Page 15 of I'll Be There
Exactly what she’d ordered. Except... “It looks like a vanilla latte.”
She sank onto the sofa. “All the guys are wearing...well, cream. Therightcream.” She covered her face with her hands. “What was I thinking, ordering it online? I thought—I’ll get exactly what I want, the dream dress, and...they sent me swatches! I pickedcream.”
Mona handed her the pillow.
“Ho-kay,” Grace said. “Everybody just breathe. It’s a beautiful dress, regardless of the color. And I really hate to bring this up, but...let’s make sure it fits.”
Liza lifted her head and must have worn something terrifying in her expression because Grace followed fast with, “I’m sure it will. You sent your measurements, right?”
Liza nodded. “And I specified cream.”
“Okay, let’s get you up and into this dress.” Mona had her by the arm and directed her into the guest room.
Liza could barely look at herself in the mirror as Mona twisted up her long sable hair into a quick, messy bun. Raina unzipped the dress while Liza pulled off her shirt and jeans.
She lifted her arms, and the crew worked the dress over her. The gown fell over her in a soft hush, draping her in cool, smooth satin. She held the bodice in place and Raina zipped it up in back, then tucked her bra straps into the bodice.
Raina stepped back. “Oh, Aunt Liza, you have to see this. It’s amazing.”
The tiny bureau mirror only caught the bodice, so Raina opened the door. “Stay there.” She went out into the family room and moved aside one of the couches. She pulled off a thick cushion and tossed it onto the floor. “Come, stand on this.”
Liza swished out into the family room and stepped onto the cushion for elevation.
Raina disappeared into the bathroom. She returned in a moment carrying the full-length mirror formerly attached to the back of the door.
“Now, take a look.”
Mona and Grace had fanned out the train, made of layers of flowing organza. Under the glow of the early afternoon sun glinting off the mirror and onto the beads, her dress turned to a kaleidoscope of color. The bodice hugged her body,accentuating her curves, and the skirt of the dress fell away in elegant waves.
Gorgeous. Except, of course, for the scar, still an ugly, deep pink, furrowing up her arm. “I need the jacket.” The bouquet would cover up the deep grooves in her mangled hand.
Mona said nothing as she helped Liza shrug into the organza jacket, the wispy fabric folding just above her wrists, the beaded edge a match for the decorations on her bodice.
In this light, with strands of her dark hair falling to her shoulders, the dress only highlighted her ivory skin, her deep brown eyes.
She was going to be a bride. In three days, marry Conner Young.
The reception could take place under the lights of the local football field for all she cared.
“Oh, Liza, you’re so beautiful.”
The voice stilled her, and she pressed her hands to her stomach as she turned.
Conner stood in the doorway, gazing at her as if for the first time, so much emotion in his eyes. The intensity of it reached inside her, tugged. In that moment it was just Conner, blue eyes, blond hair, wearing a disheveled T-shirt, a pair of faded jeans, a two-day grizzle on his face, advancing toward her as if in awe.
Her man, arriving on the scene to quiet her world.
He had that power—to trumpet into a room, sweep all the air from her lungs, and hold her willingly captive with the magic of his smile. Those eyes reaching through her, finding her wounds to heal them.
“You’re here,” she whispered.
“Finally.” He didn’t slow, just came right to her and swung her into his arms, one easy motion, so right and perfect, she simply sank into him.
He kissed her without preamble, without stopping to ask, to look in her eyes, just a diving in as if hungry, needy—her man, gone to battle and back home again.
Conner.
He smelled of rain, his own musk, and tasted of coffee, sweet. She shuddered at the tiny delicious bite to his touch.
