Parker

Parker’s head was spinning. He felt as though he were dreaming. He couldn’t wrap his mind around what happened between him and Beth in the gazebo. All she had to do was recite the verse on the back of the program, but she had done so much more. She’d given him hope. She’d opened up her heart and shown him a piece of herself, a piece that she’d always kept locked away. He’d never heard words so precious. They still echoed in his head.

“I promise you my heart, my future, my everything. No words can ever express what you mean to me. But I can promise you that I will always try.”

That’s all he’d ever wanted, the possibility of a future together—the opportunity to try. And somehow she’d known.

The last thing Beth had done as they’d followed Helen off the gazebo was to whisper in his ear, “In case you were wondering, I wore the shoes for you.”

And just like that Parker’s heart cracked wide open. Now, the trouble was the only thing Parker wanted to do in the world was carry Beth back to her room and show her exactly how much he loved her—exactly how thoroughly he was willing to try. Unfortunately, they were stuck at the seven-course rehearsal dinner party in one of Bellemora’s private dining rooms.

By a small mercy, Beth was seated next to Parker. He kept making excuses to brush her hand, or rest his arm over the back of her chair. And each time he delighted in the fact that she leaned into him.

Dessert was finally being served when Beth linked her pinky with his beneath the table. He grinned at her and she subtly raised her eyebrows, elevating her chin slightly toward her room. Parker nodded and Beth traced the number five in the palm of his hand. Again he nodded.

She excused herself to go to the ladies room and it took every ounce of restraint Parker had left to wait for the second hand to rotate five times around on the face of the grandfather clock.

Beth

Beth sprinted back to her bedroom. She wanted everything to be just perfect when Parker arrived. She’d been so hopeful when she left the room before the rehearsal and things had gone even better than she could’ve planned. Now it was actually happening. She was going to tell Parker that she loved him too!

Breathless, Beth slipped into her room, shutting the door behind her. Everything was as she left it. All she had to do now was light the candles she’d arranged and calm her nerves. Easier said than done.

Her fingers were shaking so badly it took her nearly five minutes to light all the candles. With seconds to spare she snapped a photo of her creation, wanting to capture the moment. Then she glanced in the mirror to check her appearance. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair was a mess. Her loose updo had all but fallen out. There was no time to fix it. Impatiently, Beth let her hair down, shaking free a sea of blonde waves.

Just then, there was a knock on her door. Right on time.

Beth smiled at the flutter of excitement that rippled through her. Her hand instinctively went to the strand of pearls around her neck as she moved into position.

Parker

Parker heard Beth’s voice on the other side of the door telling him to come in. He checked to make sure no one else was in the hallway. Assured the coast was clear, he opened the door and quickly stepped inside.

At first, Parker only saw the flames. Dozens of candles blazed on the floor. They’d been arranged in the shape of a heart, and in the center, spelled out with hundreds of tiny white seashells was a sight that stole his breath. The initials. PR + BB gleamed back at him. Parker Reed and Beth Bennett. P and B.

Parker had never seen something so simple and perfect in all his life. That’s when he heard Beth’s voice. “What do you think?” she asked stepping out of the shadows.

Her hands were clasped behind her back and she chewed her bottom lip like she did when she was nervous. But hope shined bright in her eyes and Parker’s heart leapt.

He took an unsteady step toward her. “Does this mean . . .” He paused almost terrified to say his wish aloud. “Are you picking me?”

Beth nodded. “It’s always been you, Parker.” She smiled and it was his undoing.

Parker unraveled as he crossed the room in swift, determined steps, not stopping until Beth was in his arms. He scooped her up, his hands gripping her tiny waist, pinning her against him. He kissed her urgently, feeling as if his heart might break free of his body if he stopped. They were a storm of hands exploring, lips caressing. Parker held Beth tightly, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Their lips parted for the briefest of moments and Beth whispered against his mouth. “I love you, Parker.”

“Thank God,” he breathed, his lips finding hers once more.

Beth

Beth had never been kissed the way Parker kissed her now. Urgent and tender, with passion and reverence. And even as he crushed her to him, she felt as if her very bones ached to be closer. He was home and her heart longed to return.

