“Damn, it’s either been a long time or he has gotten a whole hell of a lot hotter.” Madeline stated in awe.
“I would say a mixture of all that.” Emma agreed.
Rosalie was feeling more than uneasy. It had been 7 years since she had seen Tristan Channing last. The man had been her best guy friend the first 18 years of her life, but then, everything had changed the summer before she went away to college. They had spent the summer kayaking, hiking, camping, fishing; countless hours spent in each other’s company. Then, one night while they were kayaking during a full moon, they both discovered that their friendship was so much more than it seemed. Tristan had kissed her and they both knew exactly what they had felt that night but Rosalie denied her feelings. They both went their separate ways once August was upon them. Rosalie had always wondered what if and now, here he was. She was supposed to be getting married in a few months. Tristan showing up now was the last thing she needed.
“Well doesn’t life throw you interesting curve balls, huh Rose?” Madeline grinned as she looked away from Tristan and back to Rosalie.
“Looks like he is coming this way.”
Rosalie felt her heart beating faster after Emma’s comment. She was Rosalie McKettrick, always calm, cool, and collected; well, except for instances that involved Tristan Channing. Rosalie watched Tristan cross the room, her face getting hotter and hotter as she held his gaze, or maybe it was the Tequila from the seemingly potent Margarita. Either way, Rosalie was suddenly feeling very hot; the likely cause being the dashing man in uniform heading her way, not the tequila as she had hoped.
Suddenly, Rosalie’s closest confidants and bridesmaids rose from their seats and started to walk away.
“Hey, where are you guys going!!??”
Laughing, they continued on their way to the cash register. “We suddenly remembered that we have plans! Call you later girl!” Madeline laughed with her comment and walked on, leaving Rosalie with an empty table and Tristan coming her way.
“Great, just…” Rosalie’s mumbling stopped dead in its tracks.
“Well, Well, Well, if it isn’t Rosalie McKettrick!”
Rose smiled at his familiar comment. His emerald green eyes complemented his olive skin tone and black hair; his dress blues only making him stand out even more. Tristan had always been dashing but now, as he stood before her, he was downright sexy.
“Hey Tristan, it’s been a long time…”
“Yes…yes it has. My mother said you have established a pretty successful photography business. That’s really great Rose. You always were a little camera happy.” Tristan sat down and leaned in with a grin.
“Haha I know I know. Now, how are the Marines treating you?”
“I can’t complain, I just graduated from Officer Candidate School and I’m on leave until January.”
“Well, congrats Lieutenant Channing. Glad you’ll get to spend some time at home.”
“Oh, me too.”
Tristan caught her gaze again and smiled even wider with his last comment. This was going to be an interesting holiday season, thought Rosalie to herself. She had a wedding to plan and a man from her past back in her life. No matter what, she had to keep her feelings in check. She loved her fiancé Micah and wanted to be his wife. But why did Lieutenant Tristan Channing have to show up now? And look so damn sexy while he was at it?
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Part 2
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