Beckham held out a pair of shiny gold high heels that crisscrossed up the front, with red lacquered bottoms.
“Holy shoe porn,” she whispered in awe.
Beckham laughed that rare unguarded one that made her toes curl. “I never thought you would actually like heels after your fit about them in the penthouse.”
She snatched them out of his hand. “They’re perfect for the right occasion. Not for everyday wear when I have to…you know, walk and run and kick some ass.”
“Duly noted.”
She slid the shoes on and Beckham’s feral grin was a seal of approval.
“You’re missing something,” he said.
“I am?”
He withdrew a black velvet box from the inside pocket of his suit coat. “This.”
Her eyes widened. When she didn’t move to take it, he popped the top open and revealed a stunning teardrop-shaped diamond pendant on a long chain. He moved his finger in a circle, motioning for her to turn around. She did as instructed as if lost in a dream. She pulled her hair off of her back and felt the cool metal touch her skin as it dropped down right between her breasts. He clasped it into place.
“Wow,” she whispered. She was mesmerized by the huge rock. She knew it was a drop in the bucket for someone who could create an economic collapse, but still it was magical. “This is…beautiful.”
“I’m glad that you like it.”
“I love it. But you didn’t have to get me anything else. My camera was enough.”
“Your camera was returning property that already belonged to you. I should have brought it long ago.”
“Thank you.”
“Merry Christmas, Little One,” he said, dropping a kiss to her crimson lips. Then he held out his arm for her. “Shall we?”
She placed her hand on his elbow and followed him through the secret door. Her mind was racing with the extravagance of this gift. What she had gotten him was nothing compared to this. But what to get the man who had everything? She pushed it out of her mind. It didn’t matter. Beckham didn’t care.
They took the elevator down a few floors, then entered onto the main set of corridors. Reyna was surprised to find them cleared. Had he done that too?
A set of double doors were open to reveal the wedding space. Reyna’s jaw dropped. She had sat in meetings with Meghan, Jodie, and Laura for hours the last two weeks discussing the small wedding they were planning and fantasizing about the elaborate affair Laura wanted to have but knew was impossible. That fantasy was now a reality.
The room was no more than a large conference space, but had been transformed into a stunning rose garden. White, red, and pink roses bloomed on a large garden archway at the end of a pathway of red rose petals. White wooden chairs were artfully arranged in a semicircle with flowers on either side of the chairs. Twinkling white lights lit the ceiling, mirroring the stars of the night sky.
And everyone…everyone was dressed to the nines.
Brian and Drew were standing in lush black tuxedos at the front of the room. Meghan had on a forest green floor-length gown and Jodie wore a dusty pink dress that shimmered in the lights. There were about a half-dozen other people in attendance that Laura had gotten to know in her time at Elle and all of them were dressed in similar attire. It was as extravagant and gorgeous as any ball Reyna had ever been to…maybe more so. Because this was for her…for Brian and Laura.
This was a gift. The real Christmas gift. A real wedding for them amidst these hard times when they had never expected to get anything. Let alone…this.
“You did this?” she whispered.
Beckham plucked a white rose from a high-top table at the entrance. “White roses are for new beginnings,” he said, passing the bloom to her. “This is our new beginning.”
“You’re incredible,” she said. Her heart thudded in her chest, captivated by this amazing man. She knew she was incredibly lucky. He might have a past, but their future was up for the taking.
“I do it all for you.” He swept a lock of her hair behind her ear. “You make it all worthwhile.”
Chapter 30
Beckham took her hand and kissed it once before guiding her down the aisle to their seats in the front row on the left side. Groom’s side.
Just as they sat down, instrumental music filled the room. The guests rose, turning to find Laura standing in the aisle. She looked like Cinderella in her wedding dress. Reyna peeked back at Brian to find his mouth open and his eyes wide with shock and admiration. He was a man in love. Laura swept down the rose-petal aisle to her beloved.
As they stared at each other, Reyna realized she had never seen either of them look so unbelievably happy.
Elle had given them this. Elle and Beckham and security they hadn’t known back in the warehouses. It was a magical thing to witness. She squeezed Beckham’s hand as tears came to her eyes at the sight. He squeezed back though his eyes were on her and the joy this brought her.