Chapter 9

Ric decided to cut through the park and head towards the club. He had to meet with Carly about club stuff. He just left Faith's hotel room, and they had another meeting about Sonny. He turned the corner and saw Natalie sitting on a bench. He stopped, then quickly turned around to hide behind a bush. He watched her as she brushed her hair behind her shoulders. Was she.smiling? He looked towards her lap and saw a tiny bouquet of daisies in her hands. 'Oh.' Ric thought to himself. He knew exactly what was giving Natalie that smile.

"Those silly daisies," Ric muttered to himself and he laughed lightly. He then sighed and continued to watch Natalie, who was obviously wrapped up in her thoughts. Ric started to wonder if she was thinking about the same thing he was.
***

"Close your eyes," Ric laughed as he tried to cover Natalie's right eye that was open. She was peeking. "I've got a surprise."

"Ric.you know I hate surprises!" Natalie groaned as she tried to look over Ric's hand.

"I know.which is why I'm enjoying every minute of this." Ric stopped to look at the woman in front of him with her eyes finally closed. 'She's so beautiful,' he thought. "Don't worry," he said out loud. "You'll like this surprise."

They both had dinner earlier, and Natalie had sensed that Ric was acting very strange the entire evening. Now, he brought her up to the bluff where they liked to hang out. They took their usual position-sitting on her car hood. "Okay.open your eyes," she heard Ric say.

She looked around. Ric had lit some candles and placed them on the hood and top of the car. She smiled and looked over at Ric, who had a big grin on his face and one arm behind his back. "Okay." she replied suspiciously. "What are you up to? Is this the entire surprise?" She looked at Ric's arm that was hiding behind his back. "Is that a water gun or something behind you?"

Ric didn't laugh back at her joke. Instead, his grin faded away and he suddenly turned serious. He had this look in his eyes that made her melt. Ric slowly brought his arm in front of him and he revealed to her a handful of daisies. But-they weren't just daisies. They each only had one petal left on them.

Natalie looked at the strange bouquet and giggled. "What is this all about? Did I influence you to be a flower torturer?" She took the bouquet from Ric and started admiring the work he did to them.

Ric slid towards Natalie and kept the same serious look in his eyes. He felt his heart pounding harder and harder as he inched his way closer to her. His mind started to race as he started to tell her what he has been trying to tell her all night. "No," he said gently. "Those were the petals I saved for you.because they each said that I love you."

Natalie sat there quietly as she tried to catch her breath. She looked at the flowers one more time and realized that it was the most beautiful bouquet she had ever received. She looked up and Ric and gazed deeply into his eyes. This was the sweetest and most romantic thing anyone has ever done for her.

***

Ric laughed to himself again as he stood there behind that bush in the park. He never forgot the look on Natalie's face when he first told her that he loved her. He looked up and watched Natalie smile again. Then, he turned around and walked away to leave Natalie with her happy memories
[MORE CHAPTERS TO COME.]