A/N: Sorry to all of you who have been waiting patiently for an update to this story. Life simply got in the way, and this story was moved to the backburner. I hope that this update will help make part of the wait for it. As always, I love reviews, so send them my way. Thanks.
Chapter Four
"Jake! We're going to be late!" Peyton yelled up the stairs for the third time in as many minutes. She had been on edge all day, excited that the surprise party was finally here, yet a nervous wreck thinking that something would go wrong. They were so close, and Nathan and Haley were both thankfully in the dark about the whole thing, with someone on "Tim duty" all week.
"I'm coming. God, Peyt, relax!" Jake's not so patient voice came from the bathroom. Peyton paced nervously at the bottom of the stairs, her heels clicking sharply on the hardwood floors with each step. They had worked so hard, for weeks, months really, and it was all coming together tonight in less than, she glanced at her watch, 45 minutes. She and Jake had made plans with Nathan and Haley weeks ago, telling them they wanted to help them celebrate ten years, even if it was a week early. Neither had been suspicious, even when they had neglected to add Lucas and Brooke to the dinner, but instead had found the offer delightful. Now all Peyton wanted to do was throw up.
She couldn't believe the day was here, and she prayed to God everything was perfect. She and Brooke had been talking all day, pestering each other with last minute worries, so much that Jake had unplugged the phone and demanded she take a nap and stop freaking out. Even Luke had yelled at her, when she had called him for the fifth time to remind him to bring the gift. Was it her fault that she wanted everything to be perfect for them?
Nathan fiddled with his tie, pulling the silk around and under into a sleek knot. God, he hated ties. He always felt like he was being choked, but Haley had insisted. Demanded, was more like it. He glanced at the closed bathroom door where Haley had been holed up for the past hour, all but pushing him out when he had tried to kiss her. Distracting, that's what she had called him as she tried to blow dry her hair. Could he help it that he found her undeniably sexy when her hair was damp, the ends slightly wet to the touch. He always loved to play with her hair, running the silky strands through his fingers, twisting it around his knuckles. It always smelled of lilacs and vanilla, a warm inviting scent. Maybe he could get back into the bathroom, distract her a little more before they had to meet Peyton and Jake. He walked quickly to the bathroom door, prepared to push it open with soft, inviting words, when the door swung open and a startled Haley squealed.
"Nathan! Shit, you scared the crap out of me." Haley held a hand over her heart, her eyes wide. "Nathan? Hey!" She waved her hand in front of his dazed eyes, taking in the vacant expression. "Are you okay?" Concern laced every word.
He tried to find his voice, but all the blood had rushed out his head in one quick swoop. His eyes roamed over her quickly, taking in the beauty before him: the smoky eyes and inviting pink mouth, the clinging black dress that seemed to fit perfectly, the tousled hair. He had always known she was beautiful, told her that often, even when they were hanging around the house on a Saturday in their sweats, but tonight, tonight she was stunning.
"Nathan? Seriously, are you okay? You haven't blinked in like a minute?" She looked at him with a small smirk.
Blinking rapidly then, he regained his balance and fixed her with a grin. "You know, I don't think I'm feeling all that well." He moved closer to her, sliding his hands along her hips, pulling her closer.
"Oh, really?" She sent him a knowing wink.
"Yeah, I think we need to cancel dinner and stay home. I'm feeling a little lightheaded." His mouth bent low, his words soft. He could smell her perfume; the flowery scent she asked for Christmas, knowing it secretly drove him wild.
"Poor baby. What can I do to help?" She angled her head towards his, giving him better access to her lips.
His only answer was to devour her mouth in a smoldering kiss. Her breath hissed out of her, and she clutched tightly onto his shirt, pulling fistfuls of cotton. His arms banded around her waist, before one wandered up to curl in her hair.
Haley pulled away quickly. "Not the hair Nathan. It took forever to get it just right." She backed up and turned to check it again in the mirror.
He groaned from the spot behind her, moving forward to bite temptingly at her bare shoulder. "C'mon Hales, its just hair. I can't help that it smells so good." He nuzzled at her neck.
