by Elle James
“Worse.” Allie slumped her shoulders. “Last night the shop burned to the ground with everything inside.”
Dallas’s heart sank to her knees at the thought of that beautiful peach-pink dress burnt to a crisp.
Sadie pressed a hand to her chest. “Oh, dear Lord. Was anyone hurt?”
Allie shook her head. “No, but the owner was pretty shaken.”
“So, we don’t have a gown.” Sadie bit her lip and turned to Dallas then smiled. “Don’t you worry. We’ll fix this. You will have a wedding gown on your wedding day if I have to call in every one of my markers in Hollywood to make a delivery happen overnight.”
Dallas smiled. “Please. It was just a dress.” A very beautiful gown that made her feel like a real bride. “I can wear the green one you gave me. The color doesn’t matter.”
“Like hell, it doesn’t.” Lori planted her fists on her hips. “You’re getting married. You deserve to be the princess at your own ball.” She laughed, her cheeks flushing with color. “Listen to the crusty old sergeant going on about princesses and balls.”
Allie held up her hands. “Whoa, wait a minute. You don’t have to come up with a dress for Dallas. The seamstress had the dress at her house, making last-minute adjustments. It’s all right. It was delayed, but should be here any minute. A courier is bringing it up from Bozeman, special delivery.”
Sadie drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Thank goodness. Although, I’ll feel better when it arrives.”
At that moment, a van pulled up the drive, its headlights piercing the impinging darkness. When it stopped, the driver jumped out, reached into the back of the van and brought out a long garment bag. “Is a Dallas Hayes here?” he called out to the people standing around the barn.
Dallas held up a hand. “That’s me.”
The delivery driver strode toward her, handed her the bag and held out the delivery confirmation document for her to sign. Without saying another word, he climbed back into the van and left.
“I’ll take the dress into the house and put it somewhere safe,” Allie offered.
“After we take a peek to make sure it truly is in the dress and intact, not smoke damaged,” Lori said.
While Dallas held the bag, Sadie and Lori pulled free the tape and lifted the lid.
A collective sigh sounded from all four women.
“You’ll be beautiful in that dress,” Allie said, her voice full of awe. “Wow.”
“What have you ladies got there?” Hank asked.
He and Swede reached them just as Sadie and Lori closed the bag.
“Nothing.” Sadie lifted her face for her husband’s peck on her cheek.
Dallas’s heartbeat ratcheted up a notch when Viper stepped out from behind the other two men. Heat burned a path from her chest down to her core, making her hot all over. His gaze met hers, and all conversation faded into a soft hum.
Allie took the garment bag from her nerveless fingers. “I’ll just put this in the house. You all have a rehearsal to practice.”
“Dallas, did you decide if you’re having bridesmaids and who you want to walk you down the aisle?” Sadie asked.
Dallas looked around at the people standing nearby. “I’d like it if you and Lori would be my bridesmaids. You don’t have to dress up or anything, but having someone up there with me would be nice in case I pass out.”
Sadie laughed. “You’ll be just fine with or without us up there. But, thank you.”
“I’ve never been a bridesmaid.” Lori’s eyes widened and then filled with tears. “I’d be honored.”
“And, if Hank doesn’t mind, I’d like him to walk me down the aisle.” Dallas smiled at Hank. “I’d be honored if you would.”
Hank gave her a semi-bow. “I’d be proud to.”
Viper stepped forward. “If Swede and Kujo could stand with me, that would be great.”
Swede nodded. “I’m in.”
“Me, too,” Kujo seconded.
With the positions assigned, the rehearsal went off without a hitch until the time came when the Justice of the Peace’s stand-in, Allie, granted permission to kiss the bride.
Dallas’s cheeks were so hot she was sure her face had turned beet-red. Viper didn’t spare her one inch. He drew her into his arms, swept her in a low hold and kissed her so soundly she forgot where she was. When he set her back on her feet, she could barely stand. Her knees wobbled and the barn walls spun around her.
