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139
Ashlyn Chase & Dalton Diaz
Chapter Twenty-One
A picture-perfect wedding well, almost
The chapel had been selected from pictures on a website. Despite the cheesy
reputation of Vegas weddings, this place had some class. A long white runner scattered
with silk rose petals led to the nondenominational altar covered with a beautiful
bouquet. The flowers even looked real.
I hadn t seen it except in pictures since I had been shuffled into a changing room the
minute I arrived. I guess I wasn t the only bride who didn t want the groom to see her
all spiffed up before the actual wedding.
Now, I waited, all shook up in the lobby with Elvis . You d worry if I wasn t
nervous, right? Well, good, because I literally trembled. I think that may have had more
to do with the fact that I couldn t help thinking about my mother. Elvis didn t help by
telling me how easy divorce was if things didn t work out and, with a wink, that I
knew where to find him. What a pep talk.
The doors swung open and Elvis began to sing Love Me Tender as he sashayed down
the aisle and I walked slowly beside him, carrying my single red rose. Okay, it was a
cute idea when we discussed it earlier but&
Dorian. There he stood in a gray suit and red tie that matched my gown as if they
had been made from the same bolt of fabric. How the hell did he know what color I d
pick? Despite wanting him to be the one whose jaw dropped, I think mine hit the floor
before his did. God, he was gorgeous.
I felt hot tears well up behind my eyes and prayed they wouldn t spill. It s one
thing to get emotional at a beautiful, five-star, wedding-planner ceremony but this?
Suddenly I was on the verge of laughing. I think this is what they call hysteria.
Dorian s cut figure blurred as my eyes filled. I wanted to run to him. I wanted to
pinch myself just to be sure the whole thing was real. Damn, I wanted to get this over
with and proceed straight to the honeymoon.
Ivan and Nina sat up front on the left. Fredrico and some woman I hadn t met sat
on the right. Somehow I managed to stay with Elvis until he took my hand and placed it
within my lover s grasp. Dorian s tight, warm grip relaxed me while we waited for
Elvis s big finish.
When the last note echoed in my mind he moved off to the side, leaving the two of
us standing before a Justice of the Peace. Everything seemed surreal. A cool, fresh smell
met my nose and I became aware of the flowers. They were actually real not plastic
and dust covered as I d expected. I guess when weddings are big business, they can
afford a few nice extras. Like the video camera behind the altar aimed at us, or the limo
140
Love Cuffs
taking us back to our hotel. We had been moved to the honeymoon suite at Dorian s
insistence. So what I m saying is, it wasn t half bad as spur of the moment weddings go.
Someone s voice dragged my attention back to reality. Ah yes. The Justice of the
Peace said a few words about love. It was from Corinthians, I think. Love is patient,
love is kind, love will wait if you lose your mind& No. That last part was from my own
scatterbrained imagination.
Dorian looked over at me and smiled. It helped. Squeezing my hand helped. Just
being here with him instead of Roger helped. Wondering how I d explain this all to my
mother didn t help.
I dragged myself back to the moment, again, just as Dorian was asked those special
questions. You know& the vows. He said, I do with no hesitation. How the heck did
he do that? I hoped I could do that. I hoped the Justice didn t ask me if I d obey or
wear makeup and always do the dishes right after dinner.
Whew. All he wanted me to promise was to love, honor and cherish. Yep, I could do
that.
I do.
Dorian placed a wide gold band on my ring finger and suddenly, as if by magic,
Hope Daniels became Mrs. Dorian Markoff.
Smash!
The doors to the lobby burst open and the unexpected wedding crasher shrieked,
Stop! Hold everything!
Thundering down the aisle, a raging bull named Juliet charged. Elvis jumped in
front of me and said, Now hold on here, little lady&
Little lady? She had the size and speed of a Mack truck! A moment later the little
lady punched him so hard his aviator sunglasses flew off.
What the hell have you done to my Dorian? she cried.
Your Dorian? There must have been an echo. Either that or about four people
said the same thing at almost the same time.
I gaped at the person I thought was my Dorian and noted that he stared in wordless
horror at Juliet.
Okay, the Truss Club s Dorian. But I m the one who s perfect for him.
Light dawned slowly. Wait a minute& You wanted Dorian?
Damn right. Who wouldn t? I ve come to get him back before he does something
he ll regret.
Dorian found his voice at last. I m sorry, Miss, but I have no idea who you are or
what you re talking about. And even if I did, Hope and I are already married, so you re
too
What? She screeched.
You re. Too. Late, I enunciated for her.
141
Ashlyn Chase & Dalton Diaz
She lunged, screamed something unintelligible and then the words, This time you
die quite clearly!
Dorian grabbed her shoulder, threw her off balance and she went down with a
terrible thud and a fart. I scrambled out of her way, thanking God I had the sense to
wear a dress she couldn t easily reach out and grab hold of and shoes I could run in. I
took off and yelled over my shoulder as I ran, Meet me at the car, darling.
Dorian nodded, then looked down at Juliet and she reached for him. Suddenly he
bolted down the aisle and out the door right beside me. Man, he could move!
We jumped into the waiting limo and Dorian yelled, Drive!
The limo driver either sensed the urgency or this had happened before because he
raced out of the parking lot with squealing tires.
We sped away with no destination in mind other than our future together. By the
time we hit a straightaway, the pounding of my heart began to diminish.
Dorian raked his fingers through his hair. Are you all right?
Yeah, I m fine.
What the hell was all that about?
Um& would you believe me if I said I have no idea?
He leveled his eyes and just stared at me with his, Do you think I m an idiot? look.
Okay, okay& but I m afraid this is going to be a lengthy explanation.
He groaned and flopped backward against the seat.
142
Love Cuffs
Chapter Twenty-One and a Half
Like Romeo and& Juliet? I ll take Hope
I was having an Elvis sighting and I couldn t take my eyes off the beautiful bride.
God, she was perfect and yes, she d chosen red. I never should have doubted that for a
moment, knowing her inside and out so well. It was unbelievable that in such a short
time I d found someone I was willing to share my life with, that I could be completely
up-front with and not have to worry that she wouldn t love me for who I am. I mean, I [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]