“Hey, Dearling, it’s not Officer anymore. That little stunt on Oscar night? Got me into boiling hot water with my captain.”
Julia covered her eyes and shook her head. “I’m so sorry. Now I feel terrible!”
“Don’t,” Morrison smiled. “I’m now the head of security—and horses—here and out at the Y2. It’s all been hush-hush until today.”
“What? How…I can’t believe you’re here!”
Morrison chuckled. “Have you ever heard that saying: ‘Man makes plans and God laughs’? Well, I think the plan all along was for me to wind up right here. Miss Verralta reached out to thank me a couple of months ago and that’s when she offered me the job. So I have you to thank for it.”
“She never said a word to me.”
Vitty laughed. “That’s because you weren’t supposed to know about it until today.”
“Morrison, if it wasn’t for you and Trigger, I wouldn’t have gotten to Rina on Oscar night.”
Morrison shook her hand. “Congratulations, Julia. I guess we’ll be seeing a lot of each other. Well, I’d better get your guys here out for a stretch and some water.”
“Thank you, Morrison! You’ll never know how much this means to me.”
“I already do, Julia—and you can call me Katy. You forget I saw how you rode Trigger. Anyone who can ride like that on a horse they just met is someone who knows and loves horses as much as I do. I’ll see you at the ceremony.”
“Th-Thanks again,” Julia called out as Morrison climbed back into the pickup.
“That was the cop whose horse you stole!” Vitty belly-laughed. “Leave it to you.”
Julia laughed. “Trust me. It wasn’t funny at the time—when I thought she was going to arrest me.”
Half an hour later, Julia was out of the shower when Vitty answered her door.
“Julia? It’s me—Marielle!”
“No, I’m Vittoria, Julia’s twin.”
Julia entered the room and looked at the stylist. “Marielle?”
“Yes! Oh my gosh, you’re the Julia?”
Julia laughed. “How are you? How did you wind up here?”
“I work with Mark. Since he has to get Miss Verralta ready, he asked me to do your hair and makeup.”
“How do you two know each other?” Vitty asked.
“Marielle is a friend of Nicki’s. I met Marielle at Nicki’s birthday party when we were still dating. How is Nicki?”
“I haven’t really spoken to her since that party,” Marielle answered.
“But you two were such good friends,” Julia said.
“Honestly, when I saw how she had treated you that day, I realized I couldn’t be friends with her after what she did.”
“But we hardly knew each other.”
Marielle scoffed. “She chose a stripper over you and that gorgeous sculpture? Please!”
“Well, that’s long in the past, Marielle. It’s good to see you. Follow me, I have the vanity cleared and ready for you to work your magic.”
“This is great. Congratulations on your wedding. I’m so happy to be here, Julia. You can relax. I’m going to make you look flawless.”
“Looks like you’re in good hands, Juju. So if you don’t mind, I’m going to start getting ready at the guesthouse.”
“Perfect. Call me when you’re done.”
* * *
Vitty left Julia’s suite and descended one flight to the kitchen. She went to the refrigerator, took out an apple, and was washing it when Gigi entered.
“You know, Julia, this doesn’t change anything,” said Gigi in her most snide tone. “I’m still going to be watching you like a hawk for any little slip-ups where Rina’s concerned. You still have time to do the right thing and back out.”
Vitty turned to her and took a large bite of the apple. She stared at Gigi’s smug expression, chewed slowly, and made her wait until she had swallowed the entire bite before responding.
“Here’s the deal, Geege. It changes everything. You got the wrong Dearling, honey. Unlike my twin, I know plenty of women like you—and not one was recognizable when I got done with them. When you took those pictures of me and David, you violated my privacy, not Julia’s. If I were you, I’d watch your back. One word from my sister of you undermining her and Rina? Count on me coming back in a flash to make your life a living hell.”
Gigi opened her mouth to speak.
Vitty smiled a wicked grin. “I’d weigh very carefully anything you’re about to say right now. Anything.”
Gigi stared, waited, and then nodded. “Well, aren’t you the alpha sister? You might want to tell her before the ceremony that Britney Cavell is here as someone’s plus-one.”
