by Ally Adams
First thing on Monday morning, my day off, and after The Russian had headed into work at the Saints’ security office, I got a text message from Wendy, the coffee van lady.
“Congratulations, Carla, to you and The Russian. My engagement present for you ... text me Sasha’s number and I’ll let her know when I’m arriving today, before The Russian knows.”
Ha! I texted her back Sasha’s number and my thanks and delight at her present. I then quickly sent a message to Sasha to put her on alert. Victory! I knew Wendy must have been texting The Russian and giving him the heads up! I’d love to see The Russian’s face when Sasha was finally in front of him in the coffee queue. Yeah, I knew I should have been on his side, but this was girl power, or coffee power, and if The Russian thought I had forgotten to crack this easy case wide open, he didn’t have me pegged for much of a journalist.
About nine-thirty I got a text from The Russian.
“Okay fiancée of mine, please explain ... Sasha is in front of me at Wendy’s coffee van. Not happy.”
This was followed not long after by a selfie sent by Sasha of her in the front of the queue with The Russian standing behind, his arms folded.
I messaged The Russian back. “Goodness, how did that happen? Maybe, girl power! Remember, this girl loves you.”
Chapter 33
Six months later ...
We picked the non-season to marry—of course—so we could party, the players could relax, and neither of us had overwhelming work commitments. We had our wedding at The Russian’s house ... the ceremony in the front yard, with the beach behind us, and then the reception spilled into the house. Helicopters flew overhead and security had a job at keeping the public and media out of the street, and letting the guests through.
Steffi and Aimee were my bridesmaids and we had selected champagne satin for them, which suited them both beautifully and complemented the ocean background. Of course Tia was stunning as the flower girl, and so important – The Russian couldn’t wait for her part to be over so she would calm down a bit ... so cute.
My dress was amazing, thanks to Sasha: a fitted, natural satin backless gown, featuring French Chantilly lace and roses, hand-stitched by Sasha herself. It had taken her months to make and we made it financially worth her while, given the other work she’d had to put on hold to do it. I was hoping the publicity would let her design full-time now if that was what she wanted to do.
The Russian was breathtakingly beautiful, with his short back and sides, towering form, beautifully cut tuxedo, crisp white shirt and trimmings in champagne to match the bridal party. I could have jumped on him then and there and had my way with him. His two groomsmen were Captain Fantastic, Lucas, and his high school best friend, Matt, who had flown back from London, where he had been posted, to stand beside him, and meet me!
I didn’t know how I was going to get through it. Dad stood at the front of the garden in the archway decorated with white roses, ready to marry us.
I took a deep breath, followed Steffi and Aimee and walked myself up our makeshift ‘aisle’ in the garden. The look The Russian was giving me brought tears to my eyes. I was so in love, so lucky!
All I wanted to hear were the words, and finally, Dad said them, and The Russian and I breathed ... “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your husband.”
THE END
Author acknowledgments:
I hope you liked The Russian’s story and thank you to all the readers who requested he get his own book, I was keen to write it!
Thanks to my romantic school friend who proposed to his girlfriend after 100 days and inspired The Russian to borrow that exact proposal.
Thank you also to everyone who has loved my other Saints’—Lucas, Tomás and Niklas—and their ladies, Mia, Alice and Sasha. It has given me the enthusiasm to keep writing.
As always, special thanks to my German ‘translator and sub-editor’ – Becky Strahl from InkEaters blog spot. Catch Becky’s blogspot at: http://inkeaters.blogspot.de/
Finally my thanks to Helen and the Atlas Productions’ team for loving the Saints and bringing them into the world.
And to The Russian himself … I wonder where you are these days.
About the author:
Ally Adams is a journalist who lives in coastal Victoria, Australia, with her husband and furry friends. She is a literature major, romance reader and writer.
Connect with Ally at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allyadamswriter
Twitter:@allyadamsbooks
Website:http://www.atlasproductions.com.au
The Saints Team Series:
Team Lucas
Team Tomás
Team Niklas
Team Russian
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