take a risk on someone who could hurt them?
She tried to go to sleep with that reassurance, but she dreamed about the kiss and the lure of possibilities.
Chapter Fourteen
They’d done it.
It was a Dr. Seuss paradise.
Bella worked the room, triple-checking every last detail before the ceremony began. The reporters spilled over the sidewalk outside, bulbs flashing, a few interlopers desperately trying to sneak into the bookstore to be part of the treasured few able to see the quirkiest wedding of the year.
To keep reporters from seeing her dress beforehand, they’d wrapped a huge velvet cloak around Adele and escorted her inside the bookshop and upstairs until her big entrance. Gabe had dubbed the whole thing “very Lady Gaga,” and spent a few moments charming the press by dropping juicy hints of what was to come without giving anything away.
The crowd seemed sedate and curious, their necks craning around to take in the surroundings as they took their seats. The bookstore had been transformed into Seussland, a fantasy ground where Truffula trees popped from corners, and floral balloons drifted from the ceiling and dripped from the staircase. Giant gilded golden cages held the amazing Victoria crowned pigeons, who were paired in twos, and hung in places where guests could see but not touch. They made a wonderful whooping sound that delighted the crowd and reminded Bella of a Dr. Seuss character. Hundreds of white lights twisted around funky birch-like accents, including signs pointing to different corners of the room where guests could enjoy various pictures of the couple paired with Dr. Seuss quotes.
Gabe’s voice rumbled sexily in her ear. “Ready for the main show. Bride ready?”
“Going up to check now. Guests seated.”
“Good. Press is contained, and I’m ready with the groom on your call.”
She pasted on a professional smile and climbed the circular stairs. Adele was surrounded by her sister and two cousins, who fussed and tugged at her dress. She stepped smoothly in front of them to give the bride space. “If you ladies will take your seats, we’re about to begin.”
They shot her matching sulky looks as they left. After they disappeared, Adele turned to her. “They want me to die so they’ll have my money,” she said with a sigh. “My sister married a deadbeat who took most of her fortune, and she spent the balance in record time. My cousins are useless and haven’t done one nice thing for me ever. Now they pretend to be my best friend.”
“Many people display their best behavior and their worst at a wedding,” Bella said. “You look breathtaking.” Adele had picked out the dress before they began working together, and it reflected the woman’s heart and personality. The buttery cream fabric was light as gossamer and flowed like water, draping over her body in a mass of crisscross patterns. The long sleeves billowed like bells, and a bright-yellow sash cinched her waist, matching the whimsical colored bouquet tied with birch and studded with diamond Sneetch stars for the occasion.
Adele smiled and her face lit up. “Thank you. I feel it. Did Edward chicken out yet, or is he still downstairs?”
“He’s a brave one. He’s not going anywhere.” She gave Gabe the go-ahead, and the music drifted up the staircase. “Any questions? Anything I can ease your mind about? Everything downstairs is perfect.”
“I know! I took a peek when I was being whisked up the stairs. I can’t wait to see all the surprises.”
“We want you to have fun and enjoy the evening. Let’s begin the walk down.”
Bella had done so many weddings, she always wondered if this one was going to be the time she didn’t cry or feel moved when she saw a bride meet her groom at the altar. But she was never disappointed. It always brought a rush of warmth, and a gentle reminder that love was the only thing to cling to in the world—once you found it, you needed to embrace every beautiful second. Weddings were a reminder that happily-ever-after endings still existed.
She watched them recite their vows, and her gaze snagged on Gabe. Looking breathlessly handsome in his dark tux and slicked-back hair, he was straight from a magazine cover. She’d already noticed how most of the women kept sneaking glances at him. Sexual masculine energy simply radiated from his frame, leaving a trail behind him. Kind of like the Pied Piper. Except . . .
Except she’d been wrong to assume she knew about his love life. Since Carter had challenged her on believing