Amanda opened her mouth to speak. Jake placed a finger on her lips. “Please, don’t.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve thought a lot about this. I think you’re the one not ready. I’ve decided to give you your time -- time to figure out what you really want. The time you’re always talking about. You can finish your show -- focus on it -- move up in the workplace. Do what you’ve dreamed. I don’t want to stop you.”
She started to protest, but stopped. He was giving her everything she asked from the beginning. No strings attached. Nothing to get in the way.
“Finish your work, then think about your priorities, but I won’t wait around forever.” He smoothed her hair, stroked all the way down to her fingertips and grabbed her hand. “I’m leaving in an hour. I changed my flight. Your dad said he would drive you to the airport in a couple of days.”
Amanda sighed heavily.
He glanced down the hall. “Look, I don’t even know what else to say to make things better. I just know it’s hard on me. I don’t know if I can continue this if you don’t feel the same.”
“I do love you Jake. I do.” She shook her head. “I know I haven’t been clear and I’m sorry. When I get through with the show, we can --”
“Yeah, the show. But, there most likely will be another show. Then what? Do I need to always wait in the wings?” He sighed and let go of her hand.
“You aren’t waiting, Jake.”
“Yeah, I am. I’ve been waiting since we met up again. I’m tired of waiting. I want us to be us -- now. So, when you’re ready to talk, or move forward, give me a call.”
Amanda caressed his cheek. “Jake.”
He touched her forehead with his own. “Good luck with your show.” He sighed and pushed away from her.
She watched him walk away again, hoping he’d turn around. He didn’t.
Chapter Seventeen
THE DEEP RED TITLE, Denalo’s Valentine’s Show, glowed on the backdrop behind the stage. Amanda took a calming breath. Chaos surrounded her.
The backstage manager directed the models, and another worker coached them on their walks on the runway, allowing Amanda time to work the lights and sound one last time and to instruct her crew. The makeup crew spun around the models, adding the last touch and primping up their hair in wicked styles.
She usually loved the rush, but tonight she missed something– or someone.
This night had arrived faster than Amanda had imagined. She’d worked hard for the last two weeks, days at Macys and long nights at the location. Still, it wasn’t enough to keep her mind busy. Denalo wanted everything to be perfect. So did she, but she just couldn’t get her head into the game.
“Sweetheart, stop being a Mopey Mandy.” Denalo had told her that morning. “Settle the turmoil in your heart. After all, this is a Valentine’s special.”
Forty-five minutes until show time.
The crowd mingled as Amanda rearranged the speakers at her station in back. She stood in a booth that overlooked the entire location. Two hundred chairs lined the long runway. Red fabric skirted both sides of the stage.
“Dim lights two and three,” She ordered her lighting techs. “Turn the ambient music up,” she announced into her headset.
Amanda fidgeted with the dials, taking deep breaths. She’d dreamed of this night, after all.
Denalo approached the booth, dressed in black leather pants, a leopard-print, button-up shirt and a scarf, and grabbed her shoulders. “Can you believe it’s starting? I’ll be in the back.”
“Right. I’ll be on channel two if you need me.” She gave a half smile.
He crossed his arms. “Amanda. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Now, shape up. After tonight, you will be with your man.”
“How can you be so sure?” She huffed and tightened the headset around her ears.
He lifted one of the earplugs and whispered. “Trust me. Now give me your one-hundred percent.”
“Of course I will.” She gave her best smile and hugged him. “Now get back there.”
The lights blinked twice to warn the crowd the show would start and the audience arranged themselves in their seats. After the crowd settled, Amanda lifted the microphone to her lips. “Lights on, number one.” The lights dimmed over the audience and the stage brightened. “Good. Now music and intro.” Music sounded from the loudspeaker and a voice echoed, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Valentine show of the year … Denalo.”
Applause. Smoke filled the models’ entrance. The red background grew darker with a large heart.
“Music, louder.” Amanda looked around as she spoke and Chloe and Veronica waved up at her from their chairs near the end of the runway. She smiled and nodded in their direction. It was great to have her best friends here, but she still missed something. One person. Would anything, or anyone, fill the empty space in her heart ever again?
Jake had certainly given her the time she’d always believed she wanted, but it was pure torture. Truth be told, she couldn’t wait for the show to finish. She didn’t want any more time. What she really wanted was Jake. The empty weeks had proved that to her. As soon as the show finished, she’d hunt him down and beg his forgiveness. That is, if it wasn’t too late.
“Amanda, light five needs to be brighter. Wake up,” her assistant screamed in her ear, jolting her back to the real world.
“Got it.” She stared at her friends who gave her a thumbs up sign. How could they be so happy? She screwed everything up; her life, the show.
As long as she didn’t think of Jake, she could do her job and the show ran smoothly. She smiled, satisfied with the knowledge that the heart designs on the columns were perfect. The idea came to her when Jake had whipped her up a latte in his kitchen with heart-shaped foam at the top. Then there were the bright red programs with the fashion information. Jake gave her that idea on the plane trip to Louisiana.
