Looking in the mirror, she put on Macy’s pink diamond necklace and stood back a step to check her appearance.
The dress looked good and showed off her best asset, her legs. In soft pink, it had a tight silk sheath that cupped her breasts and finished a few inches above her knees. A sheer over skirt fell from below the bodice, and swirled as she moved. The necklace twinkled as the light caught it. She prayed the clasp wouldn’t break.
She’d straightened her hair so it fell to her shoulders in a silky curtain, and highlighted her eyes with makeup. Her lips were painted in a shinny gloss, and Annabelle thought she looked as good as she could, but knew she’d fall short of some of the other guests. Grabbing the small silver bag Macy had insisted she bring, she stepped into her high, strappy, silver sandals, and went to answer the door as someone knocked.
“Well, now, girl, you look mighty fine.”
“Thanks, Uncle Mitch. You’re pretty handsome yourself.”
His suit was black over a vest of black satin and he wore a white shirt and black crossover tie. In one hand he held a black cowboy hat and on his feet were leather boots.
“Well, then, I reckon we could be making an entrance, little girl.”
They traveled by limo with Taylor, who was dressed like Uncle Mitch. The day had produced good weather for the bride and they arrived at the church thirty minutes later.
Limos and expensive cars lined the street that the church stood on. They pulled up outside, and Taylor got out first and held out his hand to her. He then led her up the stairs, and they smiled and nodded to several other guests before stepping inside the cool interior of the church.
It was huge, with high vaulted ceilings and arches, and long rows of pews with a wide aisle between. Everything sparkled and the flowers smelled wonderful. Big white satin bows had been placed on the end of each pew. The guests who had already found their seats were buzzing with expectation as they awaited the bride.
“I’ll just sit at the back here, Taylor. You go down to where the family is,” Annabelle said, stepping to one side so they didn’t block the doorway.
“Ethan wants you up in front, Annabelle. He told me.”
Annabelle patted Taylor’s hand. “No, really, I’ll be more comfortable down here. You go on with your uncle, and I’ll see you after. This isn’t a time for strangers to be sitting with all of you.”
He didn’t want to, but as other guests were arriving there was little he could do. Annabelle moved to the last row, which was still empty, and slid into it, seating herself at the end by the wall. She was happy here, tucked away so she could observe and slip out when it was over to await Ethan outside.
Looking around at the other guests, she thought everyone had dressed just as she’d expected they would, and knew there was a great deal of money invested in both the clothes and jewels. Some were a bit overdone, the hats too big, the gems too ostentatious, but wasn’t that what made the world an interesting place. Everyone was different andto each his ownhad always been her motto. Annabelle smiled to the people who settled in the pew beside her. Looking toward the front of the church, she watched Ethan come into view. She could see his head, then his shoulders, encased in a black evening suit.
That man is way too good-looking,she thought, studying those broad shoulders and the killer smile he flashed as he walked.Regroup, Annabelle, regroup!The words shrieked in her head as he looked at her, his eyes boring into hers. As he drew closer, she saw the smile was a fake, and in fact, he was not a happy man. As her pew was the last, and there was little space between it and the rear wall, and he had to lean over the other guests who had just seated themselves to get to her.
“You’re sitting with me.” There was nopleaseorcould youin his words; they were just what they were, a demand, and she shouldn’t feel that little flutter in her chest at the sight of his large hand extended towards her. In fact, she should be downright pissed off by his highhanded attitude.
“Please excuse her, Bill, Sally. She’s not supposed to be down here. She got a little confused when she arrived.” This he said to the people seated beside her, and they all bought it, smiling as they stood to let her past, so Annabelle had little choice but to do as he asked or make a scene.
Gritting her teeth, she nodded, smiled, and tried not to step on toes as she walked, until his fingers took hers in a hard grip and hauled her out to his side.
“This day is going to be hard enough without having to worry that some asshole is hitting on you, Smith. And quite frankly, in that dress I’m surprised you even made it through the door.” His words were a snarl as he marched her down the aisle.
“What’s wrong with my dress?”
“Not a damn thing,” he muttered, taking her hand and forcing each of her fingers into place between his.
“I was happy down there,” Annabelle protested as they walked past the other guests who were all watching them avidly.
“I wasn’t.”
And that was that as far as he was concerned, so for now she shut up, because his mouth might be smiling but his expression was mean, which told her he was angry about something.
“Did you get into it again with your dad or Brad?”
“Both,” he muttered.
Stopping by the second pew from the front, he then urged her in. He didn’t release her hand, so she had to shuffle sideways past Uncle Mitch and Taylor.
“I did tell you, Annabelle, that Ethan wanted you up here. Maybe next time you’ll listen.”
She sat next to Taylor and sent him a glare that he returned with a wide smile, one just like the thundercloud beside her usually wore.
