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“Stand right there” Sylvie pulled her phone from her sparkly black purse “Turn to me”

And then he realized she was going to take his picture—all alone Just like he was in life The thought stole the smile froht

Tonight he wanted Sylvie to be next to hi to come with him on this trip And he knew it hadn’t been easy for her as a wedding planner to get her work done ahead of time and then show someone else what needed to be acco had been canceled, otherwise Sylvie wouldn’t have been able to accompany him

But she was here and she was captivating It wasn’t just hioith the sparkly, strapless, fitted bodice was tapered at her tiny waist, and a plain, gauzy white material touched her hips and flowed to her ankles And then the most delicate black heels showed off her painted toes

She went fro a businesswo siren who could turn all of thehim quite uncomfortable He wasn’t sure what to say or do around her

Because what he wanted to do noas pull her into his ar lips But he resisted—just barely They were friends Nothing oddess in that dress and that h cheekbones and kissable lips Wow!

She signaled for hiht “A little more Perfect” She held up her phone to snap a picture

“Oh, no” In the glow of her sin to lift “You have to come over here and have your picture taken, too”

Sylvie shook her head “Not ht You’re the man of the hour”

“But without you, I ed hiious contest

Was that a blush? He looked harder but it was too dark to be sure Maybe it was just that he was starting to know her well enough to know his words would cause her cheeks to pinken

Tonight hadn’t been some small, local contest This had been an international event ide recognition He honestly hadn’t thought their s establishments But Sylvie had insisted he would never know unless he entered And so he’d decided he had nothing to lose and entered

She snapped a picture The flash lit up, blinding him for a moment

“That’s not fair,” he said “I want a picture, too”

“I’ll send you a copy”