My breath hitched, fingers hovering over my open mouth.
The dress was heart-stopping with a draped bodice on this sort of flounced-looking tulle ballgown, layered over more sequined tulle, with a crystal beaded waistband.
Ginger wept, either tears of joy because she knew I’d finally found the gown, or tears of joy because she thought I looked as beautiful as I felt.
“It’s perfect,” she said. “You look like a bride now.”
Stepping onto the pedestal, the dress’s exquisite jewels glittering under the lights, Sage, Chloe, and Mom let out a collective hand-over-heart gasp.
“Mom?” My weepy eyes flicked over to her for a verbal approval, but all she could do was nod over and over again, tears streaming down her face.
“Chloe?” I looked at my best friend.
“I’m actually speechless right now.” She fanned her face, doing her best to keep tears at bay.
I glanced over to my other best friend, whose eyes were surveying me, up and down. “Sage? What do you think?”
Sage nodded. “I’d totally marry you.”
That night,I crawled into bed, scooting over to the side Lucas always slept on. I inhaled the scent of his cologne on the pillow—I’d unashamedly sprayed some of the fragrance there the first night he left for minicamp.
God, I was such a lunatic.
Or maybe it was normal to feel empty inside when the man you were crazy in love with was away from home.
Which got me thinking ofCosmo’sjob offer in London. If I accepted the position—which I hadn’t yet—lovestruck me would likely die of Lucas Stone starvation, considering he was the only thing feeding my soul.
Thankfully, I still had time to think it over, ponder all the pros and cons, purposely holding back from mentioning anything about it to Lucas, allowing him time to bask in his own glory while I thought it over. True, having wanted to work forCosmosince practically forever, it was a dream opportunity, regardless of how low I’d have to start.
But, Lucas was also my dream, my heart’s wish come true.
Sitting in bed, laptop open as I typed, I then posted myConfessions of a Bookaholicreview for Alessandra Torre’s latest release, when my phone vibrated. A text from my Lucas Stone.
Lucas: You awake?
A smile warmed my face.
Me: Just got into bed. Isn’t it late there?
Lucas:Yep. Close to midnight. Went out with AJ and some of the other guys on the team to celebrate making it through camp.
Me:You deserve it, baby. Congrats.
Text bubbles bounced on the screen, then they disappeared, leaving me with nothing in return. I lay there pouting. Like a goddamn baby.
Seconds later, I jumped, startled when my phone rang, Lucas’s name and face flashing on the screen, beckoning for a FaceTime call.
I patted my freshly showered locks into place, then activated the chat, his sultry smirk lighting up my heart.
“Hey,” he said in that cool-hot Lucas Stone tone. He was in bed, propped up against the headboard, shirtless.
“Hey.” I beamed back. “No fair showing me a naked chest I can’t lick and claw at over the phone.”
“Show me yours.”
I tried not to giggle, but, of course, failed miserably. “Don’t you dare ‘girls gone wild’me, Mr. Stone and ask me to lift my shirt on video.”
“I miss you, baby, miss hearing you giggle in person, having you curled up beside me, watching your eyes flutter closed as you fall asleep.”
