“Yup. Easy. Where should I change?”
“My room.” He took the garment bag from her hand and led her to the guest bedroom. “Do I get to stay and watch you change?”
Tara laughed and planted her hands firmly on his chest and pushed him out the door. “Not a chance. You have to let me surprise you a little, too.”
He pulled her to him for a fast, hard kiss before she closed the door on his face. He stood grinning for a minute before he jumped into action. God, he was actually nervous. Did he think she might say no?
Seth rushed to the office to change into the tuxedo he’d borrowed from Landon’s closet. They were similar enough in size that it fitpretty well. At the hallway bathroom, he slicked his hair back from his forehead with a bit of hair wax. He studied himself in the mirror and shrugged. Not too shabby. Because he struggled a bit with the bow tie, it took him fifteen minutes to finish up.
He next went to the kitchen to make sure the butternut squash ravioli from Lola’s Trattoria was staying warm in the oven. The salad and bread were ready to be served. The ivory corsage and boutonnière were looking fresh and lovely in the fridge. He would have to grab them once she said yes.
Right. He had to ask Tara to the prom. He took a deep breath and blew it out through his mouth. Was he sweating?Shit. He was sweating, for God’s sake. Taking another calming breath, Seth went into the living room to grab the prom-proposal poster he’d made. He glanced over it. It really wasn’t too bad. He’d put a picture of Tara in one corner and a picture of himself in the other corner, and wrote “Can you picture us at prom?” He’d shamelessly copied some kid’s idea on Pinterest, but it seemed appropriate. He was going full corny. There were no halfways.
Oh, he almost forgot the cupcakes. He sped to the kitchen and grabbed the box of cupcakes. Like her brothers said, the way to Tara’s heart was through her stomach. He checked his watch. He had about ten minutes to spare, but he couldn’t stand waiting around.
Seth paced back and forth in front of his room, and finally caved and knocked on the door. “Are you ready?”
“You’re early,” she said through the closed door. “But yeah. I’m just about ready. Give me two minutes.”
“Okay.”
God, two minutes is going to feel like an eternity.He had his poster leaning against the wall next to him and he held the box of cupcakes in his hands. Seth cleared his dry throat. He had his work cut out forhim not to sound like Kermit the Frog. Did he have enough time to run to the kitchen for a sip of water? No.
Just then, the door inched open to reveal a magnificent Tara in the burgundy maid-of-honor dress he hadn’t been able to look away from. He was having the same trouble now. Lust, raw and searing, spread through him, and he wanted to have her right this moment.
A sultry smile spread across Tara’s face, and she leaned against the doorframe with one arm stretched above her head. “You like what you see?”
“Yes. Please. Thank you,” Seth said thickly.
She took a step toward him and was stopped by the outstretched box of cupcakes. She glanced down with a perplexed frown, and looked back up at him. “Seth?”
Shit. Get your act together. He had a prom proposal to make happen. “Here. This is for you.”
“Mmm. Cupcakes. Thank you.” She cocked her head, looking curiously at him. “What is it for? Did you want to have this later?”
“Yes. No. Just stand right there.” He was the definition of smooth.
“O… kay?”
Seth retreated a couple steps and picked up his poster with the back facing her. After a deep breath, he spun it around so she could see it in all its glory. Tara covered her mouth as a half sob and a half laugh escaped her mouth.
“Can you picture us at prom?” She laughed, and a single tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away before another one took its place. “I knew you were cheesy, but this one beats them all.”
“I want to take you to prom.” His voice was finally steady. All his ridiculous nerves were gone and he realized he meant what he said.He wanted to take her to prom and fill that missing gap from her memories. “Will you let me?”
All attempts to laugh at the situation stopped, and Tara gazed at Seth with a tremulous smile. “Yes. I would love to go to prom with you.”
His heart grew wings and flapped against his chest, demanding release. Seth wanted to kiss the daylights out of her, but once he started, he wouldn’t be able to stop. That wouldn’t do. He was taking his girl to prom.
“I’ll be right back,” he said. At the kitchen, he grabbed the corsage and boutonnière and ran back. He was gratified to see Tara standing exactly where he’d left her, staring down at the poster leaning against the wall. “This is for you.”
“A corsage? Oh, my gosh. It’s so pretty.” She put the cupcakes aside, and held out her arm to him.
He put down the boxes on the floor and stood with her corsage in his hand. He slipped it onto her delicate wrist, and the flowers seemed to come alive and glow against her soft skin. “Do you like it?”
“I love it. I’ve always wanted to wear one.” Her voice was husky again.
Seth took out his boutonnière and held it out to her. “Will you do the honors?”
