It’s not real.Toni needed to remind herself of that more than she expected. The truth was that Toni wasn’t built for forevers. She was not going to ruin anyone’s life the way her father had—especially if that someone was as wonderful as Addie.
As everyone rose from dinner, the elder Lady Dove announced, “We have a bit of a surprise tonight! If you would all join me in the ballroom.”
She marched out of the room, bustle waggling like a honeybee leading them to pollen.
“Are you really okay with this?” Toni asked Addie as the group adjourned to the ballroom for what was about to be their wedding.
“I am.”
“We could leave,” Toni blurted. “Call in sick or—”
“Toni.” Addie looked up at her. “I’d have said yes even if it was a real wedding.”
Toni tripped over her feet. “What?” She backed away a step. “You know I think you’re great. You’re funny and sexy and… I mean, I’m sure you’ll make someone an amazing bride, but—”
“I know this is a fake wedding,” Addie cut her off. “I just want you to know that Icareabout you.” She looked around to be sure they were alone. Then she stepped closer, leaned up, and caught Toni’s mouth in a soft kiss, and when she pulled back, she said, “If marrying you meant I had two nights in your bed, I’d have said yes.”
At her words, Toni relaxed. “You really missed me, did you?”
“Marry me, and I’ll show you exactly how much,” Addie teased.
Chapter 27Addie
The fact that Addie’s heart swelled at the thought of marrying Toni was daunting. In those few brief moments when Addie thought it was a real wedding, she’d hadzerohesitation. Would she have done it for real? Hell, yes. She was increasingly certain that whatever else was going on, the connection between them was as real as they were.
But the wedding was fake. Without a marriage license, a weddingcouldn’tbe real. It could be a commitment ceremony, but that was all. And for them it wasn’t even that.
The vows were fake.
She doesn’t love me.
This is pretend.
She looked terrified at the thought.
Addie had to repeat reminders in her mind a few times because the way Toni stared at her in general felt awfully real. The way Toni stepped up repeatedly to rescue Addie—whether from lecherous strangers or the lack of a room of her own—was real. The way she confided in Addie and listened to her? Still real.
So Addie sat perfectly still while strangers fastened roses in her hair. Pink and red roses. The scent of them was dizzying… or maybe that was the corset she needed with this dress—the dress I wore when Toni was under my skirts.
The weight of the dress and the tightness of the corset made sittingless comfortable than standing. Addie sat in a stiff chair while her hair was done.
“We could pin it—”
“Loose. She wanted it left loose,” Addie insisted. “So no.”
On set, they did her hair and makeup before she was laced into a too-tight corset. Here, she was already dressed. The effect of which was that her breasts were already lifted up like they were on a serving tray. The fact that Toni spent half of dinner glancing at them and then at the ring made Addie feel confident that she wasn’t alone in her feelings. Toni was in denial, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t see what was happening between them.
The fact that Toni spent an equal amount of time catching Addie’s eye made her feel something else. Something softer, fragile, and altogether wonderful. Toni might not use the words to say so, but her actions made it quite clear that she felt something more than desire.
Not that she lacked that.
Thankfully.
“All set, my dear.” Lady Dove stepped back. She held up a mirror so Addie could see the delicate roses in her hair. Several flowers were braided into long but narrow braids that met at the back of her head. “Might I take another photo or two?”
“Same rules, Lady Dove,” Addie said firmly. “Nothing posted without studio approval.”
“Of course, dearie.” The older woman nodded, and then she took a series of photos. “Up you go. Pretty little thing, aren’t you? No wonderthat onestares at you like the wolf spying an innocent lost in the forest.”
