by K. M. Scott
Lifting her head to face me, she looked at me intently and I knew she’d already thought about it. I pushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes and smiled up at her. “We’ll do whatever you want.”
She sat up and grinned mischievously. “Whatever I want? Like if I want us to take our vows at the top of the Empire State Building you’d be okay with that?”
I knew she was teasing me, but I really hoped her plans didn’t involve anything in the city. Something small at one of my hotels, maybe in Italy or Greece, was more along the lines of what I had in mind. “Whatever you want. Your wish is my command.”
Her smile changed to that special kind she gave me when she was genuinely happy. “I think something small right here at the house would be great. Just a few close friends and us. We could do it sooner that way.”
I thought about her idea for a moment. “How does a honeymoon in Europe sound then?”
Nina nodded her head. “I was thinking we could go back to Venice. I’d love it if we could get that same room we had last time. Do you think we can?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I know the owner, so I think so.”
She rolled her eyes and jabbed me sharply in the side. “I’ll never get used to that. Maybe it only seems normal if you’re born into it.”
Pulling her down on top of me, I kissed her full on the mouth. “Then that’s something I need to work on. Once you’re Mrs. Tristan Stone, you’ll officially have everything I have.”
“I still don’t think I’ll get used to having whatever I want, whenever I want.”
“You’d be surprised how easy it is to get used to it.”
“Do you have any idea about who you want to invite? I thought maybe just a few close friends.”
I thought about who I’d invite and realized there wasn’t a soul I’d remained close to after the plane crash. Everyone I’d surrounded myself with before had been people who wouldn’t fit into the life I’d created with Nina. Maybe Michelle and her husband. “I don’t know.”
“Well, I’m thinking Jordan and Varo, at least. Maybe he can be your best man?”
“Maybe I’ll let him keep his job and we’ll leave it at that, Nina.”
She rolled off me and sat up. “Then who will be your best man?”
As much as I didn’t want to admit it, there was only one person who I even considered a friend. “Daryl.”
Laughter exploded from her, and she covered her face as she continued to giggle. “Oh, Jordan’s going to love that. I think I’ll make her walk down the aisle with mountain man.”
“She likes Varo. Set her up with him. He can be her date for the wedding. That should make up for having to hang out with Daryl for a few minutes.”
“Then it’s set. Jordan will be my maid of honor, and Daryl will be your best man. When should we do it?”
“We both have birthdays coming up. Which one works better, yours or mine?”
Nina sat silently, and I realized she didn’t know when my birthday was. To be honest, I only knew her birthday because I’d had her checked out even before meeting her.
“Well, mine’s on a Thursday this year, so that wouldn’t work. I think we should get married on a weekend. Your birthday is on the weekend, isn’t it?”
“You tell me,” I said with a smile.
Tilting her head, she arched one eyebrow. “You think I don’t know when your birthday is, don’t you?”
“When is it?”
“Well, I’m going to guess May or early June since I met you last May after Memorial Day and starting living with you in mid-June and we’ve never celebrated it. I don’t really know when it is, though. Does that make me a bad girlfriend?”
“No. You’re still a great fiancée. It’s June 2. And since yours is May 15, we’re not able to do it on either day if you want to keep it on a weekend.”
Nina twisted her face into a scowl and bit her lower lip. “Then what about next weekend. We’re not planning to do anything big, so as long as everyone we want can be here, we’re good.”
Lifting her left hand to my lips, I kissed her engagement ring. “Next weekend it is. You ready to be Mrs. Stone, Ms. Edwards?”
“I am. And are you ready to tell me everything that happened with Karl today?”
“I guess I’m not going to escape explaining that to you, so yes, I’ll tell you everything.”
Nina crossed her legs and settled in next to me. “Good. See how nice it feels to not keep secrets?”
“We’ll see how you feel after you hear everything. Things are going to change for me at work.”
“I’m all ears, Tristan, and don’t worry. As long as you don’t change what’s inside you, we’ll be A-OK.”
