Page 101 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
The woman is no less beautiful than the man, color in her cheeks making her look youthful and in love. Her long hair is midnight black, glossy and hanging loose around her shoulders. From the way it’s curling, it’s obvious it was in an updo not too long ago. Light makeup coats her creamy skin, and she’s dressed just as elegantly as her companion in a simple sage-green silk dress that ends just below her knees and skims over her flawless body.
“Anthony, so this is your fiancée. She’s stunning,” the woman says.
“Yes, she is. Ceinlys, meet Ivy. Ivy, this is Ceinlys and Salazar Price.”
“How do you do?” I shake Ceinlys’s hand, liking her immediately. She’s warm, her smile genuine.
Salazar takes mine and, instead of shaking it, kisses my fingers. His movements are polished and gentlemanly. “She’s a beauty. No wonder you’re in such a rush. Are you sure you want to wait six weeks?” he asks Tony with a wink.
“She needs to have a dress made,” Ceinlys says. “He isn’t going to grab whatever’s off the rack.” Her response indicates she’s had some experience planning a wedding or two.
“Jane didn’t,” Salazar says.
“Because that’s what she and Iain wanted.” Ceinlys turns to me. “Am I wrong about your dress?”
“No.” I laugh. “I just got measured yesterday.”
“Told you.” She pokes Salazar’s side gently. “And if I’m not mistaken, Anthony has given you a Masako Hayashi ring. A man who does that doesn’t just grab whatever’s off the rack.”
I look down at the huge pearl in surprise. Is there some marker saying it’s her work?
“Her artistic sensibility. Magnificent attention-getter with classic, timeless appeal,” Salazar explains. “So how do you like the grove? Or not like it? Either way is okay. Won’t hurt our feelings.”
“Actually, I love it. I’d be thrilled to get married here. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Thank us by living well and being happy,” Ceinlys says, looping her arm through Salazar’s and clasping her hand to his. “That’s all we want for you.”
Maybe I’ve been surrounded by too many jerks before, but I’m grateful my social circle is widening to include more and more good people since I met Tony at Hammers and Strings. “Thank you. Really.”
“Staying for lunch?” Salazar asks. “The cook makes a great tiramisu.”
“We have to head back,” Tony says. “Otherwise we would.”
“I’m working this afternoon,” I say. “But if you come into the city, I’d love to treat you.”
“That’d be lovely, although it should be our treat to congratulate you,” Salazar says.
We exchange a few more pleasantries, and then, when TJ comes back, farewells. As we’re pulling out, it suddenly hits me. “Didn’t you say the grove is owned by Ryder’s mom’s side of the family?”
“Yes.”
“So…were they his cousins?” I ask, slightly disoriented. Salazar and Ceinlys acted like they were the ones giving us the permission to have our ceremony there.
Tony laughs. “They’re his uncle and aunt.”
I can’t help gaping, trying to think if I missed something—wrinkles, gray hair, anything to indicate that they’re old enough to have grown-up children of their own. “But they looked so young! Are they vampires?”
“Vampires don’t go outside in broad daylight. It’s sunny, too.”
“Maybe they’re Twilight vampires.”
“Salazar and Ceinlys don’t sparkle.”
I gawk. “How did you know that? About Twilight, I mean. Did you watch the movie?” I just can’t picture Tony reading the series.
“Harry told me. Some girlfriend or other of his was into it.” Tony’s lips curve into a faint smile. “What would I do without him filling my head with worthless pop culture trivia?” He sobers. “No, they’re just very well-preserved, beautiful people.”
“And so in love.” I sigh. Every time Salazar and Ceinlys looked at each other, their eyes softened. “Do you think we can have what they have?”
