by Nicki Night
Serenity glanced toward the door, and her heartbeat stuttered. She couldn’t have pictured Chris more handsome. Looking both gorgeous and refined, he sported a black tuxedo and red bow tie. Her breath caught, and for several moments she just stared at him. Their eyes locked. His smile made her blush.
He walked over to her, but to her it seemed he glided, feet never touching the floor.
“You look absolutely stunning.” Chris slid his hands around her waist.
She blushed. “You look quite handsome yourself, Mr. Chandler.”
His kiss was soft. The taste of him lingered on her lips, leaving a longing behind.
“I brought company,” he said, turning slightly toward the entrance.
Serenity looked past Chris to see his entire family checking in at the table her mother manned. Kent, Ray and Brynn, accompanied by a woman she didn’t recognize, were also there.
“Thank you!” Serenity wrapped her arms around him and planted a kiss right on his lips.
Together they walked over to greet Mr. and Mrs. Chandler and their daughters. From the mother to the youngest sister, the Chandler women looked stunning. Chris introduced his family and friends to Serenity’s parents. The other woman was Kent’s new girlfriend, Marita.
“This is lovely, Serenity. We’ll have to talk about having your gala at Chandler’s next year, dear.” Mrs. Chandler nodded.
“I’d love that, Mrs. Chandler.”
Mr. Chandler gently placed his hand on the small of his wife’s back. “No business tonight, honey. Let’s enjoy ourselves.”
“I was just saying...” Mrs. Chandler’s voice trailed off as Mr. Chandler guided her toward the bar.
Serenity shook her head and chuckled. Just as she was about to walk away, she saw a familiar figure in the corner of her eye. With a double take, she recognized Storm Kensington and looked at Chris.
Chris shrugged. “I reminded him about it and he wanted to come.”
“Oh! The kids are going to lose it!” Serenity was delighted.
She greeted Storm, introduced him to Rayne, Elisa and her parents, and refused to allow him to purchase a ticket.
Chris’s family mingled with the crowd. Soon the cocktail hour was over, and dinner was served while the band played more upbeat songs. The program officially began with Rayne and Serenity welcoming their guests and playing a video featuring kids from the program, several of whom credited the program and learning to play instruments with keeping them off the streets and out of trouble. The mission was clear—Heartstrings helped kids build confidence, learn skills and discover talents as an alternative to the streets.
After that, the kids performed. When they finished their first number, two of them left their instruments behind and ran over to Storm. Willingly, he joined them on the stage and played the next song with them. Serenity hadn’t realized he’d brought his violin in with him. When their piece was done, Storm graced them with a solo that mesmerized the entire crowd. Serenity was in tears by the time he was done. She couldn’t believe this was happening. To finish, he played one more upbeat number, bringing the crowd to their feet.
Next, they honored a local music teacher and an artist, both of whom spent considerable time giving back to their communities. One of their most-improved students took the podium and shared his personal journey of how Heartstrings had helped him discover a talent that he’d never realized he had and that saved him from joining a gang. His new passion had taken him away from a bad crowd and had changed his life. Immediately after his moving story, Rayne and Serenity appealed to the crowd, who offered pledges and donations to help the organization continue their mission.
Storm stood, pulling a check from the inner pocket of his tuxedo jacket, and presented it to Rayne and Serenity. Their eyes bulged when they saw that he’d donated fifty thousand dollars, which was by far the largest donation they’d received to date. Serenity fought back tears. Mr. Chandler followed suit with another fifty thousand–dollar donation from his family. Serenity’s knees weakened. She didn’t think she’d be able to stand through the remainder of the program, but she managed.
“On behalf of the youth we serve through Heartstrings every week, we thank you.” Rayne presented closing remarks. “Now let’s dance!” She shimmied away from the podium right into Ethan’s arms.
The band played louder. The lead singer took the microphone and belted out an old party-starting song, bringing everyone to the floor. Serenity found her way through the crowd of dancers and landed in Chris’s arms.
“You did an amazing job,” Chris said.
“This night couldn’t have been better.” Serenity was giddy. Partly from pride and partly from fatigue.
“Now let’s dance.” Chris pulled her onto the dance floor next to their parents.
They danced until beads of sweat glistened on Serenity’s chest, and the balls of her feet stung in her stilettos.
“Excuse me, miss,” Chris teased without missing a step. “Do you have any plans after this?”
“Yes. I’m going to sleep for two days straight.” Serenity threw her head back and laughed. Chris kissed her neck.
“Can I join you?” His voice was husky.
“Absolutely, even though I don’t think we’ll do much sleeping.” Her voice had lowered too.
Chris winked and flashed a slick smile. Serenity laughed again, feeling carefree for the moment. They danced until Serenity had to kick off her shoes, and then they danced some more. After a while, guests came to her and Rayne on the floor to say their goodbyes and wish them well.
