Page 29 of Reckless Encore

“Husband and wife?” Mason muttered. “But I thought this wasn’t a proper wedding.”

Leah elbowed him in the ribs. “Figuratively speaking, asshole.”

Sean gave Melody a half-hearted smile. “Why don’t you take some more time to think about it? We’ve been sitting at that bar all day, drinking away our problems. I don’t want you to wake up tomorrow with more.”

“Marrying you would never be a problem, Sean.” She nibbled her lower lip, those butterflies eating away at her stomach. “I want this. As long as you do.”

“I’m so fucking confused,” Mason mumbled.

Sean’s eyes raked her, delving deep into her psyche. “You know nothing would make me happier. But what about our clothes? No offense, Red, but we both look like we’ve run a marathon in formalwear.”

“Don’t spare it another thought.” Leah strode forward to grab Melody’s elbow. “Let me take it from here.”

Those butterflies became vultures, clawing and biting. “Okay.” She backed away from him. “I guess I’ll see you soon.”

Sean grinned—the first proper, heartfelt grin she’d seen all day. One without grief or remorse. One with love and confidence. “See you soon, sweetheart.”

Her belly flipped, and she turned to stride arm in arm with Leah toward the boardwalk leading to their villas.

“Moving forward, everything is under your direction.” Leah spoke in what Melody had come to learn was her professional tone. “If there’s something you’re not happy with, please let me know.”

“What do you mean, everything?”

Leah cringed. “Mason organized tonight. So, at this point it’s like a horror movie of surprises. We don’t know what will show up next.”

The hair on the back of her neck tingled, making her grimy skin itch. “Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.”

They continued to Leah’s villa, where Sidney greeted them at the door, dressed in an elegant knee-length black skirt and a white camisole. “What did you decide?”

“They’re going ahead with the ceremony,” Leah answered for her.

“Perfect.” Sidney’s face broke out in a wide smile. “Quick, we have a lot to do.”

Melody followed them inside, past the unfamiliar female faces in the living room, to the bedroom where Alana and Gabi stood around the covered mattress draped with exquisite dresses.

“Oh. Wow.” She counted six wedding gowns, all in different styles, from an A-line silhouette to a flowing beach dress.

“Mason organized all this?” She swallowed over the lump forming in her throat. “I don’t believe it.”

“He feels terrible.” Sidney met her gaze with heartache in her eyes. “We all do.”

“It’s okay. It’s a great story to tell, right?”

Gabi winced. “Maybe once the dust settles.”

“Do you think there’s a dress in here you might like?” Alana pulled a glistening sheath dress from the bed and held it high, then reached for a fitted bodice leading into a ball gown skirt. Each stunning option heavily outweighed the off-the-rack design she currently wore.

“I love them all.” She blinked through the awe. “I honestly don’t know which to choose.”

“Take your time.” Leah padded for the door. “And when you’re showered and dressed, meet us in the living room. The ladies out there are the resort beauty team. They’re prepared and ready to redo your hair and make-up.”

“Thank you.” The words seemed insignificant against the weight of this new reality. “I can’t describe how much I appreciate everything you’ve all done.”

The women filed from the room, Gabi closing the door behind them to leave her in solitude.

Her eyes burned. Her nose tingled.

She peered down at that bed, and what those gowns represented—friendship, loyalty, love—and let out a sob. Happiness seared a hole through her chest, and she couldn’t contain the smile lifting her cheeks.

---