by Robin Kaye
“Good to know, but we’re getting married tomorrow, and you’ll need something to wear. I don’t suppose you have a wedding dress lying around?”
“No.” She took a sip of coffee. He looked like he was serious. “Maybe I can have James call his friend in the Garment District. He might be able to help me find something…” that wouldn’t make her want to run screaming from the room “…appropriate.”
“Good. You can buy shoes too, so it won’t be a total loss.”
He made her smile even before her first cup of coffee. He was pretty perfect.
Hunter sat and kissed her before resting his hand by her hip. “Scott’s is closed on Saturdays, but I guess we can go to Tiffany’s and get wedding bands.”
“Tiffany’s?” He gave her that look again. She drank more coffee and decided to pick her battles. If he wanted to go to Tiffany’s, that was just fine with her. The sooner they finished shopping, the sooner they could be together.
“I did some laundry, hung up your clothes, and made a pile for the dry cleaners. You’re going to need to pack enough for a few weeks.”
“I am?”
“I’m not sure when we’ll be able to get back. We have a lot of decisions to make. We haven’t even talked about where you want to go on our honeymoon. River Runners is booked through the second week in September. Then I’m free through the second week in November, unless we get some killer snow. Castle Rock usually opens on Thanksgiving Day. So where do you want to go?”
Toni’s mind was still fuzzy, and he was bombarding her with questions and information. “For what?”
“Our honeymoon.”
She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “Can we just stay at home and get settled in?”
Hunter rubbed her back. “Sure. We can always take a trip in the spring.”
“Where is home, by the way?”
“Home? Boise, Stanley, and here, I guess. Where do you want it to be?”
Toni put her coffee down on the table and breathed in the scent of Hunter. “Anywhere you are.”
He pulled away and looked into her eyes as if he could read her mind. “Are you doing okay, babe? Are we moving too fast for you?”
She kissed him and held on to him for a minute more before shaking her head. “I’m a little overwhelmed, a little scared—after all, I’m going to be moving. It’s a lot to think about and even more to plan. I’m excited about our wedding, but I’m more excited about marrying you. I love you.”
“I love you too, babe, but if you change your mind about tomorrow, we can always get married in September.”
God, she really loved him. “You’re not trying to get out of it, are you?”
“Not a chance. I don’t want you to feel as if I dragged you down the aisle either.”
“Hunter, this was my idea, remember? It will be fine—better than fine. It’s going to be perfect.” She hoped. She gave him another sloppy kiss, ending in a fit of laughter. She guessed the book worked after all. She was getting married!
Toni jumped out of bed and took a shower, wishing Hunter had come in with her. He made showers much more fun. After she finished, she toweled off. When she stepped into her room, she heard voices. God… Clarissa and Gramps were there. Fabulous.
Toni dressed quickly in a skirt and a T-shirt knotted in the back. She was careful to wear decent undergarments since she’d have to try on dresses. She did take a last desperate look through her closet to see if she had anything she could get away with. Since Clarissa would have a fit if she wore black, she was out of luck.
“Hunter, you and Joe should go buy the rings, and Toni and I will buy the wedding dress,” Clarissa said as she stepped into the living room from the kitchen. Clarissa wore her usual disapproving look as soon as she spotted Toni.
Toni tugged on the T-shirt’s collar. “Mom, I want to make sure my wedding band will work with my engagement ring. And since I’m not taking my ring off, I’m going with Hunter.”
Hunter strolled over to Toni wearing an apologetic look. He’d eventually learn never to open the door to her mother. There was a reason doors in New York had peepholes. Unfortunately, Toni was going to be the one to suffer the consequences until he did.
Clarissa wore yet another perfect linen suit with matching Chanel spectator pumps and quilted purse. “Toni, that’s just silly.” She took Toni’s left hand to inspect the ring. “It’s lovely, but do be serious and stop acting like a child. Give the ring to Hunter, and he’ll make sure it works. Where is the box, Hunter?”
