by K. S. Ruff
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she replied in kind.
My eyebrows shot up. “What? Why?”
A stubborn look settled over her face. “You first.”
“Fine.” I huffed out a breath. “Maxim kissed me. Jase punched him. I had a coming to Jesus talk with Maxim. He promised not to flirt with me or bad mouth Rafael between now and the election. He’s also threatened to move to the United States and pursue me relentlessly if he loses the election.”
“Wow.” Shae studied me for a couple of heartbeats. “Has he?”
My brow furrowed. “Has he what?”
“Stopped flirting.”
I barked out a laugh. “Absolutely not.”
Shae sighed. “I’m questioning whether Konstantin has severed ties with the mafia. He’s acting suspicious. He’s gone most evenings, and he refuses to discuss what he’s doing.”
“Maybe he’s out drinking. He is rather fond of his vodka,” I offered skeptically.
She shook her head. “I don’t think he’s out drinking. He doesn’t come home drunk. We hardly go out, although he sleeps over more often than not. The only thing he seems interested in is…” Her cheeks flushed.
“Sex?” I guessed.
“His sex drive is…” Her voice trailed off again. “He’s really attentive in bed, but he’s always seducing me. Every time I try to talk, he seduces me. Physically, we’re fine, but emotionally? I thought we’d be closer by now.”
I frowned. “Have you shared your concerns with him?”
She nodded. “Every time I bring it up he apologizes, he starts kissing me, and we end up in bed.”
I reflected on the workbook that Father Ramires had given me. “Why don’t you write him a letter, explain the problem, and tell him what you need. Sometimes it helps for people to see it in writing, and he won’t be able to interrupt or distract you if he’s reading. You should offer concrete examples of what you need so it’s clear what he has to do to improve the relationship. Instead of discussing it, ask him to write you a letter back, telling you what he needs out of this relationship.”
She gaped at me. “That’s perfect.”
I laughed. “That’s in the marriage preparation workbook.”
Shae rose from her chair. “I’d like to borrow that when you’re done.”
“I’ll make a copy for you.” I glanced at my computer screen. “I e-mailed the grant application. Let me know which sections you want to work on.”
She stopped at the door. “Will do. Are we still going dress shopping this weekend?”
“Yep. We’re meeting at my house, Saturday at ten.” I sat staring at the doorway long after she’d left, wondering just how much danger my friend was in.
* * * * *
Brady sidled up to the center island. “What are you making?”
“Pear and pomegranate mimosas.” I scattered pomegranate seeds into the bottom of the champagne glasses.
The doorbell rang.
“I got it.” Jase jumped from the couch.
I followed him into the foyer.
“Hey, Jase. Ready for a little dress shopping?” Cenia teased. She gave each of us a hug.
“Hardly,” he grumbled. “I’d rather rip my toenails off.”
Marie followed her inside the house. “Hi, Jase. It’s good to see you again. Kri, you look beautiful as always.” She pulled me in for a hug.
I stashed their coats inside the office and followed them into the family room. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“I am now,” Marie confessed. “Look at all this food!”
I waved toward the scones, mini quiches, Andouille sausage, and chocolate dipped strawberries. “Grab a plate. Would you like some coffee or a pear and pomegranate mimosa?”
“Both,” Cenia answered. “Kri, you didn’t have to do all this.”
“I know. I just thought it might be fun.” I handed Cenia and Marie their mimosas before pouring the coffee.
“I’ll get it,” Jase yelled when the doorbell rang again.
Shae followed him into the kitchen a few minutes later. “Sorry I’m late.”
I hugged her tight. “You’re fine. Grab a plate.” I shoved a mimosa at Brady and Jase.
Brady glanced awkwardly at Jase.
Jase shrugged. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
I poured two more mimosas, handed one to Shae, and kept one for myself. “I have a confession to make.”
The room grew quiet.
I took a deep breath “I’ve arranged for the bridal shop to bring the dresses here. They’ll be arriving at ten-thirty.”
Marie’s jaw bounced off the granite countertop.
