She wasn't used to public affection, but something about the moment kept her trapped there.
"Is that Alex Reid?!" Several voice rose, and cameras flashed here and there.
Jamie's first inclination was to jerk back. Alex was very protective over his reputation, and she didn't want to do anything to harm that, but he seemed set on letting the world know that they were together.
His fingers found their way to her face and held her in place as he opened his eyes and kissed her a few more times. "I love you."
"I love you more. Let's get out of here and go make love. You were right. We should have stayed home." She kissed him quickly once more before moving back and taking his hand.
"As much as I would love that, I have dinner reservations for us at six tonight. We have three hours until then. Let's get you a new dress and some pretty jewelry as my Valentine’s gift to you. We'll go home and get ready and then head back out. You're going to love this place. It's a new steakhouse in downtown, and the reviews alone make your mouth water." He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers as they walked toward a large, expensive department store.
"I don't need a new dress, baby. You've bought me plenty." She tried to divert him, but he wouldn't have it.
"No. I want you to have something new. Don't deny me this. Then I'll have to think of something else that I want to buy you, and I have very little time. Get a dress for tonight. For me." He lifted his eyebrow and gave her a sexy smile.
"Instead of the depravity you ordered?" she teased him.
"Um, no. I need that depravity, but I'm pretty sure the dress will just be part of the overall package that is you." He pulled her toward a large expensive store. "Get to it, woman. Find something that will leave me panting after you."
"Okay. Let's see what they have in nude," she laughed as he growled softly.
"Tease."
“And you love it.”
“You friggin’ bet I do.” He grinned at her. That sexy grin that made her knees weak.
Chapter 20
The restaurant was extravagant, the setting romantic and insanely beautif
ul. Small white lights danced along the ceiling, and candles burned on each table. Red heart balloons floated and a violinist played music in a far corner of the place.
Jamie held tightly to Alex's hand as they moved through the empty dining room. She started to ask him why in the world the whole place was empty, but maybe they were just early. Alex didn't particularly care for crowds, but it was six on Valentine’s Day. The place should have been filled with people.
"This is beautiful," she whispered and tightened her hand around his. The dark suit he wore only brought out the intensity of his blue eyes and his muted pink lips.
She didn't think she could fall any more in love with him, but she was wrong.
He had picked out a muted blue dress that fell to right above her knees and hugged her hips and breasts tightly. She wanted to argue that she wouldn't be able to breathe, but after trying the thing on, she had quickly fallen in love with it.
Now that she was in the middle of one of the fanciest restaurants she had ever seen, she was grateful for the choice they had made on the dress. She felt like a princess, and had no doubt that the man next to her was most certainly her prince.
Alex opened a tall ornate door in front of him and moved back. "For you. I love you with all of my heart, with every part of me."
She paused as her stomach tightened and her heart fluttered in her chest. She smiled at him and brushed a kiss on his lips before he urged her to go into the quaint room before them.
Turning, Jamie walked in, but stopped short. Soft music played from the speakers above her, and the room was lit up as if fireflies were dancing around the air. A string of light pulled from the edges of the room to create a runway down the center of the room, and on the far end was a table no bigger than a nightstand. Lights and rose petals ran down the white tulle that was draped across the table, but it was the open black box nestled into the center of it that almost caused her heart to stop.
Surely it was a necklace or a pair of beautiful earrings. She had fallen for that once before. Not again.
Alex applied a little bit of pressure to her lower back and whispered in her ear, "Happy Valentine’s, Jamie."
She took a few steps forward and laid eyes on the biggest diamond she had ever seen. It was situated beautifully on an ornate platinum band with smaller diamonds holding it in place.
Alex reached out and took the ring and dropped down to one knee.
"No, you're not. Oh my..." Jamie's eyes filled with tears as she lost her ability to breathe properly. "No. You’re not. Really?"