Sadie clapped her hands. “That was perfect. Tomorrow will be in the bag before you know it.”
Hank nodded. “Now, let’s get to the bachelor party before the others drink the tavern dry.”
“That’s right.” Sadie took one of Dallas’s hands. Lori took the other. “We have a party of our own to attend.”
The four women loaded into Sadie’s SUV. The men, again, followed them down the highway and into Eagle Rock, parking outside the crowded Blue Moose Tavern.
Music blared from inside, filling the night with noise.
The men joined the ladies outside the door.
“Might as well kiss your guy goodnight.” Allie grinned. “You won’t see him again until you walk down the aisle.”
Viper swept Dallas into his arms and kissed her again. If he was doing it for show, he was doing a good job.
The other women hooted and hollered.
Viper whispered in her ear, “Stay safe tonight, darlin’.” Then he turned her toward the group of women and gave her a gentle push in their direction.
Dallas let the ladies drag her up to the second level of the tavern where they were joined by the other women associated with the Brotherhood Protectors.
Dallas met Mia Chastain, Bear’s lady, Angel Carson, Duke’s woman, Molly Greenbriar and Daphne Rayne, Boomer’s new wife. They played drinking games, downing shots and beer. Then they turned up the music and danced until after midnight.
When Sadie proclaimed they’d had enough, they loaded Dallas into the SUV and drove back to Bear Creek Ranch where Allie had a room set aside for her wedding preparation.
Dallas didn’t know how she managed to crawl into the bed, but she did and lay thinking about what her wedding day would bring.
If someone decided to burn down the house, she’d have to go up with it. She wasn’t moving until the alcohol wore off or Viper arrived on a white horse to carry her off into the sunset.
Her last thought as she slipped into a numb sleep was of Viper and how he’d kissed her. The intensity of that connection couldn’t all be faked, could it?
* * *
Morning came with the sun glaring through the window, piercing Dallas’s eyelids like a sharp knife. She squeezed them tighter, but the motion didn’t help to block the light.
A door opened, and footsteps crossed the wood floor.
Dallas played dead, hoping whoever was there would go away and come back when her head didn’t hurt and she could manage actually opening her eyes.
“Good morning, beautiful,” a voice called out. “Rise and shine. We have a lot to do before the Wedding March plays.”
Dallas groaned and cracked open an eyelid.
Allie stood before her with a wide smile, a glass of water in her hand and something else curled in her other fist.
“I’d shoot you, if I had a gun,” Dallas muttered and pulled the pillow over her head.
“I have something for a headache, if you need it,” Allie sang.
Dallas shoved aside the pillow and held out her hand. “Yes.”
“The time’s already past ten o’clock. We have a light lunch planned for you and the other ladies of the wedding party. We’ll serve it here in this room, if that’s okay by you?”
“Sure.” Dallas tossed the pills to the back of her throat and downed the entire glass of water. So much for being at the top of her game on D-Day. If anything was taking place to clobber this wedding that hadn’t already happened, the incident would occur that day. She needed to be alert, ready for action and minus one helluva hangover
.
“I’ll give you time to shower and wash your hair. Thirty minutes enough?”
“Sure,” Dallas repeated, not sure she was capable of any more conversation until the painkillers worked their magic.
“I’ll be back then, with reinforcements. Gird your loins, today will be a busy one,” she said with that incessant smile.
Once Allie left the room, Dallas pulled the pillow back over her head and gave herself permission to wallow in pain.
A few minutes passed and the pills started to work. Dallas could sit up without puking. Then she stood without falling. That’s when she realized she’d gone to sleep without removing her prosthetic. Before long, she’d stripped out of her clothes and her fake leg and hopped into the shower. She let the spray wash over her head and down her body, warming her skin and rinsing away the fog of sleep.
After she’d washed every inch of herself, she used a big fluffy towel to dry off. Then she slipped on her prosthetic device and wrapped a bathrobe around her naked body. Gone was her headache. Back was her sharp sense of situational awareness. She felt almost normal. Well, as normal as a bride could feel on her wedding day.
