by Laurie Roma
“Master of my own fate,” Zoe repeated, looking thoughtful, then she slowly smiled.
Nikita winced slightly. “It sounded better in my head. Less…pretentious.”
“I think I like it.”
“Whatever. I’m hungry. If we’re going to finish this wine, I need food. How does pasta sound? I have containers of stuff Becca made me in the freezer.”
Earlier, Zoe’s stomach had rebelled against the thought of food, but now she found she was actually hungry. “I could eat.”
“Good. Let’s move this party to the kitchen.”
Zoe picked up her wine glass and followed after Nikita. Her smile faltered and she blew out a long breath. “Niki, what I’m running from…people have died trying to protect me. It’s not fair for me to put anyone else at risk if—”
A dangerous light gleamed in Nikita’s violet eyes. “I fucking dare them to come after you. If they do, they won’t make it out of Breakers alive. That’s a guarantee.”
“That’s sweet…and slightly scary.”
But for the first time in longer than she could remember, Zoe felt hope.
Chapter Five
Spring struggled to retain its hold over Texas, but the current haze of heat gave a small preview to a summer that was sure to be brutal. The humidity made the air thick, and a sheen of sweat had coated Zoe’s skin on the ride into Houston.
She parked her BMW motorcycle next to Evie Beaumont’s SUV in the parking lot of the shopping center. Kalista Redford had made an appointment at one of the most exclusive bridal salons in Houston. The boutique offered a variety of dresses, from the affordable to one-of-a-kind couture masterpieces. Personally, Zoe thought Kali could wear just about anything and her fiancé, Hammer, would still look at her like she were the most beautiful woman in the world.
It was enough to make a woman damn envious.
Zoe took off her helmet, securing it to the back of her bike. She loved the thrill and speed of riding on the open road, and she’d taken advantage of the solitary time to think and plan before pushing aside her own worries to focus on her friend’s big day.
She’d spent the night at Nikita’s place, passing out on the couch after they’d finished another bottle of wine. It had been a good night. Zoe had relaxed after their conversation had turned to more benign subjects. She enjoyed Nikita’s company, and would have loved to ask more questions about the mysterious woman, but she knew better than to pry.
Kali and Becca Nuria—Nikita’s twin sister—got out of Evie’s car as Francesca and Madeline Savante exited the other side. With the same black hair and stunning violet eyes as her sister, Becca was a softer version of her twin, but the similarities were still a little disconcerting. Unlike her tougher sister, Becca was an assistant at Kali’s bakery. Recently, she’d started specializing in custom cakes, which would also include Kali’s wedding cake the following month.
“I still don’t get why you enjoy riding around on that thing,” Becca said as she joined Zoe.
“It’s fun,” Zoe replied with a grin. “You should try it.”
“Hell, no. I like doors around me whenever I’m traveling at high rates of speed.”
Another motorcycle pulled up in the parking spot next to them, and they looked over as Samantha Kane turned off her ride. Sam was a physical therapist at Fight Hard, and was actually the one who’d kicked Hammer’s ass back into shape after he’d suffered a knee injury that had ended his professional fighting career. She’d been a fighter pilot in the Air Force until she had been shot down on a mission. After she’d made it home, she’d retired from the military and had use her training to beat people back into shape.
Sam took off her helmet and shook out her light-brown hair. With eyes the same shade, her features should have blended in with her light, golden skin, but the whole package only made her look slightly exotic. Sam had a fierce frown on her face as she secured her helmet on her bike.
“This fucking place better serve alcohol.”
“Wow, you’re in a cheerful mood,” Becca said with a laugh, linking her arm through Sam’s, as if stopping the other woman from making a run for it. “Come on, let’s get out of this heat.”
Zoe fell into step next to Kali behind the other women as they made their way to the bridal salon. She looked over to find Kali looking at her with a serious expression that immediately put her on guard. “What?”
“Since you weren’t in the car with us, you missed the discussion about bridesmaid dresses.”
