A Mile High Romance

by Cassidy Coal

Tyler smiled. "That could work." He nodded as he thought about it more. "Yes. That…is perfect." He kissed her hand. "You, Sarah Baxter, are a genius."

  It would mean putting herself completely in the clutches of Henrietta Corrigan, but it was worth it if it made her happy and let Sarah marry the man of her dreams without any drama or fuss.

  Sarah tried to control her shaking as Jane fastened the buttons on each sleeve of her wedding dress. She couldn't believe that today was finally the day she'd wed Tyler Corrigan. It hadn't been easy dealing with Henrietta Corrigan for the last six months, but she'd done it. For Tyler. And for their future.

  She liked to pretend that Henrietta even sort of kind of maybe liked her now. Not loved her. The woman probably still wished that Fiona Jones was going to be her daughter-in-law. But at least tolerated and respected her.

  Sarah had had to file down a few of her own rough edges to make it work, but, well, being the face of MSHJ Fashions had forced her to that, too. Amazing the things reporters ran with if you weren't careful about what you said around them.

  "There. That's the last one." Jane stepped back from Sarah, smiling, her eyes shining with excitement and pride.

  Mary, Hannah, and Sarah's mom stood off to the side, beaming as well.

  "Oh, Sarah, it's beautiful on you," her mother sighed.

  They were in a guest room at Tyler's parents' country estate. Mansion more like. Sarah had seen hotels that had fewer rooms than this place.

  It was three stories, had an elevator, and two wings of rooms, each with at least twenty rooms per floor. And the grounds were like something you'd see in a British movie—sweeping expanses of perfectly maintained green lawns stretching in all directions; the driveway leading up to the house had to be at least half a mile long and there were more expensive cars parked in front than Sarah could count.

  Sarah took a deep breath and turned around to see herself in the full-length mirror.

  Holy shit.

  The dress was pure white and flowed along her curves, celebrating and enhancing her ample bust and curvy waist. Not in some sort of trashy way, but in a way that glorified the fact that, why, yes, she was a full-figured woman who was proud of how she looked and willing to show that to the world. More Sofia Vergara and less Playboy centerfold.

  Full-length lace sleeves flowed past her hands and a veil of matching lace trailed down her back in cascades of fabric. It was a custom MSHJ gown, sewn by Mary and Hannah.

  That was the lure she'd used to finally bring her mother and sister around to letting Henrietta Corrigan have her way with all of the wedding planning. The fact that they could use the wedding as an opportunity to display their handiwork in front of the who's who of the world.

  Henrietta had arranged everything—the flowers, the food, the guest list, the band. Sarah had gladly let her take control of everything except the dress.

  She'd wanted to wear a sapphire blue gown, but Tyler had finally convinced her that maybe that wasn't such a great way to ingratiate herself with Henrietta Corrigan.

  She'd thought white was boring. But this…

  This was exquisite. They hadn't even let her see it until now. Mary and Hannah had blindfolded her for each fitting and they'd hidden away the dress every time she was around.

  "You guys…" Sarah felt herself tearing up and shook her head. She was not going to cry, not on her wedding day.

  She stared at herself in the mirror once more. Sarah couldn't help smiling, amazed that the little girl who'd played in the pile of discarded tires from the local mechanic's shop now looked like this.

  She was a modern-day Cinderella, wasn't she?

  Her. Sarah Baxter.

  "Oh. It's…" She blinked back the tears.

  She would not cry. She would not cry. She would not cry.

  Her mother pulled her into a tight embrace. "I know, baby. I know."

  Sarah looked to Jane, Hannah, and Mary. They already had on their bridesmaids dresses—more MSHJ creations in different styles for each of them in the sapphire blue that Sarah had wanted for her own dress. "You realize we're going to have to start making wedding dresses now, don't you?"

  "Bring it on," Jane said and everyone else laughed.

  Already they'd seen their fledgling business grow from selling a dozen scarfs for a thousand dollars each to grossing a half million in revenues with orders still pouring in every day.

  And when Tyler and Sarah were featured in next month's issue of all the best society mags? Sales would skyrocket again.

  Sarah pinched herself, expecting to wake up at any moment from this crazy dream. It couldn't be real. It couldn't.

  She was about to marry an amazing, beautiful man who loved and adored her. (Who also just happened to be a billionaire, which wasn't such a bad thing at times.) Her business was thriving. Not only had she started it with her two best friends and her mother and sister, but she'd been able to find places for both of her brothers, too, so that they'd all succeed. Together. As a family.

  She really could have it all and not lose them in the process.

  And today Tyler Corrigan was going to become part of that family. He might be bringing his private jet and vacation homes in Aspen and Paris to the mix, but she was bringing something far more important. She was giving him the love and acceptance of a family—something he'd never known for all his wealth and privilege.

  They completed each other.

  Someone knocked on the door and Sarah turned to see who it was. She hoped it wasn't Tyler trying to see her before the ceremony. She wanted this to be a surprise.

  Henrietta Corrigan entered, dressed impeccably in a pale green suit that complemented the wedding colors flawlessly. Not surprising, really. Henrietta Corrigan was nothing if not skilled at appearances.

  "Ready?" she asked before she caught sight of Sarah.

  She stopped, her hand still on the door, and just stared when she finally did see her. "Oh, Sarah…you…" She held a hand to her heart and walked slowly around Sarah, reaching out to touch the sleeves and veil.

  Henrietta looked at all of them. "You made this?"

  Jane nodded. "Pretty damned good, wouldn't you say?"