Her heart beat faster as she thought of Viper somewhere else, either on Bear Creek Ranch or at Brighter Days Ranch, dressing in his tuxedo.
Dallas was amazed at the amount that had been spent creating the stage for this wedding trap. What a huge waste the funding would be if they didn’t catch the culprit.
Not that she wanted anyone hurt, but Dallas hoped the saboteur made his move that day. They’d be ready and could take him down when the time came.
She’d slipped into the pretty panties Sadie insisted she purchase to wear beneath her dress. Dallas would never have chosen lace. Every pair of underwear in her go-bag was made of cotton, sturdy material that could handle sweat and dirt from field training and operations. None were sexy in the least possible way.
She slipped into the matching strapless bra that pushed her breasts up and out, giving her the cleavage she hadn’t realized she possessed.
A soft knock on the door made her grab for the robe and hold it against body.
The door burst open and Sadie, Lori, Daisy, Lisa and Allie entered.
Sadie sailed through, smiling. “Oh, good, you’re up and ready to get started.”
“We just finished decorating the barn,” Daisy announced.
“It’s like a fairytale,” Lori said.
“It’s amazing,” Allie agreed.
Sadie smiled. “It’s perfect.”
Dallas’s eyes stung, and she had to blink to keep from crying. These women had awakened early to come decorate for her wedding. A stranger. Someone they hadn’t known a week before. But they’d done it selflessly and happily.
When the time came to reveal the truth, Dallas would hate to see the disappointment in their eyes. She would have violated their trust.
Daisy took over and gave each of the ladies a task to perform.
While Daisy dried and styled Dallas’s hair, Sadie applied a light foundation to her face and then added contour, eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush and mascara.
Dallas’s heart warmed with the care and acceptance these women showed her. For the first time in her life, she liked feeling feminine and actually beautiful.
Allie ran errands, brought refreshing drinks and delivered finger sandwiches for lunch. Lori smoothed the wrinkles out of the wedding dress and commented when solicited for advice on makeup or hair.
The ladies were upbeat, excited and happy. Dallas almost caught their excitement, but she was too focused on what happened next.
“Are you nervous?” Lori asked.
“No,” Dallas lied. “Should I be?”
“You’re about to promise your life to another human being. I think I’d be petrified,” Lori said, her brows wrinkling.
“It’s not that bad,” Sadie said. “I would give my life for my husband, I love him that much. When you find the right guy, you’ll feel the same way. Like Dallas, here.”
Daisy sighed and pulled a strand of Dallas’s hair through the curling iron. “That’s exactly what I’m waiting for. The right guy.”
“And Tyler wasn’t the one,” Dallas stated
“You saw him,” Daisy said. “There’s no reasoning with him. I’ve broken up with him before. He wore me down, and I went back to him. But the relationship is toxic. I want a guy who loves me no matter how bad his day has been.”
“When you broke up with him, did you date someone you thought might be better for you?” Dallas asked.
Daisy looped hair over the curling iron and smiled. “I dated a couple pipeline guys who were passing through and thought…maybe.” She shook her head. “But no. Not yet.”
“How’d Tyler take that?”
“Oh, he was mad as a wet hen,” Daisy said. “Although I don’t know why. I had every right to date who I pleased. As did he. In fact, I heard he was seeing someone, but he wouldn’t tell me who. Once he found out I was dating, he got all mad and must have dumped her ass, because he came back after me with a vengeance.”
Dallas perked up at that piece of news. “You have no idea who she was?”
Daisy sighed. “No clue. He wouldn’t say.”
“Aren’t you afraid of Tyler?” Sadie asked.
Daisy shrugged. “I can handle him. He really does love me and would never hurt me. Someone else, maybe, but not me.” Her lips pressed into a tight line. “I just hope he doesn’t do anything stupid like show up at this wedding unannounced. I don’t want him to cause a scene on your special day. Maybe I’ll leave before the ceremony starts to keep that from happening.”
