Nodding in approval, I shut off the bedroom light and walk into the living room to greet Parker.

He stands up immediately when I enter. “Wow,” he stutters under his breath. “Aundrea, you look … remarkable.” He blinks a few times before stepping closer to me. Taking my hand, he gives me a small spin, taking in every inch of me.

When he doesn’t speak, I give him a warm smile. I feel my heart pounding against my chest. I don’t know why I’m so nervous, but right now I feel as if I really am seventeen again and waiting to go to the prom—but this time it’s so much better.

“You don’t look half bad yourself, handsome.”

“Not half bad? I didn’t get my nickname looking not half bad.”

I giggle. “No, I suppose you didn’t.”

He looks so young in this moment. Almost shy. “I’m honestly … wow,” he says, as he runs his hand through his blond hair again.

“Oh, come on!” I nudge him. “You speechless? I didn’t think such a thing was possible.”

“I mean it. Aundrea, you look … that dress!”

I feel the blush creeping up my cheeks. I love that this man can still make the butterflies inside flutter. “Thank you.” Now I’m the one who’s speechless.

Parker holds out his arm and I link mine with his. “Come on, beautiful. Genna instructed that I have us arrive no later than seven. I can’t have you late.”

In true Parker fashion, we pull into the Convention Center parking lot in record time. A few heads in the parking lot turn and watch us pull in. I’m sure they’re more interested in his Scion FRS than the people inside.

A group of teens are hanging out by the entrance, laughing and smiling as they pose for pictures. The girls look like delicate princesses in their beautiful ball gowns, showing off huge smiles and holding tightly to their dates. Watching them makes me think back to the pictures I received from my friends when I couldn’t make it to prom.

Parker opens my door, extending his hand to me.

“Thank you,” I say softly. My short-heeled nude shoes clack against the pavement as I step out. I feel a little out of place as I glance at the line of limos dropping off the late arrivals.

“You okay?”

“What, you can read minds now?”

He laughs. “No, you just have that look on your face like you’re getting ready to run.”

“I am,” I say, only half joking.

Parker and I link arms. I see some confused looks out of the corner of my eye as we make our way to the front entrance.

“Do you think they’re wondering who these old folks are crashing their prom?” Parker jokes.

“Hey, buddy, the only old person here is you.”

Stopping, he turns to face me with a stern look. “Are you calling me old?”

“No, I’d never suggest such a thing.” I giggle at his sad expression.

“You didn’t think I was too old last night,” he retorts.

“Oh, no.” I shake my head. “You were definitely not too old last night.”

We walk through the front entrance and into the large ballroom. Wow. The place has been transformed into a tropical island. Everywhere you look, white twinkle lights set a romantic mood. Lighted palm trees line a handmade walkway that looks like sand and leads to round tables with big red umbrellas that are set up for dinner. There are cabanas along the back of the room, more palm trees bracketing a line of hammocks, and food stations decorated with little tiki carvings for a buffet. On the back wall, large letters spell A Night in Paradise. There have to be at least five hundred people here, students, teachers, and volunteers dancing and mingling.

“Damn, this blows my prom out of the water,” Parker declares, looking around with a stunned expression.

Is this what I was missing out on? I ask myself, still gaping at the beautiful room. Ellie Goulding’s “Anything Can Happen” is blaring through the speakers. I love this song.

“Hey guys!” Genna calls from behind us. Turning, I see her and Jason walking toward us. Genna looks stunning in her long, purple, beaded halter dress. There’s definitely no evidence that she had a baby a few months back.

“Hey, Genna. This place is—”

“Something, huh?” she finishes for me.

“Did the students do this?”

“Those on the prom committee, along with some teachers and parents. They’ve been working on it all week, but planning for months.”

“It’s awesome. So, where do you want us? What’s on the agenda?”

“You two will be in this room with Jason and me. It’s simple, really. We need to make sure the students behave and don’t leave the area except to go to the bathroom. If they do leave, they have to go out the main entrance, and there is no re-entry.”

“Sounds easy enough,” Parker says, wrapping his arm around my waist.

“We have a great group of kids here. I doubt there will be any problems.”

As the night progresses, the four of us spend our time near the dance floor, laughing and chatting about the students.

“I can’t wait to get you out of this dress,” Parker whispers into my ear as he traces a finger down my neck.

I look over my shoulder, meeting his passionate gaze. “I mean it, Aundrea. You look so good. Every time you move, that dress just clings tighter to you and all I can think about is getting you out of it.” I love how husky his voice is when he whispers. It’s low and seductive, causing my heart to beat like a drum.