“In the trash—it got a little wet, but Toni’s right. Shopping for rings won’t take long, and since she’s going to wear it for the rest of her life, I think she should pick it out.” He pulled Toni against his chest and kissed the top of her head.
Clarissa walked by the mirror to check her ’do. “Toni, if you insist on buying the rings, then you’d better hurry and get dressed so we can leave. We don’t have all day.”
“What am I wearing, the emperor’s new clothes?”
Her mother shook her head. “How do you expect to get into the best stores if you’re dressed like a hoodlum?”
“I’m not going to the best stores. I’m going to the Garment District. Mom, if you want to hit the shops don’t let me stop you. Go right ahead. I’m sure Marcello, James’s friend, will have a wedding dress that will be just perfect.”
Her mother’s nose twitched as if she’d smelled something rancid. “Darling, I simply can’t let you pick out a wedding dress by yourself. God only knows what you’ll come up with.”
Hunter’s arm tightened around Toni. “Clarissa, Toni will find a dress that’s perfect for her. When it comes down to it, that’s all that matters, isn’t it? After all, it’s our wedding.”
Clarissa opened her mouth and then closed it.
Toni had never seen her mother shut down like that. Of course, if Toni had told her the same thing, Clarissa would have scoffed. She didn’t scoff at Hunter. Interesting.
Gramps took Clarissa’s arm and shot a wink at Toni. “Clarissa, I know you wanted to go shoppin’ for your mother-of-the-bride dress. Why don’t I give you the limo for the day, so you’ll have no problem gettin’ around town weighed down with all your packages? We’ll pick you up here by seven and head to Teterboro. Takeoff’s at 8 a.m.”
***
Hunter paced the suite at The Bellagio as he, his cousin Ben, and his brothers waited for the sun to hurry its way across the sky. A sunset wedding sounded nice, that was, until he got out of the limo at the hotel after obtaining their marriage license, and Toni was whisked away.
Clarissa had said something ridiculous about not seeing the bride before the wedding. At least Toni had his mom, Karma, Gina, and James with her—whether to protect Toni from Clarissa or the other way around, he wasn’t sure.
He’d heard Gramps had put James, Bianca, and all the models up for the wedding and even supplied the trip to Vegas. Having James here had meant the world to Toni. Gramps certainly put a smile on her face.
Trapper stepped right in front of him, forcing him to stop his pacing. “We can get out of here and do a mini-bachelor party, since we didn’t get to last night.”
“No. Thanks anyway.” Hunter turned and paced toward the window, wondering what the hell was going on with Toni. He’d been texting her, and she hadn’t responded in the last hour. He stuck his finger into the too tight collar of his tux and yanked. He’d asked his mom to bring his suit. Of course, she didn’t listen and brought them all their tuxes.
“Are you getting cold feet?”
“Hell, no. I’m just worried about Toni. She’s not answering her texts.”
Ben tossed his keys in the air, caught them, and dropped them into his pocket before throwing his arm around Hunter. “She’s probably having her hair and nails done. Wet nails and
texting don’t mix. This I know.”
The three of them stared at Ben who shrugged. “My wife told me, okay? You learn all sorts of things you really don’t want to know when you’re married. Believe me.”
Fisher shook his head. “We can go hit the craps tables. Maybe you’ll win enough to pay for that honkin’ ring you bribed Toni with.”
“It wasn’t a bribe.”
“Sure. Whatever you say. Still, it looked like it set you back ten year’s poker money. Since this is your lucky day and all, maybe you can win it back.”
“You guys go on ahead. I’ll just meet you at the limo at six forty-five.”
Trapper laughed. “Like we’d leave you in your time of need. Personally, I find watching you sweat more entertaining than that time I dressed Fisher up and played Pin the Tail on the Jackass.”
“Yeah, and you wonder why I didn’t make you my best man.”
“Hey, I hooked Fisher up with the wedding chapel. My old friend, Judge Winston, retired out here and set up shop. He always said weddings were the best part of the job, so now he does them all the time.”
