Never 'Til Now

Chapter 14

Sam stood in front of the full-size mirror in his bedroom smoothing out the soft blue and green flannel shirt he was wearing and running the lint roller over his pants one more time to rid himself of any of Bear's hair he may have missed. Each time he felt that he was ready, a new wave of nervousness would hit him, and he needed to reassure himself that everything would be fine.

Not wanting to delay any further, Sam exited his bedroom and went to the front doorway to put on his dress shoes. He tossed bear a treat instead of reaching out to pet him before heading to his car.

Olivia looked over two dresses hanging in her closet. One a light hombre pink dress that she intended to pair with a dark blue denim jacket and the other a red off the shoulder midi dress with ruffles at the bottom. One casual but still gave a very romantic feeling and the other more elevated sensual option.

Olivia had been looking forward to this night with Sam, yet she couldn't shake the nerves that went crazy in her stomach and the possibility of what it would mean for their relationship.

She eventually settled on the light pink hombre dress; the soft color complimented her caramel brown skin. With a quick glance at the clock, she realized that she needed to start getting ready.

As Olivia stepped into the dress, feeling a rush of anticipation for the night ahead. She allowed herself a moment to savor the feeling, enjoying the excitement and the subtle thrill of dressing up for someone she was beginning to care deeply for.

She styled her hair in loose waves that cascaded down her shoulders, framing her face in a soft, elegant glow. A touch of light makeup enhanced her features, adding a subtle radiance that accentuated her chosen attire. The rose-colored lip gloss she applied to her lips helped them glow under the light.

Olivia hurried down the stairs when she heard 3 loud knocks on the door, signaling Sam's arrival. As she reached the front door, she took a deep breath, her fingers lightly tracing the smooth surface of the doorknob. With a determined resolve, she opened the door open, welcoming Sam inside.

"You look beautiful." Sam proclaimed as his eyes roamed over Olivia's body and his eyes shined with adoration. "I got these for you." He presented a bouquet of red roses wrapped in a page from a newspaper.

Olivia smiled so widely that her cheeks hurt from the weight of it. She reached out to grab them from his hands and brought them to her nose to inhale the fresh floral sent. "Thank you so much."

Sam couldn't help but feel relieved as he watched Olivia's smile light up her face, her eyes sparkling with genuine happiness. He had been nervous about the flowers, worrying they might be too much, but the sight of her cherishing the bouquet made it all worth it.

"You're welcome," Sam replied, his voice gentle and warm. "They're not as beautiful as you, though."

Olivia blushed at the compliment, her heart fluttering at his words. If the night continued as great as the first few minutes, then it would without a doubt be one to remember.

Sam took a step closer, his gaze locking with hers as he reached out to lightly touch her arm. "Are you ready to go?"

Olivia nodded, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Absolutely. I'm excited for tonight." She said before hurriedly placing the flowers on her kitchen table.

With a subtle nod, Sam offered his arm for Olivia to take, leading her out the door and to his car. As they made their way downtown, the soft hum of conversation and the anticipation of the night ahead filled the space around them.