“That’s awesome!” Cenia shouted.
Shae glanced at me, confused. “So we don’t have to schlep through the bridal shop?”
I shook my head. “I thought this might be easier and a bit more fun.” I looked at Cenia. “Jase has nightmares about scary face Barbie.”
Jase shuddered. “That woman was truly frightening.”
Cenia laughed. “Will you still serve as our judge?”
He eyed Brady.
Brady chuckled. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
I patted Brady on the back. “You’re both serving as judges.” I handed him a plate.
Marie carried her plate into the family room. “How many dresses are they bringing?”
“I asked them to bring ten different wedding and bridesmaid dresses in sizes six and eight.” I bit into a chocolate covered strawberry. “Thanks for agreeing to wear purple.” I was pretty certain I knew which bridesmaid dress they were going to choose.
We were just finishing up breakfast when the doorbell rang. I smiled when I saw it was the dress consultant who’d assisted me at the store. “Hi, Gloria. Thanks for coming.”
She was carrying a portable tri-fold mirror. “Hi, Kristine. These are my assistants, Emily and Nicole”
I would have shaken their hands, but they were loaded down with dresses. “Do you mind taking the dresses upstairs?”
“Not at all,” Gloria assured me.
Brady and Jase tried to lighten their load before they tackled the stairs.
“We want to see the wedding dresses first!” Cenia called from the living room. “Do you need help?”
“No. I’m good. I’ll be back down in a minute.” I followed everyone upstairs. I’d selected eight dresses at the bridal shop without trying any of them on and then asked Gloria to surprise me with two additional dresses.
Brady and Jase strode from my room. “We’ll be downstairs.”
I removed my clothes while Emily and Nicole organized the dresses. Gloria slid a delicate lace dress over my head. The lace edging above the bodice and down the arms was so fine it looked air-brushed.
“That looks gorgeous on you,” Emily cooed. “Are you wearing your hair up or down?”
“I’m not sure,” I answered. Gloria was still buttoning me up.
“Let’s pull it up and see how it looks,” Nicole suggested. She grabbed a large clip from her bag, twisted my hair around her hand, and secured the roll against my head.
I smiled, utterly impressed. “Wow. That was fast.” And the up-sweep looked surprisingly good.
Gloria turned me toward the mirror. “How do you like the dress?”
I admired the dress while turning to the right and left. “I love the bodice, but the skirt is a little too filmy for me.”
Gloria’s head tilted while she studied the dress. “Would you like to show your friends?”
I nodded.
She gathered the train and followed me downstairs. Stand with your back to your friends while I position the train, then turn around.”
I smiled sheepishly at Brady and Jase when I stepped into the family room. They joined the girls on the couch. My friends studied me intently while Gloria positioned me. All five of their heads ducked unexpectedly. I started cracking up when they held numbers in the air. They’d recorded their scores on printer paper with thick
black Sharpies. “You’re scoring the dresses?”
“We’re tallying our scores so we can choose the best dress,” Marie answered in far too innocent a tone.
I glanced pointedly at Cenia. “Gee, I wonder who came up with that idea.”
“I’m negotiating the final agreement and mediating disputes,” Shae stated happily.
I shook my head before scrutinizing their scores. “Fives, sixes, and seven… that seems about right. Okay, next dress.”
Gloria followed me out of the room. “Your friends are hysterical.”
“That they are.” I schlepped up the stairs and shimmied into the next dress. This was one of the few satin dresses that I’d selected. I was trying to steer clear of dresses that resembled the one I’d chosen in Paris. The formfitting bodice was strapless. The hips and waist were embellished with a soft floral embroidery that tiptoed toward the bodice. A wide satin sash framed my hips before falling in elegant folds. The dress was nearly straight, with the subtlest flair as it fell toward the floor.
“Hair down for this one,” Emily announced. She removed the clip from my hair and fluffed it with her fingers. “Perfect.”
We traipsed downstairs.
“Oh! That’s gorgeous,” Marie breathed.
“Very pretty,” Shae agreed.
