The next day, Jayde treated herself to a day at the spa. She got a massage anointed with water lily and dark amber oil, a body wax, a manicure, and a pedicure. Her hair was swept up in a dazzling display with only one tendril left to hang down by her right ear.
Back in her hotel room, Jayde slid on her dress for the evening. It was a black formal gown that fit her body like a dream. The straps were offset on her shoulders and the neckline sweetheart neckline tantalized what lay beneath the satin material.
As she stared at her reflection, she removed her gold necklace and replaced it with a silver one that had a sapphire rose pendant on it. She also put in silver dangling earrings that had three chains. At the end of each was a small sapphire teardrop.
She placed a sapphire and diamond ring on her ring finger on her right hand. Her only other piece of jewelry was the silver filigree bracelet on her left hand and her wedding ring. Jayde slipped her feet in T-strapped, three-inch black heels and picked up her small purse. She was ready to go.
A good portion of the city had turned out for this, or so it seemed. The ballroom was practically wall to wall with people. Her grandparents were really well liked and respected here. As she sat off to the side and watched the couples dancing, she spotted George moving towards her.
She wanted to flee, but she refused to make a scene on her grandparents’ night. “What do you want?” she asked as he stopped beside her.
“A dance,” he said in his normal condescending tone.
“No. I don’t know how many times I can say this or in how many different ways. I don’t want a rela-tionship with you. I don’t want anything with you, so go away and leave me alone,” Jayde responded, so tired of the same old thing between them.
The room erupted in applause as the guests of honor spoke. “Thank you for this, to our family and friends who came together to celebrate our union. Now continue to eat, dance, and have a wonderful time.”
The band struck up the beginning to a slow dance and as George reached for her hand, something be-hind her caught his attention, causing him to back away. Little by little the whole room fell silent until the only thing she heard was a set of deliberate footsteps walking across the ballroom floor.
Jayde turned in her seat. What she saw brought tears to her eyes. It was Tyson in full military dress, striding purposefully toward her. His white uniform stood out sharply against his tanned skin, his hat tucked under his left arm. On the left side of his uniform was, in brilliant gold, his Trident pin, marking him as a soldier in the Teams. Under that were numerous rows of ribbons, many with pins in them as well. It was obvious he’d gone above and beyond the call of duty many times over. His hair had been freshly cut, shorter than when she’d seen him two days ago.
Whispers filled the room. “Look at that.”
“Who do you think it is?”
“Looks like that same guy who played George on the court.”
Stopping before Jayde, Tyson looked down, those gorgeous eyes of his bearing into her soul. “Figured you might want a date for the party.” One lean hand reached out and stroked her face. She could smell his aftershave.
“So you just came out of the goodness of your heart?” she asked behind a smile as she pressed her face into his touch.
“No, I came because there’s not another place I would rather be than by your side,” Tyson pledged, his eyes backing up his statement with love.
“Who are you?” a deep voice intruded.
Tyson moved his gaze from his wife to the older man who stood beside her. “And you are?” Tyson asked, dropping his hand from Jayde’s face.
“I believe I asked first. That is my daughter,” the man claimed.
Tyson scanned the room and noted the unsure looks he was receiving. Then looked back at her. “Jayde?”
She rose and placed her hand in his outstretched one. “Now is fine,” she said.
Instead of answering the sour-looking man, Tyson set his pristine white hat on the table and spun his wife in a circle. “You look amazing.” He twirled her back into his decorated chest and, putting one hand behind her head and the other at the small of her back, kissed her.
The room erupted in cheers and accusations. “Get off of my daughter, you bastard!” Jayde’s father yelled and swung at him.
Tyson gathered Jayde close and sidestepped the attack easily. “Don’t ever raise your hand to me. Or your daughter.” He looked down her. “Are you okay?”
Jayde smiled up at him. “I’m always okay with you around.”
Tyson winked at her and tucked her under his arm, then turned his attention back to the man in front of them. “Forgive me, sir, but I will not let anyone take a swing at this woman.”
“I remember you from the park the other day. You beat George. Who the hell are you?”
“Yes, I beat George, and I warned him to leave Jayde alone, a warning I don’t think he heeded very well.” Tyson swung his gaze over to George, who blanched and backed up even more.
“Who the hell are you to think you can tell my daughter’s fiancée to leave her alone?” her father de-manded.
“Her husband.”
The room plummeted into silence
“What did you say?” A woman screeched as she headed across the floor, her movements elegant de-spite the anger radiating from her.
“You must be Jayde’s mother,” Tyson said dryly.
“She is not married,” the woman insisted. Tyson really didn’t like her. Her narrowed eyes focused on Jayde. He felt his woman tremble beside him. “She is nothing but a slut.”
“Mind your tone as you speak to my wife. And yes, she is my wife.” Tyson knew all present heard the hard edge to his tone.
“Jayde,” her mother screamed. “Tell them this is a lie. Damn you. Tell them.”
“I can’t do that,” Jayde said as she sank back into Tyson’s protective touch. “He is my husband. I did marry a stranger. I married him in Belize.” Her eyes grew defiant as she stared down the spiteful woman. “I married a man who I hadn’t even known for twenty-four hours. And you know what else? I have felt more alive with him than I have ever felt before in my life. I love him.”
“I love you, too, little rose.” Tyson turned to Ben and Regina and went to them, Jayde in tow. “It is wonderful to see you both again.” He kissed Regina’s cheek and shook Ben’s hand.
“And you, Tyson, glad you could make it,” Ben said. Then he waved to the band for music. “Now, go dance with that lovely wife of yours. In fact, I think we will join you.”
“Yes, sir!” Tyson moved Jayde out to the floor, her grandparents right beside them.
Eventually other couples started dancing as well and the party atmosphere returned to room. Tyson could still feel all eyes on them. Not really liking all the attention, he walked Jayde back to where she’d been sitting.
He pulled her chair out for her. “Here, Jayde, have a seat.”
She smiled gratefully at him. “I can’t thank you enough for coming here tonight. Look at you! So amaz-ing…so handsome…” She touched the gold pin and asked, “Is this it, the pin that sets you apart from the rest of the Navy?” Her fingers moved over his chest to the ribbons on the other side.
“Yes. The Budweiser or Trident. It tells everyone I am in the Teams.” He put his hand over hers and placed it against his heart. “You never have to thank me for spending time with you, Jayde. I love you.”
She stepped closer to him and dropped her voice to a whisper. “I have to confess something to you.”
His eyes grew dark with desire. “Unburden your soul,” his velvet tone ran over her body as his finger traced her cheekbone.
“When I went back to the hotel and saw you weren’t there…I thought maybe…maybe you had gone back to her.” Jayde blushed.
“My little rose, I don’t want Carrie. I have never wanted her the way I want you. And now I only want you.” He cupped the sides of her face, bringing them nose to nose. “Only you, for the rest of our lives.”
“Oh, Tyson.” She threw her arms around his neck and said, “I love you!”
As if she didn’t weigh more than a feather, he lifted her in his arms, handing her to the sky. He was filled with an overwhelming sense of peace and contentment. Her head leaned back and her bare arms fell open as if she were embracing the world as a husky, pealing laughter rang from her. “I love you, Tyson! I love you!”
He brought her mouth back to his and devoured her. After a long moment, he reluctantly set her on her own feet to the thunderous applause from the room. Her immediately family merely scowled. Jayde and Tyson walked over to her grandparents and kissed them goodbye. Then he scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs and out the door, his hat settled on her head.