Pretty Bitches (23 page)

“Dear Lord let me have a little time to put my lady part back together. She’s almost ready to give me the finger and close up.”

He laughed loudly until tears sprang up in his eyes. “Well, we can’t have that, love. Let’s pamper her.”

“That’s what I plan on doing.” I said grinning. “Seriously, when were you thinking? What do I need to do?”

I realized I had no dress no colors, nothing.

“Tomorrow, 2:00. Just meet me at the end of the dock.”

“Tomorrow?!” My voice raised several octaves.

He grinned. “Like I said, everything is taken care of, love. Just carry your beautiful ass and that fabulous lady part up the isle and I’ll take care of the rest.” He placed a kiss to my forehead.

“But I don’t have a dress or our rings or anything.” I pleaded, panicked.

He smiled. “That’s what Lila is for. The plan is for her to take you into town today and take care of all that girlie stuff. That ok?”

I took a minute to settle myself and nodded. “Ok. Fuck. I need to get going then.”

I started for the bathroom and he pulled my arm. “You have plenty of time. I was really hoping I could observe you in a few poses?” He asked, hopefully with a wicked grin.

I swiped at his arm and rolled my eyes shaking my head. “You are incorrigible.”

“I’ve been called worse.” He smiled.

“Oh, I believe it. One probably being sex maniac.”

He nodded. “Guilty.”

We walked as I laughed back to the kitchen. Lila was bouncing with energy in her ridiculously expensive workout fatigues.

Kincaid strolled into the room—all six-foot-five muscled mass—and made a beeline for Lila stalking like a predator.

She shot him her hooded eyes and yanked his face down to her five-foot-six frame. The difference was comical but they made it work.

After they finished with an embarrassing display of tongue sucking I pulled her down the steps to the workout room.

I familiarized myself with the massive spread of machines and workout areas. It was bigger than a lot of gyms in the freaking city. I grabbed the remote and thumbed through the selection and landed on Rod Stewart.

It was that kind of day.

I spread my mat and began my half moon pose. After ten minutes my muscles were burning and I could feel my circulation improving with the lean stretching.

I was ending with my cobra pose when I heard a low groan from the corner of the room. I looked over and Cailen was leaning against the wall his arms strapped across his chest and feet crossed at the ankle, staring.

I smiled and returned to my workout because it really was relieving my stress and clearing my mind.

Twenty minutes later I was warming down and rolling to my feet. He crossed the room with a towel and a bottle of water wearing a shit-eating grin.

“Stalker.” I accused.

“Fuck yes I am.”

“Good thing I’m just as freaking twisted then.” I said laughing.

“And I thank God for that every day, love.”

I looked back and Lila was rolling her mat and her eyes as she walked over. I smacked her on the ass as we walked up the steps.

It was almost noon when I looked at the clock above the stove. “Shit! We better get going.” I said a little panicked at the later hour.

“Give me twenty minutes to shower.” She called walking through the kitchen.

I almost sprinted to our room and fumbled with the levers in the shower, my hands shaking. He covered mine and adjusted the water perfectly.

“It’s ok, Gemma. Just relax. Everything will be perfect, I promise.”

I sighed heavily. “Not if I don’t get a dress.”

He smiled. “Well, if not then I prefer you in my boxers and t-shirt anyway.”

“Be serious. This is important to me and I don’t want to ruin it.”

“The only thing that could ruin it is if you didn’t show up. Everything else is cake, love.”

I stared at him for a moment then realized he was right and smiled. “Fine. But if I end up in a shitty hairband t-shirt and skinny jeans I don’t want to hear shit from you.”

He grinned wickedly. “I have the perfect shirt and I think that is a famous idea.”

“Shut up asshole. I’m going to be dressed and you better be, too. If you come tumbling down the dock in a tuxedo shirt and penny loafers we’re going to trade blows.”

He snorted. “Deal.”

I pulled off my clothes and stepped into the shower. He walked to the door and called over his shoulder, “I actually do still have a pair of penny loafers.” He laughed loudly as he faded from the room.

Thirty minutes later Lila and I were piling in the car and speeding down the road. Once we hit the main highway my heart slowed a bit.

She looked over and grabbed my ring finger. “Let me see this infamous rock.” She pulled it close and let out a whistle. “Holy shit! That thing is fucking
huge
.” She screeched.

It really was monstrous. A four-carat emerald cut flanked by channels of yellow diamonds on each side. When I first saw it after he put it on my finger I screamed.

“Yeah, he did pretty good- eh?” I said holding my hand up to gawk at the bauble.

“I can’t believe you’re getting
married
.” She said it as a dirty word.