  Henrietta nodded, staring at the dress once more. She actually had tears in her eyes! Henrietta Corrigan was teary-eyed over Sarah's dress.

  She shook her head. "Exquisite. Oh, Sarah." She squeezed Sarah's hand and turned away for a second before recovering herself.

  Henrietta turned to Sarah's mom. "You know, Jacey Maltin's daughter is getting married next year and hasn't been able to find anything she likes. You must talk to her. This is…" She shook herself. "And don't you dare undercharge. Fifty thousand, minimum."

  They all stared at her, their mouths agape. The fabric had only cost two.

  Sarah glanced at the others and then plunged in, heedless of the consequences. "Henrietta. Would you consider coming on as a consultant for us on our bridal line? I think we could use your perspective."

  Henrietta pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. Slowly, she started to nod. "Yes…I think…I think I might enjoy that." She smiled.

  Henrietta Corrigan actually smiled.

  Sarah beamed.

  Family. It was all about family. And now even Henrietta Corrigan was going to be part of that.

  Henrietta clapped her hands. "Well, enough of that. Time for you to get married, young lady."

  Sarah tried to breathe as she waited for the French doors to open. Somewhere out there were a thousand people (Henrietta had agreed to limit her list to only her most important associates) and Tyler.

  Her love.

  Her life.

  The opening chords of the wedding march started and her mother squeezed her arm. "It's okay, sweetie. You're marrying the man you love, remember?"

  "I know, Mom. That's why I'm so scared. So much can go wrong…"

  "Shh. Not today. You deal with things as they happen and you'll get through them. Don't go borrowing trouble from tomorrow."

  Sarah took a deep
breathe. Her mother was right. Tomorrow could take care of itself. What mattered was today. And today she was marrying the man of her dreams.

  The doors opened wide and Sarah stepped forward, her mother by her side. Jane, Hannah, and Mary were already making their slow way towards the gazebo in front of the crowd, their steps paced to match the notes of the wedding march.

  She tried not to notice how many people were staring at her as she set her foot on the long blue velvet walkway, but they were everywhere, smiling, all their attention trained on her.

  A part of her wanted to run away and hide, but she didn't. She held her head high and looked forward, letting the happiness she felt calm and relax her.

  She scanned the crowd for familiar faces. There was Mr. Horowitz, looking every bit like Santa Claus with his white hair and slight paunch, his wire-rimmed glasses riding low on his nose. She almost laughed, because his wife really did look like a kindly Mrs. Claus. She'd have to ask them how they spent their Christmas Eves sometime.

  Daphne, the stewardess from Tyler's plane, was there, too. Sarah had insisted Henrietta invite her. After all the times Sarah had flown to see Tyler all over the world she and Daphne had finally formed a bit of a bond. Under her impeccable and picture-perfect appearance Daphne wasn't all that different from Sarah.

  And, of course, there was Fiona Jones. Henrietta had insisted. Fiona's parents were old friends of the family and she just had to be invited. She wasn't smiling, but Sarah didn't care. Let her pout all she wanted, because Tyler Corrigan was Sarah's and there wasn't a damned thing Fiona or anyone else could do about it.

  Finally, as she neared the end of the long row of guests, she saw her brothers standing there, so proud.

  And Tyler. He was gorgeous in his black tuxedo and blue cummerbund, his jet-black hair waving in the slight breeze of the day.

  It was perfect weather for a wedding—cool but not cold, clear skies without a cloud in sight, the sun present but not beating down upon them, the scent of lilac in the air.

  She met Tyler's eyes and he smiled, not the half-smile she loved so much, but a full-blown beautiful smile that threatened to burst out of him. She laughed in pure joy at that smile and he laughed, too.

  Sarah's eyes fixed on Tyler.

  Henrietta could've invited ten thousand people for all Sarah knew or cared at that moment. This was about her and Tyler and her family. Sure, other people might be there to witness and participate, but they didn't matter.

  She kept her eyes affixed to his emerald-green ones, losing herself in the love she saw there.

  As Sarah's mother gave her away to Tyler, Sarah felt him shaking and put her hand on his to steady him. She looked deep into his eyes and saw tears there.

  "Are you okay?" she whispered, suddenly worried.

  "Never been better," he whispered back.

  The whole ceremony was a blur. Sarah was sure they said their vows, but she was so lost in Tyler's eyes and in the joy that blossomed deep inside her at the thought that finally, at last, she was marrying him, that she didn't even notice.

  She only came back to the moment as she felt Tyler slide the ring onto her finger (an heirloom from his grandmother that was worth more than some small countries). "With this ring I thee wed," he said, loudly and boldly, proclaiming his love for all the world.

  When it was Sarah's turn she too broadcast the words, letting everyone know that this was the man she chose, the man she wanted for now and forever.

  "You may kiss the bride," the pastor said at last.

  Tyler pulled her close and kissed her.

  It was like their first kiss and every kiss since then—Sarah lost herself in him.

  At last, she'd found the place she belonged and the man she belonged with.

  Even if he was a billionaire.

  About the Author

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  You can contact the author at cassidycoal@gmail.com.

  For other titles by Cassidy Coal as well as titles by C. Coal and C.K. Carr visit http://ckcauthor.com/.

  Also by Cassidy Coal

  A Mile High Romance: The Complete Collection

  An Undeniable Attraction: The Complete Collection

  A New Year’s to Remember

  Text copyright 2014-2015 M.L. Humphrey

  All Rights Reserved