in my entire life had I felt as feminine and beautiful as I did at this moment.
Moving from the right to the left, I was momentarily mesmerized by the dress covering the sexy secrets beneath. The full tulle skirt with scattered sequins pitched from side to side, catching rays of light as sparkles created prisms in all directions. I ran my palm over my torso. The bodice fit tightly over the corset, accentuating my waist while showcasing, but not bringing too much attention to, my breasts.
The cap sleeves left my shoulders and arms bare.
It was the color that surprised me. I’d thought black would be best as certain colors clashed with my hair. This dress, however, wasn’t black. It wasn’t even monochromatic. The gown was a stunning shade of blue, with hues of white, silver, and even green. While the secondary shades were subtle, Patrice, the seamstress, insisted they were perfect with my green eyes. Strands of diamond-like crystals dangled from the intricate mask. My wild red locks were tamed into long curls that were pulled away from my face by the dainty crown. Long matching crystals dangled from my ears.
“I-I,” I stuttered, “I can’t believe it’s me.”
Carlos added a bit more pink to my cheeks and a dab to my lips before standing back and smiling. “You’re stunning.”
It was then the door from Mason’s bedroom opened.
“Oh,” I said, seeing that my brother now wore a gray tuxedo, with a bow tie and pocket square similar to the shade of my dress.
He came behind me and peered over my shoulder into the full-length mirror. “Not bad for two poor kids from the South Side.”
I spun toward him. “Thank you.”
“You’re helping me out, sis.”
I smiled as I fought a new urge to cry. “Mason, this is a whirlwind weekend, but I would never...without you. It’s like a fantasy come to life. I feel like a princess.”
He reached for my hands and lifted one until he brought it to his lips and softly kissed my knuckles. “Lorna, we’ve been through hell. It’s damn time we see what heaven is like.”
I placed my hand in the curve of his arm.
“Ready for a ball?” he asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Oh,” Mason said as he looked around the mess of a suite where things were strewn here and there. “Are you packed? There won’t be time to come back here before your flight.”
Reaching for the small studded clutch purse containing lipstick and my phone, I nodded and tipped my chin toward the door. My sad little carry-on was sitting there. The only items I’d needed that I’d brought from Chicago were the shoes. Patrice had others, but when she saw the embellished Louboutins, she agreed they would be perfect. “Where will I change?”
Mason took a step back and scanned me from head to toe. “I say you wear that.”
“No, I can’t keep it.”
“What the fuck am I going to do with it?”
My shattered nerves broke, bringing a smile to my lips as the brother I knew and loved allowed his true self to show through. He may have his face shaved, smell of heavenly masculine cologne, be wearing a mysterious masquerade mask making his green eyes shine, and donning what quite possibly was a custom tuxedo, but under it all, he was still Mason Pierce, the boy who made sure his sisters didn’t go to sleep hungry.
“I still need to change.”
“Try to be discreet. You can change in the SUV on the way to the airport. But you’re keeping the dress.”
“Mace, it’ll never fit in my carry-on.”
His lips curled into a lopsided grin. “You know, even as a princess, you’re a pain in the ass.”
I put my hand back in the crook of his arm. “And even as a guy, you’re the best fairy godmother.”
He chuckled. “Shit, like that story you used to tell Missy.”
One of the people working with Mason opened the hotel room door as we made our way to the elevator.
“That story is one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time. While I don’t need a prince to save me, it’s ingrained in every little girl’s psyche.”
“You’re talking Disney, not Brothers Grimm,” he said with a smirk.
“Yes. I prefer cute mice and singing birds to chopped-off toes and pecked-out eyes.”
The driver opened the door to the SUV as my carry-on was placed in the back.
Mason winked. “This isn’t a pumpkin.”
“No, but I saw some carriages in Central Park last night.”
Once we were within the confines of the leather back