The Power of Sunday Rose
Page 15
“Ah, you will look so romantic in this gown with your gorgeous hair. Like a fairy-tale princess,” he said, his eyes wet and shiny.
“Wow. I think I will need help getting into this gown. It’s exquisite.”
“Thank you. I think your beauty will more than do my creation justice.”
“You designed it?” I asked, my voice rising at the idea that the designer of such beautiful gowns was in the room with me.
“But of course! Did Adam not tell you?”
I shook my head. I noticed a magnificent tiara on the dresser and picked it up.
“Yes, it goes with it.”
“Wow, kind of over the top, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but Mr. Drake, he likes to go all out.” He shrugged as if it was just the way of things. “Come, we need to get you into it. It will take some time.”
And it did. Almost half an hour. I had to put on special underwear first which I did in the privacy of the bathroom. Then I allowed Rudolph to add the layers that went under the skirt to fill it out, then to strap and tie me into the very heavy gown. He pulled my waist in so tight it was almost hard to breathe, but when I turned and looked in the mirror, it was more than worth it.
He came up behind me and added the tiara. I just stood and stared at myself. It doesn’t get better than this. I needed to take more than one selfie to add to my collection this night. I would not, could not look better than this on my wedding day, no matter when or if in the future that occurred.
“You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen!”
“Bride! Excuse me?” I was certain I had heard him wrong. I was distracted by my phone announcing an incoming call and I automatically answered it, keeping my eyes on the designer. He blushed and backed out of the room before I could stop him.
“Hi, beautiful, what do you think of your dress?” Adam’s sexy voice filled my head and sent delicious sparks of excitement soaring down my body.
“It’s amazing, Adam. I mean it’s just incredibly beautiful and kind of over the top for a fancy dress ball, don’t you think? What’s going on? Rudolph just called me a ‘beautiful bride’?”
“Remember you promised to just go along with everything this night that I fantasied,” he reminded me.
“Sure, but—”
“No buts. This is it, sweetheart. Either you trust me or you don’t.”
“I do trust you, Adam, you know that.” As I said it I realized it was completely true. I knew he was a man of his word. But the whole scenario seemed so out of my league.
“Good, then just do all that I ask of you and things will unfold exactly as they should. This evening will settle all our problems. I promise you.”
“O—kay,” I said a bit shakily. “If it will help the situation with the Russos, you can count on me.”
“Perfect. I expect you to make your entrance in ten minutes.”
“Entrance?” I asked but he’d already rung off. My mind whirled. What was Adam up to? I checked my email but no Word attachment had come in as yet.
The grandfather clock struck seven. I hurried from my room for the staircase. The gown flowed perfectly around me, its regal weight inhibiting. I stopped at the top of the stairs. A sea of faces awaited me. My legs nerveless.
Adam was standing at the bottom of the stairs. His designer tux graced his wide shoulders and trim waist with studied ease. He was so handsome my heart lurched. Our eyes locked. My heart trilled. My man waited.
He took my hand and led me through the hushed crowd and over to the side of the fairyland-decorated hall. Right up to a serious-looking man holding a black book under a flowered, sweet-smelling altar.
I passed Jessica on my way and she gave me a very tight look that sent flutters of worry to my stomach. What the hell?
Adam leaned over and whispered in my ear and his warm, fragrant breath caressed my cheek, sent thrills down my body. “Remember your promise.”
My eyes widened. I realized what was happening. Holy shit, we must be getting married! The man presiding over our nuptials looked like the real deal. Or was it just a fake wedding to get George to lay off? But wasn’t this going a tad far? I mean sure, he had propositioned me, but he’d not asked for a lifetime commitment. I could just say no to the little man.
Then I saw Julie and Jason coming toward us. I hissed quietly at her as she got closer. “You could have warned me!”
She had the grace to blush but she held her ground. “I was sworn to secrecy.”
Jason just beamed at her side. No help. I spotted Martha, who looked so happy she might burst into tears at any moment and I was suddenly guilty. If this wasn’t for real, a lot of people were going to get hurt. And not the least would be me. That sober realization added a new complexity to the occasion.
I turned to Adam, looking so incredibly handsome at my side. His face was filled with light. “Is this for real?” I had to know.
“Yes, beautiful, it is for real.” He looked a little worried as he said it, but he got full marks for being truthful. “Is that okay with you?”
I took a shaky breath as the minister waited. I made a momentous decision in a split second. But I had all the data and facts a girl could possibly need or want. I had a good man, a man whom I could trust, a man who believed in compromise. Surely I could do as much? Give up the ghosts of my past.
I nodded solemnly at Adam. He took my trembling hand and squeezed it with his warm one. Some things you just got to take on faith, my guardian angel piped up with her two cents.
The next few minutes passed in a whirlwind, the white noise in my head all but obscuring the minister’s voice. We vowed to love and honor and protect the other. Adam placed a heavy gold ring designed like a Celtic knot on my finger. I placed a matching band on his. In no time it was done. We signed an official-looking paper and the minister wished us luck.
I was inundated with good wishes from the guests. George Russo even slunk into that group.
“I’m sorry about the misunderstanding and congratulations on your marriage. I hope you and Adam will be very happy,” he said.
Jonathon added his own congratulations and I breathed a sigh of relief. A stone-faced Jessica mumbled hers. Now that must have hurt, but I’d stay out of it. Being gracious costs nothing. I felt pain at what I had almost lost in my need to control everything in my life. Just in time I opened my heart and let love in.
Dinner was a grand seven-course event and I even managed a few bites. But the best part? Adam and I danced the night away in each other’s arms under the fairy-tale canopy and I truly felt like Cinderella at the ball. And the even better part, I had a whole lifetime of special moments to look forward to with my man, beginning with spending our honeymoon fly-fishing.
About Angelina J. Windsor
If, to quote Robert Louis Stevenson, to forget is to be happy, than I am most happy when I’m immersed in the lives of my characters. Writing is all about giving your heart and soul to your storytelling. Obsessed with ideas and writing since I was one of those, the dreaded teenage poet, I spend time every day bringing worlds to life. For that journey I am truly grateful. I write in multiple genres (multi-published) across the writing spectrum, from hard science fiction to sweet romance, though I am quite drawn to racy characters that have plenty of attitude to spare. I can only hope my books touch your life albeit briefly in our busy world, and give you moments of absolute freedom as you fly with me to other worlds. Thanks for reading! And my all your stories have a happy-ever-after.
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Also by Angelina J. Windsor
A Christmas Shift
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The Power of Sunday Rose
The Power of Tess
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The Power of Sunday Rose Copyright © 2016 Angelina J. Windsor
Edited by Rebecca Fairfax
Cover design by Kelly A. Martin
Cover photography by PawelSierakowski, Jaromir Chalabala, Stacey Newman, Kopytin Georgy
Electronic book publication February 2016
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