table by the door, took the card, and started reading it silently. Her eyes grew watery. Quickly wiping them, she handed the card to Ryan. “Would you read it for me? I don’t think I can.”
“ My dearest Emily ,
With these roses I give you my love . I chose thornless red roses because of what they symbolize :
Red roses to symbolize romance , love , beauty , and courage : A romance between us I hope never ends ; My love for you that has overtaken every corner of my heart ; Your beauty which words cannot describe ; and my wish for the courage to make the changes in my life that will allow you to love me more .”
He took one rose from the box and handed it to her.
“ The thornless stems signify that the first time I saw you ; it was love at first sight . Thank you for the most wonderful six months of my life .
I love you more than you will ever know .
Ryan .”
He looked into her eyes and softly said, “I love you.”
She wrapped both arms around his waist and hugged him; her cheeks still wet with tears. “I don’t deserve you.”
He leaned down and kissed her. With excitement in his voice, he said, “I’ve got a big night planned, but we’re on a tight schedule. So you’d better get ready.”
“How exciting!” She removed the towel from her head and shook her slightly damp hair. Taking both hands, she slowly pulled it back and twisted it into a ponytail. With her arms raised and her hands behind her head, the front of her robe accidentally opened, exposing her bare breasts. His eyes dove uncontrollably to take in the view. His heart rate spiked. Time froze, like an out-of-body experience.
Reluctantly, he forced his eyes to their previous orbit—hoping she had not noticed. She smiled, making no attempt to pull her robe closed.
“Like what you see, sailor?” She took his arm and led him to the nearby sofa, encouraging him onto his back. Slipping the robe from her shoulders, she straddled him and began unbuckling his belt.
“We’d better not,” he said. “I don’t think we have time.”
She chuckled seductively. “There’s always time for me to show you how much I love you.” With his pants unbuckled and zipper down, she smiled and said, “Looks like someone down here didn’t get the memo about being on a schedule.”
As she reached for him, he grabbed her hand and pulled her down on top of him. Face-to-face, he said, “Emily, now is not the time.” He kissed her. “I have something very special to show you, and, if we don’t go now, we might miss it.” He kissed her again.
“Okay, sailor, but it better be good.” She sat up.
The sight of her made him think hard about going anywhere. He glanced at his watch—almost two thirty. “It’s a surprise you’re going to love.”
“If you say so.” She slipped into her robe. “I’ll only be a minute.”
She called out from the bedroom, “I don’t know if I can handle all these surprises.”
“Me neither,” he said, zipping his pants.
CHAPTER 14
7:40 p.m.
“Wow!” Ryan said. “You look gorgeous!” He stood from the sofa taking a moment to arrange the pillows before walking over to Emily.
“You’re sweet.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Oops.” With her finger, she attempted to remove the lipstick. “There…that’ll give you a nice rosy look.” She patted his butt.
“Thanks.” Ryan said. He looked at his watch—two forty-five.
“Are we on schedule, Captain?” She smiled and gave him a wink.
“Yes, ma’am, right on schedule.”
Beneath his disciplined military shell, Ryan was a full-blown romantic. Although he didn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve, he understood the sensitivities of a woman—something he attributed to his mother’s long talks. His love for Emily had grown deep and he feared time was running out.
He’d planned the evening to perfection, much like one of his military missions. His sights were aimed at Emily’s heart. After leading her through his masterfully planned journey,
“ My dearest Emily ,
With these roses I give you my love . I chose thornless red roses because of what they symbolize :
Red roses to symbolize romance , love , beauty , and courage : A romance between us I hope never ends ; My love for you that has overtaken every corner of my heart ; Your beauty which words cannot describe ; and my wish for the courage to make the changes in my life that will allow you to love me more .”
He took one rose from the box and handed it to her.
“ The thornless stems signify that the first time I saw you ; it was love at first sight . Thank you for the most wonderful six months of my life .
I love you more than you will ever know .
Ryan .”
He looked into her eyes and softly said, “I love you.”
She wrapped both arms around his waist and hugged him; her cheeks still wet with tears. “I don’t deserve you.”
He leaned down and kissed her. With excitement in his voice, he said, “I’ve got a big night planned, but we’re on a tight schedule. So you’d better get ready.”
“How exciting!” She removed the towel from her head and shook her slightly damp hair. Taking both hands, she slowly pulled it back and twisted it into a ponytail. With her arms raised and her hands behind her head, the front of her robe accidentally opened, exposing her bare breasts. His eyes dove uncontrollably to take in the view. His heart rate spiked. Time froze, like an out-of-body experience.
Reluctantly, he forced his eyes to their previous orbit—hoping she had not noticed. She smiled, making no attempt to pull her robe closed.
“Like what you see, sailor?” She took his arm and led him to the nearby sofa, encouraging him onto his back. Slipping the robe from her shoulders, she straddled him and began unbuckling his belt.
“We’d better not,” he said. “I don’t think we have time.”
She chuckled seductively. “There’s always time for me to show you how much I love you.” With his pants unbuckled and zipper down, she smiled and said, “Looks like someone down here didn’t get the memo about being on a schedule.”
As she reached for him, he grabbed her hand and pulled her down on top of him. Face-to-face, he said, “Emily, now is not the time.” He kissed her. “I have something very special to show you, and, if we don’t go now, we might miss it.” He kissed her again.
“Okay, sailor, but it better be good.” She sat up.
The sight of her made him think hard about going anywhere. He glanced at his watch—almost two thirty. “It’s a surprise you’re going to love.”
“If you say so.” She slipped into her robe. “I’ll only be a minute.”
She called out from the bedroom, “I don’t know if I can handle all these surprises.”
“Me neither,” he said, zipping his pants.
CHAPTER 14
7:40 p.m.
“Wow!” Ryan said. “You look gorgeous!” He stood from the sofa taking a moment to arrange the pillows before walking over to Emily.
“You’re sweet.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Oops.” With her finger, she attempted to remove the lipstick. “There…that’ll give you a nice rosy look.” She patted his butt.
“Thanks.” Ryan said. He looked at his watch—two forty-five.
“Are we on schedule, Captain?” She smiled and gave him a wink.
“Yes, ma’am, right on schedule.”
Beneath his disciplined military shell, Ryan was a full-blown romantic. Although he didn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve, he understood the sensitivities of a woman—something he attributed to his mother’s long talks. His love for Emily had grown deep and he feared time was running out.
He’d planned the evening to perfection, much like one of his military missions. His sights were aimed at Emily’s heart. After leading her through his masterfully planned journey,
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