Parker’s kisses stoked wild desires as his lips coaxed hers apart. He tasted of hopes and dreams and endless possibilities. Parker hoisted her higher in his arms. Beth’s feet came off the ground and she clung to him as brilliant sparks of longing erupted in her heart. She gasped as his lips hungrily tasted her jaw, her neck. When Parker’s mouth roamed to the hollow at the base of her throat Beth tilted her head back offering him more. And she knew in that moment there was no going back. She wanted to feel like this forever, no matter what the cost.

Parker

Beth’s legs hitched around his waist and Parker carried her toward the bed. Her skin felt like velvet beneath his fingertips and the way she responded to his touch left him shaking. Beth’s hands moved to his shirt. The feeling of her fingers sliding beneath the fabric did wild things to his breathing. He couldn’t get enough of her. His lips burned from kissing, but he couldn’t stop. He engulfed her mouth, her throat. He wanted to wrap himself around her and never let go.

“Wait,” she said breathlessly when he untied the neck of her dress.

Parker’s mind snapped back to attention. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, blinking rapidly. He was dazed with how quickly he’d gotten carried away. This was Beth. She deserved so much more than a rushed romp in the sheets.

“No, it’s not that,” Beth assured him, pulling his hand back to her heart.

He felt the rapid way it pounded beneath his touch—a mirror to his own. “What is it?”

Beth bit her lip and Parker’s heart sank. “You haven’t told Jared yet.”

She nodded and Parker sank down on the bed, his heart beating like a jackhammer.

“I tried to call him a dozen times today but he never picks up. I was going to wait to tell you how I felt until I could break things off with Jared first, but then you read Corinthians and, I don’t know I just . . . I couldn’t stop myself from telling you how I feel about you.”

Parker pulled Beth close, kissing the crown of her head. “I’m glad you didn’t wait.”

“You are?”

He looked down at her, smiling at her bewildered gaze. “Are you kidding? Do you know how long I’ve dreamt of you telling me I have a shot?”

Beth grinned, reaching up to stroke his cheek. “You have more than a shot,” she said, her fingers traveling the length of his face. They stilled at his lips and her smile tightened. “But we have to wait.”

Parker nodded. “I know. I’m good at waiting,” he said with a sideways grin. He took Beth’s hand, gently kissing it before curling it over his heart. “I know you need to end things with Jared first and I’ll wait.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Parker pulled her into his arms and for a long moment they just held each other, listening to the matched beats of their wild hearts.

After a while Beth said. “We should blow the candles out before we set the place on fire.”

Parker reluctantly let her climb out of his embrace. Watching Beth blow out the candles awoke an old ache inside of him. This was supposed to be the beginning for them. Watching the flames snuffed out seemed ominously wrong. Begrudgingly, Parker cursed Jared for taking even more time away from him. But Parker had told Beth he would wait, and he meant it. After all, he’d waited his entire life for her. What was a few more days?

He rose from the bed to help Beth with the candles. When they were finished, she moved to pick up the initials spelled in tiny white seashells.

“Wait,” Parker said kneeling next to her. He examined them further and recognition prickled like goose bumps in his scalp. Some of the shells were marked with initials and dates. “These are our shells.”

Beth grinned back at him.

“Where did you find them?”

“In the storage shed. I told you Bellemora never throws anything away.”

Parker’s throat tightened and he swallowed hard against his rising emotions. No one had ever done anything like this for him. But Beth knew him. She knew he was sentimental, that he valued words and actions above material things. She knew this would matter. It was a declaration.

Staring at their initials laid out in the shells they’d gathered over the years was perhaps the most fitting description of their relationship. They were a collection of memories, hopes and dreams gathered over time. Each one special and precious for its own reason. Apart, they were but fractured pieces, but together they fit to make one beautiful creation that could be shaped into anything with their love.

Beth reached out to scoop up the shells, but Parker stopped her, his hand gentle on her wrist. He pulled her slowly back to him, planting a kiss on either side of her lips. “Maybe we could leave them for a bit longer.”

She stared at him, eyes gleaming. “For as long as you want.”