I turned briefly while awaiting their scores. The dress was elegant, but I couldn’t picture Rafael’s jaw dropping when I walked down the aisle.
Brady and Jase rated the dress a five while all three girls awarded a nine. I smiled. “Just as I suspected. Let’s see how you like the next dress.”
The next dress looked innocent and sweet. I was a million miles from innocent so I removed it immediately.
Gloria pulled one of the dresses she had selected from the garment bag and eased it over my head. “I’ve got my fingers crossed on this one.”
Nicole pulled my hair in a twist and clipped it up again. Emily tucked a pearl tiara in my hair. The three women stood breathlessly awaiting my response when Gloria nudged me toward the mirror.
My heart stalled. The embroidered dress was beyond exquisite. The entire dress was heavily beaded with ivory sequins and pearls. The formfitting bodice dipped well below my breasts, but a built in bra and delicately embroidered straps held everything in place. The dress hugged my hips before flaring into an incredibly romantic train. I turned to admire the back, and my vision blurred. The train was much longer than I expected and delicately scalloped along the edges. A thin strand of embroidered ivory leaves trailed down my shoulders before delicately framing my waist. The back was cut in a low V that dipped below my hips. Four strands of pearls draped from one shoulder to the next, trailing all the way down my back. I reached for the chair as my knees began to weaken.
Nicole eased me onto the chair while Emily fanned my face.
Gloria pressed a handful of tissues into my hand. “Never in a million years did I think I’d find a woman who could carry this off, but you do in a surprisingly elegant way. This gown is so exquisite, I couldn’t resist ordering it. I know it’s a little risqué. Are you brave enough to wear it?”
My heart was pounding. This elaborate dress pushed the boundaries between romance and seduction just like Rafael. “It’s perfect,” I finally breathed.
Emily and Nicole cheered.
Gloria smiled as she knelt in front of me. “Would you like to show your friends?”
I studied her kind face. “You know, Gloria, I don’t think I will. I’d like to keep this dress secret. I don’t want anyone to see it before Rafael.”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea.” She helped me remove the tiara and dress after one last look in the mirror.
I threw my blue jeans and sweater back on so I could break the news to my friends. I rifled through the bridesmaid dresses before I went downstairs. “We might as well present this one first. I doubt they’ll look at another dress after seeing this gown.”
Gloria smiled. “I’ll make sure they try that one first. Go ahead and send them up.”
My heart was singing by the time I reached the bottom of the stairs. I was so in love with my dress.
My friends’ eyes widened when I stepped into the room.
Shae jumped from the couch. “What happened? Why aren’t you wearing a dress?”
I grinned. “I’ve found the perfect dress, but I don’t want to show it to anyone.”
“What?” Cenia exclaimed. “You can’t do that. We… we have to tally our scores.”
I laughed. “No, you don’t. You have to go upstairs and try on your bridesmaid dress.”
Marie glanced at me uncertainly. “Are you serious? You’re keeping your dress secret?”
I walked into the kitchen so I could pour a cup of coffee. “I want Rafael to see the dress first.” I frowned. “Well, maybe not first but at the same time as everyone else.”
Jase joined me in the kitchen. “I think that’s a great idea.”
“I kinda liked being a judge,” Brady objected.
“You can be a judge for the bridesmaids’ dresses.” I glanced at my friends. “Gloria’s waiting for you upstairs.”
They moved reluctantly toward the stairs.
I lowered my voice. “Either of you willing to wager a bet?”
Jase leaned against the counter while pressing a coffee cup to his lips. “What kind of bet?”
I bit my bottom lip. “I bet they choose the very first dress.”
Brady joined us in the kitchen. He appeared to be weighing the odds.
Jase’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not betting on this. You have an unfair advantage. You’ve seen all the dresses.”
“They’re women,” Brady scoffed. “No way are they choosing the first dress they try on.”
I joined him at the center island. “So Jase is out and you’re in. What do you want to bet?”
“Dinner,” Brady stated. “Winner chooses dinner, and the loser buys.”
