“Brie, I need you to do something for me,” I say.
“Can you go down to the gift shop and find me a dress?”
“They’re not going to have a dress there.”
“They might. And if not a dress, then something…dressy.”
“I don’t even know what that means.”
“Just take your phone and send me photos of whatever they have there. And I’ll let you know what I think, okay? Please do this for me. I don’t have much time and I need to get ready.”
“Fine,” she says.
After getting out of the shower, I dry off and look at myself in the mirror. My face is wet, but clean and I feel like a completely different person.
“Much better,” I say, wrapping my hair in a towel. “See, there’s no need to postpone the wedding. All I needed was a nice warm shower.”
I put on my old clothes and turn my attention to my face. Luckily, I brought my makeup bag with me and this time I’m going to go about this properly. I start with a layer of foundation and follow it up with some powder, adding highlights around my t-zone. Then I add some primer to my eyelids prior to putting on the eyeshadow. I line just the top of my lids with a thick line of eyeliner, winging it at the ends. Looking through my bag, I find both regular and water-proof mascara. I opt for the latter since it’s my wedding and tears are not entirely out of the question. By the time I get to the blush and my lips, tears are already starting to well up somewhere in the back of my throat. Don’t cry. Don’t cry, I repeat to myself silently. You’re going to ruin your whole look. I inhale deeply and try to think of something else to take my mind off this.
When my makeup is finally done, I look at myself in the mirror. Wow, perfect. Every bit of it, down to the eyebrow liner, actually come out flawlessly. No mistakes. No smudges. It is like this day is meant to be.
Now, it’s time for my hair. Perhaps I should’ve done it first, but oh well. I spray my face with a generous amount of setting spray to make sure that it all stays in place when I blow dry my hair. Luckily, I didn’t forget my wide brush, which makes blow-drying it straight a breeze. Ten minutes later, I’m almost ready. I run my fingers through my lustrous hair, wondering how it is that the shine from squeaky clean hair is so remarkably different from the oily bed hair. For one final touch, I flip my hair over and toss it around, in order to add some more body to it.
Perfect. I smile at my reflection in the mirror.
Chapter 18 - Aiden
When I set up the surprise…
“Perfect,” I say, looking out into the courtyard. My body is still weak. I feel somewhat uneasy standing on my feet. My head hurts when I turn my neck to the right too much and when the light is too strong. But one thing is definitely perfect and that’s this space.
Ellie said yes to marrying me. But I know that she has her reservations. She doesn’t have a dress (not that she knows about) and we don’t have a venue. I think it’s okay with her if we only have a few people at the wedding, but walking down the aisle in a hospital room isn’t exactly her idea of a dream wedding. And yet, here she is. Doing it for me. She wants to marry me and I want to give her the surprise of a lifetime.
Ellie Rhodes will not be walking down the aisle in sweats. She will not be standing under fluorescent lights in a bleak hospital room. I am not on death’s door anymore and even though to many it seems like a rush job, I have hired someone to make this day as special for her as she deserves it to be.
Ellie is in for one hell of a surprise.
Lizbeth knocks on the door and I wave her in. I haven’t seen her in ages, but she was a competent assistant on my yacht. She’s an expert event planner with her own business in the making. I hired her to do this for me and I can’t wait for what she is about to show me.
She walks in with a big smile on her face.
“I got the dresses,” she says slightly out of breath. Back on my yacht, I’ve never seen her flustered even once. But this is a different beast altogether. She’s putting on a secret dream wedding in the middle of a blizzard that has closed down all the stores in New England.
“I got five dresses for her to choose from. Two are from New York, one is from Paris, one from LA, and one from Miami. They are all by designers that seem to fit her style from what her sister tells me. But it would’ve been much easier if Caroline were still around of course. She was much more of a fashionista than her sister is.”
I shrug. We all wish that Caroline was still around.
“I’ve had a distressed wood veranda brought into the garden out back. That’s where you will exchange your vows. I’ve set up white chairs and brought in extra pine trees to cover up the leafless trees. Everything is decorated in lights and snow flurries.”
I follow her out to the garden to take a look. It’s as flawless and beautiful as she has described. The pine trees are sparkling in white lights along with yellow lanterns, bringing out the beauty in each snow flurry. The white chairs set out for guests are a divided semi-circle with a long aisle down the middle. The aisle is white, with lights going down each side.
“This is beautiful,” I say and give Lizbeth a warm hug. “Breathtaking. She will love it.”
“Thank you,” she says, slightly embarrassed. Lizbeth isn’t one for sentimentality and any expression of appreciation typically makes her very uncomfortable. I know this, but I also have to convey to her how thankful I am for making this day so special for me.
“And the guest list?” I ask.
“Everyone is going to be here.”
“Her parents?” “Yes, both of her parents as well. Brie arranged that.”
