He kissed her nose and stepped back, taking his warmth with him. “I’m done waiting.” He yanked a small box from his pocket, grasped her left hand, and slid a ring onto her finger. “Marry me?”
It wasalmostphrased as a question. She forgot all about the guy still unconscious in the back of the probably stolen vehicle. “Yes.” Then she glanced down and noticed the ring. “Oh, my.” A multitude of diamonds surrounded one huge and square sparkling center stone that passing satellites could probably see. Additional diamonds flowed down the band.
“I’ll always give you sparkles, Serenity,” he said. “Wait until you see the wedding band.” He leaned down and kissed her, giving her everything she could ever want, which was Rory Albertini.
Chapter14
“Idon’t think this dress is me,” Serenity breathed, looking at herself in the three-way mirror of the dress shop as she stood on the dais after Rory proposed again.
“Oh, it’s definitely you, girlfriend,” Anna Albertini said from the nearest sofa, kicking back with a glass of champagne. Her sister, Tessa, nodded from the seat next to her. Serenity’s mom, Nonna Albertini, Nana O’Shea, and of course, Rory’s mother, Yara Albertini, sat on the other sofa. Donna Albertini, Tessa and Anna’s older sister, stood behind them, surveying the entire scene.
“It’s beautiful, Serenity,” Donna said, taking a break from her phone for a second. She’d been drafting a real estate contract to her assistant the entire time.
Serenity twirled, admiring the bling. “I know, but I mean, look at the sparkles.”
“Rory insisted,” Heather said from the nearest gown rack, where tons more voluminous white dresses waited for her to try on.
Serenity couldn’t breathe. The dress was so beautiful.
“He insisted.” Anna laughed. “He’s so funny. I never did find out why he had that split lip from New Year’s Eve.”
It had been four weeks since the fateful New Year’s Eve party, and Lewis Hackson was long gone from Idaho, now somewhere in the custody of the US government.
“He fell on the ice,” Serenity and Heather said in unison.
“Uh-huh,” Anna murmured, rolling her eyes.
Serenity cut Heather a look. After securing Hackson at the local jail, they’d all agreed that none of them, including the sheriff, would reveal what had gone on that night. It had been surprisingly easy to keep the secret, especially since it was Serenity’s understanding that it’d be treason if they talked.
She forgot all about international intrigue and looked down at the mesmerizing work of art on her body. Her fantasy. The color was pristine white, and the A-line silhouette flattering, skimming with a gentle flow before flaring softly from her hips to the floor. Sparkles adorned the gown pretty much everywhere. The expertly placed glittering embellishments twinkled every time she moved. Crystals ran down the bodice, scattered across her waist, and flowed along the billowing skirt. She glimmered no matter which way she moved.
“Do you like the bodice?” She tugged gently on the subtle sweetheart neckline, noting more intricately hand-sewn, gleaming sequins.
Her mother finished her glass of champagne and reached to pour more. “I love it, and you deserve to feel like a princess.”
The room had so much feminine energy that estrogen was probably pouring out the windows. Even so, Serenity couldn’t help but smile. Her mom was having a great time with the Albertini family. It would be nice to have more people around, especially when she had kids. She couldn’t wait. She and Rory had talked about children a long time ago when they first started dating, and she knew he wanted as many as she did.
“Well.” She looked down again, absolutely entranced. “I don’t think I need to try on anything else.”
“Are you about done in there?” Rory called from outside.
Anna snickered. “He lasted fifteen minutes. You have to give him props.”
“You are so impatient,” Serenity yelled back. “You’ll have to wait. You can’t see me in this.”
“Did you find a dress?” His voice easily penetrated the door.
Serenity turned back to stare into the mirror. “Yes.”
Anna started chuckling, and her sisters joined in.
“Does it have sparkles?” Rory bellowed.
“You’ll have to wait and see,” she called again, shaking her head.
Heather pulled a dress off the rack. “You should try this one on.” It was white with thin spaghetti straps.
Nonna looked over her shoulder. “Maybeyoushould try that one on, Heather.”
