“What?” Dante grins, “did you honestly think Sienna was going to let you get married in jeans and a t-shirt?” I climb out of the car, flexing my shoulders against the press of my shirt collar once more. Ihatewearing suits. I only do it as a respectable requirement when in meetings with Dante. I hadn’t even considered what I would have to wear to the wedding.
“Aren’t I supposed to be comfortable on my wedding day?” I ask as Dante leads the way into the shop.
“Don’t be ridiculous. The wedding day isn’t about you. You’re just a well-dressed symbol,” Dante chuckles. I groan inwardly. The shop has warm, deep oak walls and a dark floor with several gold rugs dotted around under the exquisite tables and deep brown leather chairs.
“I don’t even know what to look for,” I say, glancing at the mannequins dressed in fine suits and jackets. All of it looks smothering, and I crinkle my nose in distaste as Dante hands a card to the man behind the counter. He vanishes behind a plush velvet curtain.
“I know,” Dante smirks and he leans against the counter. “That’s why Sienna and I have already picked something out for you. It’ll go beautifully with Cara’s dress, and it’ll show the right amount of respect to the union of our two families.”
“How does Sienna know what dress Cara will pick?” I ask as I wander through the store. None of these suits look comfortable, and one looks like it has painful boning woven right into the seams of the jacket. I can’t imagine anything more uncomfortable.
“That I don’t know,” Dante replies and I can hear the awe in his voice. “Sienna just knows these things. It must be a female thing.”
“Hmm,” I voice my agreement. Cara is out picking her dress today and as I come full circle around the shop and return to Dante, it hits me that I’ll be seeing her in a wedding dress. And then she will be mine, officially in the eyes of the law and our families. My stomach flips suddenly, and a touch of light-headedness bursts through my head.
I’m actually gettingmarried.
“Here we go!” The cheery voice of the shop assistant almost makes nausea crash over me and he hands a dust jacket to Dante. Dante takes the jacket by the hanger and pulls the zip down, revealing the suit to me inside. To my surprise, it looksnice. The collar doesn’t look too restrictive, and from here, I can see the deep green woven through the waistcoat and the ascot. It really is perfect.
“Sienna has good taste,” I murmur.
“Excellenttaste,” the assistant exclaims and I bite back a scoff at his eagerness.
“I told you, Sienna’s got it all planned out. All you have to do is wear this and turn up.” Dante pulls the zipper closed and drapes the suit over his arm, then his other wraps around my shoulders, and he begins to guide me out of the shop.
“Don’t worry, Kill, it’ll be over before you know it.”
I nod and squint as the late evening sun hits my eyes when we step outside. Dante’s assuming I’m dreading the day, but… no.
I can’t wait until Cara Ryan is officially my wife.
17
CARA
I’m getting married.
It’s not new information, but it’s not something that fully sinks in until I’m sitting in the bridal boutique with Kimmy and Sadie on either side of me. An assistant stares down at me with a perfect smile plastered on her perfect face.
I’m gettingmarried.
For real this time. No disaster to derail the plans, no Russians lurking around the corner to ruin anything. Everything has been kept under wraps, as far as I understand it, and Sienna has been planning everything. I trust her with that; I know I definitely couldn’t plan a wedding even if I had allyearto do it.
Sadie’s hand lands gently on my forearm, and I turn to her. There’s concern in her eyes and I frown, placing my other hand over hers.
“Are you okay?” I ask and Sadie laughs.
“Me? Angela asked your size and you’ve been staring at her for ten minutes!”
Angela?Oh! Shit.
I turn back to the assistant and force a wide smile, catching her name tag pinned to her sky blue uniform.
“I’m so sorry, I was miles away!”
“Oh, don’t you worry,” Angela beams at me, “choosing your dress is ahugedecision. But not to worry, Mrs. Scarano has booked the suite for the entire day, so you can take as long as you like.” Her thin fingers press together and her brow pinches. “I do, however, need your size to get started.”
I reel off my dress size, and Angela vanishes through some red curtains at the other end of the large white room as Kimmy presses a tall flute glass into my hand.