After tearing the parcel open, she read the little card inside, and I was worried to see her eyes glass over with tears.
‘Bad news?’
She shook her head, holding it out for me to read. ‘No.’
Mae,
I couldn’t have Cinderella going to the ball in rags, so here’s a little something I picked out for you. I know it might not be your usual style, but trust me, you CAN pull this off.Knock ’em dead, my gorgeous friend. If they can’t see just how wonderful you truly are, they’re not worth it.
Holly
Xxx
‘She sounds like a good friend.’
‘She is. The best. I miss her.’ She wiped a tear off her cheek. ‘She did say she might come and visit me here one day.’
‘I look forward to meeting her.’
She lifted the lid off the box and folded back tissue paper, revealing black material. ‘I guess I have something to wear now.’
I reached for it. ‘Do I get a sneak preview?’
She smacked my hand lightly. ‘No. You can see when you pick me up tonight and not a moment earlier.’
I sighed. ‘I guess I can wait if I have to.’
The sheet she’d had tucked under her armpits for modesty dropped away and at the sight of the swell of her breast I felt myself stir again. It was insane to me, how much I wanted her. I wanted to spend every damn day of the rest of my life with her, if she’d let me. I reached out a hand and traced the bones of her spine, enjoying the tiny gasp she gave when I touched her.
‘I have a few brilliant ideas for how we could fill the hours between now and tonight,’ I teased. ‘That’s if you’re not sick of me already, of course.’
She placed the box carefully on the floor and lay down beside me, her fingers lightly stroking my beard, her eyes on mine. ‘I honestly don’t think I could ever be sick of you.’
‘You say that now, but what about when I’m hogging the covers, or commandeering the TV remote.’
‘Aw.’ She pouted. ‘It’s cute that you think you could do that.’
I pulled her towards me, and she squealed.
‘I’ll give you cute,’ I growled.
43
MAE
I stood back as far as the tiny cottage bathroom would let me and looked at myself in the mirror.Holy crap.Holly had been right. The dress was not my normal style. Not even close. The last time I’d worn anything as remotely revealing had been my clubbing days in my early twenties. But… I didn’t hate it. In fact, I kind of loved it.
The dress was strapless and floor length, with a bodice featuring a deep plunging sweetheart neckline, with a structured V-shaped dip that created a dramatic, yet tasteful, focal point. The waist was slightly cinched, emphasizing the hourglass shape that was incredibly sexy. From the hips down, the dress was a fitted column style, with a slight flare at the hem that gave it a subtle mermaid twist. The final look was elegant and understated. I had kept my hair simple, sleek and glamorous with a single clip pinning back the hair on one side to match the style of the dress. I kept the jewelry to a minimum and simple, with a small pair of silver earrings and a silver necklace around my throat that had a pendant in the shape of a wave.
‘Are you ready yet?’ Jonah called. ‘The suspense is kind of killing me out here.’
‘What if you don’t like it?’
‘Unlikely. You could be wearing a trash bag and I’d still think you were the most beautiful woman in Pine Harbor.’
‘What if it’s not good enough for the winter formal though?’ I fretted. ‘What if it’s completely the wrong sort of dress and I embarrass you?’
‘You couldneverembarrass me. I don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks.’