"Mmm." She lost herself in him before pulling away yet again. "Nathan, I'm serious. We have to meet Jake and Peyton in 15 minutes, we don't have time." She hurried past him to the closet, pulling out a pair of black heels.
Nathan knew she was right, they'd simply have to wait till later; he only hoped he could get through dinner fast, and get her home. Pulling on his suit jacket in one fluid motion, he turned to find her staring at him this time. "What? Did I pick out the wrong tie?" He looked down at the bright blue checked tie.
She shook her head slightly and was against him in two seconds, her body pressed close as her mouth slanted across his. Before he could respond she was gone again, shoving lipstick into her purse.
"You tease." He managed to sound indignant.
"I couldn't help it; you look so sexy in that suit." She shrugged helplessly. "I promise I'll make it up to you later." She looked at him from under her lashes.
"I'm holding you to it, lady."
"Trust me, this is one promise I plan on keeping." She giggled as he squeezed her hips, pulling her out the bedroom door, down the hall, all but shoving her toward the garage.
"They should've been here by now." Brooke stood nervously in the ballroom, fighting the urge to pace yet again.
"Brooke, I'm sure the band will be here soon. We've still got another half hour before Peyton and Jake show up with Nathan and Haley. If you want, I can call again." Luke stood beside her, offering a comforting squeeze on her shoulder.
"Could you please?" She turned her gaze back to the side door. "Stupid musicians, think they can show up fashionably late."
Luke turned from her, dialing the number for the third time, expecting the same result as the last two. Answering machine. He turned back towards her with a comforting smile. "I'm sure they're on their way Brooke." Just as the words had left his mouth the side door swung open and the band filed in carrying their instruments. Luke watched Brooke's eyes alight with anger and grabbed her arm before she could stomp over to give them a piece of her temper.
"Wait till after the party. We need them." He whispered low into her ear, his hand flexed on her forearm.
Brooke breathed in deeply, reigning in her temper. "Okay, fine, but the minute the party's over, I'm letting them have it." She turned towards him, a mischievous smile on her face.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." He smiled down at her, before the cell phone in his pocket began to ring incessantly. "Hello?" The rest of the conversation was filled with okays and sures, before he closed his phone once again and gave her a quick smile. "That was Peyton, they're on their way."
Brooke's eyes lit up with delight, as she scurried off to make sure everything was perfect. Lucas' caught sight of his mom and Keith talking quietly at a table, while Dan and Deb sat on opposite sides of the ballroom. Tim was hovering around a table filled with Haley's friends from college, and Nathan's teammates and families were spread across three tables. It was going to work this time, Lucas just prayed they got there soon.
"Why'd Peyton pick this hotel?" Nathan asked Haley as the drove the slick streets of Charlotte.
"I don't know, maybe she just wanted to pick a nice restaurant, since the hotel is known for it." Haley flipped down the sun visor to look at herself in the mirror, checking her hair and makeup. Nathan caught her actions from the corner of his eye and began to chuckle.
"When did you become such a girly-girl? 'Don't mess up my hair! I just fixed it.'" Nathan squealed in a high pitched voice.
"Shut up!" She couldn't help the giggle that escaped. "Is it wrong that I want to look beautiful for you?" She stuck out her bottom lip in a sexy pout.
Coming to a stop at a stop light, Nathan turned to her, grinning wildly. "Of course not." He leaned over to place a sensual kiss on her pout, biting at her protruding lip slightly. "But you know you're always gorgeous." He pulled away as the car behind them honked.
Haley sat back, feeling her breath come faster. "Always the sweet talker."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "I go with what works." He strained to keep the smirk off his face, as Haley smacked him indignantly on the shoulder. "What?" he asked innocently.
Haley fought the smile that worked onto her face. "Just drive mister. We're almost there." She turned to look out the window, the lights of Charlotte sparkling around them.
"Thank you everyone for coming this evening. It really is wonderful to see so many people here to help Nathan and Haley celebrate ten years of marriage." Brooke spoke into the microphone, prepping the party guests. "I just talked to Peyton and Jake and they believe we have about ten minutes until show time, so I'd like everyone to find their table, enjoy some cocktails and hors d'vours and the happy couple should be here shortly. When we get word that they are coming, Lucas will turn off the lights, and then we'll do the traditional 'surprise.' Okay? Thank you again for everyone that could come. We'll let you know when they arrive. Thank you."
