five garment bags. “Now, which one should I wear?”
She opened the first dress. An ivory, strapless lace gown with a black satin sash, elegant, modern and formfitting. She slipped herself into the exquisite frock. Troy zipped the dress and Elle walked to the full-length mirror on the bathroom door. She sighed, gazing at her reflection. She looked like a bride. A beautiful bride.
“It’s perfect.”
“There are four more. You don’t have to settle—” Troy had moved to the bar and was pouring himself a glass of Johnnie Walker Platinum, his favorite scotch. Elle had ordered it from the hotel to surprise him and she was happy to see him indulging in his favorite drink since he’d gone to such great lengths to make the weekend so special for her.
“I’m not settling. It’s elegant, timeless. I’m in love with it.” She spun gently to and fro, eyeing the dress from all angles. She loved the way it accentuated her curves and hugged her hips. It was as if the dress had been made specifically for her.
Troy truly knows me. He knows me so well.
“And,” she said, giddily, walking quickly to her suitcase, “I can even wear my favorite black heels.”
She slipped the shoes on her feet and walked back to the mirror, enveloped in the happiness surrounding her in that hotel room. Troy’s reflection could be seen with her own as he leaned down to kiss her exposed neck, her hair still up in a fluffy white towel.
“I’ll take my shower now, and we’ll begin our night, Mrs. Almost Saladino.”
Elle giggled. Troy polished off his glass of scotch and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Elle ignored the anxious flipping of her stomach at the mention of her future last name. Everyone had jitters just before tying the knot, and she was no different from any of the millions of brides before her who were overwhelmed by their nerves. She took a deep breath, carefully removed the dress, and began to groom herself for their evening.
Her hair was curled, tumbling in loose waves down her back. Her makeup was finally complete as she closed her cosmetics bag. Elle slipped off her cozy robe and stepped back into the lace gown. She emerged from the bathroom, feeling beautiful and excited. She lost her breath when she saw him.
Troy looked ridiculously handsome in his tuxedo, the color of midnight. He was fixing the collar of his crisp white shirt when their eyes locked.
“Wow,” Elle sighed. She walked to him, smoothing down the lapels of the suit. “You’re so dapper.”
“You’d better believe it, baby.” Troy winked. Then he took a small step back, holding Elle’s hands in his own, gazing at her from head to toe.
“You’re stunning. The most beautiful bride ever.”
“Thank you.” She blushed, pressing her lips together, feeling overwhelmed by the emotions in the room. They were doing this . . . really doing this. It wasn’t just a fantasy anymore. It was a reality. The anxious flip returned to her belly, and she pressed her hand into her abdomen, trying to calm herself.
“You okay?”
“Mmm-hmm,” she answered, swallowing hard. Troy narrowed his eyes; his hand grazed her cheek softly as he studied her, making her feel uneasy. She didn’t want him to know about her jitters. It was clear to Elle he had none to match hers. No, Troy wasn’t anxious—he was elated, enamored, and excited.
“Listen, Rigby, if you need more time—”
Again, Elle interrupted Troy’s offer of more time. She was dressed head to toe in wedding garb. The love of her life was standing before her in a tuxedo, looking as handsome as humanly possible.
She was getting married. She’d be absolutely insane to walk away.
“No. I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
Elle stood in her beautiful gown, her hands trembling as she studied her surroundings. Midnight was approaching, and the scorching heat of Las Vegas had cooled. A faint breeze blew against her clammy skin as she focused on her groom-to-be. Troy was standing beneath the gazebo, hands clasped in front of him, an expression of ease on his face. She wished she could will herself to be so confident, so at ease with this life-changing event. That voice had returned, telling her she was too young to get married, that their relationship wasn’t quite there yet, that she was swept up in the romance of it all. That she’d regret it and soon. But the idea of disappointing Troy, of ruining their picture-perfect romance, was more terrifying than going through