His sharp chin lifts and his mouth firms, making me feel an insane urge to lick the dimple beside his mouth. “Well, now you have me.”
A slow smile builds until I feel it shooting out like a confetti cannon exploding. “Yeah. I do.”
He slips out the door and I step into the bathroom, starting the water in the giant whirlpool tub. I should just take a shower under the glassed-in rain shower head which looks drool-worthy. But that big bath tub and the bath salts in the fancy jars sitting on the edge are too much for a girl to pass up.
I run the hot water, letting the steam relax me. Adding the shimmering teal bath bomb that smells like a glorious morning after a spring rain, I strip off my pajamas and slide into the scented water.
Sighing, I grin. I could get used to this.
Fifteen minutes later I’m washed up and dragging my ass out of the tub. Wrapping a fluffy navy towel around my body I pad out to the bedroom to find a huge rack of dresses lined up in the middle of the floor. I blush and groan, face-palming.
That means he was in the room at some point and I was in there singing What Ifs at the top of my lungs. And I can’t sing worth a diddly.
Ugh! But the embarrassment doesn’t last as I skip over to the rack, running my hands down the satiny white dresses. But there’s one that catches my eye right away. A beautiful princess, tea-length dress that’s dip-dyed deep pink at the bottom of the dress. The rest of the dress is the palest blush I’ve ever seen. It’s so unique, so breathtaking, that I know it has to be mine. If it fits.
I pull it out and reverently touch the glorious colors. Then I peek at the size and grin. Yes! Somebody’s looking out for me today! It’s a perfect size twelve. Just like me.
I find sheer petal pink silk and lace panties and a strapless bra that matches. A satin pair of pink pumps with a ribbon that ties around each ankle and I feel like a feminine, gorgeous woman. I run my hand down my belly, smoothing the fabric, staring at myself in the mirror. I pull my long dark hair up on my head, securing it with a rose gold clasp that I find on the dresser. A pair of diamond earrings and a choker necklace that shoots icy sparks and I feel like I’m ready to face today. Armored in lovely finery.
I step out of the door and pull it closed on the whirlwind that’s destroyed the room. Misgivings bubble up in me. Will Ronan be mad? I didn’t want to take the time to clean up right now. I’m short on time and I don’t want to make anybody wait.
John would have been furious and he would have made that plain. I cringe when I remember one of the last parties we went to. He made sure to tell everyone when we got there late that I had held him up and that it was a common occurrence because god knows I couldn’t be an adult and be on time!
I push my shoulders back and breathe deep. Ronan doesn’t seem like John.
I step down the stairs carefully, fluffing out the skirt in a soft bell, enjoying the way I feel.
“Holy shit!” I glance down and see Ronan at the bottom of the steps waiting for me, his hand on his heart, a shell-shocked look on his lean face. I reach him and he holds out a hand that trembles slightly.
“Kat, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. That dress is so you.” His eyes wander up and down my body and I feel the heat spark between our bodies. His dark eyes light with gold and his hand tightens on mine, tugging me up against him. His other hand lifts to trace my cheek lightly. “I never dreamed that I’d find a woman like you when I joined Ever After. You’re like a rose, delicate and soft yet so damn strong with thorns that can tear you apart if you don’t touch it gently. If you don’t respect the beauty of it and the danger.”
“How am I dangerous?” I whisper, the words slipping out before I can think about what I’m saying.
His head shakes, his dark hair perfectly trimmed and brushed back from his elegant forehead. A smile tugs at his lips. “You are the most dangerous woman I’ve ever seen. My heart is in danger from just one smile on your lips. One sparkling glance out of your emerald eyes. One kiss that lifts me up on the wings of love and lust. It’s all there. Only with you.”
I can feel the tears burning behind my eyes and I sniffle. “That has to be the prettiest thing any man has ever said to me.”
“Good,” he growls. “That means all the other men you know are idiots. I’m the only one smart enough to see your true worth.”
“Uh-umm.” The minister clears his throat. “Are we ready to start?”
He leans over and his minty breath tickles my ear. “Guess you’re waiting to eat, princess. But you are worth waiting for.”
We go stand in front of the minister and the two witnesses standing there. One man is tall and dark, his eyes a cold blue that makes me shiver when he turns to look at me. The other witness is the minister’s wife.
“This is my best friend, Stone. He’s a firefighter. Actually he does the whole smoke jumpers thing. So he’s a hero, of course!” He claps the big man on the back.
He holds out his hand and attempts a smile that barely curls his harsh lips. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Yes. Nice to meet you too,” I whisper, tugging at my hand. It feels like it’s being crushed and I whimper.
“Hey, man!” Ronan pulls my hand free and cradles it. “We need to get you around more women, man. You can’t crush them like a beer can.”
“Sorry,” he growls.
“Let’s get this started,” the minister says. “I’ve got another appointment on the other side of the mountain this afternoon.”
Ronan snaps to attention. “Yes. Let’s do this.”