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When they stepped back and out of the way, Presley then discovered Porter and Kenzie standing on the sidewalk farther down, also dressed to the nines. Cora tugged Presley forward, and soon she landed in the arms of Porter and then Kenzie, who offered her another white rose. Tears rose in Presley’s eyes. Deep down she knew exactly what this was and what Dmitri had planned, but right now she could focus only on the love and friendship around her.
Porter and Kenzie moved behind Presley, and she spotted Miles and Aidan. She walked right into Aidan’s arms before moving on to Miles. Both hugged her tightly.
“For you.” Aidan handed her a red rose.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with happiness.
Cora blew Aidan a kiss and then led Presley across the street toward Aces’ fountains, where there was a huge crowd. To her surprise, Presley realized she knew most of the people there. Some people she knew from her work, and some from the animal shelter; some were old friends from Apple Valley, and others were members of Club Sin. There were also a few strangers—people who were in Vegas for a party and just so happened to stumble across the most important moment in Presley’s life. Presley laughed in nervous excitement.
She reached Sawyer and Chloe, and both hugged her. Then Chloe gave her another white rose before they moved in behind Presley. That was when Presley spotted Elliott and Mary, close friends of Dmitri’s.
Elliott embraced her with warmth, and then Mary wrapped her arms around Presley and said, “I’m glad he’s doing it this way. Something special for a special girl.”
Presley wiped away tears. “Thank you, Mary.”
As they stepped in behind the long line of friends following Presley, she turned to Cora, who waved her forward. Presley’s stride faltered when she saw two people she hadn’t been expecting to encounter tonight.
Near the fountains of Aces stood her parents. Her mother with her short dark hair, wearing a fancy dark blue dress, had her hands covering her mouth, tears flowing down her cheeks. Her father, whose eyes were the same emerald color as Presley’s, was dressed in a suit and tie, and he smiled at Presley.
“You’re here,” Presley barely managed when she reached them.
Her mother threw herself at Presley, her chest heaving deeply with her happy tears. “Dmitri asked us to be.” After a tight hug, her mother backed away. She lifted a ribbon she had been holding, then motioned for the flowers in Presley’s hands.
She offered them, and her mother tied the ribbon around the flowers, turning them into a bouquet. “This is just beautiful, Presley. You are beautiful.” She leaned forward, kissed Presley on the cheek, then looked to Presley’s father, Graham.
He moved close to Presley, tucking her arm into his. “Big day, hmmm?”
Presley sniffed and laughed. “Apparently.”
“Come on, then.” He gave his classic dad wink—the one that always told Presley everything would be okay—and tucked her arm into his. “Let’s see to getting on with it.”
Cora blew Presley a kiss. “Love you, girl.”
“Love you back.” Presley smiled, then allowed her dad to lead her.
All of Presley’s closest friends followed behind them, and Presley felt their love surround her. Her heart banged in her chest, as it seemed like everyone important in her life was there to usher her forward on to her next journey.
She scanned the crowd, seeing her aunts, uncles, and cousins—Dmitri had made sure all of her family was here. This display of love and thoughtfulness stitched up those places in her heart that had fractured from their week apart.
They finally reached the top of the stairs, and Presley’s breath hitched as Dmitri’s eyes locked on hers. The light from the fountains cast a gorgeous glow over him, highlighting the masculine lines of his face and body.
Her father mistakenly took her reaction as nerves, and he squeezed her hand. “You’ll do fine.”
“I know.” She glanced at him and smiled. “I love you, Dad.”
“Love you, too, kid.” His eyes became shiny with unshed tears.
As Presley approached Dmitri, the world seemed to narrow: sounds became distant and her heart rate slowed. After another step, her father turned her in his arms and kissed her cheek. “Go on now, sweetheart.” He shook Dmitri’s hand, then joined her mother to Presley’s left.
Presley drew in a deep breath, glancing at Dmitri standing next to her. The fountains played, her friends and family looked on, strangers gathered to watch, but all that mattered was him—this moment that she’d wanted.
Dmitri’s gaze raked her from head to toe before his heated eyes met hers. “No one has ever looked as beautiful as you do right now,” he told her.
The anticipation of the moment made her face flush and rattled her nerves; her voice was seemingly lost to her.
But he didn’t seem to notice. Taking her hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb, he said, “You know why you are here, don’t you?”
Summoning all her strength just to squeak out an answer, she said, “Yes.”
