And, somewhat to her surprise, Hallie had. For the last hour, she and her friends been pampered like royalty at the designer bridal store. Cristiano had already won the loyalty of both her friends.
Tess admired him for demanding marriage immediately. “It’s so romantic, practically an elopement! And next he’s whisking you off to Italy!” She’d sighed. “So romantic!”
Lola had liked that Cristiano had left them an open credit line and told her and Tess, as bridesmaids, to get new outfits, as well. “Even shoes!”
The bridesmaid dresses were already chosen. Looking at herself now in the mirror, Hallie knew that this wedding dress was the one. It fit her perfectly, no alterations required, and made her look, as Tess had said, like a princess.
Nervously she charged it to Cristiano’s account, half expecting the manager to laugh in her face. Instead, the manager rang it up, then talked her into also buying demure white high heels, an elegant veil and bridal lingerie that made her blush. Once all her purchases had been packed and sent off to the penthouse, the three girls headed next door to spend a precious hour at the day spa.
“This is the life,” sighed Tess, stretching out her legs as a pedicurist massaged her feet.
“Who’s watching Esme, Tess?”
The redhead gave a guilty smile. “My cousin. Don’t get me wrong, I love being with my baby. But a few hours to myself feels like a vacation.”
“Yeah,” Lola said, selecting a chocolate-covered strawberry from a nearby silver tray. “This fiancé of yours is not so bad.”
Hallie snorted. “You’re just saying that because he told you to spare no expense on the bridesmaid outfits.”
“I want your wedding day to be perfect,” Lola said demurely, rubbing her heavily pregnant belly as she smiled at the shopping bag that held her new thousand-dollar shoes.
“I just wish Lacey could be here,” Tess sighed. “We tried to invite her.”
“Lacey!” Hallie smiled at the memory of the energetic young woman who’d invited each of them to the single-moms group, then introduced them to one another. “I owe her a lot.”
“Me, too. Because of her, I got to meet you losers.” Lola’s smile was fond. She held up her champagne glass for another refill of sparkling water from the hovering spa attendant. “Lacey’s traveling the world happily with her husband and baby. She sends her love. And promised to send a wedding gift.”
“I don’t need a gift.”
“Of course you don’t,” Lola said. “You’re marrying one of the richest men in the world.”
“She doesn’t care about his money,” Tess protested. She turned to Hallie, her eyes shining. “It’s love that brought you together. Pure, perfect love. That’s the only reason anyone would marry.”
“Um,” said Hallie, feeling awkward. Love had nothing to do with it. They were just getting married to give their baby a good home. But she didn’t want to disillusion Tess, who was looking at her with dreamy, happy eyes. It made Hallie feel uneasy. She’d told herself that there was nothing wrong with a loveless marriage. Their arrangement would be both practical and sensible.
So why did her throat close at the thought of explaining that to her friends?
“Your baby’s father reacted just like I said he would. As soon as he knew about Jack, he realized he loved you and begged you to marry him,” Tess said joyfully. “So who knows? Maybe my baby’s father will do the same.”
“Give it up,” Lola said, rolling her eyes. “He’s never coming back, Tess.”
The redhead sucked in her breath, looking like she was going to cry.
“We don’t know that,” Hallie said loyally, though she understood Lola’s irritation. For as long as they’d known her, Tess had spoken constantly of the man who’d seduced her and disappeared. She’d spun out endless reasons why he might not have returned—ridiculous reasons, like his plane crashing on a desert island, or being kidnapped in Antarctica, or that he’d developed amnesia.
Privately, Hallie agreed with Lola. The guy was obviously a jerk and gone for good. But telling Tess that seemed like kicking a puppy.
Hallie gave the redhead a sympathetic smile. “It could happen, Tess. He could come back.”
Her friend gave her a grateful smile. “You think so?”
“Stop encouraging her,” Lola snapped. Unlike the other two, she’d never once spoken of the man who’d gotten her pregnant, no matter how many times they’d asked. “It’ll just hurt her more in the end.”
“Shush,” Hallie told her, and turned to Tess. “He—What’s his name again?”
“Stefano,” Tess murmured. She blushed. “I never learned his last name.”
“Stefano.” Where had she heard that name recently? She tried to remember, then gave up. Hallie leaned back in her spa chair, closing her eyes. “He could be on his way to you already.”