroom. I got inside and opened the top box to find a long, black gown. The material was thin, but elegant, and before I even slipped it on, I knew it would drape beautifully on my figure. Before trying on the black dress, I opened the second box. The dress inside was short, and a metallic gold with sparkling appliques. They were both beautiful, but it was hard to imagine that they were both appropriate for the same occasion. Ryker had never told me where we were going, and I’d assumed we would be going to dinner, or a bar. However, the two dresses had me wondering if he had something altogether different up his sleeve.
It was an easy decision, and Shannon smiled as I handed her the box containing the short, gold dress. “Excellent choice. This is also for you,” she added, producing a small, black velvet box from the pocket of her jacket.
I arched a brow as I took the small box, and she smiled even wider. I opened the lid and gasped at the pair of drop, diamond earrings nestled on a piece of black velvet. “Oh my God!”
“I know! They’re stunning.” Shannon nodded at me as I put them on. “They look amazing. Have a wonderful evening!”
She left and I looked up at the clock, suddenly frantic that Ryker would be arriving within ten minutes. I ran to the bathroom, hurried to apply my makeup. I took my hair out of its tight bun, fluffed out the gentle waves, and then slipped back into the black dress. I spun in the mirror, looking at the way the dress hugged my curves, and smiled. I felt like I was about to go to the Academy Awards.
I was still admiring myself, preening and fussing with my hair, when I heard a strong, masculine voice call out from the studio, “Everlie?”
My hands froze in place, framing my face, and my stomach dropped out the bottom as though I’d just plummeted from the top of a theme park ride.
I took a deep breath and left the bathroom, rounding the corner to find Ryker standing in the middle of the studio, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, a crisp white shirt and a smile that sucked the breath right out of my lungs.
“Oh my God, Everlie, you’re beautiful!” He said, his eyes taking a slow, appreciative tour of my body.
My cheeks warmed and I ducked my chin. “Thank you, Ryker. This dress is amazing…”
Ryker nodded and stepped closer. His dark eyes were fixed on mine, a dangerous smile formed on his enticing lips. “You ready?” He asked, reaching out his hand.
My heart faltered at his question. Was I?
A moment stretched out, suspending us for a beat, before I took his hand and replied, “Yes.”
Chapter Nine
Everlie
My heart was still thundering as Ryker led me out to his waiting car. He held open my door, making sure not to crush the edges of the dress, as he tucked me inside, and went around to the driver’s side. As soon as he turned over the engine, I couldn’t help but ask, “Where are we going?”
He smiled at me. “It’s a surprise. But you’ll like it, trust me.”
He pulled out of the lot and we set off back in the direction of the city. A few minutes of silence passed, before I said, “Thank you for all of the gifts today. You didn’t have to do all that, you know.”
Ryker glanced at me. “I wanted to. I’m glad you enjoyed.”
“I did,” I replied, looking out of the corner of my eye at the handsome man beside me. The entire day had been like a storybook romance. Gifts and flowers, a special dress and exquisite jewelry. It was all surreal and looking at the man who had orchestrated it all felt even more pinch-me-I’m-dreaming perfect.
“How were your classes today?” Ryker asked.
We chatted about that as we drove into the city. He asked questions about different ballet words, laughed at the stories of the wild two-year-olds, and smiled when I told him about my reaction to all the gifts as they arrived throughout the day. The conversation wound down just as we pulled into a parking garage. I still had no idea what he was up to, and with the central location, we could be going anywhere.
Ryker cut the engine, got out, and raced around to open my door just as I was letting myself out. “This way,” he led me down the sidewalk and as we got nearer to our destination, he smiled even more. “Here we are.”
I looked up at the huge marquee sign for a touring ballet company from New York and gasped. “We’re seeing this?”
He nodded and reached an arm around me, resting his hand on my hip. His touch thrilled me even more than knowing we were about to go watch a ballet performance and I was beaming as he swept me through the elegant front doors of the auditorium. “You were enchanting last night, and I wanted to see more of this world. Your world.”
I stared up at him, completely stunned. A rough and tumble soldier, in a perfect black suit, voluntarily going to the ballet. My initial assessment of him erased the rest of the way with a pang of guilt for judging him so harshly in the first place. “This is perfect.”
He smiled and led me to our seats—which were amazing, better than any I’d had before.
“You surprise me,” I whispered to him, sitting in the dim lights before the show began.
He looked at me, his eyes dancing, and replied, “Good.”
