She lifted her hair and he fastened the clasp. The pendant settled perfectly at the hollow of her throat.
Charlie turned and looked up at him. “No one's ever—” She stopped, swallowed. “Thank you.”
Ben cupped her face in his hands. “Go put on the dress, Princess. I want to see you in it.”
Twenty minutes later,Charlie emerged from the bedroom.
Ben forgot how to breathe.
The dress fit her perfectly. Della had taken in the bodice to follow Charlie's athletic build, adjusted the sleeves so they sat properly on her shoulders. The blue brought out the gold in her hazel eyes. The necklace gleamed against her skin.
She'd left her hair down, loose around her shoulders.
“Well?” Charlie did a slow turn, the skirt swirling. “What do you think?”
Ben couldn't speak. He just stared.
Charlie's confidence faltered. “Does it look weird on me? I can change?—”
“No.” Ben found his voice. “God, no. Don't you dare change. You're—” He crossed to her, pulled her close. “You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.”
Charlie's cheeks flushed pink. “You're biased.”
“I'm honest.” He kissed her forehead. “My princess.”
They droppedFlo off at Watchdog's kennels then drove down to the Faire. The parking area was already filling with vendors and performers setting up for the last weekend of the season.
Charlie drew stares the moment she stepped out of the truck. Ben loved it.
Let them look. Let them see my princess.
“I feel like I should curtsy or something,” Charlie muttered as they walked through the gates.
“Just be yourself.” Ben took her hand. “You're perfect.”
The Faire was in full setup mode. Vendors arranging their last pieces of merchandise, food stalls firing up grills, musicians tuning instruments. Ben spotted the costume shop—Della's booth was still packed with garments despite it being the last weekend. She always over-stocked and always sold well anyway.
“Ben!” Della waved from behind her counter. When she saw Charlie in the dress, her face lit up. “Oh my stars, look at you! It's perfect! I knew the three-quarter sleeves would work better on you than the original. And thatnecklace!” She clasped her hands together. “Did you make that, Ben?”
“Finished it last night.”
“Gorgeous work. Both of you look absolutely stunning together.” She winked at Charlie. “Keep him, honey. The good ones are rare.”
Ben'slast demonstration of the year drew a solid crowd. He worked the forge, heating steel to glowing orange, shaping it on the anvil with practiced strikes. Charlie watched from the front row, her eyes tracking every movement.
Afterward, Ben offered Charlie his arm. They moved through the Faire.
“Have you heard from Viv?” Ben thought of the chaos of their last visit.
“Yes. No more attacks, though the online backlash is still brutal. Poor Maddie’s doing overtime trying to quash it, but it seems to get worse the more she tries.”
Ben nodded. “Rowan said the same thing. But, there’s a silver lining. If anything, the pressure has brought him and Viv closer together.”
But Charlie’s attention had snapped elsewhere. Ben grinned at her smile.
“Would you like to meet them?” he asked her.
She looked at him with unbridled, innocent excitement. “Can we?”
