Best of My Love (Fool's Gold)

by Susan Mallery

  “You’re very petite,” her friend said as she took a white lace wedding gown off a hanger. “And delicately built. The trick is to wear the dress and not the other way around. Which is harder for your figure type.”

  “I don’t see what trying on a wedding dress has to do with anything,” Shelby said. “I need to talk to you.”

  “And we will talk. But you have to put this dress on first. Come on, Shelby. How can it hurt?”

  She wasn’t sure, but the potential for pain seemed right there. She looked from the dress to her friend’s very determined face, then sighed.

  “Fine,” she grumbled. “I’ll try it on. I’m sure I’ll look like an idiot, but I’ll do it anyway.”

  “That’s my cheerful friend. Always looking on the bright side. Now, with a dress like this, you don’t pull it over your head. You step into it.”

  Shelby did as requested. The dress was lined with a cool, smooth material—maybe silk. Madeline pulled it up around her and Shelby slipped her arms into the long, lace sleeves.

  The dress had a fitted bodice and was covered entirely with lace. The back formed about a three-foot train. The style was simple and elegant.

  “Not yet,” Madeline said, when Shelby started to turn toward the door.

  Madeline pinned up her hair, then attached a short veil. “Now you can look.”

  Shelby walked down the short hallway to the main salon of the bridal shop. There was a dais with a half circle of floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Madeline helped her up, then moved behind her, straightening the dress.

  Shelby stared at herself. Madeline had been right. The dress didn’t overwhelm her. The lace was exquisite and the fitted lines were perfect for her. Funny how until this moment she’d never once pictured herself getting married. Oh, she thought about being married, but not the actual wedding itself. Unlike other little girls, that hadn’t been a game she’d played.

  The why of it swirled in her head. She didn’t want to think about it too much because then she would know what was wrong. And as soon as she knew, she would have to either fix it or accept that she was a coward.

  “What do you think?” Madeline asked.

  “The dress is beautiful.”

  “You’re beautiful. There’s a difference. The dress is simply there to reflect you. Tell me what you see.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “I’m a fraud,” she whispered.

  “Why?”

  Her mouth moved, but no words came out. The truth was so elusive. Right there but when she tried to grab it... She drew in a breath.

  “I’m so scared.”

  “Of Aidan?”

  “No. Of surrendering who and what I am. I want to be in control.”

  “Of what?”

  “Everything.”

  They both faced the mirror and their eyes met in the glass.

  “It was all me,” she continued, wiping away tears. “From the start. It was my idea to fix myself by learning to trust a man. I’m the one who picked Aidan, then convinced him. I set the rules, the boundaries. I even decided when to break them and become lovers.”

  “Because you needed to be in control?”

  Shelby nodded. “It made me feel safe.”

  “Why did Aidan go along with it?”

  A good question. Why did he? “Because he wanted to change, too. At first. Later, because...because he cares about me. Because he doesn’t have anything to prove. Because he trusts me.”

  “Quack,” Madeline said quietly.

  Shelby laughed, then sobbed. She took a second to catch her breath. “You’re saying he loves me.”

  “Yes. He loves you.”

  “You know this for sure, or you’re guessing?”

  “I’m pretty sure.”

  Shelby stared at her reflection. The bride staring back at her didn’t deserve the beautiful dress or the wonderful man. She was still living in fear. Still hiding.

  “What if I can’t do it? What if I simply can’t hand over my heart?”

  “I don’t know. You tell me.”

  What would it mean to not be with Aidan? To never see him again, never touch him or...

  The pain was sharp and instant. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. She needed him. Wanted him. Loved him.

  He’d been right, all those weeks ago. When he’d helped her see that the real pain of her childhood didn’t come from her father’s fists, but from the reality that her mother had stood by while it happened. Aidan wouldn’t do that, and neither would she. As her brother had told her, she wasn’t the type of mother who would let her children be abused. She would break the cycle.

  She’d come so far. Everything she claimed to want was right there. All she had to do was take a single step of faith.

  “You know, this is all going to go very badly if it turns out he’s not in love with me,” she said, her voice trembling as she spoke. “I’m going to feel pretty foolish.”

  “Won’t it be better to know? You love him, Shelby. Don’t you want to say it to him? At least once?”

  “I do.”

  They looked at each other and started to laugh.

  Shelby pressed her hands to her stomach. “While I love the dress...” she began.

  “It’s not the one. I know. But I thought trying it on would shock you and it seems to have, so yay, me.”

  Shelby laughed again. She turned and hugged her friend. “You’re very good to me.”

  “And you’re good to me. Now go claim your man.”

  “I’ve never claimed a man before.”

  “Then isn’t it about time?”

