The left side of his mouth twitched as a sparkle lit up his eyes. “I suppose you can put it that way. As your Pastor though, I highly discourse beating anyone. It was simply a friendly competition.” He winked at her and continued their walk toward the park. “But off the record, I’m very glad you won.”
She gave him a small smile, happy for his support, but feeling guilty all the same. Yes, her play had won, but that didn’t mean much now. Not when she’d had to cancel it at the last minute.
It was at that moment that a familiar song caught her notice. The first few notes perked up her ears and then her feet came to a complete halt. Those were the notes she’d written - the first few lines of her musical. What were they doing, playing those songs? They didn’t belong out here.
“What’s going on?” she vaguely asked Pastor Steve. He shrugged and grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief.
Pushing through the crowd, Chloe worked her way toward the front. She had to blink a dozen times as she stared up at the city gazebo before she could realize what she was looking at. There were her set pieces. A heavily pregnant Amanda was strolling in front of them, a hand on her swollen belly. Laurie, as the angel, stood on a platform in the back with a brilliant spotlight aimed at the back of her head that lit her up like an other-worldly creature.
That was when Jordan’s voice began to ring out across the dark night. Chloe’s heart did a flip flop, not daring to believe he was really here. With his gorgeous tenor, he hit every note with perfect accuracy and stomach-dropping beauty. He stepped out from behind a pillar, a microphone in hand. Chloe gaped up at him, not sure whether to cry or laugh or simply stare.
He’d stayed in New Hope. Even with his job on the line, he’d risked everything to put on her musical. She couldn’t believe what she saw.
The show was better than every rehearsal they’d had. Everyone hit their timing perfectly. The little ones behaved and drew laughter from the crowd. Amanda belted out her solo with heart-felt vibrato. And Jordan - the real star of the play - moved through each scene with a sincerity so strong that it brought tears to the corners of Chloe’s eyes. Gone was the stiffness and the sullen actor. In his place was a man who truly believed in romance.
It was over before she could breathe again. The actors bowed and she threw her hands together with as much effort as she could muster, causing the palms of her hands to sting. The crowd cheered around her and several people clapped her on the back as it began to die down. Chloe didn’t care, she only had eyes for Jordan. For the first time that night, his gaze drifted to hers. They each held it for several long moments before he lifted the microphone to his mouth again.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the lady of the hour? Our writer, director, and all-together artistic genius, Chloe Walker.”
Several hands helped lift her on stage as the audience roared. Chloe felt her cheeks burn bright and she joined the cast in a line. Jordan held out his hand to her. A smile lit up his face from ear to ear. He pulled her in close when she placed her hand in his, wrapping his other arm around her.
“I’m so sorry for what I said,” she whispered out of the corner of her mouth. The crowd continued to clap.
“I’m sorry, too,” he whispered back with a wave at Pastor Steve. “I’m sorry what you had to go through with your sister. I understand why you freaked out.”
She looked up at him. The stage lights that had been moved to the park nearly blinded her. “You do?”
“Yeah.” He gazed down at her, a smoldering expression burning in his eyes. “But just know this, Chloe Walker. You may be stubborn and bullheaded, but I can be just as stubborn. And despite my promise to myself to never fall in love, I have stubbornly fallen in love with you. That’s what you did to me, Chloe Walker. What do you have to say for yourself?”
She grinned as a warm feeling emerged from her stomach and entered every limb in her body. Reaching up for his shoulder, she pulled him down into a kiss that only served to fuel the warmth and cause the crowd to whoop and holler. When they finally parted, she grinned out from the stage, truly happy and satisfied.
“I love you, too, Jordan Davis,” she said with a soft sigh. He squeezed her hand in response. And the two of them took a final bow, before running off the gazebo and into the lighted park for some much needed privacy.
Chapter Fifteen
Chloe’s foot teetered on the top of the ladder as she stretched to wind the last few feet of white ribbon around the wooden beam of the gazebo. Just a couple more inches. The place was beginning to look like a wintry palace, complete with hundreds of strands of white lights, yards of sheer tulle, and glass snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. Only a few more days until the big day. She couldn’t believe it was already here. It seemed like they’d planned for this day forever.
“Don’t fall,” Laurie called from below. She had a tight grip on each side of the ladder, her knuckles white. “Please be careful.”
“I’m almost there,” Chloe responded through gritted teeth. She had to finish the job and it had to be perfect. “One more inch.”
Her foot slipped from the rung, catapulting her over the side of the ladder. She careened headfirst toward the floor, shrieking in surprise. Waving her hands in giant circles did nothing to stop her quick descent. It wasn’t until she felt strong arms surround her and cradle her head did she stop flailing and blink up at the bright ceiling.
“Just in time to save the damsel in distress,” Jordan said, smiling down at her. “Didn’t I tell you to let me do all the ladder work?”
Chloe picked herself up and wiped imaginary dirt from her knees. She huffed and threw the empty ribbon spool over her shoulder. “I’m an incredibly self-sufficient woman, Mr. Davis. We’ve been together a year. You ought to know that by now.”
“I do.” He grabbed her hand and yanked her forward, wrapping his arms tight around her waist. “And I love that about you.”
She laughed as he covered her mouth with his. Their bodies pressed together, hands roaming over each other’s shoulders. It wasn’t until they heard someone clear a throat that they pulled apart with sheepish grins.
“You’d think they were the ones getting married in a few days.” Gemma was standing on the top step of the gazebo looking in. Her face flushed in a pretty pink shade that complimented the excited sparkle of her eyes. “Kissing under my gazebo. Stealing all my luck.”
“Stop stealing my lady’s luck,” Lance demanded, as he ascended the stairs and grabbed Gemma’s hand. He wore a black pea coat over an expensive suit and shiny Italian leather shoes. His hair had grown longer over the last few months, hanging over his ears in a wavy rugged style. He winked at them and smiled mischievously. “Seriously, guys, you don’t want to make this bridezilla angry. She’s scary when she’s angry.”
“I’m not a bridezilla!” Gemma punched him on the shoulder and glared at him with mock anger.
“See?” Lance’s eyes got wide. “Bridezilla’s already coming out. Everyone run!”