“You wouldn’t?” Kelsey gasped in shock.
“I certainly would,” Sue informed her, with her hands on her hips. “That dress was made for you and if you don’t buy it, I will and give Ty the receipt. Now, what’s it gonna be?”
“Please Kelsey,” Johanna added. “It’s so lovely it will just about break my heart if you don’t take it. You look like you stepped right out of a Grace Kelly movie.”
“Who is Grace Kelly?” Kelsey whispered at Susan.
“A movie star who married a real live prince,” Sue replied with an eye roll.
“I’ll take it,” Kelsey told the owner, handing over her credit card. “Do you know of any really nice wedding chapels we might look at?”
As luck would have it, she did. Her uncle owned one slightly outside the city limits that catered to a more traditional cliental. Handing her his card, she also called and asked if they could come right over and have a look at the place. After a short limo ride they arrived at what resembled a quaint country church and Kelsey booked it without hesitation for four o’clock the next afternoon. She ordered pink and blush rose bouquets for her and Susan and boutonnieres for Ty, Marcus and their Dad. She also ordered a blush corsage for Ty’s mother.
Their errands accomplished the girls headed back to the hotel, arranging to meet at the pool for drinks later in the afternoon. It was there, soaking up the hot Nevada sun that Marcus finally caught up with Susan. Her cell phone rang just as she was turning over onto her tummy to let the rays add some color to her pale back. Having consumed several tropical drinks, she was in a mellow mood when she answered.
“Hey babe,” she sighed, “are you back yet? Did you get everything taken care of? I see you found time to replace your phone.”
“Yes, Ty got the rings and we made arrangements for a private dining room tomorrow night at eight. The hotel is taking care of the cake and Ty hired a photographer. Where are you?”
“I’m at the pool with the girls.”
“At the pool? Are you wearing sunscreen?” he questioned sharply. “I hope you’re staying out of the deep end!”
“Geez, Daddy,” she shot back sarcastically, her mood rapidly evaporating. “Give me some credit will you?”
“I wasn’t aware you were interested in that type of relationship,” he replied smoothly, his voice rich and dark, “but I’m sure I’d have no trouble setting up a nursery at the lodge if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“Shit,” she swore, sitting up and snatching her drink from the poolside table. “No, no, that’s not what I’m looking for. I’m sorry,” she apologized quickly.
“I know I’m a little older than you, but call me Daddy again in that tone of voice and you’ll think you’re about five years old when I get done with you,” he promised.
“Okay, okay Marcus, I said I was sorry” she whispered into the phone as several pairs of curious ears strained to hear the conversation. Brandy and Johanna were grinning at her dilemma and she flipped them off as she continued trying to placate Marcus.
“We’ll discuss this later,” he advised her, causing her to suppress a shiver. “We’re all meeting for dinner and a show around seven so don’t be too long.”
“We can do that,” she informed him, turning back to the girls and raising her voice, “but after that we want to take Kelsey out, sort of a last single fling.”
“Surprisingly that doesn’t sound like the Kelsey I know. Who wants to go out, Kelsey or the rest of you girls? If you think I’m turning you loose in Vegas, you have another think coming and I’m sure the other men will agree with me.”
“We’ll stay in the hotel…Marcus,” she promised, crossing her fingers and hoping he could get the others to agree. “There are couple of clubs here that should be fun and really how much trouble can we get into if we stay here?”
“That my love is exactly what worries me,” he answered dryly. “We’ll talk about it at dinner. Right now Ty and I are meeting the others for a few hands of poker. I’ll see you upstairs in a couple of hours.”
“Okay, bye.”
“He’s not going to go for it, is he?” Erica asked, rubbing lotion on her arms. “Damn, I was looking forward to a night of really letting loose. You know what they say about what happens in Vegas,” she teased with a wink.
“What about John?” Elena asked basking in the sun with her eyes closed. “Will he not be angry if you do not spend the evening with him after you asked him to accompany you?”
“John? John’s a cupcake,” Erica replied. “He’ll do anything I say. I’ve never met a man more eager to please me. It’s strange really; I was the one who interviewed him and yet I never would have guessed how amenable he would be based on his questionnaire. In fact, I may have to snatch him up myself. I mean what more could I ask for? He’s attractive, obscenely wealthy and caters to my every whim.”
“I’d watch it if I were you,” Sue offered, laying back in her deck chair. “Not all men are what they seem.”
“I agree,” said Brandy. “They say ‘still waters run deep’. It’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for.”
“I think this is true,” Elena added. “Mr. Jeff, I mean Jeff was so very polite and soft spoken when I first met him. He never raised his voice or got angry until the night of the party. All I did was follow Susan’s advice and dance with another man and the next moment he was carrying me off the dance floor over his shoulder. He was a very angry man that night,” she said with a shiver.
“How is he now?” Johanna asked. “He seems so deeply in love with you.”