Chapter Seventeen
Nina
I listened as Tristan explained how he would have to devote more time to Stone Worldwide business from now on, knowing that he feared I wouldn’t want to be with a man like that. He was wrong, though. It didn’t matter if he was a CEO or a doorman. All that mattered to me was that he was the Tristan I loved.
By the time he was finished, he looked like a weight had been lifted from him. Even though he’d decided to be more hands on with the company, the fact that he could shape Stone Worldwide into a business he could be proud of was important.
“So it looks like I’m going to become what I never thought I’d want to be—a real CEO. How do you feel about that? This wasn’t who I was when you said yes to marrying me.”
Lifting his chin with my fingertip, I looked him straight in the eyes. “Tristan, you have to do what’s right for you. If that means taking on more responsibility, how could I have a problem with that? You’re still the same man I fell in love with. It’s not like you’ve decided to give up everything you’ve ever been and live in the wilderness without running water. That I’d have a problem with.”
He kissed my hand and smiled. “I’m not much of a wilderness type of guy. I couldn’t even handle the beard and long hair, and I’m pretty attached to running water myself. I just don’t want you to think that I’m turning into my father. I promise I’m not.”
Who Victor Stone had been was basically a mystery to me, except for what my father had believed about him. I knew nothing about him other than that he was the man I blamed for taking my only parent from me. But never once had I feared Tristan would turn into that man. I saw in the slight frown he wore as he spoke about becoming like his father that he did fear that, though.
“Tristan, you’re not your father. I don’t worry about you turning into him.”
“I swear I never will. I won’t let that happen to me or to us.”
“Speaking of us, I’ve got a million and one things to do before next weekend. One week isn’t a lot of time to plan a wedding.”
“That’s the good part about being the groom. All we have to do is put on the tux and be there on time.”
“I thought the good part was getting married to the woman you love.”
“Well, yeah, of course,” he said with a chuckle. “But not having to do all that wedding stuff is pretty good too.”
I jabbed him in the side. “For that comment, I hope I take up all the bed tonight and leave you with just a sliver of mattress.”
Pulling me close to him, he gave me one of those truly rare Tristan smiles that told me he was truly happy. “As long as you’re next to me, I don’t care how much I have. All that matters is I have you.”
***
I hit the last step to Jordan’s building and struggled to catch my breath as the door flew open. Jordan stood there grinning from ear to ear, arms wide open to envelope me with a hug. “I am so ready to check out some wedding dresses. We can have lunch, gossip about all the things we need to catch up on, and, of course, find you the perfect gown to marry that man of yours in.”
“Let me catch my breath! I think you might be more excited than I am about this shopping trip.”
Grabbing me, she hugged me close and then held me at arm’s length to take a
look at me. “This is going to happen this time. I swear to God, if I have to chain you and Tristan down, it’s happening.”
“I promise no more false starts. This time we’re doing this. You ready to go?”
Jordan looked past me at Jensen and the car waiting for us. “I’ve missed that old guy.” Looking around left and then right, she giggled. “And where would your bodyguards be today?”
“They’re somewhere. Tristan told them to make themselves scarce, so we may not see them. Don’t worry, though. You’ll see Gage at the wedding.”
We nearly bounced down the stairs to the car, and Jordan turned toward me, her expression suddenly serious. “By the way, what other females will be there? I need to know who my competition is for the bouquet.”
I opened the car door and held it for her. “It’s going to be a small affair. I promise to make sure you catch the bouquet.”
“Make it look good, though. We don’t want people thinking the fix was in,” she joked as she climbed into the back seat.
I sat down next to her and tapped on the back of the driver’s seat. “We’re ready, Jensen.”
“Yes, miss. We should be there shortly.”
Jordan turned toward me. “So tell me what’s going on with that ring. If my eyes don’t deceive me, that’s not the diamond he gave you when he first proposed.”
I couldn’t help but grin. “It is a new one. He had it for me when he asked me again last night. I didn’t ask for it or anything. I was perfectly happy with the first one.”
