Chapter Fifteen
Tugging the bodiceinto position, Savanah stood back. ‘Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. You are a picture of perfection.’
Evie looked down at the dress. She certainly didn’t feel the picture of perfection. She glanced in the mirror and looked away quickly, wishing she hadn’t. The sparkly pink eyeshadow was caked on, and her hair felt as though it would fall out of its precarious bun with the slightest of movements. As for the dress itself? Yes, she supposed it might be somebody’s dream dress, but most definitely not hers. For someone who usually lived in dark suits when at work and scruffy loungewear in the short evenings, this was the furthest away from her style as possible.
‘Oh wow, look at you, Evie. That dress is huge.’ Diane gasped as she walked back from her photoshoot.
‘It is, isn’t it?’ It was heavy too. She could almost feel bruises forming as her hips supported the fabric of the skirt.
‘Right, your turn, Evie. Let’s go.’ Picking up the long veil which had been stuck into Evie’s tightly wound bun, Savanah pushed the door open.
Evie paused. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t go out there like this. Not with Jack there. What would he think of her? All dolled up in a humongous wedding gown?
‘Come on.’ Savanah nodded towards Jack, who was fiddling around with his camera at the far end of the other room.
Swallowing, she rolled her eyes. What did she care what he thought of her? Lifting her head up, she walked through the door.
‘Here we go, one last bride for you, Jack, before the group shots.’
Turning, Jack opened and closed his mouth.
‘Savanah?’
Turning, Savanah looked back the way they had come and fanned Evie’s veil across her back. ‘I’m sorry, I’ll be as quick as I can.’
Evie watched as she hurried out, the door swinging shut behind her. She strode towards Jack. ‘Don’t say a word.’
‘Well, I... I was only going to say you look great.’
Narrowing her eyes, she stood in front of the camera. ‘If you mean that, I don’t think we can be friends anymore.’
Chuckling, Jack ran his fingers through his hair. ‘It’s not that bad.’
‘Which bit? The crazy eyeshadow, the huge, puffy skirt, the over-embellished bodice or the bun which is so tightly pulled it almost feels as though my eyeballs are about to fall out?’
‘Ha-ha, now that would be a first, capturing the moment a bride’s eyes roll out of their sockets.’
‘Very funny. Now, just get on with it.’ She crossed her arms.
‘I... umm... may I make a small suggestion?’
‘What?’
‘Could you pose?’
‘Pose?’ What did he think she was?
‘Arms by your sides would be a start. Right, that’s it.’ He looked through his camera lens again. ‘And maybe a smile, too.’
She grimaced. She really shouldn’t have let herself be talked into this.
‘May I?’ Jack walked towards her and held out his hands.
Looking down at his hands, she frowned and placed her hands in his. His skin was warm, his grasp strong but gentle.
‘Take a deep breath in.’ Jack closed his eyes and breathed in, holding it before slowly letting out his breath and gently shaking Evie’s hands.