“Thank God,” Zoe said with feeling, making Kali laugh.
“Well, I’ve decided to change my colors, and the other ladies loved my idea. I think you guys will look amazing in hot pink dresses. You know, something that matches the colors of my bakery. It will really make a statement.”
“That’s…” Zoe didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t sound insulting. Kali had chosen a bright pink with black and white for the logo of Sinfully Sweet, and just the thought of wearing such a shocking shade made Zoe’s stomach hurt.
Kali blinked up at her innocently. “It’s going to be hard to find matching flowers, but…” She burst out laughing, gripping her stomach as she bent over at the waist. “Oh my God! Your face! I couldn’t keep it going.”
“You’re an evil bitch.”
“That was so funny!” Kali took a few deep breaths to try to calm down, but the grin remained on her face. Seeing Zoe’s reaction helped settle some of her nerves. Since she’d woken up, Kali had felt like a million butterflies were fluttering around in her stomach. Her mind was cluttered with so many worries that she feared that she wouldn’t be able to focus on finding the right dress. She desperately wanted to look perfect when she married Jared, but she wasn’t sure that was possible at the moment.
“Actually, I’m sticking with the pink and silver, but I picked a strawberry soufflé shade.”
“You always think in food terms. What the hell does that mean?”
“It’s a light, pale-pink. I think it will look lovely with the silver, white and black, and be perfect for a late spring, early summer wedding.”
“Fine. Good. Anything is better than florescent pink.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you. Actually, that was Anna’s one request, since she couldn’t come today. No hot pink.”
“Oh, yeah,” Zoe said, glancing at the group. “I thought she’d be here.”
“I asked her to come, but she insisted on staying at the bakery while Becca and I took off. Since it’s spring break this week, Nate said he would stay at the shop with Anna and the others. It was very sweet for him to give up an entire day of his vacation. I absolutely love that kid. If he and Shane weren’t Anna’s nephews, I swear I would fight her for them.”
“They’re good kids. Ouch!” Zoe winced as the large bag Kali was carrying slammed into her side. “Damn girl, what the hell do you have in that thing?”
“Three pairs of shoes and my wedding binder. It includes all the information I’ve gathered for the wedding. I’ve turned into psycho bride trying to put this wedding together in such a short amount of time.”
“Is psycho bride worst than bridezilla?”
“Way worse. It’s just that Jared doesn’t want to wait to get married. I don’t either, but this is all a little stressful,” Kali said with a slightly hysterical little laugh.
Sensing Kali’s nerves, Zoe flung an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “We’ll find you the most beautiful dress today for you to marry the love of your life in. And if you cross over into psycho bride territory, I’ll tell you.”
“Thanks.” Ahead of them, Madeline Savante laughed at something Sam said, and the cheerful sound made Kali smile. “I’m so glad Maddie came today. We’ve gotten so close in the last few months. Having Jared’s mom here means more to me than if my own mother had come.”
Zoe didn’t say that everyone was grateful that Kali’s nightmare of a mother wasn’t here, but it was the truth. “So…where is your mom today?”
“She c
ouldn’t make it, thank God. I’m a horrible person, but I’m so damn glad she had some charity function today and I won’t have to deal with her. She called yesterday to say she hopes I don’t pick out a dress that makes my hips look bigger than they already are.”
“Your mom’s a vicious bitch.” The words were out before Zoe could hold them back.
Kali laughed. “Some people may forgive and forget, but I’m not one of them. I’ve known how emotionally stunted my parents are since I was old enough to walk. All they care about is money and social standing. They’re my parents, but that doesn’t mean I have to like them.”
“Well, I promise I’ll lock them in a closet if they upset you on your wedding day.”
“Which is why I love you.”
Zoe’s relief at escaping bridesmaid hell only lasted until they entered the bridal salon. The store was opulent, with a color scheme of white and gold, mixed with touches of the palest shade of pink. A few couture dresses made of rich fabrics were prominently on display, along with several elaborate wedding gowns that looked like something out of a fairy tale.
