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house for Averi’s arrival.
    ***
    “Any plans tonight?” Shelly asked Averi as she picked out a shade of nail polish. She opted for a bright shade of coral.
    “Colton is taking me out to dinner.”
    “I need a man!” Shelly whined. “Someone to take me out to dinner!”
    “I buy you lunch every day. Doesn’t that count?”
    “Considering I buy breakfast? No. And I love you, but you don’t look anything like your brother, Tim.”
    “Thank God. I’m pretty sure that Colton is not into six foot five women with sleeve tattoos, body hair and bulging biceps.”
    “Le sigh…” Shelly said with a happy look upon her face.
    “Great. Now you’re having a wet dream about my brother.”
    “I could be your future sister-in-law…”
    “Are you sure you want to marry into this family? We’re all fifty shades of nuts.”
 
    “Umm… You realize who you’re talking to right?!”
    Averi just remembered that Shelly had her fair share of eccentricities, herself.
    “Point taken! Welcome to the family!”
    “Let’s get past the first date…”
     
    ***
    Colton pulled a bottle of champagne from the cooler along with two crystal champagne flutes from the china cabinet. In his other hand he carried a shopping bag that was filled with flowers, candles, and her favorite, strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. It was a big night and he had an important question to ask Averi. No one would stand in his path.
    It simply couldn’t wait any longer.

    Chapter Seven
    Flesh Memories
     
    Averi opened the front door of 1026 Hickory Terrace and was greeted by the savory scent of chicken carbonara. Her stomach rumbled as the aroma flirted with her nose. Averi’s mouth curled up into a satisfying smile. In her opinion, there are few things sexier than a man who knew how to really cook. The heavy door swung open as the scent lured her in. A romantic scene awaited her. Candles and tea lights lit the foyer. A trail of candles lining the shelves of the hall led the way to the parlor. Waiting on the oak coffee table was a dramatic arrangement of Averi’s favorite flowers, pink peonies and white carnations. Directly next to the flowers was a simple black box. Averi eyed the velvet box as her heart began to race. Slowly, she opened the lid and smiled when she saw its contents. Inside lay a simple piece of white paper with an instruction on it, clearly written by Colton.
     
    Just One Step
     
    It was a game. Instinctively, she looked to the staircase where soft iridescent lights lined the railing. There was another box, only this time it was longer. With a smile on her face that was pregnant with expectation, she opened the box and found another sheet of paper.
     
    Just One Kiss
     
    Averi laughed. She could play his game. She climbed the stairs halfway and approached her favorite picture of her and Colton. In the photograph, they were locking lips in a passionate kiss when they were only teenagers. She took the small picture frame off the wall. Flipping it over, she found a yellow post-it note. On the note was Colton’s neat scrawl.
     
    Just For Eternity
     
    Averi’s heart began to race. She ran up the stairs where a candle lit path led to her bedroom door. She approached the door as her heart hammered against her chest. She touched the decorative sign that hung on their bedroom door that read “Eternally Yours.” She flipped the sign over and removed an index card with Colton’s writing.
     
    Forever, Be Mine
     
    Averi knew what his words referred to. The sweet decal over their bed that was written in cursive. “Forever, Be Mine,” was a constant reminder to them, as if they needed one. Averi pushed the bedroom door open gently and her breath was stolen by the scene before her. The room was lit by the sultry flicker of candle light. The light danced and swayed, casting the room in an erotic light. Hanging above their bed, on the shelf below the “Forever, Be Mine” decoration was a simple red box. The bed was covered in