Taking my hand in hers, she studied my ring like a jeweler. “This ring looks even bigger. What is this, like almost two carets? I’m surprised you’re not dragging your knuckles on the ground when you walk.”
I pulled my hand away and shook my head. “Don’t tease. It’s not that big, and I like it. Tristan’s got good taste. He knows what I like.”
“Yes, he does. Simple round cut but stunning. So what are the plans? You mentioned on the phone it was going to be intimate, so I’m not going to have to mess up other women there if they hit on Gage?”
Laughing, I said, “It will be intimate. Just a few of us. You’ll have all the chances you want to get to know him. I tried to get Tristan to have him as the best man, but he wasn’t going for it. I’m planning to make sure there’s a chance for just the four of us to spend a little time together too.”
“Okay. As long as we have a plan. As for today, we’re getting your gown and mine. I’m trusting that you won’t put me in one of those awful bridesmaid’s gowns, right? No horrible pastels like mint green or peach. That would just be cruel, sweetie.”
I grabbed her hand and threaded my fingers through hers. “I wouldn’t do that to you. You’re my best friend in the world, so no mint or any other horrible color dress. I was thinking a nice black gown would look incredible on you with your blonde hair and green eyes.”
“Perfect! I knew you wouldn’t dress me in something awful. But what about Kim? What is she wearing?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask her to be a bridesmaid. I haven’t even told her we’re getting married.”
Jordan made a clucking sound with her tongue. “I don’t blame you. That girl is a drag. Do you plan to let her know?”
Sighing, I shrugged. “I don’t know. Kim is never supportive of anything with me, and I don’t want her to ruin this. Then I think that my father would never forgive me if he knew I didn’t invite her to my wedding. I don’t know what to do.”
The car rolled to a stop in front of a Brooklyn boutique where I knew I could find a dress on such short notice. As Jensen got out, Jordan gave me a sympathetic smile. “Well, we don’t have to think about her today. We just have to find you the world’s most incredible wedding gown and me the hottest bridesmaid’s gown so Gage sees that I clean up nice and sweeps me off my feet.”
“I see you’ve thought about this a bit,” I joked as my car door opened.
“Just a little. Now let’s get in there and find that dress!”
My dress wasn’t hard to find. I knew exactly what I wanted when I walked into the store, so it was just a matter of finding a dress that didn’t look like I was stepping out of a Disney princess parade. Thankfully, I only had to try on three before I found my perfect dress. A white satin gown with a beautiful draped neckline and cut-out back, it hung like it was made just for me. I knew as soon as I looked in the dressing room mirror that it was the dress I’d marry Tristan in.
Jordan’s squeals of delight when I walked out to model it for her told me I’d been right. Stepping up onto the carpeted dais, I twirled around in front of the tri-fold mirror. The coolness of the silk against my legs felt luxurious, and the back had just enough sexiness for my style.
“I love it! Is that the one you’re going to get?” Jordan asked as she fluttered around behind me checking out the dress from every angle.
Stopping, I smoothed the fabric over my thighs and nodded. “I think so. It’s not incredibly fancy, but it’s me. I love the way it hangs on me and makes me look taller. Not poofy or prom-like. Now for the veil. What do you think would work?”
“Elbow length would be perfect,” Jordan suggested as she skipped over to the rack of veils on the far wall. She choose one and held it out to me. Iridescent and lined with beads, it fit perfectly with the dress.
I placed it on my head and held my hands out as if to model the finished product. “Ta-da!”
In the mirror, I saw Jordan tear up behind me. Covering her mouth, she whispered, “Oh, honey. You’re gorgeous.”
I looked at the woman I was standing there in that bridal boutique, and for one of the few times in my life I thought I looked beautiful. That awkward art geek who never seemed to get the quarterback or dream boyfriend in high school was nowhere to be found, replaced by the most glamorous version of me there’d ever been.
Jordan sniffled behind me, making the moment so serious I almost cried, so I quickly turned around and changed the subject. Stepping down off the dais, I said, “Now we have to find you a dress. It’s your turn now.”
