HARRISON
Between the baby being born, Dad’s retirement, Mom’s unrelenting questions about the wedding, and Christmas coming up soon, it felt like the world was spinning faster than I’d ever experienced it before. Yet, as I walked into Aurelia’s building, all I could think about was her.
“I’m not ready yet,” she called from upstairs when I let myself into her apartment just like we’d agreed.
“Can I come up, or should I just stay down here and have my breath stolen when you appear at the top of the stairs?”
“Nope, come on up. You’re helping.”
I chuckled, grabbed the banister, and jogged upstairs, pushing her bedroom door the rest of the way open and having my breath stolen anyway. Aurelia’s golden hair hung in waves around her shoulders and she was barefoot, the skirt of her gown bunched in one of her hands like she was about to just rip it off.
She huffed and shoved the fabric at me. “I need you to hold this. Please. Thank you. And oh, hi. How was your day?”
“Uh, it was fine. What is this?” I blinked down at the mass of emerald-green silk and boning. “What am I supposed to do, iron it with my body heat or something? Because I will.”
Her laugh lit up the whole damn room. “No, just come with me. The straps are impossible.”
Another half of the gown lay sprawled across the bed like some kind of puzzle from hell. Crisscrossing straps, hooks, hidden zippers. My eyes widened as I stared down at it.
Whoever designed this thing hated men. Or at least, the men who’d want to take it off later. Like me.
“All right, turn around,” I said, trying to sound like I knew what the hell I was doing. “That part goes over this part, right?”
She chuckled and obeyed, pulling the bodice snug against her front as she turned her back on me. “Yeah, I think so. I’m just not entirely sure where my arms and my head are supposed to go.”
I picked up the fabric on the bed, spreading it out a little before I found a strap, then realized I had no idea where it was supposed to go either. “Is this supposed to cross behind your shoulders? Because if not, I think I just invented a new neckline.”
She peeked over her shoulder and grinned at me. “You’re hopeless.”
“Hopeless? I closed a billion-dollar deal last month, Aurelia. I can handle a dress.”
I couldnothandle the dress.
When we finally had it in place, the zipper caught halfway, the straps twisted, and at one point, I had both hands buried in the silk, muttering curses under my breath while she giggled like this was the best entertainment she’d had all year.
“Stop laughing,” I growled while I fought with the zipper like a valiant knight.
“I can’t help it, you’re so serious. It’s adorable.”
Adorable. Great. Exactly how every man wants to feel when he’s elbow-deep in couture.
Finally, after more struggling than I would ever admit to, the zipper slid home. I stepped back, ready to gloat, but instead, I froze.
Aurelia turned to face me, the gown falling into place around her body. It hugged every curve before the skirt flared out from her thighs. She looked like she’d stepped straight out of some winter fairy tale, fierce and impossibly beautiful.
All I’d been able to think about the last few days was how she’d looked in that red dress, but in this, she was still the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she stared back at me, even doing a little twirl.
“I’m going to take the drool running down your chin as a compliment,” she said. “Are you disappointed that I’m not Jessica Rabbit tonight?”
“Nope.” It felt easy, being here with her like this. Too easy, maybe. “You could be wearing a burlap sack and I wouldn’t be disappointed. Iamgoing to be jealous of every other man who sees you tonight, though.”
She smiled and I reached out. My fingers brushed against her skin as I smoothed out a stubborn strap across her shoulder. A tremble ran through her at my touch. I almost shivered too, but I cleared my throat instead.
“Right, so what else do we need to get done?”
“Just jewelry and putting my hair back together.” She pointed me toward her dresser. “Can you put that necklace on for me?”
We worked in tandem like a well-oiled machine, her pulling on jewelry and smoothing her hair while I straightened my tie and checked my cufflinks after fastening the necklace. As we went through the motions, I glanced at her. “What are you expecting tonight?”