“I never thought I would. But, Lila, that man owns me heart mind and soul. I’ve just never felt so connected and so in love. It freaking hurts sometimes.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t get all sappy on me. I get it. He’s a good lay and tolerable. Love. Bleck.” She said but I could hear the humor in her tone.

I stared out the window. “I’m going to miss you.” My voice trembled.

She slapped me on the arm. “Stop. You’re going to see me. I mean, ya’ll will be coming to the city, right?”

I shrugged. “I think so. But you know how it goes. You’ll get busy and I’ll be traveling with him and… life will just get in the way.”

She squared her shoulders. “Well, we just won’t fucking let it. I mean it Em, we can figure it out, ok?” It was one of her rare serious moments and I caught the sincerity of her words and smiled.

“Ok, bitch.”

She laughed in my face and grabbed my hand.

Our first stop was at a beautiful bridal boutique in downtown Edinburg. We were greeted at the door with Champagne and huge smiles. I looked at Lila and she looked back and shrugged.

A tall beautiful blonde strolled out to the greeting area and measured me from head to toe before she offered a stiff hand, “You must be Emberly.”

Her tone was like a knife, a dull one to cut your heart out with.

I raised an eyebrow. I know how to deal with these types of people.

“Yes. Thank you for observing.”

She pursed her lips. “Ah yes, well, anyway I’m Diana.” Her eyes scanned my frame. “Cailen said you would be stopping by. Does this mean you have the honor of strapping the worlds most eligible bachelor?”

“Yes. Yes it does. He likes straps, too” I purred.

I smiled at her infinitesimal eye roll.

“Well, congratulations.” She said dryly.

Lila barked, “Thank you, it’s always nice to get acceptance from such sour grapes.”

I covered my mouth and fought the cackle that was threatening my lips.

Diana huffed and turned to snap her fingers at two women standing in the back.

“Well, I hope you find what you are looking for then.” She said as she turned on her heels and stalked away.

Lila and I exchanged glances and burst out laughing. Clearly Diana was one of the stragglers I knew was lurking out there waiting for Cailen to show signs of settling down.

We were taken to the back and measured on every surface of our bodies. We picked a beautiful yellow chiffon number for her matron of honor dress. It dipped to her belly button and scrunched her cleavage ridiculously high. If she broke into a sprint she would inevitably secure two black eyes.

My dress however, took much, much longer. I tried on long silk numbers, full frilly things, even a ghastly light pink number but nothing was setting for me.

Then Lila came around the corner carrying a fitted lace dress with the most delicate lining I’d ever felt. The lace was hand sewn and had small beads of pearls weaved in intricate patterns all over. The sleeves were left unlined and hugged the skin. The neckline was a V that dipped to the bottom of the cleavage.

The back was secured with pearl buttons from the tailbone to the nape of the neck. It had no rouching, no pleats it was just a continuous fitted fabric that hugged the body all the way to the ankles.

It was stunning.

I yelped and stretched my hand out to stroke the lace. I looked up and she was smiling wide. “Oh yes. This is it, Em.”

Tears spilled over my eyes and I pulled it out of her hands and held it up to my body scanning it in the three-way mirror.

It was perfect and it was going to be mine. I pulled on my slip and carefully slid into the lace creation. Lila gently buttoned every pearl up the back and I stood on the podium with my hand over my mouth in awe.

It fit perfectly, like it was made just for me.

We stood there for an hour staring and twisting in the mirror. I looked at the sales lady. “Do you have any Glenlivet?”

She smiled and nodded disappearing through the curtained doorway.

A few minutes later she appeared with two full glasses, I handed one to Lila and she rolled her eyes but took it. I raised my glass and we stood there enjoying the burn of the whisky and the awesomeness of the dress.

CHAPTER 8:
I DO

Once
we were sufficiently buzzed we strolled to the counter. I pulled out my wallet and handed her my American Express.

She looked at me and smiled. “Oh no need Miss Landon. Mr. Carmichael has already taken care of everything. It’s charged to his card along with anything else you would like.” She smiled hopefully.

I just shook my head. Prepared he was.

I looked up and curiously asked, “What’s the price on it, anyway?”

Her smile became blinding. “Eighteen thousand six hundred, Miss.”

My eyes popped slightly and Lila shrugged as she picked her uber long nails.

“Ok, well then, thank you.”

She nodded and smoothed the dress into a fabric garment bag and fanned it over my arm. I just shook my head laughing at the turn of events and turned for the door.

As I pulled the lever I called out over my shoulder, “Good luck, Diana. I’ll tell Cailen you said hello.”

Lila snickered and pushed me out the door.

Dresses in hand and alcohol for the road we were set. We sipped as the road flew beneath our tires. An hour later we pulled in front of the house and stood on wobbly legs.

Cailen heard the car and met us at the door. When he took in our state he laughed and crossed the porch to usher us in.