In another life, she had visited store like this to have dresses made for her performances. The elegance of the place brought an uncomfortable remembrance to the forefront of her mind. She also felt a sharp pang in her heart since she would never share this type of experience with her own mother. Pushing those thoughts aside, Zoe focused on a graceful woman in a smart black suit walking over to them with a soft smile of welcome on her face.
“Hello, welcome to Clara Kay Couture. How can I help you?”
“We have an appointment,” Kali said, stepping forward.
“Kalista Redford?” At Kali’s nod, the woman beamed at her. “I’m Jolene. We have a room set up for you and your party in the back. I pulled some of the options that you sent me pictures of in your last email, but I’ve also chosen a few more I think you might like. Because your wedding is so soon, we don’t have time to make a custom dress for you, so we’ll be looking at the samples that we have in stock. I think we should start with your dress first. Once you find your perfect gown, we can move on to the bridesmaid dresses. Please, come with me.”
The group was led through several rooms as they made their way toward the back, and Zoe couldn’t help but be slightly overwhelmed. It was like being submerged in a sea of gold and white. Looking at all the different style dresses by various designers, Zoe wondered how the hell anyone ever found what they were looking for.
“Are we going to have to block the exits from you and Sam?” Francesca asked as she sidled up next to Zoe. Her dark, curly hair was wound into a haphazard bun on the top of her head, but several corkscrew curls hung down, framing her pretty face.
Zoe shook her head. “No. Actually, I’m looking forward to seeing Kali in the dresses. But I was just thinking about how glad I am that she has a general idea of what she’s looking for already. If not, we’d be here all day.”
Francesca’s hazel eyes sparkled with amusement. “I think Sam would stage a rebellion if that happened. Honestly, I don’t think it’s going to take Kali too long to find what she’s looking for. It’ll be nice to see her in a few dresses before she decides, though. I tried to get Nikita to come with us right before we left, but she just hung up on me.”
Zoe laughed. “I’m not surprised. She was pretty adamant about not being involved in this.”
“Well, I thought I would give it one last shot.”
“I told you it was useless,” Evie said as she bumped hips with her cousin. “Still, it just doesn’t seem fair that whatever dress Kali chooses for us to wear, Nikita will probably look fabulous in it.”
“So you say, Ms. Fashionista.” Zoe glanced at her friend. With long, blonde hair and deep blue eyes, Evie had a classic beauty with was undeniable. “I don’t think you could look bad even if you wore a paper bag. A girl could learn to hate you for that.”
“Please. With all the crap you eat, I think you must have made a pact with the devil or something to stay that thin.”
“It’s just good metabolism,” Zoe said with a cheeky grin.
“Okay, I hate you even more now.”
Zoe chuckled as they took a seat on the couches centered around a three-way mirror with a circular platform in front of it. Jolene led Kali out of the room while another woman came in carrying a tray of glasses and a bottle of champagne.
“Now, this is what I’m talking about,” Sam muttered before she gulped down some of champagne after she was handed a glass. Turning to Evie, she glared. “Why aren’t you looking for dresses, too? Please tell me we aren’t we going to have to come back here again. Can’t we just do a two-for-one deal?”
Evie shook her head. “Actually, I already have my dress.”
Madeline gasped. “You do?”
Evie paused to take a sip from her own glass before answering. “Hunter found my mother’s dress in the attic at Beaumont Manor a few days ago.”
The room went silent.
Evie could see the sympathy on her friends’ faces. Her cousin, Hunter, lived in the house she’d grown up in before her parents had been murdered, which she now ran as a sanctuary for visiting service men and women just home from overseas, as well as patients going through extended rehabilitation at Fight Hard. She’d forgotten about the boxes she’d stored in the attic—not willing to part with her parents’ possessions—but when Hunter had given her the large box, she’d instantly known what was in it.