“I found a couple while you were in the dressing room. I don’t think the saleswoman thinks much of your idea of having me in black, though. She kept trying to foist pink gowns on me, and the last one she showed me was aquamarine. Can you believe it? Aquamarine! I had to stop myself from asking how her trip back to 1987 was.”
As I headed into the dressing room again, I carefully slid the dress from my shoulders. “Pink might work, if you want, but aquamarine is definitely out of the question. You sure you want black?”
I closed the door behind me just as the saleswoman came into the room with her arms full of pink, fluffy bridesmaids dresses—exactly the kind I’d promised Jordan she wouldn’t get stuck wearing. From inside the dressing room, I heard her announce to the woman, “There’s no way I’m going to be caught dead in those prom dresses.”
I hurried out of the dress and veil before she offended the woman and got out to her just in time to stop her from explaining just how dreadful the color aquamarine was. As the saleswoman turned on her heels and left, Jordan and I burst into laughter and it was like old times again.
Thankfully, the woman wasn’t too offended to bring back four black bridesmaids dresses, and after trying on each one, we couldn’t decide. They were all stunning on her. Not willing to take no for an answer, the saleswoman returned with one last dress in a soft peacock blue and before we knew it, we had to admit she had something there.
Jordan hurried into the dressing room and emerged in less than a minute in the dress that made me forget the idea of black in a heartbeat. Next to her long blond hair, the blue satin was stunning. Strapless, with a cuff neckline, it showed off her toned shoulders, and in the back it laced up like a corset, a very sexy touch. Standing on the dais, she turned around to face me and shook her head. “I have to admit. That lady knows her business. She’s delusional about the aquamarine, but this dress is fantastic. Are you okay with it instead of a black one?”
/>
“As long as you’re happy, I’m happy. And by the way, I think any man would bow at your feet in that dress.”
“Oh, I’m happy then. Bring on the bodyguard. He doesn’t know what he’s up against with me in this dress,” she said flashing a gorgeous smile.
“Good. Let’s go grab a bite to eat. I’m starving after all this dress stuff. Hurry and get that dress off and we’ll hit that little restaurant near your place.”
While Jordan changed back into her clothes, I made nice with the saleswoman and paid for the dresses. I also saw Varo and West outside, and channeling my inner Cupid, approached them as they stood near the front door to the boutique. West looked surprised, so I used what I was sure was his concern about Tristan being unhappy once again with their lack of invisibility to my advantage.
“Gentlemen, we’re going to head to a restaurant near Jordan’s apartment. I’d like you to join us.”
Varo looked at me and raised his eyebrows. I had a feeling the expression wasn’t one of surprise but amusement. “I’m not sure Mr. Stone would be pleased with that. I distinctly remember him saying he wanted us out of sight.”
“Well, that went by the wayside already, so let’s move on to lunch and everyone can be happy.”
West grimaced and turned to face Varo, who simply smiled and shrugged. “Looks like we’re eating lunch today, buddy.”
Jordan joined us, and as she explained that the dresses would be delivered to the house by the middle of next week, I saw Varo sneak a look at her. My inner matchmaker had hope!
Brickfire was quaint and relatively quiet, considering it was in the middle of one of the busiest parts of the neighborhood. Long and narrow, the restaurant’s central feature was a deep red brick fireplace that in the winter made the place one of the coziest in Brooklyn. Since it was springtime, it was merely the restaurant’s inspiration but it was no matter since the food was supposed to be some of the best in the city.
The hostess sat the four of us at a table in the back, and even though the photographers seemed to have far less interest in me now that Tristan had returned, I was thankful for the little privacy the location afforded us. Unfortunately, it took me only a few minutes to see that West intended on making our lunch like some awkward double date he’d been forced into. It was like the man knew nothing of how two people got together. Every time I attempted to introduce a topic of conversation I knew would help Jordan and Varo really get to know one another, West insisted on inserting some comment about what they were supposed to be doing instead of enjoying a nice meal with us.