Page 19 of Wake Me Up Before You Cocoa

Frankly, he kept re-playing that moment of finding Marina hiding behind the grandfather clock, hands over her eyes like a kid who thinks nobody will see them.

Itwasdarker back in the corner of the antique store, but when he whispered her name, she had jerked with a start. Big blue eyes flew open while a laugh escaped her throat.

She had looked so darn cute. He’d forgotten how much he loved her genuine smile. The joy of life she always exhibited. He wasn’t sure they had ever had a fight or a disagreement in their two years of dating at UA, affectionately referred to as Bama by the student body.

He gave a chuckle thinking about them both visiting the cemetery on the very same day. He could picture her running through the gravestones, enjoying the sunlight, her hair flying, a giggle in her throat.

She was one of a kind.

All at once, Wade noticed that Lydia was staring at him. “What are you laughing at?” she demanded coolly.

“I was?” Wade asked, a stab of guilt in his chest. “Nothing. Let’s enjoy the evening. I’m getting hungrier every minute.”

Two minutes later, they were finally pulling into the circular drive atThe Toulouse Garden.

Wade breathed a sigh of relief, but it was short lived.

Chapter Nine

When the valet parking attendant opened the car door, Lydia glanced at her phone again and gave a small squeal. “Oh, no, we’re fifteen minutes late!”

“We’ll be fine,” Wade assured her. “We have a reservation, and there’s always a thirty-minute grace period. Doesn’t hurt that I went to school with one of the new owners either,” he said with a wry grin.

Lydia placed her hand in the crook of his arm while they walked inside. “It’s just that my daddy has athingabout punctuality,” she said in a low voice.

Wade lifted an eyebrow. “Then why were you trying to seduce me earlier?”

She lifted one bare shoulder in a sexy shrug. “Just teasingyou.”

When they entered the exquisite lobby, Wade gave a low whistle. “Been awhile since I’ve dined here.”

“I had lunch with my parents here a few weeks ago,” Lydia murmured. “It’s really nice.”

“Nice is an understatement,” Wade said in a low voice. “More like breathtaking.”

A long, rectangular room completely done in white and gold with magnificent Corinth columns greeted them at the entrance. Intimate tables with plush white chairs were set with crisp linens and crystal, and situated on thick, white carpet.

Wide windows overlooked a manicured French garden, brick pathways, wrought-iron benches, and a fountain in the center.

Soft music played, floating delicately underneath a magnificent chandelier that spread from the center of the high ceiling—with plaster molding and medallions—outward with hanging crystal teardrops. At the other end of the room, charming marble fireplaces were lit, orange flames giving off warmth and a cozy atmosphere despite the gold leaf grandeur of the arches.

“Follow me,” Lydia said, tugging at his arm. “There they are!”

“What?” he said, confused. “Who?”

She threw him a sly grin. “My parents.”

Wade tugged on her hand, slowing Lydia’s surge forward. “Your parents are here? But why? Did they know we were coming and are sabotaging our personal celebration?”

“They want to help us celebrate our official engagement, and my mother is dying to see my ring.”

“But this dinner was supposed to be forourcelebration,” he said under his breath, careful not to move his lips. “I figured we could always have dinner with your folks another time.”

Lydia lifted her shoulder and giggled. “I was so excited I couldn’t wait, so I invited them.”

Wade ran a finger under the collar where his tie had suddenly become very constricting. He cleared his throat, heat rising up his neck while he attempted to remain calm.

“When did you invite them, and why didn’t you tell me?” he asked Lydia in a low voice, hoping his future in-laws couldn’t hear his words.

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