Flashes from cameras lit up the runway. Several news crews filmed from the edge of the stage. The last few models with lingerie stepped up. Their perfect bodies paraded down the catwalk as Denalo squealed with delight into the headset. “It’s wonderful darling. Wonderful!”
She slumped over on the bench and had to admit she’d done a great job. The show was coming to a close. “Good job ya’ll. The show’s almost over. Don’t disappoint. Remember the finale.”
“Yeah, Amanda, we’ll remember the finale,” a crewmember snickered over the headset.
The lights blinked, and she sighed in relief. The last notes of the techno music died down. Applause rang in her ears. Denalo stepped onto the runway and the applause grew louder -- but where were the models? The models should do their final walk behind him. This wasn’t how they practiced. Damn it.
“Get those models on, now,” Amanda shouted into the headset, frantically gesturing toward the curtains.
The applause died as Denalo waved the audience into silence. A smile plastered across his face. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have one last surprise.”
“What is he doing?” She whispered into the headset as anxiety filled her. Why would Denalo spring a last minute surprise on her? When no one answered, she realized she had two choices: freak out or let the show go on. “Put the spotlight on Denalo.”
He continued with his arms raised as if he were the Master of Ceremonies in a three-ring circus. “A masterpiece surprise, I might add--in more ways than one. The I Do Tuxedo--perfect for a Valentine’s romance.” Denalo stepped to the side, and the spotlight remained on the catwalk.
She could barely see anything else on the stage. “Light one, slowly rise.” Against what she said, another soft light appeared, illuminating her booth.
Before she knew what happened, Denalo came back to the booth and took off her headset. All eyes rested on them. “What are you doing?”
“Trust me, darling.” He pointed at the stairs.
She stepped down from the booth and looked on the stage. Then she saw him.
Jake, on stage. What the hell?
She opened
her mouth wide. Her heart beat faster as she drew nearer. Jake was dressed in the I Do tuxedo, with an armful of roses as he strutted across the runway.
Music echoed around them, but her breathing drowned the sounds out.
Jake’s eyes landed on the booth and they softened at the sight of her.
Chloe and Veronica stood hugging each other. “Go Amanda,” Chloe whispered.
When Amanda stood a few feet from the stage, Jake’s eyes locked on hers, and suddenly she knew everything was going to be okay. He smiled, his eyes saying more than words could. Tears fell down her cheeks.
He held out his hand to lift her onto the catwalk. The music faded, and the audience whispered, “Shh.”
Jake gave her the roses and grabbed the sides of her face, wiping the tears away with his thumbs. He took a deep breath. “Mandy.” He reached for her empty hand.
“Jake.” Amanda smiled, rubbing the new tears off her face with one arm. If she hadn’t already been head over heels in love with him, she would have fallen for him in that moment. She wanted to touch him, to feel his arms around her.
“Do you know how lucky we are? Our whole lives we’ve known each other and now we’ve grown to love one another in a way that is almost painful.” His other hand grabbed her waist. “Nothing is going to stop me this time, Mandy. You’re mine and I’m yours. We belong together and it’s been like that since we ran in the backyard catching fireflies together.”
Amanda reached up and touched his cheek. “Oh, Jake.”
“I’ve been miserable without you. Complete misery. I’ve missed our talks, our runs, your smiles, your crazy hands in the air, your body.” He rubbed her back. “When I’m not around you, I’m a waste of a human being. You make me a better person. I can’t remember my life before you, and I don’t want to be without you ever again.”
He reached into his pocket and got down on one knee. With a deep breath and an intent look, he continued. “I’ve thought long and hard about this. Even if you want to work hard, even if you need to put me second, I need you. I want you. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.” He paused. “I love you.” He took a deep breath and opened the ring box. A sparkling diamond sat against black velvet. “Will you marry me?” Silence settled over the room as everyone anxiously awaited her answer. “Please say yes, this time.”
“I love you too, Jake. So much.”
He raised his eyebrows. “So?”
“Yes, Jake! Yes.”
The applause roared to life and the music blared. Jake swept her up in his arms and swung her around. When he finally put her down, she whispered, “I love you, Jake. I always have. Since we first met. I’m absolutely positive I’m ready. From now on, you’ll always come first.”
He kissed her, long and deep, and when his strong hands wrapped around her, a groan rose from his throat -- or was that hers? She tore her mouth free and stared into his face. This is what moving forward was all about. Love, peace, a journey together. And, oh yeah, hundreds of eyes on them.
“By the way, nice tux.” She kissed him again as Denalo got back on the stage and led them out.
“Darling, please go and have a pre-wedding adventure. Your job is done here.” He stepped back onto the stage to applause and whistles.
“Ready to move forward?” Jake held out his arm.
“Wait until we tell our moms.” Amanda squeezed his arm.
He winked at her. “They already know. Our wedding is a month from Monday.”
About the Author
Reading romance has always been at the top of Melinda's favorite past times. After hectic days teaching English to middle school students, Melinda finds time to write in the evenings. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her husband, three boys and German Shepard. She enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her boys once they are grown. Melinda loves reading, reality television, traveling, blogging and playing Words With Friends.
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