Exhausted and elated, Serenity and her team cleaned up after the last of the guests had departed. Chris stayed behind to help, and then they headed to his house. When they arrived, he complimented her once again on a successful event, told her how amazing she was and acknowledged how much of an impact she would have on the lives of the young people she worked with. This talk filled Serenity’s heart.
Chris continued to compliment her as they made love in his bed, leaving her proud, sated and spent. Holding her in his arms, he began to snore lightly. Relishing the moment, she wondered how many more times they would have together like that. As tired as she was, these thoughts kept sleep at bay.
Things were going so well between them. Her feelings for him deepened daily. Chris had become important to her. His presence was her fresh air. Would all of that fizzle away when she left?
Chapter 26
Chris woke feeling refreshed. Easing his arms from under Serenity’s sleeping body, he carefully climbed out of bed, trying not to wake her. After a quick trip to the bathroom, he stood staring out over the water at the bedroom window. The picturesque view of the lake was the sole reason he had settled on this house. Dawn and dusk were the most breathtaking times for this.
Serenity had been weighing heavily on his mind lately. He turned to watch the rhythmic rise and fall of her bare breasts. She was beautiful even as she slept. Her smooth almond skin looked angelic against the stark-white linens. The sheets, wrapped around her shapely curves, seemed like a setup for the perfect picture. He felt the sudden urge to run his fingers through the fluffy coils of hair sprawled across the pillow. Yet, he still stood, watching her breathe, admiring her splendor.
Since she had entered his life, he hadn’t thought of any other woman. She managed to arrest his full focus. No woman had ever successfully done that before, though some had come close. He no longer debated the logic of having to know someone for a certain amount of time before committing yourself. The months felt like years already, but in the best possible way. The fact that he’d met her online no longer made a difference. He’d stopped wondering how she’d managed to have him so smitten in a relatively short period of time. All that mattered was how he felt about her in that very moment and the fact that it felt like love.
Chris had introduced
Serenity to his family and received confirmation that she was an amazing catch. They adored her and agreed that she was a perfect fit for him. When she woke, he was going to express what he’d been feeling.
He pulled a fresh pair of boxers from the drawer and stepped into them. He then headed down to his state-of-the-art kitchen to rustle up some kind of breakfast. Without having had much time to shop, he found the refrigerator didn’t yield much. He had two eggs, a pat of butter and one last slice of bread left—the undesired end of the loaf. Closing the fridge, he trotted up the steps to his room. Breakfast in bed would have to happen another time. If they wanted to eat, they were going to have to leave the house.
“Serenity.” He called her name softly, giving a gentle shake to her shoulder.
He nudged her two more times before she responded. Her eyes fluttered. She groaned.
“Morning.” Chris admired her as she blinked against the light pouring in through the large windows.
“Hey.” Her voice was hoarse.
“Hungry?”
Serenity nodded and stretched, extending her limbs in opposite directions.
“Let’s get dressed.” Chris slid his arms under Serenity’s legs and back and lifted her up. She giggled.
With the sheet dangling below, Chris carried her to the adjoining bathroom. He placed her upright, steadily on her feet and started several heads in the walk-in shower. Water sprayed from the top and pulsated from the sides. They bathed one another, creating more steam than the hot water could be credited for.
Within the hour, they were seated at a quaint eatery—one of the few besides the traditional diners that opened early enough for breakfast. In the car, Chris had mentioned that the place was family owned and operated. Serenity gushed about the cozy feel, accomplished with antique furnishings being grouped into unique seating arrangements. The mature woman who greeted Chris with a warm, matronly hug sat them at a beautiful, distressed table flanked by two plush wing chairs.
Serenity looked around. “So much of this place reminds me of my grandmother’s house. It feels like someone’s living room.”
“And the food is amazing.”
“I can’t wait to taste it.” Serenity looked up at the waitress handing her the menu. “Thanks.” She smiled. The waitress nodded and left. “What do you suggest?” she asked Chris, opening the menu.
“Almost everything is delicious. I usually get the poached eggs with the crab cake, or the asparagus and lump crab omelet.”
“Goodness! There’s such a thing? My mouth is watering already. Where’s that on the menu?”
Chris pointed. “Right here, and you’ll be happy to know that everything is organic and grass-fed.”
The waitress came back and took their orders.
“Tell me the truth. How did everything go last night?” Serenity cringed as if she were waiting for Chris to spew a bad report.
“I told you last night that you and your team did an awesome job.”
“I know. Thanks. I get crazy about these events.” A sense of relief was apparent in her exhalation. “Thanks to your family and Storm, we raised more than we ever have. I have to do something to show your family my appreciation.”
“No need. We’re huge humanitarians. When we see worthy causes, we do what we can to support them. That’s why we started the foundation.”
Serenity smiled, but it quickly disappeared. Chris could sense that something was wrong but couldn’t imagine what would chase her smile away so suddenly.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Averting her eyes, she sighed and pressed her lips together. His chest knotted. He’d come to acknowledge his true feelings for her, and now it looked as though she was about to hit him with bad news. She remained quiet for several moments. Her eyes were fixed on the table. He knew she was searching for the right words. His stomach knotted along with his chest.