“You got it.” We shook hands before joining Jase on the couch. “I’d like to go ring shopping for Rafael tomorrow. Are either of you willing to tag along?”
“I’ll go,” Brady offered.
“Sure, why not?” Jase popped a chocolate dipped strawberry into his mouth.
I patted their knees. “You guys seriously rock.”
Their jaws suddenly dropped.
Cenia, Marie, and Shae filed into the room. They looked stunning in the deep purple gowns I’d selected. The bodice, a sheer lavender material, was embellished with a beaded purple and ivory floral applique that strategically covered the chest and framed the back of the dress, which was cut in a V just above the waist. A ruched eight inch strip of fabric defined the waist. Large black roses swirled throughout the dark purple skirt which pooled on the floor in a subtle train. The dress was elegant, sexy, and unabashedly romantic.
“This dress is unbelievable,” Shae murmured dreamily.
“Absolutely gorgeous,” Marie agreed. She turned a slow circle, admiring the train.
“I may never take it off,” Cenia announced defiantly.
“Maybe you should try the other dresses,” Brady suggested.
Shae looked horrified. “No. This… this is the dress I want to wear.”
“Me too.” Marie looked pleadingly at me.
“I told you I wasn’t taking it off,” Cenia very nearly growled.
I laughed. “I’m so relieved. I was secretly hoping for that dress.” I snapped a picture for Lexie and Kimme, who had agreed to wear whatever we chose.
“Who knew dress shopping could be so easy?” Marie exclaimed as they walked upstairs.
I looked pointedly at Brady. “You’re buying ZPizza for dinner.”
“Works for me,” he conceded with a grin.
Jase just shook his head.
* * * * *
“What do you think of this one?” I tapped on the glass above the brushed titanium band.
The jeweler pulled it out of the case. “Black titanium wedding bands are quite popular the
se days.”
Jase slid the ring on his finger. He was modeling rings since his coloring was similar to Rafael’s. “I don’t know. There’s nothing really distinctive about this ring.”
I frowned at the ring. “I agree.”
“Why don’t you try this one?” Brady pointed to a rustic looking ring.
The jeweler pulled the ring out and set it on top of the counter. “That ring is handmade, hammered silver with antiquing.”
Jase returned the titanium ring to the jeweler before slipping the hammered band on his hand. “This looks like Rafael.”
The ring had an old world feel about it and certainly looked masculine enough. “I don’t know about silver, though. Isn’t silver soft?”
The jeweler nodded. “Titanium and platinum are more scratch resistant. Have you ever seen a tungsten carbide ring? They’re completely scratch proof, our most durable rings by far.” He pulled a highly polished silver ring with a black inlay from his case. “The only problem with these rings is they can’t be resized.”
Brady slid the ring on his finger.
I studied both of their hands. “I don’t know whether to go with contemporary or rustic.” I looked at the price tags and released an exasperated breath. “Neither of these will work.”
Brady frowned. “Why not?”
I pointed to the price tag. “That ring is a hundred dollars. I can’t buy Rafael a hundred dollar ring, not when he bought me this.” I held my ring out for everyone to see.
“I’ve been admiring your engagement ring,” the jeweler confessed. “Is that a Verragio?”
I nodded. “My wedding band is a Verragio as well.” Rafael had shown me the braided band to ensure I liked it. I nearly fainted when I saw all of the diamonds.
The jeweler collected the rings and returned them to the case. “I have some Verragio wedding bands in my other case.”
We followed the jeweler to the other side of the store and quietly studied the rings. “That’s the one,” I finally whispered.
My heart leapt when the jeweler pulled it from the case and placed it in my hand. “This ring is available in platinum or eighteen karat gold.”
The ring was solid, heavy even. The trim along the edges was highly polished and set against a black enamel line with a brushed platinum finish in the center. The ring was deeply notched. Each notch formed a square that framed a diamond. Five diamonds were set flush inside the ring. The design was masculine and refined, which seemed fitting for a man who preferred cargo pants and jeans over his tux but still enjoyed the finer things in life. “This is perfect.”