"They should have been here by now Jake. Haley told me they were going to leave at 7, which would have put them here by now." Peyton fidgeted next to Jake as they waited in the lobby of the hotel.
"Relax baby." He wrapped his arm around her, comforting. "I'm sure they're just running a little late. Knowing Nathan he was trying to get a little action before they left." He chuckled.
"I don't know how you can be so damn relaxed all the time." Peyton bit out.
Jake simply shrugged. "You worry enough for the both of us."
"I'm going to call them." Peyton dug around in her purse for her phone, before Jake's hand settled on her wrist.
"Honey, relax. Everything's going to be great. Give them a few more minutes and then we'll call and check on them." His brown eyes were calm on hers.
Drawing in a shaky breath, Peyton struggled to use some of that calm Jake seemed to have plenty of. "Okay." She leaned into his side then, using the solidness of him to hold her steady, while her nerves continued to jump inside her.
"Look there they are." Jake pointed to Nathan's black BMW pulling in to the valet parking.
Peyton stiffened and grabbed her phone; dialing and hearing it ring once, twice, before Lucas' voice came through the line. "Hello?"
"Two minutes." She hung up abruptly and moved forward as Haley and Nathan made their way through the large front door and plush lobby. "Hey guys! Glad you made it."
"Finally. Sorry if we kept you waiting. It took forever to get Nathan out of the house." Haley enveloped Peyton, and then Jake in a tight hug.
"Oh, hardly." Nathan grumbled good-naturedly before giving Peyton a friendly squeeze, and clapping Jake on the back.
"Well anyway, we made it. I'm so glad you suggested coming here Peyton, I've been begging Nathan to take me here for months." She gave him a wink. "It's too bad Luke and Brooke couldn't make it though."
Jake smiled. "Yeah, Luke was mad he had to miss it, but work called. He couldn't get out of it, as much as he tried."
"Yeah and Brooke said she was sorry, but she had already made plans for tonight. She offered to cancel, but I told her she could just make it up to you later." Peyton slipped her arm through Haley's, leading them toward the ballroom.
"Its okay, our anniversary's next week anyway, we can all go out again." Haley spoke brightly as Nathan and Jake trailed silently behind them, letting the girls carry the conversation. "Hey, Peyton, where are we going? I thought the restaurant was the other way." Haley looked at her, puzzled.
"Oh, it is, but our reservation isn't for another fifteen minutes, and besides I had an ulterior motive for picking this hotel." She gave Haley a wicked grin.
"What?" Haley stopped them, her voice growing anxious.
"Well I wanted to show you the ballroom because Jake and I were thinking it might be the perfect place for a wedding reception." Peyton watched the words settle on Haley's features, loving the happiness that swept across her face.
"You're engaged?" Haley all but squealed.
"Hell, Jake and I have been basically married for years. Maybe it's time we made it official. Right, honey?" She sent Jake a grin.
"Couldn't have said it better myself." He returned her smile and threw her a wink.
"Well congratulations guys. It's about damn time." Nathan gave Jake a hug, before slinging his arm over Peyton's shoulders. "You just had to steal our thunder, didn't you Sawyer?" He gave her a playful squeeze.
"Oh I don't care; this is the best news ever." Haley wrapped her arms tightly around Peyton, all but pushing Nathan out of the way. "I'm so happy for you guys."
"Thanks Hales. Okay, enough talking, let's see this ballroom." Peyton grabbed Jake's arm. "I hope you like it Haley, I haven't even brought Brooke here yet, I wanted your opinion first." Peyton stopped outside the closed doors, before stepping back. "You and Nathan go in first; I want your initial impression."
Slinging his arm around her neck, Nathan pulled Haley close to his side, whispering in her ear. "I love you baby."
Haley grinned up at him, "I love you too." She turned towards Peyton and Jake, "Okay, here goes." Throwing open the door they were met with silent darkness. "Peyton, where's the lig-"
The lights flicked on and Nathan and Haley were met with a thunderous boom.
"Surprise!"