for June

1. Second Time's a Charm

"What?" June smiled at her own reflection gleaming back at her from the opulent mirror in the lavish bathroom. She couldn't help but shake her head. Almost two years ago, if you'd told her one day she'd be in a live-in relationship with a super funny, lovable writer Zachary Eve, or her very own gooey Chad Gilligan, to the envy of women the world over, she would have told you to 'get out,' seriously get out.

Life back then was nothing more than days dragging out, tears drying out, and hope, dying the same death her parents did. Burnt to a crisp in the fire that had taken their lives and hers, her freedom, and her will to live. Two years ago, she had stared at the inevitability of a failed life. Twenty-three, orphaned, homeless, and that's the way it was going to be.

Until Chad has scared the living daylights out of her.

A knock sounded on the door, and June pulled the basket of goodies she'd received on arrival at the hotel. She pulled out the perfume and opened the packaging as Chad popped his head in.

"You ready yet?"

She couldn't help but notice the way his eyes roved over her body, from her feet to her face. "Almost. You?"

Chad smiled, throwing open the door. He stood there in his new dinner jacket she'd helped him choose. Navy blue, tailored, accented with a white crisp shirt underneath, and a pop of soft colour from his peach tie, paired with his cream chino "How do I look?" he asked, walking over to her and taking her in his arms. "Hearts are gonna be breaking tonight, I'm told."

June's brows danced at the cheeky grin on his face. "And who has been telling you this lie?"

Chad kissed her before holding her at an arm's length as if she were a debutant being introduced tonight. It might as well have been. This was the first official function she was accompanying him to in the writing circle. An event that was going to be photographed, she was told. Photographs that would end up in some magazine or new channels. "Look at you," he said. "I am one lucky man!"

June chuckled softly, spraying the perfume on herself. "I'm so nervous."

"You're nervous? What about me?" He wrapped his arms around her and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. "I have to hold it together until the end when all I want to do is just eat you up right now! Your sexy, sexy neck." He kissed the nape, travelling sensually down her shoulder, slowly, but surely, removing the strap of her dress. "Let's just skip the ceremony and have our own celebration here. What says you?" His hand roamed around her waist, travelling up to her breasts.

She moaned before snapping out of it and pushing him away. "And miss you getting your award? I don't think so!" She pulled her strap back up and stepped away from him with a smile. As much as she wanted to stay in the executive suite and have their own 'celebration', she did not want to miss seeing Chad get recognised for his work.

She pushed him out of the bathroom, both hands flat on his chest and a cheeky smile on her lips. "It's not every day I get to strut out there with my boyfriend and watch him get gushed over! Now, get out. Let me finish" -- she winked -- "and then maybe I'll let you take me out of this dress later, sometime after, or during the ceremony?"

Chad bit his lips and groaned, reluctantly bowing out of the bathroom. "I might hold you to that, Miss Amari."

She winked at him again, closing the door back up again. "Maybe I want you to. How about that?"

"You're a fucking tease!"

She laughed and rushed back to the vanity, and to the last-minute touches. She was about to step out into the public eye with Zachary Eve. It was paramount she look her best tonight.

"I'll be out in a minute."

"I'll have a glass of champagne waiting."

God, she loved the man on the other side of that door, and as she applied a final touch of lipstick, she couldn't help but smile. Tonight might be the night. The night she finally said it, the three magic words she knew she'd been wanting to say for a while now. She was in love. She was in love and she never thought she'd be again. Thoroughly head over heels, and this time, the man was all hers. Not someone she had to share with, steal moments to be with. Chad was all hers.

And tonight, she was going to tell him so just how much she loved him. Or maybe even show him how much she loved him.

She took a breath, eyed herself in the mirror once more, and nodded. "Tonight! Tonight we say it." Her reflection smiled back at her, agreeing. Yes, she was. "We do it. No chickening out."

She grabbed her purse off the vanity; confidence and sexiness oozy out of her every pore. She had a job to do and that was to look as alluring as she could all night. She walked out of that bathroom saying, "I'm ready."

* * *

Chad felt his jaw drop as she came out of the bathroom. He had to grip the flutes tighter in case they slipped from his grip. "Wow." He breathed and passed her a champagne flute he had ready and waiting, true to his words. "Something for our nerves."

He watched June shoot the entire glass in one go and wipe the corner of her mouth. "I'm gonna need more than one glass then!"

Chad chuckled, holding out his arm for her to take. "Shall we?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready... I think."

But she looked anything but ready and all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and make her feel safe, or better yet, take her to bed and help her work through her nerves. Instead, he leaned in and kissed her temple gently. "There's nothing to it. You're simply perfect."

"I doubt it." Worry lines etched her face. "What if I stumble and fall flat on my face?"

"I'm the one getting up and walking to get this award." Chad laughed, holding the door open for his lady. "You'll do perfectly, as always. My perfect little lady."

June bit her lips and eyed her shoes. "Let's hope so. I want everything to go perfectly for you tonight, it's a big recognition."

Me too. He fought the urge to check his jacket's pocket for the hundredth time. Yes, the ring was there, safely tucked in his lapel pocket. He'd checked just before she'd emerged from the bathroom. "I'm sure it will." He held out the crook of his arm for her to take and walked her towards the lift and towards the limousine he had waiting outside for them.

Once in the lift, he leaned in closer, cherishing her scent enveloping his senses. "I hope you'll have fun tonight, and everything will go perfectly!"

June flashed him a nervous smile. "Me too."

But Chad wasn't talking about the award night, or how June would do meeting his writing circle. No. As he cradled the small of her back and walked out of the hotel with her, a smooth little velvet box was tucked away safely in his pocket, waiting for the right time, just as he'd planned.

Tonight was the night. The night he was going to give happily-ever-after a second chance, and he was pretty sure this time, the possible bride-to-be wasn't going to stomp out on him in a whirlwind. No. He was pretty confident, June was the one for him. His perfect little lady... and he couldn't wait.