Page 124 of Always Bayou

“Absolutely. This is the best.” She shed the clown outfit and shimmied into the white silk and lace dress that fit her perfectly.

It was absolutely gorgeous. She’d always pictured herself in a fairly traditional gown with a fitted bodice and full skirt with a long train, but she hadn’t thought of the specifics.

Now that she was wearingthisgown though, she knew this was it. The silk skirt draped beautifully, falling from her hips to the floor, the perfect length. On one side, it had a long slit that made her feel sexy, even as the lacey overlay that continued to the train was pretty and sweet. The bodice was sleeveless but modest in the front, with no daring shows of cleavage. But Beau would love the back. It plunged low and left lots of bare skin for him to stroke as they danced. She couldn’t wait for him to see it.

Costume or not, the dress made her feel beautiful and sexy and she knew she’d be smiling all night. She wondered if she could just wear it again when she was a bride for real.

She floated back down the hall, feeling like a princess, and stepped into her bedroom.

Beau was in a tux. And he took her breath away. He always did, but wow, he looked amazing.

“Whoa,” was her only reaction.

He gave her a grin as he ran a hand over one lapel. “Yeah?”

“That is awesome,” she told him. She turned, presenting her back. “Zip me up.” She could have easily reached the zipper that only came to the curve of her lower back, but she wanted him to help her.

“God, you look gorgeous,” he told her gruffly, as his fingers predictably skimmed up her spine after the zipper was done. “I knew you would. I was picturing you in the dress after I picked it up. But damn.”

“Thank you.”

“So you really like this idea?” he asked.

She smoothed the front of the dress, looking down at it. “I love it. This is really fun.”

“I’m glad.”

She turned to face him. “Let me just put my hair up and some makeup on.” She stopped as she realized he was staring at her. The look on his face was a mix of love and something she couldn’t quite place. “What?” she asked.

He lifted a hand and cupped her face. “I can’t wait to do this for real, you know.”

She pressed her cheek into his palm. “Yeah, well, you’re the one saying we need to wait. You know where I stand on this.”

Emotions flickered through his eyes. “Maybe you can get me drunk tonight and convince me to elope.”

She pulled back, shaking her head and laughing. “Oh no, I did that once before. This ball is firmly in your court, Mr. Hebert.”

“I have to be the instigator this time, huh?” he asked.

“You know I will say yes whenever you ask. But I get that you want to wait. So whenever you think we’re ready, just say the word.”

“Maybe I’ll get you drunk and convince you to elope tonight.”

She lifted a shoulder. “You won’t have to get me drunk.”

He shook his head. “You’d really be into that?”

“I mean…I do think that we should do it here, with everyone, the whole big to-do. The town would love to be a part of it. So I don’t think eloping is the right thing. But if you said, ‘“Bec, let’s do it. Right now. Tonight’”, there’s no way I’d say no.”

He leaned in and kissed her. It was hot and sweet and full of love and need. “I’ll remember you said that.”

She put her hand against his cheek. “Good.”

Becca did her hair in a quick twist, then applied light makeup. The thing about going as a bride, she didn’t need to do anything elaborate in either of those categories. When she stepped out of the bathroom, Beau was holding a pair of white heels and a bouquet of flowers.

“You thought of everything.”

“I had a little help from Savannah.”

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