Fisher looked very pleased with himself. “I planned the whole thing. He’s giving us a great deal—the deluxe package for the price of the standard. It has video, live music, a wedding organizer, and all the flower arrangements—the works.”
Hunter was beginning to get nervous. Fisher was good at planning keg parties and weekends with wild women, but weddings were uncharted territory. “What’s this place called?”
“Lasting Impressions Wedding Chapel—Memories to Last a Lifetime.” Fisher handed several cards around.
At least it wasn’t written on a napkin. “Thank God it’s nothing hokey like The Elvis Hound Dog Package or The Naked Wedding—Bow Ties Optional.”
Trapper laughed. “No worries. From what I recall, Judge Winston is very conservative. I don’t think we’ll see anyone running around with rhinestones and muttonchops.”
Fisher winked and grinned. “Or naked. Unless of course, Yvette shows up, and then all bets are off.”
***
Toni sat on a chair in her underwear and a robe while some lady, whose name she’d forgotten the moment they’d been introduced, added the rhinestone-and-seed-pearl-encrusted tiara to the complicated up-do she’d created with hair bands, bobby pins, and an entire bottle of hair spray, most of which Toni had inhaled. Who knew her hair could look so good? Her makeup was done, a little too heavy-handed if you were to ask her, but then she’d been overridden by Clarissa, who thought there was no such thing as too much money, makeup, or jewelry.
Looking in the mirror, Toni caught Kate’s eye. Hunter’s mother was a godsend. Calm and collected, Kate had corralled everyone without much fuss and had taken charge—even managing the impossible. She sent Clarissa on an errand to make sure Hunter and the guys had received their boutonnieres.
The hair lady spun Toni’s chair around and held up a mirror to show her the back, where seed pearls had somehow been woven throughout. She looked almost as good from the back as she did from the front. “Thank you. It’s perfect.”
The woman gathered her implements of torture, and Gina, a five-foot stick of dynamite, showed her out.
Kate smiled that calming smile of hers, and Toni felt her anxiety decrease. Toni knew where Hunter got both his smile and his calming presence.
Kate took a velvet roll out of her bag and set it on the table before untying it. “Now I don’t want to step on your mother’s toes, but since she hadn’t expected to attend your wedding, Hunter asked me to make sure you didn’t miss out on any important bridal customs. Feel free to use them or not. It’s up to you.”
She pulled a black satin ribbon from the roll and held something in her hand. “For something old, this cameo was my grandmother’s. I thought we could slide the ribbon through the back, and you could wear it as a choker. The seed pearls surrounding it go beautifully with your tiara. It’s yours if you want it.”
“Kate, thanks, but I can’t—”
“Of course you can. You’re part of the family now. This is something you’ll be able to pass down to your children someday. I want you to have it and wear it in good health.” Kate tied the ribbon around Toni’s neck. The ivory cameo was heavier than she expected. Toni’s fingers ran over the relief of the woman’s face carved there, feeling the smoothness of the pearls. She’d been reaching for her collar ever since she’d taken it off to do the makeup. Now she had something to worry if she needed it. She looked in the mirror and hardly recognized herself.
Toni turned and hugged Kate. “Thank you so much. I’ll treasure it.”
Kate kissed her cheek. “You’re welcome. Your dress is new, so we have that covered.”
Gina pulled a light blue lace handkerchief out of the bag and pressed it into Toni’s clammy hand. “Here’s your something blue. If you start crying, it’s going to have smears of black mascara all over it, and then we’re going to have to redo your makeup. So suck it up, and don’t cry.” She patted her shoulder awkwardly, sniffed, and turned away.
“Thanks, Gina. I’ll be fine.”
Karma held both hands behind her back. “I have the something borrowed. You have your choice of my absolute favorite vintage, peace sign mood ring.” She held out her open hand, and sure enough, there was a large brass ring with a peace sign over the translucent stone. “Or…” She held out an opened blue velvet jewelry box. “The diamond earrings and bracelet that Gramps gave me when I graduated from college. So… which will it be?”