“Great.”
“The rings?”
“They’re right here.”
She hands me two small velvet boxes. I tuck them into my pocket.
“Your tux is hanging back in your room.”
“Thank you.”
“Should I take the dresses to Ellie now?” she asks.
“Yes, I guess we’re ready.”
Chapter 19 - Ellie
When he surprises me…
There’s a knock on my door. I yell for Brie to come in. I really hope she was able to find me something decent to wear. But I don’t get my hopes up. This isn’t a gift shop in a resort. This is a hospital. The best they will have is a sweatshirt and maybe a new pair of leggings.
“Hello, Ellie,” a familiar voice says. No, it can’t be. I turn around. Yes, of course.
“Lizbeth…”
“It’s nice to see you again.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m here for your wedding.”
My mouth drops open.
“I’ve brought you some dresses to choose from.”
Now I’m entirely speechless. She leads me to an empty hospital room where I see five beautiful white wedding dresses hanging around the bed.
“I wasn’t sure what kind of dress you would like to wear, so I got a selection.”
“But how?”
I walk to the dresses unable to believe my eyes. Are these really mine? One is long and flowing that looks like it belongs on a Greek goddess. Another is short with a long sleeves and cream colored. It reminds me of something funky women wore in the seventies. Fun, but not exactly the right style. Three are strapless and one is made of lace. I look at the long strapless gown which has a delicate V-shape cut in the middle, intricate beading and a gorgeous hourglass outline. It also comes with a long train down the back.
“This is my favorite one, too.”
“I just hope it fits,” I say.
Lizbeth helps me get into the dress and brings out a long mirror from the bathroom.
“Here, put on these heels first before you look.”
After I buckle the straps of my satin stilettos, I glance up. Lizbeth pins a long veil to the top of my head and I get choked up.
“No, no, no! Don’t cry. Your makeup is flawless.”
I sniffle and try to push the tears away. Oh my God, is this really happening
? Am I really going to marry Aiden?
“I’m sorry but I don’t have a capelet or anything to put over your shoulders.”
“Are you crazy? This dress is beautiful. I’m not covering it up with anything.”
“It’s about twenty degrees outside and the temperature is falling.”
“Outside?”
“Yes, we’ve set up out there. Everyone’s waiting.”
I shake my head and cover my lips with my hand. After one last glance in the mirror, I follow her down an unfamiliar hallway.
“Your wedding will be in the garden, just out back,” she explains. I thought I got to know this place pretty well over the past few days, but I had no idea it had a garden.
She takes me to the double doors and lets me peek outside. My heart skips a beat. And then another and another. More tears start to well up in my eyes. But Lizbeth pinches me and tells me to knock it off.
“You look gorgeous. You don’t want to ruin it by giving yourself raccoon eyes.”
I smile and then crack up laughing. Brie comes out of a nearby room, dressed in a floor length black dress.
“Oh my God, Brie.” I wrap my arms around her. “You look stunning.”
“So do you. I love you, Ellie. Is this beautiful?”
I peek outside again. People are starting to file through another door to the right of the garden. They are taking their seats. As more snow flurries start to fall and the lights start to flicker, the garden looks like a winter wonderland straight out of a fairy tale.
“I feel like a princess,” I whisper.
“Here comes your prince,” Brie says. I peek outside and watch as Aiden Black walks toward the altar in a perfectly tailored tuxedo. The suit is a perfect fit, for a perfect man. He walks with the confidence of a man who had never been inside of a hospital, in a bed, and any trace of him being in a coma is all but gone. He’s my Mr. Black again.
“I’m going to go take my seat,” Lizbeth says. “You look gorgeous.”
Music starts to play. People turn around in their seats and face the aisle. There are my parents in the front row. Aiden’s parents are on the opposite side. Everyone looks happy. Bursting with anticipation. There are no more resentments, no more protestations. Are they really happy for us? I wonder.
“It’s my turn now,” Brie says. “You come when you’re ready.”
I nod and tell her I love her. I hold the door open for her and then let it go so that no one sees me.
“Okay, okay,” I say to myself. “You can do this. This is everything you have ever dreamed of.”
I inhale and exhale deeply to slow down my heart rate. My hands are shaking and my knuckles are turning white. And it’s not just from the cold. I’m holding a white bouquet of lilies. I bring them up to my face and inhale their sweet scent. You have nothing to be nervous about, Ellie. You are walking toward Aiden. The love of your life.
“Ms. Rhodes?” an unfamiliar voice calls my name just as I’m about to open the door. I turn around and see two men dressed in police uniforms standing next to me.
“Yes?”
“Ms. Rhodes, you need to come with us,” the taller one says, taking off his hat. I narrow my eyes. What is he talking about?
“Ms. Rhodes, you are under arrest. Please come with us.”
I stare at them dumbfounded.
