by Cynthia Gail
“Is that a yes?” he teased.
“Yes.” She laughed and the tears began to slow.
“My mother’s birthday was in September, like yours. The sapphire was her favorite stone so my father had the ring made just for her. The circle of diamonds around the sapphire came from her mother’s original wedding ring. I know the style isn’t traditional. So, if you don’t like this one we can go shopping—”
“No! It’s beautiful. It’s perfect.”
Nick took the ring out of the box and placed the sparkling sapphire and diamonds on her finger. An exact fit.
“We could have a band of matching diamonds made to go with it. Or maybe a double band, one for each side? Anything you want.”
“I wouldn’t change a thing.”
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and cupped her face, rubbing his thumb across her lower lip, before he leaned down and took another lingering kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She reached up and guided his head back down to hers.
They would eventually find their way out of the house to see his grandfather and her family. Today was Christmas, after all. But he had his own present to unwrap first, starting with the black silk robe.
The following is an excerpt from
Spring’s Surprise,
the next book in the Music City Hearts Series:
(available soon from Soul Mate Publishing)
CHAPTER 1
“You can open your eyes now.”
“Ta da.”
“Give me a second.” Sara took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart. An entire day at La Bella Vita Day Spa had culminated into this single moment of revelation. It had started with what felt like a full body wax. Legs, bikini, eyebrows, and lips. They’d even waxed her underarms. Next came a ninety-minute body message and aromatherapy. A mint seaweed body wrap, followed by a five-phase rejuvenating facial and a deluxe pedicure and manicure.
They’d taken away all access to mirrors when the shop’s top beautician pulled out the scissors and highlighting foil.
Steeling herself, she counted. One. Two. Three.
The silence was deafening by the time she opened her eyes. And blinked. She barely recognized the beautiful woman staring back at her. Slowly lifting her hand, Sara touched the soft blond curl that fell to the edge of her shoulder.
“It’s still long enough to put in a ponytail. I kept my promise,” Beth said.
“You’re stunning.” Jenny sounded as breathless as Sara felt, yet she couldn’t look away from the image in the mirror. Somewhere in the depths, she caught a glimpse of her old self.
Her hand moved, almost of its own accord, to her cheek. “My skin almost glows.”
“What do you think of the eyelashes?”
Those had been Jenny’s idea. She’d reluctantly agreed, only with Beth’s assurance that they were the latest trend and a guarantee that she wouldn’t look like a raccoon. Trust us had been the reoccurring theme for the day.
“I feel like a new woman.” Sara’s vision blurred and suddenly her hands were filled with tissue.
“Don’t cry.”
She heard the panic in Jenny’s voice as her two best friends simultaneously blotted the corners of her eyes.
Sara picked up the magazine she’d been pretending to read and fanned her flushing cheeks. “I’m okay. Really, I am.” She cleared her throat. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so wonderful.”
“I told you life begins at thirty.” Beth handed her a small mirror as the stylist removed the cape and turned the seat around so she could see the back of her hair. At least ten inches had been cut from the length. Highlights and lowlights, plus a clear glaze for added shine, accentuated the full-bodied waves.
“Eat your heart out, Alex.” Sara hadn’t meant to speak out loud, but the words gave her renewed confidence and the look on her friend’s faces was priceless. “Relax. It’s okay to say his name, now. I’ve learned a lot about myself in the past six months.” She stood and squared her shoulders. “Even if he wanted to come back, I’d rather be alone than married and lonely. I’m ready to start over.”
Sara picked up her purse and took another glimpse at her reflection. She couldn’t help the giddy smile that spread across her face as she felt another piece of her soul heal. “You mentioned shopping?”
Sara felt the start of a drool as Jenny led her through the front doors of Tres Chic, the trendiest boutique in Green Hills, Tennessee. They were immediately ushered to the back of the store where they were met with a glass of champagne, three dressing rooms lined with clothes, and an eager sales clerk ready to indulge their every whim.
She hadn’t been shopping in months. After their day at the spa, Sara felt too amazing for words and she needed a new look to go with her new self and new attitude.
Beth joined them in her own dressing room just in time for the show to begin. They tried on everything already in their rooms, plus several more items they’d spotted on their way in. Everything from designer cocktail dresses to business suits, jewelry, shoes, and matching lingerie.
Sara felt like she was eighteen instead of thirty. They walked the hallway of dressing rooms and modeled every piece as if they were on the runway. They laughed until their sides hurt and they almost cried.
In the end, the sales clerk was not disappointed. All three women left the shop wearing a new evening dress, shoes, and accessories. They also made arrangements for the rest of their purchases to be packaged and delivered to Jenny’s home the following day.
“I can’t believe how good I feel,” Sara said as they walked out of the store and waited for their car to pull up.
Her dress was a gorgeous tangerine halter that showed off her figure to perfection. A conservative cut that enhanced her natural curves in the front but plunged in the back to her waist. The straight skirt fell to just above the knee and had a back slit for easy movement. A simple pair of beaded earrings, a pair of black pumps, and a splurge on a new designer clutch finished the sexy ensemble.
For some reason, she’d always had confidence in the career aspect of her life. As the owner of a consulting firm, Sara worked with CEOs and vice presidents of national corporations every day. She helped them reorganize to make their business run smoother and more efficiently. She retrained sales teams on how to manage projects. But that same confidence had never spread into her personal life.
Until now.
The blinders were finally off. For the first time, Sara looked at herself and didn’t see that 20-year-old lanky girl who married too young. She saw a real woman. An accomplished and successful woman who had a lot to offer the world.
Her two best friends looked at each other and smiled as the town car pulled up in front of them.
“The evening has just begun,” Jenny announced. “Our coach awaits!”
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Carlino’s. “I had to pull some strings to get us a table on such short notice, but you’re going to love it.” Beth stepped out of the car. “They have an amazing chef, not to mention a piano bar and lounge with a small dance floor.”
Sara and Jenny followed Beth into the restaurant lobby, where she checked in with the hostess.
“Your party has already arrived. Please follow me and I’ll show you to your table,” the hostess said.
Sara leaned in and whispered to Jenny. “Our party?”
“It’s Nick. Beth’s been dying for you to meet him. She wanted it to be a secret, so I promised I wouldn’t say anything.”
“Hello, ladies. You all look beautiful this evening.” A tall and extremely handsome man stood and pulled Beth into his arms. After whispering something in her ear that caused a flush to rise to her cheeks, he reached out to shake hands.
“Jenny. It’s good to see you. I trust Brandon’s been keeping you busy with the start of our new advertising campaign?”
“Very busy. And it’s good to see you, too. It’s been a while since you’ve stepped into our monthl
y meetings.”
“I’ll be back soon, but I have complete faith in the two of you.”
He turned to Sara and held out his hand. “You must be Sara. Happy Birthday.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to finally meet the man who stole Beth’s heart. Congratulations on the engagement.”
“What can I say?” Nick looked down at Beth, who was still wrapped in his arm. “She took my breath away from the first moment I saw her.”
When his eyes finally left Beth’s, Nick turned to the two gentlemen standing with him.
“Sara, this is Brandon Dorsey. He’s my business partner in charge of PR and Advertising, among many other things. And this is Jack Tanner. He’s an old college roommate in town for the weekend.”
Both men reached out to greet the three women. Sara’s heart almost stopped as she shook Jack’s hand. An immediate tension flowed through her body as their eyes met. She’d felt revived and renewed after their day of pampering, but this eruption was something all together different.
His touch caused an awakening she’d never felt before.