She’d hidden the box from her fiancé, Daryk, not wanting him to see the dress before she wore it when she married him, but he’d held her that night as she wept all over him. Trying the dress on alone in her bedroom had been extremely emotional. She’s looked just like her mother had all those years ago when she’d married the man who owned her heart, and staring in the mirror had been like looking at the photo of her parents on their wedding day that she kept in her office on her desk.
Evie had overcome the loss of her parents—even though she missed them every day of her life—but some days the was pain so strong, it was as if she’d lost them only yesterday. Having Daryk’s love helped ease some of the misery, and knowing that she’d always have him to dry her tears when the sorrow overwhelmed her meant more to her than words could say.
On her wedding day, she would feel the ache from not having her parents there with her. But Evie would wear her mother’s dress as she married the man she loved—just like her mother had—and she and Daryk would continue the tradition of love and devotion that her parents had once had together.
Just the thought of it brought sentimental tears to her eyes.
“Oh, honey.” Madeline rose from her seat and hurried over Evie to pull her into a hug. “I’m sure you’ll look absolutely magical in your mama’s dress.”
Francesca wiped at her own tears. “Hunter can be a pain in the ass, but then he does something like this, and you can’t help but love him.”
“Your brother is a treasure,” Evie told her, squeezing Madeline hard before letting go. “Enough of this now. We shouldn’t be crying today until Kali finds her dress.”
“Umm…did you hear about the guy that Sheriff Wyatt arrested yesterday for selling drugs on the boardwalk?” Becca asked, trying to change the subject because she sensed that Evie still felt too raw about finding her mother’s dress to talk about it.
“No!”
“Annabeth Dunley was there with her kids, and they came into the shop after and told me all about it.” Becca paused as Evie sat down next to her and squeezed her hand in silent thanks. Becca squeezed back before continuing to regale the group with the town’s latest gossip.
They were only kept waiting a few more minutes before Kali came out wearing the first wedding dress. It was pretty, but wasn’t the one. She tried on four more dresses, each one a beautiful creation, but just not right for her. Her friends tried to keep sounding upbeat and encouraging, but Kali only seemed to get more tense and vulnerable with each dress she tried on.
Th
at was, until she came out in a gown that seemed to be made for her.
Kali was a petite woman, with bright green eyes and short, red hair, highlighted with gold streaks. The dress was a soft white, which suited her coloring and delicate features. It was strapless, with a sweetheart neckline that only showed a hint of cleavage, making it alluring yet still modest enough for Kali’s sensibilities. There were crystals and tiny seed pearls covering the tight bodice in an intricate design until it came to a crystal-encrusted belt on a high waistline. Below the belt were yards of organza, gathered in various layers in a frothy display of high elegance.
Everyone in the room sighed in appreciation at how lovely she looked, but they stayed quiet, waiting for her reaction before they said a word. The sheer joy on Kali’s face as she stepped onto the pedestal and saw herself in the mirror said it all.
“Oh my…I love it!”
Tears streamed down Madeline’s face as she sniffled. “Kali, you look like a princess.”
“I feel like one.” Kali ran a shaking hand down the bodice of the dress as she studied herself in the three mirrors. “Oh God, I think this is the one. I look like a bride.”
“You really do. It’s absolutely perfect,” Zoe agreed, then she gasped as Kali burst into tears. And not the good kind. Panic surged through her as she said, “Shit. What? What did I say?”
“It is perfect!” Kali wailed as she buried her face in her hands.
Utterly confused, Zoe glanced over at the bridal consultant. “Umm…is this normal?”
Jolene smiled and said, “Sometimes brides can get a little emotional.”
“Kali, what is it?” Madeline rushed over and gathered Kali in her arms.
“It is the perfect dress,” Kali repeated as she looked up. “I wanted everything to be perfect for this wedding—”
“And it will be,” Evie assured her. That caused a fresh wave of tears that had all the women glancing at each other in concern. Kali’s sobs were definitely not a normal happy reaction.
Sam gulped down the rest of her drink before setting the glass down. She leaned forward, bracing her arms on her knees. “Kali, give us something here. Isn’t it a good thing that you found the perfect dress?”