“Under arrest? For what? This is my wedding. I’m about to walk down the aisle. Can’t you see that?”
“We are here to arrest you, Ms. Rhodes, for the murder of Blake Garrison. I’m sorry but you will not be getting married tonight. You are coming with us.”
I shake my head and turn toward the door. I look at Aiden’s strong jaw and his hopeful eyes looking down the aisle. He’s waiting for me.
“I’m sorry, I can’t come with you. I’m getting married,” I say, still not fully grasping the situation in its entirety. When I reach for the door, one of the cops grabs my arm and pulls it behind me.
He holds onto my wrists tightly until he secures them behind my back with handcuffs and then pushes me down the hallway, away from Aiden.
“No, please, you don’t understand. I’m getting married.”
“No, you don’t understand. You, Ellie Rhodes, have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”
I shake my head no. No, no, no. I don’t understand anything. My head starts to buzz. My legs go limp. I trip and the cops put their arms under my elbows and practically carry me out of the hospital. The cold wind hits me like a ton of bricks. Tears run down my face. What is happening? Why are they doing this to me?
Epilogue - Aiden
As I wait…
I stand at the alter waiting. I wait and I wait. The temperature drops and eventually I wipe the smile off my face. Brie is standing opposite me with a perplexed look on her face.
Where is she? I mouth to her, hoping that no one else sees it. Brie shrugs and looks around.
She’s supposed to come right after me, she mouths back.
Is she really not coming? Dark thoughts start to swirl around my head. No, not Ellie. She wouldn’t just stand me up. She wants to marry me. Right?
I stare at Brie and she stares back at me. Finally, she looks back at Lizbeth. I follow her gaze to the back of the room. Lizbeth is nowhere to be found either. I saw her come in, but now she’s gone.
I prop up my smile even though I’m starting to hear the guests starting to whisper. My mother is about to approach me, but my father has the good sense to keep her down. Finally, Lizbeth appears again. She has a crestfallen expression on her face. I hold my breath as I wait for her to walk down the aisle.
“Ellie has been arrested for murder,” Lizbeth says and my world turns to black.
The End for Now
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The Stranger (Billionaire Matchmaker Book 1)
After selling his banking start-up to Google, Logan Davenport is officially a billionaire. He’s swimming in money and sex, and that is the way he likes it. But he needs a respectable date to his brother’s engagement party. So he finally gives in and lets his eccentric aunt, Dolly Monroe, find him a date. Much to his shock, she sets him up with an opinionated, average-looking, floral shop owner who seems impervious to his charms. Avery doesn’t want him, and that makes him want her even more. Before he knows it, he falling in love for the first time ever.
But Logan is keeping a secret. No, he isn’t married. No, he doesn’t have a child. No, he doesn’t have cancer. It’s worse than that. Much worse. And when Avery finally finds out, he risks losing the only person he has ever really cared about. Can their love survive his secret?
**WARNING: Steamy scenes, NO Cheating, HEA!
Prologue
My name is Dolly Monroe and I’m a billionaire matchmaker.
I am 5’10’’ when I’m awake and 5’5’’ when I’m asleep. I’m suspicious of women who don’t wear heels, just as I’m suspicious of people who call me out of the blue asking for favors.
I have a strict policy when it c
omes to my hair, one which I’ve abided to since I was a little girl in West Texas – the bigger the hair, the closer to God. My hair is as platinum as some of my clients’ records, and it perfectly offsets the 10-carat diamond ring on my left hand.
I never let my waist get bigger than 22 inches, and I do not have the same restrictions on my breast size. The girls were 36 DD three years ago, and now they’re 36 EE. Who the hell knows how big they’re going to get in another decade?
I like my men the way I like my purses: in a variety of colors and styles and with a high price tag. My husband, who’s also my high school sweetheart, doesn’t mind, of course, because my little business makes more than a hefty penny and keeps him in a 20,000 square foot Malibu beachfront house and allows him to spend his days surfing and golfing.
You see, I’ve been at this for a very long time. I was 13 the first time I did my first set up: my second cousin with my best friend from middle school. They dated through 10th grade, married in 11th, and celebrated their 40-year wedding anniversary last year.
I started my matchmaking business when I was 20 and, at first, I set up average folk like my cousins, then wealthy folk, then millionaires, and now billionaires. This is the only thing I’ve ever done, and I’m pretty damn good at it. People aren’t that different you know. Of course, billionaires come with their attitudes and highfalutin opinions of their own importance, but at their core, they want the same thing everyone else wants: for someone to give a damn about them, not just their money or power. What typically ends up being the problem, however, is that the billionaire (both men and women) think they’re going to get this thing from some 20-year-old, 5’11’’ bimbo, but that’s rarely the case. That’s where I come in.
Auctioned to Him 9_Wait Page 17