“What is it?” His voice elevated. He couldn’t take the silence. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s good and bad news.”
“Give me the bad news first.” Chris braced himself.
“I have to leave.”
“Leave what? Who?” This isn’t happening. “What are you talking about, Serenity?”
“The grant proposal that I submitted for the work in that remote village of Brazil was approved for funding...by your family’s foundation.”
“Yes. Of course. I knew that. Remember?” Chris couldn’t tell for sure if Serenity was smiling or frowning. The result was a mix of both.
“I know.” She released a slow sigh. “Now that the program has been funded, I’m the one who has to go to Brazil to run it.”
“What’s bad about that?” He knit his brow. “That’s great news! When will you have to leave?”
“In a few weeks, once school lets out. I’ll have to be there for about a year. I can come home in December but will have to go back around February.”
Chris sat back. He took a slow, deep breath. “I see.”
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
“I don’t know what to do, Chris.”
Chris thought carefully before speaking. He quickly determined that the mention of her leaving didn’t change how he felt at all. He also decided that he wasn’t about to give up easily on what they had.
Chris took her hands in his. “Serenity.” He looked directly into her eyes. “This doesn’t change how I feel about you at all. I want you whether you’re here on Long Island or thousands of miles away across the globe. We can work this out. You can come home for holidays and long weekends, or I can go there.”
“That’s the problem, Chris. I can’t afford to travel back and forth so much, and the budget that was submitted in the grant is pretty lean. The most I could come home each semester is once—maybe twice?”
The forlorn look on her face pierced his soul.
“Then I’ll come to you, as much as possible. I’m not going to let you get away.”
Serenity’s smile pushed through her frown. “You mean that?”
“Definitely. I need you to understand that you mean a lot to me. I’ve been wrestling with how I’ve been feeling about you for a while now. You’re an incredible woman. I want to be with you. Geography doesn’t change that.”
“I’ve never been in a long-distance relationship before.” Serenity didn’t sound hopeful.
“Neither have I, but I’m confident we can work through this. It’s only a year.”
Pouting, she tilted her head and regarded him with a doe-eyed look. “You really think so, Chris?”
“All I know is, I don’t want to let you go.”
“I don’t want to let you go, either.”
Chris stood and pulled Serenity up with him. Squeezing her in his embrace, he whispered in her ear. “I think you’ve definitely put something on me. I’ve never fallen for anyone so hard and so fast in my life.”
She giggled. “I guess we’re even then because I’ve been questioning myself about how fast I’ve fallen for you too.”
Chris held her face in his hands and kissed her lips. The moment they sat back down, their food arrived.
“When you finalize your dates, we’ll schedule my visits, but we can talk about that later. Right now my stomach is growling.”
When Serenity smiled, a spark flashed in her eyes. Something inside of Chris shifted, and he felt his desire for her grow even more. His new goal was to keep that spark shining, and he was willing to do whatever was necessary. He wasn’t happy about the idea of not seeing her whenever he felt the need to touch her supple skin, but there was no way he was going to release the one woman who had truly captured his heart.
Chapter 27
Serenity thought back to her last night with Chris before leaving for Brazil. He had made love to her
so sweetly that tears had rolled down her cheeks. If she wasn’t mistaken, he may have shed a few too. She wasn’t sure. Now as she arranged the clothes in the closet in her room, she marveled at how quickly the weeks had breezed by. The pace had been frenzied, between Rayne’s bridal shower, the wedding, Serenity’s trip preparations, and the surprise going-away party, hosted by Rayne, Elisa and Chris at Chandler’s. Serenity chuckled, remembering how those bittersweet tears seemed unstoppable and how she’d made everyone else cry. She shook her head and returned to the present.
The night was still fairly young, but the sky was already midnight blue. Crowds of stars sprinkled against the velvety backdrop. She longed for Chris—to hear him whisper in her ear or hold her head in his hands and kiss her lips. She’d called from the airport the day before to let him know she had arrived safely in Brazil and had tried to no avail to connect several times since then. The signal near the village was too weak for them to carry on a tolerable conversation using her current carrier. If the call connected at all, she’d hear a solid silence or pieces of every other word. She also hadn’t spoken to her parents or friends since shortly after her arrival. The failed communication expanded the distance between them all. Serenity didn’t know how she would survive without being able to hear Chris’s voice. She’d fallen asleep in his arms every single night in the weeks leading up to her departure. The first night’s sleep had been facilitated by travel fatigue. She wasn’t sure about the nights that would follow, including tonight.
Darcy had promised to take her the following day to his neighborhood or to the city, where the signals were stronger. She planned to buy one of those prepaid phones from a local provider to see if that would allow her to communicate with folks back home. By then, she would have gone more than a full day without speaking to Chris. She wondered if he missed her as terribly as she missed him.
Even though she had worked with Darcy for years before his return to Brazil, she still felt incredibly alone.
