Page 84 of All I Feel

“Are you okay, Princess?”

Warmth spread through me at the sound of his voice. How had I ever believed that Ace didn’t want me?

“I’m okay.”

“Kash said Ryan put his hand on you. Are you hurt?”

How had Kash communicated that to Ace and stepped in as quickly as he had?

“No. I’m fine. Honest.” I looked to my left and saw that Kash was guiding Ryan right to the exit. “Kash took care of it. Ryan’s already out the door.”

“Everything else is okay?”

Looking at the two women I’d come to lunch with, I saw them smiling at me. I returned the smile and said, “It’s perfect, handsome. I just came out to have lunch with Harper and Savanna.”

“Alright. And Lark’s dropping you off at home tonight?”

“She is.”

“Good. I’ve got to get back to work, then. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay, Ace. I’ll talk to you later.”

We disconnected, and I looked at my girls. “He’s so in love with you, it’s not even funny.”

I giggled, thinking about how much I liked the idea of Ace being in love with me. Then the girls and I gathered up our trash, tossed it, and left.

And later that night, when I was wrapped up in Ace’s arms, in his bed, I allowed myself to enjoy the kissing without fretting over what he wasn’t attempting to get from me. It would happen soon enough.

I had two days to work up the courage to give him the best birthday of his life. I could only hope it was going to be a success.

TWENTY-TWO

TESSA

“Alright.Have a look. Tell me what you think.”

I stood watching as my bride, Grace, evaluated the job I’d done on her makeup for her big day. Years of experience told me that with one look she was in love with the way it turned out. A sense of pride washed over me at her satisfied expression.

Despite how relieved and happy I was that I’d done a satisfactory job, I felt conflicted. I loved what I did for a living—especially being with women on the biggest day of their lives—but I hated that today was one of the days I’d been scheduled to work.

It was Ace’s birthday, and I’d had to wake up in his bed this morning and leave him so I could work.

Granted, I’d always known our entire group would all be getting together to celebrate with Ace tonight, but at the time I’d added this wedding to my schedule, Ace was just my friend, and I’d been involved with another man.

Ace hadn’t seemed bothered by my needing to leave this morning. Part of the reason for that might’ve been because before I’d even crawled out of bed, I showered him with birthday kisses, apologized profusely for having to leave, and promised he’d get me to himself all day tomorrow if he wanted me. Ace confirmed that he did, in fact, want me.

In addition, I’d promised to be back at his place on time to leave for the night out with him tonight. Given my track record for not being on time to anything, I wondered whether he believed I’d actually make it by the time I’d said. If he had doubts about my ability to make that happen, I wasn’t upset. I was perpetually late to everything but work. But come hell or highwater, I was going to be on time tonight. For him.

“Oh, Tessa, this turned out even better than the trial run we did months ago,” Grace marveled. “I couldn’t be happier with what you’ve done.”

“I’m so glad. You look utterly stunning, and you don’t even have your dress on yet.” I walked up behind where she was leaning forward toward the vanity, still inspecting her look, placed my hands on her shoulders, and squeezed. “You are going to be a gorgeous bride.”

“Gracie,” a feminine voice called from behind us.

I released Grace, and both of us turned to find Bernadette, her Maid of Honor.

“Yeah?” Grace replied.