Page 236 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
“Merry Christmas Eve,” I responded.
“Tiffany,” Austin’s small voice called out. “I have a present for you.”
I looked down to see Austin standing next to us. He looked up at me with a huge grin on his face. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, square box.
“Tiffany, will you marry us?” Austin asked. He passed the box to Cayden. As I turned to look at Cayden, I saw he had gotten down on one knee. He took the box from Austin and opened it up to reveal a gorgeous diamond engagement ring. He held the box out to me.
Tears began to fall onto my cheeks as I took the scene in. The crowd had formed a circle around us. Cayden was on his knee, Austin was holding my right hand, and Cayden’s parents were looking at us, their faces beaming with pride.
“Yes!” I exclaimed. Cayden rose to his feet as he took the ring out of the box and slid it on my left ring finger. The diamonds were dazzling in the moonlight. The crowd erupted into applause.
“Welcome to the family.” Alice rushed toward me, embracing me in a hug. I hugged her back. As she stepped back, Cayden and Austin gave me a huge hug. Suddenly, the Christmas tree began to light up and the crowd began to clap again. Christmas music came over the speakers as people began to sing. I felt as if they were celebrating my engagement, too. Cayden grabbed one of my hands and Austin grabbed the other as we watched the tree light up. I squeezed both of their hands as tears continued to fall from my cheeks.
This was the best Christmas ever.
Take A Chance On Me
Copyright © 2018 by Weston Parker
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and plot are all either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons – living or dead – is purely coincidental.
First Edition.
Editor: Shauna Jones
Cover Designer: Ryn Katryn Digital Art
ONE WINTER NIGHT
DESCRIPTION
Snow covers the ground and love is in the air in the southern city of Savannah.
I’ve only recently gotten out of the military, but my best friend’s father gave me a good job at his security firm.
The last person I expected to find working there was my best friend’s little sister – all grown up.
She’s beyond beautiful and such a handful – in more ways than one.
I can’t help but think about what we could be if she would stop being so damn difficult, but it’s part of her charm.
She’s in for the adventure of her lifetime with me, and it’s going to start one winter night soon.
CHAPTER 1
JACK
The room was still dark when I woke up in a cold sweat. That damn dream again.
Several nights a week, the nightmare came, dragging me back to that day in the desert. To the same dusty, sun-bleached street, the call to prayer echoing off the buildings, creating a corridor of distorted sound.
It was hot, almost unbearably so, but after years of baking in the sand, I’d almost gotten used to it. Almost. What I couldn’t get used to, though, was the looks on their faces. The people of the town went about their business, just like every other day. Some wore smiles, some scowls, but each had a look in their eyes, an air of expectation.
When would the next horror appear? The next indignity in a string of indignities, the next futile attack in a war that had gone on so long that the locals had stopped expressing hope for an ending? Every face bore the identical expression—hopeless anticipation.
Every face but hers. The woman in black. She’d even risked a smile in my direction today, one that I’d returned with a friendly nod.
