chapter 5
I’d really had no idea what was in store for me when I’d agreed to marry Dane so quickly. Thank God I had years of wedding planning experience. And tons of connections. I called on many of them, apologizing profusely since it was Thanksgiving weekend and lying through my teeth that I was consulting for a society couple who were marrying privately. This intrigued everyone and, along with my having such sound relationships with them, made it infinitely easier to order all the flowers, candles, and accents I wanted.
Dane’s contact at the court allowed for us to apply under oath for our license first thing in the morning and have it expeditiously issued, though Dane’s lawyer, also present, assured us it wouldn’t currently become public record. I didn’t want to know how he could make that happen. Sometimes, ignorance truly was bliss.
We parted ways outside of City Hall, and Amano drove me to Tlaquepaque, the upscale complex of boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants in a traditional Mexican village setting that I loved.
I needed a dress.
The temperature had dipped somewhat and the sky was overcast, but I knew we’d have the heaters on the patio to warm the night, so I didn’t limit my search for the perfect gown to something with long sleeves. I found precisely what I was looking for at the same shop where I’d picked up the one-off emerald mini Dane had always admired.
After collecting all of the decorations and loading them into the back of the Escalade, Amano and I returned to the house and he helped me set up, along the bank of the creek.
It was near impossible not to check in on Dane and his dinner preparations. Occupational hazard and plain bride-to-be curiosity. I curbed my innate desire, though, instead taking a glass of champagne into the bathroom and soaking in a warm bubble bath, sprinkling the water with a bit of the frankincense oil from Oman that Dane had given me.
The aroma was rich and sensuous, and I drew it in with long, slow breaths. Conflicting emotions warred within me, but they didn’t unnerve me. Getting married was the last thing I’d ever imagined I’d do. Yet here I was, about to tie the knot.
Following the bath, I did my hair, opting to pull the sides up and leave a mass of fat chocolate curls down my back, with a few loose tendrils at my temples. I turned my blue eyes smoky and applied smudge-proof crimson-colored lipstick. My stomach fluttered as the clock on the vanity ticked off the minutes.
Norah Jones’s “Thinking About You” flowed from the surround sound. It was a sultry melody, soothing. Although my nerve endings tingled, warmth coursed through my veins. Exhilaration and anxiety were a strange mix, but they electrically charged me and it was all I could do to fight back the excitement bubbling in my throat.
I crossed the hall to the dressing room and pulled out the garment bag with my “wedding” gown. It was really just a ball gown. But the moment I’d seen it, I’d been convinced it fit the bill perfectly. I slipped into the dress. As I struggled with the long hidden zipper along my spine, Tamera’s silky British voice filled the room.
“Good heavens, you were serious when you said you were getting married tonight.”
I laughed. “Thank God I’ve been through this numerous times. No need for a rehearsal.”
“Let me help you.” She finished zipping me and I turned toward her. She gaped. Took a few seconds to recover. “Good Lord, Ari. You look … Oh…” Her hand pressed to her heart as her tawny eyes grew wide. “Stunning.”
I swallowed down a lump of emotion. “Thank you. I had strictly off-the-rack options, given the short notice.”
Her arms spread as she took me in from head to toe. “Seriously, bridal magazine cover worthy. And then some.”
My eyes closed for a moment and I tried to breathe normally. Then I said, “You have seen the groom, right?”
“He directed me this way.” Fanning her cheek with a hand, she added, “Wherever did you find him, and does he have a brother?”
A smile tickled my lips. “He broke the mold—and it wasn’t put back together thereafter.”
“No kidding,” Tamera said in a dreamy tone. “How, exactly, do you keep your hands off him?”
“Not easily,” I admitted.
“No wonder you’ve kept him all to yourself.” She winked. “Now, what else can I do for you?”
“Light the candles? On the patio and just beyond, along the creek.”
“Absolutely.” She leaned in and gave me air kisses to both cheeks so she didn’t disturb my makeup. “I’ll see you at the altar, love.”
“Oh, Christ.” This time, my stomach flipped. No gentle fluttering to keep me on an even keel. “I’m getting married.”
“Indeed.” She smiled radiantly. “Now would be a good time to tell yourself all those things you say to your brides and grooms at this crucial point of no return.”
“Right.?
?? I tried to steady myself. “Inhale. Exhale. If you forget all else, remember those two simple words. I do.”
“Perfect.”