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I shot Luc a look, and he nodded. The wives had taken their seats again as I turned to Marco. “Did you bet on Luc and me having a baby?”
There was another round of yelling before Luc and I were returning hugs and, for him, slaps on the back from the guys. Nicole was the last one to wrap her arms around me, and she took her time with a gentle squeeze. “I’m so happy for you, sweetheart. We’re going to have so much fun shopping for this little baby.”
“Yes!” Sofia’s eyes lit up. “Let’s do that instead of playing with knives.”
“Not after last night.” Luc’s words cracked through the room, and everyone fell silent. The guys agreed, their faces equally fierce. “We need to take care of the Amato threat before Summer is out in the open again.”
“Sure,” El said. “But we can’t keep her locked up until everything is sorted. We can go out. Maybe not today”—she held up her hand to halt his ready protest—“but tomorrow or the next day. Besides, she needs to try on wedding gowns. And what about seeing a doctor?”
“I hadn’t thought about that.” I turned to Luc. “I’ll need to see someone to make sure everything is okay.”
“I can take your blood for the pregnancy test and get the vitamins for you, Summer,” Trey said. “I can hook you up with a great OB doc, and she’ll come here as a favor. You don’t need to worry about that.”
“Now that the doctor stuff is settled”—Sofia rubbed her hands together—“we’ll go try on wedding dresses tomorrow. You guys can shadow us or send a full security detail to ensure nothing happens. When are you getting married?”
Luc cleared his throat. “The sooner, the better. That should also help discourage the Amatos. Summer will be family, and as my wife, anything they do against her is a direct hit to me.”
“The day after tomorrow, then.” Lil rested her elbows on the table, her long silvery-blond hair against her back. “That’ll give us time to find dresses and for Sofia to alter them. And it should be early morning.” She glanced at the other wives, who nodded.
I wasn’t sure what the deal was with that, but I was fine with it. Luc tugged my chair closer then wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I leaned in, content to listen to everyone plan things for us. He pressed a kiss to my forehead, and I smiled. This life was already so much more than I’d ever dreamed.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
SUMMER
Sofia’s hand locked around my bicep, and she turned me toward her. Excitement lit her amber eyes, and her wide smile was infectious. I couldn’t help but be affected by the energy that buzzed through our group. Nicole and all the wives gathered around me as we exited the black SUVs we’d arrived in to shop for my wedding dress. Security had gone ahead, scoped out the area, and even emptied the boutique of all customers. Only the staff would be inside to help.
The jingle of the overhead bell snapped the jittery employees to attention, and an older woman approached with fear in her eyes and a shaky smile. Nicole stepped forward and took charge, her charisma and ability to draw people to her in full effect. She said a few words, and the saleswoman’s shoulders relaxed, a genuine smile curving her mouth.
As Nicole chatted, Sofia took over, motioning for another staff member to assist her as she got to work sorting through the gowns hanging on a rack, handing over whatever she pulled out to the waiting arms of the saleswoman.
Lil looped her arm through mine and tugged me to the back, where the dressing rooms were. “Come on. Sofia will have everything sent to you in minutes.”
El and Emiliana trailed behind, and I glanced back to see two of the staff flock to Sofia as the first headed our way with dresses draped over her arms.
“I’ll hang these in the dressing room over here.” The petite redhead said as she began arranging the dresses on hooks inside the spacious changing room. “When you try on any you like, come out to the raised platform so that you can see how it looks from all angles.”
I glanced over and noted the trifold of mirrors. A cream-colored couch curved around the platform where El and Emiliana sat. Lil tugged my arm, and I followed her to where the dresses waited.
“This doesn’t seem real.” I kept waiting to wake up. “I just…”How do you tell a group of people how much they’d come to mean to you?I glanced around at the wives, who were talking and laughing until they noticed I’d stopped to stare at them. Lil gave me a quick squeeze. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve your friendship. A few weeks ago, I found out my best friend had died. I was all alone in the world. Then I came here, and you just”—I blinked furiously to avoid crying—“took me in. Accepted me.”
Nicole got up and wrapped me in her arms, rocking me from side to side. “Ah, doll, we’re family. We’ll always be here for you.”
Four sets of arms joined the hug, murmuring similar sentiments before Sofia stepped back and clapped her hands. “All right. Enough with the waterworks.” She swiped under her eyes. “We have dresses to try on! And where’s the wine?” A salesperson hovering near the entrance jumped to attention and hurried out to do her bidding.
“Water for you, sweetheart.” Nicole patted my stomach.
I contemplated how weird it would be when it wasn’t flat anymore. I couldn’t even imagine what the next few months would be like. I closed myself in the dressing room and ran my fingers over the silky material of one of the dresses, trying to picture Luc’s expression when he saw me in one tomorrow.
I’m getting married. It didn’t seem possible. At the same time, I didn’t have a single doubt. We’d had our ups and downs, but I liked so many things about that man. He was unconditionally protective of those he loved, of family. It meant more to me than I could ever express.
I set the dresses that caught my eye the most apart from the rest to try on. I wanted something simple, effortless, and classic in style. After removing my clothes, I slipped a floor-length sheath off the hanger and stepped into it. The bodice hugged my curves. Intricate lace covered the bodice and the bottom where the long train pooled around my feet and along the floor.
I took a deep breath then opened the door. Sofia jumped up and took my hand in hers while the others murmured their approval. I let her help me to the platform, where she fussed over the train then stepped back to observe me with a critical eye.
I’d forgotten she was a fashion designer. Luc told me last night when we’d spent a few hours talking before a roaring fire in his room. Then there was that toe-curling kiss. I didn’t know how he managed to stop with only that, but he did. I’d told him I didn’t want to take our physical intimacy further, not until after we were married, and he’d upheld his promise.
“Summer.” Sofia stood before me, hands on hips, waiting for me to come back to the present.