  It took Shelby a few minutes to change back into her street clothes. As she walked home, she thought about what she was going to say when she finally spoke to Aidan. The words were a jumble in her head. Well, she would have time. She had to go to the office and talk to Fay first. Get his schedule. Once she knew he was in town, she would call him and—

  She turned the corner only to see Aidan and Charlie sitting on her front porch. The bichon saw her and raced toward her. She dropped to her knees and held out her arms. Charlie threw himself at her. She hugged him tight.

  “Hey, there, my man,” she whispered against his soft fur. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  He swiped her face with puppy kisses. She hung on for another second before standing and looking at Aidan.

  He’d come to his feet, as well. They stared at each other.

  “How are you doing?” he asked.

  He didn’t sound mad or disgusted or any number of negative things she deserved. He sounded like Aidan.

  She thought about all they’d been through. How he was game for anything—from baby showers to pedicures to just sitting around and talking. He never said he didn’t want to or complained. She remembered how he’d had this idea of the dog he wanted and had instead fallen for sweet, little Charlie. So there he was—the big, burly mountain man with a bichon frise.

  She thought about how her father had hit her until she was unconscious and how her mother had never done anything to protect her. How Kipling had been the one to get her safely away. She thought of how Aidan had faced down his own parental torment.

  “Shelby?”

  Oh, right. He’d asked a question. “I’m okay. You?”

  “Fine.” He moved toward her but didn’t touch her. His dark gaze settled on her face. “I had to come see you.”

  “I’m glad you did. I have to tell you something. A lot of things.”

  Fear filled her. Fear of handing the very essence of who she was to this man. And yet, there was no one else she would ever love as much. No one else she would trust or need or want to be with.

  “I love you,” she whispered. “I love you, Aidan. I thought I was being so strong and brave, but I was sti
ll afraid. I’m afraid right now. Maybe the fear will always be there. I don’t know. What I do know for sure is that I don’t want to be without you. I want us to be together. I love you so much.”

  One corner of his mouth turned up, then the other. “I love you, too. A lot. It kind of freaked me out when I figured it out.”

  Relief tasted sweet. Like the perfect cookie melting on her tongue. Only the sensation was in every part of her.

  “Did you scream like a little girl?” she teased.

  “Almost.”

  His smile faded. “Shelby, I love you and I want to be with you, but there are some things you have to know.” He drew in a breath. “I get you were scared and that’s okay. You’re going to be scared. I probably am, too, sometimes. And we’re going to screw up. We can’t be together for the next seventy years and not hurt each other. That comes with being in love. But no matter what, I’m going to keep trying. I’m going to love you every day and when something bad happens, you and I are going to talk about it. Endlessly.”

  She started to laugh, then cry. Finally she threw herself at him. He pulled her close and hung on like he would never let go.

  He was warm and solid as he held her. Everything about him was right.

  “Marry me,” he whispered in her ear. “Please marry me.”

  She looked at him. “Yes. Please. Of course.”

  He laughed and swung her around. Charlie barked at them, then ran in circles, as if he, too, knew something great had just happened.

  Aidan kissed her, his lips lingering on hers. Then he drew back. “I hope it’s okay, but I promised Nick we’d get married in Happily Inc. I guess it’s some kind of destination wedding town. Is that okay?”

  “It’s fine, as long as I get to pick the honeymoon destination.”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “Somewhere sunny with a big bed.”

  He grinned. “Works for me.”

  * * *

  “NOW, HOW DOES this go?” Noelle asked, looking at her two cards.

  Gabriel patiently pushed the cards so they faced the table. “No one is supposed to see those, honey.”

  “Because you’ll bet against me?” she asked. “But you love me. You can’t bet against me. So I’m supposed to decide how much to put down?”

  Shelby held in a grin. “Noelle, it’s cards, not Sophie’s Choice. Just go with it.”

  Angel sighed heavily. “Whose idea was this?”

  Taryn leaned into him. “Are you saying you’re not having fun?”

  “I’m not sure having women join us at Texas hold ’em is a good thing.”

  “Later I’ll take all my clothes off.”

  Justice raised his eyebrows. “Here or at home? Because if it’s here, we might get uncomfortable. Not that it wouldn’t be a good show,” he added hastily.

  Patience shot him a glance. “Really? You want to see Taryn naked? I never knew that.”

  “I don’t. I was being supportive of one of your friends.” He turned to Aidan. “Help.”

  Aidan leaned back in his chair. “See, gentlemen? Being friends with the ladies is harder than it looks. Now you’re all going to apologize to me for all the insulting things you thought when you found out I was hanging out with Shelby as just a friend.”

  “You went to a baby shower,” Kipling said. “That’s kind of hard to let go.”

  Shelby grinned, knowing Kipling would be even more shocked by the pedicures. But that was their little secret.

  She looked at Aidan and he winked back. He grabbed her left hand, stared briefly at the large diamond there, then kissed her palm.