Vitty felt her cheeks get warm. “No doubt we have you to thank for that. Strike one, Gigi. Two more and I won’t even wait for Rina before I take—you—out.” She smiled. “Are we clear?”
Gigi raised an eyebrow and nodded.
“Great. See you at the wedding.”
Chapter Fifty
As planned, Vitty escorted Julia to the place from where she would exit the house.
“How you holding up?” Vitty asked.
“My legs feel like water, and I’m so nervous I’m shaking. Rina should be here already. Although I’m not surprised she isn’t. The woman loves to make an entrance.”
Vitty hugged her. “You look magnificent. But…I’ve been elected to tell you that there’s been a change of plans.”
“Change? What change? What are you talking about?”
Vitty laughed. “Calm down, you’re going to love this. Promise. Come with me.” She escorted the bride to a door on the side of the sprawling mansion.
Julia stared out at the sight framed by the open glass wall. “Shut up!” She walked outside. “Rina, are you serious?”
Rina looked down at her from Thunder’s back and smiled. “Dead serious.”
Julia took a step toward her horses, each draped with a festive lei around his neck. “No wonder this aisle is so wide. You look gorgeous—I can’t take my eyes off of you.”
Rina sported I Love You Smile Number Seven—the one reserved only for Julia. “Time to get married, Cowgirl. Are you in it with me?”
“Deep in it.” Julia turned to Vitty and handed her the bouquet. “Hold this.”
“Wait!” Clay came from behind with steps for Julia and placed them in front of her. “So you don’t mangle that beautiful gown,” he said.
“You’re so good to me, Clay.”
He whispered in her ear. “I don’t want you to be shocked, but Britney Cavell is here as someone’s plus-one. And yes, Rina just found out. But don’t worry—I’ll take care of everything. Just focus on this amazing day.” He looked at Rina and nodded.
Julia mounted Lightning, took her bouquet from her sister, and reached for the reins.
“Not today, kiddo,” Vitty said when she took Lightning’s reins.
Clay held Thunder’s reins and nodded at the wedding planner. She cued the flute and guitar duo, and Clay and Vitty waited until Rina gave them the go-ahead.
First, Rina took Julia’s hand. “You said you wanted to get married on horseback.”
“Rina, I can’t believe you did this for me.”
“I did it for us. For all the special times we’ve had on the ranch.”
Julia winked at her. “And in the barn.”
“Don’t make me blush—there are cameras. I also have a special surprise. You’re now full owner of the Y2.”
Julia’s eyes opened wide. “What?”
“I bought out Vitty’s shares and am giving them to you as a wedding present. It’s perfect. She and David get to buy the house, and you get your ranch.”
“You mean our ranch.”
“That too, but best of all—I get you, Julia.” She gazed into Julia’s eyes and smiled Getting Married Number One for the first time. “I think we’re ready, Clay.”
Clay and Vitty led the horses slowly down the aisle as the guests they passed stood a
nd applauded.
Julia spoke in a hushed tone. “You really do know how to make an entrance. There are so many famous people here.”
“Well, of course. What did you expect?”
“I expected you to be the one making the entrance, not me.”
“As you said to me on my first foray into the barn, ‘If you need to bolt right now, Lightning here is pretty fast.’”
Julia giggled. “You sure know how to deliver a line.”
“When we reach the end of the aisle, there will be steps to dismount.”
“Got it,” Julia nodded.
“Oh, and I have two more little surprises for you,” Rina said as they slowly neared the altar.
Julia stared at her. “I’m not even going to try to guess.”
“What’s our favorite Steel Eyes song?”
“‘If I Ever Had the Chance (I’d Fall in Love with You).’ You already know that.”
“She, Kenna Waverly, will be performing it for us at the reception.”
“Shut up. Are you kidding me?”
“No. You know there’s no one in the world I love slow dancing with more than you. Lastly, I’ve taken the liberty of getting you three weeks off at the diner because we’re honeymooning in Paris.”
Julia fell down the rabbit hole of Rina’s loving gaze. “I’ve wanted to see Paris ever since your opening scene in Allies of Night.”
“I know.” Rina reached out and squeezed Julia’s hand. “With any luck, we’ll get a little rain.”
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