Letting out a surprised gasp, Dallas captured Daisy’s free hand. “No, please stay. I need you to tell me what to do.”
“All you have to do is march down that aisle, say I do and stand around for all the pictures. The ceremony will go smoothly with or without me.”
“Still, I’d like for you to be there,” Dallas insisted. If someone was doing these acts to get back at Daisy, that someone might not make the effort if she wasn’t there. No matter what, all the trouble they’d gone to had to pay off.
Sadie glanced at the clock. “Oh, my, look at the time. The men will be gathering in the barn.” She looked out the window. “Look, there’s the Justice of the Peace and the woman who will play the piano.”
“There’s a piano?” Dallas asked.
“Of course,” Daisy said. “You can’t have a wedding without the wedding march. And I’ve chosen a lovely song she’ll play and sing while you’re queuing up for your big entrance.”
“Wow, this process is all too much. We could have just eloped and saved a ton of money,” Dallas said and looked around for someone who agreed.
Lori frowned. “And deprive us of all this fun? Not on your life.”
As the hour neared, Dallas’s stomach knotted. Though the wedding was all a fake event, she couldn’t help but get caught up in the excitement. Deep inside, she was a little sad that the occasion wasn’t for real.
Viper would make some lucky woman a wonderful husband. He’d be kind, gentle and care about her above all else. He’d understand if she wasn’t a girly-girl and love her no matter what. Because he would love with all of his heart.
Dallas’s chest tightened as she slipped into the beautiful wedding dress and let Sadie zip up the back. The seamstress had altered the seams perfectly, and the dress seemed to be made for her.
Daisy settled the veil over the lovely curls she’d pinned into her hair.
Dallas slid on the matching satin shoes and straightened in front of the mirror.
All the ladies in the room sighed as one.
“Wow,” Lori said. “Who’d have thought you were an Army Ranger? You could be a movie star, like Sadie.”
Dallas laughed. “Don’t be silly.” Then she caught a glimpse of her reflection and had to do a doubletake. The woman staring back didn’t look like Dallas Hayes. Color was high in her cheeks and her eyes sparkled. T
he dress…dear, sweet Jesus… the dress flowed around her like a soft, sunset-tinged cloud.
One by one, the ladies hugged her and filed out the door, leaving Daisy.
“Hey, I have to say it, because it’s true, and I feel it’s my duty to the brides I help plan for.”
Dallas stared at Daisy in the mirror’s reflection. “Say what?”
“It’s not too late to change your mind.” Daisy held out her hands. “No matter how much money was spent, how much time was invested in the preparation, you don’t have to go through with this wedding if marrying Vince is not what you truly want.”
Dallas swallowed the lump rising in her throat. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll lose business if you tell your brides they can back out?”
She chuckled. “I haven’t lost a bride yet. I just want them to be absolutely certain of their love.” She turned Dallas to face her. “Are you in love with Vince?”
Her pulse hammered so hard through her veins a tattoo beat against her eardrums. Did she love Viper? After knowing him for the few days they’d been assigned to the project? Was such emotion possible? Without realizing it, Dallas nodded. “Yes.”
Holy hell. She was in love with Viper. Her head spun, and she nearly toppled off the satin heels.
Daisy laughed and reached out to steady her. “You’d think you only now acknowledged your feelings. But you must have known from before the day he proposed.”
Since he hadn’t proposed, she hadn’t known until that moment. Dallas’s knees shook, and she fought to regain a grip on reality.
This wedding wasn’t real.
Her feelings were, but that didn’t mean Viper returned them.
Fuck. What had she done to herself? She couldn’t fall in love with her partner.
But she had.
And now she was marrying him.
Granted, the marriage wasn’t real, and they wouldn’t be husband and wife, but damn, she felt like it was really happening.
“Okay, then, let’s have a wedding.” Daisy stepped back and looked at her creation. “You’re a beautiful bride. Vince must love you so very much.”
If only.
Dallas gulped back a sob threatening to rise up her throat.