  They were officially engaged, with their wedding to follow in a few months, in Happily Inc., as per his promise to Nick. She’d chosen a beautiful resort in the Caribbean for their honeymoon. Flour Power was doing well, as was Aidan’s business. Charlie was starting agility training and every single day Shelby knew that she was the luckiest person in the world.

  She had family, a loving husband-to-be and a wonderful community that had allowed her to achieve all her dreams. Maybe it was a cliché, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t true. Love healed. She and Aidan had been healed in the best ways possible. And now they got to be in love...forever. Right here in Fool’s Gold.

  * * * * *

  Can’t get enough of Susan Mallery’s hilarious and heartfelt love stories?

  Then turn the page for a sneak peek of DAUGHTERS OF THE BRIDE by Susan Mallery.

  #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery invites you to celebrate the event of the year with her brand-new story!

  With Joy, Love and a Little Trepidation,

  Courtney, Sienna and Rachel Invite You

  to the Most Emotional Wedding of the Year...

  Their Mother’s

  Find out what happens in Daughters of the Bride, a must-read for anyone who has survived the wedding of a sister, a mother, a daughter—as told by the master storyteller of the genre.

  Order your copy today!

  “Susan Mallery is one of my favorites.”

  —#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber

  Experience the best in contemporary romance with the charming Fool’s Gold series by Susan Mallery. Be sure to get all of the titles in this captivating series full of hope, laughter and love to last a lifetime.

  Best of My Love

  Marry Me at Christmas

  Thrill Me

  Kiss Me

  Hold Me

  Yours for Christmas (novella)

  Until We Touch

  Before We Kiss

  When We Met

  Christmas on 4th Street

  Three Little Words

  Two of a Kind

  Just One Kiss

  Halfway There (novella)

  A Fool’s Gold Christmas

  All Summer Long

  Summer Nights

  Summer Days

  Almost Summer (novella)

  A Christmas Bride

  Only Us (novella)

  Only His

  Only Yours

  Only Mine

  Sister of the Bride (novella)

  Finding Perfect

  Almost Perfect

  Chasing Perfect

  Love. Laughter. Happily-Ever-After.

  “Romance novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.”

  —Booklist

  Available wherever ebooks are sold.

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  Daughters of the Bride

  by Susan Mallery

  CHAPTER ONE

  ONE OF THE advantages of being freakishly tall was easy access to those upper kitchen cabinets. The disadvantages...well, those were probably summed up by the word freakishly.

  Courtney Watson folded her too-long legs under her as she tried to get comfortable in a chair incredibly low to the ground. Adjusting the height wasn’t possible. She was only filling in at the concierge desk while Ramona hurried off for yet another bathroom break. Apparently, the baby had shifted and was now reclining right on her bladder. From what Courtney could tell, pregnancy was a whole lot of work with an impressive dash of discomfort. The last thing she was going to do was change anything about the chair where Ramona spent a good part of her day. Courtney could pretend to be a pretzel for five minutes.

  Late on a Tuesday evening, the l
obby of the Los Lobos Hotel was quiet. Only a few guests milled around. Most were already up in their rooms, which was where Courtney liked the guests to spend their time at night. She wasn’t a fan of those who roamed. They got into trouble.

  The elevator doors opened and a small, well-dressed man stepped out. He glanced around the lobby before heading directly to her. Well, not to her, she would guess. The concierge desk at which she sat.

  Her practiced smile faltered a bit when she recognized Milton Ford, the current president of the California Organization of Organic Soap Manufacturers, aka COOOSM. Mr. Ford had arranged for the annual meeting to be held in town, and everyone was staying at the Los Lobos Hotel. Courtney knew that for sure—she’d taken the reservation herself. But the meetings, the meals and all the income that flowed from them were taking place at the Anderson House.

  “Hello.” He looked at the name plate on the desk. “Uh, Ramona. I’m Milton Ford.”

  Courtney thought about correcting him on her name, but figured there wasn’t much point. Despite his giving all that pretty catering money to one of their competitors, she would still do her job—or in this case, Ramona’s—to the best of her abilities.

  “Yes, Mr. Ford. How may I help you this evening?” She smiled as she spoke, determined to be pleasant.

  Even if Mr. Ford had decided to hold his stupid awards luncheon at the Anderson House instead of in the hotel’s very beautiful and spacious ballroom, Courtney would do her best to make sure his stay and the stays of his colleagues were perfect.

  Her boss would tell her not to be bitter, so Courtney returned her smile to full wattage and promised herself that when she was done with Mr. Ford, she would head to the kitchen for a late-night snack of ice cream. It would be an excellent reward for good behavior.

  “I have a problem,” he told her. “Not with the rooms. They’re excellent as always. It’s the, ah, other facility we’ve booked.”

  “The Anderson House.” She did her best not to spit the words.

  “Yes.” He cleared his throat. “I’m afraid there are...bees.”