Kate shook her head. “Karma.”
“Mom wants you to go with the diamonds, but personally, I think the mood ring would be a whole lot more fun.” She waggled her eyebrows. “You can always borrow both.”
Kate took the box. “Pay no attention to Karma. The bracelet and earrings will look lovely with your engagement ring. James has a sixpence for your shoe, but he’s not going to join us until we get you into that beautiful wedding dress of yours.”
Toni took a deep breath. “I guess it’s about time, huh?” She looked out the window and wondered where in this huge hotel Hunter was. She’d only seen him a few hours ago, but she missed him. They’d been texting each other before her mother took her phone away, claiming it was bad luck. What was she, in high school? He was probably worried about her.
Gina and Karma brought the dress out, and Toni couldn’t help but smile. Hunter was going to swallow his tongue when he saw it. It was the most beautiful dress she’d ever seen. She stepped into the strapless satin gown and pulled up the bodice, being careful not to wrinkle the black-trimmed, tailored box pleat. She smoothed down the fitted bodice and admired the simple, straight lines, while Kate zipped the back, which fell just under her shoulder blades. The back was adorned with a thin, black satin bow that hung right over the matching accent stripe running from the box pleat to hem. It was classy, elegant, understated, yet still, her.
A hush fell over the entire room, which was saying something, because when Karma, Gina, and Kate got going, there was never a dull moment. Kate dabbed at her eyes. “You look so beautiful.”
A knock at the door disturbed the quiet, and Karma ran over to open it. James stepped in and gasped. Of course, he didn’t come alone. He brought two of the photographers Bianca had sent to take pictures for the wedding album.
James smiled and pulled Toni in for a hug. “You look simply stunning, my love. I see my friend Marcello took good care of you.”
Toni spun around. “He did. Thanks for calling him for me. The dress is perfect.”
“Yes, it is. Hunter is a very lucky man.”
“No, I think I got the best part of the bargain, this time at least.”
James directed the photographers to do the bride and bridesmaids shots.
Toni was antsy. She just wanted to see Hunter, and she was beginning to worr
y about her mother. She’d been gone awhile. “Does anyone know where Clarissa is?”
James smiled. “Hunter’s grandfather dragged her out of the guys’ suite. Last I heard he was taking her to the bar.”
“Oh God.”
“I almost forgot. Sit down.” James pulled a chair around and held it for her before he got down on his knee and unzipped Toni’s wedding sandal. “Jimmy Choo? Very nice.”
Toni admired the other shoe. “Aren’t they gorgeous? They match the dress and were forty percent off—I couldn’t pass them up.”
“I got you a little something else—just in case you don’t have one.”
“What’s that?”
James pulled a black lace, skull-and-crossbones garter from his pocket.
Toni threw her head back and laughed. “Where in the world did you find that?”
James slid it onto her leg, hamming it up for the cameras. “Ketchum, who’d of thunk? You know, that place is really growing on me.”
“Yeah, I love it there too.” She stood up and walked a few steps. “That coin is going to hurt.”
“Doll, you’re wearing five-inch heels. Your feet are going to kill you regardless. Are you ready to go?” James held out his arm, and Toni slid hers through.
Toni worried the cameo, before Karma handed her the bouquet of calla lilies. “Yes, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
***
Hunter sat in the limo with Ben and his brothers, tugging on his collar. “Fisher, do you have the rings?”
Fisher patted his pockets. “Damn, I knew I was forgetting something.”
Trapper reached over and smacked the back of Fisher’s head. “Give it a break, Fisher. Hunter’s about ready to stroke out.”
Ben pulled the ring box out of his pocket. “Don’t worry, cousin. I’ve got your back. And remember, first weddings are always nerve-wracking.”
The guys all turned to look at him.
“What? I was married twice…”
Trapper sat forward. “Yeah, to the same woman.”
“The second time is the charm, and the wedding night’s an added bonus.”
